Minister Lucas

I couldn't help but notice how effortlessly elegant Ludwig was as he ate. Not a single speck of food marred his clothes, and nothing escaped his fork. Meanwhile, I felt like a ravenous wolf in comparison, clumsily devouring my meal. It dawned on me that we had little in common, if anything at all.

Growing irritated, I focused on my food, momentarily forgetting Ludwig's royal status. Of course, he possessed grace and elegance.

"How do you like the Fougasse?" Ludwig inquired, his eyes filled with genuine curiosity.

With my mouth full, I managed to make an "okay" sign with my hand, unable to speak at the moment.

He seemed to understand my gesture, but I quickly averted my gaze, hoping to deter any further questions. I couldn't afford any speculation from onlookers about my interaction with the prince. I needed to maintain the facade of a mere servant, keeping my distance from him.

Noticing my reluctance to engage further, Ludwig refrained from pressing the matter, though a mild frustration and a smirk played on his lips as he continued eating. His furrowed eyebrows revealed his subtle annoyance.

In silence, we finished our meal, though we barely made a dent in the abundance of food laid before us. Despite my stomach feeling ready to burst, the food seemed untouched, as if there were more of it than when we began.

As we prepared to leave, I turned to face Ludwig, noticing an annoyed expression on his face, though the reason behind it eluded me.

When Ludwig noticed my gaze, his blue eyes narrowed. "Do you want something else? A cake? Just tell me," he offered, his expression shifting from annoyance to curiosity, then concern, and finally to excitement in a matter of seconds. His rapidly changing emotions were difficult to decipher.

Blinking in front of Ludwig, I couldn't help but find him perplexing, despite his royal status. One moment he was angry, and the next, he was smiling brightly.

"Can we bring the food with us?" I asked shyly, gesturing towards the untouched dishes. "It seems like a waste."

He regarded me with doubt, but surprisingly, he acquiesced to my request without much hesitation. Carrying four plates worth of food, we left the restaurant, all for free.

Ludwig's smile returned as he entered another store filled with textiles and clothes. I trailed behind him like his shadow, though the array of feminine garments held little interest for me. Instead, I found a corner to sit in while Ludwig perused the clothing. Perhaps he was shopping for Princess Amethyst or Hiyasmin. It wasn't my place to care.

My chest tightened with an unwelcome emotion, but I pushed it aside. There was nothing my feelings could change about my current situation.

Growing bored of waiting for Ludwig, I turned my attention to the scene outside the store's glass window, watching as people passed by, laden with their purchases.

I shook my head in disbelief. If you could overlook the occasional sight of creatures flying through the air or conjuring flames from their hands, everything almost seemed normal here. Unlike the Primotheus Capital, where grotesque and surreal creatures roamed.

Here in Fortunalia, everything appeared mundane. There were no extra body parts, just the occasional display of pyrotechnics. The town resembled the human world, with its stores, restaurants, parks, and playgrounds.

As I wandered, my gaze fell upon a child I had been observing for a while. He was incredibly thin, and upon closer inspection, I noticed he was dirty and had wounds on his body. However, to my astonishment, the wounds appeared to be healing on their own, almost as if by magic. I blinked in disbelief at the sight before me.

My mouth fell open in shock as I witnessed the older person push the child, sending him tumbling to the other end of the street. Without hesitation, I quickly exited the store, still carrying the bag of food. Though they were far from me, I managed to see the child as he lay on the ground.

As I ran towards them, I watched in horror as the man continued to kick the defenseless child, causing him to cry out in pain. Despite the commotion, no one nearby intervened. They simply glanced around and whispered amongst themselves.

"Enough!" I shouted, unable to stand by any longer. I grabbed the man's wrist just as he was about to deliver another blow to the helpless child.

The man's sharp stare bore into me, his face not as aged as I initially thought, perhaps in his middle age. Despite his expensive attire and noticeable muscles, a massive scar marred his otherwise ordinary features, running from his forehead down to his jaw.

As he pulled back his arm, his eyes darkened with anger, casting a sinister aura. Despite the fear coursing through me, I summoned my courage. "Who do you think you are?" he demanded in an impatient tone, his presence intimidating.

In that moment, I felt a primal urge to flee for my life, but the sight of the child's wounds kept me rooted in place, steeled with determination. 

"Please, stop hurting him," I pleaded, my voice trembling with concern.

"Do you know what you're doing?" the man retorted, his voice seething with anger. A wave of fear washed over me, causing me to instinctively step backward. "He stole bread from the bakery," the man continued, his jaw clenched in frustration.

"I… did not steal," the boy cried, panting as he tried to stand. I rushed to his aid, assisting him and positioning myself protectively in front of him as the man approached us.

"Kids like him should be killed to avoid chaos in the kingdom," the man declared firmly, his dark stare piercing through me from front.

I gritted my teeth, refusing to back down. "It seems the punishment is far too severe for a child accused of theft," I stated firmly. "Is a loaf of bread truly worth his life?"

The man's face darkened further, and he advanced towards me, his hand raised as if to strike. But before he could follow through, a voice nearby called out.

"Minister Lucas!"