Leaving Princess Sa Mi's palace, Ly Giai, Si, and I merged into the capital's busy streets as we moved ourselves to the new rented room the princess had found for us.

"Since Ly Giai asked to not work, and you don't have school today either. Why don't we have fun today and walk around the market before heading to our new place?" I suggested. A part of me was afraid of being recognized as Grass. But when I told Princess Sa Mi about who I was, she reassured me that the people in the capital wouldn't know me. I was puzzled why that was the case, and why the princess didn't have a strong reaction when knowing the real me. I have to ask her about that later.

Si responded immediately, jumping up in excitement. "Yes Yes! Let's go to the market."

"How about you, Ly Giai?" I turned to her.

"I have no reason to say no," she smiled.

The three of us changed our path to the marketplace, which it was even more busy than the common streets we were walking.

The market was full of life, with merchants putting shops on both sides of the street, only leaving a somewhat walkable space in the middle for buyers to move around. There were all kinds of goods there, from weapons to clothing, jewelry, food, musical instruments, and many more. There were casinos where people cheered when winning big and others agonized over losing all their livelihood. Somewhere in the market, there was even a public theater for storytellers to collect donations and charm the audience with stories using their voice and body expressions in return.

Needless to say, Si couldn't suppress his excitement. He rushed from shop to shop to see goods that he had never seen before. There was even a shop that sold wild animal skins and goods made out of them like coats and sandals. We three almost had a heart attack when we turned our heads to get jump scared by a bear head with its mouth wide open, only to realize it was only the skin that was there. We were confused as to who in their right mind would want to buy something so terrifying. For me, I wouldn't be able to sleep comfortably having something like that in my house.

But even with all the wildest shops and goods we encountered, there was one that stood above the rest. At the center of the market's heart was a giant building five stories tall. The highest of any shops there. The others at best were two, maximum three, stories. By being so tall, one could see this building even before stepping into the market.

The buildings were entirely made with aged woods that were dark brown and solid. Just feeling at its columns was enough to feel how stern it was. The building's width would be comparable to three other shops combined, making the place feel very open for customers even though it was in the middle of the busy market. As for the customers, there were so many people moving in and out of the building that with blurred vision, you could mistake it for a water current.

And what does this shop do that they could afford a building that big? What were they selling that endless customers were coming in and out?

There was a giant sign on top of the building, made from rare wood and framed in gold, with beautiful calligraphy on it.

[My An Restaurant]

The three of us stood in awe in the middle of the busy streets, with our mouths opened wide, Ly Giai was no exception, letting people move around us giving weird looks. It was just too much for our modest brains. There was no building even close to similar compared to this restaurant in South City, and certainly none in Si's small village. It was a mind-expanding experience appreciating the majestic of the building.

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"I… I don't think we can afford a meal there," my throat stiffened trying to speak.

"Y… Yeah," Ly Giai responded, she was also overwhelmed by the building.

"Wow…" Si uttered. "It's so beautiful," his eyes were captured.

I looked up to the sun and realized that it was almost turning noon. "Let's check out the rest of the shops and go to the new room before it gets dark."

We quickly moved away from My An restaurant and quickly checked the rest of the shops, but the excitement wasn't as high anymore. That restaurant completely held our minds hostage.

When the day began to turn grey, we quickly left the market and went to our new room. Si and I were excited, anticipating what our new place would look like. Ly Giai stood by us, and smiled like a mother with two sons.

Surprisingly, our new room would be just about ten walking minutes away from the market, and thirty minutes away from Princess Sa Mi's palace. It is a convenient place to live.

Another thing was, I thought we would just rent a room and live close to other renters. I was wrong, the princess had found us no a room, but a house to rent. The house wasn't anything fancy. It was quite a modest one-story house made of materials that were no different from others in the neighborhood.

"How much is the rent here, Ly Giai?" I asked cautiously, afraid that it was too much for us to afford.

"10 silver coins a month, only half of my salary," she smiled to reassure me.

"That… is still a lot," I said. "Too much, half of your salary…"

"It's okay Do," she said. "When you find work, the rent wouldn't take half of our combined salary," she explained.

"Yeah," I tried to smile and ease my mind. Now, the pressure for me to find work and not be dependent on Ly Giai was even greater.

On the side, Si chuckled once again, half-jokingly probing. "Useless"

This time, I didn't retaliate.

"Let's check the inside. This is my first time here. I wonder what the house looks like," Ly Giai turned our attention away.

She unlocked the door and opened the door. The smell of wild flowers instantly welcomed us. The landlord had prepared a delicate vase of fresh flowers on the dining table. They were beautifully picked and carefully arranged.

"I have a friendly affection for this house already." I let out while sniffing the fragrant, completely forgot about our financial situation.

Ly Giai walked over and picked up the vase, bringing it over so Si and I could further enjoy the rich aroma. "I think it is because the princess referred us. This vase and flowers are expensive to be given to every renter," she explained.

"Do you know who our landlord is? I think it's better if we greet them on our first day, so they have a good image of us and won't cause us trouble in the future," I said.

Ly Giai shook her head. "The princess didn't tell me whose house this is. She said that he is a very big businessman. If we never need anything, it will be dealt with by his employees anyways. There is no need for us to know who he is." Then she remembered something and added. "But the princess did say that when we live long enough in the capital, we will be able to guess who this businessman is eventually."

"That means he is popular, I guess," I deduced. "Oh well. We should be insignificant to him. So long as we keep paying rent, we won't get in trouble."

"I agree," Ly Giai smiled. We were somewhat at ease. The last thing both of us wanted was to encounter a demon landlord.

"Where is Si?" Ly Giai exclaimed.

Just then we realized Si was not around us anymore. No wonder why it had been just Ly Giai and I talking the entire time we entered the house. That kid would be yelling and running around if he was with us.

"Si? Si!" Ly Giai and I frantically searched around the house.

We only found him after opening the second bedroom. Si was already taking a nice nap, smiling on the comfortable bed.

We smiled at each other and quietly left not to disturb his good time. Mimicking him, we entered the other bedroom and had a nap lying next to each other. Ly Giai and I have become so comfortable with one another that we weren't hesitant to rest our backs on the firm bed. She and I naturally and quietly put our coats away and removed our shoes. We lay on the bed and let the cozy blanket put us to sleep.

As I was lying there next to Ly Giai, I still couldn't believe that one day, I could have a family and a house to ourselves. Granted that we were renting this house and our relationships are not exactly of a family. But to me, that was enough. It was all already beyond my wildest wish.

I smiled satisfyingly and let my mind be carried away.