While Mr. F and Gustav were deep in conversation, Betty and Albert had already ventured into the heart of the city with Gustav's grandchildren, Lena and Tobias, as their guides. They found themselves in the inner district of the capital, where the wealthiest families resided. Unlike the outer parts of the city, there were no bustling open-air markets or street vendors. Instead, upscale restaurants and luxurious shops were tucked within grand buildings, giving the area a polished, refined atmosphere.

Albert couldn't help but feel a sense of awe as they passed by a variety of shops. There were smithies, herb boutiques, elixir parlors, and high-end tailor shops. His excitement grew with each step, not knowing where to go first. But soon, a particularly sweet scent caught his attention, and without thinking, he darted off in the direction of the smell.

"Albert, wait!" Betty called after him, but it was too late—he was already halfway down the street. Lena, noticing the situation, sighed lightly and turned to her brother. "Tobias, go after him before he gets lost."

With a nod, Tobias dutifully followed Albert, leaving Betty and Lena standing alone. Betty exhaled, relieved that Lena had acted so quickly. "Thank you," she said, giving Lena an appreciative smile.

"No problem," Lena replied with a casual wave. But then her gaze shifted, becoming more curious. "You seem to know your way around here, Betty. While we were walking, I noticed how you kept glancing in the right direction, almost as if you knew where we were headed. Have you been here before?"

Betty hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yes... a long time ago."

"Oh, so you're from the capital? Or were you just visiting back then?" Lena asked, her curiosity growing.

"I lived here once," Betty admitted softly. "But I left when I was twelve."

"Wow," Lena gasped, clearly surprised. "I can't even imagine leaving this place, especially to live in a small town like Phalanx. Did you know I visited Phalanx during the auction last month? It's so tiny—I explored the whole town in just one day! Honestly, I think I'd get bored living there after a while. Didn't you miss the capital?"

Betty smiled faintly, trying to brush off the topic. "Maybe... I'm not sure."

Betty suddenly turned away. Lena noticed the slight blush rising in Betty's cheeks as she turned away, clearly embarrassed. Lena raised an eyebrow, curious about the sudden reaction, until she followed Betty's gaze—and then she saw Albert.

Albert, oblivious to the conversation, was walking back toward them, gripping an enormous roasted chicken leg. He tore into it like a ravenous beast, tearing the meat from the bone with his teeth. The sight was too much for Betty, who couldn't bear to watch such a display. Her cheeks flushed even deeper, and she quickly averted her eyes.

Lena smirked, sensing an opportunity to tease. "Oh my, Betty, are you blushing? Could it be because you find it a bit... exciting to see your 'special someone' devouring food like a wild animal?"

"What?!" Betty stammered, her voice rising an octave. "He's not my special someone!"

Lena's smirk grew wider as she leaned in closer. "Then why are you stuttering, hmm?"

Betty's face turned a deeper shade of red as she vehemently shook her head, trying to deny it. But Lena wasn't about to let her off the hook so easily. She enjoyed watching Betty squirm, finding her innocence both endearing and amusing.

By the time Albert reached them, he was covered in grease, his face shining with the remnants of his feast. He noticed Betty avoiding his gaze and immediately guessed why.

With a broad grin, he tore off a drumstick and held it out toward her. "You must be hungry too, right? Come on, no need to look away. Here, have some."

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Betty glanced at his outstretched arm, slick with chicken grease, and couldn't hold back any longer. With a soft gasp, she turned and fled, disappearing into the distance with Lena quickly following behind her.

Albert stood there, utterly perplexed. "What's her problem?" he muttered to himself. He turned to Tobias, hoping for an explanation, but Tobias merely stared back at him, expressionless and silent.

Tobias offered no answer, just a blank stare that seemed to say, You wouldn't understand, even if I told you.

Shrugging, Albert resumed eating his chicken, still confused but too hungry to dwell on it.

Betty and Lena dashed around the corner, breathless but determined to put some distance between themselves and Albert's embarrassing display.

