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It was cheap? It was most certainly not.

“Right, then I’ll take this, that, ah, I’ll take that too.”

The man chose a couple of small yet cute ornaments before placing them into the large fabric wrapped around his body. Because of the fabric that was covering half his face, she could only make out his eyes. Even so, it was difficult to see as his hood casted a shadow over his entire face.

The man had a golden cord and a long cloth wrapped around his waist. The ornament dangling from his waist had an owl and a shield with a snake-haired woman engraved on it. She wasn’t completely sure but it looked like a templar’s emblem.

“Hey man, I’m already making it really cheap for you. You won’t be able to find my price anywhere else.”

“Is that so?”

As if he found an easy pushover for a customer, the stall vendor kept raising the price of the items higher and higher. Seeing as how he was trying to sell a cheap glass ornament for a silver coin when it wasn’t even made of any precious jewels, the vendor seemed to be scamming him. Ashley clicked her tongue.

“I can’t believe you’re selling it to me for this price! I’ll buy them all!”

When she heard his bright voice, she couldn’t help herself.

“Of course, the total adds up to… ack!”

The man carrying the numerous ornaments stepped on the long hem of his clothes before tumbling backwards. Witnessing how clumsy the man was, Ashley realised how much of a pushover he really was through and through.

She recalled how her manager would have told her to never let go of such a client. For some reason, Ashley felt disappointed as she squatted down to pick up the necklaces and ornaments that had fallen as a result.

“Oh man…”

“Are you alright?”

“Oh, thank you. Damn…”

The man nodded. Ashley squinted for a moment. She had noticed a thread of gold peeking out from beneath his hood when he had fallen down. Unsurprisingly, the man’s unkempt hair revealed itself through messy strands illuminated by the warm sunlight. He was a blonde. This was the first time the girl had ever seen such an intense yellow. It was as if his hair had captured all the sunlight beating down on it.

“Wow, thank you.”

“Pardon me, I’m not sure if I should say this since we don’t know each other.”

Ashley glanced over at the stall before cupping her mouth and whispering into his ears.

“1 denare. You shouldn’t be buying anything costlier.”

Wasn’t he too sheltered growing up if he didn’t have any money sense ? Ashley quickly whispered to him before dusting off her skirt.

Standing up, she made eye contact with the man to soon find out that he had light brown eyes. His eyes that glowed under the sunlight looked very kind and gentle. And his drooping eyes reminded her of someone but she couldn’t put her finger on who. She felt like she had met her old classmate during an alumni reunion and was struggling to make out who he was. In the end, she just turned her head around with any further thought.

“Hold on, young lady! I-If you don’t mind… I’d like to return the favour.”

“What favour?”

“I was able to live properly because of you. Uhm, I can give you something.”

His eyes curled even more until they became crescent moons. Intrigued by whether or not he could sense it, Ashley spotted the man’s muddy clothes. She could feel the sting of someone’s gaze on her for a while now and she thinks it’s the vendor who suddenly failed to make a sale. Whilst trying to refuse the man’s gift, thinking that she had nothing more she could do, Ashley turned to face the stall.

‘Oh?’

Scanning the items on display, Ashley spotted a necklace that stood out. While the other necklaces had bright and eye-catching patterns, the necklace had a unique craftsmanship.

Numerous curves were shaped like water droplets to make them look like waves and a small ellipse which also looked like someone’s eye was placed at its center. Rather than calling it pretty, it was unique which was why the vendor thought it would sell well but it was still collecting dust in the corner.

She was able to instantly recognise that the jewel embedded in the center was a real topaz since she, too, had been recently wearing more accessories to match her robes. The vendor might not have been able to tell but it looked really expensive.

“Sir, how much is this?”

“That? 6, I mean, 4 ons. Well, uhm, tsk. I wasn’t the one who made it but I was fortunate enough to have it.”

Just as she expected, the stall vendor expressed his displeasure with a nonchalant yet slightly grumpy voice.

“Alright, I’ll take it.”

After the man paid the price, the vendor handed him the necklace. Yet, the man still did not leave the stall. When she looked at him, he was gazing off into the distance. Was she mistaken?

“That… was what I wanted to buy… uhm.”

Ashley knew that what the man was looking at was not herself but the necklace she was holding. Did he want it? She thought she might as well give it to him but she didn’t feel like she should.

“Are you taking back what you promised me?”

“No, of course not! I was wondering whether this is considered my fortune or my misfortune.”

As if understanding what Ashley was trying to say through her gaze, he narrowed her eyes before grabbing her hand and shaking it.

“Should we have a meal together the next time we meet?”

“A meal? Do you need to go that far…”

“Fate is something only the gods can control.”

“… Are you trying to flirt with me?”

That made him widen his eyes before his eyes gently narrowed.

“Does fate only correspond to a relationship between man and woman?”

As she stared at the silhouette of the man’s disappearing back, Ashley thought that he really was a strange person.

