The trip to the city center was brief. Cobblestone streets bustled with merchants and passersby; the scent of freshly baked bread mingled with the calls of street vendors. Lusian couldn't help but take in the sights with wide-eyed curiosity, as if stepping into a world that had always existed just beyond the screen of a game.
When the carriage stopped, Lusian stepped down first and offered his hand to Emily. Instantly, every gaze in the square turned toward them. Surrounded by knights, maids, and the escort, they looked less like a simple couple on a stroll and more like a ceremonial procession.
Emily seemed nervous; Lusian, uncomfortable.
"This draws too much attention," he muttered.
She smiled, trying to hide her own unease. "I suppose everyone wants to see the newly engaged couple."
To escape the stares, Lusian decided to enter the first shop he saw: a store selling magical artifacts.
The interior was enchanting. Glass shelves displayed artifacts glowing in every hue of mana—rings, bracelets, floating orbs, and delicately enchanted weapons. It felt like stepping into a laboratory of fantasy. Lusian's heart raced. He had played in worlds like this before, but he had never stood inside one. For the first time, he truly grasped the scale of everyday magic: lamps that lit themselves, brushes that swept dust away as they passed, mirrors that adjusted the reflection depending on the time of day.
The shopkeeper, a young woman with brown hair and kind eyes, answered his questions patiently while Lusian listened, captivated. There was a necklace that let the wearer float a few feet off the ground, a wand containing a one-time level-six fire spell, a miniature windmill that generated a genuine magical current, and even an earring that amplified the voice like a resonance spell. The shop felt timeless, as if the world outside did not exist.
When Lusian reached for money, he realized he hadn't brought any. Before he could react, one of the duchy's maids stepped forward, paid for the items, and discreetly stowed them away. Lusian sighed, surprised. This must be what it felt like to be a noble: protected… and dependent.
Outside, Emily glanced at him sideways. "You look like a child in a candy shop."
Lusian gave a faint smile. "It's the first time I've seen up close how this world uses magic. Back home… there isn't much like this."
"The Douglas mansion doesn't need decorations," Emily replied, her voice tinged with a shyness Lusian couldn't help noticing.
They continued walking until they reached a jewelry shop, its displays shimmering with enchanted gems and finely engraved magical rings. Lusian paused, studying the pieces with a mix of curiosity and confusion. He hadn't planned to enter, but the duchy maid inclined her head slightly.
"Young master, it would be appropriate to select a gift for Miss Carter," she said softly. "It is customary to present something when visiting such a shop with a lady."
Lusian blinked, bewildered. "Ah… really?"
The maid nodded gracefully. "It would be discourteous to leave empty-handed, sir."
Emily looked at him, amused, as if savoring his awkwardness. Lusian sighed quietly. So there are rules for this too… he thought, stepping inside in resignation.
The interior smelled of soft incense and polished metal. Behind the counter, an elderly jeweler greeted them with a respectful bow. Lusian pointed to the first piece he found beautiful: a pendant set with a Frost Gem.
"An excellent choice, young master," the jeweler said. "It is an affinity stone, ideal for someone of noble lineage. It will help the young lady reduce environmental mana strain." He hesitated briefly. "Forgive my impertinence… what type of magic does the young lady wield?"
"Light," Emily replied.
The jeweler frowned for only a moment, then selected another pendant of the same design and presented it to her. "This will suit you better."
Emily touched it, and the gem glowed with a soft sapphire hue, recognizing the purity of her elemental bond.
When the jeweler wrapped the piece and handed it over, Lusian offered it awkwardly. "I suppose… it's customary, right?"
Emily looked at him in surprise, then smiled warmly. "Yes. But thank you, Lusian. It's beautiful."
She held the pendant between her fingers, and for a moment, the gem's light reflected in her eyes. Lusian couldn't tell whether it was the glow of the jewel or Emily's smile, but he felt the moment freeze, as if time itself had captured the magic between them.
For the rest of the walk, they spoke little, but the tension between them gradually eased. Lusian observed Emily with growing attention. She moved with natural grace, whether speaking to merchants or maids. It struck him then: Emily was not merely a character from the game he remembered. She was real—complete with fears, dreams… and a gaze that did not belong to the tragic fate he had recalled.
For the first time, Lusian felt that his story could truly change.