“Ten prooms, please.”
At the firm voice, the merchant shook his head. But there wasn’t a hint of hesitation in the eyes of the person before him.
“Caught this very morning. No less than ten prooms.”
“How about nine?”
“…Nine prooms and five ens.”
The merchant frowned in exasperation. Finally, he grumbled loudly in annoyance.
“Fine, fine! You stubborn brat.”
Casting a sharp glance at the other, the merchant finally pulled out a bundle of bronze coins from his pouch and picked out a few.
A hand was already extended before him, waiting patiently.
The merchant handed over the coins with a dissatisfied look. At last, the man before him lowered the large sack he had been carrying on his back.
With a heavy thud, the ground shook slightly and dust billowed into the air.
“Well then, I’ll be on my way.”
Watching the figure turn and leave without a second thought, the merchant called out to him.
“Tatio! Want some freshly baked bread to take with you?”
“…Do you have any left?”
“Linda would set some aside for you even if there wasn’t enough. That cheeky woman—she should be pampering her husband like that instead.”
Pouting, the merchant disappeared into a tent behind him and soon returned holding a loaf of bread.
“Here, you rascal.”
The bread flew through the air and landed neatly in Tatio’s hands.
When Tatio smiled faintly, his golden eyes gently curved.
“Thank you, Uncle Rufes. I’ll give you a discount next time.”
“Yeah, right. You’ll just pretend you never said that tomorrow.”
Saying nothing, Tatio smiled again and flipped the warm bread in his hands. The aroma was rich and delicious—it was indeed freshly baked.
Just then—
“Tatio! You’ll stop by again tomorrow, right?”
Linda had poked her head out from the tent. Tatio nodded with a smile.
She waved him off as if telling him to hurry along.
After exchanging a brief glance, he turned and faced the bustling market ahead.
From an old man selling freshly milked milk to countless food stalls packed with goods, it was a vibrant scene.
Tatio moved skillfully, dodging through the crowds.
‘Not a bad haul today.’
He had been lucky to spot a large prey in the morning. A faint smile played on his lips.
But soon, a commotion nearby brought his steps to a halt.
“Move the horses to the stable!”
“Pack only the weapons needed for the subjugation!”
Knights draped in familiar-crest cloaks bustled about in front of the inn.
Tatio quickly ducked behind a small nearby stall.
‘Thought they wouldn’t come this year…’
They were the Duke of Tigeris and his knights, who visited Plau around this time every year for the annual monster subjugation ritual at the Cursed Lands.
They hadn’t shown up at the expected time, so he assumed they weren’t coming this year.
“How annoying.”
Muttering, Tatio pulled the hood over his head more tightly and moved away quickly.
“Shall I unpack the lady’s luggage here?”
“Over here! Show her to the warmest, nicest room.”
The voices of the Tigeris knights grew closer.
Just then—
“Give me that. I’ll carry it.”
Amid the gruff voices of knights came a cheerful, pleasant voice.
Tatio instinctively looked up toward the source of the voice.
“Wow, Anna packed so much! This is like a whole sack.”
Someone was struggling to hold a heavy bag to their chest.
Tatio stared blankly at the person’s back.
Long platinum hair cascaded down the figure’s back, fluttering beautifully in the breeze.
The familiar sight stirred something in him, and he furrowed his brow slightly.
“Honestly, I don’t mind if the room’s a bit cold, as long as the food’s good.”
Just then, the woman who had been speaking turned around. Her skirt fluttered lightly, revealing her face through her flowing golden hair.
Pale, flawless skin, striking blue eyes, and cheeks tinged red from the cold—her lips the color of winter raspberries.
Tatio didn’t even realize he was staring with a dumb expression.
And then, her gaze swept around and landed on him.
Their eyes met in midair.
But only for a moment.
Realizing what he was doing, Tatio quickly bowed his head and hurried off.
His heart pounded as he dashed through a tangled alley.
Just before turning the corner, he couldn’t resist and glanced back.
She was still standing there, looking at him.
