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Chapter 22
Sharp guy.
He hit the exact sore spot, and Angelina felt pain deep in her bones.
Did he remember how terrible she was with numbers? Or was he simply treating her like an idiot?
“If I combine that money with what I have, that makes 535 baht.”
“But the currency is different.”
Alexei looked at her as if surprised she even knew that.
“The units are different, but the value is the same. You lose some money because of exchange fees, but most merchants also accept herk. There’s no fee for locals. It’s troublesome, but better than losing customers.”
“How do you know that?”
“I read it in a book.”
Of course you did.
“But prices in the Tordi Empire are about one and a half times higher than in Latria, so it’ll feel different in practice. You can’t spend however you want.”
The comforting feeling she got from having something in her empty pocket vanished instantly.
“So are we buying clothes or not?”
“I’m saying we should decide beforehand what we’re buying.”
“All of it. Outerwear, shoes, a cloak…”
And underwear.
The word she couldn’t bring herself to say slipped back down her throat.
“…Something like that.”
“What kind of outerwear? There are blouses, skirts, dresses… lots of things.”
He sure asks in detail.
Angelina felt slightly irritated.
“You learned that from books too?”
“No. The imperial financial reports. Even if there’s a finance minister, managing finances is still an important duty of the emperor. Since I was six, I reviewed them every month without fail.”
“I’ve never even seen my family’s financial records. I never had the right to, either. I just wore whatever they gave me. So I’m planning to buy the cheapest things. Instead of crouching here talking endlessly, I’d rather go see for myself.”
Angelina suddenly stood up.
“This is my plan. You can keep unfolding your own plans here if you want. I’m not planning to spend your money anyway.”
Watching her angry back as she stormed ahead, Alexei let out a sigh.
Did Angelina even realize that she was always the first one to turn her back? Did she know she was the one who hurriedly drew the line without even giving him a chance to explain?
Just like now. She walked away without looking back. Without hesitation—if anything, she walked even faster.
If he didn’t want to lose her again, he should get up now.
Alexei followed the exact path Angelina had taken. Even so, he quickly caught up to her.
The two wandered through every corner of the marketplace searching for a clothing shop.
The clothes tossed around carelessly and the dusty floor resembled the sleepy shop owner. Awakened by their presence, the owner let out a huge yawn.
“Whaaaat kind of thing are you looking for?”
“The cheapest clothes in this shop.”
“Well, if it’s something cheap…”
The owner lazily rummaged through a pile of mixed-up clothes and pulled something out. It was a white robe that looked like it could pass for a grain sack.
“There’s this.”
“…It’s not bad.”
She had confidently declared she’d buy the cheapest clothes, so she couldn’t back out now.
If she picked up a loose string somewhere and tied it around the waist, it might look better.
“What about shoes?”
“The cheapest ones?”
Angelina nodded, and the owner brought out cloth shoes.
“Hmm… not bad.”
Better than being barefoot.
“Next, a cloak…”
“Something else besides that.”
Alexei interrupted.
“Why? I like these. They’re cheap, and really cheap too.”
“Things like that wear out quickly. You’ll end up buying them again, so they’re not actually cheap.”
“They’re still clothes and shoes. They’ll last a season. I just have to be careful.”
The look in his eyes seemed to ask, You? Careful?
“These fit perfectly into my spending plan. You just don’t like them because they’re cheap, right?”
Alexei stared silently at Angelina as she glared at him with a pout.
Until recently, she had been a noble lady who casually wore Madame Kelt’s dresses. But now she was happily holding up a tacky dress and shoes made from the worst quality fabric.
And the strangest thing was that she didn’t even seem to notice the gap between those two worlds. Alexei simply couldn’t understand how.
“It doesn’t matter. I’m not the one wearing them.”
“And you’re going to keep walking around in that flashy vest?”
Without answering, Alexei turned to the owner.
“Do you accept herk?”
“Of course. You must’ve come from very far away?”
Fortunately, the owner didn’t seem to suspect they might be Latrians. The Tordi emperor’s massacre of Latrians was so infamous that nobody even imagined any of them would dare walk around openly.
