※Due to the nature of the content, please be mindful of your surroundings if you are reading this outdoors.
Walking through the market of the capital for the first time in my life, I noticed that most of the goods were aimed at women. Rows of shops selling clothes, accessories, and cute trinkets lined the streets. Most items were priced within a child’s allowance, and you could negotiate discounts almost anywhere.
Every time I spotted something unusual, I would stop, saying, "I want to see that, I want this," and pull on Cyrus’s hand.
I bought a lace hair tie for Tzeli, rare flower seeds for Johann, and citrus peels for herbal tea for Wolfgang. While paying at a tea shop, I noticed a mysterious glass bottle near the counter. It contained a brown powder. I couldn’t tell what it was, but the label had an elegant design that made me want the container itself.
"Hey, Cyrus, what is this?"
My way of speaking had become much more natural. Cyrus seemed to know what the glass bottle was just by looking at it and immediately said,
"It’s a spice. You know, in the eastern regions, they put spices in their tea, right?"
"Then maybe I should buy some for Mio too. And I want some ginger on its own. Topo wants to try cooking pork with it."
Cyrus frowned, looking troubled.
"You’re buying things for everyone else, Marie. You should spend more on yourself."
"But it’s fun to do so," I countered. Cyrus, too, only bought gifts for me. I already had five bracelets, two pendants, and several small hair accessories on my head. It’s not my fault that there are so many women’s shops, but Cyrus is the one buying things for others, right?
"Cyrus, you should buy something too. It seems like I’m the only one having fun."
When I said this with a hint of resentment, he nodded vigorously.
"Then let’s eat something since it’s almost noon."
"But not food."
"I was getting hungry anyway, and we’re approaching an area with more food stalls."
As we left the tea shop, a fragrant, appetizing smell wafted from the other side of the street. I saw a few shops selling food, and as we walked further, they became more numerous. I realized that the market was divided by product categories.
"What do you want to eat… Marie, any preferences?"
When Cyrus asked, I shook my head. It wasn’t that I didn’t want anything; there were just too many choices.
The delicious smells and sizzling sounds from the street vendors were more appealing than the restaurants. I kept looking around.
There was a skewer stand selling meat sprinkled with salt and meat marinated in a sweet and savory sauce. Three skewers for one yuro. There was also a shop that made juice from fresh fruit on the spot, and next to it, large dried fish hung from the eaves, about my height, priced at three yuros.
The market had reasonably priced trinkets, but the food was surprisingly cheap. It was also interesting, with many dishes and ingredients I had never seen before.
Oh, which one should I choose? I can’t decide!
As I was happily pondering, my arm was suddenly tugged. Cyrus’s green eyes sparkled like a child’s.
"I found it! Marie, let’s eat that!"
That…?
Cyrus pointed to a rather peculiar stall. It was a tiny stand with a large piece of meat on a table. Upon closer inspection, it seemed to be thin slices of meat skewered on an iron rod and grilled into a solid mass. As we approached, the vendor greeted us with a bright smile.
"Welcome! The most handsome man and the most beautiful woman in the three kingdoms! Two, okay, always!"
Before I could say anything, the vendor started slicing the meat with a knife. I turned to Cyrus, who was smiling happily.
"Don’t worry, if it doesn’t suit Marie’s taste, I’ll eat two."
"Have you tried this before, Cyrus… this…?"
"Kebab. In Ipus, it means roasted meat, and when served in a sandwich, it’s called a kebab sandwich."
I knew about kebab sandwiches from Ipsandros. The meat is marinated in spices and yogurt, then skewered and roasted while rotating. I had never seen one in person before. So, it has such an impactful appearance.
The vendor split a white bread roll and stuffed it with the sliced meat, then added shredded cabbage.
"Here you go, miss! Enjoy it while it’s hot! It’s good cold too!"
I took the kebab sandwich from the high-spirited vendor.
When he said to eat it… here? Standing up?
Moreover, this bread was so large that I couldn’t hold it with one hand, and it was wider than my mouth.
"How do I eat this?"
When I asked, Cyrus looked puzzled.
"Just take a bite."
"But we’re outdoors, and there are so many people around. Is it okay for a woman to do this?"
