Xiao Zhi had just opened her eyes when a knock sounded at the door.
"Princess," came Ruhan's voice from the other side. "We still have some time before heading to the capital. Want to explore a bit?"
Xiao Zhi blinked a few times before finally sitting up.
"Explore?" Her voice was still rough from sleep. "You mean... we can actually go out?"
Ruhan smiled faintly when she opened the door. Her hair was tousled, and her eyes still drowsy.
"Yes. And I think you'll like this place in daylight," He said.
She told him to wait for a moment so she could freshen up. He chuckled at her girlish behavior.
A few moments later, Xiao Zhi stepped out, looking beautiful in her new Tughril dress. Ruhan smiled. "You clean up well," he teased.
She rolled her eyes, but she could feel her face heating up. "Okay, enough. Let's just go before you say any more weird things."
Ruhan laughed, looking way too pleased with himself, and followed her out.
The streets were already bursting with noise. People yelling over prices, wagons rattling over the uneven ground, and stalls packed so tight like a jigsaw puzzle.
As they walked through the alleys, Ruhan started acting like a tour guide. He pointed out the different patterns on the merchants' sashes to show which tribe they belonged to, showed how Tughril women bargained by pretending to walk away, and how people here liked their noodles extra spicy.
Xiao Zhi listened to every word attentively. For an NPC, the guy was surprisingly good at making a history lesson feel like a real conversation.
He watched her smile at his explanation. "You see? Not so different from Hua markets after all, right? Just louder."
Xiao Zhi laughed. Her cheeks went pink with excitement. "And the vendors are terrifying. That old lady almost stabbed me with a spoon just to make me buy her tea."
"That's called enthusiasm," Ruhan laughed with her.
Xiao Zhi tried to keep up with Ruhan's long strides when something shiny caught her eye. She stopped so quickly she almost tripped.
On a wooden table at one of the stalls, lay a silver hairpiece. It was shaped like a thin crescent moon and set with tiny turquoise stones that sparkled in the light. It wasn't flashy, but it caught the eye.
"It's beautiful," she murmured. Her gaze lingered on it.
She reached out, hesitating a moment before touching it. The silver jewelry felt cold against her skin, and the gemstone was glimmering as she lifted it into the sunlight. Almost without realizing it, she tucked the moon into her hair.
Turning to Ruhan, she suddenly felt self-conscious. "Does it… look nice?"
Ruhan didn't answer immediately. His gaze lingered on her for a second too long before he spoke, "It's beautiful."
Her face warmed, caught off guard by the intensity in his eyes. She quickly pulled the hairpiece out and set it back on the wooden stall.
"Actually, we shouldn't." She spoke quickly, as if afraid she'd change her mind. "We've already lost everything to those bandits. We can't be wasting money on pretty things right now."
But before she could even step back, Ruhan had already taken the piece and pulled out his pouch to pay the vendor. He turned and handed it to her with a teasing smile.
"A gift. For our princess bride."
Her mouth fell open. "Our what—?"
Before she could protest, the merchant behind the stall beamed at them, grinning. "Ah! Such a beautiful couple! May your marriage be blessed with many sons!"
Xiao Zhi's face turned crimson. "We're not—!"
Ruhan raised a hand, cutting her off. "Thank you." He smiled at the vendor before gently taking her arm and leading her away.
"You could've just corrected him!" She huffed, glaring at him.
"Too much trouble." He shrugged. A teasing smile tugged at his lips. "Besides, he gave us a discount."
Her glare softened, melting into a laugh she couldn't quite hold back. "You're impossible."
"Maybe." He sounded amused. "But at least I'm useful."
"How did you even have money? Didn't the bandits take everything?"
"They didn't take the pouch I kept on me. Did they take yours?"
"I didn't have my money pouch with me," she admitted. Her lips curved into a pout. "I left it in the carriage. So yeah, they took it."
Ruhan chuckled, amused by her expression. "Then it's settled. From now on, leave the spending to me. Whatever you like, I'll get it."
She blinked, surprised. "Oh? So generous all of a sudden?"
He leaned a little closer, his voice low enough to make her heart skip. "Well, someone has to keep our princess happy."
Her cheeks turned pink again. For a moment, she really did feel like one of those pampered girlfriends with their rich boyfriends. The thought made her blush even more.
"Princess, since we lost our carriage, I'm planning to ask the mayor of the city to grant us one," Ruhan said, leaving the teasing tone behind.
"Oh? Do we have to?"
"It would only be proper for a princess bride to ride in a proper carriage, instead of on a horse with a servant. If the prince hears otherwise, I'll lose my head."
"I guess so."
She didn't really mind riding with him, but a carriage wasn't a bad idea either. It would save her from the heart attacks caused by having Ruhan's face so close to hers.
By midday, they reached the mayor's residence. The moment they stepped in, they were greeted by a grand courtyard. Palm trees surrounded the building, and a fountain with tinkling water stood at its center.
The mayor, a round man with kind eyes and a booming smile, greeted them warmly.
"It's an absolute honor to host the future Princess of Tughril." The mayor gave Xiao Zhi a bow that was just a little too deep, as if he was trying to impress her. "You have to stay for lunch! I won't take no for an answer." He waved his hand, basically ushering them toward the dining area before they could even protest.
Xiao Zhi felt a bit overwhelmed by the term. Future Princess? The title sent a chill down her spine even as the smell of the food tempted her.
The spread was mouthwatering. There was spiced lamb that smelled heavenly, hearty vegetable stew, and warm flatbread dripping with honey. Xiao Zhi enjoyed their meal at the inn before, but this looked even more luxurious.
As they were enjoying the meal, the mayor started talking. His eyes lit up as he bragged about Tughril's festivals and traditions.
"Tonight," he leaned in like he was sharing a massive secret, "is the Festival of Lights. Every city in Tughril has its own summer celebration, but ours? Ours is special. And it just happens to be tonight."
He looked between Ruhan and Xiao Zhi, his expression hopeful. "The streets will glow brighter than the stars themselves. You really should stay one more night to see it. Leaving now would be a total waste!"
Ruhan hesitated. "We should leave for the capital soon."
But Xiao Zhi was already leaning forward, eyes sparkling. "A festival? With lanterns and dancing?"
The mayor chuckled, throwing his hand into the air. "And fireworks that light up the whole night sky!"
She turned to Ruhan with pleading eyes. "Please? Just one night. We've had enough sand and snakes, haven't we?"
Ruhan sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "You're impossible to refuse."
The mayor smiled, satisfied with his sales pitch.