After that heartwarming moment, the atmosphere between them felt lighter. They began to weave through the crowds of Blackbourne Market, moving from one stall to another.
Lumian, his vigilance now more subdued, led with calm steps. This time, however, it was Eva who more frequently tugged at his sleeve, "Brother, look! The carrots are so fresh!" or "Wow, you can smell the spices from here!"
They successfully gathered their necessities: green vegetables still crisp with morning dew, a small packet of fragrant kitchen spices, two pieces of warm, soft wheat bread, a slice of fatty bacon for a special dinner, and most importantly, a small bottle of clear potion for Aunt Maya's failing eyesight.
And at every stall, a new ritual unfolded. When it was time to pay, Eva would step forward before Lumian could even reach for his money.
"Good morning, Sir! How much for these three carrots and one bundle of celery?" she asked, her clear voice deliberately pitched a little higher, full of confidence.
The bearded carrot vendor, initially looking busy, immediately brightened up at the sight of her sweet smile and shining grey eyes. "For you, Miss, just five coins. And here, some extra mushrooms for you," he said, slipping a few wild mushrooms into their bag.
"Thank you, sir," Lumian said with a warm smile, handing over one Crown Note and two coins.
"You're welcome..." the vendor replied.
At the next stall, she managed to get an extra small piece of cheese. At the spice stall, the elderly seller gave her a handful of free herbal tea "to warm you up."
Lumian, standing slightly behind with the accumulating bags, could only observe this performance with deep amusement. A small, genuine, and carefree smile finally graced his lips. He saw that Eva wasn't just shopping; she was conquering the market with her charm.
After the final transaction was complete, while rearranging the shopping bags in his hands, Lumian looked at Eva, whose face was still beaming from her small victory.
"It seems," Lumian murmured, a playful tone in his voice that was rarely heard, "I should take you to the market more often."
Eva turned around, her cheeks flushed with delight and a hint of embarrassment. Her eyes, radiating triumph, looked directly at her brother.
"Yes, of course you should!" she exclaimed, stepping closer and unhesitatingly taking the lightest bag from Lumian's grasp. "See? I can not only save money, but I can also help carry the shopping."
Lumian let out a short laugh, a sound of relief escaping his chest. He let Eva take the small bag, and for the first time since arriving, he felt the weight on his shoulders lighten considerably.
"Catch that boy!"
A rough shout shattered their warmth.
Lumian's eyes instantly scanned their surroundings, his instincts ringing. Who? His heart raced. Us? But then he saw the source of the commotion: a small-built boy, his face dirty and full of fear, running fast through the gaps in the crowd. Clutched tightly in his hand were several apples.
And he was sliding straight towards them—straight towards Eva.
Lumian gently pushed Eva behind him, then with fast reflexes, his hand shot out and caught the boy by the collar. The pull brought the boy to an abrupt halt.
"Let me go!" the boy yelled, thrashing wildly. His small fists pounded Lumian's arm to no effect. "Let go! Let go!"
But anger was already approaching. A large-bodied merchant, his face crimson with anger and sweat, managed to catch up to them. His breath came in ragged gasps.
"You wretched brat! You're always costing me!" he barked, his hand already clenched and ready to strike.
The boy screamed in fear, his eyes wide like a trapped deer. In an instant, Lumian was faced with a choice: release him and let the harsh law of the market take its course, or hold him and witness violence happen before his eyes.
No. Not in front of Eva.
The merchant approached–his large hand reaching for the boy.
Lumian raised his other arm, blocking the merchant's body from getting closer.
"Enough," said Lumian, his voice low yet carrying an authority that instantly quieted the surrounding noise. He still held the boy's collar firmly. "He's caught. There's no need for violence."
"He's a thief!" the merchant growled, trying to break free from his grasp. "This isn't the first time! He needs to be taught a lesson!"
"And that lesson isn't by beating a child," Lumian retorted, his grey eyes sharp. "Take back your goods. Let me handle this."
