Lizel closed the book he was reading with a thud and looked up at the sky.
The moon was directly overhead, and he wondered if it was time for a shift change, so he stood up from his chair.
Nothing had happened, so all Lizel had done was occasionally add firewood to keep the fire going.
The firewood was stacked right next to him, so Lizel hadn't moved an inch from his chair.
He approached quietly and peered into the half-open carriage door.
Inside the carriage, dimly lit by moonlight, two men were lying wrapped in blankets.
Thinking that the carriage, which should have been quite spacious, felt cramped because of their height, he climbed in on his knees.
He was so careful that only a faint creaking sound of wood could be heard, but one of the blanket-covered figures stirred.
"...Is it my turn?"
Gil, who had woken up, looked at Lizel, who was still on all fours because he hadn't taken off his shoes.
The low, hoarse voice was probably his sleepy voice, but Lizel couldn't believe he could be woken up by such a small sound.
Carefully avoiding getting his shoes caught, he crept closer and peered at his face. There wasn't a trace of sleepiness on his face.
"Why are you so easily awake? Did you sleep properly?"
Lizel asked in a low voice, careful not to wake Judge.
As if protesting against Lizel's unfounded suspicion, Gil dropped the blanket he had been using on him.
Taking off the blanket that had momentarily covered his vision, Lizel shuffled backward.
Gil also sat up and sat on the edge of the carriage with his legs dangling outside to put on his shoes.
"Of course I was asleep. I woke up because I sensed something."
"Wouldn't you still be tired sleeping like that?"
"It's enough."
Lizel sat down in the carriage, just like Gil had, and suddenly took Gil's hand in his.
It was slightly colder than his own, confirming that Gil had indeed been sleeping as he said.
Leaving his hand in Lizel's grasp, Gil put on his shoes, then moved his hand once, as if to acknowledge the touch.
After confirming that Lizel had let go of his hand, he stood up, yawned, and was about to head towards a chair when Lizel stopped him.
"Here, please."
"Mm."
He accepted the book offered to him and glanced at it.
He had taken Lizel's books without permission several times before, but it seemed Lizel understood his preferences.
He didn't have strong preferences when it came to books, but this was certainly the kind of book he wouldn't get bored with halfway through.
Gil casually raised a hand to express his gratitude and finally headed towards the chair.
Without watching him all the way, Lizel slipped back into the carriage.
The blanket he had been given was still faintly warm, and thinking he could sleep comfortably, he peered at Judge's face, who was sleeping facing the wall.
His youthful face looked even younger in his peaceful sleep, and he was breathing softly.
After confirming that he was sound asleep, he decided to go to sleep himself, lay down, and wrapped himself in the blanket.
He hadn't been sleepy while on watch, but as soon as he got warm, drowsiness overcame him. He must have been on alert after all.
Avoiding the moonlight streaming into the carriage, Lizel snuggled into the blanket and gently closed his eyes.
The next morning, as the sky began to lighten, Judge woke up. Even though it had gotten slightly brighter, it was still the time of day when you could see the night sky if you looked in the opposite direction.
However, all the shops catering to adventurers open early in the morning. For Judge, who, like everyone else, woke up early to prepare for opening, it was no different from his usual waking time.
He stirred and sat up, fighting off the sleepiness that weighed down his eyelids, when his eyes fell on a bulge in the blanket beside him.
From Judge's perspective, the bulge in the blanket was small. Knowing that it was Gil who was sleeping there last night made it seem even smaller.
If Lizel were here, he would tell him to stop calling him small, since he was perfectly average height for a man, but from Judge's perspective, most people, regardless of gender, seemed small to him, so perhaps it couldn't be helped.
He stared at the blanket with a groggy, half-asleep mind, but then a small curiosity arose within him.
The awakened curiosity grew and grew, and unable to resist, he slowly crept closer to the blanket beside him.
"Just a little..."
He muttered an excuse to no one in particular and gently lifted the blanket.
Lizel's face, which was facing him as he slept, was revealed, and Judge let out a silent gasp of inexplicable emotion.
He usually couldn't look at his face properly because he was too shy, but now he could see his face head-on, and Judge began to observe his sleeping face. He thought about how he would brag to Studd when he got back, even though he'd probably get hit for it.
It wasn't a strikingly beautiful face, but it was sufficiently refined, exuding an air of purity.
