"Master Haien's work doesn't come cheap. And that one, miss… it doesn't just move. It remembers."
Astra blinked. "Master Haien? From Heaven's Reach? Just one of his puppets costs a white diamond?"
Shion, who had been half-listening, turned fully toward the puppet, frowning in thought. "Haien… I've heard that name before. He's well-known outside, some say he was once a devotee of the God of Artifice. Survived a divine calamity and nearly ascended because of it."
He paused, lowering his voice slightly. "They say he sought the title of 'Master of Puppets.' But when the heavens heard that name… something changed. They cast him down—stripped him of the path to ascension. No explanation. Just a silent judgment."
Astra looked at him, wide-eyed. "Because of a title?"
Shion gave a quiet nod. "Ever since, he's vanished from public life. Lives in seclusion. They say he's still recovering—from the descent, or the betrayal, no one knows. He stopped creating after that. Which is probably why his work, especially something like this, is nearly priceless now."
He reached out and carefully lifted the small marionette from the display, examining it. His brows knit together. "Is this really the last piece he made…?"
The shopkeeper only folded his hands, smiling faintly. "One of the final few. Each one carries a memory. And none of them are ever made twice."
Shion glanced sideways at Astra, arching a brow. "You still want it?"
She shook her head immediately, scoffing. "Absolutely not. I'm not spending a house's worth of coin on a block of wood—no matter how magical it is. Who in their right mind would waste 500 solren on that?"
Just as Shion began to lower the puppet back onto its stand, a calm voice cut in from behind them.
"I would."
They both turned, surprised, as Daita stepped forward with casual ease, hands tucked behind his back.
Astra squinted. "Raita—?"
"Daita," he corrected smoothly, already reaching past Shion to lift the marionette into his hands. He examined it with a glint of interest. "What a fine piece of craftsmanship. My sister would adore this kind of thing. She's quite… devoted to Master Haien's creations."
Shion raised a brow, murmuring under his breath, "The princess has a taste for puppet-craft? Now which princess would that be?"
Daita only gave a secretive smile, not answering as he turned the puppet over delicately, admiring the fine joints and subtle lacquer shimmer.
The moment Astra sensed Daita's attention shift toward her, she instinctively took a step back, eyes darting for the nearest escape route. She still hadn't wrapped her head around the fact that he was the seventh prince—every encounter since had left her flustered, nervous… and a little guilty.
Daita noticed her retreat and let out a low chuckle. He raised a finger, casually pointing in her direction. "You—"
Astra froze. Then, almost too quickly, she dipped into a deep bow. "Your Highness."
The shopkeeper, who had been watching the exchange with mild curiosity, blinked in alarm and immediately dropped into a hasty bow as well. "Your Highness!"
Daita sighed, shaking his head with a look of exaggerated annoyance. "And there it is…"
He gently set the marionette back on the counter and turned to the shopkeeper. "How much did you say this was worth again?"
Still bowing, the shopkeeper stammered, "F-five hundred solren, Your Highness."
Without a word, Daita reached into his inner robe and produced a white diamond—cool and gleaming under the soft light. He placed it on the counter with a soft clink.
"I'm taking it."
Astra's jaw dropped. She bowed again, flustered. "Your Highness, that's too—"
Daita raised an eyebrow at her and gave a slow, mischievous smile. "Straighten up."
Astra immediately straightened, as if her body moved on its own at the command. Daita raised a brow, clearly amused.
A sly grin crept onto his face.
"Bow," he said.
She blinked, hesitated… then bowed again.
"Straight."
She straightened.
"Bow."
Her jaw tensed. She bowed.
"Straight."
She shot up with the grace of a soldier barely holding it together.
"Kneel."
Astra's eye twitched, but she dropped to her knees in one swift, overly dramatic motion. "Your Highness," she muttered through clenched teeth.
The shopkeeper remained frozen in a nervous half-bow, clearly unsure what he was witnessing.
Shion, standing beside Astra, bit his lip to stifle a laugh—his shoulders already shaking. She caught the movement and shot him a death-glare.
He immediately looked away, coughing into his hand, but the edge of his mouth kept twitching upward.
"This is ridiculous," Astra whispered. "Your Highness, are you taking revenge on me?"
Daita crouched slightly to meet her gaze, that infuriating smirk still in place. "You could say that. It's quite entertaining." He turned his head. "Isn't that right, Akira—"
He paused.
"…Akira?"
Shion raised an eyebrow. "Who?"
Daita looked around, expression shifting. "He was with me till now. Didn't you see him? He was standing right next to me!"
The shopkeeper, still awkwardly bowed, cleared his throat and said timidly, "Your Highness… you've been alone the entire time."
A flicker of confusion crossed Daita's face. He ran a hand through his hair, annoyed. "Where did he vanish to this time…"
Astra, still kneeling, scanned the area with a small frown. Daita didn't wait—he turned abruptly and strode off into the crowd, eyes scanning every face, his tone sharp with urgency.
"Akira!"
Shion moved quickly, reaching Astra in a few strides and pulling her to her feet. "Come on," he muttered, grabbing her wrist. "Let's not waste any more time here. We need to leave."
She stumbled after him, dazed. "Wait—was he just talking about the Crown Prince?" she asked, voice rising in disbelief. "Was he with him? Outside the palace? Here?!"
Shion didn't slow. "We don't know that. And we shouldn't know. Let's just go back."
"But if he's really outside," Astra said, half-turning as they walked, "then we could—just maybe—see him, right? If we follow—"
"No."
Shion stopped so suddenly she almost bumped into him. His tone wasn't loud, but it was sharp. Astra flinched at the weight in it.
Shion took a breath, visibly steadying himself. Then he looked at her, voice lower now but firm. "Astra… don't be reckless. Don't chase shadows and get yourself tangled in something you can't handle again. I don't know who the Seventh Prince was talking about—but it can't be the Crown Prince. He isn't even permitted beyond the palace walls, let alone out in public, wandering a festival."
Still, as they melted back into the crowd, she couldn't help glancing over her shoulder, where Daita still moved, eyes scanning the crowd, frustration darkening his face like a brewing storm.