Kai wondered if Stella was deliberately pretending not to know his true identity.

Her gentle, sad smile, which seemed to comfort others, might be concealing a cunning scheme, making everything feel suddenly unnatural.

It was peculiar that he kept fixating on something as trivial as a carrot—something not even rare—and it was strange for a princess to be so attentive to a hungry knight.

Wasn’t the Credion Empire the enemy that threatened her homeland and had forcibly brought her here?

As he regarded her with a complex gaze, Stella replied.

“Being hungry makes you sad, doesn’t it?”

Her voice carried a strangely forlorn tone, causing Kai to frown unconsciously.

This was not an answer one would expect from a princess. She likely had never experienced sadness from hunger, so why did she respond with such an expression?

“How do you know that?”

Kai’s tone was sharp, but Stella, her mind occupied with other thoughts, lacked the energy to notice how others spoke. She stared blankly at the now barren land around them.

“Why wouldn’t I know? Everyone knows.”

Her response sounded like a sigh. Stella’s expression was weary and lonely, reminiscent of an old woman who had endured many hardships over the years.

Stella, who seemed to have lost all her energy, looked very different from the previous day. Kai considered asking what had happened but ultimately chose to remain silent.

‘I shouldn’t get involved any further.’

He felt a sense of rejection and caution toward events that unfolded beyond his control.

Matters that strayed from his plans were not his concern, nor did they warrant his attention. Above all, the princess of Amalrune seemed suspicious in every regard.

As Kai prepared to step back, Stella removed the blanket she had wrapped around herself.

He wondered why she would do that in the chilly wind, but there was no hesitation in her actions as she discarded the blanket.

“Here, you said you didn’t have a blanket in your room.”

Stella clicked her tongue at Kai’s thin clothing and handed him the blanket. Though it was far too small for his frame, it would at least cover his stomach and provide some warmth.

“It’s not very big, but it’s quite warm when you use it. You shouldn’t catch a cold. Cover yourself.”

The notion that a knight of the empire lacked food and warmth was absurd, but Stella didn’t know enough about life in the castle to understand that.

Just as not all princesses lived in luxury and happiness, she vaguely assumed there might be knights who struggled in similar ways.

“I do have a blanket.”

“Just take it. I have plenty inside.”

Despite Kai’s refusal, Stella insisted on forcing the blanket into his hands. Compared to Amalrune, life here was actually more abundant. It was ironic to find peace only after leaving her father’s shadow.

A cold wind blew, snaking through her pajamas like a serpent’s tongue, quickly sweeping over her body.

Suddenly feeling the chill, Stella hugged herself and shivered. Kai attempted to return the blanket, but Stella was already running back to Verdura Castle.

Her ankles, visible beneath her pajamas, were so thin they seemed fragile. With such delicate ankles, she appeared likely to trip and injure herself even while walking normally.

She stumbled a few times as she hurried along, and each time, Kai flinched as if he might fall himself.

“Can’t even take care of herself.”

Kai’s expression soured with disapproval.

He sat on his bed, staring at the blanket carelessly tossed on the sofa for a long time.

Like a student confronting a difficult problem, he pondered deeply, nodded as if he had found an answer, then set his lips firmly. No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t understand the actions of the Amalrune princess. And yet,

“The pie was delicious.”

His mouth was still filled with sweetness.

The carrot pie he had taken from the basket was as large as a plate. He had expected it to be tasty since the carrots were good, but the flavor was astonishing, making his eyes widen with delight.

The pie had the fresh aroma of carrots, a rich but not overpowering sweetness, and the perfectly cooked texture of the carrots, creating a flawless taste.

If the pie hadn’t been so large, he might have eaten both on his own.

It wasn’t until the large pie vanished in the blink of an eye that he realized how full he was; the carrot pie melted away the moment it touched his mouth.

“Sigh…”

Even though he was so full he felt like he could burst, he still found himself contemplating taking another bite of the carrot pie on the table.

“Am I going crazy?”

If not, perhaps he was under some sort of spell. Kai, dissatisfied with his own situation, lay down irritably and pulled the blanket over himself like a sulking child.

It was a night filled with fullness and frustration.

***

As soon as the sun rose the next day, the first place Darren and Brynn visited upon arriving in the village was the square in the center of Conpagno.

Following Milla’s instructions, they headed straight down the road that extended east from the square’s fountain.

