The carriage of Granado Castle was extravagantly decorated, dazzling to the eye.
It was incomparably more luxurious than the hired carriages of the Chaderan territory. The exterior was primarily made of black iron, adorned with generous amounts of gold, silver, and mother-of-pearl. The horses pulling it were also beautiful, large and muscular, yet with lustrous coats and very gentle eyes. Like the shiny carriage, they were well-cared for.
The interior was surprisingly simple, spacious with a high ceiling, designed for comfort. The crimson cushioned seats transformed even the vibrations into a pleasant sensation.
After about an hour, the driver announced our arrival, and we stepped down to the ground.
"Where are we...?"
"This is the main street of the lower town. The designated shop is still a bit ahead, but we'll have to walk from here."
I looked around.
It was a very lively place. Along the large road, there were several carriages parked besides ours. Large buildings that seemed to be department stores, banks, hotels, and restaurants lined up, with narrow side streets at each corner.
Elegantly dressed noblewomen were flowing into the buildings, while citizens in plain clothes were heading down the side streets. I was drawn to the side streets.
"What's down that street?"
"It's the commoners' market. First, let's leave the carriage. And change clothes."
Change clothes? Both Sir Cyrus and I were already in our usual splendid attire. Were we going to dress up even more formally?
We entrusted the carriage to the driver and Wolfgang and entered the building right in front of us.
It seemed to be a carriage storage facility. A man at the entrance, likely the receptionist, noticed us and straightened his back.
"Lord Granado! Good afternoon! Are you here for shopping today?"
He smiled warmly, showing respect, but it seemed more like the affection for a regular customer rather than the awe of a great noble.
"Yes, it's a personal matter. I'll leave it to you as usual. And for her too."
"Oh... which princess is it?"
"She's my fiancée."
"Hehe, you're always joking."
The man laughed it off casually. Sir Cyrus frowned.
"It's not a joke. The engagement ceremony is next month, but we're already living together. Of course, we will get married."
"Oh, really! I didn't know that! Truly, young Master Cyrus, an engagement, a marriage. Oh my!"
The man seemed to be making a big fuss, as if he had seen something very rare. He leaned in to look at my face and exclaimed loudly.
"How beautiful you are!"
"Um, thank you..."
I bowed my head. "I'm sorry to trouble you—"
"Oh my, oh my. I didn't expect this. This place has been a favorite of the Duke and Duchess of Granado for many years, but this is the first time the young master has brought a woman. The Duke and Duchess were lamenting that the young master was very popular but couldn't seem to settle down. The Duchess, frustrated, once took the young master to the red-light district—ouch!"
Suddenly, the young man cried out. Sir Cyrus had stepped on his foot. With a stern face, he walked into the back of the store without a word. "What, is it okay to just go in?" I was confused, but the man smiled and urged me on. I hurried to follow Sir Cyrus.
As soon as I opened the door, there were two more doors, one for women and one for men. I entered the women's side and found a very small room with only a large mirror. What was this room for?
From behind, the man called out.
"Miss, please use this."
I took what he offered and unfolded it.
Wow, this is...!
After a while—when I came out, the store clerk exclaimed, "How adorable! Your glamorous dress was beautiful, but in plain clothes, your natural beauty really stands out!"
"Is that so... I don't think it suits me very well."
Indeed, I had changed inside. It was a typical outfit for a commoner girl in the capital: a soft cotton dress, a laced-up overskirt, tights, and leather short boots. The skirt was so short that my knees were almost visible. There were few frills or lace, but many colors were used.
...The dresses at the earl's castle were dreamlike, but this lively fashion was also new to me. Is it okay? Am I not strange? I'm taller than the male clerk, and it feels like I'm in a woman's dress...
Feeling anxious, a hat was placed on my head. It was Sir Cyrus. His tall, handsome face looked down at me.
"That's good too. You're cute."
"Ah—thank you. ...Sir Cyrus, you look very handsome too."
When I said that, he smiled and, as if to say "Of course," placed his hands on his hips and puffed out his chest. Lord Cyrus Granado doesn't feign modesty. He didn't need to, as he really did look very good and was truly handsome.
He wore a simple shirt and tunic, a belt with minimal decoration, loose white pants, and comfortable sandals. His long black hair was let down, unbound. Even in such a modest outfit, the earl had a different presence. As the clerk said, his natural qualities were just too good.
"The market isn't exactly safe. It's not dangerous enough for robbers or kidnappers, but there are a lot of pickpockets. If you look too wealthy, it can be unpleasant."
I see, that's why we're in disguise... or rather, not really a disguise. We're just dressed to look like we don't have much money.
"At the same time, it's also fun to interact with vendors and negotiate prices. Be careful not to be taken advantage of."
"Are we going shopping?"
"Yes. We'll walk around and look at various things. Things that suppliers to the castle never bring, like commoners' sweets and foreign ingredients. If these clothes are comfortable, we might buy them. There are many things that a girl around Marie's age would want."
"Wow! I'm excited!"
I couldn't help but cheer. Sir Cyrus smiled warmly and held out his hand to me. Huh? What's this hand for?
I looked down at it, puzzled.
Sir Cyrus said matter-of-factly,
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"There are many people, and it's easy to get separated. Let's hold hands."
"Huh?"
"Also, call me Cyrus. No formal language."
"Wh-what!?"
I let out a cry and tried to negotiate for another way. But the clerk's threat,
"Of course, it's better this way. If you get lost or pickpocketed, or overcharged at a stall, your date will be ruined."
left me with no choice but to give in.
"Come on, Marie."
"Y-yes. Um, let's go—Cyrus..."
I gently took the large hand offered to me and started walking.
—It had been about two months since I arrived at Granado Castle. This was the first time I held hands with my fiancé.