Chapter 97
“Looks so tas—ahh!”
As soon as Nina put the nicely cooked skewer into her mouth, she had to yank it back out in a hurry.
“You okay?”
“Too… too hot…”
“You gotta be careful. You want the roof of your mouth all burned up? Here, give it to me.”
Clicking his tongue, Ravian snatched Nina’s skewer, blew on it to cool it down, then handed it back.
Nina stared at him with wide eyes.
She stared so intently that Ravian, who was already halfway done with his own skewer, frowned in puzzlement.
“What?”
“N-no, it’s just… I’m amazed you don’t burn yourself.”
“Sounds like you’re complaining…?”
“So what! If anyone’s got complaints, come out here! All of you!”
…The timing was a little strange, but that line definitely hadn’t come from Nina.
Both of them turned their heads toward the loud shouting. In front of a street stall, a man was causing a ruckus.
It was none other than the captain of the city guard—wearing a flashy silver see-through shirt that practically blinded the eyes.
What kind of city guard captain walks around in a see-through shirt and cape?
“Uh…”
Seeing Charlotte standing behind him made Nina freeze on instinct. Meanwhile, Ravian tossed aside his finished skewer and strode up, placing a hand on Dité’s shoulder.
Crack!
“Ow-ow-ow! Who dares—wait, Ravian? You cheeky brat! If you’re back, shouldn’t you have reported to your big brother first?!”
Turning around with a wail, Dité instantly switched to jumping with suspiciously happy excitement.
“So you think you can just run around with Nina?! …Nina! It’s been so long! You’re as cute as ever! But why are you out alone with this guy? Did he blackmail you? Tell me what happened and your trusty guard captain will solve it right—mmmfff!”
“The great guard captain, huh? All you’re doing is ruining the festival atmosphere.”
Ravian muttered coldly, twisting Dité’s lips to shut him up.
He still managed to hold Nina in one arm the entire time—quite a talent.
Clutching his sore lips, Dité trembled a bit, then finally spoke more calmly.
“No, see, these peddlers were making ridiculous claims.”
“What claims? If it’s about your filthy clothes, I completely agree. What are you, an exhibitionist? Kids are walking around here! You want to bare some skin, I’ll be glad to tear it all off for you.”
It wasn’t clear whether he meant Dité’s ridiculously expensive-looking shirt or Dité himself—but either way, Dité didn’t like the idea.
“D-don’t come closer, you country bumpkin! Do you even know how much this costs?!”
“I bet Aunt would faint if she knew the price.”
“Hey! Don’t tell Mother! Ahem. Anyway, these crooks are accusing our Charlotte of stealing one of their cheap knockoffs! Isn’t that absurd? It’s so ridiculous I can’t even—pfft!”
Nina, who had been staring blankly, suddenly remembered what she had witnessed a few days ago with Cheshire.
Charlotte, secretly pocketing an accessory at a fancy boutique.
No way…
At that moment, Charlotte spoke up.
She looked genuinely distressed as she turned to Ravian.
“Uncle Ravian, please help me. I came out with my nanny earlier, but while I was looking around, these people suddenly grabbed me and—”
“Right. Slimy peddlers saw a kid with just her nanny and thought she was easy prey.”
Dité added with a grumble.
From one angle, his reaction made sense. After all, the idea of a noble child stealing from a cheap street stall sounded absurd.
If Nina hadn’t seen it herself, she would have thought the same.
The merchants, meanwhile, were glancing nervously at Ravian, paling by the second.
Of course. Street vendors feared gangs far more than the guard. Getting arrested meant fines or maybe a night in the cell, but offending a gang could mean losing more than just your livelihood.
“S-sorry! Our young man must’ve mistaken her for someone else!”
An older merchant bowed quickly.
I don’t like this.
A strange, uncomfortable feeling rose inside Nina. Before she knew it, she was clutching Ravian’s shoulder tightly.
Maybe Charlotte really had been falsely accused.
But if she wasn’t…
I hate this. Why is she asking Ravian for help? Why drag him into this?
“Uncle…”
Clinging to his shoulder, Nina whispered softly, almost pleading.
Whether Ravian understood her or not, he responded brusquely:
“They said it was a mistake. So why are you roughing up merchants working in my district, you corrupt bastard?”
“They just—”
“As guard captain, ever heard of separating business and public duty? This isn’t the first time something like this happens in the market. Gonna flip out every time?”
“You’re lecturing me on duties? And for your information, I’d jump in like this even if it were Nina!”
“You jumping in is just a nuisance.”
“A nuisance—?! H-hey! Stop, Ravian! Where are you running off with Nina? You sly bastard! Wait, we were going to watch the fireworks with Nina too!”
Ravian completely ignored Dité’s nonsense.
“Time to get out of here.”
Shaking off Dité wasn’t enough.
With him making a scene, others might soon catch wind and rush over. Ravian had no intention of running into any of them—man or woman.
If he were alone, he wouldn’t mind. But not with Nina.
Ah, the curse of being popular.
Swallowing his self-indulgent lament, Ravian half-jogged down the street with Nina in his arms.
The bouncing motion made Nina giggle uncontrollably.
“What’s so funny all of a sudden?”
“Nothing… it just feels nice.”
“Nice? I’m seriously running for my life here.”
“Sorry.”
Nina said with a face that didn’t look sorry at all.
Her blue eyes sparkled like stars.
Ravian clicked his tongue.
“So that’s how it is. Fine, but you owe me.”
“Okay.”
“Your answers are always—”
The next instant, Nina lifted her head and kissed his cheek.
Smack.
It was utterly unintentional.
By the time she gasped and realized what she’d done, it was far too late.
Ravian froze in his tracks.
Slowly, his absinthe-colored eyes turned to her, vacant, like his soul had left his body.
Nina, too, wished she could astral-project and vanish.
Oh no, what have I done?!
She had promised herself to enjoy every moment—but this wasn’t what she meant!
A kiss? On Ravian, of all people?!
She had caused the biggest disaster of all.
What do I do? What do I do?!
Her mind was a swirl of panic. But apologizing now would make it even stranger. Who in the world apologizes for a kiss?
Just act natural. Like it was planned all along…
Nina cleared her throat, preparing to speak—
“Hold it right there.”
“Huh…?”
“I wasn’t the one who said that.”
Ravian explained stiffly, seeing her confusion.
Today, interruptions really did have the worst timing.
In front of an alley lined with game stalls, a purple-haired figure stood triumphantly, staring them down.
“I knew it! I knew it! You denied it so hard, but I caught you red-handed, Ravian! Serves you right, hahaha!”
Ferry’s sudden outburst made Ravian scowl ferociously, while Nina’s eyes went wide.
Strutting over, Ferry jabbed a finger at Ravian, wearing a smug grin.
“So this girl really IS your daughter, huh?!”
