Chapter 36

The fruit skewer was not merely a snack for Euphrasia; it was a symbol of her brother’s affection and a source of hope that helped her endure life in the Count Olden family. As she stared at the fruit skewer, lost in memories, Euphrasia slightly parted her lips. A strawberry, glistening with a sugar coating, was perched at the very top of the skewer.

Crunch.

As she bit into the red flesh, the sugary coating cracked, and the tangy juice filled her mouth.

“Is it really that delicious?”

“It’s sweet, very sweet.”

Euphrasia uttered a brief comment as she finished off the remaining piece of strawberry in one bite. She then methodically ate the grape cluster, the orange slice, and finally, the single cherry at the bottom of the skewer. Within moments, only the empty stick remained in her hand.

Leopold, who had been observing her with curiosity, held a fruit skewer in his own hand as well.

Crunch.

Following Euphrasia’s example, he took a bite.

‘Sweet!’

Just as she had said, it was incredibly sweet. But to Leopold, it was just sweet—nothing more. He couldn’t fathom why anyone would eat such a snack with such enthusiasm. That was his honest opinion.

Yet Euphrasia, having already finished her skewer, looked utterly delighted. She even smacked her lips softly in disappointment and glanced at the street vendor displaying rows of fruit skewers.

‘She must have been close to her brother.’

Although her gaze was fixed on the vendor, it seemed as though her eyes were peering into some distant memory. They weren’t truly blood-related siblings. Leopold felt a strange discomfort.

Jealousy? Perhaps something akin to it. Even though they were only half-siblings, he found himself doubting and guarding against Euphrasia while she seemed to hold no such reservations toward her supposed brother.

‘How childish.’

It was a similar feeling to when he had spitefully addressed Eric as “Brother” and played petty pranks on him. Leopold vaguely realized that back then, it wasn’t Eric’s rejection that had upset him. Rather, it was Euphrasia’s attitude—her apparent preference for Eric over him—that had bothered him.

‘Such pitiful insecurity. If Isabella knew, she’d laugh and mock me to no end. She’d say I’m still clinging to the illusion of family, even after being abandoned by them, and that I’m pathetic for being tied to the bloodline of a lowly woman from the slums.’

Shaking his head to dispel such thoughts, Leopold discreetly discarded his fruit skewer. As the sugar melted and made his palm sticky, he meticulously wiped it clean with a handkerchief before addressing Euphrasia, who was still engrossed in the street vendor.

“Lady Euphrasia?”

In the end, he couldn’t refuse her suggestion to go out together. He hadn’t even had the chance to decline. Euphrasia had energetically begun preparing for their outing the moment she proposed it.

Her preparation was unlike that of typical noblewomen. Instead of donning luxurious attire and summoning servants and guards, she borrowed simple clothes from the maids and disguised herself modestly. She seemed excited, nervous, and even a little thrilled.

It was an apt observation. Euphrasia was genuinely feeling a mix of emotions, unrelated to her true purpose. She believed it was necessary to have a proper conversation with Leopold at least once. This was one of the reasons she had allowed him to stay at the Duke’s residence.

She needed information about her parents and the Princess of Kettlin who had tried to poison her. Leopold’s reasons for staying by her side had only been explained superficially, so she wanted to learn more. That was why she impulsively proposed the outing.

However, separate from her objectives, Euphrasia had rarely experienced going out. The streets of the Empire were perhaps even more unfamiliar to her than they were to Leopold. Naturally, her steps grew lighter, and she unconsciously hummed a quiet tune.

For these reasons, Leopold couldn’t bring himself to stop her.

‘I’ll let her explore for a while and then take her back.’

Judging that this was enough time to tour the commercial district, Leopold spoke again.

“Wouldn’t it be better to return to the ducal residence now?”

His words caused Euphrasia to halt, her chin wrinkling in hesitation.

‘I haven’t asked him anything yet!’

She had been too distracted by the vibrant sights to notice the passage of time. Moreover, the bustling atmosphere of the commercial district wasn’t conducive to serious conversation.

‘Should I just ask him outright now?’

Euphrasia shook her head. When the opportunity presented itself, she felt a bit scared. What if the information was too much for her to handle? If only the Duke were here…

‘Why am I suddenly thinking of the Duke?’