It was only now, with his eyes closed, that he realized that his eyes, while gentle, always held a certain nobility.
With his eyes hidden, he seemed much more approachable than usual, which was probably why he could observe him without feeling intimidated.
Above all, his skin was beautiful, he thought, sending a somewhat awkward compliment to the man in his mind, as he slowly extended his finger. Just before his hand could touch his cheek, a small creaking sound was heard, and the door of the cargo compartment opened slightly.
"...What are you doing?"
"Whoa!"
"I thought you were awake but weren't coming out..."
"N-no...!"
Startled by the voice, Judge fell back on his bottom and began making excuses without understanding what was happening. While Gil watched him with a mischievous smile, Lizel also woke up. It was a lively morning.
After spending two more such lively mornings and evenings, Lizel and the others finally arrived at the commercial nation of Marcade.
Even though it felt like a long time, it had only been a little over three days since they left the royal capital of Parteda. Considering the speed of a merchant's carriage, they could confidently say they had made excellent time. The journey would normally take five full days.
Currently, they were waiting in line to enter Marcade.
As expected of a commercial nation, goods and people gathered from all over, and the area near the gate was bustling with carriages and travelers.
Only simple identification was required for entry, but with so many people, it still took time.
"Saino fruit juice, anyone? One copper coin per bottle!"
"If you want to leave your carriage, please go to Clayton's stop, immediately to the right after entering the gate! Immediately to the right after the gate!"
Peddlers and advertisers passed by the line of carriages, hawking their wares and services.
The sun hadn't quite reached its zenith yet, so it wasn't as crowded as early morning, but they were still actively appealing to each carriage in the line.
Lizel smiled, listening to the bustling sounds, impressed by the enterprising spirit of the merchants even before entering the country.
"Lizel, Gil, we're almost at the gate."
"Hmm, adventurers use their guild cards as proof of identity, right? The requirements are pretty lax."
"A commercial nation can't function without people, so the entry requirements are generally lenient."
Because the entry requirements are lax, it's easy for spies from other countries to infiltrate, but conversely, it also attracts people, goods, and information.
For merchants, it must be a veritable holy land. In fact, most of the carriages in the line are owned by merchants.
In such a country, a leader with a good sense of political balance and the trust of numerous merchants is required.
Naturally, the lord of Marcade is no exception, but in this country's case, it was a little special.
"Isn't he the only 'self-made man'?"
"Do you have a problem with that?"
"No, if he's competent, he's more than welcome. I'd even go so far as to say I'd welcome him with open arms."
Gil, who had asked Lizel, a pure-blooded noble, this question, was deeply convinced by his answer.
Both Studd and Judge, the people Lizel had approached himself, were exceptionally competent.
Studd is said to be the next guild executive, and Judge's appraisal skills are undeniable.
Lizel's claim is that he finds competent younger people endearing. Gil suspects that the king, who was his former student in his original world, was exactly this kind of "competent younger person."
Lizel doesn't often talk about his former student, but considering the few times he has spoken about him, Gil's assumption is probably correct.
"Back when Marcade was still called a commercial town, the current lord's grandfather became a noble and then the lord, right?"
"You know a lot."
"It was written in a book."
Why did they make the previous lord, who was only a merchant at the time, the lord? There's a reason unique to a commercial nation.
It was because the previous lord was such a powerful merchant that he dealt with the entire country. He was highly respected by other merchants, was well-versed in all kinds of businesses, managed the city, and even invested his personal fortune in improving the roads.
The remarkable achievement of transforming Marcade from a "city" to a "country" was largely due to him.
Although there was a lord at the time, the merchants all relied on the previous generation's leader, giving him more influence than the lord himself.
Fortunately, he still showed respect to the lord, and the lord, in turn, was pleased with the previous generation's leader who showed him such deference.
That's why the lord adopted him and officially appointed him as the next lord.
The lord, who had no children at the time, never regretted this decision, and the previous generation's leader, who had initially refused out of humility, eventually became the next lord after many twists and turns, and worked diligently to repay the favor.
The result of the previous generation's leader's tireless efforts is the Marcade of today.
Its development is truly remarkable. It goes without saying that a tremendous amount of effort must have been involved.
"The fact that he still enjoys the trust of the merchants is proof of his excellence as both a lord and a businessman," Judge said.
"Apparently, he handles everything himself, from granting permits for small shops to deciding on their locations. He also keeps an eye on promising businesses and sometimes invests in them."
