The group of girls watched the exchange with wide eyes.
"What is it, Sasha?" one of them asked, peeking over her shoulder.
"I don't know…" she whispered, still holding the strange little object in her palm. "It's wrapped in something."
"Is it food?"
"Why don't you try it?"
"Wait—is it safe?"
"If it's poison, the guards are right there. And there's a healer in line, too."
Sasha hesitated, looking at the strange glossy wrapper. She turned to Kazuki and poked his arm gently again, lifting the candy with a questioning look.
Kazuki smiled faintly.
He took the candy from her hand, carefully peeled open the wrapper, and without much thought—held it up and gently placed it in her mouth.
Sasha flinched in surprise as it touched her tongue.
Then her eyes widened.
"…This is candy!" she gasped, the flavor bursting across her tongue like nothing she'd ever tasted.
The other girls practically shouted in unison.
"What!?"
"He gave you noble food?!"
"No way, only upper houses can afford sweets like that!"
"I heard it takes days to make one candy!"
"Wait, what if he's a royal merchant?"
"He just fed her! You saw that, right!?"
Kazuki blinked, confused, watching the sudden chaos erupt behind Sasha.
...Okay. What the hell did I just do now?
Before Kazuki could say anything, one of the guards barked something at him.
"Oi! Next!"
He didn't understand the words, but the tone and gesture were clear enough.
Kazuki stepped forward, leaving the group of excited girls behind him. He could still hear their whispers, but his attention was now on the uniformed men in front of the gate.
One of the guards squinted up at him, then glanced at his polished shoes and clean clothes.
Is this guy a noble? the guard wondered silently.
Where's his escort? His guards? His maids?
The guard gestured toward a raised stone pedestal with a glowing crystal embedded in it.
He spoke again, firm but not aggressive. Pointed at the crystal.
Kazuki tilted his head, clearly lost.
What?
The guard repeated the gesture. Kazuki scratched his head, not sure what this was about.
The guard sighed, annoyed.
Before the situation could escalate, someone approached from the side, boots sharp against stone, presence commanding.
A new voice cut through the tension. Calm, but direct.
"What's going on here?"
Kazuki turned.
And stopped.
A woman stepped into view, sharp-eyed, dressed in an officer's uniform that didn't hide her curves in the slightest. Dark leggings, crisp jacket, badge on her shoulder. Her short hair was tied back. Confident. Attractive. Very attractive.
The guards snapped to attention.
"Captain!"
She raised an eyebrow.
"Well?"
"Ah… sorry, Captain," the guard said quickly, straightening up. "This guy speaks some weird language."
"Weird?" she asked, glancing at Kazuki.
"I mean—I've never heard it before. It's not from around here."
The captain narrowed her eyes, then stepped in front of Kazuki.
"Name?" she asked clearly.
Kazuki blinked.
He didn't understand a word.
"Sorry," he said, raising a hand slightly, "I don't understand."
She sighed, then switched tongues.
"Kuman language?" she muttered. "Rare."
Then she repeated, slowly this time, in rough but understandable Kuman:
"Your name?"
Kazuki nearly collapsed in relief.
Finally. Someone I can understand.
"My name is Kazuki."
She studied him, arms crossed.
"What is the purpose of your visit here? Judging by your outfit, it looks expensive. Are you from the Eastern Isles?"
Kazuki hesitated. "Ah… um… you could say that. I just arrived today. I'm kind of… wandering. I don't really have a destination yet."
Or a plan. Or a home. Or any money.
The captain tilted her head slightly.
"Cast out by your family? Some noble disgrace, maybe…"
Kazuki scratched the back of his head. "Not… really, no."
She shrugged.
"Very well. Put your hand on that crystal."
Kazuki glanced at it. "Uh… what's it for?"
"To check if you're a criminal," she said, without missing a beat.
"…Ah."
He looked at the glowing thing again. Slowly reached out.
Please don't explode.
The captain watched as Kazuki slowly reached for the crystal, his palm hovering just above it.
He's nervous, Doesn't seem like a criminal…
Her eyes lingered.
Tall. Black hair. A calm, composed face, not too serious, but not carefree either. Eyes that stayed alert without being sharp. And that body, well-built, trained, but not bulky.
He's really… my type.
She kept her expression neutral, arms folded across her chest.
If only I were single…
She shook the thought aside, focusing.
That outfit… not local. The shoes alone probably cost more than a month's wage. Definitely Eastern Isles fashion. But why would a noble from there come here—alone?
She glanced at him again.
Maybe he's the youngest son. Wouldn't be strange.
In noble families with too many children, the titles and land always went to the eldest.
Sometimes the second-born, if they were lucky. The rest? They were expected to find their own way. Join the army. Marry into another house. Become adventurers. Or just… vanish.
Thrown out, or left behind. Either way, this kind of thing happens.
( End Of Chapter )