Chapter 60
“Senika.”
“…Hm?”
“We’ve arrived.”
I had been so lost in thought that, if Jaeyus hadn’t called me, I might have stayed sitting in the carriage for a long time. I hadn’t even noticed the carriage had stopped.
“Oh—sorry. I was just daydreaming for a moment.”
“If you have worries, you can tell me.”
“What worries?” I waved my hand and stood up. Jaeyus watched me in silence for a moment, then got out of the carriage before I did.
The moment he opened the carriage door and stepped down, my eyes were filled with lights even brighter than daylight.
I squinted until my eyes adjusted to the brightness, then slowly opened them.
“Wow…”
I couldn’t help but exclaim at the sight.
Unlike the markets held by other families, the night market in the White Dragon house’s domain wasn’t in a square — it was set up along the streets of the residents’ quarter.
So I hadn’t expected anything glamorous, but this… this was spectacular. The lights shone so vividly that it could’ve easily seemed like daytime.
I’d overheard Joshua say the budget for this Baeksul Festival was larger than usual this year — I guess that included the night market too.
“Rudi.”
“…”
“Rudi?”
Unlike me, Ludias must have seen this festival and night market every year, so I was going to ask him how much it had changed.
But he was staring at the scene even more dumbfounded than I was. That alone answered my question.
I took Jaeyus’s hand and climbed out of the carriage. I was about to let go right away, but his large hand tightened around mine.
“What’s that for?”
“So I don’t get lost.”
“Please. Worry about yourself instead of me, will you?”
“I was worrying about you already.”
I pretended to grumble and tried to shake his hand off, but his unexpected reply made me jerk my head and meet his crimson eyes.
Jaeyus tilted his head slightly, looking down at me as if wondering if something was wrong.
… I never meant that as “worry about me,” you know?
“I’m holding your hand so I won’t get lost.”
“…”
Perhaps thinking I hadn’t understood him, Jaeyus kindly clarified.
I don’t know whether he’s simply oblivious or pretending not to notice!
Annoyed, I looked ahead again. Jaeyus must have seen my expression because I felt him smile faintly beside me.
“Shall we go?”
I nodded half-heartedly.
There was no point in arguing here — I’d only get tired. He wasn’t going to let go of this hand easily anyway.
So I gave in and followed Jaeyus, hand in hand, into the night market dazzling with happy laughter and brilliant golden light.
The market was exactly what I’d expected: stalls full of delicious food. The smells kept turning my head.
“Jaeyus, is there anything you want to eat?”
“Hmm.”
“Tell me. I’ll pay for everything today!”
The money was from my father, but it was in my pocket, so it’s mine!
“Aren’t you tempted by any of the smells?”
“…It’s all my first time.”
“Huh?”
“The food is very different from the North.”
Oh—I hadn’t thought of that. The climate’s different here, so the foods would naturally be different too.
Then the answer was simple: I’ll eat what I want and he can have the same. It can’t be that bad, right?
“Then eat the same as me.”
Until now Jaeyus had walked slightly ahead of me, but this time I led the way.
Actually, I didn’t go out much from the mansion either, so I wasn’t sure what was truly delicious.
But there was one thing I was certain of: any food would be delicious! I remembered Joshua telling me about market food.
“Do you know the Golden Desert Whale?”
“I’ve never seen one in person.”
“I haven’t either, but they say the whale meat sold at the market is so tasty.”
That was another piece of information Joshua had told me. He’d told me to be sure to try it when I went out.
Of course I’d had it at the mansion, but apparently the market version had a different flavor.
Anyway, trusting Joshua’s advice, I started looking for a stall that sold Golden Desert Whale meat.
“Miss.”
At that moment Ludias, who had been walking with us, spoke.
“I’ll find a quiet place for you.”
“Do you think you can find such a place here?”
“I should be able to.”
With that, Ludias dashed off like an arrow. He returned quickly and led the way; he seemed familiar with the layout, as if he knew this place well.
We went deeper in, and a large, newly-built building appeared that looked different from the surroundings. Inside, an attendant led us up to the second floor.
From a glimpse down the stairs, the first floor was packed with people. It seemed the place really was good.
“The second floor is VIP only, so you can be comfortable,” he said.
“Thanks, Rudi.”
I sat down without much thought, and something softly touched my knee. Only then did I realize it was Jaeyus’s knee.
