“This is a hairpin from across the sea.”

Even with the coat covering her, her build couldn’t be hidden. The merchant, recognizing Elena as a woman, immediately began his sales pitch.

“And this hairpin has another function.”

The merchant asked to have the hairpin back briefly, then held it with both hands and pulled it apart.

The hairpin split in two, revealing a hidden dagger.

“You can carry it with you and use it effectively if danger arises.”

“This is really quite nice.”

Elena readily extended her hand.

“I’ll take it.”

Without even trying to haggle, Elena paid the merchant’s asking price and looked at other items.

Noticing through her quick purchase that she had no hesitation about spending money, a genuine smile appeared on the merchant’s face. Though they had just met, he approached her as if they were the closest friends in the world.

“How about this?”

“It’s nice. Very pretty. How much?”

The merchant stood right next to Elena to show her items, pushing Rudfelix back.

‘She’s completely absorbed.’

Though they came to look around the night market, she was so captivated by the accessories that she didn’t look at anything else.

Just as he was wondering if he should wait a bit longer and then drag her away, he happened to notice the goods being sold next door.

While thinking it strange that weapons were being sold right next to accessories, perhaps considering couples shopping together, Rudfelix’s feet were already heading that way.

Elena held the accessories in both hands while scanning the stall. After looking several times, things started becoming familiar.

“Is there nothing else?”

Having bought more than ten accessories, this meant the rest didn’t appeal to her.

The first hairpin she saw was the most unique and eye-catching, but nothing after that was as interesting, and her interest was waning.

After picking out what she would buy, Elena asked, and the merchant moistened his lips anxiously.

If she said no, it seemed the big fish that had entered his net would swim away to other waters.

“Well, this is really precious…”

When he brought out a new item he hadn’t displayed before, Elena welcomed it.

“This is exactly what I wanted.”

Elena’s eyes sparkled as she pulled up the corners of her mouth.

Though he couldn’t see her face, the merchant was also pleased by her obvious delight.

This wasn’t the ordinary merchandise he’d put out for safety, but the real high-quality accessories he had prepared.

He brought out a jewelry box, turned it toward Elena, and opened the lid.

“It’s more expensive, however.”

“That doesn’t matter.”

As though this was what he expected, the merchant’s smile reached his ears. He had really caught a big fish today. Her voice when he first heard it made him worry she might be from the guard disguised as a customer. From the start, those who came in disguise were obvious from their stiff attitude. They would usually busily move around the night market trying to discover everything.

However, the woman in front had stopped before going deeper inside the entrance, yet showed no regret as she focused on the accessories.

The man standing as an observer also caught the weapon merchant’s eye as the woman beside him bought plenty of items.

These two were genuine big spenders.

The two merchants decided to make their sales quota from this pair today.

“There’s something even better – would you like to see?”

“There’s more?”

The woman’s voice rose as she held the jewelry box containing her purchased accessories. And with the man who had come with pockets full of weapons also showing interest, the merchant rubbed his hands together and hinted subtly.

“Please wait two hours. That’s when the real business begins.”

“Alright. We’ll look around elsewhere, so find us when it’s time.”

It wasn’t that they would come at that time. Understanding her meaning that they should properly attend to such valuable customers, the merchant kept bowing with a smile.

Elena held the jewelry box to her chest and went deeper into the market with Rudfelix. Seeing the people filling the alley, Rudfelix bent down to Elena’s ear.

“Was this what you were waiting for?”

“Not exactly, but it’s good. I thought we might leave without finding anything.”

It’s an odd thing to say when she already had both hands full.

“Your… I mean, what did you buy?”

Unable to call him ‘Your Highness’ here, she cut off her words vaguely, but soon continued naturally.

She had been curious since he seemed uninterested in anything yet bought weapons.

“I bought them to examine them closely later.”

“Will you try them on your waist and swing them around too? Ah!”

As Elena was teasing playfully, she suddenly found herself in his embrace as he pulled her shoulder.

Surprised by the sudden action, Elena was slower than usual to assess the situation.

Just as she was about to ask why he had embraced her, a man passed by their side.

A strong smell of alcohol wafted from the man’s body. Stumbling as he walked, the man couldn’t walk straight and bumped into things here and there.

“Be careful.”

“Thank you.”

Elena remained in his embrace, only lifting her eyes. Under the hood of the coat, she could see his sharp, chiseled jawline.

When she had asked him to protect her, it had been an empty phrase with no real meaning. She had only said it because he mentioned leaving if it became dangerous, but she hadn’t expected him to protect her like this.

‘If only he would loosen his arms so I could get out.’

Since Rudfelix wouldn’t release his arms, she remained in his embrace. Strangely, she couldn’t find her voice. Her heart was beating so loudly it seemed to block her speech.

For whatever reason, being held by Grand Duke Rudfelix was both embarrassing and unexpectedly comforting.

“You make it impossible to take my eyes off you for even a moment.”

His low voice traveled down from her head and seeped into her ears. The remnants of his absorbed voice turned her earlobes red.

“Ah…”

When her voice came out scratchy, Elena cleared her throat. Though she tried to act natural, her voice trembled slightly.

‘It’s not like this is my first time being held by a man.’

It was actually her second time. Though the first was with her father.

Her fingers fidgeted so much she had to forcibly curl them to prevent cramping.

“I usually do well on my own, but perhaps it’s because this place is unfamiliar.”

She tried to stiffen the atmosphere by using the formal tone she used as an aide.

“I can’t help feeling anxious. Tell me whenever you go somewhere unfamiliar.”

“Will you come along?”

“Yes.”

The answer came easily. Wasn’t the leader of the duchy and the empire’s most powerful military force busy?

“Even when Your Highness is busy?”

“Nothing else would be more important than that.”

The more they talked, the more something tickled in her chest. She wasn’t sure if it was from their clothes rubbing together where they touched, or from the Grand Duke’s words that seemed increasingly prone to misunderstanding.

“It sounds like you’re saying I’m more important.”

For the first time, his words stopped.

The silence felt like confirmation. That made it feel even more profound.

“Excuse me… but there are games prepared for couples over there.”

Hearing a stranger’s voice that quietly interrupted them, Elena felt the arm supporting her back loosen.

A man dressed smartly in a glittering vest respectfully held out two pieces of paper with both hands.

“It’s not far. Just ten steps away, there are games set up for couples to enjoy together.”

Elena accepted the papers, relieved that the coat could hide her reddened face. She quietly took the one extended to Rudfelix as well.

“Please do come.”

The man bowed with a grin before approaching other couples to hand out the same papers.

“I guess we looked like a couple.”

Elena folded the paper in half and hid it behind her back. There were some phrases too embarrassing to show.

“What kind of place is it?”

“It’s where you win prizes by perfectly following instructions drawn by lottery, but giving instructions to Your Highness…”

She waved her hand, saying it wasn’t right for someone who gives orders to others to receive them like this.

Hugging while popping balloons, holding candy sticks with their mouths — seeing several such games listed made her horrified, and that definitely wasn’t it.

“Let’s go see.”

“What? But it won’t be helpful…”

“We can decide after seeing it. It’s not too late.”

Elena grabbed Rudfelix’s coat with a grimace.

“It might be embarrassing if we go.”

“If you’re so against it, I suppose we can’t.”

Rudfelix took Elena’s hand. She thought he might listen since he understood she didn’t want to go.