Chapter 58 ….
“Elena, walk slowly. You’ll trip if you rush.”
“You’re the one who’s slow! Come on, hurry! Su will be waiting.”
Aiden was being dragged along by her as if he were a fish hooked by bait.
Elena was so excited that she bounded across the square, hopping with joy.
The streets were bustling with merchants, no matter where they went.
Children’s laughter, the chatter of couples, and barking dogs filled the square.
“Ah! This is so pretty! Right?”
She was sparkling-eyed in front of a jewelry shop.
But without even trying anything on in the mirror, she quickly darted into the next shop.
“Sir, I’ll take this one.”
“This one too! This one’s so pretty!”
“Take this one too.”
By the end of it, she had bought over fifty pieces of jewelry.
Everything she had picked up ended up in her hands.
Aiden sighed deeply, trailing behind her like a weary shadow.
“Isn’t that enough? You said Su is waiting.”
“Just a little more!”
Aiden trudged along, carrying a bag full of jewelry. It seemed impossible to stop her; she was far too excited.
“Huh? Aiden, come here! Look!”
Hearing her call from afar, Aiden frowned, wondering what was going on this time.
Elena was pointing at a dark alley, looking at something intently.
“See it, at the end of that alley?”
“See what?”
“There! That fortune teller Madam Lux!”
Madam Lux was the most famous fortune teller in the capital.
Rumor had it she could accurately predict the day a person would die.
There were even terrifying rumors that she could cast curses.
“Let’s go!”
Elena dragged Aiden along without waiting for his consent.
He could only be swept along silently, unable to protest.
Clink—
“Hello…?”
Inside, a chilling energy lingered.
On the counter, there were strange magical orbs flickering with purple light, jars filled with snakes, and wooden staffs of various sizes.
The room was shrouded in dark violet veils, letting in no sunlight, creating an ominously dark atmosphere.
The wooden floor creaked with each step, adding to the eeriness.
“Hel—ah!”
As Elena wandered thoughtlessly around the shop, something caught her foot.
“Woof!”
A dog—clearly offended at being stepped on—barked loudly, circling around them strangely.
“Hey, what’s with this? Creepy…!”
“What is the matter, Spouse?”
A raspy elderly voice spoke from behind the veils.
Surrounded on all sides, it was impossible to tell where the sound was coming from.
Elena, frightened, clutched Aiden’s arm tightly and looked around nervously.
Then, a short old man in a black cloak slowly emerged from beside the counter, leaning on a staff.
“Ahhh!”
Startled, Elena screamed and took a step back.
“Goodness, my ears! Are you trying to burst an old man’s eardrums?”
The hunched old man glared at them irritably.
His droopy eyes and deeply wrinkled face gave him a forbidding look.
“If you’re here for a reading, come in! We just started.”
Her hair was completely white like a witch’s, flowing freely like silk threads.
“Then, excuse us…”
Elena muttered apologetically, still clutching Aiden’s arm as she stepped forward.
Inside the room, her features became more visible.
Her eyes were wide, showing mostly the whites, and a prominent beauty mark sat beside her nose.
The room was dimly lit by three lamps, casting a flickering orange glow.
“How peculiar… very peculiar.”
The reading began as soon as she sat on a crimson cushion.
The old woman’s sly smile hinted at hidden knowledge.
“What do you mean by that?”
Aiden asked politely, puzzled.
“Where exactly are you from?”
She squinted at him sharply.
Was she able to tell that he was from another world?
Flustered, Elena awkwardly smiled and replied,
“Excuse me? What do you mean…”
“You’re not from this world.”
She smiled confidently, as if she already knew everything.
“But why do I see the Emperor’s face?”
“The Emperor…?”
Elena frowned, tilting her head in confusion.
“Yes, the Emperor. Not much time left.”
The old woman chuckled as if something amused her and closed her eyes again.
Then, suddenly, she pointed a finger at Aiden.
“And you…! You will be punished by heaven. Are you not afraid of God?”
Aiden’s expression stiffened as her long fingernail pointed at him.
“What… do you mean?”
“Did you think you could kill so many people and live quietly?”
“….”
“How many more people do you intend to kill?”
It was then that Elena realized:
This woman was just saying random things.
Her guess that they came from another world was probably pure coincidence.
“Aiden, let’s go. This place is strange.”
The atmosphere made her uneasy.
Pointing fingers, talking about killing and heavenly punishment…
It seemed like all the rumors about this place were false.
Elena shot the old woman a sharp glare, grabbed Aiden’s hand, and quickly left.
“Child, be careful. You should not stay with that boy. You too will suffer soon.”
Her words sent chills down Elena’s spine.
They sounded like a curse, leaving a sour feeling in her gut.
“This was pointless. Just ruined my mood. What a quack.”
“….”
