There were quite a few shops selling seeds and seedlings. Some of them featured plants that Stella recognized, but there were also many she had never seen before.

The variety of seed shops was extensive, ranging from small street vendors like the one Darren and Stella had run, to larger, more established businesses.

Among the many shops, what caught Stella’s eye was a humble stall run by an old woman at the end of the street. The selection of seeds was small, and the location wasn’t ideal, so there were hardly any customers.

Stella, as if drawn by some force, approached and crouched in front of the old woman’s stall.

“A pretty young lady like you planning to farm?”

“Yes, I’m thinking of planting a few things.”

“Hmm. I sense good energy from you. Everything you grow will thrive. You have a natural gift.”

The old woman wore a tattered brown robe pulled low, covering half her face down to her nose. All that was visible were her wrinkled, small lips.

“That’s good to hear. What kind of seeds are these?”

Stella smiled and picked up a basket filled with rather large seeds. She showed them to Darren, who shook his head, indicating he didn’t recognize them either.

“They’re sugar peanuts.”

“Is there such a thing? Darren, have you heard of them?”

“No, it’s the first time. Grandma, are you trying to trick us?”

As Darren looked at her suspiciously, the old woman snatched the basket from Stella’s hands.

“Not selling. Go away.”

“No, please. Let me have them. I’ll buy them.”

For some reason, Stella felt compelled to purchase these suspicious seeds.

“They’re very expensive seeds.”

“How much?”

Darren continued to look displeased as he stared at the old woman, who didn’t even glance his way.

“Ten pennies each.”

“What? This old woman must be joking! I’ve never even heard of sugar peanuts, and you want ten pennies each? People might think there’s gold inside!”

Darren’s voice was loud enough to draw glances from people nearby. Stella tugged on Darren’s clothes. Despite his frustration, Darren closed his mouth tightly and glared at the old woman.

“You’ll never achieve greatness with such a stingy attitude.”

The old woman clicked her tongue at Darren. He wanted to take Stella away from this place immediately but couldn’t bring himself to do it, so he just fumed silently.

Stella counted the sugar peanuts in the basket. There were thirty-five in total.

“Three hundred fifty pennies, right?”

“Why? Too expensive?”

“Yes. All we earned today is 300 pennies.”

Darren was about to lose his mind over the thought of losing their hard-earned money to a con artist.

“Then just give me that much.”

The old woman extended both the basket and her hand as if she was doing them a favor. Stella, delighted, handed over the pouch containing their earnings, which the old woman took eagerly.

As the pouch left her hand, Stella wondered if Darren might be right about this being a scam. But sugar peanuts? She was too curious to resist.

“Darren, don’t worry. I’ll give you your wage when we get back.”

“That’s not the issue… I’m sorry. I just…”

“I understand why you’re concerned.”

Seeing Stella’s expression, Darren realized it was too late to turn back. Whatever those seeds were, it was clear that Princess Stella was very taken with them.

Stella, holding the basket of seeds, looked as happy as a child receiving a birthday gift.

Well, as long as the princess is happy. After all, she was the one who grew the carrots.

Once he accepted this, Darren even thought it was a small price to pay for making the princess happy.

“You’re more perceptive than you look.”

The old woman remarked as if she had read his thoughts, causing Darren to frown.

“Well then, sell a lot. We’ll be going now.”

Just as Stella and Darren were about to leave, the old woman called them back.

“Come here.”

“Yes? But we’ve already paid for the seeds.”

Darren asked, his voice once again full of suspicion.

“You’re so hasty. Take all of these too.”

Stella’s eyes widened in surprise. The old woman offered them five baskets, each filled with different seeds.

“We can’t accept all this. We don’t have any more money to give you.”

Stella hesitated to take them, but the old woman tapped her thin, bony hand on her bony thigh and stood up, trembling.

The old woman’s back was bent at a right angle. Darren noticed a cane lying beside the stall and quickly handed it to her.

“You’re perceptive, indeed. You’ll be useful.”

“Earlier, you said you couldn’t use it.”

“Not anymore.”

