Now, Go Ahead And Stamp It

The crown prince grabbed the skewer the old man pushed in front of him, took a big bite, and said with a mumble.

“I hope the culprit is caught quickly.”

“It would be good if that happened, but from what I heard, they say that the royal family members are keeping an eye on us.”

“Isn’t it a big deal if it’s really like that? Even after hearing such stories, why are you still here?”

“I can’t help but think of my grandchildren, so you better finish it fast and go home quickly.”

“… I will. I’m eating well thanks to you, old man.”

He finished the rest of the skewers on the spot and turned back to Ellen, who was waiting for him.

“You have a lot of talent. I was surprised by how natural it was.”

“You’ve got quite the classy way making the sound of someone who has escaped as easily as eating a meal.”

“So I’ve been taught.”

Ellen chuckled, and the crown prince shrugged.

He nodded slightly toward the road ahead.

“Let’s take a walk, for now. Let’s move on.”

She followed his lead, and soon found themselves at the fountain in the central square.

There, small children were splashing and giggling.

“I’d like to sit here for a while, how about you?”

“Sure. I like the breeze.”

With Ellen’s nod of approval, Caden led her to a nearby bench.

The street was bustling with activity.

The sounds of people talking to each other could be heard in the background.

With the sound of people talking in the background, they chatted.

It’s good to see she’s in good health after making such a big commitment, and it’s nice to see His Highness is still alive and unharmed after being so penniless, but why is he bringing that up all of a sudden…

Their conversation soon died down, and the crown prince looked straight ahead.

Beyond his gaze was the bustle of the day’s end.

Perhaps his ears hold their stories.

There was something about his sidelong glance at his people that tugged at her heartstrings.

There was something about the way he looked at her, the way he surveyed his people, that tugged at her heartstrings.

But such regrets are of little consequence to her.

She’s the one who let him die by a traitor’s blade, and she’s the one who held it to his throat.

With these thoughts, the sun slid lower and lower, and the hands of the clock pointed to the hour Ellen was waiting for.

Ellen asked.

“The story about the capital safety and security. You must be anxious.”

“Well, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t, but I’m glad to know about it now.”

It’s a standard response.

Ellen smiled softly and said.

“From now on, why don’t we visit some of the places I know, and I can assure that they will ease Your Highness’s worries.”

“Are you in a theater company?”

The man’s face was innocent.

Maybe this man liked theater.

Ellen filed that thought away in the back of her mind.

“Well, I’m not in a theater company… but I guess you could call it something like that.”

“Very well, now is the time for me to hang out with you. Let’s go.”

“I’ll take you, then.”

The corners of her mouth drew a fine arc as she smiled.

He didn’t see a hint of doubt.

It’s not there was no regret.

But the time she knew was too much for her to ponder and hesitate, and there were also many things that could not be given up.

It was Ellen’s turn to lead him this time.

* * *

The carriage sped off into the evening sun.

After a few blocks, they came to an alleyway, and Ellen ordered the coachman to stop.

“I, my lady. Do you mean here?”

The coachman asked, puzzled.

Instead of answering, Ellen pulled something from her bosom and quickly handed it to him.

“It’s collateral, so keep it. If you’ll wait here, I’ll give you the other pair as well.”

It was a pair of small sapphire earrings.

When the coachman realized the identity of the object tossed to him, his face changed dramatically.

“Oh, yes, of course, please take care.”

At the coachman’s bow, they walked into the alley.

The streets at night is obviously the same city as during the day, but with a subtly different feel.

People weren’t smiling, but they weren’t as friendly as before, there were unexpected harsh words being said around them, and it seemed like they needed to find out who was in charge of beautifying the environment and hold them accountable.

The crown prince, who had been looking around at the unfamiliar environment, spoke in a trembling voice.

“… This place has a different atmosphere.”

“It has, but I’m sure you’ll get used to it after a while.”

Ellen only smiled thinly.