Unlike Darren, who was tense and focused on the path ahead, Brynn, who rarely ventured into bustling areas, was preoccupied with taking in the surroundings.

“Wow, Darren! Look at that fountain over there. It’s huge!”

Brynn pointed at the massive fountain standing in the middle of the square.

“Oh, Darren! It looks like they’re selling fruits and vegetables over there!”

Brynn exclaimed urgently, pointing in a different direction from where Darren was heading. Darren, who had been striding ahead, finally stopped when Brynn called his name for the fifth time.

Still looking in another direction, Brynn walked straight into Darren’s chest, only stopping when her forehead bumped against him.

“Ouch!”

“Brynn. This isn’t the time to be dawdling. We need to finish the task the lady entrusted to us.”

Darren’s scolding quickly wiped the smile off Brynn’s face.

Seeing Brynn, who had been bouncing around like a freshly caught fish, suddenly droop like wilted spinach softened Darren’s heart, but he steeled himself. If they didn’t get this right today, there wouldn’t be another chance.

“Think about it. If we complete today’s task well, the lady promised to give us a reward. There are still plenty of carrots left. You know what that means, right?”

“I know.”

“So don’t act like a distracted kid on a field trip. Got it? I really need to earn this money.”

Brynn, aware that Darren had many mouths to feed, nodded silently. She felt suddenly embarrassed by her childlike excitement over a brief outing.

“Let’s go, then.”

Darren said in a gentler voice, watching Brynn, whose ears had turned red.

Determined not to be distracted by the colorful sights, Brynn responded resolutely. She wished for Darren, who was diligent and responsible, to be happy.

After making their resolve like generals heading to battle, the two entered the Moonlight Guild, located midway down the eastern road, without looking back.

The street was mostly lined with restaurants and tea houses, but various guilds, both large and small, were scattered throughout. Among them, the Moonlight Guild was of moderate size—not too big and not too small.

If the princess or Lady Milla had come, they could have entered the large guild at the entrance of the street, but Darren and Brynn were servants. They would likely have been stopped from entering right at the door.

The door of the Moonlight Guild was worn at the edges, and the handle was polished smooth. Although it looked old, it was well-maintained and very sturdy. Standing before the door, Darren and Brynn exchanged nods.

Darren took a deep breath and pushed the old door with all his might.

Clang!

As he pushed the dirty wooden door, a clear bell rang above his head.

“Welcome.”

A boy, who looked about ten years old, greeted them with a bright voice from the small lobby that appeared as soon as the door opened.

He was a very cute boy with almost brown-blonde hair and freckles scattered across his nose.

“What brings you here?”

The boy, who had greeted them with a cheerful smile, nodded knowingly when he saw the sack slung over Darren’s shoulder.

“Are you here for a street vendor permit?”

The boy was quick-witted and polite.

“Oh? Yes. Could we possibly meet with the guild master?”

Darren asked as politely as possible, trying not to appear awkward. Brynn, surprised by the sudden change in Darren’s demeanor, stared wide-eyed, but he pretended not to notice and kept his gaze on the boy.

“The guild master stepped out for a moment to run an errand nearby. He’ll be back soon. Would you like to wait?”

The boy seemed very accustomed to dealing with guests. Darren, who was staring blankly at the boy who seemed smarter than him, nodded.

Clang!

With a cheerful bell sound, the door opened, and they sensed someone entering. Darren and Brynn turned around in unison, then shrank back simultaneously.

The man who entered the guild twisted his body slightly to get inside. His shoulders were so broad that he couldn’t pass through the door head-on.

Though not very tall, he was covered in muscles, exuding an intimidating presence.

“Mr. Kukus, you have guests!”

The boy ran up to the man, who looked difficult to approach, and cheerfully announced Darren and Brynn’s presence. The man, with a fierce face, smiled warmly and ruffled the boy’s round head.

“Really?”

His gaze quickly flicked to the sack Darren was holding and then back.

Although the smile he wore for the boy lingered on his lips, when Darren and Brynn met his intense eyes, they both held their breath. Even his smile was intimidating.

“Hello, I’m Darren. I’m here to sell some carrots I’ve grown. I heard I could purchase a street vendor permit here.”

Darren recited the words he had practiced more than ten times on the way. He spoke quickly, without pausing for breath, but he didn’t realize it.

“Those carrots?”

Kukus asked, tilting his chin slightly.

—

T/N: Kukus is back!