Go to Vanessa's Place

Inside the tavern, Sharon sat on a chair, occasionally glancing outside.

"Is Aron okay?" She muttered anxiously.

It had been nearly half an hour since Aron left to deal with the threat targeting her. Yet, there was still no sign of his return, making her even more uneasy.

Just as she was lost in thought, the tavern door suddenly swung open, revealing the very person she had been worrying about.

"Aron!" She gasped in surprise, immediately rising to her feet.

However, she quickly realized her mistake.

The disgruntled stares from those around her made her face heat up with embarrassment.

"S-Sorry!" She stammered, bowing her head before rushing over to Aron.

"Are you okay? No one hurt you, right?" She stopped right in front of him, anxiously scanning his entire body.

Arthur chuckled, gently taking her hands. "Relax, Princess. I'm fine. Nothing can hurt me."

Hearing that, Sharon let out a relieved sigh, though her expression still showed dissatisfaction.

"Next time, if there's danger, you should run instead of investigating. It's too risky, you know?" She scolded, puffing out her cheeks.

Arthur smiled. "I was wrong. I apologize, Princess." He patted her head gently.

"Hmph! At least you know that!" She huffed, turning her head away in feigned annoyance.

With that, she walked over to the counter, paid for her drinks, and left the tavern with Arthur.

***

"Do you want to keep enjoying the night, or should we head back to the palace?" Arthur turned to her with a curious look.

Sharon hesitated, glancing at the bustling crowd around them.

This was her first time exploring and admiring the beauty of the capital city with Aron.

She wouldn't deny that she wished to prolong their time together.

However, a lingering fear held her back—what if expressing her desire made Aron dislike her?

This sense of inferiority and hesitation had followed her for years.

Sensing her anxiety, Arthur let out a small sigh and gently patted her shoulder.

"Didn't I tell you? Just say what's on your mind. There's no need to overthink other people's feelings," he said with a slight frown, clearly displeased.

"But..." Sharon pursed her lips, about to protest, but Arthur cut her off with a firm tone.

"No more buts. Tonight, let's enjoy ourselves."

With that, he intertwined his fingers with hers and pulled her along.

Seeing his determination, the doubt on Sharon's face slowly faded, replaced by a radiant smile.

"Thank you, Aron," she whispered, her voice barely louder than a breath.

"[Ding! Sharon Valura's affection increased by +2 points.]"

Arthur tried to appear indifferent, but the faint smile tugging at his lips was hard to hide.

The two of them strolled through the lively capital. Since tomorrow was a holiday, it was only natural for the streets to be filled with people.

Not just the city center—every corner, even the outskirts, was alive with activity.

Time passed as usual, and the night sky seemed to darken with each passing minute.

Unaware of the time, they had been enjoying their evening stroll for nearly two hours.

"It's already eleven o'clock. We're getting late," Arthur said, glancing at the large clock proudly standing in the town center.

Sharon, savoring the fries she had bought, nodded in agreement.

"You're right, Aron," she said without hesitation. "Let's head back to the palace right away."

She pulled on Arthur's hand, but his body stayed still, which surprised her a little.

"Aron? What's wrong? Is something the matter?" She asked, curious.

Arthur smiled and shook his head. "No, I'm fine. It's just that I remembered I have something important to do after this. You should head back first."

Sharon furrowed her brow at his words and, without thinking, asked, "What's this important thing? Can you tell me?"

Instantly realizing her mistake, she hurriedly apologized. "Sorry, I didn't mean to pry. I was just worried about you."

Her frantic attempt to explain made her look rather adorable.

"Pfft! There's no need to panic, Princess," Arthur chuckled, shaking his head. "I have something important to discuss with a friend. That's all. Once I'm done, I'll catch up with you at the palace. Don't worry."

Sharon sighed in relief, a blush spreading across her face.

"Alright, I understand," she said, her voice light with relief.

Afterward, Arthur ensured Sharon's safe return. Despite her status as an outcast princess, she was still entitled to the royal family's facilities, including a private horse-drawn carriage.

The only difference was that her horses and carriage weren't as lavish or impressive as those of her siblings.

Nonetheless, for ordinary people, it was still quite luxurious.

"Then, I'll leave first, Aron. Please come back as soon as you're done," Sharon said, her tone laced with reluctance.

Arthur smiled reassuringly. "Alright. Be careful on the road."

Sharon nodded and finally got into the carriage.

A moment later, the carriage began to move, slowly taking her away, leaving Arthur standing alone.

Once she was out of sight, his gentle expression hardened into one of cold indifference.

"It's time to meet that woman," he muttered with a long sigh.

The woman in question was, of course, Vanessa—the one who had given him both the invitation letter and the authority to wield the power of the Maple Leaf Trading House.

Receiving the invitation and authority came at a cost. There had to be a price to pay.

But Arthur still didn't know what that price was.

When he first visited Vanessa, he had only met her personal maid, Lina, who had then helped him contact Vanessa through a magical communication device, leading to everything that had followed.

Setting aside his thoughts, he gazed into the distance, toward the place where Vanessa had been waiting for him, and muttered, "I wonder what the woman who controls the Maple Leaf Trading House looks like after everything that happened all those years ago."

...

"Do you really think she'll come to me, Lina?"

In a luxurious room, a woman of stunning beauty sat on a sofa, crossing her legs with grace.

Her face was flawless, with blood-red eyes that radiated both allure and danger.

Her long red hair cascaded down to her waist, and a small mole beneath her right eye only added to her captivating charm.

Her elegant formal dress did little to conceal her curvaceous, seductive figure.

She exuded a cold, domineering presence, sharp enough to make anyone who looked at her tremble with fear.

At her question, Lina, the maid standing beside her, nodded slowly.

"He will definitely come, Lady. After all, he's the strongest former assassin in the One-Eye organization. To do otherwise would tarnish his reputation as the strongest," Lina replied respectfully.

The woman nodded, a faint yet dangerous smile curling on her lips.

"In that case, let's wait a little longer. It's been years since we last saw each other... I miss him dearly."

As she spoke, she seductively licked her lower lip.