"Why do you know Sumeru so well? Are you really the prince of the Magical Kingdom, or are you the Prince of Sumeru?"
"Listen to what you're saying. If I were the Prince of Sumeru, then what would you be to me?" Leon said, stunned.
"I just know. Actually, I've never been to those shops. My subordinates simply gathered the information and reported it to me."
"That sounds a bit like me."
Nahida blinked. She, too, possessed vast knowledge, yet she had never witnessed those things with her own eyes—she simply knew about them.
And her current situation was, in a way, deeply ironic.
She was clearly the Lady of Sumeru, yet she had to hide her true identity while walking the streets, always worrying about being discovered and recognized by her own people.
Well… no. Most people didn't even know what she looked like, and those who did were precisely the rebels who had imprisoned her in the claustrophobic Sanctuary of Surasthana.
Thinking about her situation only made Nahida feel even more dejected.
In the very next second, a hand landed gently on her head and rubbed it affectionately.
"Nahida, let's go shopping together sometime. We'll visit every store openly, without any invisibility cloak, try all the delicious snacks, and put on all the prettiest outfits. We'll buy a bunch of useless souvenirs too."
"…Alright… I believe you."
Nahida smiled. She realized that the disappointment she had felt moments earlier had completely vanished. She looked at their joined hands, and perhaps because of the twilight, her face flushed slightly.
Her heart began to beat a little faster.
By the time they reached the end of their walk, Nahida's feet were already sore, so Leon asked her to sit on his shoulders.
The girl looked back reluctantly at the city spread out before her.
"That's enough. Thank you for everything, Leon. It's time for me to go back."
Leon opened a spatial door, and the two of them returned to the Sanctuary of Surasthana.
Nahida gazed at the familiar scenery around her and couldn't help but feel a little dazed.
It was as if the clock had struck midnight and Cinderella's magic had faded away. She instinctively looked around and sighed in relief when she realized Leon was still there.
For a moment, Nahida had thought that everything that happened that day was just a dream—a sweet and beautiful dream, something illusory and unprecedented.
However, Leon's presence proved that it wasn't a dream at all, but reality.
"Nahida, you must be very tired."
"I… I'm not tired. I can keep going."
"It's okay, don't push yourself. I'll come visit you again another time," he said soothingly.
Seeing the girl clutching the corner of his clothes, as if afraid he might disappear, Leon carefully and gently pulled her into an embrace.
The two of them had traveled far and explored an entire kingdom that day. Leon possessed a dragon's blessing, so his physical stamina was nearly limitless—but Nahida's energy had already been completely spent.
Once she relaxed, her eyelids began to grow heavy, even though she didn't want the moment to end.
"Please… come see me again."
"Alright, I promise. Want to make a pinky promise?"
"What's that?"
"In my homeland, it's a ritual. Once you do it, the promise can't be broken. Otherwise, you'll have to swallow a thousand needles."
Leon said this while raising his little finger.
Hearing that, Nahida was startled. She hesitated for a moment, then waved her hands quickly.
"That's okay, there's no need."
"Huh? Why?"
"If something happens to you and you suddenly can't come… Leon, wouldn't that be terrible?" Nahida said worriedly.
And what if Leon simply got bored and didn't want to come anymore? Then he'd have to swallow a thousand needles because of that promise.
Although she liked Leon very much and hoped to see him again, she didn't want to restrict him in any way. Even if it wasn't a "contract" but just an "agreement," it still carried too much weight.
"Heh… Nahida is so kind. You clearly have the right to be a little selfish, yet you still think of others. I really like you."
Leon smiled and once again extended his little finger.
"Don't worry. This is something I'm doing of my own free will. Besides, as a prince, I have a reputation to uphold. As the saying goes: a gentleman never goes back on his word, and a king never regrets what he has said."
"Is… is that really true?"
"Yes."
After receiving Leon's final confirmation, Nahida made the promise with great joy.
Thus, the agreement was sealed.
Whoever broke the promise would be punished by swallowing a thousand needles.
Leon and Nahida looked at each other and smiled. When she finally fell into a deep sleep, he quietly stood up and left.
—xXx—
In the City of Sumeru.
Leon stretched as he stepped out of an alley.
"Hm… where should I go now?"
He raised his head and looked at the bright moon. Unlike Nahida, his stamina was still plentiful. Even though the sky had already grown dark…
"Should I just go to sleep? Bah! How could I sleep at a time like this? I can still enjoy myself a bit."
He expanded the range of his spatial perception in search of something interesting and soon caught the sound of applause coming from underground.
Looking in that direction, he realized it was coming from the Grand Bazaar. It seemed to be time for the evening performance at Zubair Theater.
Leon headed over.
He wanted to see what kind of dance Sumeru's so-called best dancer could perform.
"Oh… it's quite lively."
Leon arrived at the Grand Bazaar.
It was a completely different scene from the surface of Sumeru City. Stalls were set up everywhere, with people coming and going. Fabrics, spices, food—everything was sold there. The place functioned like a small commercial street.
At the far end of the Grand Bazaar stood a stage with a sign reading "Zubair Theater."
The red-haired dancer Nilou, whom he had seen not long ago, was dancing brilliantly on stage.
"Huh? Your Highness, you're here too?"
"Lumine and Paimon… you're here as well."
Below the stage stood the golden-haired girl and her "emergency food."
Lumine and Paimon immediately waved at him.
"Did Your Highness also come to watch Nilou dance?"
"Yes, I just came to pass the time. I didn't expect it to be this good. That girl's dancing skills are truly excellent."
Leon watched the red-haired dancer on the stage. It was an exotic dance—something he had never seen before.
Though it wasn't as refined as the dances of noble performers, it was captivating, rhythmic, and extremely pleasing to the eye.
Among all the dances he had ever seen, only Eula's ritual dance could compare to it.
"Hmm… not bad. I'd even like to have that girl named Nilou."
"EH?!" ×2
Hearing Leon's blunt remark, Lumine and Paimon widened their eyes in shock—especially the golden-haired girl, who puffed out her cheeks in irritation.
"Hmph! Your Highness really is a playboy!"
(End of the chapter)