"Fish! Fish for sale!"

  "Half-price mangoes! Only for today, half-price mangoes!"

  "Cheap and Delicious! Get your peaches here!"

  A cacophony of noises echoed through the air like a symphony of liveliness and chaos. No matter where one would look, there roduct for sale and ers haggling with the vendors.

  It was a lively day in the market once again, and in that market, a silver-haired elf wandered aimlessly with curious aed eyes, looking at ead every stall like a little child.

  "Skewers, Pork skewers for 3 kiels each!" ［Vendor 1］

  As Yuna wandered around, a voice familiar suddenly echoed in her ears, makiop. It came from a middle-aged man who was selling skewers, the same skewers Yuna tasted on her date with Grey.

  Seeing the juicy skewers being dispyed iall, Yuna remembered the taste that she had experiewo weeks ago. She still hasn't gotten over with its juiess and tenderness.

  "U-Umm... I would like twoー no, three skewers please!" ［Yuna］

  "Hahaha, what aic young dy." ［Vendor 1］

  The vendgled as he saw Yuna order up with such gusto. Not just Yuna's energy, but even her eyes were sparkling that it was blinding to the eyes.

  "Here you go, that'll be 9 kiels." ［Vendor 1］

  "A-Ah! Here!" ［Yuna］

  "Thank you for your patronage!" ［Vendor 1］

  With a smile on her face, Yuna received the skewers and paid the price. She was a little nervous that it made the stall vendor feel a little warmth in his heart as if he was watg a little child excitedly buy things for the first time.

  And the stall vendor was right. It was Yuna's first time purchasing something on her own. After all, whenever Grey was around, he would always handle shopping and anything money reted. Yuna has never been to a city before she came to Galderia, after all.

  It being her first purchase, Yuna became extremely happy. She was like a child who just gained her independence for the first time.

  "Thank you for the food!" ［Yuna］

  As she bit down on the skewer, the juices of the skewer immediately filled Yuna's mouth and brushed upoaste buds. Her eyes were sparkling like stars as she tio eat the skewers with a bright smile.

  Even when she had eaten it before, the skewers still tasted amazing. It was so tehat it felt like the fvors were melting inside her mouth. Sweetness, saltiness, and savoriness danced in harmony as she tio eat.

  If she wao, she could have eaten as much as she wanted. But the day has just started and there are still many things to do. She has to leave room for other foods that she will eat ter.

  "The Miss eating the skewers, would you like some of these too?" ［Vendor 2］

  Yuna hadn't even finished her skewers when a voice called out to her. It came from a man in his te-twe the neighb stall. He was selling a variety of fried foods with a smile on his face.

  And it wasn't only the fried food stall owner...

  "Miss, eat some fruits too!"

  "Would you like some stew, Miss?"

  "The young dy over there, e have some grilled fish!"

  ... the other neighb stall owners also called out to her actively, showing how fierce the petition in the market was.

  And as i as she is, Yuhrough each of their stalls and tasted their products one by one. Each time, her eyes would gleam brighter as she bit down on the foods she bought.

  From dry foods all the way to soups, Yuna binged every food she saw. While there were some which weren't in lih her preference, most of the foods she had tasted were delicious.

  What surprised the stall owhe most was Yuna's appetite. Even when she had eaten so much, there was no sign of slowing down. They all wo the same

  where such a delicate small body stored all she had eaten.

  After wolfing down a lot of food in the marketpce, Yuna skipped happily as she once again wandered around aimlessly. Her hands swinging bad forth, and her eyes searg for anything iing as she hummed quietly.

  As she tinued expl the city, she arrived at the theater she and Grey went to the st time. Like before, there was a long line from the ticket booth. Be it men, women, or children, eae lined up with excitement blooming on their faces.

  And like aed little child, Yuna also lined up along with them, with a face looking forward to the py. She lined up not even knowing what story was going to be pyed at the theater.

  A few minutes passed and Yuna finally ehe theater. There, a lot of people were seated as they waited for the start of the py, chatting among themselves aing snacks with a smile.

  The moment the lights went off, silence quickly enveloped the room and every single person became quiet. The py has started to unfold.

  Unlike Yuna's first time where the py was about a hero sying a dragon, the py for the day was about a tragic love story between a prind princess from two enemy tries.

  Bored from staying in the castle all day, the priraveled the world as a oner and by ce, came across the prince of the enemy try. It was an enter on to romanovels.

  The prince of the enemy kingdom was a charismatic young man with the strength to defeat an order of knights on his own. He was the pride of the kingdom and the hope of the new geion.

  Yet that heroic prihe moment he id his eyes on the princess, his heart raced as if he was in battle and a strong sense of happiness sprouted from the depths of his heart. He had fallen in love with the princess.

  The priried tet the "oner" he had met, but to no avail. The more time has passed, the more he thought and loo see her face again.

  Of course, the princess, knowing the face of the priried to avoid him as much as she wanted. She stayed away from the prince's usual route and just tio explore the world.

