The night market in Elsen was unexpectedly lively and full of things to see. Among them were the food stalls, where Kallian and Elliope spent most of their time.

“Oh my, what a lovely young couple you make. It’s such a pleasure to see, so I’ll give you a little extra.”

“Thank you.”

The kebabs, made by seasoning and shaping pieces of meat and skewering them with vegetables and the like, looked quite appetising at first glance. The stallholder who handed them the skewers smiled kindly as he watched Kallian take meat from his own skewer and feed it to Elliope.

“Well, well. Anyone watching would think your wife was a little baby bird.”

The comment was meant as a playful joke, so it wasn’t unpleasant. Each bite of meat on the skewer filled the mouth with rich, savoury juices. As he watched Elliope enjoy the food, the stallholder added warmly.

“That’s right. You two look like newlyweds. A new bride should eat well. That way the baby you’re going to have will be healthy too.”

At these words, Elliope flinched slightly for a moment.

Next to her, Kallian quietly bought a few more skewers and handed them to her. Soon another skewer was in her hand, loaded with nothing but meat. It was clear to everyone that the skewer was made with only the best cuts. 

“Thank you.”

Elliope said as she took the new spit. Meanwhile, Kallian also took a bite from another skewer. 

The stallholder, busy grilling skewers, continued to chat. 

“You’ve come at a good time. Everyone’s in a good mood because the new lord has taken office. That’s why this night market is open.” 

“Oh, is that so?” 

“People say that Elsen will finally see the light again. It’s been abandoned for far too long.” 

Listening to the stallholder’s words, Elliope quietly bit into her skewer and looked at Kallian. He paid generously without saying much. 

Even when they moved on to another stall, the compliments about Kallian continued. The atmosphere of the night market was overwhelmingly favourable to him, to the point of being slightly embarrassing.

“Helping the poor as soon as he arrives – our new Viscount must be a thoughtful man. 

“More than that, he’s a skilled knight… It’s so reassuring to have someone like that.” 

In the Grand Duchy, everyone on the street knew who Kallian was, but in the distant region of Elsen, many people didn’t even recognise the new Viscount’s face. Kallian’s decision to forgo grand banquets and parades upon taking office, and instead focus on relief efforts for the poor, left the townspeople with little opportunity to see their lord in person. 

As a result, they chattered on, unaware that Kallian himself was standing right in front of them. 

“Frankly, I think it’s better than when it was directly under the jurisdiction of the Grand Duchy.” 

“Elsen always felt strangely neglected.” 

The people of the Grand Duchy had always loved Theodor, but when it came to whether he was a good lord, their opinions tended to be sceptical. 

In truth, the affection Theodor enjoyed was largely built on the foundation laid by the previous Grand Duke and Duchess, whose love and care for their people was unparalleled. Furthermore, the love Theodor received was closely linked to the exceptional competence of the lieutenants he had appointed since becoming Grand Duke. 

For he has subordinates like Kallian. 

Kallian himself, however, showed little reaction to the remarks he overheard in the night market. He neither confirmed nor denied the words, simply moving from one stall to the next, quietly exploring. For someone who had just been the subject of praise, his reaction was remarkably unperturbed. 

This man has always been that way. 

In their previous lives, Kallian had been no stranger to acclaim. Whenever a simple jousting tournament was held in the Grand Duchy, he was sure to win. Young women from all over the Duchy would gather to offer him congratulatory flowers, their admiration evident. 

But he would never accept a single flower. 

Traditionally, it was the Grand Duchess’ privilege to present the first flower to the winner of the tournament. But no one had ever given her the opportunity. 

Since she had never given it, no one else dared to offer theirs. 

“I really want to give Sir Kallian a flower too.” 

“Can you blame him? He didn’t even get the first one.” 

The people muttered to themselves. 

Each time Kallian just stared at their empty hands in silence. While he brushed off the admiration and praise of others with indifference, it was as if he sought the honour she had denied him. 

Each time he did so, she found herself unable to respond, her head bowed in embarrassed helplessness. 

Let’s not dwell on sad memories. 

Elliope shook her head quietly, pushing away the old memories and concentrating on exploring the night market. 

…About an hour later, she found herself feeling full to the point where dinner was unnecessary, her arms now laden with souvenirs Kallian had collected from various stalls. 

“Wow, did I just see that right?” 

“That knight shot five apples with a single arrow from a toy bow!” 

“He’s clearing it all out, clearing it all out!” 

At a stall offering prizes for hitting targets with a toy bow, Kallian won a black, soft-wool dog plush. Although there was a bigger prize for first place, he chose this toy. The reason was simple – Elliope had stopped briefly in front of the stall, her eyes fixed on the dog toy, unable to look away. 

Kallian, noticing her unwavering gaze, stepped forward to win it for her. As he handed it to her, his expression was one of subtle triumph, as if he were particularly proud of his achievement. 

