Ch. 129
Honestly, Annie and I were just not a good match. The fact that she ‘wanted’ to see that cringeworthy play—the very same one that made my hands, feet, and internal organs curl up—said everything.
Lox praised her as a cultured little lady, but I couldn’t understand, relate to, or acknowledge how on earth that was supposed to be elegant or refined.
Normally, I’d try to respect someone’s tastes, but considering that the lead of that play was a ridiculously glorified version of ‘me’, the only thing I got out of it was secondhand shame.
In the end, while Annie went to watch the play in the square with Lox, Chad slipped off to the forge, saying he had to sharpen his sword. That left just me and Ash.
Ash had also said he didn’t like the play.
So we moved to a nearby leather workshop. Sitting side-by-side in a cramped little shop while picking out a dagger sheath for me felt… well, natural.
But judging by how deliberately we’d ditched Lox, I had a feeling he wanted to ask me something.
“This one looks nice.”
Ash was the kind of man who, aside from having an incredibly average face, moved with smooth, graceful gestures.
I took the small gray leather sheath he offered me.
“Let me try it on.”
The shop sold everything made of leather.
They took custom orders, but I was browsing the ready-made goods, looking for something I could use right away. One large box was filled entirely with dagger sheaths.
Sorting through it required patience and precision.
If I liked the sheath, it didn’t fit my dagger. If it fit, it was tacky or impractical. It was starting to wear on my nerves.
“It’s good quality and reasonably priced. It can attach to your belt too.”
“Oh, it fits perfectly.”
“And it suits you.”
A heap of rejected sheaths lay piled around my feet—failures that either didn’t fit or didn’t feel right.
“But you’ve got an eye for this. Must be the swordsman in you.”
Compared to those, the one Ash picked was surprisingly perfect. It fit the dagger, and it fit ‘me’.
Carved deeply with moon and star patterns, it felt sturdy. Most of all, the way it nestled into my palm gave me a sense of ownership—like it was already mine.
The gray leather had a hint of blue, a rare color, which made it all the more appealing.
“Do you like it?”
“I do. I’ll take this one.”
After crouching in that tight space for so long, standing up made me waver a little, but Ash smoothly supported my elbow, helping me rise easily.
Ash was the kind of man who had manners built into his bones. People like that usually came from noble blood.
“They sell these too.”
“What is it?”
“Dog collars.”
Right now, Rai was waiting outside the shop, grumbling that it was easier to follow me around when he was a snake.
“If I try to put that on him, he’s going to raise hell.”
“He’s already wearing a collar though.”
“That’s not a dog collar—it’s a ‘person’’s collar.”
“But it looks flimsy. If you’re going to use one, this is sturdier…”
“No thanks. Rai’s more like a friend than a dog.”
“…If that’s how you feel.”
And just like that, you’re convinced? You’re weird too.
Ash put the collar back on the shelf, and I, meanwhile, spotted something I ‘had’ to buy.
Workshops like this are dangerous. There’s too much I want to buy.
“I needed this too! And this, and this!”
It looked like I was just sweeping up random things, but everything I grabbed was something I needed.
“For a compass strap, you’d be better off with a chain than leather.”
“Nope, this is for my compass.”
“I see.”
“Which one’s better? Pick for me.”
I acted however I wanted, and Ash never complained. He just went along with it.
What kind of prince listens this well?
“This one’s good. The knot is strong and it’ll last. The dark color also won’t stain easily…”
“Wait.”
I pulled out the compass from my pocket to match it up.
The compass screen was scratched from bumping around with coins.
Normally, people wore them on a strap to prevent that kind of thing, but since I started this journey on short notice, I was missing a lot of essentials.
The dragon’s lair had all sorts of rare treasures, but none of the daily necessities. And the Silver Wolf tribe’s village didn’t have anything to satisfy my material needs either.
Now that I thought about it, there were so many things I still needed to buy.
“I want to get another belt too. There’s not enough room on this one. Hmm… should I go with something slim or thick? There are too many kinds.”
Traveler clothing varied greatly depending on where they came from, but one thing they had in common was wearing multiple belts.
People carried a lot of gear around their waists—on their belts.
“Belts are important. Want me to help pick?”
“Please. I honestly don’t know what’s good.”
“It’s like that for everyone at first.”
The more experienced the traveler, the more belts they had.
They carried everything—daggers, potions, whips, ropes, compasses, watches, food, drinks, and more.
It was convenient for quick access and safer from thieves since it stayed close to the body.
