Cassian glanced around the bookstore, hoping to find something that might aid him in his training, but most of the shelves were filled with fiction. Lucy, meanwhile, was busy buying at least twenty books for Lady Katherine. Disappointed, he realized there were no useful training materials here, as he'd hoped. The whole reason he'd come to the market was to find something to help with his training.
Feeling a bit down, he thought about asking Lady Katherine for more books like the one she had on mana, which had opened his eyes to the vast world of magical knowledge. However, not wanting to leave empty-handed from here, he shifted his attention to history books. His knowledge in that area was sorely lacking, and he knew that learning more about history—especially about nobles and how they came to power—could help him better understand their decisions, the wars they fought, and the kingdoms they built. Understanding their history might make it easier for him to navigate the world he was now a part of.
Cassian knew that his life was now entangled with the nobles unless he chose a different path. However, in this world, every kingdom had its royalty and noble families. There was no real escape from interacting with them, so he figured it was better to understand how they thought and operated.
His eyes landed on a book titled "The Human Kingdoms in the World of Surias." The title was a mouthful, but it was exactly what Cassian needed. With a surprised tone, he read aloud, "Of the Past 2000 Years..." That was also part of the title, adding to its weight—both literally and figuratively.
The book was hefty, likely weighing several kilos, and made of rough but sturdy paper. Its leather binding, though like most books, appeared a bit worn and scrappy. Still, it seemed valuable.
As he approached the counter, where Lucy was finishing her purchase, she glanced at him and asked, "Did you find something you want?"
Cassian nodded and placed the heavy tome next to her stack of books with a small thud.
Lucy looked a bit surprised at the book's title but didn't comment on it. She turned to the store clerk and said, "Include this one in the bill too."
Cassian quickly interjected, "No, Miss Lucy, I can pay for it." He didn't like the idea of her covering his expenses, especially since he was earning his own money now.
Lucy smiled, waving off his concern. "Don't worry, I'm not paying from my own pocket. It's the lady's money. She won't mind if you buy a book with it." She paid for the books with a rather large coin pouch, the cost seeming higher than the clothes Cassian had bought earlier. "In fact, she'll probably be happy you're showing an interest in reading. Just don't forget to thank her later."
Cassian nodded with a smile. He figured Lady Katherine wouldn't get upset over spending a few coins on a book for him. And even if she did, he could always apologize and accept whatever punishment she gave him, though he doubted it would come to that.
Now that there was nothing left on Cassian's list, he thought about how he'd have gone to buy a real sword if he had enough money. But swords cost gold coins, and he only had one of those while they cost many. As they exited the bookstore, Cassian's stomach growled, and spotting a restaurant across the street, he turned to Lucy with a grin.
"Let's eat, my treat," he said cheerfully. Without waiting for Lucy's response, he headed toward the restaurant, balancing the books and clothes in his hands since he didn't want her to carry them.
Lucy smiled, following behind. "Just don't complain later if I eat too much," she teased.
"You can eat as much as you want, Miss Lucy," Cassian replied, playing along.
"Oh? Are you trying to make me fat? I'm already so overweight!" she said with mock outrage, continuing the playful banter.
Cassian suddenly stopped, turning to Lucy with a serious expression. "You're not fat, Miss Lucy," he said, his tone firm.
Lucy, caught off guard by his seriousness, blinked in surprise as he continued, "Mrs. Purner was fat. But you..." He paused, his eyes briefly scanning her from head to toe before locking back onto hers, his voice still serious as he added, "You are pure desire."
Lucy's cheeks turned a light shade of pink, but she quickly recovered, her lips curling into a teasing grin. "Oh, you little flirt," she said, reaching out and gently squeezing Cassian's cheek. Her touch was playful, but the warmth of it made his heart race.
Cassian's face immediately flushed a deep red, feeling the heat rise up his neck. He looked away, awkwardly scratching the back of his head. "I wasn't... I mean... I just said the truth," he mumbled, embarrassed.
Lucy chuckled softly, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "So serious, huh? You've got a way with words, Cassian. Keep it up, and you'll have all the ladies in the estate wrapped around your finger."
Cassian, still blushing, shook his head and smiled shyly. "I-I wasn't trying to..."
"Relax," Lucy said, her tone softer now as she let go of his cheek. "It's cute. But let's get inside before you turn as red as your hair."
Cassian and Lucy took seats in a bustling corner of the restaurant, settling near a table where a group of armored men and women sat, talking loudly as they ate. They weren't soldiers from any noble family or the duke's army, judging by the mismatched gear. Some wore leather, others metal, while a few didn't even bother with armor at all. Yet all of them had weapons within reach, slung casually by their sides as they joked and spoke with booming voices.
Despite the noise from their table, the rest of the restaurant was just as lively. Other patrons chatted away, lost in their own conversations, while the staff moved briskly between tables, serving dishes without a care for the louder group. Neither Cassian nor Lucy paid them much attention either as they settled in and placed their order.
After a moment of comfortable silence, Cassian glanced at Lucy and, with a curious look, asked, "Miss Lucy, you were married before, right?"