“The Market?”
“Yes. My mother asked me earlier.”
“If that’s the case, you can ask the servants to handle it.”
“She said she wanted me to do it…”
“…”
Reina frowned, clearly displeased.
As a guest at the Duke of Axus’s estate, Reina’s position was clear. However, it was only natural for her to feel uncomfortable about being asked to run errands.
“Ha, alright. If the Duchess requested it, there must be a reason.”
“Thank you. As a token of my appreciation, I’ll prepare the dessert you enjoyed the other day next week.”
“That sounds lovely. Anna?”
“Yes, my lady. Did you call?”
At Reina’s call, a woman appeared almost instantly. She was tall, standing over 170 cm, with scarlet eyes and dark brown hair. Her soft demeanor contrasted with her expressionless face.
This was Anna Margret, Reina’s exclusive maid—a character who did not exist in the original story.
“Hello, Anna.”
“Yes, Young Master Ike. I’m glad to see you looking well today.”
After offering a light smile and a nod, Anna turned her attention back to Reina.
“Did you hear? I’ll be visiting the market in the Duchy of Axus. Please make the necessary preparations.”
“Understood, my lady.”
With a quick nod, Anna vanished as swiftly as she had appeared.
How does she move like that in a maid outfit? I wondered. Wouldn’t it flutter with even the slightest movement?
Before I could voice my curiosity, Reina spoke again.
“Alright, let’s go, Ike.”
“Huh? Isn’t Anna coming with us?”
“Don’t worry. She’ll follow on her own. Try not to be surprised.”
Her cryptic words left me puzzled, but the look on her face told me she wouldn’t elaborate.
Reluctantly, I gave up and followed her out of the estate.
***
“It’s quite lively here,” Reina remarked as we arrived at the market.
“It is,” I agreed quietly.
Truthfully, it was my first time visiting, so I had little to add.
“Young master, the item you’re looking for is likely on the next block,” a middle-aged man standing behind us whispered.
He had gray hair swept back, piercing blue eyes, and wore a dignified black suit. He was the epitome of an old-fashioned gentleman.
This was Alex, the butler who had accompanied us as an escort—another character absent from the original story.
“Thank you, Alex. But are you sure it’s alright for you to come along?”
A butler’s role was to oversee and manage household affairs. Leaving the estate so easily seemed unusual.
“It’s fine. The Duchess specifically ordered it.”
What is my mother thinking? I wondered. Sending Alex along for a simple market trip seemed excessive.
Even stranger were her parting words: “Ike, feel free to take your time and explore.”
Was there something else she had in mind?
“I don’t know,” I muttered under my breath.
“What was that?” Reina asked.
“Oh, nothing.”
Her lowered gaze and unmoving lips gave her an icy demeanor. This was the same Reina I had seen at the ball—the so-called “Ice Princess.”
I wished she could relax a little, but I understood why she couldn’t.
As the eldest daughter of the Rogelia Duchy, she was taught to always uphold her family’s dignity and act with nobility, no matter the circumstances.
Even around family, she maintained her composure. For Reina, it was an unbreakable rule.
“The store is on the next block. We’ll be done soon,” I said.
“Very well,” she replied.
When we first left the mansion, I had tried to address her formally, using honorifics out of respect.
“Don’t bother. Treat me as you usually do,” she had immediately countered.
It seemed I was an exception to her rule.
***
“Is this the place?”
We stopped in front of a sign that read ‘Aria.’
“Silk, correct?”
“Yes, young master.”
Is she planning to make clothes? I wondered.
“Welcome!”
As we entered, the shop’s owner greeted us warmly. The store was filled with countless dresses on display.
“Ah, you must be Ike. Nia mentioned you’d be coming.”
“Yes.”
The owner noticed the Duke of Axus’s emblem on my chest and bowed respectfully.
“Here’s the silk you requested.”
She laid out several types of silk on the podium.
“Will this suffice, young master?”
The owner smiled, but I was at a loss. I knew little about fabrics, and my mother hadn’t provided any specific instructions.
Fortunately, Alex stepped in.
“Hmm, this should do. We’ll take it all.”
“Thank you. That will be 25 platinum coins.”
“Young master.”
I handed Alex the pouch of platinum coins, which he then passed to the owner.
“One, two, three… 25 platinum coins confirmed. Thank you very much.”