[Back at the Dominique Clan.]
The loud yet petite middle-aged woman, Aunt Wan, was found gaping at the sudden visitor standing on the porch steps of their house.
Lady Tanashiri emerged to their doorstep, holding a wooden cane to support her. She curtsied at the visitor.
"Where the hell is that child, Tanashiri?!" Aunt Wan whispered angrily beside Lady Tanashiri, Vera's mother. Aunt Wan then smiled awkwardly at their visitor.
Lady Tanashiri could only sigh at the fresh scent of the spicy, almost clove-like fragrance of carnation wafting on her nose. Although Lady Tanashiri was blind, she was certain that it was the usual red carnation.
"She must not be here," the man in white clothes said, subtle disappointment on his tone betrayed his casual smile.
His demeanor exuding elegance despite his humble appearance; broad shoulders and biceps protruding from the thin linen of his long sleeves, as gold silk cloth hugging his waist tight.
'That's too bad. I was hoping to see her before we venture the Devil's Belt,' he thought to himself.
The man fell in low spirits as he bowed before he politely took his leave. His servants then followed him after.
"Perhaps, you'd like some tea, Your Highness?" Aunt Wan offered but the dispirited man was too preoccupied on his thoughts to even hear her from afar. Aunt Wan sighed and curtsied, "Godspeed on your venture, Your Highness."
The hint of somberness on the visitor's emerald eyes left a pang on Aunt Wan's chest. If she could only gnaw Vera alive, she would definitely do it. How could Vera even make a prince beg for her hand in marriage and even make him wait for years? She was definitely out of her mind. Wan doesn't even know what this dashing young man even see on her lousy stubborn niece on the first place.
Their house was almost full of red carnations in every corner due to the prince's persistence and loyalty to pursue Vera.
Even though the prince was ignored by the maiden, he patiently courted the her and learned about her interests. He never did once use his power and status to force Vera to be with him. Throughout the months and years of pursuing, his affection and fondness towards her only grew larger as he learned more about her strange antics and hobbies from afar.
He respected the young maiden's space. But he never gave up on pursuing her as she hasn't yet rejected him adamantly. However, he had never once received any reply from the letters and gifts he gave her. Thus, as time went by, the prince began sending his gifts along with red carnations—hoping that the feelings he couldn't muster up to say would reach the young maiden's heart.
But, alas, Tanashiri was the only one who understood this poor young man's message to her daughter.
"Vera, you should've also said goodbye to this young man you're tormenting," Tanashiri closed her eyes, praying that her capricious hard-headed daughter was somewhere safe and far from danger.
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[Somewhere at the crowd of Central Market.]
"C'mon, lad. You're just ripping my pockets off. Give me a reasonable price before I give you a piece of me."
The wooden stall sounded a thud as I leaned in, glaring at the terrified young vendor intently—in an attempt to cover up the fact that I was actually new and unfamiliar of the public market.
I, indeed, blended in well. However, as I had been roaming the market for hours, my appearance grew disheveled and lousy. I rather looked in between a thug and a typical drunkard on the streets.
Well, the show must go on somehow, right?
"S-Sir, but that's really the price of the swords right now because of the high demands this season of venturing the Devil's Belt. Even if you ask other blacksmiths, it'll be the same price," the young man said.
"Tch."
The young man breathed a sigh of relief as he saw me stuffed back my pocket bag and went away.
After running laps and canvassing every stall, my stomach finally growled in protest. It was already sundown but I had yet to eat both breakfast and lunch.
For a long time, I had just wanted to train and cultivate a sword. This was something that wasn't part of my former world, and naturally like a curious cat, I had to experience it.
I knew from the bottom of my heart that swinging my fist or a hilt of a sword would fit me more, than sweeping brooms and embroidering birds all day at home.
However, now that I had the freedom buy one, fate seemed to be uncooperative with my wishes. The only remaining swords were either flimsy or overpriced ones.
I should've brought one of father's sword.
I chewed at the hem of her clothes upon realizing my mistake: when one runs away from their home, one mustn't think twice about taking everything they could.
Mulling over my lost opportunity, I let my feet follow the appetizing fragrance of dashes of garlic, basil, and cumin—mindlessly entering a small diner.
Thud!
Before I could even savor it, I was immediately pulled back to my senses when a bowl of noodle soup flew in mid air and landed with a soft plop on top of the huge bald man in front of me. It appeared that one of the diner's server slipped and bumped into me while hurriedly carrying a tray of noodle soup.
Color instantly drained from the server's face seeing the mess she made.
"I-I-I'm so sorry, s-sir!" She quickly pulled a dishcloth and unintentionally smothered the creamy soup on the customer's face more.
The man grew livid and red as overripe tomatoes. One can mistook the bulging veins in his forehead as a noodle from the soup.
"It's not your fault. You were just doing your job," the huge man comforted the female server who spilled the soup due to her carelessness. The bald man then turned towards me, swiftly lifting me off the floor by merely grabbing my collar.
"You got a problem with me, huh?" He bellowed, showering saliva inches away from my face.
I was about to point out two things that I had problems about: one was his bad breath, second was the leaf stuck in between his front teeth and one on his left cheek. But I refrained, like the saying goes, the strongest human instinct is self-preservation.
I kept quiet and looked away.
Nothing comes good from arguing with a man with boiling blood, anyways.
In rough estimation, the bald man must had been a few feet taller with a body mass almost twice as mine.
Helplessness run down my spine as I couldn't set my footing back.
I was simply hungry and exhausted. I didn't want to deal with anyone on an empty stomach. Futhermore, it had not crossed my mind that the first thing I would spend my money on was to compensate a stranger's inconvenience.
I showed a calm composure while subtly wiping off the cold sweat beading on my palms, "I'll pay for the inconvenience. Can you let me down now? I'm hungry as hell," I said, stiffly plastering a civilized smile.