Thank you so much @Jennifer_Goliah for the Golden Ticket.
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The stranger’s hand never completed its journey through Rosaline’s hair.
Before his fingers could brush against another strand, an arm slipped firmly around her waist and pulled her backward. The movent was so effortless that she barely had ti to react before her back collided with a familiar chest.
Warmth imdiately rushed into her cheeks.
She did not need to turn around to know who had moved her.
Xandros stood beside her, one arm secured around her waist as though it belonged there. His expression remained calm, almost pleasant, but Rosaline had already spent enough ti around the Duke of Dagon to recognize danger when she saw it.
The smile resting on his lips held no warmth.
It was the kind of smile that appeared monts before soone regretted their decisions.
The man who had reached for her hair froze.
Slowly, his gaze shifted from the white strands between his fingers to the owner of the arm around her waist.
For the first ti since approaching them, uncertainty entered his expression.
"Is there a reason," Xandros asked mildly, "you’re touching my wife?"
The single word settled heavily over the street.
Wife.
Rosaline felt that sentence.
His gaze flickered between them before he scoffed and shoved both hands into his pockets.
"Whatever."
The dismissal sounded forced.
He turned away imdiately, disappearing into the crowd without another word.
Yet Xandros’ attention remained fixed on the direction the man had gone.
The smile vanished.
His silver-grey eyes followed the retreating figure until he disappeared completely from view.
Rosaline noticed.
So did Kiel.
Matthew certainly noticed.
None of them were foolish enough to comnt.
Rosaline glanced up at him instead.
"What was that about?"
"Nothing."
The answer arrived too quickly.
Which ant it was definitely sothing.
She narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"You are a terrible liar."
A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
"I’ve never lied to you."
"You just did."
"No."
Rosaline opened her mouth to argue further.
Before she could, Xandros released her waist and shifted his attention toward Kiel.
"We’re wasting ti."
Kiel nodded once.
"The rchant is expecting us."
That reminder brought everyone’s attention back to the reason they had co to the black market.
Matthew looked particularly relieved.
Any topic was better than discussing possessive dukes and suspicious strangers.
Straightening imdiately, he gestured toward a narrow alleyway.
"This way, Your Grace."
The deeper they ventured into the black market, the more the atmosphere changed.
The ordinary marketplace gradually disappeared behind them.
The streets narrowed.
Buildings pressed closer together.
Sunlight struggled to reach the stone paths below.
The air carried scents Rosaline could not identify.
Smoke, tal, old parchnt,strange herbs.
Everywhere she looked, rchants displayed items that would have caused outrage elsewhere in the Empire.
Ancient artifacts sat beside illegal weapons.
Glass containers held preserved creatures with too many eyes.
One rchant attempted to sell a human skull engraved with glowing runes.
Another displayed bottles containing liquids that changed color every few seconds.
Rosaline slowed near one stall.
A tiny dragon no larger than her hand sat inside a cage.
The creature sneezed.
A burst of blue fire shot through the bars.
Rosaline imdiately stepped back.
Lily burst into laughter.
"That thing almost cooked you."
"It was adorable."
"It breathed fire."
"It was still adorable."
Lily stared at her.
Then sighed.
"Your standards for danger are getting worse."
Rosaline looked offended.
Ahead of them, Xandros glanced back briefly.
His gaze lingered on her longer than necessary.
Then he turned forward again.
Rosaline imdiately pretended she had not noticed.
Unfortunately, Lily noticed everything.
The maid’s grin widened.
Rosaline ignored her...as her mind was on that little creature she saw.
Several minutes later, Matthew finally stopped.
The building before them appeared completely unremarkable.
No sign hung above the entrance.
No na identified the establishnt.
Nothing about it stood out.
Which probably ant it was exactly where they needed to be.
Matthew swallowed visibly.
"We’re here."
Nobody moved.
The silence stretched.
Then Xandros looked at him.
"You’re nervous."
Matthew nearly jumped.
"No, Your Grace."
"You are."
The poor man hesitated.
Then sighed.
"A little."
"Why?"
Matthew rubbed the back of his neck.
"The owner and I have... history."
Kiel folded his arms.
"You owe him money too?"
Matthew looked personally offended.
"No."
A pause followed.
Then he added reluctantly,
"Only a small amount."
Lily snorted.
Rosaline bit her lip.
Even Xandros looked mildly entertained.
Matthew looked betrayed.
"Your Grace, I’m being judged."
"You are."
Defeated, Matthew pushed open the door.
The sll hit imdiately.
Strong herbs.
Old parchnt.
Alchemy ingredients.
And poison.
A lot of poison... though.
Shelves covered every wall.
Glass jars occupied every available surface.
So contained dried plants.
Others held things Rosaline refused to identify.
The rchant behind the counter looked ordinary at first glance.
Bald.
Thin.
Middle-aged.
Then he saw Xandros.
The man shot to his feet so quickly that his chair nearly toppled over.
"Your Grace."
Fear flashed across his face.
Respect followed imdiately after.
Xandros ignored the greeting.
"The item."
The rchant nodded at once.
No bargaining.
No unnecessary conversation.
Clearly this was not their first transaction.
He disappeared through a curtain at the back of the shop.
Several monts later he returned carrying a small black box.
The rchant placed it carefully upon the counter.
Then opened it.
Inside rested a crystal vial.
Silver liquid glowed faintly within.
Not brightly.
Just enough to seem unnatural.
Rosaline leaned forward.
"What is it?"
Neither man answered.
Which only made her more curious.
The rchant carefully lifted the vial.
"Moonshade Venom."
