Chapter 65
When Eila extended her palm and refused to back down, the shop owner had no choice but to carefully place a throwing knife into her hand.
A moment later:
âGasp! Ten points!â
âAnother ten points!! Amazing!â
Her display of tricks drew a crowd of passersby, and soon the area in front of the shop was packed with people.
Having scored perfect marks with all five throws, Eila qualified to receive one don of pure gold as a prize.
The shop owner, wearing a troubled expression, offered her the gold, but she shook her head and pointed to a rabbit plush on the shelf.
âNot thatâgive me that doll.â
â…Pardon?â
âThat doll, please.â
Hearing this, the shop owner, thrilled at the unexpected request, quickly handed her the fluffy rabbit doll.
Those watching sighed, thinking what a waste it wasâthat a noble girl, ignorant of the world, had given up her gold for a mere toy.
But Eila, holding the rabbit doll, approached a crying little girl and extended it toward her.
âHere, a gift for you.â
âUgh?â
âItâs a present from me.â
There was no tender tone, no warm smile. Eila, shy and avoiding eye contact, simply held out the doll.
The young girl, likely not even seven years old, accepted it with a dazed expression. Before she could fully comprehend what had happened, Eila had disappeared into the crowd.
âWow, sheâs so cool!â the little girl exclaimed belatedly, clapping enthusiastically.
Eila, meanwhile, avoided the people pointing at her after recognizing her from the performance and moved a little away from the bustling streets of the festival.
Being slightly away from the festivalâs main area, the streets were mostly empty, and Eila felt a sense of relief at the quiet. She entered a small souvenir shop that caught her eye.
âWelcome! Welcome!â
A short, plump woman greeted her brightly. Inside the shop, accessories made from semi-transparent colorful stones were displayed.
Eila was mesmerized by the sunlight sparkling on the stones, lost in their beauty, when the shop owner spoke.
âYouâre a young lady from abroad, arenât you?â
ââŠHow did you know?â
Eila asked, surprised, unsure how the owner could tell without a word from her.
The shop owner spread two fingers and explained.
âTwo reasons. First, your skin is quite fair.â
âOhâŠâ
âDid you come from a colder region? In the Kingdom of Incelcorp, the sun is strong, so everyoneâs skin is tanned.â
Eila realized the difference in their skin tones and sighed. The owner chuckled warmly.
âAnd the second reason?â
âThe second reason⊠is that you look at these natural stone ornaments with amazement. Locals donât pay attention to them; theyâre too common. Thatâs why our shop usually has hardly any customers.â
Proudly, she explained that these stones were a specialty of Incelcorp Kingdom. No wonder such a beautiful shop had so few visitors.
Eila looked out the window at passersby, each wearing bracelets, necklaces, or accessories made from these semi-transparent stones.
âOh, my, how foolish of me. I got so excited to see a customer after so long that I started chatting. I wonât disturb youâtake your time browsing.â
Stepping back, the shop owner left Eila to examine the items.
Each piece sparkled beautifully, with a variety of vibrant colors that delighted the eyes.
After some time, thinking of her parents, Eila selected a pair of dark blue cufflinks and a bracelet made from white and purple beads. She planned to keep them safe in the box Winfred had given her and give them to her parents when she saw them next.
And one more.
ââŠMight as well get one while Iâm at it.â
She chose a necklace with a yellow stone resembling Winfredâs eye color as a gift for him. Though she briefly worried it might be too modest a gift for the crown prince, she reminded herself that the thought behind a gift mattered more than its value.
Just as Eila was about to pay, the shopâs chime rang as another customer entered.
âQuite a lot of customers today. Iâll help the one who arrived first before attending to you,â the owner said, smiling widely after making three sales.
A figure in a deep-hooded robe nodded and approached the display case, much like Eila had.
âThis is a free gift, little lady. Itâs because youâre so cute,â the owner said, handing Eila a purple stone carved into a flower after she paid with the money she had brought from Gerald.
âIn our country, stones like this are considered talismans for childrenâs health and happiness. I hope you accept it as a gift, wishing you joy,â the owner explained.
Eila felt her chest tighten with emotion. Receiving such a heartfelt blessing from a stranger she had just met, without them knowing who she was or her past, felt surreal.
ââŠTh-thank you,â Eila said shyly, stepping toward the exit. She wanted to explore more of the festival before time ran out.
However, her plan to enjoy the festival efficiently was completely derailed by a familiar name heard from inside the shop.
âWow, this would suit Eila perfectly!â
Hearing her name, Eila instinctively turned her head. Though it might not even be her, someone else could share her name.
And there, in front of herâŠ
Winfred was admiring a large ring with a blue stone, his eyes shining.
âWinfred?â
Eila rubbed her eyes in disbelief. He had grown taller than she remembered, and his voice had changed, likely past his voice-change period.
Yet those golden eyes, full of curiosity, and his somewhat goofy expression and gestures⊠it was undeniably Winfred.
Why on earth was the crown prince of the Pelles Empire in a small souvenir shop in Incelcorp Kingdom?
âHmm, maybe this one suits better?â
Winfred now held a ring carved entirely from blue stone, shaped like a magnificent rose, muttering to himself.
Eila couldnât help but smile. She didnât know why, but seeing Winfred here made her inexplicably happy.
Clearing her throat and moving quietly, she approached him. She wanted him to share in the surprise and joy she felt.
âHmm, I donât know. Both would suit. Should I buy both?â
ââŠTheyâre pretty, but arenât they too big? Theyâd slip off my fingers.â
Winfred, despite his taste, faced the issue of the rings being adult-sized.
When Eila spoke suddenly from behind, he jumped in fright, stumbling backward with a loud scream.
âAhh!â
It seemed to signal another entranceâthe shop door burst open as a retainer she had seen before came in, flanked by guards in casual clothing.
âM-my lord! Is something wrong?â
Though Winfred appeared alone, his guards had apparently been waiting outside.
Eila silently felt relieved. She remembered how he had almost been assassinated when wandering alone before, and worried he might still be sneaking out by himself.
Winfred, still staring at Eila in disbelief, composed himself, brushing off and standing up.
âAh, itâs nothing. Just surprised to meet a friendâŠâ
âFriend? What friendâŠ?â
âAh, go on! Donât disturb us,â he said, pushing the retainer and guards outside. The shop owner, utterly confused, watched the scene unfold.
âSorry for startling you because of my guards.â
âOh, no, itâs fine. You seem to be a noble lord. Donât worry about meâjust talk. Really, itâs okay.â
Blushing in apology, Winfred was waved off repeatedly by the shop owner, who even offered to step aside so they could speak comfortably.
ââŠEila? It really is you? Why are you here?â
âAnd you? Why are you here?â
Eila shrugged as she asked. He, still looking bewildered, explained his situation.
âAh, I⊠came as a congratulatory envoy for the crown princeâs investiture, but I wanted to see the festival, so I disguised myself. But why are youâ?â
âThatâs a long story. Should we keep talking here? Better to buy what we want and move on, right?â
Hearing her, Winfred nodded, saying, âAh, yes.â Then he purchased the two rings he had picked earlier, along with a few other accessories, adding a hefty tip to cover the commotion they had caused in the shop.