It must be a little confusing for him.

He might be kicking himself for thinking that this was a theater, but where the hell is that place?

The building of their destination came into view.

They stopped in front of a shabby place.

Knock knock. Knock. Knock knock.

Ellen knocked on the door, and a bushy-haired man stepped out.

“Who is it?”

“I heard you had a plate.”

Ellen deftly flicked a gold coin.

The man who caught it quickly shoved it into his pocket and made way for them.

Caden, following behind her, asked in a quiet voice.

“Where is…?”

“Like I said, a place of entertainment to take your mind off your troubles.”

Ellen said, taking his hand, not letting him back down.

“Shall we go in, then?”

Caden hesitated for a moment, as if there was something he wanted to say.

But then the door opened.

Regardless of his resolve, he was drawn to the sight beyond the door.

After looking around a couple of times, Caden mumbled, a little stunned.

“… A pub?”

The interior was nicely decorated and quite spacious.

Bustling with people and flowing beer.

He stood there for a moment, visibly relieved that his perception of the situation was complete.

“I see you know of a place like this, come to think of it, I’ve heard of it before. Lord Cheshire…”

“Shh.”

But the words he spat were cut off by a snap, a slender finger raised to his lips.

“Just keep following me.”

“…?”

Questions flashed in Caden’s eyes as his mouth was sealed shut.

But Ellen walked on without further explanation.

Past the first table, past the bar in the center, until all that was left was a wall of menu boards.

Then Caden, who had followed her lead, called out to her with a puzzled look on his face.

“What on earth are we doing here–”

“Now, then.”

“…?”

Ellen reached toward the wall.

And as she pushed against it, something happened that surprised him.

Swish.

“…!”

The menu board had been pushed aside.

“Do you want to go in?”

“What the…?”

Caden muttered in bewilderment.

What stood before them was an entirely new space, nothing like the pub they’d passed.

There were spinning disks and rolling marbles, dealers running games, and people shouting at them.

“Okay… That looks easy.”

With all that in front of her, Ellen hesitantly headed into the wall.

Leaving a dazed Caden behind her, Ellen strode in, each step leaving a particularly loud shuffle.

This was a place where all sorts of illegal things were done away from the eyes of the state.

It was an illegal gambling house run by Killian Krembel.

She could feel his gaze on her back.

Ellen glanced back.

He was still there, staring at her from a distance.

But she wouldn’t have to wait long before it turned to anger.

Ellen casually blended into the crowd.

Soon enough, she follows the dealer’s lead and places her bet.

One hand. She lost.

Two hands. This time she won.

She rolled a couple more hands like that.

“Oh, no! This can’t be happening!”

The man next to her cried out.

He was slumped in his seat, staring at the board in despair.

Words like ‘debt,’ ‘fraud,’ and ‘nonsense’ seemed to leak out of his mouth.

The man sobbed, then turned his head toward the dealer as he prepared a new game.

It was at this moment.

The man’s eyes widened and his ears perked up.

The man leapt to his feet and lunged at the dealer.

“You son of a bitch, you cheated, I saw it all!”

But soon the mercenaries they had hired for security arrived, and the man who’d lost his money was beaten roughly by them.

The people around glanced at him, but paid no attention.

Someone yelled at him for breaking their concentration, some clicked their tongues, and some protested to get him out of there.

Ellen watched the chaos unfold.

‘Where’s… the crown prince?’

She turned to see the crown prince standing behind her.

To her relief, his face was harder than she’d expected as he watched the man being beaten.

‘Well, at least it worked. That’s all right then.’

Feeling the stare, his head snapped back to Ellen.

Their eyes met.

In that moment, Ellen smiled.

The crown prince’s face contorted into a grimace as he saw her smile.

He began to walk briskly toward her.

Unable to hide his emotional agitation, he grabbed Ellen by the shoulders as soon as she was within his range.

“You.. How… This…!”