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Chapter 33
Heart, Don’t Race
The square was decorated with blue flags hanging from every house. The cool, water-colored cloth fluttered in the breeze. The festival streets were noisy and crowded. When the surging crowd nearly swept her away, Arsen wrapped an arm around Rose’s shoulders to steady her. At that moment, a merchant approached them.
“Sir, won’t you take a look at some jewelry to gift your lady?”
“Lady…?”
At the word lady, Arsen’s face flushed.
“Jewelry?”
When Rose showed interest, the merchant eagerly laid out his crafts on the stall. The colorful ornaments lined up together looked like a rainbow embroidered across the table.
“Wow, what’s this?”
She picked up a striking, clear-blue gem. Up close, the crystal gleamed in the same color as her eyes.
“That is aquamarine, a type of beryl.”
The man took out more accessories made with the same gem. Necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings—each jewel shone with a bright, transparent brilliance.
“They say it bears the color of the coast. Sailors used to carry it as a protective stone, praying for safe voyages.”
“It really does remind me of the sea.”
“Exactly, my lady. And on a day like today, it looks even better on a lover.”
The merchant then revealed a pair of rings. The simple silver bands, set with aquamarine, were graceful and beautiful. He rubbed his hands together and smiled the smile of a seasoned trader.
“What do you think? I’ll let them go for just ten gold coins each. You two suit each other so well that I’ll give you a special price for the couple.”
“We’re not a couple…”
Rose’s voice trailed off awkwardly. Arsen cleared his throat softly.
“Oh dear, my mistake. You’re so young… I should have realized. Husband and wife, then!”
At that, Arsen nearly choked and coughed violently.
“If you’re newlyweds, I’ll give you an even better deal—half price. Just five coins each.”
“Really?”
“Yes. In return, please make our store your regular stop for all the jewelry you’ll surely need as a married couple.”
Clearly, the merchant hoped to turn them into loyal customers. At this point, explaining their real relationship felt impossible.
Well, it doesn’t matter.
Rose shrugged lightly. The truth probably didn’t matter much to the merchant anyway.
“This is great. Such pretty rings for just five coins. Isn’t it, darling?”
“D-darling…”
Rose leaned into Arsen and gave him a seductive, teasing smile. The man covered his flushed face with his hand. The merchant grew even more enthusiastic, going on and on about every piece of jewelry Rose glanced at. He repeatedly praised their supposed marital bliss and even claimed the trinkets would help in their nightly matters.
How on earth jewelry was supposed to help with that, Arsen had no idea—but he couldn’t get a single word of protest out, especially with Rose eagerly playing along.
“Thank you! Goodbye!”
Finally free from the enchanted trap Rose and the jeweler had spun, Arsen sighed wearily.
“Your Highness… how could you indulge such vulgar talk?”
“Why not? I liked hearing it.”
“It isn’t good to believe empty flattery.”
“Oh, who cares? Today’s a day meant for fun. It’s fine to indulge once in a while. Isn’t it, darling?”
The embarrassing word made Arsen leap back in alarm.
“Your Highness!”
“Shh! What if someone hears? I told you not to call me that outside.”
“But then… how should I…”
“Call me Rose.”
His mouth fell open in shock.
“How could I dare? I can’t casually speak the noble name of such a highborn lady.”
“I’m giving you permission.”
Even so, he couldn’t bring himself to say it.
“You’re so stubborn. Is it really that hard to just say ‘Rose’ once?”
“…I will call you ‘my lady.’”
“Fine. Have it your way.”
With a faint sigh, Rose spread out her hand. The silver ring on her finger glowed bluish, like she held the sea itself in her palm. She liked it instantly. Then she noticed Arsen’s bare hand.
“You’re not wearing yours? The merchant sold them as a pair.”
“…I’ll just keep it with me.”
She felt a pang of disappointment. She’d hoped they might wear them together and look like a couple.
Honestly, what am I even expecting?
Whenever she was beside him, her thoughts kept spiraling away.
It’s just because my favorite character is standing right in front of me.
Shaking her head firmly, Rose calmed her restless heart.
They spent the rest of the day enjoying the festival. Crossing the Lev Bridge, Rose bit into a skewer of salted herring. Tempted by claims that it was a sailor’s delicacy, she had bought it—only to be met with a stench that nearly bowled her over.
“Ugh, disgusting. Why does it smell rotten?”
The sour flavor was overpowering, a dish both foul and bizarre.
“Preserved foods tend to be this way. They were made for long voyages, there’s no helping it.”
“And sailors really survived on this?”
“As a last resort, when food was scarce.”
Arsen’s mouth quirked upward.
“It’s not like sailors lost their sense of taste.”
He must have known how awful it was before she bought it. Rose felt completely tricked. She grimaced at the food, unable to finish or throw it away. Seeing this, Arsen gently took her wrist and began eating the leftover fish himself—or rather, devouring it.
