"I'll be going then… Thank you for telling me these things again, Mrs. Smith."
"Of course~ I don't talk behind people's backs. I always confront them, that's my principle."
The old lady whose hair was put on a bun chuckled when she saw how Leticia stared at her.
"You're so beautiful that even though your face is crumpled with discontent."
Sigh~ whatever!
"Bye, Mrs. Smith."
Leticia leaves the clothing store with a pair of trousers and shirt wrapped in paper. As she strolled around the market, she began to feel the stares from the people.
Well, of course, this was something to be expected because if Mrs. Smith knew that she's been living with a man for the past weeks then it means the whole town also knew about it.
'It's ridiculous how gossip can spread this fast in this town…'
Leticia decided just to mind her business and looked at the shops where fresh ingredients are sold.
"It's been a while so I'll cook today!"
She pushed all the scrutinizing gazes that she's getting from the people who were walking past her with a smile on her face.
Oh! This looks so fresh!
She gets so excited whenever she passes the market downtown as she smells different kinds of herbs and sees the vibrant colors of fresh fruits and vegetables.
"Oww! What the-"
She suddenly tumbled and plopped down to the ground as her body knocked something hard.
"That hurts…"
Leticia then noticed that her surroundings were shrouded in darkness.
"Huh?"
As she looked up she saw a man towering over her which blocked the afternoon sun.
"Are you okay, Miss?"
The low tone mixed with husky told Leticia that he's a man. He was draped in a black cape and his face was covered with the hood. She could not tell what facial expression he was showing but Leticia could tell that he was sincerely worried about her.
"I'm sorry I was so distracted that I bumped into you."
He extended his hand towards Leticia to help her but when he saw the scars that covered his hand he hesitated as he was concerned that the woman he bumped into would be scared.
And as if Leticia saw his wavering eyes, she immediately grabbed the hand that was drawn back.
The man flinched as a smaller, soft, and leaned hand gripped his callus and scared palm. He got his sense back and pulled Leticia from where she plopped down.
"Oh no… your clothes got dirty because of me."
Leticia looked down and scanned her clothes and saw some dirt that stained her dress. She patted the fabric as if it was nothing to her.
"Don't worry about it. I was also at fault because I was also distracted."
The shadow cast on him covered half of his face. That's why Leticia could only see the lower half and saw how his mouth opened and closed as it looked like he was about to say something but was hesitant.
As Leticia was looking up at him her neck was getting sore as he had the same height as Hugh. And when the man who bumped into her scratched his face feeling embarrassed by what happened, she could only smile.
"Still.... I can't let you walk around like that. I should compensate you…" He insisted.
Leticia just stood there and let the man search his pocket as she observe him.
Meanwhile, he looked flustered seeing a young lady with a beauty like her stare at him with clear eyes. And suddenly he heard her speaks...
"You don't really need to compensate me…"
The man's hand stopped fiddling in his pocket as he stared at her. The bluntness in her voice made him react a bit slow.
"But…"
"You're a traveler, right?" She asked and the man nodded a bit hesitantly.
"Then you should just keep whatever you're about to compensate me to yourself… It's hard to travel alone and handle your expenses at the same time, you would need to work while travelling so it's better to be frugal."
The man was flustered to see her react like that and at the same time give an advice. It was the first time that he met someone told him off instead of getting compensated like the others that would blatantly made excuses just to get compensated. And besides he's someone who didn't need to worry as his work gives better salary.
"No, It will hunt me to sleep if I don't give you compensation right now."
Even though he was surprised to learn that the lady was someone whose not after the money, he was still the one who cause trouble so he wanted to compensate her for it.
Meanwhile, Leticia crossed her hand and her brows arched. It was the first time that she encountered someone who would insist on giving someone compensation when she already said that he didn't need to.
"Name"
"Huh?"
"What's your name, mister?"
"Do I really need to?"
"That's what I want… you don't need to compensate me, just tell me your name."
"M...ike"
"I see… then nice meeting with you, Mike. You already gave me compensation, so I'll get going now. Bye."
Mike blinked quickly under his hood. He was so flustered with her blunt words and upfront tone that he answered honestly.
As he watched her walk away she suddenly turned around "I forgot, I'm called Leticia by the way…" she smiled at him which made his eyes widen and awed.
He got himself back from dazed when her back faded into the crowd and he stood there alone.
***
Meanwhile, at the palace, the day was no different to that of the previous one. Chancellor Norhas was with His Majesty, King Matthias IV, handing the documents that needed his approval for today.
"So, what are you suggesting?" His Majesty asked as his focus was on the paper he was signing.
They were talking about what Chancellor Norhas learned as to why the Queen suddenly suggested to oversee the possible marriage partner of his Excellency, Duke Hugh.
"HIs Excellency is still unmarried, Your Majesty. Being in the frontline for so long must have left his emotional state in peril. A lady would help him feel that void." Count Norhas explained.
"What are you saying? Are you siding with the Queen, Chancellor?! You know her purpose for suggesting such a thing!" King Matthias IV answered, dissatisfied with his chancellor's comment.
"But Your Majesty, the Queen also had a point. The Duke is already twenty-four years old. He was long past the coming-of-age but he doesn't even have a fiance which is unexpected for someone of his status besides if the Duke gets engaged with a lady in a high rank that would also benefit his excellency." The Chancellor reasoned.
His Majesty, the King, looked at the Chancellor whose eyes were determined to explain and convinced him about what his half-brother was missing. Matthias clicked his tongue as he knew that he would be pestered by the Chancellor.
"Don't meddle with his life, Chancellor. He has the right to pick his own engagement, he's old enough to do that. If the Queen makes some suggestion then let Hugh handle it." He said as he got back to signing documents.
"However, Your Majesty, it would be better if the one he picked was someone at the side of the neutral like the daughter of Marquise Ludwig, Lady Josephine."
The King knitted his brows and thought hard about who the chancellor was talking about.
"Lady Josephine debuted one year ago and ever since then has been the talk among young noblemen for her beauty and grace. She's one of the most sought after to become a marriage partner."
The chancellor explained while His Majesty touched his chin thinking what Norhas said.
"That's actually a good candidate. Alright, collect some prospective candidates from the neutral factions then give it to me. I'll discuss it with Hugh when he comes back but do it secretly, we don't want the Queen to know…"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The chancellor bows his head when his purpose is done.
As the door to His Majesty's office closed, Chancellor Norhas determinedly strides to the hallway and into his office.
"I need to quickly finish it before His Excellency comes back."