IFAHWIPUTML Chapter 14

Chayston headed to the marketplace today too.

He wanted to perfectly decorate the child's room before finding Raphaleon.

The child he believed was alive.

Raphaleon was the child of Ion, his older brother—someone he'd cherished and loved, who'd been both guardian and friend to him.

Though he'd never met Raphaleon even once, Chayston wanted to raise him without any lack.

He wanted to give everything he had to fill the child with love, just as much love as he'd received from his brother.

Because to him, Ion had been a substitute for his father.

His visit to the marketplace today was also because of what his brother had said—that Raphaleon loved watching stars.

That seeing the child's large red eyes gleaming as he gazed at stars made his heart swell. Made him want to protect this small, precious existence.

Remembering this, Chayston collected star-shaped items whenever he had time.

He'd drawn stars on the ceiling wallpaper with magical fluorescent paint, and matched everything to star shapes—star-patterned blankets, star-shaped picture frames, star-shaped toys.

Raphaleon's room was already saturated with star-shaped items, but it still wasn't enough for him.

Perhaps this was Chayston's own way of expressing his longing for his brother.

Chayston was looking around various shops when he spotted a snow globe containing a large star and reached for it.

The sparkling snow globe was definitely something children would like.

But what he'd grabbed wasn't the snow globe—it was a warm, pale hand.

He quickly looked up to the side. There stood Verasielle with her face scrunched up so severely you'd wonder if it was even possible to wrinkle one's expression that much.

He wasn't pleased with the current situation either, but her attitude was considerably irritating.

"What's with that expression?"

"I grabbed it first."

Verasielle tucked away her displeased expression. An uncontrollable reaction must've slipped out.

She pulled the snow globe toward herself.

But Chayston had no intention of giving up either and put force into his hand.

Both their arms tensed.

"You both have excellent taste. It's a snow globe made with magic—if you press the switch on the bottom, it lights up."

It was something Raphaleon would love. Sparkling, shining objects were enough to capture a child's attention.

Veras put force into her eyes toward Chayston, giving silent pressure for him to let go first.

But it was a threat that didn't work on someone solid as a brick wall.

"This is the very last one in stock. Hohoho."

At the owner's words, both people's eyes gleamed as they became even more desperate to obtain the snow globe.

"Your Grace. I grabbed it first, so please let go."

"We grabbed it simultaneously. Why don't you yield?"

Two cats with bristling fur growled at each other.

The shop owner acted troubled on the outside while wondering what to do, but inside couldn't hide his satisfaction.

"Do you have a hobby of collecting cute little things?"

What a sight—a tall man and an elegant lady unable to yield over one small snow globe, engaged in a battle of wills.

"Mom, look! Those grown-ups are fighting over a toy!"

A child passing through the market holding hands with their mother saw Chayston and Veras and shouted.

"Shh! You can't say things like that."

The mother, recognizing they were nobles from their clothing, hushed the child and quickly left the area.

Other people also giggled inwardly as they passed the two, but neither person paid any attention.

Rather, Verasielle was just hoping that Chayston, who valued appearances, wouldn't be able to endure this situation and would let go first.

"It doesn't matter."

But this fortress-like man didn't care at all what people around them thought.

Verasielle thought his determination was impressive while simultaneously finding it impossible to understand him—not giving up out of pride.

What does he even need this little toy for? Does he really have a hobby of collecting things?

"Oh? Did the butler come with you too?"

But Verasielle, who absolutely couldn't lose, acted surprised and looked behind Chayston.

"What..."

He'd definitely come alone, so there was no way Rohan would be... Wondering what was happening, just as Chayston's head whipped around—

Verasielle yanked the snow globe hard.

"How much?"

Today's winner was Verasielle too.

She clutched the snow globe and paid the owner.

Chayston looked down at his empty hands with a deflated expression.

To fall for such a cheap trick... His red eyes wavered faintly with absurdity.

Verasielle, holding the wrapped snow globe, smiled brilliantly at the dazed Chayston.

