Nevertheless, Ramira thinks she doesn't need to have strong magical powers in her life. She's already contented with her current life. Her family is harmonious and happy, their citizens are all doing well and their faces are always adorned with satisfied smiles, and their kingdom has been peaceful for a hundred of years now. Ramira knows what contentment means and she is not asking for more.
When she finally reaches the other side of the tunnel, Ramira gently opens the door covered with thick veins and gets out of it. No one will think that a door is hidden under the bridge covered with thick shrubs and veins. After closing the door, Ramira looks around first to make sure that no one has seen her getting out of this secret door. Seeing there are no people around, she quickly gets out of that place and mixes with the buzzing people in their town.
Ramira heard from a servant before that they will expand the marketplace at the center plaza because the merchants from different kingdoms will gather in their kingdom to sell their best items for a whole week. When Ramira and Geradine asked their father if they can visit the plaza, he quickly refused to allow them. He said their kingdom will receive a lot of foreigners this month. Although they will heighten their security, King Teriza will not risk it to bring his children to an open area filled with unfamiliar people.
When they heard the King's disapproval, Geradine gave up easily. He suddenly becomes logical and quickly joined the side with their father. But not Ramira. She keeps on insisting to go to the plaza even just for a few minutes but King Teriza's decision is too firm. The king just promised her to bring the best he can find among the things those merchants will bring in their kingdom.
But Ramira doesn't like that. She is not a materialistic person. What she wants to achieve is the rare experience of mingling with the different people around her. She heard from Theo before one can learn a lot of things by just observing how the people move and speak in a marketplace. As a royal princess, Ramira can only leave her palace in a few rare cases and it obviously doesn't involve a busy place like the marketplace.
It is not her first time visiting the marketplace, but Ramira still becomes overwhelmed when she saw how many people are now gathering here. There are a lot of people wearing different clothes that come from their kingdom. There are also a lot of colorful tents and stalls around the place that sells different wares, clothes, and food. There are also a few merchants putting their small trinkets on a carpet they laid on the ground that attracts the buyer, especially children.
Ramira feels like a little kid for getting excited about seeing these things. It was a pity that Geradine is not here with her. Although he is a bit mature compared to her, she knows her twin very well. Ramira knows that Geradine will also become excited once he sees the liveliness of this place.
But on the other hand, maybe it is for the best that her twin brother is not here. First, Geradine is the Crown Prince of their kingdom. He is the person who will lead their kingdom in the future. His safety is importantly similar to the king.
Second, Geradine will definitely snitch on their father if he's really here with her. He will say to their father that they escaped from the palace and he's ready to take the punishments for the two of them. And of course, Ramira will also admit their mistake because she doesn't like it when their father gets mad at them and Geradine is the only one willing to take the punishment that is meant for the two of them.
So Geradine's absence on her side for today is probably for the best.
Ramira first visited the stalls that sell food. Her mouth waters seeing the delicious food being cooked right in front of her. After paying for the skewered meats that attracted her attention the most, Ramira starts moving around again while eating her food.
She noticed that the marketplace has two different sections. The left sections are selling expensive items such as silks, metal wares, and pieces of jewelry with precious stones on them. She also noticed that their customers are also full of nobles too.
And those items made by hands are being sold on the right section. Most of the items that can be seen here are made by the locals. But it doesn't mean they no longer have customers to buy their items. Most of the people visiting their items are foreigners who are curious about the things that can be found in their kingdom.
After finishing her food, Ramira choose a stall in the left section to buy something for Geradine. In case he asks her where did she get it, Ramira will just tell him an excuse that she made it using magic. While she is busy choosing a pin that will look good on her twin brother, there is suddenly a commotion happening near the entrance. Taking a look at it, Ramira saw a young man wearing a dirty robe running away from a merchant.
"S-Stop him! He stole something from me!" The merchant running after the young man said.
When the people heard it, their expressions suddenly changed. Some of them openly show their disgust for the young man while the others are surprised to see a brave person stealing in a broad daylight where a lot of people are wandering around. But Ramira ignored them. Her gaze is focused on the young man, or rather on his hands.
Taking a deep breath, Ramira wears her hood to cover her face. When the young man is almost near her, she grab his robe and pulled him with her. Before the young man can snap at her, Ramira speaks to him.
"You're escaping from him, right? Follow me!"
It's obvious that the young man doesn't trust her. Ramira definitely heard him growl towards her. But seeing that the merchant following him is getting near to them, the princess ignored his attitude and just pulled him with her. Luckily, the young man did not try to be stubborn this time and just follow her lead for now.
Thanks to her several secret trips, Ramira is now familiar with the different directions in this town. The two of them take several turns in the dark areas near the slums until they reached an underground water tunnel. The place is so cold and everything around here is damp and smells like rotting meat. Ramira and the young man hide behind a pile of trash for the meantime until they no longer hear the footsteps of the merchant following them. But just to be sure, they stay there for a few minutes and endure the nauseating smell in the tunnel.
"I think we're safe now." Ramira said in a muffled voice.
Still pulling the young man with her, Ramira goes to the other exit that she knows and they ended up on vacant land in the slum. Although this place is filled with dry garbage, it's still better compared to that tunnel where the strong rotting smell is trying to suffocate them. Ramira coughs a few times while fanning her hand on her face. The princess suddenly has the urge to run back to her palace and have a fragrant bath for a few hours.
"Are you okay?" Ramira asked as she turn around and look at the young man she saved. "I think we're going to be safe now."
The young man didn't even try to answer her. Ramira cannot have a proper look on him because of the long grayish hair covering his face. The young man is also covered with dirt and it looks like he doesn't have a bath for several days now.
"Oh, right. Let me see your wrists—Wait! Can you at least calm down?"
This young man really caught her off-guard. She was about to approach him when he suddenly pulled the wooden stick from the pile of trash and point it on her neck. His movements were so fast that Ramira can't even fathom how did he manage to do all of it when his wrists are tightly bound with chains.
That's right. His wrists are bound with thick chains and the color of his hands is starting to turn purple. That was the first thing she noticed earlier when the young man was running away from that merchant. The first thing that comes to her mind is that the merchant abducted this young man from somewhere.
"Tell me what do you want?" The young man demanded from her.
Ramira didn't answer his question. Her attention falls on his stance as he continues pointing the wooden stick on her neck. Ramira is not an expert when it comes to swordsmanship. She joins Geradine sometimes to have an exercise or if she suddenly feels stuffy inside her room.
But with this young man's stance and technique, even an amateur like her can tell that he's an expert.
"Are you a good swordsman?" Ramira asked him instead. "You're form is too good to be called as an amateur."
The young man put deepened the pointed tip of the wood on Ramira's neck when he heard her question.
"You don't have to answer my question. I'm just merely curious about you, that's all." Ramira explained before letting out a sigh. "By the way, I only want to loosen the chain on your wrists. It feels painful, right?"
When she didn't receive a reply, Ramira continued talking to him.
"I will not do anything suspicious. I just want to release you from those chains. Will you allow me to do it?"