Of course, even when worn on the waist, things still got stolen—but less often than from bags.
Having multiple belts was also a way to tell travelers apart from locals.
Travelers usually wore at least two belts, and some wore three or four if they had more gear. I only had one, which basically marked me as a novice.
Like wearing a white belt in taekwondo. It made me want to buy another one immediately.
“This one should be comfortable. It distributes weight well.”
Ash picked a belt from the dozens hanging from the ceiling. It was the kind that hung loosely at the hips.
It had several loops for attaching items and hugged my waist securely. I liked how it felt.
I clipped on my items one by one.
‘This one’s a must!’
“You have two compasses?”
“Yeah, one’s not for navigation.”
“It looks unusual.”
One was a regular compass, and the other was Rubao’s enchanted one.
After Big Sis Anel gave me a regular compass, I hadn’t really looked at this one, and I’d nearly forgotten about it. But now I noticed it was pointing directly at Ash.
That must’ve been what caught his eye too. The single needle wouldn’t stop pointing at him.
“Can you stand still for a sec?”
I decided to test it on the spot.
I had Ash stand in place while I moved through the cluttered maze of merchandise.
Circling all the way around him, I checked how the needle reacted.
The result was obvious. The compass pointed at Ash, and only Ash.
Even after walking a full circle around him, the needle never wavered. I felt like the moon stuck in orbit around Earth.
Rubao’s compass points to the person closest who longs for me.
Why would someone I just met a few days ago long for me?
It was now undeniable. I had no reason to doubt it anymore, and I felt oddly relieved.
‘You didn’t forget me… Ash, you precious thing!’
‘You must’ve thought about me so much for the compass to act like this!’
“What… are you doing?”
“Ash.”
“Yes?”
“Is there anything you want? I’ll buy it for you. Anything.”
“Pardon?”
“I just feel like buying you something. Tell me—what do you need?”
Because of what you did for me… I could even tell you where Magi’s house is—no wait, maybe not that.
Okay, not Magi’s house. But I ‘can’ tell you Rai’s identity!
Maybe my gaze was too intense. Ash looked down at me, flustered.
“You must really like me, Miss Geenie.”
Without context, that’s probably how it looked. And honestly? He wasn’t wrong.
“Yeah, I like you.”
Why was he blushing like that?
Ash’s cheeks turned pink like a shy village girl, and he covered his mouth with his hand in embarrassment.
“You don’t like me?”
“…You’re just very forward.”
“I don’t mean I like you ‘like that’. You just remind me of someone really dear to me.”
“You do as well.”
“Really?”
“Yes. You remind me of someone too. Someone no longer living… and yet.”
‘I wish we could just tell each other the truth.’
That I’m Geenie Crowell—the hot topic saint and symbol of sacrifice—and that he’s the Second Prince aiming for the throne.
But the truth was too big to reveal casually. Even I found it difficult.
To explain it all, I’d have to start with how I’m still alive, how wrong the rumors were, why I’m here now, and how I recognized him despite his disguise.
‘Where would I even begin?’
And would he even believe me?
The biggest issue was that the truth we had to keep hidden was the very core of who we were.
What happens to a prince who reveals his identity during the Path of Trial?
I didn’t know the details, but it couldn’t be good. It was clearly against the rules.
Hiding their identity was the most important condition for princes undertaking the trial.
I fought the urge to acknowledge him and instead stared into Ash’s brown eyes for a long time.
Eventually, I reached out and took his right hand in mine.
I gently traced the scar on his palm with my fingertips.
Ash let me.
Even though he’d grown much bigger, he was still the same gentle boy from back then.
I didn’t think we’d changed much at all.
The outside might be different, but the essence we shared as children was still there. And that made me happy.
“Miss Geenie.”
Standing close together in this tight space, it felt like I could hear his heartbeat. Feel his warmth.
Like those things were becoming part of me.
“Yeah?”
“There’s something I’d like to ask you.”
“What is it?”
His expression was serious, but the fact that he let me touch him gave me hope that this was a good sign.
He turned his hand over and gently gripped mine.
His hand felt far too big.
“Have you… ever been to Elan?”
‘So he ‘was’ asking about that.’
“…Yes.”
“Did you ever attend a festival there?”
“I did. When I was ten.”
“Then… that time…”
“I was kidnapped by a slave trader. Not exactly a fond memory.”
His grip on my hand tightened. But not painfully—it made me smile.
(T/N: Our boy Ash is making his moveeeeee!!)