Chapter 12

‘…No, that can’t be it.’

This guy just naturally had a sharp tongue and had honed his skills, right?

While I was lost in thought, the man finished the second verse of his tirade and was moving on to the third and fourth.

“Are you ruthlessly trampling on His Grace’s pure heart?”

His deep, cavernous voice carried such conviction that I actually started feeling like some kind of cheating scumbag—despite having never even met my so-called husband.

It felt like being dumped by someone I’d never even dated.

‘This won’t do.’

Before I could start feeling guilty toward a Grand Duke I’d never seen, I quickly changed the subject.

Besides, there was something I’d been meaning to ask.

“By the way, what’s your name?”

It didn’t make sense to keep running into him without even knowing what to call him.

The man smirked.

“Why the sudden interest in my name?”

“Well…”

“Because you can’t not know your lover’s name?”

‘Excuse me?’

Just a second ago, he was scolding me for trampling on the Grand Duke’s feelings—now he was talking like it was a given that he was my lover?

‘I can’t even drag him to the training grounds over this.’

I sighed and continued.

“People usually have names. Calling you by yours would be better for you too, instead of just ‘hey you’ or—”

“What if I don’t have one?”

This guy really wouldn’t give me a straight answer.

If he wanted to be treated like a lover that badly…

‘Should I just call him ‘Oppa’ or something?’

The moment the impulse hit, the last shred of my rationality whispered:

‘No, Elaine. Don’t give him ammunition.’

I didn’t need him twisting it later into “So you did think of me as your lover?”

Trying to control my temper like this made me feel oddly mature.

In the past, I would’ve just grabbed a musket and loaded it.

I put on a regretful expression and spoke.

“If you don’t have one, I’ll just give you one.”

“…….”

Something ridiculous, like ‘Ppoppi.’ No—since he’s pretty, maybe ‘Yeppi.’

Or ‘Toto’ since he keeps popping up out of nowhere.

As I puckered my lips in thought, I caught the man flinching slightly before slowly raising a hand to cover his mouth.

Again, he was the only one amused, the only one laughing.

“What, is your name so expensive that you’re hesitating?”

“…….”

“You’re really letting me name you?”

Bring it on, Kim Yeppi-Toto.

But just as I was about to announce the glorious name I’d chosen, the man—barely holding back laughter—finally spoke.

“Ca…”

Then he paused.

The first way to annoy someone is to stop mid-sentence. The second is…

“What? Carl? Carmin? Kasim?”

“…….”

“Don’t tell me it’s Kyle? Hmm. Sounds similar to the Grand Duke’s—”

“…Just call me Kal.”

Kal. A short, common name—fitting for an imperial commoner.

“Alright, Kal. I’m Elaine.”

I generously offered my own name in return before adding:

“And you don’t have to follow me around.”

“I don’t know what you mean by ‘following.’”

Despite his words, Kal continued trailing behind me.

‘Well, he’s just doing his job.’

His duty was guarding me, after all.

Feeling charitable, I decided to ignore him for the time being.

“Do you even know where you’re going?”

After walking for a while in silence, Kal finally spoke up.

“You’ve never been to the Grand Duchy before, have you?”

“I’ll figure it out as I go.”

“…….”

His gaze practically screamed, ‘Are you seriously trying to get lost?’

There was something oddly amused in his smile—like he was watching a small, helpless creature scurrying around.

Unfazed, I looked around the streets and answered.

“It’s not like I’m walking completely blind.”

At the end of my gaze were people busily carrying bundles and boxes.

Some lugged heavy sacks, while others pulled carts through narrow alleys like reckless speedsters.

“We’re late! Late!”

“All the good spots will be taken!”

Back when I did dawn patrols in the capital, I learned one thing: people rushing around with goods this early were usually…

‘Bingo.’

The diligent runners arrived at the market square and began setting up their stalls.

Street vendors and traveling merchants unfurled their wares on carts and makeshift stands.

Soon, a fairly large market street unfolded before my eyes.

I smiled triumphantly and glanced back at Kal.

“See?”

“…….”

“We made it to the market without any trouble.”

“So you did.”

Watching the merchants scramble for spots reminded me of my days dealing with peddlers during dawn patrols.

‘I suffered quite a bit chasing off street vendors near the temple.’

