Though Cavi already released her hand, Hariah caught him multiple time glancing at her to check whether she's still following. So, that means, he really didn't intend to left her back then, right? the thought made her smile.
"Oh! - I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bump into you," she said after not seeing him stop that made her bump into him.
Cavi looked at her face for quite some time, with brows knotting. Groaning under his breath, he suddenly took her mask off.
"Don't wear this anymore. since I am here with you, no more bad guys will dare approach you." he gritted his teeth at the last words, questioning himself why did he even do and say such things. Yet, since he already uttered it, there was no way he would take it back.
Besides, he's a king. Since he told her he would protect her, then, he would.
"Ow," she just replied and run after him since he started walking on the streets again.
It was getting darker now and the street seemed busier and noisier. There were more shows too and the aroma of different foods floating in the air was making her stomach growl.
As they walked on the street, Cavi noticed that many people kept glancing and staring at them. Looking at the group of men in a food stall with eyes on him, he couldn't help but wonder. Were they his enemy?
Yet, when he followed where they eyes were actually staring at, he ended up looking at his back. He couldn't help but sigh. She didn't even seem to notice the eyes around her. she really was just enjoying the festive scenes at the street.
"Mother! Look. Their hairs are different. It's both white!" said a little boy who suddenly stopped in front of them, tiny index finger pointed at both of them.
It made Hariah smiled and knelt before the boy who seemed amazed when she approached him.
"Little mister. My hair isn't white but gray. And as for this Gege, it is silver. Do you get it?" she asked but the boy innocently shook his head. His reaction even made her giggle for it seemed like she was the one who's talking nonsense.
Not long after, someone pulled the boy away from her who seemed like her mother. "Lady. Mister. I'm sorry for my boy's behavior. Please forgive him if he ever offended you."
"No. it's fine. He's a cute little boy. What's his name?"
To Hariah's surprise, the mother of the boy seemed horrified at her question. Then suddenly, she bowed and just ran away.
She was left with confusion, looking at Cavi for an answer.
"They're slaves," the man replied but it only made her confuse even more.
"So, what if they're slaves? It's not like they are forbidden to have names, right?" with a little laugh, she asked. Yet, she stopped realizing the seriousness his face.
"You mean, they don't have names because they're slaves?!" she blurted, gaining attention of the people around them.
Thus, Cavi pulled her into a walk. "You really are strange, are you? did you lived in an isolated mountain before?"
Hariah looked away. he wasn't trying to ask where she came from, right? because even she didn't know where she really did live before.
Sighing, Cavi patiently explained to her. "Slaves couldn't have names until they found their own masters. After they were sold, they will be given names."
Hearing such reality made Hariah want to object. Yet, she chose to stay silent. Cavi noticed this but he didn't want to inquire anymore.
As they continued their walk, Cavi saw a clothing stalls that sells any kind of product made of fabric.
'Follow me," he ordered and the lady beside him obeyed. Cause it's not like Hariah had a choice but to follow since he was holding her wrist tight.
"Do you have any cloth that can cover her face?" he asked, making the seller furrow her brows. Yet, when she saw the lady beside him, she smiled since she understood it.
"Mr., we have a silk mask here that can cover half of your wife's face. why don't you try?" she said, handing them a white piece of silky fabric with ties on both ends.
"She isn't my wife," he replied before taking the silk. The vendor only smiled with a giggle.
'How pretentious,' she thought.
Cavi tied the silk cloth at the back of Hariah's head, covering from her nose to chin. As he did, he was unintentionally getting near her too much that she was feeling the warm breath fanning her face.
"Lady. you're so beautiful. No wonder, your husband wants to cover your face so other men won't see your face," again, the vendor woman teased, that Cavi could only shake his head.
When he was finished putting it on her, he nodded in contentment after checking and handed a coin to the vendor.
"Let's go," he told Hariah and walked ahead of him.
Before following, Hariah turned to the vendor and whispered. "Mrs. Vendor. He isn't my husband. He's my Gege!"
Leaving the vendor confused, she run towards Cavi. The seller could only scratch her head and wonder. "Then why was that young man preventing others to see his sister's face. doesn't he want her to find a husband? Hays… weird. Then why was he even looking at her the same way my husband looked at me?! are they really siblings?!"
Again, the vendor looked at the pair and shook her head.