Lena, panting slightly, asked, "Why are we running?"

Betty, flustered and red-faced, muttered, "Too embarrassing... too embarrassing... what if someone sees us with him like that? They'll think we're country bumpkins and laugh at us!" Secretly, Betty was more concerned about someone recognizing her, though she knew it was unlikely.

Lena understood. Looking back, Betty had a point. Albert's behavior was embarrassing, but not enough to warrant running away. Lena was about to tease her when a voice suddenly cut through the air behind them.

"Betty… Betty, is that you?"

Betty froze instantly. Her gaze dropped to the ground as dread filled her. How unlucky can I get? she thought, as she recognized the voice before even seeing the speaker.

A young man stood before her, handsome with golden blond hair, sharp features, and a well-built physique.

Lena, taken aback by his good looks, leaned in to whisper to Betty, "Who is that? A rival in love?"

But Betty couldn't respond. She was paralyzed.

Simon approached with the grace and confidence of someone who was used to getting his way, his personal guards trailing him. He stopped in front of Betty, taking her hands in his. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming back?" he asked, a soft smile playing on his lips. "If I had known, I would've greeted you at the city gates myself."

Betty's entire body trembled at his touch, and Lena noticed immediately. Not wanting to escalate the situation, Lena quickly stepped between them, creating some distance. "And who might you be?" she asked coolly, sizing Simon up. "By the way, I'm Lena, and it seems you already know Betty."

Simon flashed a charming smile. "I'm Simon Douglas, heir to the Douglas family and son of Samuel Douglas," he said, pausing for effect. "And most importantly, I'm Betty's fiancé and greatest admirer in this city," he added with a casual sweep of his hand through his hair.

Lena leaned toward Betty and whispered with a grin, "You didn't tell me your fiancé was this handsome! Looks like Albert's got some serious competition."

But Betty wasn't in the mood for jokes. Her heart raced with panic, and her thoughts scrambled as she tried to think of a way out of the situation. What should I do? she thought frantically.

At that very moment, Albert and Tobias came running around the corner.

Albert, still holding his half-eaten chicken leg in one hand, waved it enthusiastically in the air. "Bettttttyyyyy! Leennnnaaa! There you are! We thought you'd ditched us!" he shouted with a big grin.

As he passed Simon, the chicken leg accidentally brushed against Simon's pristine jacket, leaving a greasy stain in its wake.

Betty's face went as white as a ghost. Oh no… she thought, her mind racing with dread.

Albert, completely unaware of the faux pas, stopped and smiled. "Oops, sorry about that," he said, reaching out with his free hand to wipe the stain away, but one of Simon's guards grabbed his arm and twisted it back sharply.

"How dare you touch Lord Simon with your filthy hands!" the guard growled, squeezing harder.

"Ahhh! Ow, that hurts!" Albert yelped, wincing in pain.

"It's fine," Simon said with a wave of his hand, his voice calm and measured. The guard released Albert, though not without a warning glare.

Simon turned back to Betty. "So these are your friends, I assume. I'll let you enjoy your day with them. But you'll be hearing from me very soon." His smile lingered as he bowed slightly and walked away, his guards following closely behind.

Betty collapsed onto the ground as soon as he was out of sight, gasping for breath.

Lena rushed to her side. "Betty! What's wrong? What's going on?"

But Betty was too overwhelmed with fear to respond. She had hoped to delay the inevitable, but now it was too late. Simon had found her, and it was only a matter of time before he made his move.

…

Meanwhile, half a kilometer away, Simon removed his jacket with disgust and burned it with a flicker of magic. His charming smile had long since disappeared, replaced by a sneer of disdain that he made no effort to hide from his guards.

"Find out who those two were with that bitch," Simon snapped, his voice cold and sharp. "The reports didn't mention anyone else. And as for that Albert…" His sneer deepened, malice seeping into every word. "He'll pay dearly for daring to touch me with those filthy fingers."