With a movement that was not at all rough, Lumian pried open the boy's grip and took the apples. Placing them in his own small bag, he said, "Take them," and offered it to the merchant.
Clap! Lumian's eyes widened.
The merchant swatted Lumian's hand away in annoyance.
"I don't need that! I want him—"
"What's going on here?"
A new, authoritative and cold voice cut through the tension. Two city guards in simple armor approached, drawing the attention of the gathering crowd. Their wary glances shifted between Lumian still restraining the merchant, the terrified boy, and Eva, whose pale face was silent behind her brother's back.
One of the guards, who seemed to be in charge, stepped forward. "Is there a problem here?" he asked, his eyes sweeping over the faces of everyone involved and finally settling on Lumian. There was a flicker of recognition in his eyes, as if he recognized something in Lumian's calm demeanor that set him apart from the ordinary townsfolk.
Lumian slowly lowered his hands from both the merchant and the boy, standing tall. His posture was not defensive, but full of wariness.
"What's the use of you standing guard?" grumbled the merchant, his face still red, immediately directing his complaint at the guards. "He can easily steal from me because there's no proper security!"
The guard looked at the merchant coldly. "Our duty is to maintain order, not to be private guards for every stall," he retorted curtly. "If you want extra security, hire your own guard."
Suddenly, a calm and friendly voice sounded from the crowd. "It's best we don't prolong this incident in the middle of the crowd. It's disrupting market activities."
A man in his early twenties with a tall build and light brown hair. His face was friendly with a soothing smile, wearing a simple black robe with a few eagle-wing badges that Lumian didn't recognize. What was striking was the change in the two guards' attitude—they immediately showed clear deference to this new man.
"I will handle this boy, and let's just end this matter," said the brown-haired man in a calming voice. His eyes shifted to Lumian, giving him a brief, meaningful smile before leading the boy away. The man's perfume was also very fragrant, too fragrant and tacky! That was perhaps the only thing he couldn't forget about that man.
Lumian watched them disappear into the market crowd, his heart filled with questions.
Who is he? A royal organization? Or what…?
His mind raced, trying to analyze why the guards were so deferential to that man.
Suddenly, he felt a gentle tug on the edge of his cloak. Lumian turned and saw Eva still hiding behind him. Her small face was pale, her wide eyes glassy with unshed tears–visible beneath her hood.
Ahh... right, this was probably the first time he had seen such a conflict, Lumian's heart softened. He bent down to be level with his sister.
"Calm down… it's all over," Lumian whispered, his voice soft. His warm hand patted Eva's head in a soothing motion. "In a crowded place like the market, things like this happen sometimes."
"R-really?" Eva bit her lip, her voice still trembling. "B-but"
Lumian nodded, a small smile spreading on his lips. "Yes. And look, everything was resolved well, wasn't it?"
Eva studied her brother's face for a moment, as if seeking assurance that everything was truly alright. Slowly, the tension in her face melted away. She nodded slowly, and a small light returned to her eyes.
"Brother... you were so cool just now," she murmured, her voice steadier.
Lumian simply smiled, relieved to see his sister returning to her usual self. "Come on," he said, taking Eva's hand, "There are still a few more things we need to buy."
Eva nodded enthusiastically, gripping her brother's hand tightly.
…
With the shopping bags now feeling heavy in his grasp, Lumian walked along the edge of the market.
The sun grew hotter. He pulled out his worn leather wallet, and his chest felt tight seeing its contents. Only five Crown Notes remained, feeling thin and insignificant between his fingers.
My salary is too meager, he thought bitterly. His gaze shifted to Eva walking beside him, her face still glowing from the earlier joy. But behind his sister's smile, he saw the shadows of next year's school fees, new uniforms she had outgrown, textbooks whose prices kept soaring…
The reserve money from selling Aunt Maya's last piece of jewelry had been eroded by time, and now he was the only source of income.
Maybe I should look for a side job at the harbor after my main shift, he thought desperately. But then he realized something:
But working at the harbor alone takes up my time until evening, and there's no work at night because people are strictly forbidden from going out after dark.
