"Oh, look at that! That one is beautiful!" Callis exclaid, her eyes lighting up as she spotted an intricately embroidered piece hanging on one of the bustling stalls at the festival.
"Callis, please! Would you take a look at us?" ca the exasperated voice of Kiev, her brother. He stood behind her, accompanied by the nanny, maid, and guards, their hands laden with the items she had already purchased.
"Oh, dear!" Callis gasped, her hand instinctively covering her surprised, open mouth. She hadn’t realised just how much they had accumulated.
"If you keep buying, we might need to rent another carriage just to bring back all these items!" Kiev exclaid, a note of frustration evident in his voice.
Callis couldn’t help but chuckle softly, finally understanding that her impulsive shopping spree was burdening her brother, who now had to carry so of her purchases. She hadn’t considered the practicality of their situation, especially given her own injury that exempted her from holding anything.
"All right, all right! I won’t buy any more," Callis relented, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "Well, maybe... just one or two more things."
"Callis!" Kiev’s tone turned grouchy, his patience wearing thin.
"Oh, co on! We don’t have this festival back on the island! It’s not an everyday occasion!" Callis pleaded with her brother.
"We have all kinds of other festivals! Lantern festival, Thankful festival, Love festival, you na it!" Kiev reprimanded her, his tone stern. "The items you bought from those events last year haven’t even been fully utilised yet, and now you’re adding to your collection again! I will report this to father and mother when we return ho!"
Callis stuck out her tongue, defiantly mocking her brother.
"Go ahead! Father and mother won’t scold !" she retorted, her voice laced with rebellion.
"You’re so childish! When will you grow up?" Kiev growled in frustration. "I swear, I’ll find a suitable husband for you soon, soone who can teach you to be a proper woman!"
anwhile, Elis turned to Jessy and asked in a quiet voice, "You have a Love festival at Sabel Island?"
Kiev’s sensitive sense of hearing caught the question, and he swiftly turned to face the maid.
Understanding the need to clarify, he responded, "It’s not quite what you might be thinking. The Love Festival was initially created to commorate the union of the last empress from our clan with the last emperor of Ro’an. Their love story and status as true soulmates beca iconic, so people started calling it the Love Festival. It’s not so wild occasion where couples can do everything to their desires."
Elis blushed, feeling slightly embarrassed.
"Ah... I see," she responded quietly.
"Like Cassian, our kingdom also has strict rules regarding relationships between n and won, and it is not permitted for a man to hold a woman who is not his family," Kiev stated firmly, emphasising his kingdom’s cultural norms.
Elis replied hesitantly, bowing slightly.
"Umm... Thank you for enlightening ."
Interrupting the conversation, Callis inquired, "Where’s Arl?"
She turned her head, scanning the area for him.
"I asked him to send the items he was carrying to the carriage. The boy was almost stumbling under the weight," Jessy explained.
"Poor him! I didn’t an to burden him so much. Well... I hope he returns soon because I’m starting to feel hungry. I need his recomndations for delicious food!" Callis exclaid, her mouth watering as she glanced at the food stalls, particularly the tempting street food on display.
"Already? But you had breakfast this morning, and it’s not even noon yet!" Kiev remarked, slightly taken aback.
"Oh, it’s going to be noon soon," Callis replied, raising her eyes to the sky and estimating the hour based on the angle of the sunlight.
"Your Highness, I believe it would be wise to return to the carriage and store these items. I can no longer bear the weight as we navigate through the crowd. My old hands are growing tired," Jessy suggested.
"You can hand over the items you’re carrying to us, Your Highness. We are still capable of carrying them," one of the guards offered, willing to assist.
Kiev nodded, acknowledging the guard’s offer. However, Callis seized the mont to request as she saw a pristine white boutique located on an alley at the corner of a shop lot, further away from the bustling festival.
Her interest was piqued, and she requested, "I would really like to visit that boutique first, brother! Please!"
Kiev’s sigh was filled with resignation as he gave in to his sister’s request. He turned to his entourage and issued instructions.
"Go back to the carriage and organise the items accordingly. If we need to rent another carriage to load the items, do so. My sister and I will be at the boutique. I have a feeling our visit will take a while. So, you can rest first. Return in two hours to et us at the fountain in the middle of the plaza. Tell that to Arl, too."
