Since moving out of the Royal Palace with Haruki yesterday, Nina had been in a constant state of excitement.
After all, although she was a princess and lacked for nothing inside the palace, no one had ever taken her beyond the palace gates. She had always longed to see the world outside. Now that her wish had finally come true, her excitement was only natural.
Early the next morning, Nina called Haruki out of his room, eager to go shopping.
Haruki had never gone shopping since his reincarnation. Back when he was a child, war was everywhere, and all his time was spent cultivating strength. Later, he was busy founding the Empire, and once it was established, he remained in the palace to train. To be honest, he was actually looking forward to getting out and seeing the city.
No sooner said than done. After enjoying the exquisite breakfast prepared by the maids, the two set out to explore the bustling streets.
...
After Haruki and Nina left, the two maids chatted as they worked.
Maid A: "He's so handsome. I've never seen anyone as good-looking as Haruki."
Maid B: "Yeah, and he has such a good temper. None of that typical noble attitude."
Maid C: "His smile is just so charming..."
...
Of course, Haruki and Nina couldn't hear their chatter, but even if they had, they'd have just laughed it off.
Walking through the streets of the Imperial Capital, even Haruki couldn't help but marvel at its prosperity. Though he had seen glimpses of this world before his transmigration, he now realized those glimpses were just the tip of the iceberg.
The young emperor had only recently ascended the throne, and the Prime Minister had just begun to consolidate his control. His hold on power wasn't yet solid, so although the Empire was already showing signs of decay, it hadn't reached the desperate, collapsing state described in the original story.
As Haruki and Nina walked down the street, passersby frequently stopped in their tracks to look at them. The two of them were undeniably eye-catching.
Nina had flowing golden hair, big, sparkling eyes, and a delicate, doll-like face.
Haruki wore a tight-fitting long robe with a black base and red trim. A lifelike white phoenix spread its wings across the chest, while several golden bats were embroidered along the sleeves. The outfit was regal without being ostentatious. His long light-blue hair flowed down to his waist, and his wine-red eyes were deep and captivating. On his right hand, he wore a refined yet ancient-looking ring. Everything about him radiated a natural aristocratic grace.
"Brother, why is everyone staring at us?" Nina asked innocently.
"Because Nina is just too cute," Haruki replied without hesitation.
Nina blushed at his words, her delicate cheeks flushing red.
After a full morning of shopping, by noon, Haruki's hands were full of Nina's purchases. People often say shopping with women is exhausting—turns out, little girls were no exception. Seeing Nina still full of energy, Haruki quickly tried to change the subject.
"By the way, Nina, we've been shopping all morning. Aren't you tired? Want to rest a bit and grab something to eat?"
He pointed to a luxurious restaurant nearby as he spoke.
"Okay," Nina replied readily, realizing she was indeed getting hungry.
Hearing her answer, Haruki couldn't help but sigh in relief.