He let out a long sigh, putting his wallet back into his pocket. I have to be strong…
"Brother, look! There's a park!" Eva suddenly exclaimed, pulling Lumian's arm with excitement. At the end of the street, a spacious city park stretched out. Green grass lay like a carpet, filled with vibrant flowerbeds growing lushly, like an oasis in the middle of the city.
"Eva, we need to go home," Lumian said, his voice gentle but containing a stiffness he tried to hide. His vigilance screamed in his mind; an open place like this was a nightmare, too many eyes watching.
"But I want to stay here for a while... just a little while, Brother, please?" Eva pleaded. The hopeful and admiring glint in her grey eyes was fixed on a patch of sunflowers in full bloom.
Seeing the simple joy so clearly etched on his sister's face, Lumian finally relented, letting Eva lead him for a walk along the edge of the park.
Eva crouched in front of a cluster of small blue flowers, her finger almost touching the delicate petals.
Whoosh!
A strong gust of wind swept through, tossing their hair and blowing back the hoods of both their cloaks. Eva's whitish-blonde hair fluttered like a silver banner, catching the midday sun.
Lumian reflexively looked around in panic, his heart pounding. However, all he saw were people busy with their own affairs; not a single suspicious gaze was fixed on them.
Maybe I really am too paranoid, he admitted to himself, taking a deep breath. Diplomatic relations between Aethelgard and Valenor should have been severed after my father was replaced. They wouldn't readily welcome foreigners from the old kingdom–
Yeah… I guess so.
With his heart still racing, he let his hood stay down. The gentle breeze touched his pale skin, carrying with it the warmth of the sun he had always avoided. In front of him, Eva ran about chasing butterflies, her cheerful laughter like little bells breaking the silence within him.
Lumian stood still, his breath almost catching.
Under the spotlight of the sun, Eva's whitish-blonde hair seemed woven from light itself. Every strand shimmered, and in her carefree, innocent smile, in the bright shine of her grey eyes—
The face of his mother, which for almost eight years had only lived in memories, suddenly presented itself with painful clarity. Like a shadow projected perfectly onto the lines of Eva's face. The same smile, the same light, the same longing that gnawed at his chest.
I'm not lying… his heart whispered faintly, choked by a burden he couldn't voice. The unspeakable longing clogged his chest, making it feel tight.
She looks more and more like Mother…
"Brother...?"
Eva's voice broke his reverie. The girl had approached, looking at him with a gaze full of puzzlement. "Are you crying?"
Lumian was startled. Without realizing it, tears had welled up in his eyes. He quickly wiped them away, forcing a light smile.
"No," he denied, his voice slightly hoarse. "It's just... the wind is making my eyes sting." He knew it was a foolish excuse; Eva clearly wouldn't believe it.
He looked down, picking up a small golden flower—an Evergold, a flower that bloomed all year round—that lay near his feet. His slightly trembling hand picked it up carefully.
He stepped closer, looking at his sister's face, and all the burdens he had carried felt instantly lighter. Without him realizing it, Eva had grown up, not just physically, but in resilience and understanding. All his hard work had not been in vain.
In the silence of his heart, a memory flashed. The voice of his elder brother, Vaelion, stern yet full of affection, like an eternal command—his last words before they were finally separated.
'Be a good older brother…'
Lumian smiled wryly. He was now in front of Eva, and with a movement full of tenderness, he brushed her hair aside and tucked the golden Evergold blossom behind her ear, between her hair and her ear.
The gesture reminded them both of a beautiful past—the same thing had once happened in the palace gardens of Aethelgard.
Eva's eyes grew glassy. Without uttering a single word, she stepped forward and hugged her brother tightly. "I love you, Brother."
Lumian hugged her back, tightly. In the middle of that park, under the bright shining sun.
"Me too," he whispered softly, two simple words that contained a whole ocean of meaning that couldn't be conveyed by words alone.
And for a moment, just a moment, everything felt alright.