Startled, Euphrasia pushed away the image of Eric that had naturally surfaced in her mind.

Leopold, after waiting for her silence, spoke again.

“The guards will escort you home safely. Let’s part ways here and meet again later at the ducal residence.”

“Guards?”

“Surely you didn’t think you and I came out alone, Lady Euphrasia?”

It was impossible for the lady of the ducal household and a foreign guest to go out unaccompanied. Even if Euphrasia insisted on dressing simply and sneaking out without any visible guards, it was certain that Duke Herrington’s soldiers were discreetly stationed around them.

Unaware of the presence of these guards, Euphrasia was taken aback. After a moment of contemplation, she parted her lips.

“Why aren’t you returning with me, Your Highness?”

“I’ve seen enough of the city center. I plan to explore the outskirts.”

The capital of the Lockvela Empire was structured with the imperial palace at its center, surrounded by the residences of high-ranking nobles. Beyond the noble district lay the commercial district, a circular area bustling with commoners, lower-ranking nobles, and various other groups.

The commercial district was the largest trading hub in the Empire, always crowded with people. While it could feel chaotic, it also exuded an energetic and lively atmosphere.

In contrast, the outskirts of the capital were far removed from the commercial district. They were located beyond the residential areas of commoners and required quite a journey to reach. The outskirts were where the slums were formed—a world inhabited by the Empire’s poorest citizens.

As a gathering place for those living at the bottom of society, the outskirts were rife with incidents and accidents. Even the city’s law enforcement largely turned a blind eye, making it a dangerous and neglected area.

This was common knowledge for most citizens of the capital. However, Euphrasia was not among them. She asked Leopold without hesitation.

“Is there any reason I can’t go there with you?”

“Surely you’re not asking that out of ignorance. Lady Euphrasia, it’s not a place suitable for you. It’s a slum—dangerous and filthy.”

“Don’t underestimate me. I’m not some pampered young lady from a noble family.”

Perhaps feeling insulted, Euphrasia retorted sharply.

“And as you said, if the guards are protecting me, what does danger matter? Surely you don’t think the ruffians there could overpower Duke Herrington’s soldiers?”

Her reasoning was almost stubborn. Leopold furrowed his brow, preparing to persuade her further, but a crude and unpleasant presence interrupted him from behind. Before he could turn around, Euphrasia’s urgent voice rang out.

“Hey! That’s not allowed, Jiji, Jiji!”

Euphrasia hurried past Leopold to pick up a fruit skewer that had fallen to the ground behind him. Leopold had discarded it secretly, but Euphrasia didn’t know that.

“It’s covered in dirt from the ground. Eating that isn’t safe. Are you hungry?”

Euphrasia asked in a gentle voice. She was crouched awkwardly, addressing a child who had reached out for the fallen skewer.

The child appeared to be about six or seven years old, though their malnourished state made it hard to tell. They might have been well over ten. With hair tied haphazardly and wearing tattered clothes full of holes, the child looked shabby and pitiful. Upon closer inspection, they had a somewhat cute appearance, but their face was so dirty that their features were hard to discern. Their gender was unclear as well.

“Do you want a fruit skewer? Pick one. I’ll buy it for you. If you have siblings or friends to share it with, feel free to pick a few more.”

Euphrasia offered generously to the child, who stared at her wide-eyed in surprise.

Euphrasia extended her generosity to the child who stared at her with wide, startled eyes. At a glance, the child’s circumstances were clearly dire. Discovering the child left her slightly shocked.

The child’s pitiful appearance was of a kind Euphrasia had never imagined in her life. Though she had endured mistreatment as an illegitimate child, she had at least grown up with access to basic necessities provided by the Count Olden family.

She knew in her head that the Empire was home not only to nobles but also to commoners. She also understood intellectually that the number of commoners far exceeded that of nobles. Yet, she had never seriously considered the living conditions of commoners.

The commoners she had interacted with were limited to the servants working for the Count Olden family. These servants, despite being commoners, enjoyed a remarkably high standard of living compared to others of their class.

Thus, seeing such an unfiltered representation of a commoner’s life was a first for her.