A knock sounded at her door just as morning light spilled through the shutters.
"Princess," Ruhan's voice came from the other side. "We still have some time before heading to the capital. Want to explore a bit?"
Xiao Zhi blinked sleepily, then sat up. "Explore?" she echoed, her voice still rough from sleep. "You mean... we can actually go out?"
He smiled faintly when she opened the door, her hair tousled and her eyes still drowsy. "Yes," he said. "And I think you'll like this place in daylight."
She told him to wait a moment so she could freshen up. He chuckled at her girlish behavior.
A few moments later, Xiao Zhi emerged, looking beautiful in a new Tughril dress. Ruhan smiled. "You clean up well," he teased lightly.
She rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the faint blush on her cheeks. "Let's just go before you start saying weird things again."
He laughed softly and followed her out.
They stepped into the bright and busy streets together. The morning market was already alive with noise and color. Merchants called out their goods from crowded stalls, wagons rumbled through the streets, and people argued loudly over prices.
Ruhan pointed out little details as he guided her through the maze of alleys like a tour guide. He showed her how the color of a merchant's sash revealed his tribe, how Tughril women bargained by pretending to walk away only to return for a better price, and how people here enjoyed noodles with extra spices. Xiao Zhi listened intently, fascinated by every detail.
"You see?" he said, watching her grin as she haggled clumsily over a bundle of dried fruit. "Not so different from Hua markets after all, just louder."
Xiao Zhi laughed, cheeks pink with excitement. "And the vendors are terrifying. That old lady nearly stabbed me with a spoon just to make me buy her tea."
"That's called enthusiasm," Ruhan replied jokingly.
They continued to wander further until a glint of silver caught her eye. She noticed a hairpiece, shaped like a crescent moon, with tiny turquoise stones set in swirling desert patterns. It shimmered under the light, simple yet striking. She stopped, mesmerized.
"It's beautiful," she muttered.
She reached for it, lifting the hairpiece carefully. Then she turned it around in her hands and smiled at how the stones caught the light. Then, almost shyly, she tucked it into her hair and looked up at Ruhan.
"Is it pretty?" she asked.
Ruhan's gaze lingered for a moment before he answered quietly, "Beautiful."
Her face warmed. She quickly took the hairpiece off and set it back on the stall. "We shouldn't," she said. "We've already lost everything. We can't waste money on this."
But before she could even step back, Ruhan had already taken the piece and pulled out his pouch to pay the vendor. He turned and handed it to her with a teasing smile.
"A gift," he said. "For our princess bride."
Her mouth fell open. "Our what—?"
Before she could protest, the merchant behind the stall squinted at them, grinning. "Ah! Such a handsome couple! May your marriage be blessed with many sons!"
Xiao Zhi's face turned crimson. "We're not—!"
Ruhan raised a hand, cutting her off. "Thank you." He smiled at the vendor before gently taking her arm and leading her away.
She huffed, glaring. "You could've just corrected him!"
"Too much trouble," he said with a small shrug. "Besides, he gave us a discount."
Her glare softened into laughter. "You're impossible."
"Maybe," he said, amused. "But at least I'm useful."
"How did you even have money? Didn't the bandits take everything?" she asked.
"They didn't take the pouch I kept on me. Did they take yours?"
"I didn't have my money pouch with me. I left it in the carriage… so yeah, they took it," she said, pouting.
Ruhan chuckled, and his eyes glinted with amusement. "Then it's settled. From now on, you can leave the spending to me. Whatever catches your eye, I'll buy it."
She blinked, caught off guard. "Oh? So generous all of a sudden?"
He leaned a little closer, his voice dropping just enough to make her heart skip. "Well, someone has to keep our princess happy."
Her cheeks turned pink again. For a moment, she really did feel like one of those pampered girlfriend with their rich boyfriend. The thought made her blush even more.
"Princess, since we lost our carriage, I'm planning to ask the mayor of the city to grant us one." Ruhan said, leaving the teasing tone behind.
"Oh? Do we have to?"
"It would only be proper for a princess bride to ride in a proper carriage, instead of on a horse with a servant. If the prince hears otherwise, I'll lose my head." He said half jokingly.
"I guess so." She didn't really mind riding with him, but a carriage wasn't a bad idea either. It would save her from the heart attacks caused by having Ruhan's face so close to hers.
By midday, they reached the mayor's residence. They were greeted by a grand courtyard shaded by trees, with water trickling from a stone fountain. The mayor himself, a round man with kind eyes and a booming laugh, welcomed them warmly.
"It's an honor to host the future princess of Tughril," he said, bowing in respect to Xiao Zhi. "You must stay for lunch!" He gestured for them to follow him to the dining area.
The meal was lavish. Spiced lamb, lentil stew, and warm flatbread brushed with butter. As they ate, the mayor spoke of Tughril's festivals and traditions, his eyes shining with pride.
"Tonight," he said, leaning forward, "is the Festival of Lights. Every city in Tughril celebrates summer with its own version of the festival. Each city has its own way and time to celebrate. For our city, it will be tonight. The streets will glow brighter than the stars themselves. You must stay one more night to see it. It would be a shame to leave without witnessing it."
Ruhan hesitated. "We should leave for the capital soon—"
But Xiao Zhi was already leaning forward, eyes sparkling. "A festival? With lanterns and dancing?"
The mayor chuckled. "And fireworks that light up the whole night sky!"
She turned those pleading eyes on Ruhan. "Please? Just one night. We've had enough sand and snakes, haven't we?"
Ruhan sighed, defeated. "You're impossible to refuse."