10 : Encounter

Rara froze for a moment, her heart beating faster than usual. That man… he really was the one she had met on the way to the river. His figure was still the same—tall, broad-shouldered, with sharp yet unreadable eyes. His clothing wasn't much different either, though it looked slightly more modest this time.

The man stood up again after helping lift Rara's wooden box and reached for the reins of his horse behind him.

"You? We were just—"

But before he could finish his sentence, Rara quickly cut in, bowing her head slightly and giving a polite smile, though it was clearly forced.

"Ahh, thank you, sir, for your help," she said quickly. "Well then, I must continue with my work. Thank you again."

Without waiting for a reply, Rara immediately turned around and grabbed Yuyun's arm, urging her to walk away with her. Yuyun, momentarily confused, followed without saying much.

The man said nothing, not attempting to stop them. But his gaze remained fixed on Rara as she walked further away.

Meanwhile, inside Rara, her thoughts were in turmoil.

Oh my goodness, if I hadn't stopped him from speaking, that could've been a disaster!

Her eyes glanced around, trying to appear calm, even though her mind was starting to fill with questions.Why is he here? Is it really just a coincidence that he's in this market, or is there another reason he came?

Unconsciously, their steps quickened, trying to put more distance between them and the man.

---

The man remained still, as if processing the interaction he had just witnessed. His eyes narrowed slightly, watching Rara with an unreadable expression. But he quickly snapped back to reality when his horse shook its head, clearly restless and awaiting his command.

"Huh?" he muttered softly, then quickly calmed the horse. "Alright, let's keep moving."

However, just as he took a step, he accidentally stepped on something. He looked down and saw a small, round woven piece—sturdy and neatly made. The light brown fibers contrasted with the dusty ground. He picked it up and examined it briefly, then, without a second thought, began to follow after Rara again.

He momentarily lost her in the crowded market. He scanned the area carefully, until his eyes caught sight of the horse-drawn cart Rara had used. With quick steps, he moved to catch up.

-

Near the steps leading to a shop, he saw Rara speaking with the shop owner. From outside, he could clearly hear their conversation.

"Young lady, this item is indeed of good quality, but we truly can't offer a higher price or match what you're asking," said the shop owner firmly. "Please reconsider—I've given you options. Either sell it at the price I offered, or perhaps try another shop?"

Rara paused for a moment, weighing the unfavorable options. But it wasn't just the shop owner's voice she heard—there were whispers among other customers who had started to take notice.

"My goodness... such a young lady having to show herself in the market to sell fine items like these. Who knows where she got them—maybe... stole them?" one customer whispered, low but audible enough.

"Yeah, exactly. What a shame."

"But these days, aren't there many like her?"

The murmurs sparked Yuyun's anger. Her face flushed red as she turned sharply toward them.

"Be quiet! Don't you dare spread such slander!" she snapped.

The shop owner looked a little startled by Yuyun's reaction, giving a hesitant smile and taking a small step back. But Rara didn't want the situation to escalate further.

"Yuyun, that's enough. Ignore them," Rara said, trying to calm her attendant. She took a deep breath, then looked at the shop owner with a firm gaze.

"We're selling our own belongings because of circumstances you probably can't even imagine. And if you feel the need to be suspicious, feel free to check whether these items are truly questionable."

Rara's voice was loud enough that some of the customers who had been whispering fell silent and went back to browsing the store's wares.

Rara turned back to the shop owner. "Very well, sir. Just give me the price you offered. I'll accept it."

Without another word, the shopkeeper handed over a few coins as payment. Rara accepted them with a neutral expression, then turned to leave with Yuyun.

But just as she stepped outside the shop, she found herself face-to-face with someone unexpected.

"Miss, is this yours? I just found it on the road," said the man, holding out the small woven item he had picked up earlier.

Rara's eyes widened. Oh no, why does something always get left behind at the worst time? she thought, feeling increasingly awkward.

