Chapter 24. Strawberry and Orange

She keeps laughing softly, covering her mouth with her small hand clenched into a circle, her head tilted up towards the sky.

Theo thought Yuelina’s smile was as bright as sunshine. His own lips unconsciously curved upwards.

Soon after, Theo smiled broadly enough to show his teeth.

The two people, constantly exchanging smiles while making eye contact, wondering what was so delightful…

To the girl, they looked unmistakably like a couple. And a very affectionate one at that.

Wasn’t the Grand Duchess supposedly sold to the principality?

And wasn’t the Grand Duke a murderer who only smiled when surrounded by vivid blood?

It seemed that the affectionate couple before her eyes must be impostors wearing the masks of the Grand Duke and Duchess.

Like the girl, other merchants around also opened their eyes wide.

This wasn’t the Grand Duke they knew.

He was just a foolish husband openly showing how madly in love he was with his wife.

While everyone was staring blankly at Yuelina and Theo, only Ulysse kept looking up at the innocent clock tower.

He wanted to jump between the two right away and say they needed to go back quickly because there wasn’t much time.

But how long had it been since Theo smiled like that? As a loyal servant to his lord, he dared not intervene.

“Let’s buy strawberries and oranges. I think that’ll be enough.”

Theo paid for Yuelina’s request.

The girl handed the freshest orange and reddest strawberry to Yuelina.

Yuelina held the strawberry and orange in each hand and gave a light bow to the girl.

“I’ll enjoy them.”

“Ah, no. Your Highness the Grand Duchess. It’s an honor.”

The girl smiled brightly at Yuelina with a flushed face.

Then, from somewhere, an intense gaze shot and pierced her.

Theo glanced at the girl with his hands behind his back. The girl was startled and collapsed right there.

“What’s wrong?”

Yuelina, not understanding what happened, worried about the girl who suddenly sat down.

Theo became anxious.

He had looked at her thinking of giving a word of praise since the girl was kind to Yuelina.

But for her to collapse in fear as if chased by a ghost just from being looked at.

In fact, the reactions of people who saw Theo should have been like the girl’s.

He had momentarily forgotten that Yuelina was unusually unafraid of him.

Yuelina naturally handed the strawberry and orange she was holding to Theo.

She approached the girl.

“Did you suddenly feel dizzy?”

“Ah, no. It’s not that, my legs just gave out for a moment.”

“Oh dear. You must be tired from standing all this time. Shouldn’t you go drink some water?”

The girl waved her hands.

“No, no. Your Highness the Grand Duchess! I’m fine. I, I can’t leave my post.”

Yuelina was worried about the girl.

Even though the weather was cold, the midday sun was hot.

It must have been very tiring standing in the scorching sun and cold wind.

“Theo, could we watch the shop for a moment while the child goes to drink some water?”

“You will, Yuna?”

“Yes. A customer might come, you know.”

Theo looked at the street that was not just quiet, but eerily empty.

No customers would come until Theo left.

“Do as you wish.”

“I’m sorry, when you’re so busy.”

Yuelina told the girl to drink water and take sufficient rest before coming back.

Though her mind told her to refuse, the girl didn’t have the confidence to endure Theo’s gaze any longer.

The girl bowed her head in gratitude and quickly left the square.

Yuelina and Theo stood side by side in front of the fruit stall.

There were well over fifty fruits temptingly coated with sweet caramel.

But to have so few customers. Yuelina sighed deeply.

“What’s wrong?”

“Fruit spoils, you know. If they don’t sell today, they’ll all have to be thrown away… There are too few customers.”

Theo’s conscience was pricked by Yuelina’s words.

He looked at Ulysse and gestured with his eyes.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Lift the blockade.”

“What? Really?”

“Yes.”

At Theo’s words, Ulysse’s expression brightened.

If people crowded in, Yuelina would surely notice something strange.

But if there were no people, she might notice the fact that he had blocked off the square.

