Chapter 6
The Male Lead Went Crazy for the Troublesome Villainess — Episode 6
Kael let out a sigh as he searched for Rosana. He couldn't waste time like this.
"Look for Lady Rosana until breakfast. If you find her, bring her back. If you don't, give up."
"Yes, Your Highness."
After assigning the task to one aide, Kael took only the other with him and headed for the weapon shop deeper inside the black market. Kael strode forward briskly.
Hersen Weapon Shop.
That was the destination. When he stepped inside, a musty smell and the metallic stench of iron stabbed at his nose.
The weapon shop was packed with all kinds of weapons. Some of them looked freshly sharpened, but many were thick with rust. He had no intention of wasting time here either. Kael moved farther in, looking for the owner.
The owner was in the middle of talking with another customer. Kael shifted his gaze without much thought, then could not believe his eyes for a moment.
'Rosana?'
Why was that woman here? He had never imagined he would run into Rosana here, after losing track of her earlier. This was not the sort of place Rosana would be.
If Rosana came to the black market, shouldn't the reason be to buy rare jewels or luxury goods?
No, in the first place, wouldn't Rosana refuse to set foot anywhere but a high-end dress shop?
Their engagement had been short, but Kael thought he knew enough about her.
But right now, Rosana was.......
"You have a good eye. As I said, this will pierce even tough monster hide in a single strike. It's an essential item in a world like this. Though, the price is a bit......."
"Thirty silver coins."
"Hey, are you joking? At least eighty......."
"There's a crack at the end of the hilt. And no matter how sharp it is, in times like these."
Rosana's eyes curved into a smile as she looked at the owner. It was so chilling that the owner flinched.
"In three months, the edge will be full of chips, won't it? That is, if I actually use it to kill monsters like you said. Thirty coins already feels generous."
The owner gave an awkward cough. Kael blinked blankly. He could not believe the scene he was watching. Really, Rosana? Rosana was saying things like that?
'I like it. Leave it. The family will pay whatever the price is.'
A face that looked indifferent to everything in the world. Spending money like water without hesitation. Wasn't that Rosana?
Ardena's princess, the extravagant rose.
That was...... the Rosana I knew.
"Instead, I'll buy every dagger here."
"All of them?"
The owner's eyes went wide. He glanced back and forth between Rosana and the daggers on the counter for a moment, then began packing the goods with practiced ease.
In the black market, it was an unwritten rule not to ask why a customer was buying something.
"Ah. Are there about seven daggers here?"
"There are more than ten!"
"Bring them all out. But they can't be lower quality than this one I'm holding now. If they don't slice monster hide like you said, I'll come back for a refund even if I have to come back from the dead."
The owner visibly gulped and went inside. Rosana hummed as she looked around the weapon shop.
Kael edged backward in step with Rosana. For some reason, he did not want her to notice he was there.
He wanted to watch what Rosana was doing a little longer.
Why would she need a sword that pierces monster hide? What was she planning to do with that many daggers?
Kael suppressed his confusion.
And when Rosana stopped in front of the longsword displayed on the wall, Kael's eyes widened.
That was the very reason he absolutely had to come here.
The Sword of Heracline. As if proving the legend, the sharp longsword carried a blue gleam, and myth was engraved upon it.
It was said to be a sword bestowed by a god in the distant past, when the world was first created and the empire was founded. The fact that such a sword had ended up in the black market was lamentable in itself, but thanks to that, he now had a chance to obtain it.
Rosana licked her lips as she looked at it.
"That sword really does look damn fine. With this, you could take a monster's shin clean off."
Did Rosana really just say that......?
Kael doubted his own eyes for a moment.
"Should I buy this and offer it as a bribe? That might work too?"
Rosana examined the sword from every angle, then smiled brightly. There was something mischievous and impish about the smile, so unlike Rosana that his breath caught. Kael took another step back.
"It really is tempting. If only I knew how to use a longsword, you'd be mine. The male lead's life is important, sure. My life is important too."
Her face lit up as she giggled. It was a light Kael had never seen from Rosana before.
Meanwhile, the owner who had gone into the storeroom came back out clutching all the daggers he had. Rosana quickly composed her expression and turned around.
"You'll throw in this leather belt too, right? Since I'm buying so much."
What Rosana picked up was a leather belt that could hold daggers. Before the owner could say anything, Rosana swept all the daggers and the leather belt into a single sack.
"Oh, wait!!"
"That should be enough. You've already made plenty off me."
With a wink, Rosana pulled a few gold coins from her pocket and tossed them onto the table. With a smile lingering on her lips, Rosana walked right past Kael without noticing him hidden in the darkness.
Her hair swayed softly, and a rich fragrance wafted from her.
The scent of roses.
Yes, it was Rosana's signature rose scent.
The rich fragrance made his head spin.
* * *
After sweeping up what I needed at the weapon shop, the next place I stopped was a clothing shop. I did consider buying the sword Kael would later obtain and handing it to him as a bribe. But I had no intention of spending my own money on that. Better to save that money and buy another mine. Investing for the future is investing for me.
The male lead's going to support me?
No, no. Money feeds me!
The place I went to was not a shop selling fancy garments like dresses. It was closer to a street stall, with a few clothes hung under a canopy, too shabby to even be called a dress shop. Still, there was at least a space behind the canopy to change clothes.
In the first place, what I needed wasn't a dress. Clothes that were tough, wouldn't tear, and were easy to move in.
"Give me the toughest, sturdiest clothes you have here. Something that won't tear easily even if grazed by monster claws."
"Ahem, if you're looking for that kind of clothing, you've come to the right place."
The owner looked me over, eyes lighting up. Seeing my noble lady's attire, they clearly intended to quote a high price.
You picked the wrong person. Do you know how many years I've haggled in marketplaces? You can't pull the wool over my eyes!
The owner brought out ordinary clothes and bragged that they were special pieces incorporating rare monster hide. Anyone could see it was a ploy to inflate the price.
"Something like this stays intact against monster claws?"
"Oh my, of course! They'll be far sturdier than the clothes you're wearing now! As for these clothes, they came from a village overrun by monsters! Amazingly, the woman who was wearing them survived even after being struck by monster claws! If it weren't for the fact that she had to sell these clothes to feed herself......!"
Listen to this sales pitch.
Who do you think you're fooling? I pulled a dagger from the sack.
"Wh-what are you doing?"
The owner was startled.
"I just bought this at the weapon shop over there. They said it pierces even monster hide. But didn't you say these clothes can't be pierced by monster claws? Then shouldn't they hold up against this dagger too? I'm just trying to confirm what you said. If you're right, I'll pay triple. But if this sword tears those clothes...... you'll have to hand over every piece of clothing here to me. Because I'll make sure of it!"
The owner's eyes went round. Then they looked back and forth between me and the sword, and their face went pale. They seemed to realize I was the kind of person who would really do it. As I drew the dagger from its sheath, the owner raised both hands.
"Wait!!"