Chapter 53
The royal palace of Barhad was surrounded by tall granite walls, built for defensive purposes. Yet, as their carriage passed through the gates and followed the main road, a vast town unfolded before their eyes.
The town beneath the castle was divided into three sections: residential, temple, and commercial. The commercial district, always bustling with people, was a vibrant hub of activity.
“Wow,” Sharie whispered, awestruck by the sight of the cobblestone streets lined with shops of every kind.
Luxury and variety filled the market. Glittering displays and colorful signage drew the eyes of even the most indifferent passerby. Lanterns hung in long strings, making day and night almost indistinguishable.
“As you can see, this is the most popular spot for visitors in Barhad,” said Yuri Densler cheerfully, her long black hair tied in two braids.
“Even with bodyguards, you must be careful of pickpockets. Keep your purses close,” she added in a light tone, though her words carried a serious warning.
Sharie nervously checked her coin purse.
“Do not worry, my lady. If any rogue dares, I’ll cut him down without hesitation,” Alex declared boldly. His confidence was admirable, though if only he could curb his tendency to lose focus around women, he would be truly dependable.
Sharie forced a smile, recalling her waning trust in him during the monster hunting expedition in the Cedric Mountains.
“It’s an honor to have such a distinguished guest,” Yuri said with a beaming smile.
“Lately, invitations have been pouring in, haven’t they? Despite your busy schedule, you chose to visit our shop—it’s truly a delight,” she continued.
Sharie could only smile faintly. Life, she realized, often took unexpected turns. After the first tea gathering, where she had feared she’d embarrassed herself, invitations began arriving in droves.
- I was worried, but it seems your social skills are far more remarkable than I imagined, Annette had remarked upon seeing the mountain of invitations, yet Sharie herself had no idea why.
‘Could it be a mistake? Perhaps letters meant for someone else ended up with me?’
The palace clerks handled all incoming correspondence, organizing and delivering it to the proper recipient. Mistakes could happen, given the workload. Sharie initially thought so, but upon checking repeatedly, every invitation was indeed addressed to her.
‘I just don’t understand…’
Her memory of the tea gathering was limited to the moment she had transformed into a rabbit, causing mild chaos. Without knowing why, it was difficult to accept this sudden attention.
As she pondered whether to ask directly, Yuri stopped in front of a building.
“This is my shop. Please, come in,” she said.
The store, a two-story building not far from the central square, was the largest in the area, its sign adorned with meticulously tended rose vines that caught the eye from a distance.
“Welcome!” greeted a staff member as they entered.
“You may leave your companion bird here and look around comfortably.”
This morning, Sharie had brought her falcon from the training grounds. She intended to reward Momo for all the help she had received but had never properly acknowledged.
The falcon, dozing in its cage, fluttered its wings upon sensing unfamiliar presences.
“Must I leave it here?” Sharie asked.
“If you wish, you may carry it inside,” the staff member replied. Barhad’s culture was deeply rooted in the companionship of birds, so bringing them indoors was not unusual.
The employee glanced at the cage with polite diligence. Momo, plump from good feeding, pecked at the bars aggressively, clearly wary of strangers. The staff member, amused, regained composure.
“I’ll guide you. The first floor features furniture and sundries, while the second floor…”
“Kandley, I’ll take care of this guest, you attend to your duties,” Yuri instructed, and the staff member withdrew without complaint.
“Shall we go?” Yuri invited, taking Sharie by the side.
“Are you looking for something for yourself, or a gift?” she asked.
“For a gift,” Sharie replied.
“Hmm, wonderful! Is it for a man or a woman?”
Yuri, seasoned in dealing with clients, smoothly directed the conversation. By the time Sharie realized, she had shared her purpose, even revealing the intended recipient.
“A surprise gift? How exciting! I love those,” Yuri said, practically skipping toward the staircase to the second floor.
“Then this floor is perfect. We’ve gathered rare items you won’t find elsewhere,” she continued, pressing a finger playfully to her lips.
“We call it the ‘Palace of Dreams.’ I think you’ll like it.”
Upon entering the second floor, the air was filled with a unique scent of candles. The ambiance starkly contrasted the first floor, and the display cases were filled with items that seemed utterly alien to Sharie.
“Fortuitously, rare goods have just arrived from across the continent. Follow me,” Yuri said as she began showing the merchandise.
“This is a gemstone formed from the rare red crystals mined from a diamond mine. We can inscribe names and make pendants if you wish.”
“These aren’t mere papers. These are land deeds for the plots we’ve acquired, complete with miniature models of the villas that can be built. Cute, isn’t it? Of course, the actual buildings aren’t this small.”
“And this…”
The sheer volume of information made Sharie’s head spin. Everything was rare and valuable, but she doubted Kaisa would want any of these.
“I… need a moment,” she admitted.
“Of course,” Yuri said, guiding her to a lounge at the end of the corridor.
“Would you like some tea?”
The hot, slightly bitter drink revived Sharie slightly.
“You can’t expect to grasp everything at once,” Yuri encouraged energetically.
“Let’s go! I’ll help you find the perfect item, so don’t lose heart!”
Her determination was reassuring but also intimidating—Sharie suspected this outing wouldn’t end until the perfect gift was found.
“Shall we continue?”
Reluctantly, Sharie rose, slightly regretting the sheer volume of choice. She resumed exploring the displays she had paused earlier.
“What’s this?” she asked, pointing to an item that had caught her eye.
“Excellent eye, my lady,” Yuri praised, carefully removing the object from the display.
It was a thin, transparent spool that shimmered gold under the daylight. Unlike ordinary thread, it appeared both strong and delicate.
“This is spider silk from an Arachne, purified using alchemy,” Yuri explained.
The Arachne, a colossal monster native to the eastern swamps of the continent, had been mentioned in texts but never seen by Sharie, who had grown up in Rahol. The creature had a humanoid upper body and a spider’s lower half, its strength rivaling that of the legendary Basilisk.
“We’re fortunate. Our guild periodically supports monster-hunting expeditions across the continent, and in return, we obtain monster parts,” Yuri continued excitedly, extending the spool.
“Would you like to touch it?”
Sharie delicately took the spool. Despite its steel-like strength, it was lighter than a cloud.
“What if I embroidered a sachet with this thread?” she pondered.
Having observed the last hunt, she knew Kaisa naturally took the lead on the battlefield. That was his duty, even in Barhad, a harsh land where monsters and hungry animals often attacked. Kaisa would go out repeatedly, fulfilling his obligations. At least, she could be by his side in spirit.
“Wonderful! It feels so special. Embroidered with Arachne silk, it will surely protect him in any battle!” Yuri’s eyes lit up, clearly impressed by the idea.
Sharie examined her chosen gift, wondering, Will Kaisa truly be pleased?
Remembering how he had cherished the letters she had written, her anxiety quickly faded.
