"Huh... one more thing. A beautiful crown for a beautiful lady," Ivan said suddenly, placing the flower crown on Taylah's head. The gesture left her stunned, completely caught off guard.
For a moment, she froze, unsure of what to do. Fear and hesitation flickered in her eyes, and she instinctively reached up, ready to take the crown off.
"Do not... please, do not take it off," Ivan pleaded, his voice almost desperate.
"You..." Taylah stammered, her voice trembling as she struggled to find words. Her hands began to shake.
"One little girl sold this crown to me. Since I don't have a girlfriend, I wanted to give it to someone... and it happened to be you. Please, don't think I'm a bad person... I'm not," Ivan explained, his voice hurried and unsure. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, as if he were nervous or scared.
Taylah's hands slowly reached up to touch the crown, her fingers brushing against the delicate flowers. Somehow, the weight on her heart seemed to lift, leaving her feeling light and free, even if just for a moment.
But for Ivan, a different weight had settled on him. His gaze dropped to her hand, and something inside him faltered when he noticed the wedding ring on her finger.
"Are... are you married?" he asked, his voice cracking slightly as he spoke.
Taylah followed his gaze, her eyes falling on the ring. She smiled softly, though the smile carried a tinge of sadness.
"Yeah... I am married," she replied gently.
"I'm sorry if I acted inappropriately," Ivan apologized sincerely. Taylah waved her hands dismissively, signaling he didn't need to apologize.
"Taylah... Taylah..." Mrs. Russell's voice called out in the distance, searching for her.
"I guess I have to go," Taylah said with an awkward chuckle. Ivan nodded in understanding. Taylah gave him a polite nod and turned to leave.
"Taylah," he called out, his voice carrying an unexpected warmth, as though he'd known her for years. The way he said her name made her stop in her tracks, stunned.
As she turned back, the sound of a camera clicking startled her. She blinked in disbelief as she saw Ivan lowering his phone, a playful smile on his face.
"I'll keep this photo. Let's meet again, Miss Beautiful Princess," he said confidently. Taylah didn't respond; instead, she turned and ran, her heart pounding in confusion and unease.
When she finally reached Mrs. Russell, her grandmother greeted her with a beaming smile, delighted to see her granddaughter so full of life. She noticed the flower crown on Taylah's head and assumed it was something Taylah had bought herself, completely unaware of who had given it to her.
"Did I disturb you, little pearl?" Mrs. Russell asked gently, tucking Taylah's hair behind her ear and giving her a soft pat. Taylah shook her head, a light smile playing on her lips.
"Alright then," Mrs. Russell continued. "If you want to buy something, go ahead. This place is known for its authentic and unique items. Once we're done shopping, I'll take you to a nearby park—you'll love it." Taylah nodded silently, trailing after her grandmother like a lost puppy.
She suddenly came to a halt when her eyes landed on a shop displaying lockets. The intricate designs left her speechless. These lockets were crafted from various metals, not just gold, but a blend of gold and other materials. Taylah couldn't help but marvel at how the craftsmen managed to incorporate gold into such stunning pieces of jewelry.
"Would you like to take a closer look?" Mrs. Russell asked, noticing her granddaughter's wide-eyed fascination. Taylah nodded eagerly and made her way toward the jewelry shop, her excitement evident.
"Good morning, Miss. Did any particular piece catch your eye?" A young woman hurried over as soon as Taylah stepped into the shop. After all, not everyone was willing to admire, let alone purchase, jewelry that cost more than they could account for.
"How do you even manage to get gold and other metals to make jewelry?" Taylah asked bluntly, her tone direct and almost rude.
The shopkeeper forced a polite smile, clearly trying to keep her composure.
"Little pearl," Mrs. Russell said gently, pulling Taylah's hand and snapping her out of her trance. Taylah looked from her grandmother to the shopkeeper, whose face now carried a hint of irritation.
"Apologies if I offended you," Taylah said, her voice softening. "But I'm genuinely curious. It must take a lot of money and effort to gather metals that are compatible with our skin and bodies. Not to mention the soaring price of gold these days. And finding a skilled jeweler now feels as rare as finding God," she added with a light chuckle at her own comparison.
The shopkeeper's expression softened as she listened to Taylah's explanation, her irritation giving way to understanding.
"Well, as you can see, these aren't perfectly crafted and have their flaws," the shopkeeper began, her tone candid. "But the village I come from lacks nothing. We're able to extract raw gold and other metals directly from nature. I can't share all the details—there are restrictions on what I'm allowed to say—but our main source of gold is unique to our village. We also make jewelry from leftover materials and sell them in the local market. Though the designs may appear mediocre, I can promise they'll exceed your expectations in durability and quality."
She continued, "Not many people realize these pieces are made with gold. Most just assume they're too expensive. How did you figure it out?"
Taylah chuckled nervously. How could she admit she learned about this from her mother? Perhaps she had always known about these jewels. When Taylah was a child, her mother often spoke about jewelry and everything related to it. At the time, Taylah had dismissed it as endless chatter, but now she understood why her mother had always encouraged her to learn about jewelry.
"Well, she's just really interested in jewelry," Mrs. Russell interjected, cutting in before Taylah could respond. Taylah glanced at her grandmother, who subtly signaled her not to reveal too much about themselves.
"Having an interest in jewelry is always a good thing," the shopkeeper said with a polite smile. "Feel free to look around and purchase anything that catches your eye." With that, she stepped aside, giving Taylah space to explore.
Taylah began to examine the pieces on display. As she had suspected, they were all crafted from a mix of gold and alloys with other metals, making them more affordable than pure gold.
Her eyes soon landed on two lockets that immediately stood out. They resembled old-fashioned pocket watches—one with a distinctly feminine design and the other rugged and masculine. Despite the rough texture of the surfaces, they had a unique charm that drew her in.
"I'm taking these," Taylah said, holding up the lockets and waving them at the shopkeeper.
"But ma'am, they aren't as pure as some of the others. Perhaps you'd like to choose something else?" the shopkeeper said nervously, chuckling a little.
"It's fine. I like these, so I'm taking them," Taylah replied confidently. Turning to her grandmother, she asked, "Aren't they beautiful, Grandma?"
Mrs. Russell smiled warmly and hummed in approval. Seeing this, Taylah beamed with excitement, almost leaping like a child who had just gotten new toys. Mrs. Russell watched her granddaughter with pure adoration in her eyes.
After purchasing the lockets and a few other items, they wandered around the market, finding more treasures—many at surprisingly low prices that Taylah hadn't expected.
---
Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Arjan trudged into the mansion, his hair disheveled and his expression expectant. He had hoped to see Taylah waiting to greet him. To his disappointment, she wasn't there. Instead, only the butler stood at attention, awaiting his master's orders.
With a huff, Arjan tossed his bag toward the butler and flopped onto the couch.
The butler caught the bag, stumbling slightly before straightening up, his composure intact.