"Is this your first time? You’re quite a lady, Marie."
Saying this, Cyrus took a big bite as an example. I decided to follow suit and took a bite.
My mouth was full, and the first thing I tasted was the rich spices. Then came the flavor of the lamb, followed by the refreshing tang of the yogurt.
"Is it good?"
When Cyrus asked, I nodded vigorously. I couldn’t speak with a full mouth, so I had to nod. It was really delicious.
But it was still so big. To avoid getting my face dirty, I nibbled carefully, moving my head in all directions. In contrast, Cyrus finished his in just three bites. It wasn’t just the size of his mouth; he was clearly used to eating this dish. Maybe he was a regular customer. Without asking the price, he handed some coins to the vendor, who said, "Thank you, always!"
"This stall was where I used to come every holiday during my student days. The dormitory food was too refined, and the taste and quantity were unsatisfying."
"Student days… did you go to a regular school, Cyrus?"
"Not a regular school, but the royal one, where only the children of military nobles and the ultra-wealthy go. I studied various things from the age of twelve to eighteen."
I nodded, intrigued, and took another bite of the kebab sandwich. As I chewed, I felt a strange sense of wonder. Cyrus is six years older than me and a grown man. Even the all-knowing, capable Cyrus had a childhood…
As I was lost in thought, I was tapped on the shoulder.
"Marie, let’s get some dondurma for dessert."
Dondurma? …In Ipus, it means "frozen"… but is it a food name? I was curious, even though I didn’t know what it was. When I nodded, Cyrus ordered it from the vendor.
The vendor smiled mischievously.
"Lucky you, young master. Usually, it would melt by noon, but it’s a bit chilly this morning, and I have some left over."
With a grin, he pulled out a large pot from under the stall. When he opened the lid, there was a white substance inside. What is it, whipped cream?
The vendor inserted a long metal spatula and started stirring vigorously. When he lifted the spatula…
Stretch!
!?
The white substance stretched out in front of me, forming a thread between the pot and the spatula.
What is this!? It’s stretching!
"Kebab is, as the name suggests, a frozen dessert. The main ingredients are sugar and sheep’s milk, making it a type of ice cream."
As Cyrus explained, the substance stretched again. Wow, it stretched to about my height. Amazing.
"I’ve made ice cream with cow’s milk before. If you store it in an ice house in winter, it can last until early summer. But it doesn’t stretch!"
"The stretchiness comes from salep, a starch derived from a plant in the Eastern Republic. It’s mixed into the liquid to prevent melting, but it has this side effect. The taste is normal, so don’t worry."
Each time the vendor inserted and removed the spatula, the ice cream stretched and contracted like a toy. It was very entertaining, but I wondered if there was a purpose to all this stirring.
Finally, a chunk of ice cream was stuck to a waffle cone and dangled in front of me. The sticky texture kept it from falling even when inverted.
"Here you go, please enjoy."
"I, I will."
As I reached for it, it was suddenly pulled up. Huh? I tried to grab it again, but it was moved to the side. Each time I extended my hand, the ice cream was dodged up, down, left, and right. Huh? Why isn’t he letting me eat it!?
The vendor was shorter than me, but he was agile and the spatula was long. When he raised it high, I couldn’t reach it. I flailed my arms, jumped, and hopped, even breaking into a sweat.
What is this ritual? Or is he just being mean? I don’t know, but I’m worried the ice cream might fall. I want to eat it so badly!
"Come on, enough already!"
As I shouted, the vendor handed me the cone with a big smile. It seemed he was just playing a prank. I sighed in relief and tried to take it… but it was flipped upside down, and I missed. Ugh!
Finally, I really, truly got it. I won’t let it be taken away again and quickly took a bite.
"Mmm… chewy!"
My mood instantly improved. The taste was similar to the milk ice cream I knew, but it had a chewy texture. It melted quickly in my mouth. What a strange and interesting food. The anticipation made it even more delicious. I turned to Cyrus to thank him.
"Thank you, Cyrus! This is really delicious!"
Cyrus, as usual, smiled calmly and didn’t say, "You’re welcome." Instead, he was crouched on the ground, holding his face and laughing.