Her heart pounded irregularly.
Sure, it was a quack, but why did she still feel uneasy?
Elena looked up at Aiden. His expression was not good either.
“Aiden, don’t believe such nonsense. It’s all rubbish. Let’s go.”
Finally leaving the eerie fortune-teller’s shop, they arrived at Su’s store.
Going there with Aiden after so long made Elena’s heart flutter.
Clink—
“Su!”
“Oh, Elena! And Aiden! What’s going on?”
Su, as bright as ever, welcomed them warmly.
Her curly red hair shone brilliantly in the light.
“By the way, your hair color is… unusual?”
“Oh, it’s a wig. Just wanted a little change in style.”
Elena quickly covered up, embarrassed by the sudden question.
But Su wasn’t done.
“Aiden, have you become some kind of noble…?”
“Oh, we just made a bit more money! So we bought some new clothes!”
Su squinted, suspicious.
They probably should have dressed scruffily for the visit, but they forgot!
“Ahaha… but what about Zephon? I don’t see him.”
“Zephon went to school. By now he should be—”
Clink—
As the saying goes, speak of the tiger and it appears.
Zephon clearly wasn’t going to miss this moment.
“Ah? Nuna!!!”
Zephon threw down his bag and ran toward her.
He had grown taller than Aiden.
“Nuna!”
Just as he tried to hug her, Aiden stretched out his arm to block him.
“Zephon, behave.”
“What? Brother, what are you doing?”
“And you… what is this?”
“Now, now, don’t fight. Haven’t seen each other in a while; must we growl at each other?”
Su quickly tried to diffuse the tension.
Zephon had always regarded Aiden as a rival, baring his teeth in competition.
But it seemed he wasn’t truly bothered by Aiden—just child’s play.
“Zephon! Sit still. What are you doing to your brother?”
“Puny sidekick…”
“Zephon!”
“Yes, yes. Understood.”
After the chaos settled, the restaurant grew quiet.
Everyone sipped the refreshing fruit juice Su brought.
“But didn’t someone die a few days ago? At the Fore family’s place?”
“Oh, I heard. Terrifying guy. How could someone kill so many people?”
Elena hugged herself, shivering.
Su nodded and leaned in, lowering her voice.
“There’s a rumor…”
“Rumor?”
She glanced around cautiously.
“Someone says it’s one of the princes.”
“What?”
Elena shouted so loudly the restaurant echoed.
Everyone turned to look.
“Sorry, sorry…”
She apologized, embarrassed.
“But a prince? Which prince?”
“Not sure. Even the palace is trying to keep it hidden.”
“Wow…”
Elena remembered Madam Lux’s words:
‘Did you think you could kill so many people and live quietly?’
“Could it be…”
“Do you have someone in mind?”
“No, just… never mind.”
Elena cast a glance at Aiden. His expression was still dark.
She shook her head, trying to focus on the conversation.
“So, when will you two get married?”
“What?”
Elena leapt from her seat, shouting again.
This time, the other diners expressed their irritation.
“Sorry, sorry…”
She apologized once more, pouting.
The question was ridiculous. Marriage?!
Elena clenched her eyes and murmured softly,
“Marriage?”
“What are you talking about? I’ll marry her.”
“You need to grow up!”
Elena lightly tapped Zephon’s head with her fist.
“Ah!”
Zephon covered his head, whining in protest.
“Aren’t you two already…? I thought you were going to get married!”
Su tilted her head, puzzled.
Marriage? Such nonsense.
Elena shook Aiden, urging him to speak.
“Aiden, say something! Why are you staying quiet?”
“Well, we are… aren’t we?”
“Huh…!”
“Oh my!”
“Brother, are you crazy?”
Everyone around the table reacted differently.
Su covered her mouth in shock, Zephon slammed the table in anger, and Elena glared at Aiden in disbelief.
“Oh no… I’m all flustered!”
“Brother, cancel that statement. Right now!”
The table erupted in chaos again.
Aiden smirked, victorious, having successfully teased Zephon.
He didn’t want to get involved in these kids’ quarrels—but he had started it!
“Ah, I can’t take this. Let’s go. Get up. We need to talk.”
“Oh, a love fight!”
“Nuna, where are you going?”
Clink—
Finally, Elena dragged Aiden out of the noisy restaurant.
Fuming, she confronted him.
“What on earth are you doing?! You just made things worse!”
“Well, seeing Zephon’s face, it was satisfying and fun.”
“Are you really a child? Act your age!”
She was frustrated.
This wasn’t a child throwing a tantrum over toys.
Passersby stared and whispered.
“Yes, I’m a child. So only look at me.”
“Really, you…”
Aiden leaned in closer, bowing his head.
Elena pushed him away with her hand, just short of touching him.
“You….”
“You’re mine.”…
