Chapter 16: The Strange Store

I was completely dazed. I don't know what happened and how I am currently at the town square while wearing a disguise. It's a fake brown hair, and I acquired green eyes after the Duke gave me a potion to change my appearance.

Today was the day when the world froze. And today is also the day when I'll be able to confirm whether the clog has finally been removed or if it's still remained in this world's destiny.

So when I overheard that Dria and Racia planned to go outside, I volunteered to go with them. Despite the frequent aches in my leg.

I have to be there, and if possible, I'll try my best to change the destined future at the last minute.

That was my plan until the duke joined in. So, ending, Racia pulled Dria somewhere, and I was left alone with the duke.

If I go with this look, Racia did the same with her hair and wore commoner clothes, while Dria didn't do anything special with her hair since she's already brown-haired.

Since we were wearing a disguise, the duke also did one. Currently, he's wearing a brown wig, but his eye color remains. He's been so silent since earlier, and if I guess it right, he's probably observing the surroundings.

"Okay... So, where to?" I asked casually, and he stared at me for a few seconds before giving a response.

"How about you? Where do you want to go?" he asked back to me. Making me stare at him with a 'are you kidding me?' type of stare. But his face shows nothing but confusion at my reaction.

I heaved a sigh before placing my hands on both pockets of the pants that I'm wearing. Unlike Racia, who wore a beige kirtle, Dria and I wore a tunic and pants. I don't know the name of this clothing in this era, but I'll just call them pants since I see them as one. Her pants were brown, while mine were dull green, and the top was plain white. Something that isn't my style, but I'd rather dress like this than wear a kirtle like the princess. As for the duke, he also wears a white tunic and black pants.

"How about you give me a tour of this place, your grace?" Have you forgotten that I'm not from this world?" I spoke but refrained from including a sarcastic tone. Even if he acted kind, he's still a noble, and messing with him will do no good.

I watch him scratch his head before giving a sheepish smile. "I know a place that you'll like," he suggested, and all I could reply was a nod.

He smiled and mumbled, "Follow me," so I followed him like some sort of a chick following their mother.

After a few minutes of walking, we reached the town square, where countless merchants were selling goods. Some were selling ornaments and jewelry, some were selling textiles, and even a ready-made dress. There are also merchants who are selling spices, wine, and a variety of foods. There are also metalworks like weapons, armor, and kitchenware. But most of all, the merchants here are selling luxury items, and only a few are selling consumable ones.

In the blink of an eye, I became fully immersed in checking every product in every stall that we passed by. I even forgot that I'm with the duke until he said.

"Just tell me if you want something," he offered, and I nod. There's no way I'll decline such an offer.

While roaming around and checking almost every stall, I stopped at a certain stall. I am focused on a certain device that I'm sure doesn't exist in this world. No, it's not just a single device, but all of the products here definitely do not belong in this era.

Compared to the dilapidated look of the store, the product here was absolutely incredible. However, since it was new to everyone's eyes, no one was taking interest in the stall.

Well, except for me.

Even if I don't see what expression I'm making, I'm certain that my eyes were shining with excitement as I checked every product that this store had. It was amazing how the owner acquired these items, but hell, if only I had money or gold coins to buy this, I'd buy all of this.

"Do you like something here?" the duke's voice echoed in my ears, and I looked at him like he was my salvation. Though, even if he pays for me, it'd be impossible to buy them all.

But... When and where can I see a similar stall like this in the future?

A stall that displays a normal notebook, a silver watch, and a ballpoint pen that is very modern-looking. There are also coloring materials like colored pencils, paints, and oil pastels. There's also a book about "Differential and Integral Calculus" which is something that definitely doesn't exist in this era! And there are many more items, and the one that caught my eye was a phone.

Yes, a mobile phone.

And what amazes me even more is that it resembled the phone that I had back when I was still on Earth!

Wow.

"Your Grace, can I buy them all?" I joked, but I really want to. Though, it'd be too embarrassing to ask him to buy these things for me.

Since, who am I to him? I'm just an otherworldly being who shares knowledge with him, and he repays them with his knowledge in this world.

"Hmm. Sure. Why not?" then he picked up one item. "But I'm curious what this item is called. It looks strange to me." He was busy inspecting the phone. Then, he pressed something, and the phone shone, making me freeze.

The wallpaper was my sister!

So... Is it really my phone? But how? How did it get transported in this world? Did it get transported along with me?

Then my eyes shifted to the other items that were sold in the shop. I first scanned the notebooks, even the book and the others. Then, the last one that I checked was the black square in the corner, and when I opened it, my journals greeted me.

Even my other things were here! How? If it's the phone, then it'd be considerable, but the coloring materials and books? That's another case.

Wide-eyed, I looked for the owner of the store, and there he was. He's silently observing me with those amber eyes while stroking his ginger locks.

"Oh! What's this sorcery! Why am I inside this thing?" the duke's scream made me snap into reality.

When I shifted my gaze to him, he was preparing his sword to stab the phone. So I almost jumped towards him to grab the phone and remove his picture on it.

"Get your hands off that thing! It might curse you! " he said in a very serious tone before eyeing the merchant with intimidation. "Explain why you are selling this cursed item!" he pointed the sword at him, but the seller didn't even flinch.

That just intensified my uneasiness towards him. Just who is this person? How the hell did he get hold of my belongings?

"I don't know what you mean, milord. I know that none of these items are cursed." he answered in a very calm voice, surprising me even more.

If I were in his situation? I'd be trembling in fear. So how can he maintain his calmness amid the situation? He's really so suspicious.

But in order not to escalate things, I stepped up. I crossed the distance between us and whispered, "Your Grace, this isn't a cursed object. Did you remember what I told you before about mobile phones? This thing is a mobile phone."

After hearing what I said, his expression changed. From hatred and wariness to amazement and shock.

"Are you certain? That item might be a cursed one," he whispered back to me.

I shook my head and spoke. "There's no way I'll be mistaken." Then I opened the gallery, and it displayed the picture of sceneries on Earth. There are also pictures of my family, but I choose not to show them to him.

"If it isn't a cursed item, then I'll buy them all," he declared and commanded the merchant to wrap everything. Then the duke gave him something, and he added. "Just deliver them to the said address in there," before gazing back at me.

"So, where do you want to shop next?" he asked, and I was taken aback.

Can I shop more? But didn't he spend quite a fortune on these items? I'm sure he already paid too much for this items here, so it'd be embarrassing to ask for more.

If I only had money, then it'd be okay. But I don't have even a single coin since all of my money was left in the palace, so it's not okay to waste money that wasn't even mine.

I was about to speak when I heard someone call me. It was the voice of the merchant.

"Zeana."

How did he know my name? Who's this guy?