The sun hung lazily in the sky, casting a warm glow over the busy marketplace. Kina wiped her brow, a satisfied smile on her face as she glanced at the coins in her hands.
"Wow, business has been good today," she said softly, turning to Ryojin, who was seated on a bench nearby.
"I'm happy for you," he replied simply.
Kina chuckled. "Yeah, it's been ages since I made this much. And the day's far from over."
As they spoke, a passing carriage slowed, and a young girl inside peered curiously at Ryojin.
"Sir, please stop the carriage," the girl said firmly.
The driver hesitated. "But my lady, your father strictly instructed me to take you home immediately."
"There's something I want to buy," she said, her tone carrying a hint of defiance.
The driver sighed. "Alright, my lady. Please make it quick."
The carriage came to a halt, and a young woman dressed in an elegant pink gown stepped out, gracefully making her way toward Kina's small stall.
Ryojin smirked. "Looks like today's your lucky day, Kina. You've got yourself a fancy customer."
Kina turned and stiffened at the sight of the girl approaching. "Wait... isn't that Francine?" She paused, her expression shifting to one of irritation. "What could she possibly want here?"
"Isn't it obvious? She wants to buy something," Ryojin replied. "I thought you'd be excited to see her."
Kina scoffed. "I just hate royalty."
"Royalty?" Ryojin raised an eyebrow, suddenly more interested. "So, she's part of the royal family?"
"Yeah," Kina said indifferently. "She's the king's niece."
"Huh."
Moments later, Francine reached the stall, but her gaze wasn't on Kina—it was locked onto Ryojin. He, however, remained seated, casually observing the other shops.
Kina quickly bowed her head. "My lady, it's an honor to have you here. What would you like to buy?"
"Him," Francine said without hesitation, pointing directly at Ryojin.
Kina blinked in shock. "What?"
Ryojin, too, was taken aback, his eyes slightly widening.
Realizing how her words sounded, Francine cleared her throat, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush. "I mean, I want to talk to him about something."
Kina smirked, folding her arms. "Hey Rio, you heard her." She took a seat on the bench, watching with mild amusement.
Ryojin stood up and walked to the wooden table. "Yes?"
Francine smiled confidently, absentmindedly twirling a strand of her long blonde hair. "Hi, I'm Francine, the king's niece. Though I'm sure you must've heard about me."
"Uh, yeah… just heard about you now," Ryojin said, gesturing toward Kina, who was watching with a sour expression.
Francine's eyebrows lifted. "Oh, really? You had no idea who I was?"
"Nope. I don't stay here. I'm just visiting."
"Ah, I see." Francine nodded. "So, what's your name?"
"Rio."
A small smile played on Francine's lips. "Wow, that's a wonderful name. It really suits your looks."
"Uh… thanks, I guess."
Francine giggled. "I mean it. Maybe you don't realize it, but you're really good-looking." She leaned in slightly, studying his face. "And those eyes of yours… they make you stand out even more."
Ryojin forced a small smile, unsure how to respond. He wasn't used to compliments, especially from women.
Francine straightened, her tone turning slightly more serious. "We just met, but I'd really like to know more about you while you're here. Would you like to be friends? You could visit the castle tomorrow."
Before Ryojin could answer, Kina abruptly stood up. "No, no. He'll be busy," she said firmly. "He'll be helping me with sales."
Ryojin glanced at her, then nodded. "Yeah, she's… right. Sorry, I'll be busy tomorrow."
Francine tilted her head. "Then what about the day after?"
"He'll also be busy," Kina interjected quickly, placing a hand on Ryojin's shoulder. "He'll be busy until he leaves."
Francine and Kina locked eyes, a silent battle of wills playing out between them. After a moment, Francine broke the tension with a smirk. "I know how to solve this."
She turned back to Kina. "You said he'll be busy because of sales, right? Then I'll buy all your tomatoes. That way, he'll have nothing to do tomorrow."
Kina's eyes widened. "What? All the tomatoes?"
"Yes." Francine's voice was smooth and composed. "How much do they cost?"
Kina hesitated. "Uh—"
"Never mind. I'll just give you five gold coins." Francine reached into her pouch, pulled out the money, and placed it on the table. "That should be more than enough." She turned to Ryojin, flashing him a victorious smile. "So, I'll see you tomorrow afternoon."
Ryojin hesitated but nodded. "Sure thing."
Satisfied, Francine turned and gracefully walked back to her carriage. As the horses pulled away, Ryojin watched the carriage disappear into the distance. Something about Francine puzzled him. Why would she go so far just to be friends with someone she just met? And why did she spend so much money just to free up his time?
Kina sighed beside him. "You like her?"
Ryojin shook his head. "No."
Kina studied his face. "You hesitated."
"It's not that." Ryojin exhaled. "She forgot to get the tomatoes."
"Oh she did," Kina crossed her arms. "Well, get ready, Rio. You've caught the attention of royalty. That never ends well."
Ryojin didn't reply. He simply stared at the spot where Francine had stood, lost in thought.