"Yes, Your Highness!" the guards responded in unison, acknowledging their orders.
They quickly gathered the items carried by the derian Prince and departed, leaving the siblings to continue their excursion.
Callis bead with delight, her smile lighting up her face as they made their way towards the boutique.
As they strolled along the secluded alley, Kiev decided to share the story of how he had regained his power with his sister.
"That’s quite surprising! Why did it suddenly return?" the derian Princess inquired curiously.
Kiev shrugged, a hint of bewildernt in his voice.
"I don’t know. It’s truly peculiar because I had never experienced such a loss of power before. It was a first for ."
Callis contemplated the situation and made an observation.
"Co to think of it, you lost it after attacking the grand duke, and then you regained it when you attempted to save him from the beast."
The derian Prince had sowhat changed the narrative. Earlier this morning, he had inford her sister that he went for beast hunting with Kyren and his n. Keeping his word to the grand duke, he chose to keep the actual pursuit of the Bargesians under wraps.
Kiev’s eyes widened as the realisation dawned on him upon Callis’s statent.
"You’re right! How did I not see it before? It’s as if my power is ant to protect rather than harm him." The puzzle pieces seed to fall into place in his mind.
Callis nodded in agreent.
"It does seem that way when you put it like that. But let’s not jump to conclusions based on a single event. It may be rely a coincidence, or there may be other underlying reasons we are unaware of."
Kiev acknowledged his sister’s perspective.
"You’re right. We should consider other possibilities. Besides, it’s evident that he is only a northern warrior and has no ancestral connection to the Ro’an empire."
With their discussion on hold, their attention turned to their surroundings.
Callis exclaid, "We’re here!" as they arrived at the elegant door of the boutique.
The door was opened by a worker who greeted the incoming guests after Kiev rang the bell. The two siblings were led into the main reception area, ready to explore the wonders of the boutique.
"Please, Sir, Miss, may I have your robes?" requested the worker.
Kiev hesitated for a mont, unsure about taking it off. However, Callis chuckled at his hesitation.
"I won’t be able to try on the clothes if we keep wearing our robes. Plus, I might need your assistance in selecting them. So, could you please take it off for a mont?" Callis explained, her eyes sparkling mischievously.
Kiev looked slightly uneasy and paused.
He turned to the worker and asked, "Is it possible to close the boutique for other clients while we shop? Rest assured, I will provide generous compensation for the inconvenience."
The worker appeared uncertain and excused herself to consult with soone in the back. She returned with a lady in her forties, who introduced herself as Madam Carson, the owner of the boutique.
"Welco to our boutique. My worker inford that you desire a private session," Madam Carson greeted them politely.
Kiev nodded.
"Yes, I would prefer our ti here to be undisturbed by others."
The boutique owner explained, "Typically, we reserve private sessions for custors who make prior appointnts, and additional fees are involved."
Kiev reached into his surcoat and retrieved a pouch, offering it to Madam Carson.
"Whatever those who made such appointnts pay, I will double it. Would this be enough as a deposit?" he inquired, seeking confirmation as he handed over the pouch.
Madam Carson’s eyes widened as she opened the tied pouch and glimpsed its contents. Her surprise was evident as she quickly composed herself.
"Put up the ’closed’ sign imdiately!" she urgently instructed her worker.
The worker nodded and hurried to the door to display the sign, ensuring their privacy during the shopping session.
Madam Carson turned to the derian siblings, her smile radiating warmth and professionalism.
"Now, if you could kindly hand over your robes, I will hang them nicely for you," she requested.
Callis gracefully pulled back her hood, revealing her exquisite features. The sight of her beauty left both the boutique owner and her worker standing in awe, their eyes widening with admiration.
"Thank you, Madam Carson," the derian Princess expressed her gratitude with a genuine smile.
Kiev followed suit, removing his robe and revealing his striking presence.
"Please take care of mine as well," Kiev requested, his voice filled with regal charm.
As Madam Carson and her worker beheld the prince’s impressive appearance, their mouths dropped open in astonishnt.
"Oh, my!"
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