Towards the Winter Cabin of Serenity and Madness, Cinderella Runs - Chapter 109
Roel prepared to go out early in the morning. She took a refreshing bath, dried her hair carefully, and tied it back with a hair tie adorned with shimmering pearls.
Dressed in a beautiful gown and wearing extravagant jewelry, all gifts from Kyden, she admired herself. He had bought her one piece each night, saying he chose them because they looked lovely.
Even when she was staying in the cabin, he would return from town with all sorts of trinkets, and his impulsive spending habits hadn’t changed in the capital.
Standing in front of the mirror, she fiddled with her necklace. Just wearing the intricately lace-trimmed dress felt overwhelmingly luxurious.
‘What if I get robbed? Should I take the necklace off?’
She had heard countless tales of pickpockets in the city, and she wasn’t a noble lady attended by escort knights. The thought of losing her sparkling jewels or being robbed made her anxious.
‘It’s pretty, but… I think I’ll skip it.’
After some contemplation, she decided to remove the jewelry. It felt excessive for her means. Adorning herself with gems felt burdensome and awkward.
Thoughts of last night flashed through her mind—how Kyden hadn’t mentioned introducing her to his family. She struggled to suppress her childish desire to beg him for promises about the future.
‘This is already more than I deserve… I shouldn’t be greedy.’
The luxurious dress, the dazzling jewelry, and the comfortable hotel—everything was a gift from him. Since she had already received so much, wanting more felt like an overreach.
In truth, Roel needed time, conversation, and reassurance with him more than anything material, but she couldn’t throw a tantrum for something he might not be able to provide.
After finishing her preparations, she checked the time—it was only 10 a.m. Kyden had promised to return around 3 p.m.
Excited, she had completed her preparations early. As she pondered how to pass the time while waiting for Kyden, she suddenly jumped up.
‘A gift! I wanted to buy him a present!’
Not long ago, she had discovered the scarf she had knitted at the cabin tucked away in Kyden’s belongings. He had brought it with him, carefully keeping it safe after she had left it behind.
It made her emotional to think he cherished such a simple thing. Her eyes grew misty, and her heart swelled.
When she offered to knit him a new one because the old scarf was unraveling, Kyden had adamantly refused, wrapping the worn scarf around his neck. He looked like a puppy carrying a bony, scruffy toy he loved, and she felt sorry for him.
‘I can’t buy him anything expensive, but…’
Roel stepped out of the hotel, gathering her tips and salary from her guests at the inn.
“Good morning, Madam. Where are you headed?”
A hotel staff member greeted her in the lobby.
“I’m going to buy a gift.”
“Are you going alone? It can be dangerous for a lady like you to wander alone. Finding your way in the capital can be quite challenging.”
Roel smiled awkwardly. The staff member seemed to mistake her for a noblewoman visiting the capital, assuming she was a delicate lady who couldn’t navigate on her own.
“I won’t go far. I’ll be back soon.”
“If you don’t mind, I can arrange for one of our staff to accompany you. Pickpockets are rampant during tourist seasons.”
“…Alright, I’ll do that. Thank you.”
Roel nodded, unable to refuse. It felt a bit like lying.
She didn’t think she deserved such treatment. Perhaps it was because she was staying in an expensive hotel and wearing a luxurious dress. She found it hard to adjust to the sudden change in how people treated her. Their kindness felt unfamiliar and awkward.
“Where shall I take you, Madam?”
The staff member followed her outside, where a carriage was already waiting.
“I’m headed to the market.”
“The market?”
The staff member’s reaction made Roel’s face flush slightly. She knew that real noblewomen wouldn’t typically buy gifts at the market.
‘I should have just gone alone…’
Roel regretted her choice but nodded. The staff member, with a puzzled expression, informed the driver of their destination.
The carriage stopped near the market.
“I plan to take a quick look around. Will you wait here?”
“The market can be quite busy, and you might get lost. Are you sure you’re alright?”
“Oh, no. I’ll be fine. I know my way around. Really, it’s okay. I’ll go by myself.”
Roel finally managed to get herself away from the staff member. She felt pressured, as if they would follow her all the way to the market if she didn’t insist on going alone.
She didn’t need to worry about getting lost. The southern market of the capital was a place she had visited a couple of times on errands.
‘Phew, do people really get lost in the market?’
What kind of lives did real noblewomen lead? Roel quickened her pace as she entered the market.
Images of the true noblewomen she occasionally encountered at the hotel flashed through her mind. They always had servants in tow, never seeming to pour themselves even a glass of water.
