"So… how does it taste?" I asked softly, holding out the small jar of honey dew. My fingers curled slightly against the edge of the bowl, my hands trembling just a little as the sun shifted behind me. The sweet scent of fruit drifted upward, mingling with the salt of the desert breeze.
The merchant took a careful sip. His lips parted slowly, brows knitting as he rolled the flavor on his tongue. He didn't rush. His eyes flicked to the bowl, then back to me. "Well… it tastes almost like honey," he said at last, tilting his head, his weathered fingers tapping against the wooden counter. "But not honey. It could be good… but I can't sell this if it's not approved by the clan lord."
I bowed my head politely, pressing the bowl to my chest. "Okay then, thank you for your time."
"Get back to me if it's approved by the clan lord!" he called after me as I stepped away from his stand. His voice blended with the rest of the market—the clang of metal pans, the bright chatter of children, the sharp calls of vendors offering dried herbs, fabrics, beads.
He was just like the rest of them.
I weaved between stalls where ribbons of silk fluttered like flags, the smell of roasted chestnuts mixing with incense from a nearby shrine. I need to get this product approved… same system as my world, I thought. Even here, things don't just move because I want them to.
Oh, what a way I've come—
From underestimating an author,
To being thrown inside a manga,
To becoming the villainess's fiancee,
And now… working for an ant.
Wow. I wonder what's going to happen next?
I glanced down at my hand, at the ring resting against my finger. I had never really looked at it properly before; it sat snugly, almost perfectly. It suited me… more than I expected. I can't wait to show Selene, I thought, my lips curling into a small smile.
"Wow… my little sister looks happy today," a voice teased behind me.
I turned quickly. "Hey, Brother Minato."
He walked closer, his smile as easy as the breeze. A new fan hung lazily from his fingers, its polished ribs glinting faintly.
"Oh… you replaced your fan. This one looks beautiful," I said, leaning closer to study it. Something about it felt quietly odd, like I'd seen it somewhere before—or on someone far away, in a memory blurred by time.
"Thank you, sister Rin," he said with a little proud tilt of his head. His eyes shone. "My new friend crafted it for me. This is my new favorite fan. It doesn't just produce a cooling breeze… it can serve as a weapon."
He ran a finger along the edge. A faint shimmer flashed under the light. "Smooth and sharp. It doesn't just cut veggies… it can cut a tree. Hm hm, haha."
I blinked at him, the corner of my mouth twitching. "Wow… good. But why do you need a weapon? Even yesterday, Brother Ayato mentioned that…"
Minato closed the fan with a soft snap and tucked it behind his back. His shoulders straightened slightly, but his smile stayed. "Well, we need a weapon for something. Don't worry—we're not going to start a war or anything. We just… want to be the big brothers a sister needs."
His words fell gently, but they pressed against my chest like a weight I knew too well. This must be about them not being able to protect me during the ant attack, I thought, my chest tightening for a moment.
"Okay… but what are you doing here in the market? Aren't you supposed to be having a romantic date with the Ice Queen?" he teased, tilting his head.
"Romantic date? What do you mean romantic date!" I blurted out, panic rising. I could feel sweat dripping down my back.
"It's what Cousin Akari said—that you're having a romantic date with the Ice Queen," he replied.
Akari… do you really have to announce it to the whole world?!
"Uhm… I think the date is over," I said quickly. "I closed my eyes, and then when I opened them, this morning I was back on my bed."
"You came home today? But you didn't show up for breakfast. We all thought you were still with the Ice Queen. Even cousin Akari is still waiting for you at home."
Oh. Right. When I woke up, I slipped out my window because all I could think about was finding the ring… and then I got ganged up by Mai and co. at the Maiden's Club.
"I'm good at sneaking out, haha," I said, scratching my cheek, hoping to end the conversation.
Minato's eyes narrowed slightly, but then softened. He shifted the fan from one hand to the other, letting the breeze flick at his sleeve. Around us, the market moved like a painted scene—bright stalls, small voices, warm scents drifting past.
"So why are you in the market anyway?" I asked quickly, trying to change the topic.
"Oh, I got a new job. I get to be the vegetable inspector," he said, scratching the back of his head, eyes sparkling a little with pride.
"Vegetable… what?" I blinked, tilting my head.
"Vegetable inspector. I get to check vegetables—making sure they're fresh, clean, safe, and top quality before people buy them," he explained. His voice carried a strange sort of excitement, the kind that made his gestures bigger.
Is that even a profession? I thought, biting back a smile. Vegetable inspector… it sounds funny.
"Are you laughing?" he noticed, narrowing his eyes, his brows lifting as if to catch my expression.
I pressed my lips together, eyes wide. "No, I am not laughing. Do I look like I'm laughing?"
"Yes, you are! Are you trying to say my new job is a joke?" he puffed his cheeks slightly, like a sulking boy from a storybook. "Even the clan lord himself approved it. He said it's a healthy job and people in Kaida will know what they put in their system!"
But the word that caught my attention was clan lord approved.
"Approved? How were you approved by the clan lord? How did you do it?" I said, my voice quick, almost desperate.
"I took people's advice. I went to the clan lord, and he approved. He even gave me this merchant badge after that," he said, pulling out a round green metal badge. "See? Green for vegetables."
I leaned closer, the metal glinting in my eyes. "Not all vegetables are green," I said softly.
"Most of them are," he replied so proudly I almost laughed.
A gust of wind stirred between us, carrying the faint scent of cinnamon and earth. I shifted the bowl in my hand, my eyes sliding to the pale green liquid inside.
"Do you think he is going to approve this product?" I asked, showing him the honey dew.
"What is that?" he tilted his head, the fan dangling from his wrist now.
"Taste it and tell me what it tastes like," I said, holding it out to him.
He took a sip. The change in his expression was almost like a ripple across water—his brows lifting, his lips parting slightly as the flavor bloomed. "Hmm… it has a sweet taste but lighter, with a cool, wild hint that tingles on my tongue and leaves a trace of magic behind. This is not honey. What is this?"
"This is going to put the bees out of business," I said, my voice coming out like the Golden Ant Queen's without meaning to.
"It's good… but you still need to be approved," he said. He glanced at the sun, the light catching on the sharp ribs of his fan. "Okay, I'm late on my first day. I better start walking," he added, already moving.
"Okay, Brother Minato. See you at home," I said, waving. He waved back, then stopped midway and turned.
"Oh! I forgot to tell you. Cousin Shion returned last night, and she's been asking for you. So you better hurry up and welcome her," he said, then turned and continued walking.
Ehn! Cousin Shion is back?! I completely forgot about that character.