Chapter 269

Lucas gave no answer.

Talia glanced up and met the bright tawny eyes staring intently at her, then flinched and took a step back.

“What are you staring at?”

When she snapped at him sharply, her voice full of wariness, a quiet chuckle escaped Lucas.

“Nothing. I just never realized you cared so much about your position as Grand Duchess.”

Talia flushed. Remembering how she had once gone so far as to recklessly run away made her cheeks burn. As if to hide it, she raised the corners of her eyes and retorted sharply.

“What does it matter to you what I care about? If we’re leaving, hurry up and have the carriage brought around!”

“Yes, yes. Understood.”

Lucas shrugged and headed toward the castle gates.

Talia followed him at a slight distance. Khan, who had been standing beside her like a shadow, naturally stayed close at her side.

Lucas looked back at the wolf and frowned.

“Surely you’re not planning to bring that wolf with us?”

“Is there any reason I can’t?”

“There are plenty of reasons.”

Lucas sounded dumbfounded.

“The market will be packed with visitors from all over the East. You don’t need to see it happen to know what kind of commotion there’ll be if a dire wolf shows up in a place like that.”

“I’ve taken Khan outside the castle several times before, and there was never any problem.”

Talia lifted her chin as she argued.

“Besides, everyone in Kalmor already knows I go around with a dire wolf. There’s no reason for anyone to make a fuss over it now.”

“But....”

“Enough. If I have to leave Khan behind, I’d rather stay at the castle.”

Talia stopped dead in her tracks.

In the end, Lucas raised the white flag.

“...Fine. You can bring him.”

He looked down at Khan uneasily, shook his head, and continued toward the castle gates.

A short while later, a spacious four-wheeled carriage large enough to accommodate Khan stopped in front of them.

Talia climbed in first, and Khan immediately squeezed through the narrow carriage entrance and settled at her feet. Lucas watched him with obvious displeasure, let out a short sigh, and sat down in the empty seat.

“Let’s go.”

He lightly tapped the carriage wall, and the wheels began to rumble forward.

Talia stared at the castle gates receding outside the window before turning to Lucas with a question.

“So? How is Varkas doing?”

“We’ve only just left. Aren’t you being a little too impatient? At least wait until we reach the market before....”

“You said that if I went out with you, you’d tell me everything about the situation in the North. Keep your promise!”

When Talia flared up and raised her voice, he immediately lifted both hands in surrender.

“All right, all right. I’ll tell you.”

Then, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand, he slowly continued.

“You’ve probably heard the news yourself, but the civil war is intensifying by the day. The Imperial Army has occupied several major cities in southern Valto, but the Northern Alliance continues to resist them stubbornly. I heard there have also been several fierce clashes along the southeastern border of Valto, where my brother is stationed.”

“Clashes?”

Talia’s expression instantly hardened. Leaning toward Lucas, she urgently bombarded him with questions.

“What about Varkas? Is he safe? Has he been hurt anywhere?”

“If something had happened to my brother, do you really think I’d be leisurely heading out to browse a market right now? He’s perfectly fine, so stop worrying for nothing.”

Lucas answered indifferently, resting his head against the rattling carriage wall as he continued.

“According to the latest reports, the lords of eastern Valto launched an all-out offensive to break through the supply routes, but my brother defeated them one by one. Apparently, his momentum was so overwhelming that the rebels now regard him as a calamity incarnate.”

Talia let out a long sigh of relief.

Lucas continued explaining in a calm voice.

“He’ll probably fight several more battles before the Season of Rest begins. It seems he intends to gradually narrow the front and drive the traitors into a corner.”

Talia bit her lip as worry once again settled heavily over her chest.

The thought of him continuing to fight without even a chance to rest made it difficult to breathe. Whenever she thought about how she herself had played a part in pushing Varkas onto the battlefield, unbearable guilt surged through her.

“...It isn’t terribly dangerous, is it?”

“What war isn’t dangerous?”

Lucas snorted, but when he saw how noticeably pale her face had become, he hurriedly added,

“Still, things have been going in our favor so far, so don’t worry. No matter how desperately the rebels struggle, they won’t be able to turn the tide.”

