[AFYC] Chapter 63

The unusual thing wasn’t just the material of the ribbon. It was common for women to braid their hair and tie it with a ribbon. However, typically, the ribbon would be tied into a bow, but this one was knotted in a way that left the two-pointed ends hanging neatly downward.

And just like that ribbon, with her hands clasped neatly together, the woman… 

“Oh… no, it’s fine.” 

It seemed as though she had some aversion to holding hands, or perhaps she considered his hand to be as harmful as a germ. After rejecting his hand, she hesitated and asked with a slight nervousness in her voice. 

“Is it rude not to hold hands while walking?” 

He wanted to say it was, but her timid gaze was focused on the other women walking alone among the market stalls. 

“Not at all. The path is just rough, so I was being cautious.” 

The clueless foreigner smiled back. 

“Is that so? Don’t worry. I can manage well on my own.” 

“Of course.” 

Well, she certainly seemed capable. 

When she had woken him at the crack of dawn and suggested they go to the Central Market, Abel had thought it was a good idea. The market was known for being chaotic, so he assumed she’d want to leave as soon as they arrived. After that, he figured he could easily persuade her to go to a café or even a hotel with a nice view. 

But contrary to his expectations, she managed quite well on her own, just as she had said. 

She moved gracefully among the busy vendors who were too preoccupied with their business to notice who was passing by. Seo Ah walked lightly through the uneven streets, never stumbling and expertly dodging the carts that seemed to come out of nowhere, almost as if she had eyes in the back of her head. 

To exaggerate a little, she moved so quietly and smoothly that even the stealthy combat team, specialising in ambushes, might have made more noise. 

In this quiet and unassuming manner, she managed to explore the entire market. 

The smile on Abel’s face gradually faded. 

First, he disliked markets. Having spent his childhood wandering the back alleys of places like this, being in such a setting always brought unpleasant memories. 

Secondly, and more importantly, his smile faded because there was no reason to smile in the first place. Why? Because the target didn’t even notice him. She only looked ahead as she walked. 

By midday, the market had become more crowded, and the two of them were briefly stopped in front of a sausage vendor’s stall. As usual, Abel instinctively checked where her gaze was directed. She was watching the sausages grilling on the hot plate, and Abel seized the opportunity to speak. 

“There’s a restaurant I know well that’s perfect after a market visit…” 

A secret spot for lovers, followed by a hotel with a great view. 

“Hey, I told you not to stack your stuff here! How many times do I have to tell you?” 

“Tell me a hundred times if you want! This isn’t your land, so why should you care where I put my stuff?” 

But this was a noisy market, and the suave tone Abel had crafted was completely drowned out by the angry shouts of the vendors. 

“Miss, try one of these! They’re the best sausages around.” 

Before she knew it, Seo Ah found herself holding a sausage, and given the timing, it seemed she was expected to eat it. 

“They’re cheap too, only 10,000 Kertes!” 

The vendor was clearly trying to take advantage of her, thinking she was an easy target. The rising irritation Abel felt from the noisy atmosphere pushed him to step in with a polite but firm smile. 

“That’s not right, is it?” 

“Try another place. They’re all like this.” 

Abel could tolerate a few thousand Kertes worth of fancy food in a high-end restaurant with his target, but he couldn’t accept being overcharged for a sausage in the market. Abel Sting, unlike the aristocratic Simon von Bernheim, was born different. 

He frowned darkly over Seo Ah’s head. The polished, gentlemanly face he had presented before now revealed a glimpse of the rough, dangerous man who had once roamed these back alleys. 

“This is worth 10,000 Kertes?” 

“…It’s five for 10,000 Kertes.” 

He won easily. 

And that moment marked the first time the woman who had barely acknowledged Abel Sting in the bright sunlight took an interest in him. She was interested in haggling over prices. 

The foreigner, whom Abel had expected to want to leave the market immediately, proceeded to buy a notebook from a stall that sold all sorts of miscellaneous items. Although she had been trying to avoid eye contact and ignoring his presence, she now looked up at him with the notebook in hand, as if daring him to step in again.