Chapter 41
Their next stop was the Rose Boutique.
It was one of the most famous dress shops in the capital—so popular among noblewomen that it was booked months in advance.
As soon as the door opened, a woman known as Madame rushed out with a wide smile. Behind her, the neatly dressed staff stepped out and bowed deeply.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince, it’s an honor to have you visit again.”
Her eyes briefly scanned the guards, the aide, and finally landed on Melody, who was standing behind them.
“You didn’t bring your usual companions today. Perhaps… you’re here to have a dress made for someone special?”
Without speaking, Ryan motioned toward Melody.
She wore a simple dress with a beige base and floral patterns—neat, but clearly made from cheap fabric.
Madame’s smile faltered for just a moment as her eyes swept Melody from head to toe.
“My apologies for not recognizing you. May I ask which family you belong to, miss?”
“She’s a commoner,” Ryan’s aide answered.
“Ah…”
A trace of displeasure slipped into Madame’s voice, but she quickly recovered and wore a polite smile again.
“Well, with a figure like yours, anything would look nice on you. Please, come this way.”
But the moment the fitting room door closed behind Melody, separating her from the prince, Madame’s smile disappeared completely.
“Don’t touch anything unless you’re paying for it,” she snapped. “Everything costs money here.”
Some of the staff snickered quietly.
“Put it on the prince’s tab,” Melody replied calmly, running her fingers over the soft silk dress.
It felt a bit petty, but she knew people who came here weren’t exactly counting pennies. Still, Madame stiffened at her composed reply.
“I mean don’t touch dresses with hands that’ve been who-knows-where.”
“Oh, I’ve touched monsters, yes—but Nymphia’s scales don’t leave a stain.”
“W-What? Monsters?!”
Madame’s eyes widened in disbelief, then twisted into a sneer.
“What a vulgar joke. You should be ashamed. I don’t know how a commoner like you managed to seduce the Crown Prince, but enjoy it while it lasts. He gets bored quickly—never stays with a woman more than two months.”
Despite the insult, Melody showed no sign of being shaken. She just blinked slowly and thought for a moment.
“If that’s true, I’m glad. I was worried it’d take longer. Now I feel better.”
Her completely indifferent reply made Madame’s face turn bright red. She couldn’t tell if Melody was mocking her or being serious—it was both infuriating and confusing.
Grinding her teeth, Madame pulled out a flashy dress with a plunging neckline. She was dying to throw this rude girl out, but since the Crown Prince had brought her, she couldn’t.
“Here. Take this. It’s the most expensive one here. Since this will probably be the last time someone of your ‘status’ enters this boutique, you might as well enjoy it.”
Melody frowned. The dress barely used any fabric. Shouldn’t the most expensive dress have a lot of fabric?
Just then, a voice spoke up from the doorway.
“Yes, it does look very expensive.”
“Y-Your Highness…!”
Madame turned pale when she spotted the prince leaning against the door.
“How dare you insult someone I brought with me?”
Ryan strode forward, snatched the dress from her hands, and threw it straight into the fireplace. It went up in flames.
“N-No…!”
“What’s the second most expensive one? Bring that too.”
The trembling staff brought another dress. Ryan glanced at it, took it, and tossed it into the fire as well—just like garbage.
As the beautiful dresses turned to ashes, Madame fell to her knees, sobbing.
“M-My dresses… I worked so hard on those…”
“Madame!”
Her staff rushed to help her, but she slipped back to the floor.
“Don’t cry. No one in the capital will wear your dresses ever again.”
Outside, Ryan dusted the ashes off his sleeve with an annoyed flick.
“Hmph. Didn’t think I’d see that happen today. Let’s go somewhere else. This time—”
“Your Highness. Just a moment.”
Melody stopped walking. Ryan turned to look at her with narrowed eyes.
“What is it?”
“You’re buying me things—food, dresses—to earn my favor, right?”
“I’m showing you kindness.”
“That kindness… means you’re spending your time and money on me.”
“Be honored.”
“I am,” she said in a flat voice. Then added,
“Then could you spend that glorious money on something I actually like?”
She didn’t want to be dragged around without her own voice being heard. Ryan tilted his head with amusement and gave her a crooked smile.
“Fine. Let’s hear it.”
“You’re telling me this place is better than that boutique? Really?” Ryan wrinkled his nose as he looked around the slums.
The ground was covered in mud and trash. The tiny houses were so close together it felt hard to even breathe. Under a little tarp that barely counted as a shop, someone was selling dry fish and wilted vegetables.
Ryan stepped carefully, trying not to get dirty—but muddy water still splashed up, and he cursed under his breath.
“There’s a place like this in the capital? It’s disgusting. Filthy. Wet.”
This was where Melody had first settled when she came inside the barrier. She stepped out of a bakery near the edge of the slums, holding a bag of bread, and gave Ryan a sideways look.
“Your Highness, I asked you to wear a plain robe. If you wear something that fancy, people think you’re rich and charge more.”
Golden thread shimmered in the sunlight along the edge of his robe. She had told him to hide his identity—where had he even found something this shiny?
“Who’s richer than me in this empire? Let them charge me more. I’m the Crown Prince—it’s only right that I pay more than the rest.”
“…You’re such a sucker.”
“What did you just say?”
“I said your generosity is… impressive.”
Ryan tilted his chin, looking like he hadn’t heard her clearly.
“A merchant who charges more to the rich is smart. It’s the one who overcharges the poor who’s trash.”
Melody was surprised at the unexpected wisdom in his words. Ryan raised an eyebrow.
“What’s that look for?”
“It suits you, Your Highness.”
He snorted and flicked the hem of his robe.
“Not like this face can be hidden behind a robe anyway.”
He wasn’t wrong. He had a sharp jawline, long eyes, strong brows, and a cool mouth that curved naturally—if only he’d keep it shut, he’d be perfect.
“This place is too gross. I’ll wait here. Do what you need to do with the bread and come back.”
Melody, her arms full of bread, turned—just as the guards and aide, also holding bread, looked at Ryan with wide eyes.
“If Your Highness doesn’t come with us, we can’t leave either…”
The aide’s words made Ryan sigh heavily. Then he started walking again.
“Fine. Let’s go.”