"The fact that no one complains about his investments is amazing; he must be incredibly trusted as a businessman."
Lizel was impressed by Judge's words.
Not only the investments, but also the fact that he manages all the permits for what must be a huge number of shops.
As expected of a commercial nation, opening a shop in Marcade and achieving success is probably every merchant's dream.
He handles all of this himself, meaning his workload is constantly increasing. Lizel, as a nobleman himself, was impressed by the lord's ability to handle such tasks day after day.
"I'm afraid of what awaits me when I get back."
"The accumulated work, you mean?"
He smiled at Gil, who had accurately understood his meaning.
He decided not to think about it for now.
"Oh, so that's why he's so busy..."
"What do you mean?"
"Apparently, the current lord never shows himself in public. No one even knows what he looks like..."
Lizel inwardly tilted his head at the words "never shows himself in public."
Being a nobleman meant attracting attention, for better or for worse. Was it possible that his face was completely unknown?
While Lizel was lost in thought, Gil looked out of the carriage with a displeased expression.
"Hey, it's our turn."
"Ah, yes."
It seemed their turn had already come.
Judge, sitting in the driver's seat, showed his merchant's pass, and Lizel and Gil showed their adventurer's guild cards.
The gatekeeper was startled when he saw Gil's card. His reputation seemed to be effective even here.
He was then startled again when Lizel presented his guild card, and froze for a moment upon realizing he was an adventurer.
"See? You shouldn't surprise people like that!"
"It's not my fault!"
They successfully passed the gatekeeper, who had recovered, while exchanging lighthearted banter.
After entering the gate, Lizel and Gil immediately got off the carriage.
Judge seemed to be heading to his grandfather's house. He had actually invited them to stay there, but Lizel declined, not wanting to intrude on their family time.
Judge didn't even try to hide his disappointed expression, which made Gil feel a little sorry for the grandfather.
It seemed that his grandson was more excited about spending time with other people than seeing him after a long time.
"Um, so, Mr. Lizel, what about accommodations...?"
"We'll figure that out now. It looks like it'll be crowded, but we'll find a cheap place to stay."
"There should be some vacancies, right?"
"Yeah, there are plenty of inns around here."
"N-No!"
After spending four days together, Judge seemed to have gotten a little more comfortable with Lizel and Gil.
Judge, who had become able to express his opinions a little more, argued back against Lizel.
At this unusual sight, both Lizel and Gil fell silent for a moment.
"Lizel-san, staying in a cheap inn... I can't bear it!"
"What kind of image do people have of me?"
"Just what you see, isn't it?"
Imagining Lizel staying in a cheap inn, Judge was trembling and his face was pale.
From what he was saying about hard beds and incompetent staff, he seemed genuinely disgusted.
As a businessman, it's not wrong to be particular about providing service that suits the customer, but Lizel was a little afraid to ask what Judge thought of him.
Probably, Lizel would only show a satisfied smile when he was lying in a four-poster bed.
Having such a good image of himself was also a problem, Lizel thought, giving a wry smile at the gap between how others saw him and how he saw himself, for the umpteenth time.
He tried to persuade Judge that they wouldn't be staying in such a bad inn, but in the end, Lizel gave in to Judge, who was crying and begging him not to. Gil, meanwhile, backed away.
They got a few recommendations for inns from Judge, and also received Judge's business card as a guarantee in case they were turned away.
The card had the name of the trading company founded by Judge's grandfather, and it seemed to be quite effective in this country of Marcade.
Apparently, showing this card would make even the most reluctant inns find a vacancy for them.
"You don't have to go to so much trouble..."
"No!"
Since he started crying again, Lizel gave up.
"Why are you so weak to his pleading?"
"I couldn't help it when he looked at me with those pleading eyes and started crying. He looked like he'd fall into despair the moment I refused."
Lizel glanced at the introduction card he had received.
It contained the name of Judge's grandfather, the name of his trading company, and Judge's name, as well as the location of the company.
That was probably Judge's destination: his grandfather's house.
Lizel wasn't very familiar with it, but it was probably a very large trading company.
"Okay, I'll come pick you up at this location in three days."
"P-please, you absolutely mustn't accept any other carriage escort jobs...! You're coming back with me!"
Knowing that if Gil were around, requests for escort services would come non-stop, Judge said this as he left in his carriage.
