Sleeping Beauty Wants The Throne
35. The Exhibition Brought Catastrophe

When they reached a crowd, the enthusiastic twinkle could not stand Luz when he saw various things he had never met in New York.

Flickering lights adorn every store lined up on the side of the street. Unique lanterns are hung festively, plus the cheers of children who run around cheerfully add to the sense of kinship that is quite thick.

"This is not the market you are referring to" the Grand Duke said, glancing at the woman beside him. "It's an exhibition, it doesn't sell the raw materials you're looking for."

"Oh, exhibition, huh? No problem, going to the market can be done tomorrow," he replied impatiently. A second later without him noticing Luz pulling Alastair's arm, "Grand Duke, look what's in there!"

Without a ba-bi-bu, Luz takes her to a small booth guarded by an old woman. The booth is dominated by old wood that is painted darker so that it displays a traditional impression, but does not miss. Seeing the pair of buyers approaching his shop, the old lady smiled warmly.

"What are you selling, madam?"

"Lime cake," the woman replied kindly, "Try first, you guys are sure to like."

"I want one." Luz nodded then reached into his pocket. Honey, he lost quickly to Alastair who had handed over the money first.

The woman smiled. "You're lucky to have a partner who isn't stingy. Wait a minute, your order will be prepared."

And yes ... the atmosphere returned awkward. Because of Madam Lemon's last words.

Alastair cleared his throat, "Where are we going after this?"

"Wherever you go, don't go home" replied Luz lightly. "I'm too lazy to meet Ochonner."

Alastair frowned, "You guys got into a fight?"

"No, we're fine. I'm just tired of looking at her fierce face."

Deep in his heart, that was not the reason Luz was reluctant to meet Ochonner. The girl was only confused and scared ..fuddled at her own decision and was afraid that Ochinner would strengthen her heart to step down from the candidate for the crown princess. The position Luz had dreamed of since setting foot in this world.

"By the way, it's not unusual for Ochonner to let you go alone now it's night." Alastair stared suspiciously, "Or don't you have not asked permission from him?"

"I asked for his permission this morning."

Think of it that way, let's just say Luz isn't lying.

"Snack." Alastair was still checking Luz's relaxed expression. Lazy to argue, Alastair finally decided to believe.

"This is the order." The old woman came back with a paper bag containing bright yellow cakes. "Thank you for stopping by."

"We go first, madam." Luz waved then passed from the place while picking up one of the cakes available in the bag. Biting it then frowned a little when the sour taste suddenly filled the entire oral cavity.

"From the color alone makes my stomach acid rise," commented Alastair who was less fond of the main taste of lemon cake. He hates sour taste.

"You're just not used to it." Without warning Luz put a piece of lemon cake into Alastair's mouth until he coughed.

"Surprisingly, I don't like it! (Cruel, I don't like it!)" the Grand Duke said with his mouth full.

"Duringly will like," Luz licked up and then joined in chewing the lemon cake he held with a better mood. Yes, of course his mood increased because of the new reaction from the Grand Duke that was beyond expectations.

"Too acidic."

"Yes, it makes me hungry a little."

"Yes." Yeah."

"Around here there is a good wine shop," he invited. "It's like you've never been there."

"I want to eat, Grand Duke. Not a drink," Luz replied a little annoyed.

"There also sells smoked meat that is quite famous se-Brighton."

"Smoked meat?" Luz as usual immediately took Alastair's hand and headed to where the man meant. "What are you waiting for then!"

Deg

The Grand Duke watched his friendly-laced hand with the girl. The hand that was much smaller than his palm, felt so soft and smooth at the same time. Even so it feels like Luz's hands are quite cold or ... precisely Alastair's hands are heating up?

"Grand Duke, is that you?"

Suddenly they turned to the object that was calling Alastair from behind. A man in his forties with a dark green vest and a black cravat approaching ensures that what he meets is truly the Grand Duke. At the age of no longer young, Alastair admitted his eyes were sharp enough that he could recognize himself who did not wear clothes like this among the crowd.

Bah, again something interrupts his romantic time.

"It's true, lucky I met you here."

"Do you need anything, Lord Caleon?"

"About taxes in the east ...."

Next the conversation just slid by the two workaholics. Luz rolled his eyes, feeling bored. Realizing his lemon cake was still there, Luz let go of his grip on Alastair — until the man glanced briefly— then walked away to look for a chair. Eating while standing was not good for health, Luz did not want his digestive organs and kidneys to be victimized.

"Stay a little" the amethyst-eyed girl muttered and unwittingly placed a coin bag containing the money from her first day of work right beside her. Because they were not on the main road, so he thought that here it was quite quiet so that the crime would also be small.

But Luz's guess was wrong. Whether coming from which direction, suddenly a man dressed in black snatched his bag of coins that had just been released for a while. He glared, reflexively throwing stones right at the head of the thief but that was not something that could prevent the long hand from running.

"GRAND DUKE!"

Alastair turned frantic so that he forgot Lord Caleon and approached Luz who was quite far from his sight in a hurry.

"Why, did something happen to you?"

"My money's gone!" Luz pointed at the direction where the thief had last escaped. "Hurry after him and beat him to death!"

"Patience, how much is your money?"

"Quite a lot. The money was to buy beauty ingredients," Luz said limply. "Ah, money. Come on, Grand Duke. Pursue him before he gets any further."

"No need to worry, I'll change your money." Alastair did not want to complicate things. After all, it was already night and chasing after the thief would only create another commotion amidst the crowd. "Better we get out of here before the bad stuff comes back."

"It's not a nominal problem, Grand Duke. That's my money, my hard work. Ah, if this is how I had to intervene."

Luz handed the paper bag of lemon cake that had been used up to Alastair. Without saying a word he immediately ran after the thief who took his precious treasure ferociously like a starving monster.

Luz has to get his money back, at all costs. Point.