After finishing, he pulled aside the thin curtain hanging by the window and looked outside. At some point, the carriage had entered the city streets.

“We’re almost there. See that square? The entire avenue running south from there has been turned into the textile market.”

Talia turned her gaze in the direction he indicated. Beyond the square stretched an extraordinary sight: countless tents and stalls in every imaginable color lined the street as far as the eye could see.

“Looks like it’ll be difficult for the carriage to get through. Let’s walk from here.”

Lucas had the carriage stopped, stepped out first, and extended one hand toward her. Ignoring it, Talia was about to step over the threshold when Khan abruptly rose and leapt outside, deftly shoving Lucas aside in the process.

“You little....”

Lucas, pushed helplessly aside, scowled fiercely at Khan. Khan, however, did not even spare him a glance and merely wagged his tail at Talia.

Talia giggled softly and stroked Khan’s head.

“My sweet boy, very well done.”

“Sweet boy...? You can still call him that after looking at the size of him? He gets more vicious by the day.”

“Khan simply dislikes people getting unnecessarily close to me.”

She shot Lucas a warning glance and added,

“So you’d better not try anything foolish. My puppy gets terribly jealous.”

Leaving Lucas behind as he opened his mouth to retort, she strode toward the market.

Just as Lucas had said, the streets were so crowded with lavishly dressed visitors who appeared to be nobles or members of the upper class that there was barely room to set foot anywhere.

After carefully studying them, Talia stepped between the tents. At once, dozens of pairs of eyes turned toward her.

In an instant, the boisterous market fell silent as if by magic. Apparently, they had recognized her status at a glance.

Talia slowly made her way through the crowd as people cautiously moved aside to give her space.

At last, a large trading pavilion where a heated bidding war was underway came into view. As she approached, several merchants who recognized them hurried out and bowed deeply.

“Welcome, Your Highness.”

Talia swept past them without acknowledgment and walked toward the counter where the goods were displayed. After leisurely surveying the items laid out before her, she lightly gestured with her chin toward a man who appeared to be the broker.

“Show me that one, that one, and that over there.”

The merchant, dressed in a lavish silk coat with colorful sashes around his waist, immediately took each piece of silk from the display and presented them to her.

“Your eye is indeed exceptional. Here, take a look. This is the finest silk imported from the Southern Continent, intricately embroidered over several months by master artisans. It would be perfect for a Tunka, and equally magnificent for banquet attire.”

She reached out, gave the fabric a cursory inspection, then gestured toward Lucas.

“Buy these.”

“Shouldn’t you inspect them a little more carefully? Maybe compare them with some of the other goods first....”

“Don’t be so petty. It’s only fabric. Do you expect me to waste my time weighing and comparing every little thing?”

A crease formed between Lucas’s brows. Apparently, he had realized that she had chosen the goods halfheartedly simply because she couldn’t be bothered.

He let out a small sigh, took gold coins from his purse, and paid for the goods. Talia immediately turned around as though her duty was now completely fulfilled.

“There. Let’s go back now.”

“Come on, look around a little longer. If you see anything you like, I’ll buy it for you. What about this? I think it would suit you....”

He picked up a brightly colored women’s coat from the display.

Talia swept an indifferent gaze over it before turning her head away.

“I don’t need it.”

“At least try it on.”

“If you like it that much, why don’t you wear it yourself?”

Talia gave him a merciless snort and headed toward the entrance. Lucas hurriedly stepped in front of her.

“Don’t be so cold. Stay and look around a little longer. They say there’ll be a banquet at the assembly hall once the auction is over. This would be a good opportunity for you to become acquainted with the eastern nobles.”

Talia frowned as she looked up at him. Only then did she realize that this man’s true purpose was to draw her into the social circles of the eastern nobility.

But she couldn’t understand his intentions at all.

“Why do you want me to attend something like that?”

“Well... you’ve already been in Kalmor for several years now. I thought perhaps it was about time you started building connections as the Grand Duchess....”

“Why do you care about that?”

A fleeting look of bewilderment crossed the man’s face.