The capital’s market happened to border the temple grounds.

So, vendors who couldn’t secure a spot in the market would set up shop right in front of the temple.

‘And guess who got stuck regulating them? Temple guards? No—low-ranking knight trainees who weren’t even fit for guard duty.’

Memories of those cursed peddlers—always returning no matter how many times we drove them away—flashed through my mind.

‘Ahh~ Holy water! Holy water for just two silver coins…!’

‘Excuse me. Selling fake holy water in front of the temple will bring divine punishment.’

‘Ahh~ Indulgences! Indulgences to cancel divine punishment for just three silver coins…!’

‘Not just cursed dolls—talking cursed dolls.’

The worst part was that we couldn’t just punch civilians—we had to reason with them verbally.

‘Come to think of it, I wonder how those guys are doing now.’

I felt a pang of nostalgia remembering my fellow trainees—the ones who’d taken over my role of verbally sparring with peddlers after I left.

They used to treat me like a little brother just because I was shorter than them.

‘Even though we were the same age.’

Some of them probably got promoted and moved to other battalions.

‘Come to think of it, I never told them I was a woman before leaving.’

Well. It wasn’t like we’d ever meet again.

As I got lost in reminiscing, Kal asked again.

“So, why the market?”

Well…

“Places like markets are great for gathering information.”

“Usually, people use social circles or secret salons for that.”

“That’s for nobles.”

What I wanted was to gauge the mood of the territory—the people’s sentiments.

In the dramas and novels I’d seen in my past life, kings would disguise themselves as commoners and visit markets to get a feel for things.

“Markets are the best place to get a read on the local atmosphere.”

“That sounds extremely spy-like.”

“Drop it.”

If he’s so suspicious, he can just search me again.

I elbowed him lightly in the ribs as a warning.

“If you’re going to follow me around, at least give me a market tour.”

“Do you think I’m some kind of tour guide?”

“Might as well make yourself useful.”

He let out an incredulous laugh, but I ignored it—something else had caught my eye.

Sizzle, sizzle.

A vendor who’d finished setting up was grilling meat skewers on a hot plate.

His stall was oddly tucked away in a corner—probably because he arrived too late to get a better spot.

“…….”

But the product itself was mouthwatering.

Juicy meat skewered with leeks and bell pepper-like vegetables—the kind of food you’d see at festival streets in romance fantasy novels.

‘Come to think of it, I haven’t eaten breakfast yet.’

My mouth watered on its own.

Patting the wallet in my pocket, I strode confidently toward the vendor.

“Welcome!”

The vendor, who’d looked rough just sitting there, broke into a shy smile the moment he saw a customer.

True to the good looks of the Porto people, his smile gave off a roguishly handsome middle-aged vibe.

Not that I cared—my heart belonged to the skewers.

‘Looks delicious.’

I gave him a satisfied smile in return.

Kal, watching me, tilted his head.

“Give me one of th—”

“No.”

And just like that, he canceled my order.

I stared at him in disbelief.

“Why not?”

“Just no.”

“It’s my money—”

“Someone of your… status should maintain a proper diet.”

I guess I should be grateful he didn’t outright call me the Grand Duchess in public.

Still, the way he grinned while saying it was irritating.

“If you want to suffer from hives, go ahead.”

“Hives?”

What, was he treating me like a kid sneaking junk food?

“I won’t take responsibility if you collapse.”

Was that really necessary?

‘Well, technically, street food isn’t the most hygienic, but…’

…Wait a minute.

Wasn’t this scene supposed to play out differently?

‘The girl wants to eat skewers at the market, so the guy buys them for her. They eat together, saying how delicious it is.’

The female lead stuffs her cheeks cutely, and the male lead watches fondly.

After that, they’d go from stall to stall, pointing at everything—‘I’ll take this, this, and this!’

‘Wouldn’t that be way more natural?’

Not that I was the female lead. And Kal definitely wasn’t the male lead.

We weren’t in some romantic relationship either.

But seeing him block me from eating instead of even pretending to be considerate…

‘Beth, I think you were completely wrong.’

Remembering Beth’s sly grin as she asked if Kal was the ‘Silent Grand Duke,’ I let out a hollow laugh.

‘Yeah. Absolutely not.’