Chapter Thirty-Four
The Princess Arrives
The quiet winter morning in the town was suddenly interrupted by the sound of horse hooves.
People on the street paused, turning their heads toward the road leading into town.
A royal carriage rolled slowly through the snow-covered path, its golden crest shining beneath the pale sunlight.
"Is that… a royal carriage?" someone whispered.
A group of children ran closer, staring in amazement.
The carriage stopped near the center of town.
Two royal guards stepped down first, opening the door carefully.
Then she appeared.
The Princess of France.
She stepped out gracefully, her long dark cloak brushing the snowy ground. Her posture was elegant, her expression calm yet distant.
People immediately bowed respectfully.
"Your Highness."
She acknowledged them with a small nod, her sharp eyes scanning the unfamiliar town.
So this was the place she had heard about.
The quiet town where a certain young man had been living peacefully.
Her gaze drifted toward the street leading to the university.
And there he was.
Daniel.
He stood among a group of students, talking casually as if he belonged there like any ordinary person.
For a moment, the princess simply watched him.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"So you really are here," she murmured softly.
But instead of approaching him, she turned away calmly.
"Your Highness?" one of the guards asked.
She gestured toward the town market.
"I would like to walk around."
---
The Candle Shop
The town market was filled with small shops selling handmade goods.
One particular store caught her attention.
Beautiful fragrance candles arranged neatly behind the window.
Soft scents of lavender and vanilla floated gently into the cold air.
The princess stepped inside.
The shopkeeper bowed politely.
"Welcome, my lady."
She examined the candles carefully, lifting one glass jar and smelling it.
"Lavender," she said quietly.
The scent was pleasant.
She placed several jars on the counter.
"I'll take these."
The shopkeeper nodded.
"Of course."
While he wrapped them, she noticed several large wooden boxes stacked near the door.
"Where are those being sent?" she asked.
"To America," the shopkeeper replied proudly.
"Our candles are exported there."
The princess slowly turned her head.
"To America?"
"Yes," he said happily.
"Our products are becoming very popular overseas."
Something in her expression hardened slightly.
She took her candles and left without another word.
---
The Next Morning
The following day, the shopkeeper opened his store early.
It was shipment day.
Workers began preparing the candle boxes to be sent overseas.
But when they opened the crates, confusion spread quickly.
"Sir… look at this."
The shopkeeper frowned and stepped closer.
Several glass candle jars inside the crates were broken.
Wax spilled everywhere.
Some were completely shattered.
"What happened here?" he exclaimed.
The workers looked equally confused.
"We packed them carefully yesterday."
The shopkeeper inspected the damaged candles carefully.
This loss would cost him a lot.
Just then the door opened again.
The princess entered calmly.
The shopkeeper bowed politely.
"Good morning."
She walked straight to the counter.
"The candles I bought yesterday," she said coldly.
"They were damaged."
The shopkeeper blinked in surprise.
"Damaged?"
"Yes."
She placed the cracked glass jar on the counter.
"I expect compensation."
The shopkeeper examined the candle carefully.
But he shook his head slowly.
"My lady, the candle was perfect when you purchased it."
The princess's eyes narrowed.
"Are you implying that I broke it?"
"I am only saying," the shopkeeper replied nervously, "that my shop cannot repay something we did not damage."
For a moment the room became very quiet.
The princess's calm expression slowly turned colder.
"So you refuse."
"I'm sorry, my lady."
Without another word, she turned and walked out of the shop.
But later that afternoon, the town began whispering.
More candle crates had been found broken.
And someone claimed they had seen a mysterious figure near the shop the previous night.
Slowly, suspicion spread.
Some people began to realize something troubling.
The beautiful princess who had arrived so gracefully yesterday…
Might not be as kind as she appeared.
And far across the street, inside Noah's café, the group had no idea that a far more dangerous presence had just entered their peaceful town.
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