When Darren grumbled, the old woman grinned widely, revealing an even set of teeth. They were surprisingly healthy and dazzlingly white for someone so old and shabby.

Could that even be possible at her age? Darren wondered, but thought it would be strange to ask, so he just blinked.

“My legs hurt, so I need to head home now. I can’t carry all this anyway. Just take it all.”

The old woman waved her hand dismissively and, contrary to her frail appearance, quickly moved away from them as if she had never been trembling.

It felt like they had been enchanted by a ghost.

“What do you think that old… I mean, who is that old lady?” Darren asked in a dazed voice, watching the old woman shrink to the size of a finger. But Stella didn’t answer.

She was too busy gathering the seeds the old woman had left behind.

“Do you like them that much?” Darren asked, noticing that Stella’s content smile hadn’t faded since earlier.

“Yes. I feel like I’ve become rich.”

A princess who could be so happy with just a few seeds. Darren found it strange but couldn’t help laughing. It seemed like the strangeness was contagious.

Just as the two were about to leave the street, they heard a voice calling out to them.

“Hey, carrot seller, stop for a moment!”

They turned around to see three men who appeared to be in their early twenties.

Instinctively, Darren positioned himself in front of the princess to protect her.

“What do you want?” Darren’s voice was filled with confidence, as he was taller and bigger than them. He was sure he could take on all three if necessary.

“We’re not interested in you, tall guy. The lady next to you, come over here.”

The man in the middle gestured arrogantly at Stella, as if he were calling a dog. Darren bristled with anger and stepped forward.

“Darren. Wait.”

But Stella didn’t want Darren to get into a fight with them. If Darren were to get hurt, she would feel unbearably guilty.

“Why are you ordering people around?”

The men expected her to run over in fear, but the woman had unexpected resolve.

The man smirked more slyly and swaggered over to where Stella stood, followed closely by his companions. It seemed the skinny man in the middle was their leader.

The man quickly closed the distance to where Stella was standing.

“I’m not a strange person.”

“That’s for me to decide.”

In response to Stella’s words, the man’s lips twisted into a crooked smile. Being so close, she could faintly smell alcohol on him.

He didn’t seem to have drunk much, but Stella had bad memories associated with alcohol, so she instinctively turned her head away.

“You look even prettier when you’re shy. I’m Rio, the future owner of the Pine Trading Company.”

“Rio’s father owns the Pine Trading Company.”

“They’re the richest in this area.”

As soon as Rio spoke, his followers eagerly chimed in. Rio crossed his arms and shrugged, as if to say, “That’s who I am.”

“Congratulations. Well, we’ll be going now.”

Stella abruptly congratulated him and turned to leave, but Rio grabbed her arm.

As Stella lost her balance and stumbled, Darren quickly stepped in front of her and forcefully removed Rio’s hand.

“Aaah!”

Rio screamed involuntarily as Darren’s grip was so strong it felt like his hand was being crushed. Embarrassed, Rio glared at Darren and pointed a finger at him.

“Do you know who I am? Do you want to stop doing business here?”

“Darren, let’s go. They’re not worth it.”

As the man shouted, Stella pulled on the excited Darren. She wasn’t afraid of them; she just didn’t want Darren to get involved with such people.

‘I shouldn’t have come along.’

If things went wrong, she felt it would all be her fault. Her previously good mood sank to the bottom.

“Where do you think you’re going after hurting my hand like this?”

Rio shouted from behind and grabbed a handful of Stella’s hair.

“Ugh!”

“I was being nice because you’re pretty, and this is how you treat me?”

“How dare you!”

Darren grabbed Rio’s wrist and twisted it sharply to the side. With a crackling sound, Rio clutched his hand and fell to the ground.

“Rio!”

The two friends who had been with Rio rushed at Darren, but they were no match for him. Darren brought his arms together with force, knocking the two men to the ground with a thud.

Stella, who hadn’t realized Darren was this skilled, was left speechless in surprise.

At that moment, Rio, clutching his wrist, pulled out a dagger from his coat and lunged at Darren.

“You bastard!”

But Rio didn’t get far before he tripped over Stella’s outstretched foot and fell.