After a few hours in the swaying carriage, we finally reach the next village. The knights start carry our luggage into the inn.

“Oof!”

I pick up my bag with both hands, but it’s suddenly taken from me.

“I’ll carry your luggage, Princess,” Lute stated.

“Oh, thank you. This town is really busy! There are so many shops… it’s really lively, isn’t it?”

Since I’ve barely been out of Kanai Village, everything I see is fresh and exciting. There are rows of bread and sweets I’ve never seen before in storefront windows. The people walking around through town are dressed fashionably, and I can’t take my eyes off them.

“Is this your first time in this village, milady?”

“Yes. I’ve hear a lot about it, but I had no idea it was so wonderful!”

“After we put down the luggage, would Your Royal Highness like to take a look around town?”

“Oh! Is it all right?”

“Of course. It must be stifling to be surrounded by us at all times.”

Lute peers down at my face and grins.

How should I respond back to him?

“I’m just happy to have so many people to talk to.”

“…Are you sure you’re not forcing yourself?”

Lute peers at me with a worried look on his face.

“Haha… I’m serious,” I giggled. “Everyone’s so different; time really passes quickly when we’re together.”

“I feel much better hearing you say that, milady,” Lute smiles gently. “Walking around town will be a nice change of pace, milady. I will accompany Your Highness, of course.”

“Thank you.”

Luke smiles quietly and Haku comes up besides us.

“You two are having a fun little chat, aren’t you?” Haku asked. “Let me come with you!”

“You must have really good hearing.”

“I can always pick up on the voice of a pretty girl.”

Lute sighed. “…Just don’t cause any trouble for the Princess.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Haku says, brushing off Lute’s warning.

“Princess. Haku and I shall accompany you into town.”

“Yes, thank you!”

After we set down our luggage, we go out to see the town. There are all kinds of rare foods, goods, and clothes I’ve never seen before in Kanai Village. My chest begins to hurt from sighing in wonder at each new thing.

I wish I could have gone on a journey like this with Grandma. Now that I think about it, I never got to take her anywhere.

“Who are you buying that cup for?” a girl asked.

“Mother. She’s feeling down after her favorite cup broke yesterday,” another girl answered.

I hear two girls chatting together at the general store.

That’s right. I should buy something to send to Grandma. What should I get?

I think for a while, and an image of Grandma in the kitchen wearing an apron springs to mind.

I’ll get her an apron! I’m sure there’s a wonderful one in this town!

I visit various shops with Lute and Haku. However, I can’t seem to find an apron.

“I wonder where they would be?”

“What are you searching for, milady?” Lute asked.

“An apron…”

“I bet we’ll find one in there,” Haku pointed out.

He points to a shop that has some kitchen goods and clothes in it.

Wow, there are all kinds! Which one would suit Grandma best?

I begin to look through all the aprons when…

“I think you’ll look good in this one, Sophie,” Haku commented.

He pointed to an apron with a flashy loud pattern on it.

“No, this one is more suited for a princess,” Lute implied.

Lute picks up a tidy white apron.

“U-Um…”

They don’t understand that it’s not for me…

But they’re so wrapped up in their argument they don’t even hear me trying to speak up.

“You have terrible taste, Lute,” Haku said.

“Why? I’m the one who can’t understand YOUR tastes,” Lute replied. “The Princess will look best in pure white!”

“No,no, this bold pattern will really bring out Sophie’s pale skin! You just don’t know anything about Sophie, do you?”

“What did you say?!”

“White is a pretty meaningful color, huh? It’s almost like you want to make girls completely blank so you can turn them whatever color you like!!”

“Enough! Stop being so rude in front of the Princess!” Lute stated as his cheeks redden.

Seeing this, Haku begins to laugh uproariously.

“Ahaha!” he laughed. “Look, Sophie! Lute’s blushing! He NEVER blushes!”

“Come on, Haku. Nobody asked you!” Lute yelled.

I look at Lute and……

“You really are bright red,” I commented.

“I know I shouldn’t let my emotions show so much…” Lute says with a sheepish grin and scratches the back of his head.

“Anyway, Sophie,” Haku said. “Which apron do you like best?”

“Um, actually… I’m looking for an apron for my grandma…”

“What?!” Haku said in surprise.

“For Lady Tome?” Lute wondered.

Both of them exchange embarrassed glances. They hurriedly put back the aprons and begin searching for others.

“I think Lady Tome would like good in a pastel apron…” Lute suggested.

“I think a bright pattern would be better,” Haku implied. “It might take her mind off her loneliness since Sophie is gone.”

“Does Lady Tome prefer a more simple design? Or one with some frills?” Lute asked.

Both of them are so serious as they look through the aprons, I can’t help but think how cute they are. I look at the shop across the road and see that they sell aprons there as well.

I’ll go look in that shop!

I walk away from the knights and look at the aprons in the shop across the way.

Oh, this one is so pretty! This one will look good on Grandma, too!

