窃情谋欲

After the first match, there were some more matches.

Aurelia was pitted against a dark elf from the Summer Kingdom, who was an archer. The fight was tough since both of the contestants were long-ranged warriors. Ultimately, like already written, Aurelia emerged as the victor.

The Elven girl was blasted off the stage when Aurelia used her ultimate wind magic and blew her away.

There was another fight between an ogre and a dwarf who were also both earth mages. It was a fierce battle, but eventually, the ogre won.

Then it was time for the match between Danielle and some noble from the Winter Kingdom, which didn't even take a minute to end the match as the boy quickly yielded when she threatened to chop off his little dragon, while he was down.

She had looked at Damien with a proud face, for which the latter nodded his head in approval.

The matches for the day ended, and everyone returned to their residents. Danielle and Aurelia were held back by their dark elf professor for some tactic discussion or something.

So he was alone... with Luther, of course, but...he was alone.

He walked through the streets hoping to catch something worth his time, forming a plan to end the story quickly.

"What is that?" He heard a familiar voice. A voice he was eager to hear again. His eyes darted in the direction where it was coming from.

he saw a petite woman wearing a completely white gown, a veil hiding her face, and she was examining a set of glass bangles.

"Is that..." He whispered to himself. His lips curved upward as he wasn't able to locate anyone near her. It means she must have sneaked away from her residency without anyone noticing.

"Luther..." he said.

"Yes, young master?"

"Stay here. Or you can explore the carnival. Do what you want." He didn't even look back at the poor knight, his eyes fully focusing on the woman in front of him. "You're dismissed. I'll find you if I need something, otherwise do not disturb me, clear?"

"Yes, young master." Luther bowed and backed off. He has spent so much time with this young master that he now doesn't question his actions and commands, Luther just simply follows them like the sworn sword he is.

Damien began walking towards the woman. She didn't notice him since her attention was fully focused on the bangles.

He stopped a few steps away from her, waiting for her to notice his presence, but she didn't seem to notice him.

"How much is this?" She asked the shopkeeper, putting the bangles on her hands and shaking it. "I like it, but I'm not sure if it's worth a lot. I mean, it's pretty and all but..."

The woman kept mumbling to herself. Damien smiled.

"That would be three silvers, my lady," the shopkeeper, a portly man in his late forties, said, rubbing his hands together. He was sure he was having a profit today.

"Three silver?" She raised an eyebrow through her veil and the shopkeeper didn't see it at all. "Isn't that too much of a price for a simple set of this...glass ornaments?"

"Bangles, my lady. They are called bangles and yes, it is too much pricy but the cost is for the artistry of the bangles. The carvings on them are done by hand, not using any magic and that's evident in the quality of the stuff," the shopkeeper explained about the bangles.

"Hmmm, I guess it is worth it then but..." She put a hand through her pocket, rummaging through it and bringing it back, only to find eight copper coins in her palms. She sighed. "I'm sorry, seems like I don't have enough coins to buy it right now, but don't worry, I'll buy it later," she said, her voice disappointed.

The shopkeeper's face fell, and he scowled. She just wasted his time and hope but he didn't dare to voice out his discontent as he knew there can be nobles here who could behead him at any time if he runs his mouth free.

So he did what he always does, smile. "That's okay, lady. Come back when you have the coins. I'll show you all the alluring bangles and necklaces later."

"Is that so?" Her eyes sparkled with anticipation. "Can you show it now? Please."

'This is her first time outside her palace, let alone be alone.' Damien shook his head as he had the perfect opportunity to bag this girl. The shopkeeper was about to ridicule her. That's how this is going to work. And he's going to step up before that.

"Err...that can't happen, my lady. Since all the items are in the back of the shop, getting them here is quite a job. It will take some time, so why don't you come back later if you really want to buy it?"

"I just want to see that, that's all." She asked him again, her tone was not pleasing to the shopkeeper at all rather, it was annoying to him. The beggar isn't going away.

"Like I said, girl," his tone hardening as his smile faded away. "come back when you have the money, otherwise—"

Damien stepped between the shopkeeper and the girl, and the former looked at him with surprise. "You know what? I'll buy it," he said, faking a smile.

·ƈθm He put the five silver coins on the counter. "Here you go, five silvers worth of these bangles," he said, pushing the coins closer to the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper took the coins and examined them. He counted them and then nodded. "Thank you, sir. Here you go," the shopkeeper handed him the bangles.

Lumiere was surprised to see this man here, she was embarrassed more than anything, for him to see her like this, it was a shame. Her cheeks burned as she gazed at his gentle face.

"Here," he proffered the bangles to her. His face had a kind smile, not the ridicule smile, but a true and genuine smile. She felt warmth.

"I-I don't need it, young master," she shook his head, stammering. "Derick is here, h-he would pay for it. I was just looking around the market and..."

"You should at least grab a gold coin before sneaking away from the residence. Works for me all the time." He winked at her.