Chapter 30
✿ “I hope you sell a lot!” Sophina, who tried hard to turn her gaze away from Ricador, said a sweet farewell to the old man. Thus, the work at the flower shop was completed. “I think we can go back now. The sun is about to set.” Ricardo came out of the shop and said, looking around, making a hand shade in the still sunlight. However, the response that returned was cold. “What? It’s just the beginning!” ㅡBrother, that’s not a good thing. At this time, Sophina and Canus were of one heart. Sophina grabbed Ricardo’s sleeve cheerfully like a child and pulled him. “Let’s watch the moon rise. Hmm?” “Well, if you want.” To Sophina’s desperate request, Ricardo briefly responded. And then he lit something that was a bit lukewarm. Sophina tighten her grip on his sleeve to pull him and went around. The atmosphere in the market, which soon became evening, was new. The street was filled with silence and subtle streetlights, the wind gently caressing the skin, and the streets where children disappear are full of lovers. ‘This… It’s a little odd.’ Sophina squinted at the couples and she suddenly turned her head. In fact, I had a reason for moving around so hard, even though I was done with my chores. ‘The clock workshop was around here.’ Sophina glanced around like a bird that found a tree fruit in the middle of the forest. What I was looking for was a workshop with a handmade watchmaker who only receives custom-made watches order. ‘It used to be a place run by an information dealer.’ Sophina had already told Jane to find out where the clock workshop in the territory was. Jane reported that there are only two stores that handle watches. ‘Thanks to seeing it passing by in the carriage, this was the only place left.’ There was only one way to know if there was an information dealer. A logo with snow crystals engraved on it. Because it was on the shop sign. ‘There’s a lot of eyes watching, so I don’t plan on contacting them yet, but I just need to check.’ As soon as I find it, I’m going to return to the mansion and make a simple request by pretending to have left my watch. Sophina doesn’t have the financial resources to sponsor like the main villain, so she wants to open up a deal in advance. Won’t there be a problem if I just have to entrust? ‘Roneache Flower’ Sophina seemed to know her way by getting hints from Canus, but it wasn’t accurate. Wouldn’t it be more certain to just ask the informant? The moment I decided, the Canus spoke to me. ㅡLet’s go there too! Sister, what are you doing? Let’s hurry up and leave fast. Ricardo took Supena’s hand and dragged it onto his wrist. “There are a lot of people, so hold on tight.” “What? Ye-yes.” At that I had no choice but to grab his arm. The warm body temperature touched. Perhaps because of the warmth or the crowd’s push, Sophina was helplessly dragged. Where they headed was the center of the market. A fountain with a pure white crescent moon statue and a bench lined with beautiful green vines. And the stalls spread out around it. The little snake danced with joy and pointed to something with its tail. The direction of the tail was a small stall where games could be played. That kind of game with throwing darts and hitting the balloons. ㅡBrother, that one! That looks fun! When did Ricardo and Canus get too close when he was scared of his pointed sword? ‘This little snake was a little friendly.’ Ricardo walked to the stall. Then, he glanced sideways at Sophina and bit his lips. “Let’s wait a little bit because we have to line up first.” “Yes!” Sophina rolled her eyes to look elsewhere with a smile on her face. It was an agile wink like a bird flying in the air looking for food. ‘The clock workshop was in the center of the square.’
