Chapter 23. An Empty Square

Yuelina’s waist straightened at Theo’s touch.

Today, he would know.

If this overwhelming sweet floral scent of Yuelina’s really tasted sweet.

“Are you alright–! Your Highness the Grand Duke–! Your Highness the Grand Duchess–!”

“……”

“There was a big stone on the road–! The carriage shook terribly–!”

Theo remained calm.

Yuelina was wearing earmuffs.

Since she was wearing earmuffs, she probably couldn’t hear Ulysse’s booming voice.

So it was fine.

He just had to pretend not to know.

“Your Highness– Should we stop the carriage–!”

He could ignore it.

He could do it. Yuelina was right in front of him, sitting on his knee.

“Theo.”

“……”

“Shouldn’t you… answer?”

Her face became like a rabbit’s, and it seems her hearing became as good as a rabbit’s too.

She got up from Theo’s knee and sat back on the opposite side.

Theo could still feel Yuelina’s warmth on his thigh.

“Are you alright?”

Before he could even feel regret for that warmth, the carriage door swung open.

Along with Ulysse, a cold wind whooshed in.

“You’re alright, aren’t you?”

“Close it.”

Theo firmly shut the door with a thud.

Yuelina, sitting opposite, glanced at Theo who was sitting with his arms crossed and legs crossed.

Rather than crossed arms… his arms were so muscular that it looked more like he was hugging himself.

His brawny forearms were woven with delicate muscles, making them firm and taut. Yuelina knew this.

Because she had touched them directly.

At that thought, her face flushed hot again. She unconsciously wanted to keep touching Theo’s body.

Even knowing it was rude to sit on Theo’s knee, she didn’t even try to get up.

If Ulysse hadn’t raised his voice, Theo might have told her to get up first.

The carriage ride to the square was quiet.

Neither Yuelina nor Theo readily spoke.

Soon after, the carriage stopped as it arrived in front of the square.

Theo, who got out first, extended his hand to escort Yuelina.

Yuelina held Theo’s hand and got out of the carriage.

It was an escort, but they were holding hands anyway. So, if Yuelina didn’t let go, they might be able to walk together holding hands.

“Your Highness, a word with me for a moment.”

But Ulysse called Theo first. Yuelina naturally let go of Theo’s hand.

Theo’s gaze touched Yuelina’s hand and quickly moved away.

He glared at Ulysse with a sharp gaze and strode over.

“As I said, you need to finish quickly.”

“You, why are you so talkative today?”

“You need to return quickly. Understand?”

Ulysse’s voice coming from over Theo’s shoulder sounded urgent.

It seemed there really was a lot of work piled up.

Did they have to quickly buy only what was needed and return without time to look around the market?

Yuelina sighed deeply with disappointment and looked around the square.

What’s this?

She tilted her head in confusion.

“Yuna.”

“Theo, is this really the market?”

“Yes. This is the market.”

“Ah……”

Yuelina turned her head again. The clock tower and fountain in the square.

And the long rows of stalls lining the streets.

It was exactly as Raye had described.

“But why aren’t there any people?”

Raye had said that the marketplace would be crowded today. She even cautioned her to be careful because it would be bustling.

But there was no one in the square.

Only the owners standing guard at their stalls were visible, with no people walking around the streets.

“Indeed.”

Theo turned his head to avoid Yuelina’s face full of bewilderment.

Unfortunately, where he turned his head, Ulysse was watching him.

The reason Ulysse had urged Theo to return quickly wasn’t because there was a lot of work.

It was because Theo had said he would close off the square for two hours.

Thanks to this, people who needed to shop at the market were trapped, unable to leave their homes.

Only if Theo quickly returned to the Black Mansion could the blockade be lifted, and people could shop at the market.

Ulysse stamped his feet, looking at the clock tower.

A Grand Duke who blocks off the square just to look around the market with the Grand Duchess.

