🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 16
“There are so many people here. You might get lost, so let’s hold hands.”
“Okay.”
Holding hands with Alexis, Elia wandered through the book market, keeping an eye out for the person she suspected to be the Black Pearl merchant guild master.
And as expected, there were a lot of books.
From ancient tomes to children’s fairy tales, the selection was vast.
“Elia, this one looks fun. What do you think?”
Alexis held up a children’s book.
“The Dragon and the Princess?”
It was a story about a princess who falls in love with a dragon.
“I’d rather look at books about medicinal herbs than fairy tales.”
“Herbs?”
“Yes.”
“Then let’s go look for them.”
As large as the market was, it was filled with people. Nobles and commoners alike gathered to buy books.
And where there were crowds, fights were bound to break out.
Meanwhile…
Tom wanted to be useful to the master who had taken him in. His master had brought him in from the streets, fed him, gave him a place to sleep, and taught him work.
“I want to be helpful.”
His master had brought him to the Holland County book market for that very reason.
“He told me to pick out a book if I saw one I liked, but…”
The real reason they were here was because his master was searching for a book—one that might contain information to cure his sick younger sister.
“I want to find it for him.”
Tom wanted to see the joy on his master’s face.
Luckily, Tom managed to find exactly the book they were looking for.
“This is it. This is the book he’s been searching for.”
Tom had overheard his master talking about the title:
“Herb Chronicles” — a rare old book said to contain knowledge of all the medicinal herbs in the world.
It was extremely hard to come by.
And yet, there it was right in front of him.
Tom quickly grabbed it.
Just then, another hand shot out to snatch it from him. Tom clung to the book and quickly tried to pay for it and leave.
But a rough hand grabbed the back of his collar.
“Hey, where do you think you’re going?”
“What are you doing?”
“What am I doing? You’re asking because you don’t know? I saw that book first, and you snatched it.”
“I picked it up first.”
“You know who I am, brat?”
Judging from his fancy clothes, he was clearly the child of some noble family.
“A mere commoner dares to argue with a noble?”
Wham! Wham!
The boy kicked Tom.
But Tom didn’t let go of the book. He held it tight against his chest.
“You know who I am? Think you’ll walk away unscathed after crossing the heir to the Count of Jamel?”
Tom was angry, but he clenched his mouth shut. Commoners always lost to nobles.
“If you don’t want another beating, hand over the book and get lost.”
“N-No.”
“What?”
“Y-You can’t have this book.”
“Why you little—!”
Rupert, the eldest son of the Count of Jamel, was a spoiled and arrogant brat raised with his father’s overflowing affection.
He always got what he wanted, and within the county, he was treated as second only to the count.
He had come to the book market because he heard Duke Cartellani would be attending.
It was a chance to make an impression on the duke, so he accompanied his father.
The Count had said he could buy whatever books he wanted, so Rupert excitedly browsed the market with his friends.
But then he saw a shabby-looking boy reaching for a book about medicinal herbs—something that irritated him for no clear reason.
“Hey, take it from him.”
At Rupert’s command, the other noble boys moved to snatch the book from Tom.
But at that moment—
“What do you think you’re doing?”
A crisp voice rang in Rupert’s ears.
A beautiful pink-haired girl approached, her expression twisted in a frown.
It was Elia.
“Were you all seriously ganging up on one person?”
The unexpected harshness in her tone caught Rupert off guard.
But he quickly straightened his face.
“Stay out of this, outsider.”
“Nope.”
“If you don’t want that pretty face of yours ruined, walk away.”
Elia pouted and turned behind her.
“Your Grace! He says he wants to ruin my pretty face!”
At her loud shout, Alexis appeared behind her.
Rupert froze in place.
“T-The Duke?!”
Rupert’s eyes shook at the sight of Alexis standing protectively behind Elia.
“You want to harm the face of my precious lady?”
Alexis swept Elia up into his arms and glared fiercely down at Rupert.
“I-It’s not like that…”
Suddenly, Rupert remembered his father’s words:
“Rupert, if you ever meet the Duke, bow your head no matter what.”
Since the Duke had rejected Count Jamel’s requests for aid, their house had suffered.
The Count’s territory, near the monster-infested forest and mountain range, was under constant threat.
Since the Duke refused to send help, their villages had been repeatedly attacked by monsters.
Even hiring mercenaries hadn’t worked. They demanded more money, saying the monsters were too powerful.
Rebuilding the villages and hiring mercenaries had cost a fortune. The Count was desperate for the Duke’s support.
That’s why they were here—to ask in person.
He had already sent letters many times, but Alexis never replied. In fact, Alexis had thrown the letters straight into the fireplace.
Rupert had been trying hard to impress the Duke.
“Ah, I apologize if I’ve been rude.”
Coming from a ten-year-old, his words were chillingly mature. Elia got goosebumps.
It was laughable to see a child imitating adult speech.
“I didn’t know Your Grace was here. I apologize for the shameful behavior.”
He bowed politely.
Alexis responded coldly.
“And do you think a simple bow is enough?”
“Pardon?”
Dmitri stepped forward and struck the back of Rupert’s knees.
“Ugh.”
Rupert collapsed to his knees.
“That’s how you apologize, brat.”
Rupert clenched his fists, his face red with humiliation.
“Your Grace, can you put me down now?”
Elia slipped out of Alexis’ arms and walked past Rupert toward Tom.
She helped the boy to his feet.
“Are you okay?”
“Ah… th-thank you.”
He clutched the book tightly, glancing around nervously.
“Don’t worry. No one’s taking your book.”
“R-Really?”
“Of course. Are you hurt?”
“I-I’m fine.”
“That’s a relief.”
“Oh my, it seems my child caused a disturbance.”
A red-haired man approached and placed a hand on Tom’s shoulder.
He wore a silk tunic and a luxurious fur-lined cloak, with sharply defined eyes.
Tom’s face lit up instantly.
“Master!”
“Tom, your face is swollen.”
“I’m okay, Master. These people helped me.”
The man smiled gently and bowed politely to Elia and Alexis.
“I didn’t expect to see such esteemed individuals here. I’m Raphis, a small-time merchant. It’s an honor, Your Grace.”
“You know me?”
“How could anyone in the north not know of you?”
Raphis smiled and looked over Alexis’s shoulder to Rupert.
Rupert had already gotten to his feet.
When their eyes met, Rupert flinched.
“Please excuse me for a moment.”
Raphis walked over to Rupert and bowed politely.
“It seems my boy offended you. I sincerely apologize on his behalf.”
Rupert felt a chill run down his spine.
Raphis’s eyes were too intense for someone offering an apology.
“H-Hic.”
He let out a hiccup without meaning to and quickly covered his mouth.
“I-I understand. I have to go now…”
Desperate to escape, Rupert ran off. Elia watched him go and let out a quiet chuckle.
She turned to Raphis.
“You’re a really scary person, huh?”
“Of course not.”
“Did you find the book you were looking for?”
“Pardon?”
“I was wondering if the book that boy has is the one you’ve been searching for.”
Raphis looked at Tom.
With a flushed face, Tom held out the book.