Eyes wide, Tatio quickly turned the corner and pressed his back against the wall.
His heart was pounding wildly.
“You’re crazy… Tatio.”
Though he couldn’t be certain, she had been addressed as “My Lady” by the knights, so she was clearly from the Tigeris Duchy.
A noble of the capital—exactly the kind of person he should never be exposed to.
And yet, he had shown his face so carelessly.
Did she recognize me?
A flicker of unease passed across his face but quickly faded.
Probably not. Shaking his head, he slipped deeper into the alley.
But his palms had already grown sweaty, and strangely, his chest throbbed as if a drum were beating inside it.
Clutching his chest, Tatio grimaced.
“…Must’ve gotten indigestion from breakfast.”
He ruffled his hair absently and frowned.
‘It smelled like flowers…’
Though it made no sense in this cold weather.
Yet those vivid blue eyes kept flashing in his mind.
They had been just like gemstones.
Standing there a moment, he shook his head and quickly walked away.
“My lady, allow me to carry that.”
I turned away from staring at the alley when a knight took my bag from me.
But I couldn’t stop glancing that way. Because I was sure…
‘His eyes were golden.’
So vivid and intense.
I frowned and shook my head.
“…No, probably not. There’s no way I’d find him that easily.”
Beside me, Ansen asked with a puzzled look.
“What exactly are you looking for before we’ve even left?”
Caught off guard, I stammered.
“Huh? Oh, just… something.”
Ansen’s eyes were full of suspicion. Just as he opened his mouth to say something, my father approached.
“Selenea. We leave right after lunch.”
“What? So soon?”
I blinked in surprise, and he replied,
“We’re already late as it is. There’s no more time to delay. We need to finish quickly and return.”
“Is it because of the temple?”
“…Yes.”
Looking at him, I slowly nodded.
Two days after I’d threatened Callista into leaving, a letter sealed with the temple’s crest had arrived at our estate.
A formal request to attend the upcoming Thanksgiving Ceremony.
It was a massive event attended not only by the imperial family and the Four Dukes but also by nearly every major noble house.
My father had never once failed to attend.
But for the temple to send a direct request to someone like him…
‘They’re warning us to come prepared.’
My expression hardened.
“You don’t need to worry. Whatever pressure they bring, Tigeris is ready.”
I nodded reluctantly, but the anxiety wouldn’t leave me.
Because it was also the reason I had rushed to find the prince.
After Selenea’s execution in the original novel, Tigeris was naturally wiped out.
When it was revealed that Selenea had killed Eria, Duke Lorant turned against Tigeris in fury.
And it became the perfect excuse for the imperial family, temple, and other nobles who had long sought a way to crush Tigeris.
The temple struck first.
Soon after, other grand noble houses who had resented Tigeris joined in.
With public opinion turning, the imperial family abandoned Tigeris.
Using the attack on Lorant—one of their loyalists—as justification, the emperor revoked my father’s title under charges of treason.
From that moment on, Tigeris was alone.
With the duchess long absent from society, we had no allies among the nobles.
The dissent spread internally, and even some of our own vassals turned away.
We were pushed to the edge of a cliff…
And crumbled. Just like a typical villain’s downfall.
‘Father…’
Even the great Aleon Tigeris was helpless after losing his wife and daughter.
I shook off the thoughts and lifted my head.
My father stood before me, looking down with a quiet, kind gaze.
My fists clenched with resolve.
‘Luckily, relations with Lorant are still good for now…’
But with the temple as our enemy, we couldn’t relax yet.
‘But if we have the prince, everything changes.’
His powers were far beyond ordinary awakened beings. And most importantly—his bloodline.
A direct descendant of the late emperor, he would be the perfect shield against both the imperial family and the temple.
“Please, be careful.”
I grabbed his hand and said, and his eyes widened slightly in surprise.
After a pause, he gently squeezed my hand and nodded.
“I’ll finish quickly and come back.”
“…”
“Within five days.”
Beside us, Ansen looked at us like we were being overly sentimental.