“Lute, Haku… Which one do you think would look best on Grandma?”

I turn around with both aprons in my hands, but both of the boys are gone from the last shop. I look all around, but can’t seem to find them.

Oh no, I lost them!

Just then……

“You’re really cute!”

“What’s your name?”

Two roguish-looking men start talking to me.

Are they hitting on me?

“U-Um, I…”

“You’re totally my type!” one of them shouted.

“Hey, you wanna hang out with us?” the other one asked.

“Um, um…”

W-What should I do…?

I’ve never been hit on before, so I’m frozen in bewilderment. Just then…

“What’s so cute about her?” A voice behind me says.

I turn around to see Shion standing there. After shooting me a bored glance, he turns his irritated gaze back on the men.

“What’s so good about this girl?” he asked. “She smells like potatoes.”

The men exchanged troubled glances.

“Can’t you find anyone better?” Shion asked. “I’m telling you, you’re wrong about her.”

Just then……

THUD!

“Oww!” Shion cried.

“Lute?!”

Lute appears and hit Shion on top of the head with his fist.

“Hey, Shion! How dare you say such a thing!” Lute yelled.

“Well, it’s true!” Shion replied.

Lute was surprised.

BONK!

Lute silently punches Shion again.

Haku sighed. “Here we go again. Shi always pisses off Lute doing stuff like that.”

“R-Really…”

Haku returns and we both watch the two knights fight. The men who hit on me hurry away.

…Do I really smell like potatoes? He did save me, but I feel so conflicted…

“Sophie,” Haku said, “if you’re not interested in men who hit on you, all you have to say is ‘No thank you.’”

“Okay, I understand.”

Haku brings his lips close to my ear. “But don’t say no to my advances, got it?”

“… I-I’m going to buy this apron now!” I shouted.

I quickly take the apron and go to enter the shop when someone calls out to me from behind.

“Will you come with me, Miss?”

Not again…

“No thank you!”

I turn around and my breath catches in my throat. A man in black is staring at me with a sharp gaze.

The enemy in black!

I can’t speak. It takes everything I have to slowly, slowly back up, but the man still approaches me.

“No, will you come with me?” he shouted.

I stood there silent.

Someone…!

Just as the man in black stretches his hand out towards me…

“Don’t get any closer!”

“Lute!”

Lute roughly pulls my body towards him. Lute stands in front of me, putting distance between myself and the man in black. He thrusts his sword at the man, who stares at me with a coldness like I’ve never seen before.

“Grr….!”

“If you cause a scene here, it’s you who will be in trouble!” Lute stated. “So what’ll it be?”

Lute says in a low, meaning voice as he presses the tip of his sword against the man’s chest. Curious onlookers have gathered around us, clearly putting the man in black at a disadvantage.

“Tch… You’ll pay for this!” the robed man shouted.

The man makes a face like he just swallowed a bug and runs away. Lute let’s goes of my arm and gently puts his sword away.

“That was close. I’m glad I got here in time,” Lute said.

“Thank you, Lute.”

“Will you please promise me something, Princess?” he asked.

Lute stands in front of me and gazes steadily into my eyes. “Please don’t ever leave my side again.”

“…I’m sorry. Even after Gaia lectured me… I’ll be more careful from now on, I won’t leave your side, Lute,” I say gazing back at him until a smile finally returns to his face.

Now that the commotion is over, Lute and I take a walk through town until we reach the town square. Children are happily playing, throwing a ball around.

“Just looking at the children playing calms the heart,” I commented, “doesn’t it?”

“Yes…” Lute agreed. “Children are honest and carefree. Their smiles are contagious.”

The ball suddenly rolls by Lute’s feet. The children waves at us, waiting for their ball.

“Here it comes!” Lute shouted as he throws it back to them.

The ball arcs up into the blue sky and falls right into the hands of one of the children.

“You’re really good, Lute!”

“I used to play that all the time when I was a child. Bring back a lot of memories…” he whispers in a warm, soft voice.

Although he’s smiling, his eyes seem far away.

Lute…?

My heart skips a beat as I get a glimpse of him looking so vulnerable. I stare at his profile for a while, then Lute looks back at me. The sad look on his face has vanished. He’s back to his usual clear, peaceful expression.

“Let’s go back to everyone else,” Lute suggested.

“Okay.”

The sun is low in the sky by the time we arrive back at the inn. Lute helps me prepare the package with the apron inside for Grandma.

“I wonder if she’ll like it…”

“I’m sure she will,” Lute smiled. “It’s a symbol of your kindness, Princess.”

“No, that’s not what I meant.”

“Hm?”

Lute stops folding up the apron.

“She raised me this whole time and I wasn’t able to give her anything in return,” I explained. “So this is to apologize… or rather to thank her…”

My chest squeezes painfully when I think of Grandma.

“That’s why you have such a kind heart, Princess,” Lute commented.

“Lute…”

He nods and smiles tenderly at me. I feel my mood getting lighter from Lute’s words.