Only then did I notice that we were alone, just the two of us, and a chill of danger prickled my spine.
I worried he might do something flirtatious or try to make the atmosphere weird. I was nervous.
‘He does that even in the mansion, where people are watching all around — so this place won’t be any safer.’
I told myself not to show I was conscious of it and waited for the food.
The contact between our knees was bearable thanks to the layers of frills on my dress.
What bothered me was the way Jaeyus’s blood-red eyes stared at me intently. In this quiet place where few people passed, that gaze felt even more intrusive.
“My face is going to fall apart.”
“It won’t.”
“You mean it’s oppressive.”
“I’m looking because I want you to feel burdened.”
If words could get through to him—good luck. He’s really something…
In the end I kept my mouth shut. After what felt like an eternity, dishes started to arrive one after another.
Fortunately, once the food came, Jaeyus didn’t do anything to me.
That was a relief, but odd… I felt strangely empty. During the meal I was even more aware of him.
‘Wait. Is this… Jaeyus being sulky because I wasn’t looking at him earlier?’
I must be crazy! I get upset about the strangest things!
I quickly shook my head to clear the thought and put the meat in my mouth. It melted the moment it touched my tongue; a smile of bliss came naturally.
As Joshua had said, whale meat from the market had a distinctly different taste.
“Wow, this place is really good.”
I patted my belly with satisfaction. Ludias, walking out before me, looked quite proud.
I went up to Jaeyus, who was standing quietly in front of the shop door, and nudged his arm with my elbow.
“How was it?”
“Not bad.”
“That’s it?”
“It was tasty.”
…I feel like he’s said that before after eating something our chef made. Huh—maybe that’s the highest praise for him.
Anyway, we continued strolling through the market. It was quite large, and it took some time to circle around.
Having mostly finished looking around, we were heading back to where we’d left the carriage, each holding a cotton candy.
“Kyaaa!”
A scream was followed immediately by the glass window of the shop next to us shattering.
Before I could be cut by the scattering shards, Jaeyus wrapped his arms around me and protected me, so I wasn’t hurt.
I looked around, bewildered, and peered out to see what had happened.
“P-please help!”
From inside the shop came a voice pleading for help, accompanied by a threatening pheromone aura.
But nobody around us moved. Everyone just looked on.
‘Why isn’t anyone helping?’
I scanned the area with a hard expression, then looked straight at Jaeyus.
If others had seen, they might have thought I looked like I always did, but to me something about him was off. He, too, seemed uncomfortable.
About this situation.
“Miss!”
I charged into the shop. Ludias grabbed at my neck as if to stop me, but I kept going.
Even if the people around pretended not to notice, I couldn’t ignore them. They were people I would soon be responsible for.
Even aside from that reason, I couldn’t just walk away from this.
‘Who would be doing such a thing?’
Only a lunatic or someone with no shame would do this here.
If they were residents of the domain, they’d know the night market wasn’t far from the mansion.
The deeper I went inside, the more ruined it looked. Dishes and furniture were smashed. When I reached the main hall I saw three people in a corner trembling, and two men standing in front of them.
“Who would do such a thing, on a day like this?” I demanded.
At my appearance, the two men who had been standing with their backs turned swung around to look at me.
They were robustly built, wearing fitted uniforms and swords at their waists.
A feeling of déjà vu came over me.
‘…Uniforms and swords?’
There was only one profession in the domain that could wear a uniform and carry a sword.
“—Are you two from the knight order?” I asked, hoping the answer was no. I really didn’t want the worst-case scenario.
But the moment they smirked contemptuously, my hope was shattered.
I clenched my fists.
“You noticed now? You should run while you can.”
“Now, now—mercy is something we sometimes give,” one sneered.
“Ha, mercy?”
Did they expect mercy from people who ruined a festival thrown by a family for everyone’s enjoyment?
I couldn’t even laugh. My anger cooled into a deadly calm as my whole body grew icy with rage.
“Who are you to talk about mercy?”
I raised my hand. It was a signal for Jaeyus and Ludias behind me to stay where they were. They started to move forward, but stopped when they recognized the signal.
I stepped forward, tilting my head from side to side as I approached them.
“What—who are you?”
They looked flustered by my behavior. If they’d expected me to be scared and flee, they were mistaken.
And I realized something important.
‘These two don’t know who I am.’
I was certain of it from the way they had brandished their blades at me. If they didn’t recognize me, then…