Her brazen smile contained the satisfaction of winning again today.

"Aren't you coming?"

Her elegant, graceful steps moved forward light as a feather.

"Ha..."

Watching Verasielle walk ahead with a smile, Chayston laughed in disbelief.

For some reason, he didn't feel irritated or defeated like yesterday.

Her smile, soft as if holding sunlight, was innocent as a child's. Had he seen anyone smile so genuinely recently?

Everyone around him hid their emotions and produced fake smiles. Sickening rivalry.

But to smile so pure-heartedly over a mere toy. What a strange woman.

'No. That's not it.'

He shook his head and withdrew the smile he'd worn without realizing.

What couldn't a con artist do?

Weren't they the type who could produce plausible, genuine-seeming smiles anytime?

Chayston followed her with his long strides, thinking Verasielle was far more skilled than he'd thought.

There were no other items he liked besides the snow globe anyway, and he intended to watch her closely.

"Hmm hmm~"

Verasielle hummed contentedly as she left the marketplace.

Thinking about how much Raphel would love the snow globe made her happy. Especially since she'd beaten that Duke to buy it.

Maybe because her first impression of him was so bad, she absolutely refused to lose to him.

I should hurry back. Raphel will be waiting.

Verasielle quickened her steps toward the carriage.

"Coming through!"

Someone shouted behind her along with a rattling sound.

When Veras turned her head, a cart loaded with large cargo was already rushing toward her.

No time to dodge—it was so close that just as she squeezed her eyes shut thinking she'd be hit, her body tilted sideways and her vision flipped.

"Ow..."

Her nose stung from the impact. Veras rubbed her nose and looked up. There was Chayston beneath her.

Their bodies were pressed together without any gap.

"Are you alright?"

Two gazes collided directly.

A voice as firm as the arm wrapped around her waist pierced her ear.

Apparently he'd saved her from being hit by the cart.

"Yes, I'm fine."

Verasielle pushed against his rock-like chest and stood up.

She quickly escaped his embrace, trying hard not to show her flustered state.

Chayston also stood up, brushing dirt from his clothes. The warmth briefly held in his arms had already disappeared.

"I'm so sorry. Truly sorry, noble sir..."

The cart owner knelt before Chayston looking deathly pale, begging for forgiveness.

Which made sense—he'd nearly injured a noble, so he couldn't say anything even if punished on the spot.

"Be careful."

But contrary to expectation, Chayston simply spoke to the owner with an expressionless face and began picking up fallen items to put back in the cart.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'll do it myself!"

The owner kept bowing and apologizing. Chayston silently picked up the fallen items and placed them in the cart.

Unable to just watch, Verasielle rolled up her sleeves too.

With more hands helping, the work finished quickly.

"Thank you so much. Truly grateful."

The owner kept bowing his thanks before pulling his cart away.

Chayston straightened his disheveled hair. His black hair scattered through his large hand.

Verasielle's gaze followed his hand. The skin on the edge of his hand was scraped—probably from when he'd fallen while protecting her.

"Your hand is scraped."

At her words, his expressionless red eyes checked the wound before answering.

"Don't worry about it."

Even when I'm concerned...

Verasielle grumbled toward Chayston's retreating back.

Since she couldn't actually voice it, she just mouthed the words silently. Just as Verasielle was expressing her complaints, their eyes met when he turned around, and she immediately smiled gently as if nothing had happened.

A skillfully smooth expression change.

"Thank you for helping."

Either way, he had saved her, so she needed to express her gratitude.

"Let's go."

Chayston stared intently at Verasielle's smile before finally turning away.

'Hmm. Unexpected.'

She'd understood that nobles valued appearances and dignity, but contrary to expectation, he hadn't scolded or reprimanded the cart owner or herself.

But that was all. Her impression of him.

Verasielle followed behind Chayston as he moved forward ahead of her.

And shortly after, a black shadow that had been watching the two departing figures revealed itself.

The black shadow's eyes gleamed ominously toward the two people leaving the marketplace.