***

Fortunately, after they finished touring around the market, the prince was not distracted by any other places which made it easier for them to reach the stage. In the meantime, Ashley wanted the day to be a little hotter but the sun was already beginning its descent.

Guards were standing around the venue with serious expressions on their faces and amongst them, Ashley spotted familiar silhouettes. They were the Templars of Vulcanus. Ashley had contacted Rex in advance so that he could take care of the prince while she stretched her legs at the spectator stand with Dane and the desert princess until the prince returned. Was summer coming soon?

All her misfortunes had started in the winter so she thought summer was better than winter.

“I’m glad that the weather is nice.”

“When has it not been? The weather in the Empire has always been the same. Princess, how’s the desert?”

At her question, the desert princess widened her eyes like leaves opening at the start of spring. It looked like she had not expected anyone to talk to her. She seemed to be in a dilemma. Ah. Did she think that Ashley brought her here to suffer because the trip here was tiring. The desert princess shook her head before lifting it again. Even though no one was threatening her, she looked like a deer caught in headlights. Pity seemed to be hanging like a drooping fruit in her deep eyes as if she could be startled with just a tap.

If there was a variable that never changed in the <Light of Rusbella>, it would be the lovely Rusbella. An ethereal lady. She was so ethereal that everyone had no choice to love her–including stall vendors, the extras in her academy and the countless nobles in the Empire who were easily influenced by her every gesture.

A beauty that could topple a nation. Whether it was because of her beauty or her magic, her charms were lethal enough to destroy a country. And the woman in front of her now was the fiancee of the man who destroyed his nation for her. The author could arouse sympathy for Rusbella with just one line. Because any of the events had not been written down, no one could guarantee or be assured of anything. In other words, a really minor character, who could be considered an extra, was going to be the one who kills her.

“Ahasia. I’d like it if you shared more about yourself. I could share more about myself too.”

The desert princess stared at Ashley’s lap as if she found something new. It was the necklace she received from helping the man earlier.

“Oh, this reminded me of the clothes you were wearing when I first met you. Pretty, huh?”

In order to approach her, Ashley had fished her necklace out carefully because she thought that dealing with her as gently and smoothly as possible will make the desert princess more comfortable with her but her expression looked strange. The place that her gaze was fixed on was the necklace. Just when Ashley alternated her gaze between Ahasia and the necklace, goosebumps swept down her back.

Wait.

“That… was what I wanted to buy.”

“Where did you get that from?”

“What?”

The next moment, their gazes met and the desert princess exclaimed.

“My necklace! I’m talking about the necklace.”

The gears in Ashley’s brain were quickly turning. Ahasia was looking at her in surprise. From some point on, Ahasia no longer looked like a helpless herbivore and that helped Ashley make up her mind.

“Ah, ‘your’ necklace?”

Luck had never been on her side but it felt as if the gods were smiling down upon her now.

“I bought it to bring it to you.”

“… Me?”

“Yes.”

The cleaning of weapons, the clamour from templars, the noise of popping firecrackers and the commotion of the crowds filled the silence between the two. Her face contorted with an expression that looked both shocked and moved.

“It was precious to you, right?”

“… Very.”

It wasn’t difficult to tell what the desert princess was thinking. It must have been hard. The sheltered princess had to travel across the desert. She was led to a distant foreign country, she had lost her lady-in-waiting and had even lost a treasure that must have been important to her. She wasn’t completely sure if the necklace was a treasure but she seemed to be handling it delicately. In any case, what if a weak girl who had just suffered through the most trying hardship of her life received a well-intentioned gift without any cost? In a short moment, Ashley thought far into the future. It was a skill she developed from overcoming many crises.

Ashley then slowly placed the necklace in the hands of the woman with trembling shoulders.

“It must have been tough.”

Tears fell from the woman’s eyes.

“How on earth did you…”

“It was a coincidence.”

Ashley smiled at Dane and Ray who were looking their way before lowering her head. She should use this luck that seemed to have fallen out of the sky. But she’ll think more about it another time.

“Actually, I… I didn’t trust you… But.”

“Oh dear, don’t cry. Poor girl… I’m not sure what’s going on but I’ll help you. I already said I was going to, didn’t I?”

“… Really? Are you serious?”

“As much as I possibly can.”

Of course. It was so that she could live.

After wiping her eyes away, Ahasia opened her mouth with much difficulty. Fiddling with the necklace in her hands, even when she closed her mouth, her anguish was evident. Was it that difficult to tell? The handkerchief that Dane handed her earlier was already soaked.

“I received this from the Empire. With this, my kingdom can ask the Empire for one thing.”

Ashley released the fist that she hadn’t known she was clenching before clenching it again. Her shirt was crumpling in her hands. So, this was it.

“I’m going to ask for an engagement with this.”

One of her riddles had been solved.

“Will you help me?”

She looked strangely confident when she talked about the engagement. Her desire to look for her necklace and her lady-in-waiting as well as her desperation to leave the palace seemed to be connected.