Chapter 2: Mary's Invitation
"Did you skipped class again?" Mary asked.
Kael looked at her briefly, assessing his situation with a quick narration in his head.
This is Marionette Lorentia... or Mary, for short. She was exceedingly famous, rumored as the rival of the crown princess against the title of the 'Queen of the Academy.'
You can always see her name at the top 3 of every exam. A beauty and graceful lady, admired so fiercely that she had gathered the most toxic and obsessive fanbase. The only downside she had was her frail body as her health was a constant concern. But even so, many men covet to be her husband.
Morever she's the only child of the Duke... Kael often mocked himself as a filthy silver-spoon noble, yet even he could not deny it: the Lorentia family's wealth is ten times over their wealth, at least.
Thus, no matter where he looked, the fact that this very woman had extended an engagement contract to him just a week ago felt far too suspicious! How could he not doubt her intentions? For someone like her to be engaged to the mediocre son of a mere baron... surely it was nothing short of humiliation for the dukedom.
Alas, it was not as though Kael could openly decline such proposals;
Matters like these were always decided by his father and mother. And so, with the decision sealed that the beauty and the beast were now engaged, the beast had no means of refusing the offer.
Kael offered a short courtesy bow, keeping his position clear between them. "I greet lady Marionette."
"Didn't I made it clear when we first met?" Mary looked displeased. "I told you to call me by my nickname"
Kael's cheeks began to sweat as he actively avoid her gaze. "How could I, a child of a baron speaks like we're in same league"
"You're my fiancée!"
"This beast aren't allowed to speak ill-maneredly". Kael retorted though Mary couldn't understand what he meant by it.
She could only puff her cheeks in a pout, frustrated by how stubbornly Kael rejected her advances. Yet surrender was not in her nature. Closing the distance step by step, she reached out, gently taking his hand into her own.
"Let's date, I'll make you change your mind by then!"
***
"So this what town looks like?"
Stepping out of the carriage, the two found themselves in the heart of the town. For Kael, the familiar streets and noisy chatters were nothing out of the ordinary, as someone who often visit the town for business. But for Mary, it was clearly a different experience.
Unlike him, she seemed captivated by the sights around her.
"You haven't been to the town before, M'lady?" Kael asked.
"I wasn't given that much chance to leave the mansion" Mary replied.
Indeed, Kael had expected Mary to have been raised like a typical noblewoman. Kept inside the mansion, forbidden to go out, and constantly made to study.
What he didn't expect was her level of maturity. Most sheltered noble ladies detested mingling with commoners. He had anticipated complaints like, "I hate this," or "I don't like this." Yet, to his surprise, Mary had remained composed throughout the journey. Even while riding in a low-class uncomfortable carriage, she hadn't uttered a single complaint.
Perhaps his perception of her had changed.
Instead of seeing her as a sheltered noble, he now saw her as… well, a curious child.
"Mister what is this?"
Ah yes, Kael just blinked his eye and for some reason Mary had gone to one vendor asking randomly. Truly, she acts like curious kid, and that made Kael more worried that she might get lost if he wasn't paying any attention.
"This is 'Ego Shard', young miss, you don't know it?" The old vendor answered.
Kael looked at the goods briefly.
Violet diamond shaped gems scattered around. Almost look like an amethyst. Inside of it there seems to be red and yellow mark inside. Indeed this was the 'ego shard' he knew... but Kael knew something off and merely scoffed on it.
('Obviously it's fake. An ego shard where the inside was merely painted... it is indeed fake.')
"Oh!" Mary exclaimed as her eyes lightened up. "Then, what does it do?"
('Is she serious?') Kael stared at her, utterly dumbfounded.
"Young miss, you don't know anything about Ego Shard?" the vendor asked, equally puzzled.
The Ego Shard was one of the most fundamental items in existence. A basic knowledge even children understood. It powered the city's lamps, and in rare cases, granted extraordinary abilities when used correctly.
At first, Kael thought Mary was joking when she asked such a simple question. But seeing her genuine curiosity only deepened his confusion.
('Was this really the same girl rumored to excel in every exam?')
"It's like a battery, then?" she asked.
Kael blinked again. ('Battery?') He had no idea what that even was.
While, Mary and the street vendor were deep in conversation, chatting animatedly about something called "Ego Shards." Kael stood to the side, watching helplessly. He couldn't tell if he should interrupt her or just let her have her fun.
Either way… he had a bad feeling.
('She's going to get scammed, isn't she…?')
"So mister, I wanna buy this one!" Mary declared proudly, pointing at a glittering gem on the vendor's stall.
And, as Kael expected —
She's getting scammed.
"You've got a good eye, young miss!" the vendor said, grinning from ear to ear. "This big one here costs only eighty gold! It'll boost your appliances and your energy for sure!"
('Eighty gold?! Is he insane?! That's a year's salary for a commoner!')
"Absolutely not!" Kael blurted out, grabbing Mary by the arm, pulling her close, almost hugging her tightly. "We're leaving!"
"K-Kael?!" Mary yelped as he dragged her away, nearly bumping into a passing cart.
There's no way Kael would let him scam Mary! Not in his watch.
Once they were clear of the stall, Kael turned to her, completely exasperated. "M'lady, you must never waste a single coin on fake items! And besides—" he took a breath as his lecture mode fully activated, "Ego Shards that large aren't even supposed to be sold publicly!"
He wasn't wrong. Ego Shards were rare; synthetic gems produced only by the royal family under strict secrecy. Even Kael, as a minor noble, didn't fully understand how they were made.
It's origin was practically a national mystery.
There's one way to figure out an ego shard is real... and that is if the inside of the gem moves like a burning fire. Thus Kael was sure the ego shard that vendor showed was nothing but a poorly made prototype... sure it can scam those commoners who never seen ego shard closely before... but not 'him'.
Mary's shoulders drooped as her usual cheer dimmed out. "I'm sorry… I caused trouble to you, didn't I?"
('Ack—!') Kael froze and his mind panicked. That face... those guilty eyes... it was unfair! Completely, devastatingly unfair!
How could he get mad anymore?
Is this... the power of someone gifted with a beautiful face?
So unfair!
No wonder so many men became a fool against beautiful women!
This is dangerous!
At that moment, Kael unconsciously forgotten the recent event.
He scratched his cheek awkwardly. "W-well, as long as you remember next ti—"
"Next time?"
Mary's voice suddenly brightened. Before Kael could react, she leaned closer... way closer until their noses almost touched.
Kael stiffened instantly. His back hit the wall, feeling his heart pounded like a runaway drum.
"Then… there's still a next date?" Mary asked.
('Oh no. Oh no oh no oh no— I wasn't trained for this thing!!')
Kael's brain short-circuited as his words scrambled out of his mouth on instinct. "H-huh… y-yeah?"
Before he knew it, Mary smiled triumphantly before stepping back. "Then it's decided~!" she sang, skipping a few steps ahead like nothing happened. "Come on! I already know the next place I want to go!"
For some reason, Kael felt like he just said something he might regret.