  She thought it would tihat way, but fate has other pns. On a rainy day as she was waiting for the rain to let down, she once agaihe prince as he rode on his white horse.

  The moment the prince saw the princess, he became ecstatic. He swore to himself that he'll never let go of her once again. He summoned all his ce and fessed his feelings to the fair dy before him.

  The priried to stay away from the prince, but the prince ersistent. Through time and effort, the princess also fell for the prince. Even when she khat it was forbidden, she couldn't help her heart rag faster and faster each time they met. It was like a curse was casted on her.

  Weeks passed and their hearts grew closer to one another. And just when the prince was about to ask for her hand in marriage, the princess vanished like thin air, leaving only a letter behind.

  Iter, the princess' true identity was revealed. She wrote that a messenger from her family had arrived and brought the hat she was to be eo the heir of a ducal family.

  The prince's heart quickly sunk into despair as he learnt the identity of the love of his life. Alcohol, women, and gambling. He did everything he could tet the woman that was supposed to be her enemy, but to no avail. His heart still yearned for her, unwavering and tougher than ever.

  But it wasn't only him, the princess was also longing for the prince's warmth. She could not fet the days they spent together and the kisses they shared with one another. She was just as lonely as he was.

  He lied in bed, drowned in the deepest depths of despair, ready to take his own life at a moment's notice. If it weren't for his friend telling him to chase his heart's desires, he would have probably despaired until the end of time.

  With the day of the wedding drawing closer and a heart filled with determination, the prince grabbed his sword and charged to the neighb kingdom to see his beloved. It didn't matter to him if he were to die or if his beloved were to hate him. He only wao see her for the st time.

  The bells rang as the day of the wedding came. The princess was dressed in white for her wedding, yet her face was full of sadness. Deep inside her heart, she wished she had been the oner she preteo be. Maybe then, she be with the one she loved the most.

  The princess and her husband-to-be were on the pedestal, the people smiling happily for their unification, and the priest dug the grand ceremony, when all of a sudden, cries of pain and suffering rang throughout the surrounding area.

  Moments ter, the prince went ihe venue, his eyes full of longing. He was full of wounds and his side was bleeding heavily, but the moment he saw the love of his life, a smile full of happiness bloomed in his face.

  Tears quickly trickled down the princess' face. Although she was happy to see her dearest, she was sadde the sight of his body covered in wounds. If she could, she would have ran to his arms and embraced him as tightly as she could, not g about the eyes looking at them.

  Bdes, spells, arrows, and a variety of attacks rained down upon the prince, but none of them mattered to him. In a single swing, all of them were wiped out without a trace.

  Seeing the spectacle before them, the attendants of the wedding quickly evacuated and all that were left were the knights and the soldiers who tried their best to kill the prince before them. Even the man who was supposed to be wed to the princess had already run away with his tail tucked between his legs.

  Step after step, the prince drew closer to his love. And step after step, he received more and more wounds. But all of that didn't matter. He only wao hold hisnlove once again before he departed.

  "I've e to see you, my love."

  The prince whispered to the princess as he caressed the princess's cheeks, making her bawl her eyes out from both happiness and worry.

  Eve was a forbidden love and many have lost their lives because of it, she couldn't stop herself from being happy. She could only think how vile a woman she was.

  But such happiness didn't st long. In the er of her eyes, she saw an archer fire a magic arrow towards the prince, and without hesitation, she took the arrow to the heart, allowing the prio survive and kill the attacker.

  I moments, there was no grief, no sorrow, nor any traces ret. She was smiling happily as she gently touched the face which she had been seeing in her dreams, the face she would always think of, the face of the only man she has ever loved.

  With every bit of strength she had left, she closed in the distaween her and the face of the man g like a child before her. It wasn't sweet nor bitter, but one which tasted like iron. That was the st kiss she shared with him before her heart stopped beating.

  As her body ud motionless in the ground, the prince tio wail the death of his beloved. Pressing her hand on his cheeks and caressing her pearly face, tears tio fall from his face.

  Seeing the opportunity given to him, one of the knights held tightly to his spear and threw it with all his might. The spear struck the prince's chest and blood gushed out of his mouth, yet he didn't budge an inor did he flinch. He just tio look at the face of his love.

  Even at his st moments, all he could think of was her. All he wao hold was her hands. All he wao kiss was her lips. All he wao hear was her voice. Finally, he could be together with her for all eternity.

  As the prince fell to the floor with his hands holding the princess', the py came to an end and the actors bowed their heads in respoo the crowd's appuse.

  Many people were standing with tears trig down their eyes as they cpped their hands in admiration. It was such a beautiful py that people would easily fall in love with the story.

  Of course, Yuna was also affected by the py as traces of tears could be seen on her face. She was in a daze, as if she was still trapped ihe world foretold by the py.

  Inside her mind, she wondered if she would also be able to y down her life frey. If Grey would also look at her way the same way the princess did to the prince. If... she would be able to say how much she loves him without a care for the world.

  With the py finished, people flooded out of the theater aheir own ways. Yuna, who had no other pns, tio wander aimlessly as she looked for more iing things.