Many merchants do their purchasing in Marcade, and on the way back, they are sometimes attacked by bandits targeting their cargo.
That's why they seek out skilled individuals, but while Gil's name is known, his face isn't exactly widely recognized.
"There shouldn't be any problem," Lizel thought, waving a small farewell to the worried Judge.
Then he looked around again.
"It's so cluttered."
"I told you, it's not a peaceful place."
Despite being in front of the gate, the area was filled with stalls and shops, and the relatively wide space was completely occupied by merchants.
Shops lined every street, stalls squeezed into narrow alleys, and countless advertising flags and posters hung overhead.
It was truly a city for merchants; there were many tourists and residents, and the streets were incredibly crowded.
"Let's find an inn for now. I've heard a few recommendations."
They started walking side-by-side as usual. As we started walking down the main street, it felt even more crowded, like there was a constant wall of people in front of us.
While wondering how everyone managed to walk through it, I followed Gil, who calmly made his way through the crowd.
"Ah, excuse me."
"Oops, sorry."
"Hey, Gil, wait..."
"...You walk behind me now."
Gil grabbed Lizel's arm, who was being jostled relentlessly by the waves of people, and guided him behind him.
Lizel had no experience in crowds, so this was inevitable.
After being bumped into and almost swept away, Lizel gave a wry smile and obediently followed behind Gil.
Gil didn't bump into anyone at all. It wasn't just that people avoided him because of his intimidating appearance; Gil clearly knew how to navigate a crowd.
After walking silently for a few minutes, Gil suddenly reached out his left hand behind him without turning around.
He pushed Lizel's waist from the side with that hand, shifting his body one step to the right while still walking.
Before Lizel could look up at the back of his head to ask what was wrong, he heard a click of someone's tongue as they passed by without a sound.
He glanced to the side and saw a young man walking away quickly.
"...Was I being targeted?"
"Probably."
It seemed to be a typical pickpocketing attempt in a crowded area.
The bag with the spatial magic enchantment allowed for items to be taken out and put in, even if the user wasn't the owner.
Lizel had been given a device to prevent this by Judge, but of course, it wasn't visible.
Moreover, a skilled pickpocket could take the entire pouch without being noticed, so Lizel could only be grateful to Gil.
Lizel, with his elegant appearance and relaxed demeanor, was probably the perfect target for them.
"You were right about him being a pickpocket, weren't you?"
"It was obvious."
"Gil, you sometimes live so much by instinct, I admire that."
They continued their conversation as they turned from the main street into an alleyway.
The main street was bustling even at night; since people generally prefer quiet when they sleep, inns are often located in the back of alleyways where the noise doesn't reach.
Some people prefer the lively atmosphere, so there are inns on the main street as well, but naturally, the two of them weren't among those who liked that.
They passed by some suspicious-looking stalls and climbed the stairs at the corner of the alley. That was their destination.
Fortunately, the inn recommended by Judge had a double room available.
Normally, they prefer two single rooms because they don't feel comfortable sharing a room for extended periods, but most inns with single rooms are geared towards adventurers. This inn was completely for tourists, so naturally, there were no single rooms.
However, since they were only staying for a few days, neither Lizel nor Gil complained.
They didn't want to bother Judge by asking him to arrange a room for them, so they were lucky that one was available.
"We're going to Judge's place in three days, so three nights, that's about right."
"Do you have anything to do, Gil?"
"No."
"You've been to the commercial nation of Marcade before, haven't you? Even the gatekeeper was surprised."
"It's just rumors spreading on their own. I haven't stayed here for very long."
While resting in the inn they were shown to, they discussed their future plans.
Gil had been to Marcade several times on assignments, but as he said, he had never stayed long enough to make it his base.
There was a guild here, so there were no problems with his adventurer work, but the bustling atmosphere simply didn't suit him.
He conquered all the surrounding dungeons in a few days and returned to Parteda, which is probably why he's so well-known in this country. Conquering four labyrinths in less than a week is no ordinary feat.
I don't intend to tell Lizel about it, though. For Lizel, how many labyrinths Gil has conquered probably isn't very important information.
"You..."
"Yes, well, I'd like to do some sightseeing first."
"Then let's go."
Lizel chuckled at Gil, who immediately stood up as if to say there was nothing to do while sitting around at the inn, and Lizel also rose from his seat.
