The road was lined on both sides with a breathtaking array of flowers. It felt as if nature itself had broken its own rules just to welcome this moment. The blossoms seemed eager, as though they had been waiting decades for a day like this. Riding forward on horseback, she looked like a fairy descending from heaven to earth. Flower petals scattered across the path, enchanting everything in sight.
After finishing their meal—
"I was thinking of buying a sword. How much money do you have left?"
Riana asked the question with a hint of hesitation, glancing at Velerina.
"Oh, there's no need to worry about money," Velerina replied calmly. "We have more than enough. Enough for two people like us to live an entire lifetime without ever running out."
A faint smile appeared on her lips. After all, the money Riana had once given her had now multiplied hundreds of times over.
"But where did you even get so much money?" Riana asked, narrowing her eyes slightly. "You don't look like someone who inherited it from your parents. If you were some royal lady, there's no way you'd be living alone like this."
"That's true," Velerina admitted. "This money didn't come from any relatives. I've heard my father was very wealthy… but I have no interest in him. What kind of father abandons his child in an orphanage right after birth and never looks back?"
"So… your parents are still alive?"
"Of course they are. I told you already," she said indifferently. "But my father was killed a long time ago. As for my mother, I heard she works as a teacher in some church. Still… I have no interest in meeting her. My grandfather once had wealth too, but now it's almost all gone. What remains is nothing more than an abandoned estate."
"Then who gave you all this money?"
"I earned it myself."
"What? How?!" Riana's eyes lit up with curiosity. "Teach me too! I want to try!"
"I already told you—we have enough to last a lifetime. Why are you so worried about earning more?" Velerina said with a sigh. "It's not like you're planning to buy elephants or horses."
Arguing with her is such a waste of time…
"What did you just say?"
"Ah, nothing, nothing!" Velerina waved it off quickly. "Look over there—how do you like that sword? Do you like it?"
"Which one? The one with the red hilt?"
"Yes, that one."
Not far away, a group of unfamiliar knights stood watching. They were guards of the kingdom, stationed in the area.
"Hey, did you see that girl?" one of them whispered. "She's talking to herself like a lunatic."
"Yeah… at first I thought she was from a noble family," another added. "But now she just looks completely crazy."
"Still… looks like she's got money. If we can catch that little bird, we'll have enough to drink for days."
Meanwhile, inside the shop—
"Could you show me that sword?"
"Oh, this one?" the old shopkeeper asked.
"Yes. How much does it cost? I don't like bargaining much, so just tell me a fair price—something reasonable for both of us."
"No need to rush or lie so early in the day," the old woman said with a gentle smile. "And since you're my first customer today… This sword is made using several rare metals, so I could price it at—"
Her words suddenly stopped.
Riana immediately sensed the change. A group of knights had entered the shop. Before she could react, one of them snatched the sword right out of her hand.
"Hey, old hag," one of the knights sneered. "What's going on here? Acting all lively at this age, huh? Looks like you're getting excited over a pretty girl."
His tone turned colder.
"Now listen—put everything you've got on the table. And you—" he turned to Riana, his eyes scanning her shamelessly, "where are you from, beauty?"
"Give us the address too," another laughed. "Maybe we'll pay a visit. Who knows, maybe we'll end up looking as good as you."
Before she could respond, one of the knights suddenly grabbed Riana's wrist.
Seeing that she didn't resist at all, the knights seemed slightly confused—but that didn't stop them. They began dragging her out of the shop.
The old sword seller could do nothing but watch helplessly.
After all… they were royal knights.
And no one dared to stand against them.