The na sounded dangerous.
"It was difficult to acquire."
"It usually is," Kiel replied.
The white-haired man stepped forward.
His cold grey eyes studied the liquid carefully.
Then, before anyone could react, he uncorked the vial.
The rchant’s expression changed instantly.
"Wait.."
Too late.
Kiel tipped the vial.
And licked a drop.
The shop fell silent and they all stared at the white haired man.
The rchant looked seconds away from death.
Before he actually scread.
"What are you doing?!"
Kiel swallowed calmly.
Nothing happened.
Absolutely nothing.
Several seconds passed.
Then Kiel nodded.
"Authentic."
The rchant looked ready to collapse from relief.
anwhile Matthew wondered if white-haired people were simply insane.
Xandros looked entirely unsurprised.
Reaching into his coat, he withdrew a heavy pouch and tossed it onto the counter.
Coins jingled.
The rchant imdiately began counting.
Once.
Twice.
Then paused.
"It’s short."
Rosaline frowned.
Matthew looked horrified.
Lily appeared personally offended on the Duke’s behalf....cause he was a rich Duke.
The rchant cleared his throat.
"One coin."
Silence.
Then Xandros spoke.
"Take it from the three coins you swept under the table."
Everything stopped.
The rchant froze completely.
Nobody moved nor breathed that mont.
Slowly, the man’s face turned pale.
"...What?"
"You heard ."
The rchant stared.
Then looked beneath the counter.
Where three gold coins currently rested.
Exactly where he had kicked them.
Rosaline’s mouth fell open.
Lily burst into laughter.
Matthew imdiately looked away because witnessing this felt dangerous.
The rchant swallowed hard.
Then quietly pushed the pouch toward himself.
"Paynt received."
"Good."
The transaction ended.
Just like that.
When they stepped outside several minutes later, the air felt significantly fresher.
Rosaline stretched.
Lily did the sa.
Matthew simply looked relieved to still be alive.
Business had concluded.
Or so everyone thought.
Matthew bowed deeply.
"Thank you again, Your Grace."
Xandros looked at him.
The man imdiately straightened.
Then bowed again.
Just to be safe.
"I’ll be going now."
"You will?"
Matthew blinked.
"...Yes?"
Xandros raised an eyebrow.
"Who do you think paid your debt?"
The guide froze.
The color drained from his face.
Everyone else imdiately understood.
Matthew did not.
Not yet and when the realization stucked his shoulders sagged.
"...."
"Correct."
Lily imdiately covered her mouth.
Rosaline looked away.
Matthew looked seconds away from tears.
"Your Grace..."
"You work it off."
The man lowered his head.
Defeated.
"Yes, Your Grace."
Xandros simply nodded.
Then reached for Rosaline’s hand.
Naturally.
As though he had been doing it forever.
Rosaline glanced down briefly before allowing her fingers to settle into his.
It was warm steady and comfortable.
Far more comfortable than it should have been.
Together they began walking toward the carriages.
Matthew followed behind them like a condemned prisoner marching toward execution.
The return journey to the square felt much shorter.
Soon the waiting carriages appeared ahead.
Xandros moved first.
Helping Rosaline inside before she could climb in herself.
She rolled her eyes.
He ignored it.
anwhile, Lily spotted the second carriage.
Then spotted Kiel.
And imdiately made a decision.
A terrible decision.
Or perhaps a brilliant one.
Nobody was entirely sure.
She marched toward the carriage.
Opened the door.
Entered.
And slamd it shut.
The lock clicked loudly.
Lily crossed her arms.
Satisfied.
Outside, Kiel stared at the closed carriage.
Expressionless as always.
The silence stretched.
Four seconds.
Five.
Rosaline was already trying not to laugh as she witnessed that whole drama from the carriage window.
Then Kiel reached for the handle.
The door opened imdiately.
As though it had never been locked.
He stepped inside.
Without hesitation and permission .
Without even acknowledging Lily’s existence.
Lily looked horrified.
"I locked that."
Kiel sat opposite her.
Silent and Unbothered.
Lily appeared stunned.
Rosaline finally lost the battle and laughed.
Even Xandros smiled.
A real smile that was dangerously attractive.
Matthew watched all of this with increasing confusion.
Then noticed Xandros looking at him.
He straightened instantly.
Ready for orders.
"Coachman," Xandros said.
The man bowed.
"Your Grace."
"Take him."
Matthew blinked.
"What?"
"You’re riding outside."
The poor man looked devastated.
Yet one glance at the Duke erased any thoughts of protest.
"Yes, Your Grace."
He climbed beside the coachman imdiately.
Broken.
Defeated.
Financially employed though.
The coachman adjusted slightly.
Everything was finally ready.
The black market buzzed around them.
rchants shouted.
Crowds moved.
Life continued.
Xandros turned toward Rosaline.
She was still smiling.
Still amused.
Still beautiful.
The sight held his attention longer than necessary.
Then he leaned closer.
"I need to take care of sothing."
Rosaline blinked.
"Now?"
"Unfortunately."
"What kind of sothing?"
"A troubleso kind."
That explained absolutely nothing.
Which ant it was important.
Before she could question him again, Xandros winked.
The gesture caught her completely off guard.
Heat imdiately rushed into her cheeks.
Xandros seed very pleased with himself.
Which sohow made her even more suspicious.
The carriage door closed between them.
The horses shifted.
The wheels began to turn.
And as Rosaline watched the Duke standing alone in the middle of the bustling square, one thought refused to leave her mind.
What exactly was Xandros planning now?
And why did his smile look so dangerous?
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