Chapter 35
“Oh, are you asking if I like my work?”
Adellick’s thin eyes widened slightly, then curved into half-moons.
“Yes. Well… I think I do. It was the family business to begin with, so I didn’t really have a choice… haha. But I do feel proud when I see people using the weapons I made.”
“……”
“And the other day, His Grace the Duke even told me I was doing a great job. Words like that really give me strength.”
Grace felt like Adellick’s face was glowing. He was short, dark-skinned, stout, and an older man—yet he still seemed to shine.
“That was fun.”
After they left the forge, Grace smiled brightly and walked alongside Lisetta. Lisetta thought Grace looked like a duckling following along.
‘She acts like someone who’s never been outside before.’
Of course, that couldn’t be true. Though she didn’t know much about Grace’s past, Lisetta assumed she had only ever lived in the capital and found the countryside fascinating.
“What’s… what’s next here?”
“If we go a little farther in, there’s a market.”
“A market…?”
“Yes. It’s a place where people buy and sell all sorts of goods. Would you like to go?”
Hearing that sparked Grace’s curiosity again. Since she had enjoyed her time at the forge, she was now even more excited about visiting a new place.
“If there’s anything you’re curious about, feel free to look around. I’ll help you with the payments.”
“Okay, that sounds won…derful!”
Grace shouted cheerfully.
“Wow…”
The moment they stepped into the market, Grace’s mouth dropped open.
Shops lined up neatly on both sides. Merchants stood in front of them, shouting at the top of their lungs to draw in customers.
People bustled around in every direction. They came in all ages and wore all kinds of clothes.
Grace and Lisetta stepped into a narrow alleyway.
“Oh!”
Something bumped into her waist. Looking down, she saw a small boy standing there. He looked to be around five or six years old.
“Uh…”
“Hey, watch it!”
The boy glared at Grace and spoke sharply before darting off. It all happened so fast that Grace didn’t even have time to react.
“Mitchell! How rude! What are you doing?!”
But the boy was soon grabbed by the collar by a young woman who came chasing after him.
The woman dragged the child over and bowed deeply to Grace.
“I’m so sorry. Truly sorry, milady. He’s just a child…”
“Huh…?”
“Please forgive him just this once. He doesn’t know any better…”
While Grace stood there startled, the woman smacked the boy on the head.
“Ow!”
“Apologize to the lady right now!”
The boy pouted as if he felt wronged.
“If you don’t, you’re in trouble! Hurry up!”
“I… I’m sorry.”
Apparently unable to resist his mother’s scolding, the boy put his hands together and bowed his head.
“Oh… it’s okay.”
Grace waved her hands. She didn’t want to make a big deal over a child lightly bumping into her.
“Thank you for your kindness, milady.”
The woman bowed once more and left with the child.
“Milady…?”
Grace tilted her head at the unfamiliar title.
“That’s how commoners address nobles. Judging from your clothes and the fact that I’m clearly your guard, they must have figured out you were someone of noble status.”
“Ahh…”
“There are nobles who punish commoners over the slightest offense, so she probably begged for forgiveness just in case.”
Grace quietly watched the woman’s retreating figure.
Was that why her eyes trembled and her voice shook as she bowed her head? Because Grace was a noble and might punish her son?
She hadn’t done anything, yet her very existence had made someone afraid. That didn’t feel pleasant…
“Shall we go, my lady?”
Lisetta called to Grace. Shaking off her thoughts, Grace resumed browsing the shops.
“This is… pretty.”
Grace stopped in front of a street stall displaying accessories.
“Welcome! Is there anything you’re looking for?”
A cheerful middle-aged woman with curly brown hair greeted her warmly.
“Um…”
“Would you like me to help pick something that suits you?”
“Hmm… Just a moment.”
Grace glanced back and forth between the stall and Lisetta.
“Looks like you’ve found something to buy.”
Lisetta pulled out the coin pouch given to her by Frederick, meant for Grace’s purchases.
“I’ll take this one.”
After studying the stall, Grace picked a hairpin with a large yellow gem.
“Oh my! That would look perfect on you. You have good taste.”
“How much is it?”
Lisetta asked.
“Four hundred derk. It’s made of amber and silver, so it’s a bit pricey.”
“Would you like to buy it?”
It was a little expensive for a market accessory, but if it really was made of genuine amber and silver, the price made sense.
“Yes! I’ll… buy it!”
‘But… is she supposed to decide like that?’
Seeing Grace nod so eagerly made Lisetta wonder. Grace didn’t seem to know much about pricing—could she make a good decision?
‘Well, it’s not like it’s an unreasonable amount.’
No matter how much she spent here, it wouldn’t even make a dent in the duke’s fortune.
“Just the one? Or would you like anything else?”
“Hmm… Ah. This one… and this one… and this… and this…”
Grace enthusiastically picked out more accessories—bracelets, earrings, brooches, and more.
‘She must already have plenty of jewels…’
It was odd that she was so eager to buy these relatively cheap items when she already owned diamonds, rubies, and emeralds. Still, Lisetta chalked it up to her being excited to explore the market.
“Here you go.”
The merchant handed over a box with the accessories. Lisetta paid and took the box.
“Wow…”
‘This market is fun…’
Grace’s cheeks were flushed with excitement. She already regretted not knowing about this kind of fun earlier.
“Oh—! Look over there!”
While browsing one shop after another, Grace suddenly stopped with her eyes wide open.
“It’s an art shop.”
Several paintings were displayed outside, and more were visible inside. Grace, who had only ever seen paintings in Letius Manor or fairy tale books, was mesmerized.
“Would you like to go in?”
Instead of answering, Grace was already walking ahead. Her passion for art was clearly intense.
Lisetta followed her with a quiet smile.
“Hello! Are you here to buy a painting?”
“Yes…”
“Take your time. If something catches your eye, just let me know. Each painting has its title and the artist’s name written below it.”
Grace began slowly looking around the shop.
Unlike the noble estate’s gallery, which mostly had portraits, still lives, and landscapes, this shop had a wider variety of subjects. But one painting in particular stood out to her.
“That one’s by Martis. It’s called At the Pier. Are you interested?”
When Grace couldn’t take her eyes off the painting, the shopkeeper approached her with a friendly smile.
A person stood on a stark white pier, facing a vast ocean. In the middle of the sea, a small rowboat floated alone.
“It looks… refreshing.”
Grace didn’t know much about piers, but she recognized that the blue expanse in front of the person was the sea.
“I’ll take this one.”
“That’ll be 3,000 derk.”
Lisetta paid for the painting. The shopkeeper placed it in a frame and handed it over.
“Can I… carry it myself?”
“Of course.”
Lisetta tried to take it, but Grace insisted on holding it herself. She walked out of the shop, carrying the painting with pride. But soon, she suddenly felt something was off.
“Huh…?”
“What’s the matter, my lady?”
“The painting… it’s gone…”
Grace, bewildered, held up her empty hands. While she stood there, confused, she spotted a boy walking a few steps ahead. In his right hand was the painting she had just bought.
“Hey—that’s…!”
