Lucian did not mind the change in the topic and he followed the lady beside him to the next stall, watching her eyes gleam in happiness. The gloomy mood around her disappeared and she was now grinning with joy. It was as though the girl who had just spoken words of wisdom over experience was nowhere in sight. In her place was a maiden enjoying life and youth as everyone else did.

Irene sensed the intense gaze on her from beside her. But she ignored it completely and looked at the colorful and beautiful shawls and stoles. Her eyes were immediately drawn to a light pink stole with blue and white flowers embroidery, and she picked it up immediately. The material was soft to touch and Irene did not know why but her heart wanted it.

She caressed the stole and smiled in delight. Lucian had already spoken up before she could even ask the stall owner the price of the stole. "We will take this one."

His words stunned Irene, and even Reyna lifted her head in surprise. Though buying stoles was not surprising, it was astonishing to see their guest buying them for her mistress. She could not help but marvel at how he treated her mistress and her lips curved up in a smile.

"No, no..." Irene tried to protest, but Lucian intervened immediately.

"This stole would look good on Lady Sylvaine. Do you like any other scarf, Lady?" His merry voice fell on her ears and Irene went into a trance. This was the first time someone willingly gave her a present and she did not know how to deal with her feelings.

Though in her previous life too, people had gifted her, they always went into the trash can before she even knew about it. Her assistant had followed her orders diligently to keep all the gifts from her suitors and well wishers away from her, and not many people dared to approach her for her cold nature. So she had never received any gifts from anyone and now that someone was willing to present her with a stole she liked, she did not know what to make out of it.

"Take it as my present to you, Lady." Lucian noticed her staring at him and he requested her gently, not giving her the time to object. Even before she knew it, he had already paid for the stole, making it impossible for her not to accept it.

"Thank you, Sir McCoy." Eventually, she relented and accepted his gift. Though a thought was weighing in her mind, she brushed it away and wrapped the stole around her.

"How does it look, Reyna?" She turned to the girl who was watching her and their guest's conversation with a strange smile. "Does this look good on me?"

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"Yes, Milady. It does. It looks beautiful on you." Reyna did not hesitate to speak about what she felt. It was true that the light pink stole suited her mistress's skin and she looked absolutely alluring.

"You look beautiful, Lady Sylvaine. Just like a blooming pink rose." Lucian complemented from the side, completely bewitched by the girl. He could not help but stare at her in awe, admiring her personality as well as her beauty.

"Thank you, Sir McCoy." Irene did not know what to say and smiled at him before the group continued walking.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Seymour looked around him to ensure no danger lurking around them as he followed the King to the streets where the festival was held.

"Your Majesty, why are we in disguise?" He voiced the question that had kept his mind occupied for a long time since they had left the palace.

"I want to enjoy the life of a commoner. I want to know what my subjects think about me." Kieran answered vaguely and kept walking with an air of dignity and authority. Even though he was disguised as a commoner, the aura around him was too strong to ignore. The people stopped in their places to look at him.

Although he looked like a commoner with an average face, something about him lured everyone's attention to him.

Nobody knew his true identity. Kieran had shed his mask away, and even his eyes matched the color of his hair. So it was impossible to relate him to the King with his brilliant disguise.

Seymour had no response to his words. It sure was the King's nature to carry out unpredictable expeditions. But every time it had happened, Seymour had been on his toes, looking out for danger even though the King himself was the most dangerous of all.

"Seymour, stop worrying. Nobody even knows who I am. We will not be attacked here." Kieran noticed the older man's worry and his lips arched slightly. "Moreover, who dares to attack me and get away with it?"

It was true that nobody would get away if they were to attack the almighty King. The man had a keen sense of presence and could detect danger from far away. But the old Duke could not stop worrying for him.

"Your Majesty, we are out in the open without any guards protecting you. How can I not be concerned?"

Kieran's smile widened and he stopped walking before he faced the man behind him. He just held the man's shoulders, compelling him to look at him in the eye. "Seymour, I am glad and fortunate to have such an amazing advisor by my side. With you around, I have nothing to worry about regarding matters related to the kingdom. But just as I trust you, I wish you to trust me too."

Seymour did not understand what the King was trying to convey and he gave him a puzzled look.

"With me around, nobody will harm us. I will protect you with all my might. You can trust me on this."

Seymour did not know whether to laugh or to cry at his King's words. He let out a helpless laugh and lowered his head.

Kieran was just about to continue speaking when he noticed the face of the girl who had occupied his thoughts and dreams as well as his heart for years. His hands dropped to his side as he stared at his dear girl.

"Irene." He mumbled in joy, his excitement filling his face. But before he could even take a good look, she had vanished from his sight.