HMC 07

~Chapter 7~

“Ah!”

Rosedale wiped her nervous, sweaty hands on her dress and held one out.

“Let me introduce myself again. I’m Rosedale Bell. And you are?”

She offered her hand for a handshake—something she read humans do. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity at this new culture.

“Do you even know who this is—”
“Lukas,”
Lukas cut off Cain and shook her hand.

“I can’t tell you my last name, but just call me Lukas.”

“Your Maj—”

Cain shut his mouth in frustration, unable to reveal Lukas’s true identity.

Lukas let go of her hand and removed his mask.
His handsome face was now visible, and Rosedale’s smile grew brighter.

“Thanks for helping earlier. You saved me.”

“Oh, that?”
Rosedale shrugged while holding the panther statue in one arm.

“It was nothing.”

Even while carrying a statue her size, she looked calm. Lukas gave her a sharp look—studying her.

But her innocent smile didn’t fade.

“Hand it over,”
Cain reached out. Rosedale started to give the statue… then pulled it back into her arms.

“Even if it’s no big deal, you can’t just take it, right?”

“What…?”

“Humans say, ‘Give and take,’ don’t they?”

She turned her head back to Lukas.

“I showed kindness, and humans return kindness in equal value. But you—”

She pointed at Cain.

“You look down on me instead of thanking me. And you—”

She pointed at Burnet, who blinked in surprise.

“You just stood there. And finally, Lukas—”

Lukas couldn’t escape her finger either.

“You acted like my help was normal and didn’t thank me. That’s bad manners.”

Lukas stared at her in silence.

It was the first time in his life someone had pointed a finger at him.
A faint smile formed on his lips—he was amused.

Rosedale puffed out her chest like she had taught some naughty kids a lesson.

Cain, blushing with anger, finally exploded:

“How dare you—do you even know who this man is?!”

“Cain.”

Lukas calmly stopped him, still watching Rosedale.

“She’s right. We didn’t show proper thanks after receiving help.”

Cain, reluctantly, asked:

“…How much do you want?”

He clearly didn’t like this. Not because of the money, but because this girl dared to ask the emperor for payment—without even knowing who he was.

Even though she didn’t know Lukas’s identity, their clothes, weapons, and attitude showed they were no ordinary men. So Cain found her boldness annoying.

Rosedale knew how Cain felt—but ignored it on purpose.

He reminded her of Elpis, the uptight higher-ranked fairy. Maybe that’s why she wanted to push harder.

“I don’t want money,”
she said with a soft smile, staring straight at Lukas.

“Instead, give me your time.”

“My time?”

“Yeah. I just got here yesterday. I want to explore the city—and I want you to help.”

Books said spending time together builds friendship. Plus, she’d get to tour the human world. Win-win.

Rosedale only knew humans through books. Real experience was better.

Lukas crossed his arms and looked at her.

Her red eyes met his emerald ones—calm, honest, and fearless.

He looked at her silently for a moment.

“Lukas,”
Cain came close and whispered in his ear, not knowing fairies had great hearing.

“You shouldn’t waste time on someone we don’t even know. Just give her money.”

Cain’s eyes judged Rosedale from head to toe.

She wore an old-style white cloth dress and ragged shoes—like a beggar or a forgotten priestess.

“She may not be right in the head,”
Cain muttered.

Rosedale frowned.

“Hey. I know you were trying to whisper, but I heard everything.”

She tried to pretend not to, but that didn’t work.

“Like I said—I just got here yesterday. If I broke a custom, I’m sorry.”

She sighed and glared at Cain.

“But calling me crazy? That’s rude. Or is that how people in Iberia treat someone just because they’re different?”

Cain went quiet, slightly embarrassed.

Seeing his expression, Rosedale’s anger faded.
He wasn’t a bad person—just someone who followed rules and class too strictly.

“I’ll apologize on his behalf. Sorry,”
Lukas said, bowing his head slightly.

“Y-Your Maj—”
Cain followed and bowed too.

“I’m sorry. I was rude.”

“So, you’ll give me your time?”
Rosedale smiled brightly.

It was a pure smile—but her persistence was clear.

“…Ha.”
Lukas let out a light chuckle.

It wasn’t sarcastic or cold. Just a small, real laugh—like he was enjoying this strange situation.

“Alright, sure.”

“Really?!”

Her face lit up like sunshine. Lukas nodded with a smile.

“Your Ma—Lukas!”

“Burnet, go call the city guards.”

Ignoring Cain, Lukas gave orders.

“Collect everything here, even the dust. Lock up the ones still breathing.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Cain, go with him.”

“What? Me?”

“If Burnet goes alone, they might not believe him. You go too.”

Cain looked nervously between Lukas and Rosedale.

She smiled slyly at him.

“But shouldn’t I stay by your side, Lukas?”

Cain couldn’t argue—he had messed up earlier—but her smug face annoyed him deeply.

Rosedale felt like she’d won. Her victory felt sweet.

“It’s dangerous to travel with someone you don’t know—”
“You think I’d lose in a fight?”

Lukas cut Cain off with a crooked smile.

“That’s not what I meant—”

“If that’s not it, then it’s fine for just me and Rosedale to go, right?”

“Right,”
Rosedale nodded, smiling.

Their perfect teamwork left Cain speechless.
Burnet stood awkwardly beside him.

Lukas put his mask back on—then even stole Cain’s robe to wear over it.

“Let’s meet at the fountain plaza at sunset.”

He fixed his robe and added playfully.

Rosedale quickly handed the panther statue to Burnet.

“Alright, first, let’s get some clothes for our rescuer.”

“Your Ma—Lukas!!”

Cain called out like a heartbroken lover, but Lukas and Rosedale had already left the shop.

“There’s not much to see here. We’ll head to the busy part of town, okay?”

“Okay!”

Lukas gently lifted Rosedale and placed her on a horse.
Then he climbed up behind her and grabbed the reins.

She ended up leaning against his chest.

His shirt smelled like citrus.

Rosedale didn’t move away.
The scent was nice, and his arms felt warm—so she stayed there.

Lukas smiled faintly, surprised by how comfortable she seemed.

“Hah!”

With a shout, the horse galloped off.
Dust rose behind them, hiding them from everyone else—as if guarding their private time.

Later…

“Oh my, it suits you so well!”

Rosedale stood in front of a mirror, getting compliments from the boutique owner.

She now wore pants—not a dress.

“You’re the first woman I’ve seen who looks this good in pants.”

“Do men and women wear different clothes here? I mean… do they?”
Rosedale corrected herself, remembering to speak politely.

She only used polite speech with Elpis and Eros before.
It felt weird using it for humans she once thought of as cute pets.

Still, she was trying hard to fit in.

“You said it’s your first time in the Empire, right?”

The boutique lady adjusted her pants.

“In Iberia, pants are for working people. Noble women don’t wear them—they’re not allowed to work.”

Poor women can work, but they can’t afford to shop here.
So this was the first time the boutique owner ever fitted pants for a woman.

She had picked a small pair of men’s pants and adjusted them.
Now she was smiling brightly.

“Is that so?”

Rosedale found the custom strange.
Poor women could work, but noble ones couldn’t? Odd rule.

Soon, the tailoring was done.

“All finished!”

The curtain opened, and Lukas stood from the couch to approach.

When he saw her, his eyes brightened.

“Not wearing a dress?”

“No. Is it weird?”

“No. It looks great. Really.”

He smiled gently.

He stepped closer and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

Rosedale tilted her head.

“He’s really… being too nice all of a sudden?”