  "This is..." ［Yuna］

  As she tio explore the city, she came across a rge building. It was about the size of the Adventurer's Guild, with the notable difference being that there were statues in front of the building before her.

  And the curious girl that she was, she ehe building without much thought, paying arance fee by the entrand being briefed by the rules one must observe ihe said establishment.

  "Whoa..." ［Yuna］

  The moment she entered, what greeted her were mountains upon mountains of books. From textbooks, to novels, and even about strahings, there was a book for whatever one wanted.

  What Yuered was the public library which was located he ter of the city. It ce where one could spend their leisure time away by reading books of their i.

  Of course, the books in the library were ented to prevent theft. After all, books have a higher value in Merusia than ih where paper could easily be produced a could easily be printed by maes.

  Yuna grabbed a couple of books, mostly novels, and read her time away in the library. There, she spent a few hours reading books and finished a handful of them with her superhuman reading speed.

  By the time Yu out, the 3 o'clock bell had already rung. Time passed by so fast that Yuna didn't even notice lunch had long passed. She just had too much fun reading fi novels, especially the ones reted to romance.

  "Hey, Miss! Would you like to try this game?" ［Vendor 3］

  Like how it was in the m, when Yuna assing by the stalls in the market, aall owner called out to her. But rather than food, what the stall offered was eai.

  Ialls, there were various hoops and poles dispyed by the ter, and on the side, there was a variety of items which could be won as a prize.

  But of course, it was a rigged game. After all, what kind of business just gives arizes with little effort. The hoops were desigo be heavier than it looks so that it won't reach the poles easily.

  "If you shoot these hoops through at least 5 poles, you rize! It's that easy, and the best of it, it only costs 5 kiels per tryー" ［Vendor 3］

  "Kyaaa! A thief!"

  The stall owner was expining how the game works, when suddenly, a scream of help came from the crowd.

  A few moments ter, a man could be seen running towards Yuna with an expensive-looking purse in one hand and a knife in his other hand. He was the thief that the voice was referring to.

  "Out of the way!" ［Thief］

  The thief brandished his knife recklessly, making the civilians make way for him in fear of being hurt. In these situations, the thief would have normally gotten away, normally, that is.

  The moment the thief brandished his kowards Yuna, Yuna simply grabbed it with her bare hands and crushed it with pure force, turning the once sharp ko scrap metal.

  Before the thief could react, Yuna had already grabbed his arm and forced him to the ground. Whehief came to be, he found his face almost kissing the ground and his arm beirained by a delicate looking young elf.

  The crowd was bewildered by the spectacle that they just witnessed. Most didn't even uand what just happeheir eyes weren't fast enough to notice Yuna's movements.

  "Where's the thief.....?" ［Guard］

  The guard reacted as quickly as he could when he heard that there was a thief, but the moment he arrived at the se, it was already too te. The thief was already on the ground held down by a young elven girl.

  He wao ask around about what happened but not evenesses uood what just happened. It was a situation where he didn't know what to do.

  "Umm... Miss, could I get your statement about what happened?" ［Guard］

  "Un, sure." ［Yuna］

  Even with her slightly timid behavior, Yuna expined what happened as briefly as she could.

  But even with her statement, the guard was still fused about how a young girl was able to turn a ko scrap metal and overwhelm a thief. It was only when Yuna showed her guild card that the guard fully uood the situation.

  As for the stall owner who was about to scam Yuna, he was thankful that he was stopped by the sudden otion. Otherwise, he could only imagihe sequences of offending such a powerful person.

  "So it really was you, Yuna." ［Helen］

  Just as the i had been resolved, Helen suddenly showed up with a basket of vegetables and fruits with her.

  Helen had just finished shopping when she saw a rge crowd gather, and hearing things about a silver-haired elf, she immediately thought of Yuna. And of course, she was right.

  "What happened here?" ［Helen］

  "A thief stole an old dy's purse so I stopped him." ［Yuna］

  "Oh..." ［Helen］

  While Helen had expected something unusual to happen because of the rge crowd, she didn't expect that Yuna had just stopped a thief. Not to mention, Yuna was saying it in a nont way as if it was just a normal occurrence.

  But then again, Helen remembered Yuna's ranks and realized that she wasn't a normal girl either. After all, even with her delicate and slim body, she has the strength to beat up even a whole band of thieves.

  "Are you done shopping?" ［Yuna］

  "Yeah, I'm just about to head home... Wanna go home together?" ［Helen］

  "Un!" ［Yuna］

  Deg to not think about it too much, Helen just invited Yuna to a walk home, and the tter easily agreed without much thought.

  On the way home, the two talked about a lot of topics. From love, to adventures, and even mysteries about the city, there were a lot of things they have covered.

  Yuna has realized that even with Grey not around, there are still many things she could and many people she put her trust on. She has fed a few bonds in the 2 weeks she has been living in Galderia.

  And like the way she is now while talking to Helen, she will tio smile as she awaits frey's return.

  CHAPTER 23 END