"Ah, yes… Thank you again, sir," she said quickly, snatching the item from his hand. She wanted to leave immediately. "Come on, Yuyun, let's go."

But before she could pull Yuyun any further, his voice stopped her again.

"Miss, wait a moment," he said in a more serious tone. "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Arya, and I happened to see how bravely you stood up to those people earlier."

Rara and Yuyun froze in their tracks. They glanced at each other briefly before slowly turning around to face Arya.

Rara looked at the man with caution, but Yuyun, on the other hand, beamed brightly and spoke without hesitation.

"Ohh, Master Arya! This is my lady, Lady Rara, daughter of Duke Wiratma."

Upon hearing the name, Arya's expression shifted. His eyes narrowed slightly, and a deeper interest flickered in his gaze. For a moment, he seemed to recall something important.

"Duke Raden Mas Wiratma?" he murmured quietly, just loud enough for Rara and Yuyun to hear.

—

Rara grew increasingly uneasy at Arya's reaction. The man's eyes were distant, as if he were piecing together fragments of a memory in his mind.

"Yes, sir. She's brave just like her father, the Duke," Yuyun said proudly.

Rara flinched. She immediately signaled Yuyun with a subtle shake of her head, hoping her servant would stop talking. But Yuyun didn't notice Rara's discomfort and instead looked quite proud of what she'd just said.

Meanwhile, Arya remained silent, his thoughts spinning as he processed the information.

"So she's Rara…" he murmured to himself, almost as if thinking out loud. "Then is it true she was also the one who saved me and brought me to the healer's clinic that day?"

Arya recalled reports from his informants a few days ago. He had been injured in an incident and was helped by someone who brought him to a small clinic near the city's border. According to the reports, the person who helped him arrived in a carriage from a noble residence with no identifying insignia, and her name was Rara. However, since he had been only half-conscious from his injuries at the time, he couldn't remember any faces.

The reports also mentioned a servant named Yuyun who assisted in saving him. That detail had lingered in his mind—could the Rara from that day be the same girl now standing before him?

Rara noticed the change in Arya's expression. She could sense he was recalling something, and it made her increasingly uncomfortable.

"Master Arya, we really must go now. There's still much we have to do today," Rara said quickly, trying to end the conversation.

Rara was still trying to steady her emotions after the brief conversation with Arya. She wanted to leave the market as soon as possible, but the man didn't seem to have any intention of going away just yet.

"Miss Rara, if you don't mind, may I accompany you on your errands?" Arya asked in a casual tone.

Rara was surprised but quickly masked her reaction. "Ah, that won't be necessary, Master Arya. I'm only handling a few matters."

Arya gave a faint smile. "It's no trouble. I also happen to want to look around the area. Besides, it's safer to have company, don't you think?"

Rara sensed something behind Arya's polite demeanor. He didn't seem like the kind of man who would tag along without a reason.

But not wanting to raise suspicion, she finally gave a slight nod. "Very well, if that's what you wish."

Yuyun looked slightly worried, but Rara signaled her to remain calm.

—

Rara hadn't expected Arya to actually follow through. But with Pak Tirta and Yuyun already aware of his presence, she had no choice but to go along with it.

They eventually arrived at the final shop, a specialty store selling silk fabrics. The place was quieter than the rest of the market, but its luxurious interior hinted that only a select clientele conducted business here.

Rara and Yuyun entered immediately, while Pak Tirta stayed with the horse cart. As before, Arya followed behind them, keeping a respectful distance but never straying far.

Upon entering, a shop attendant approached Rara.

"Welcome. How may we assist you, Miss?"

"Could you please call the owner of the shop?" Rara asked calmly.

The attendant nodded and quickly disappeared to the back.

Moments later, a well-dressed middle-aged man emerged. However, upon seeing Arya, his expression shifted slightly—surprise flickering across his face before he quickly masked it.

Arya, too, looked surprised, though his reaction was much more composed.

"Arya?" the shopkeeper said his name softly, as if in disbelief.