“From the Kingdom of Rio.”
“Ah, Rio. Noblemen often come here saying they want to broaden their horizons.”
“Better quality clothes than these. And a robe too.”
The owner’s dull face brightened instantly.
“Alex.”
“I’ll buy them.”
“No. I’ll buy my own clothes. You should buy yourself new clothes instead.”
“This is comfortable.”
“Well, I’m not comfortable.”
The owner watched the bickering couple with curious eyes.
A noble man and a woman of low status.
Could this be lovers running away because of their difference in rank?
Either way, the man looked wealthy, so expensive clothes were the way to go.
Humming to herself, the owner pulled out a gold-thread dress that had been sitting there for five years.
She had been tricked by the sweet talk of a foreign merchant and bought it impulsively, but it wouldn’t fit over her hips. She’d tried to sell it, but nobody looking for luxury clothes ever came to a market alley like this.
Thinking she’d finally get rid of it, the shop owner became excited.
“It’s completely brand new. Something at this level suits a nobleman’s dignity.”
“Not dresses like that. Clothes worn by maids or farmer’s wives.”
So she wasn’t a beloved woman, but someone he intended to make work?
No, that didn’t seem right either.
They spoke casually to each other and looked very comfortable together.
Then maybe… was he into that sort of thing?
The shop owner narrowed her eyes and slowly looked Alexei up and down.
“What are you doing?”
“Ahhh… just a moment.”
A dress with an apron and a bodice were placed before Alexei.
Not bad.
Alexei nodded.
“You’re really not buying anything for yourself?”
“I can pick clothes that match this perfectly for you.”
“There’s no need.”
The owner became anxious to sell at least one more thing.
“Why not? If thieves target you, getting stripped clean is only a matter of time.”
“I’m not that careless.”
“You noble folks really don’t know how scary the world is. I’ll give you those too for 40 baht.”
The owner pointed at wool pants and a vest.
“Just ring these up.”
That stubborn idiot…
Angelina shook her head and stepped forward.
“I need to change clothes, so Alex, wait outside first. Give me the money.”
There was a small shabby changing room tucked into the corner.
There wasn’t really any need to force him out, but Angelina still pushed the puzzled Alexei outside.
After taking the clothes from the woman, Angelina pointed at the men’s clothes that had been recommended earlier.
“Pack those too.”
“Ah, yes, yes. Of course.”
The owner’s hands and feet moved busily.
How much did she say earlier again?
Angelina rummaged through her pocket, then paused when she noticed the sly smile on the woman’s lips.
“You must be traveling for the first time. You look young too.”
“I’m old enough.”
“Oh my, the young lady has pride. No need to be so sensitive. Tordi is cheap, friendly, and generous. You just have to trust the locals. Traveling isn’t hard.”
She knew it. That suspicious smile from the start.
The woman was openly trying to scam her.
Angelina casually nodded and asked again,
“How much was it earlier…?”
Another sly smile.
It was obvious the woman wanted to rip off a young, inexperienced traveler.
Please. I may be slow at math, but I’m not getting scammed.
“You said 20 baht, right?”
“No, no. What a terrible thing to say. It’s 40 baht. Forty.”
“Ah, 40.”
Angelina paid the exact amount and left the shop.
Alexei stood against the wall with his arms crossed. His eyes moved to the clothes she still hadn’t changed out of. Angelina suddenly shoved some clothes at him.
“I bought clothes for you with my money. You can’t return them, so just wear them.”
“How unnecessary.”
“Even so, you can’t keep walking around in formal wear. And…”
“?”
“You smell.”
Alexei choked in disbelief.
“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. It’s natural. We’ve spent days outside without washing. I probably smell too.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
Holding the clothes with a strange expression, Alexei spoke again.
“You don’t smell.”
“Liar.”
“I don’t lie.”
“I really don’t? Even like this?”
Angelina stepped right up close to Alexei.
It was such a small action, yet Alexei’s expression twisted badly.
