Chapter: 16
Reilly’s eyes widened at the sudden calling of her name. She quickly forced a bright smile and said casually,
“Welcome, sir.”
She recalled what Ren had told her—an odd agreement not to say her real name in front of others. Reilly also judged, as Ren had suggested, that it was better to keep her identity hidden.
“He said my name.”
A name that no one but Ren knew, spoken by a man she had never seen before. She had no memory of this man.
“Could he be someone who knows me?”
Curiosity kept nudging her, pushing her to look closer. The man’s golden hair swayed in the wind, matching his golden eyes.
Fortunately, to everyone else, she would appear as someone with a different face. She always wore disguises for her own safety.
Who was this person, looking at her with such sorrowful eyes? Reilly felt her mouth go dry without realizing it.
She lowered her head to display the items, avoiding the man’s gaze just slightly.
“Please take a look, and let me know if you need anything.”
“Oh, understood.”
Kaver blinked in disbelief. He thought the woman looked incredibly similar to Reilly.
“She looks a lot like her.”
Her resemblance and aura were so close that he almost spoke her name by mistake, even though it shouldn’t have been possible.
The woman had black hair and green eyes—completely different from Reilly’s appearance—but her face could easily be mistaken for hers.
Kaver stepped closer to get a better look, his eyes drawn to her despite himself.
“She shouldn’t be here.”
Wherever Reilly was, Ren was always by her side. Even now, with her missing, he would still be with her.
“I’ll take this.”
“Is this a gift? This piece has a beautiful line, and many buy the set. Would you like me to show it?”
It was a necklace with neatly arranged green gemstones. The color was excellent, and it was well-crafted into a matching set with earrings and a bracelet, prompting Reilly to speak carefully.
“If I sell this, Ren would praise me.”
Reilly glanced at Kaver. He looked like the kind of customer who might buy if spoken to properly. His tidy, aristocratic appearance suggested he was wealthy.
“Yes, please show me.”
Kaver nodded slightly.
“Lucky day. A big customer right as I open the door.”
Soon, Reilly’s faint smile caught Kaver’s attention. Anyone could see she was genuinely happy, and Kaver couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
“Khuh… hmm.”
Reilly turned to look at him.
“Ah… I thought of someone who would like this as a gift. I’d like to buy several; could you show me starting from there?”
Her calm words caused a slight tremor in her eyes, and her lips kept twitching upward.
“Lip corners… focus on the lip corners.”
Reilly tensed her lips intentionally. Ren had told her not to show it. She couldn’t afford to appear disappointed with her normally haughty expression.
Reilly fixed her gaze on the display, calmly taking out each item. The prices were high, but the quality was top-notch.
“If it’s not too much trouble, may I ask about the lady’s preferences?”
“…….”
“Ah, is that too difficult a question?”
Most men buying gifts didn’t know the recipient’s taste. Reilly wanted her jewelry to go to someone it would suit perfectly.
“Of course, it’s difficult to know a lady’s taste. Hmm, then may I make a recommendation? How about the earrings and bracelet I mentioned earlier? The lady doesn’t have black hair, does she?”
Reilly quickly waved her hands with an awkward smile.
Because the green gemstone wouldn’t suit someone with black hair. She had tried it herself, and it looked dull, making both her and the necklace fail to shine.
“It would suit green. Her hair is silver, after all…”
“Ah, then that’s fortunate. I tried it because it was so beautiful, but it didn’t suit black hair, so I wouldn’t recommend it.”
Reilly clapped her hands in relief. The silver-haired lady wearing the necklace in her mind seemed perfect.
“What about the other sets…”
“All of them are to my liking. I can picture them in my mind without explanation.”
Kaver watched Reilly explain diligently. If he saw her in person, he would be convinced of her resemblance to someone he knew.
“You’re not planning to buy all of this, are you?”
Even she laughed at the thought. Buying everything would cost an enormous amount. Though he was wealthy, it was still a significant sum.
“But… it might be possible.”
Judging by his attire, he seemed capable of affording it. But Ren always lectured her to never judge at first glance, so Reilly asked him anyway.
“That’s fine.”
A truly wealthy man. Reilly saw him as a generous customer. She nodded, a capitalist smile naturally forming. She carefully began packaging the items, choosing ribbons and boxes to make them look elegant.
“If it’s not too much trouble, may I ask your name?”
Kaver wanted to confirm something—he hoped the person in front of him was indeed Reilly. He had spent over a month searching for her.
“Pardon?”
“No, it’s just that you resemble someone I’m looking for…”
A bitter smile lingered and faded on his face. The gaze he had shown earlier returned briefly, and his shoulders slumped slightly.
“My na—”
Reilly nearly answered instinctively.
Ding-
“Setria.”
“…Ren?”
Just then, Ren called out Reilly’s known name—Setria.
“Have you arrived?”
“…We had a customer.”
Ren stepped past Kaver to stand beside Reilly. He loosely tied his long black hair and shot Kaver a wary glance.
“Tsk, how did he find us? I hid all our traces.”
Though subtle, Ren recognized Kaver. Naturally—he had been affiliated with the royal family for a long time and belonged to the Tryla family.
Ren. A sword inheriting the Tryla lineage, contracted to act for the emperor.
The one Reilly had so adamantly rejected. Though their contract had not been formalized, Ren had been preventing her full manifestation, leaving only a verbal agreement.
Seeing Ren, Kaver’s brow furrowed. A helpless laughter slipped out.
“Ha…”
Kaver bit his lips at Ren’s sly smile.
“Snake… how dare he deceive me?”
Setria!
As long as Ren was present, the woman before him was certainly Reilly. Ren had deliberately hidden her and her presence from Kaver. That was why he hadn’t been able to find her until now.
“You.”
Kaver’s sharp voice turned toward Ren. Simultaneously, Ren raised a finger to his lips.
“Shh, revealing your identity here would not be good.”
Reilly’s feelings toward the royal family were purely hostile.
Taking Ren’s cue, Kaver steadied his breath. Sensing the tense air, Reilly turned to him.
“What’s wrong? Ren, why are you giving the guest that rude look?”
“…Huh?”
She nudged Ren’s waist as a reprimand. His eyebrows rose in surprise.
“Apologize. Staring like that makes the guest uncomfortable.”
“No, I—”
“Ren.”
Reilly tugged at Ren’s collar and whispered in his ear.
“Our six months’ living expenses are at stake. Won’t you cooperate? We have to make him a regular!”
She treated Kaver entirely as a guest, a high-value guest she couldn’t afford to miss.
“I apologize, sir. My eyes tend to look discontent, so please understand generously.”
Ren bowed to Kaver. Reilly was not pleased with his apology but could not quarrel with a customer present.
“Please wait a moment. I’ll finish packaging shortly.”
“Take your time. Even if it takes a day, I understand.”
“Uh…?”
That crazy guy… why can’t he say it outright?
Kaver signaled Ren with his eyes. Kaver ignored it lightly and sat at a table in the shop.
“Setria, does that man seem familiar to you?”
Ren asked Reilly, loudly enough for Kaver to hear, watching his reaction. He clearly didn’t like that they had found him.
“She’s hiding because Reilly doesn’t want it yet. Impatient fool.”
The empire’s future was indeed uncertain.
Ren tapped the display with his finger, staring at Kaver.
“When we return to the royal family, Reilly… won’t have it easy.”
She still had countless obstacles to overcome.
Ren, too, had lived long for the royal family, killing repeatedly, walking an endless path.
He could understand why she refused power, even if he couldn’t completely relate—he wasn’t much different from her.
“Hmm? That guest… seems familiar…”
Reilly kept thinking of someone.