"Damn it! I'll kill you! I'll definitely kill you!"
A man was shouting at them. He held a sword in one hand and was staring straight at them.
Lizel gave a wry smile in the middle of the suddenly empty space in the overflowing crowd, wondering how things had come to this.
The onlookers around them kept a certain distance, watching Lizel and the others with undisguised curiosity.
They were currently in the middle of Marcade's famous "street vendor square."
Lizel was genuinely impressed by the scene before him.
In front of the lord's mansion, a considerably large square was packed with stalls.
From street vendors to food stalls, selling everything from food to weapons, armor, and miscellaneous goods—it was a scene that suggested there was nothing you couldn't find here.
The only open space in the center had a fountain, but otherwise, the shops were crammed together like a maze.
At the back of the square was a wide staircase leading to the lord's mansion, where people were sitting and enjoying snacks they had presumably bought.
There was frequent traffic to and from the lord's mansion.
Officials and merchants were among those coming and going; it seemed that administrative offices were also located there. With so many different people coming and going, the fact that no one knew the lord's face meant that the lord himself was intentionally hiding his existence.
Why would such a hardworking person do something so inefficient...? Perhaps thinking about that was my mistake.
Suddenly, Gil reversed his stance and deflected the incoming sword strike with his own sword.
People screamed and fled, a man shouted angrily, and Gil stood before Lizel, facing the man.
Lizel calmly observed all of this, but he had absolutely no idea why the man was suddenly attacking him.
After confirming that everyone else had left, Lizel looked at the man from behind Gil. He still didn't recognize him.
"I'm confident I never forget a face I've seen before. This is our first meeting, isn't it?"
"Of course, a guy like you wouldn't need to look at someone like me!"
Gil glanced at Lizel. Lizel subtly shook his head, indicating that he shouldn't kill him yet.
Considering the circumstances, it was a problem they wanted to resolve quickly, but he wanted to at least find out the reason.
"So, let me ask you, what did I indirectly do to you?"
"What...?!"
The expression of hatred directed towards him was terrifying.
Screams rose from the surrounding area, but Lizel smiled and tilted his head slightly, prompting an answer.
Perhaps feeling completely disrespected, the man took a step forward.
However, Gil's sword flashed, stopping him in his tracks. Gil's sword had cut down the flag of a nearby stall, creating a boundary between the man and Lizel.
"Cross this line, and I'll kill you."
Even though the man had lost his reason, he understood that there was no lie in Gil's words. The man, pinned down by the low, monotonous voice, seemed to be painfully aware of his opponent's skill.
He gritted his teeth so hard they might break, glaring at him intensely.
"You! You ruined my shop! Because of you, my wife and children are gone!"
"Because of me?"
"It's your fault! You upstart!"
Ah, Lizel nodded. It was clearly a case of mistaken identity.
Here too, Lizel must have looked like a nobleman. If he was wandering around town with his bodyguard, Gil, he might have looked like a lord exploring his own country, Marcade.
The surroundings were suddenly filled with commotion. They were making a fuss about a lord appearing whom no one had ever seen before.
"...You're really troublesome."
"I can't help it, you know."
Lizel gave a wry smile at this familiar exchange, which had happened several times before.
Even though he was told not to act like a nobleman, he was just living normally, and he was even wearing local clothes.
There was nothing more he could do except wait for those around him to get used to him.
From Lizel's perspective, he had changed his tone of voice and corrected the things Gil had told him to, so he felt he was doing his best.
"Just to be clear, it's a case of mistaken identity."
"I don't believe you! There's no way a nobleman other than the lord would be wandering around this town! I'll kill you!"
He still wouldn't believe him.
The man in front of him was completely enraged, and probably couldn't make rational judgments.
Lizel didn't like dealing with people who couldn't understand him, but ignoring him and walking away wasn't a good option either.
While subtly observing his surroundings, Lizel chose to prolong the conversation.
"You continue to claim it's a case of mistaken identity, but do you have any idea why your shop went out of business?"
"You! You're the one who ruined it!"
"Then, do you have any idea why it was ruined?"
Lizel, who asked the question with a smile, didn't seem like someone whose life was currently in danger.
The fact that he was standing a step behind Gil was probably not out of fear of the man in front of him, but rather out of consideration for making it easier for Gil to protect him.
Gil had already given up on the idea that his attitude would be misunderstood.