If this fact became known, it was obvious everyone would protest.

As Ulysse thought, Theo had closed off the square to look around the market with Yuelina.

More precisely, he had said that since he was going to the square, it would be better if no one else came.

Theo looked at the merchants standing in front of their stalls.

They stiffened up just from Theo’s gaze.

Everyone did.

When Theo passed by, they held their breath and lowered their heads. They closed their eyes tightly as if wishing for him to pass quickly.

He didn’t want to show such a sight to Yuelina.

If she saw people fearing him, Yuelina might realize his true nature.

Then she might not smile at him like she does now.

As Theo had initially expected, Yuelina would fear him.

Now, Theo was afraid of Yuelina fearing him.

So he shouldn’t have created a situation to sprout such fear in the first place.

He just had to prevent her from seeing people who feared him.

However, since they needed to buy things, he couldn’t remove the merchants too. Theo cleared his throat nervously.

“Go ahead. I’ll follow.”

Theo gestured forward, looking at Yuelina.

It was a consideration to prevent her from seeing the merchants being scared if she walked alongside him.

Yuelina nodded awkwardly and walked forward.

There was no bustling crowd, no chaos… Above all, she couldn’t even walk side by side with Theo.

So holding hands was impossible today.

She felt disappointed, but thought there was nothing she could do.

Theo was busy.

She couldn’t keep holding him back for her own selfish desires.

Yuelina started quickly searching for the items she needed to buy among the stalls spread out in the market.

Fortunately, there were many tools for drying tea leaves even in the north. She could easily find what she wanted.

There were also many unfamiliar items that she couldn’t take her eyes off, not just familiar ones.

Given the cold climate, they sold piles of dried jerky and high-calorie butter.

Fur-lined boots good for keeping warm, thick blankets, and cloaks also looked of good quality.

As she looked around the market, Yuelina gradually walked with an excited appearance.

Theo stared intently at Yuelina’s back.

At first, she had been buying things with a gloomy look, but now she was scurrying around like a squirrel as if she had never been upset.

Just then, Yuelina stopped in front of a stall wafting with the smell of sugar.

In front were strawberries, oranges, and peaches coated with melted caramel, skewered on wooden sticks.

The sweet and tangy fruit scent was similar to Yuelina’s floral scent.

Yuelina beckoned to Theo, who was standing at a distance, to come over. Theo slowly approached Yuelina.

As he approached, the girl standing in front of the stall trembled on her shoulders.

She looked about thirteen years old.

The girl, who had come out to the market to help her mother, was seeing the Grand Duke for the first time in her life.

When she was younger and threw tantrums, her mother would always say,

“If you don’t listen, the Grand Duke will take you away!”

She would stop crying every time.

Because he was said to laugh maniacally while tearing enemy limbs apart on the battlefield.

That murderer was now right in front of her eyes. The girl thought she understood why such ominous rumors circulated.

His fierce, crumpled expression and towering physique naturally inspired awe.

“How much is this?”

“It’s 20 ips.”

Just then, Yuelina called out to the girl.

The girl was seeing the Grand Duchess for the first time too.

They said the Grand Duchess, who was sold from an island country not even on maps, was similar to barbarians.

But contrary to the rumors, the Grand Duchess was elegant and beautiful.

A pleasant voice flowed from between small, red lips under glossy, snow-white flowing hair.

Moreover, her gaze was so gentle. The girl felt her body, which had stiffened at the sight of Theo, relaxing again.

The girl felt sorry for Yuelina.

How unhappily must she be living, married to a murderer?

“Theo, shall we try this?”

“As you wish.”

“What do you like? There’s strawberry, orange. And there’s peach over there too.”

“What do you want to eat, Yuna?”

Yuelina started to ponder with a very serious face.

“Hmm… I’m not sure. They all look delicious.”

“Buy them all.”

“All of this?”

“Is it not enough?”

Yuelina couldn’t help but burst into laughter.