‘Since she said so… It must be near me?’ However, because there were so many beasts who came out to play, I couldn’t even look at it properly. Sophina inflated her cheeks and searched for anywhere to step. ‘Bench?’ I thought it would help just the right height to go up and look around. Sophia, who had hesitated, soon walked out. Soon after, with a taller view she looked around hesitantly. “It’s okay because there are so many people, right?” Ricardo smiled as he raised his head and spoke to her. “I’ll have to look up for a while.” In the midst of the busy people walking down the street, their gazes became entangled. Slowly as if time had stopped. Sophina blinked blankly. Ricardo’s blue eyes contained Sophina. Sophina couldn’t help but look away. A few minutes passed in that state. Meanwhile, the crowds in the square only increased. To the extent that the bench she was standing on was pushed by people’s movement and made a creaking sound. Sophina didn’t want to fall, so she put her hand on Ricardo’s shoulder without realizing it. The red petals of the bouquet he was holding fell down. “Huh…?” Sophina, who suddenly felt his touch, opened her mouth agape foolishly. Even though Ricardo, the party involved, did not move at all. “Stay still. Because it’s shaking.” He nagged at her with a dry voice, who stiffened for a moment. It was because there were so many people that all Ricardo’s nerves were focused on Sophina. “…I was staying still.” Sophina protested a little. Ricardo lowered his eyelashes and pretended not to hear her. Sophina clasped him in an awkward position, hugging him without a choice. ‘I’ll have to find where the workshop was.’ By the time I was looking around, I could see what I had been searching for. ‘I found it…!‘ Solize watch workshop. On the signboard decorated with antique cursive, hexagonal snowflakes were drawn. Sophina’s brown eyes lit up. Ricardo’s pupils, who noticed it narrowed like a cat beast at first glance. ‘…A watch workshop?’ Are you interested in watches? Ricardo’s thoughts did not last long. Canus, who was quietly rolling around in the bag, spoke to him. ㅡPeople have fallen in front. Let’s go and do it now! In the little snake’s guide, the two of them went through the street. Before they knew it, they arrived at the stall. ㅡBrother, make sure you get it right and get the prize! Canus cheered for Ricardo. Ricardo raised an eyebrow in disbelief as Canus’s voice had made his head ring. Soon after, the dart in his hand flew through the air. It hit the mark. ㅡWoah, you’re good!! From the side, I could hear Canus’ admiration. Sophina sipped at the lemonade distributed by the street vendor and asked the little snake. “Canus, was it fun just watching it?” ㅡDon’t you know vicarious satisfaction? Vicarious satisfaction!! Canus scolded her with his signature cynical tone. Sophina, who had been giggling in secret, unintentionally turned her head to the side. For some reason, Ricardo seemed more engrossed in the game than Canus, who had asked him to play first. ‘You only looked proud, but you know how to make an expression like this.’ She scrutinized his face again. Instead of the face of a ‘male lead expression-like’, who’s usually quiet, a boy suitable for his age could be seen. Like when he teases me sometimes. ‘He’s a kid who could make that kind of expression, but was it just me being overly suspicious?’ The vigilance, which had risen like the first meeting, slowly faded. “I should try it, too!” Sophina shouted and held a yellow dart in her hand. Unfortunately, there were only one or two balloons that burst, so it was a bummer. ㅡEven if I throw it with my tail, I’ll do better than that. When Canus saw this, he laughed, and then made a sarcastic comment. As a result, Sophina clenched her teeth and told him fiercely. “Be quiet!” ㅡYes… Since then, they have enjoyed playing in the small festival. That’s how time has passed. “It’s a gift.” Ricardo gave Sophina a large lion doll that he got as a prize. What he got as a bonus was thrown to Canus. ㅡWow, I can’t swallow an elephant yet… Canus opened his mouth wide and bit the palm-sized elephant doll. Then I looked at the estimate to see how big it was. ‘He’s trying to chew on that.’ Sophina tirelessly shook her head and sighed letting out a leak of laughter. “I’m thirsty from moving so much, let’s eat ice cream!” Hearing those words, the little snake frowned and waved his tail. ㅡMe too! Me, me, me too! “Canus, you’ll get sick if you eat.” Sophina scolded him in a voice with slight concern. It’s not good for his body to eat human food in the form of an animal. Of course, it made sense. Canus, who had no choice but to give up, grumbled coldly. ㅡSheesh, eat a lot as a couple. Sophina and Ricardo held cone ice cream in their hands, which rose without knowing that the sky was high. Canus, who had been envious, fell asleep while exhaling a fresh, fine breath. Sophina carefully leaned against the fountain. Then she licked the top of the ice cream. The vanilla ice cream melted on the tip of my tongue. A cold, sweet scent spread throughout my mouth. ‘It’s just pleasantly cold.’ Leaning gently on the side of the street with the sound of a street performance playing from somewhere. Boom, boom! Just then, fireworks started. A variety of hot flowers embroidered the dark night sky colorfully. The moon was also rising. A very white and large moon that emits mysterious aura at a glance. Sophina mumbled loudly, calmly engraving the beautiful scenery in her eyes. “The wind is nice and the atmosphere feels good.” I don’t think people here are bad either. That small sincerity lingered in my lips that I couldn’t utter. ‘Was it because today was a lot more fun than I thought?’ My heart was overwhelmed without knowing why. Sophina glanced sideways at Ricardo. I thought it would be okay to try it now. ‘Maybe it won’t happen again, right?’ A simple heart cut through her small lips and flowed out. “Don’t you think we’re much more comfortable with each other than before?” Ricardo stared at her with his calm blue eyes like the eve of the storm. “What does it mean?” “Let’s be friends.” The dice was thrown…