"You! Just because I opened a shop in a location I hadn't applied for! Without even listening to my side of the story!"
"Oh, so it's your fault, isn't it?"
"What...!"
"Everyone else has opened their shops in places they properly applied for, right? It's a rule, so why did you think you were the only one who didn't need to apply?"
"That, that's just a minor thing...!"
"You're the kind of person who can't even follow such a minor rule, aren't you? Look, look around you. See what everyone thinks of you for stealing a good location without even applying."
Lizel lightly spread his hands, and the man awkwardly turned his bloodshot eyes to his surroundings.
This was a merchant city. A city overflowing with merchants.
Especially here, in the open-air market square, a large number of merchants who had set up stalls were watching the man from a distance.
The merchants who pledged their loyalty to the lord certainly wouldn't complain about the application results; even if the assigned location was unfavorable, they would simply accept it as bad luck. They understood that even those unfavorable locations were the result of avoiding even worse locations.
But what about this man?
Unable to understand this, he opened his shop without permission, and his anger at having his shop shut down after being discovered was met with no sympathy.
On the contrary, the man finally realized that he was being subjected to anger, contempt, hatred, and various other negative emotions. If the lord was truly at fault, the pride that had sustained him would be shattered at its core, and it would only be a matter of time before he was tormented by his own unacknowledged guilt.
But a man who had shifted all the blame to the lord and fled couldn't possibly face his own sins honestly.
"Don't look! Don't look at me! It's all his fault!"
It wasn't hard to imagine that the man would go berserk and harm those around him.
As the man frantically raised his sword, Lizel smiled calmly.
"Following the rules is synonymous with gaining trust. You're not suited to being a merchant."
He forcibly redirected the man's aggression towards himself.
The man, who was charging forward with a frenzied scream, apparently couldn't even see Gil anymore.
Gil, without bothering to hide his boredom, drew his sword.
"I want to leave here quickly, so please, no injuries."
"What a pain."
He clicked his tongue at the muttered words and looked down, but Lizel was already looking somewhere else, not at the man. Before he could even see what he was looking at, the man was running towards them.
He deflected only the man's sword. The deflected sword pierced the bullseye of a target on a sign at an archery game stall nearby.
He kicked the man, who had lost his balance after his sword was deflected, and then stepped on his shoulder.
With the matter settled so quickly, the surrounding people cheered and excitedly discussed what had happened.
Seeing the military police appear from among the crowd, Lizel finally turned his gaze from a part of the crowd to the man.
He was smiling, but his gaze no longer held any interest in the man.
"Let me say this again,"
He rummaged through his pouch and pulled out a card.
He waved it in front of the man, who was still pinned down by Gil and unable to move.
"You've mistaken me for someone else."
Leaving the man, who finally seemed to understand the meaning of the guild card, in a daze, Lizel started walking.
To the voices of the guards calling out to him, he simply replied, "Another time," and continued walking without stopping, heading towards a single point.
Gil followed Lizel, who pushed through the unfamiliar crowd as if it didn't matter, with a puzzled expression. Of course, he ignored the guards.
"Hey, what's wrong?"
"It was worth prolonging the commotion; it seems we've caught something."
Why did he engage with the man who had picked a fight with him?
Why did he continue talking to someone he disliked?
Even though he could have asked Gil to subdue him instantly without causing any harm to those around them.
It was because Lizel had a certain conviction and was waiting for a particular person to appear.
With Gil subtly providing cover, Lizel slipped through the crowd and found the back of the person he was looking for.
The man, who had been watching the commotion intently until now, turned on his heel as soon as the situation calmed down.
His long legs carried him quickly with long strides, and he finally caught up with him on the main street outside the market square.
He walked alongside the man, as if he were a friend.
"Do you have a moment?"
"Rejected. I'm busy."
"I'm holding a letter for you."
"Rejected. I have no idea what you're talking about."
Lizel gave a wry smile at the man, who continued walking straight ahead.
Gil frowned, as if his unpleasant premonition had come true.
"Well then... since I was almost killed because I was mistaken for you, how about you treat me to dinner as an apology?"
The man stopped dead in his tracks.
Then, for the first time, he turned his gaze towards Lizel and let out a loud, resounding click of his tongue.
The man, whose expression clearly showed his displeasure, resumed walking, stomping his feet irritably.
"Follow me."
At the words, uttered in a low growl, Lizel smiled brightly.