But in an instant, his expression returned to professional neutrality. Without saying much, he turned to Rara and gestured politely.

"Please, come with me inside, Miss. We can speak more comfortably in a private room."

Rara glanced toward Arya, who was still watching the shopkeeper with a sharp gaze.

Before she could think too much of it, she followed the shopkeeper into the back room, leaving Yuyun and Arya in the front.

--

The room was smaller than Rara had expected, but neatly arranged with shelves full of high-quality silk rolls. There were also a few tables with trade documents and a small loom in the corner of the room.

Once they sat down, the shop owner began the conversation.

"So, you wish to sell silk fabric?" he asked, returning to a professional demeanor.

"Yes," Rara replied, handing over several rolls of fabric they had brought.

The shop owner examined the silks carefully. His fingers ran over the soft textures while his eyes evaluated the patterns and quality under the light of an oil lamp.

After a moment, he finally asked the question Rara had anticipated.

"Where did you obtain these fabrics, Miss?" he asked, his tone full of consideration.

Rara had prepared herself for this question. She knew that sooner or later, the truth would come out, and this time she didn't want to hide it anymore.

"These are fabrics from the Duke's residence," she answered calmly. "And I am his eldest daughter."

For a moment, the room fell silent.

The shop owner stared at Rara with clear surprise, but in his eyes, there was something else—sympathy.

As he slowly turned a teacup on the table, he seemed to be deep in thought.

"These items are very valuable," he murmured. "But who would have thought the first daughter of the Duke's house would bring herself to sell them..."

He sighed softly, as if realizing something. "Your situation must be truly difficult right now."

The words struck something in Rara's heart, but she kept her expression composed.

However, there was something else bothering the shop owner. Outside, Arya was waiting.

Taking everything into consideration, he finally offered a deal.

"I can buy these fabrics—but not today."

Rara tensed. "What do you mean?"

"Return in two days. I will buy everything at the price you're asking, but not now."

He then took a scroll and began writing a written agreement, which he handed to Rara.

"Bring the silks back in two days. I promise I will buy them."

Rara read the contents of the agreement carefully. But anxiety stirred in her heart. Could she really wait two more days?

She knew she had to prepare many things before the seventh day. Time was incredibly limited.

But she also knew that this shop owner was not someone to be trusted so easily. If she truly wanted to sell the fabric at the best price, she needed to make sure this agreement would be honored.

With a firm voice, she looked the shop owner in the eye.

"In that case, you must truly promise to honor the price I offered."

The shop owner stared at her for a moment before finally nodding.

"I am a man who keeps his promises, Miss Rara. I hope you are too."

Rara gripped the agreement tightly.

Two days. That was the time given to her.

After their business was concluded, Rara immediately left the shop owner's room, escorted by the shop attendant who opened the door for her. Yuyun walked beside her, while Arya was still following behind them.

By the time they stepped outside, the sun had already begun to lean westward, casting a golden-orange hue over the market. The late afternoon air felt cooler, and the vendors had started packing up their wares.

Rara glanced at the sky for a moment, realizing how much time had passed. She quickly stepped toward Pak Tirta, who was still waiting by the horse cart.

"Pak Tirta, we're heading home now. It's already late," she said.

Pak Tirta nodded right away. "Yes, Miss."

But just as Rara was about to climb into the cart, Arya's steps halted. He turned to Rara and called out.

"Miss Rara."

Rara turned around, a bit surprised, and Yuyun also looked in his direction.

The man stared at her for a moment before finally saying in a casual tone, "I can't accompany you back. I just remembered I have work I need to attend to."

Rara frowned slightly. Just remembered? Wasn't it he who offered to come along in the first place?

Still, Rara didn't want to drag the conversation out. She simply gave a small nod. "Alright, then. Thank you for accompanying us."

Arya gave a faint smile. "Safe travels."

And with that, without another word, he turned around and walked away, leaving them behind.

Rara climbed into the cart, and shortly after, Pak Tirta took the reins and began leading them home.