If she found out about the blockade, she would be disappointed in the Grand Duke who didn’t consider the principality’s people.

If people feared the Grand Duke, she would learn about the Grand Duke’s true nature.

But he couldn’t leave Yuelina’s face clouded with worry.

He judged it better to let her see people fearing him than that.

That was the Grand Duke’s true self, after all.

Theo steeled himself.

It’s natural for Yuelina to fear him just like other people.

Fearing and being scared of him is like an instinct. It’s not wrong.

If Yuelina fears him, well. He can just use that.

To keep her from leaving, just… just never let her go, that’s all.

“Oh! Customers are coming!”

Just then, the people who couldn’t come to the market because their doors were locked started trickling out.

They had to hurry because it was important for them to stock up on food and goods as soon as possible.

Before long, the market started to bustle. Yuelina breathed a sigh of relief.

“Something must have happened this morning. Look at them all coming out at once.”

“Is that so.”

“But our goods aren’t selling.”

The marketplace was crowded with people.

However, not a single person approached the fruit stall that Yuelina and Theo were temporarily minding.

It would be nice if they could sell even one before the girl returns.

Yuelina gathered her courage and spoke to passing people.

“We have fruit. Caramel-coated fruit.”

People turned their heads at Yuelina’s voice. Then they flinched in surprise upon seeing Theo.

Yuelina tilted her head in confusion.

They seemed interested in the fruit, but then startled as if they’d seen something they shouldn’t have.

“Daddy! I want bonbon! Bonbon!”

Just then, a boy who looked about five or six pointed at the caramel-coated peach.

Yuelina thought an opportunity had come.

She pulled out a peach skewered on a wooden stick and extended her arm towards the boy.

“It’s very delicious. Would you like to try?”

“Yes!!”

The child also stretched out his arms towards Yuelina.

The child’s father glanced nervously at Theo while taking money out of his pocket.

“Enjoy your treat.”

“Th-thank you, Your Highness the Grand Duchess.”

“Theo, could you take the money?”

Yuelina, holding the peach, naturally spoke to Theo.

Theo extended his hand towards the man. The man’s hand trembled.

“Enjoy… it.”

“We’re honored! Your Highness the Grand Duke!”

The man bowed deeply, picked up his child, and disappeared.

Yuelina paused.

She had wondered if it could be, but was it really true?

“Your Highness the Grand Duchess!”

Just then, the girl who had gone to drink water came running back, out of breath.

The girl blamed herself for not coming back sooner because her legs had given out.

“I’m late, aren’t I? I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s alright. Theo, could you give her the money we received earlier?”

At Yuelina’s words, Theo held out the money he had received to the girl.

The girl, with a stiffened body, barely managed to take the money Theo was giving.

Yuelina was certain.

People fear Theo.

Why?

Theo hadn’t raised his voice or created a hostile atmosphere.

“Then, are you, are you leaving now?”

Theo nodded at the girl’s words and picked up the strawberry and orange he had set aside.

Was it from when the man ran away with his son?

Yuelina’s expression had noticeably hardened. She had also paused momentarily when the girl trembled while receiving money from her.

Theo felt regret.

He should have just shown her being disappointed in a Grand Duke who ruthlessly blocked off the square.

No, should he have ordered not to open the market at all?

He had no idea how Yuelina would think of him from now on.

“Theo, I’ll take the strawberry.”

“Ah,”

Just then, Yuelina took the strawberry Theo was holding.

Theo lowered his suddenly empty arm.

And that hand, Yuelina naturally took.

Yuelina’s small, dainty hand tightly embraced Theo’s hand.

Her thin, slender fingers nestled between Theo’s fingers.

At the warm and soft touch, every joint in Theo’s hand twitched.

“Shall we go over there?”

Yuelina, now thoroughly imbued with the sweet caramel scent, said while looking at him.

Theo grasped his hand intertwined with Yuelina’s.

“Anywhere.”

Yuelina and Theo, having left the fruit stall, walked together down the street.