Suddenly, Rose found herself staring at his lips as they moved before her eyes. The way his teeth tore into the fish, the way his tongue licked along the skewer—it was mesmerizing. His lashes lowered, sweat glistened on his temples in the heat of the festival…
It was… indecent.
What the hell, Rose. He’s just eating!
After finishing, Arsen lifted his gaze, his dark eyes meeting hers. It felt like he could see every thought in her mind. Rose quickly looked away, blushing.
“You, uh, seem to be enjoying it.”
“I don’t particularly avoid any food.”
“Then you’re making me look picky.”
“There’s no need to force yourself to eat what doesn’t suit your taste.”
He wiped his mouth roughly and tossed the bare skewer aside. While he stepped away to throw it out, Rose leaned against the bridge rail, pressing her chest to calm her racing heart.
Calm down, heart. Don’t go wild.
Her palms over her chest felt the pounding inside. The more she tried to steady herself, the more Arsen’s lips floated through her mind. At that moment, she wanted nothing more than to kiss him, sour herring and all.
Great. I was supposed to be the one seducing him, but instead, I’m the one falling head over heels.
Just then, loud voices carried over.
“Left side! No, a little more to the right!”
Looking over, she saw townsfolk stacking an enormous pile of firewood, large enough to match a house.
“They’re preparing for the eve festival,” Arsen said, returning.
“The village has one too?”
On the eve of the eleventh day—the tournament’s closing—the imperial palace hosted a grand ball, officially in honor of the fencing champion. Rose vividly recalled the despair she’d felt, knowing it meant another night of endless dancing.
“It seems the commoners created their own version, modeled after the imperial eve festival. I’ve never seen it myself, but they say people wear masks and dance freely.”
“A masquerade ball? That sounds fun.”
The dances of commoners were far looser than the rigid courtly ones Rose had learned. They jumped, moved, and laughed—dancing purely for enjoyment.
If it’s that kind of dance, I could actually do it.
“It’s a pity. If not for the imperial ball, I’d join in here instead.”
“You mean the commoners’ eve festival?”
“Yes. It sounds far more fun than the stiff, suffocating palace.”
She sighed as if she truly felt stifled there. Arsen studied her curiously. Perhaps because she so rarely left the palace, the princess sometimes carried a deep longing for freedom in her eyes.
He suddenly recalled the places of entertainment the knights had mentioned. Could he really bring her somewhere like that? He hesitated—but her bored expression pushed him to speak.
“Your Highness, have you ever heard of dice games?”
“Dice games? You mean gambling?”
“Yes. Just past that alley is a house run by a famous gambler.”
The direction he pointed toward was watched over by a few burly men loitering at the alley’s mouth.
“I’ve heard commoners enjoy such games.”
“Would you like to see?”
“There?”
Rose widened her eyes in surprise. Leading her into such a shady-looking place was unlike Arsen.
“It’s fine, as long as you promise to stay right by my side. But if you’d rather not—”
“I’d love to!”
Rose’s curiosity flared.
Is it like a casino? It reminds me of places I visited back in modern times.
Following Arsen, she soon saw a wooden sign over the shop: “Night of Pleasure.”
Inside, the gambling den was surprisingly orderly. Voices rose as money changed hands, but there were no fights.
Oh? They even have patrol staff around.
So the stories were true—it was professionally managed, every detail taken care of.
“Quite a system.”
“Welcome! Welcome to the Night of Pleasure. What game will the lady enjoy?”
“Guide her to something suitable,” Arsen said quickly, correcting his words mid-sentence.
“Ah, so it’s the lady’s first time with dice games? Please, this way.”
Rose followed the host, glancing at the tables around them. Each was run by a dealer, and patrons wagered their gold. Some of the guests looked like nobles.
The host brought them to a long table and began explaining.
“Exchange your gold coins for chips, according to the amount you wish to play.”
He set colorful chips on the table.
“If you win, you’ll collect the pot that all players contributed. You may return here to exchange your winnings back into gold.”
He gestured to a storage vault behind him, locked securely with a sign for exchanges. Just then, a man approached to cash out his winnings, dropping a pouch full of chips onto the counter.
“Exchange all of this into gold!”
“Yes, sir.”
The host excused himself briefly and stepped into the exchange room.
“Man, whoever you are, your luck’s unbelievable!”
“It’s not luck, it’s skill. If you’re jealous, just win.”
“Well, well, the great gambler of the century, huh?”
The man had apparently swept up a large prize, earning plenty of resentment from the others.
He must be really good.
Rose studied him. But under the hood pulled low, she spotted familiar ash-gray hair. When their eyes met, both froze in surprise.
“…Huh? The princess… and the hound.”
Blinking in disbelief, the gambler turned out to be none other than the holy knight—Heria—lost deep in gambling.