“Thank you.” 

Elliope unconsciously hugged the cuddly toy Kallian had given her, a smile spreading across her face. Watching her, Kallian raised an eyebrow. 

“You already have a dog by your side, don’t you?” 

Then, as if asking to be petted himself, Kallian leaned closer. Slightly startled, Elliope spoke without thinking. 

“He looks like you.” 

Realising what she had just said, Elliope’s face turned red. Kallian cocked his head curiously. 

“Resembles me?” 

“…” 

“The stuffed animal… and me?” 

His tone suggested he was looking for confirmation, and Elliope, unable to meet his gaze, lowered her head and silently fiddled with the soft paw of the cuddly toy. 

As she walked past and locked eyes with the cuddly toy, the thought had simply occurred to her. Perhaps it was because Kallian had often compared her to a dog or a faithful hound. Or maybe it was because the plush, with its soft black wool and striking blue eyes, really did remind her of Kallian. 

The plush was incredibly soft. Elliope silently stroked its paw. Even though it had started out of embarrassment, it had a strangely addictive quality. 

Overhearing their conversation, a few nearby merchants couldn’t resist chiming in with playful remarks. 

“Ha-ha! How about this for the lady? It’d make a nice gift too!” 

“Look at these ornaments! Since the new Viscount arrived, the obsidian mine that was about to close has been reopened!” 

“Good news, that’s for sure. Really good news.” 

Kallian, as usual, showed no particular reaction to her comments. Instead, his focus remained entirely on the dog plush. After staring at it for a moment, he smiled faintly. 

“Is that why you’re hugging it so tightly?”

“…” 

“Because he looks like me?” 

Elliope’s ears grew warm. Unable to stand it any longer, she turned her head away completely. Seeing this, Kallian chuckled, as if deciding to let her off the hook, and gently pulled her closer. Before she knew it, she was wrapped tightly in his embrace. 

“But I’m here.”

“I… um…” 

“Wouldn’t that be better?” 

Flustered, Elliope quickly wriggled out of his arms and hurried forward. Kallian, not wanting to lose sight of her, caught up with little effort. Even as he followed her, he continued to notice and note everything she looked at along the way. 

“Do you like this?” 

“Oh, um…” 

“Then let’s get ten more like it.”

“That’s a bit much…” 

“Oh, the lady has a good eye! Here, take this as a bonus. It’s from this year’s batch.” 

“No need for the alcohol.”

He consistently refused any alcohol offered to her, often refusing or drinking it himself. In particular, he wouldn’t even look at the free wine being handed out on the street. It seemed that his caution stemmed from her previous erratic behaviour when slightly intoxicated. 

Elliope, not particularly inclined to drink more, didn’t object. She already felt like she was wandering in a tipsy haze. 

“This way.” 

As the night market grew more crowded and chaotic, navigating the crowd became increasingly difficult. As they weaved their way through the bustling crowd, Kallian casually reached out and grabbed her arm. 

“…” 

His fingers cupped the soft flesh of her inner forearm, pressing lightly but firmly. As his firm touch sank into the particularly sensitive area, she flinched involuntarily. Despite the bustling crowd around them, it felt as if they were the only two there, and her body flushed with warmth. 

Before she knew it, her whole being was swept away with him, as if caught in a wave. Kallian pulled her closer, his fingers intertwining with hers. 

“Make sure you don’t let go.”

“Yes.” 

Walking through the market hand in hand with Kallian proved to be far more enjoyable than she had expected. The energy and cheers of the crowd seemed to melt away any lingering awkwardness from earlier when he had pressed her about being in pain. 

Holding the cuddly toy in one hand, Elliope fiddled absently with its paw, silently wishing her other hand wouldn’t sweat. She wanted to hold his hand a little longer.

But Kallian tightened his grip on her hand as if such things didn’t matter. Through the intertwined fingers she could feel his steady pulse beating rhythmically against hers. 

“Now you’re smiling.”

It was only then that Elliope realised she was smiling gently. 

“I didn’t feel uncomfortable or upset earlier.”

“…” 

“But… walking around like this, together… I think it’s… nice.” 

His answer, awkwardly trailing off, made her feel a little nervous. She noticed that his grip on her hand tightened slightly in response. 

By then, night had fully fallen. 

Boom! 

As they strolled along the lake in the heart of Elsen – famous even in the region – fireworks lit up the sky once again, painting it in brilliant colours. 

“Wow!” 

The crowd’s excited exclamations rippled through the air like waves. Couples everywhere were holding hands and gazing romantically at the sky, much like Elliope and Kallian. To others, they must have seemed just as intimate. 

A ticklish sensation spread to one corner of her chest, making her feel warm and strangely shy. 

” Watch out! Be careful!” 

“Ah!” 

The next moment, a wave of people pushed towards them, causing Elliope to lose her balance.