"We specialize in accessories for ladies and couples, and we can assure you that you won't find anything like our products nowhere else in the kingdom! For example, have a look at…

"

Kirissu was an excellent salesman whose voice could nearly hypnotize her customers.

"Zoemi! Zoemi, look at this one! It's so pretty!

"

Miriette was excitedly showing him a delicate-looking ring, seemingly made of gold, silver, and… perhaps emerald…?

It was really difficult for Zoemi to tell since he was never interested in the jewelry but never mind the components, the effect was indeed stunning.

The ring looked as if it was knitted with gold and silver strings and a few emerald-green strands were intertwined with them making it hard to believe it's even real. The level of craftsmanship was on another level than anything Zoemi ever saw.

"It is beautiful.

"

He nodded in agreement, although he kept on cautiously glancing at the black-haired woman behind the counter.

"Right!? Here, put it on me!

"

Miriette excitedly pushed the ring into his hands and then put forward her left hand. She clearly indicated that she wants him to put the ring on her ring finger.

"As you wish.

"

Zoemi was so preoccupied with keeping an eye on Kirissu that he didn't really think anything about that action, and simply agreed.

"…!

"

It was completely normal for an attendant to help their master put on the jewelry and all but still, from Miriette's perspective it looked as if the black-haired boy was proposing!

Without further ado, Zoemi gently took the girl's hand and put a beautiful ring on her finger.

The ring playfully reflected the sunshine as if happy, but nothing could compare to the absolutely stunning smile of Miriette.

She put her hand close to her face and admired the ring.

Even though it went against all of his plans to make Miriette happy together with Horeo, he felt satisfied that the first prince wasn't with them today to witness the scene.

Then Miriette nodded to herself and without any hesitation, she reached and grabbed Zoemi's left hand.

"Alright, since we are not supposed to stand out, you should get something too, right?

"

Miriette whispered to him while putting a bracelet that she was eyeing out before.

The ring was actually a distraction – a very welcomed, satisfying, and self-indulgent distraction, ut a distraction nonetheless.

Miriette's real aim was to get Zoemi the bracelet and then buy the matching one in secret.

"That's right… Oh, this one is really nice – and it won't get in the way of my duties… As expected of you, my la… Miri.

"

Zoemi raised his arm and admired the bracelet, giving it a nod of approval.

"I'll buy those immediately!

"

"Of course.

"

The dark-haired girl turned to the black-haired woman and declared – while also picking up the other bracelet, showing it to Kirissu while making sure that Zoemi will not notice it – which made Kirissu nod and smile with amusement.

"Here.

"

Zoemi ended up paying without hesitation and would very much leave the spot, but Miriette seemed to not be finished with the stall at all.

"You have a great eye, little lady! While you're at it, why not get that boy of yours a pocket watch – he looks the type to fancy those, even though he is so grumpy.

"

Kirissu, as it was expected of a stall owner, complimented her customer's choice and offered another product of hers in a natural manner.

"That's right! Zoemi, you need one of those, right?

"

"…

"

Miriette gasped and turned to her attendant with sparkling eyes while Zoemi just stood there gritting his teeth.

The ring that he put on Miriette's finger was just a normal ring.

The same thing went for his bracelet, and the one that Miriette tried to hide – or rather, failed to hide – from him.

…but that wasn't the case for the pocket watch at all…

That particular watch that Kirissu was holding up and attempting to sell them had a shadow – the unique shadow that only shadow magicians could see – which meant that it contained some sort of spell – and that spell retracted and disappeared momentarily the moment that the black-haired boy tried to reach for it with his own shadow.

…without a doubt, it was something just like Teo's mysterious earing…

|Teo got it from here…? Why didn't she want to tell me about it…?|

Zoemi thought and quickly turned away so Miriette wouldn't notice his absolute disgust.

"Thank you for your consideration, but no. This one is more than enough – I don't need anything else.

"

The black-haired boy shook his head and stepped aside.

He already noticed that Kirissu's attention was on him and not on Miriette – although he was aware that it might have been a bluff, it seemed that the black-haired woman intended to use Miriette to get him the item containing the unknown spell.

"Miri, I am not good with jewelry, I will wait over there, call me if you need me.

"

Zoemi stepped aside, away from the shocked girl while pointing at the side of the carriage.

As he was walking away, observing with satisfaction that Kirissu's expression darkened, proving himself that he was right about the black-haired woman being interested in him in particular, when unexpectedly he locked his eyes with someone.

Two someone to be exact.

Two black-haired young women with black eyes were peeking at him from behind the carriage, exactly where he was going towards.

One had long hair, pale, almost milk-like skin, droopy eyes with heavy eyelids – her nose and lips were small and thin, while the other one had short hair, almond-shaped eyes and dark skin, not the full-on chocolate carnation, like Aspakeony, but a lighter, coffee with lots and lots of milk kind of color, and adorable upturned little nose and full lips.

They looked completely different, but at the same time, the intense silky darkness of their hair and eyes made them look similar.

…and oddly familiar…

|YOU…! I REMEMBER YOU! YOU TWO ARE… NOT AS HATEFUL…|

"…?

"

Zoemi raised his brow when the roar inside his head sounded a bit different than a moment before when facing Kirissu.

Now, it sounded, slightly hesitant…

Not as hateful…?

What was that supposed to mean?

Pondering about the odd situation, Zoemi ended up approaching the two since they seemed a lot more palpable than Kirissu.

"…!

"

"!!!

"

Seeing that they were noticed the two women reacted in a rather amusing way.

The long-haired one blushed and looked away as if she was caught doing something inappropriate, and the short-haired one perked up, smiled, and energetically waved to Zoemi.

The boy tilted his head and waved back more because he was taken by surprise than because it was appropriate.

His waving must have been taken as an invitation for a conversation by the short-haired one because she moved from behind the cart and walked up to Zoemi.

The long-haired one had no choice but to follow her because it turned out the two of them were holding hands rather intimately.

"Hi there, kiddo! I'm Elsby!

"

The short-haired one grinned and extended her free hand for a handshake.

She was so full of energy that Zoemi was swept along with her mood and shook her hand before he realized what he was doing.

"Nice to meet you…? My name is Zoemi Auequas…

"

"Oh! A lower noble, huh! She's a noble too, you know!

"

"…!

"

Elsby laughed and nudged her companion, who flinched and made an embarrassed expression.

"I'm sorry, please don't mind her, she's nothing but trouble…

"

The long-haired one apologized with a polite bow.

"Ah! I'm sorry, where are my manners!

"

"…?!

"

"…?!

"

She suddenly straightened her back which kind of startled both Zoemi and Elsby.

"My name is Oktria Herfe Cizoi, and to be clear I was a noble but I ran away from home long ago so I was disowned. No need for formalities.

"

"Ci-Cizoi…?

"

Not even minding the formalities, Zoemi hasn't even heard of any noble house called Cizoi and as an attendant of a higher noble, he felt really stupid because of that.

"Okty, you're making him nervous, you didn't have to reveal you have a middle name, you know?

"

"Eh? But it would be rude if I lied!

"

Elsby shook her head at Oktria's cluelessness and turned to Zoemi.

"Sorry for her… Anyway, we work here too, and since the vice-commander is taking care of your girlfriend, and then we're going to take care of you!

"

Elsby declared puffing out her chest.