Ariel gave an apologetic smile to her cousin. "Sorry, Zach. I didn''t intend to abandon you like that. I will buy you something to make it up to you. How does that sound?"


    Zach instantly went from frowning to smiling. He stood beside Ariel and put his arms around her shoulder. And he asked while walking happily, "Will you buy me anything I ask?"


    "Sure." Ariel gave a nod and said, "As long as it''s not something unreasonable like a house or something."


    Zach grinned and praised her, "You''re the best, Ary. Okay, I will stop pestering the two of you now. Catch up soon." He then left Ariel and Keh and ran forward.


    Keh couldn''t ask for a better wingman than Zach.


    Soon, Ariel and Keh caught up with the rest of the Royals.


    "Why did you run off like that?" Ramon asked Ariel as soon as he saw her.


    Ariel shook her head and made up an excuse, "It was nothing. I just wanted to take a look at some dogs down the street. I heard them howling and I thought that one of them was hurt. But it wasn''t the case."


    Ariel didn''t want to say that she saw someone who was wearing bangles that resembled the ones that Damien used to wear. She didn''t want to raise unnecessary hopes in their hearts. And she definitely didn''t want to ruin everyone''s mood by making them sad.


    Keh pulled Ariel in front of everyone and asked, "Okay everyone, why don''t you follow us?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Keh took the Princes and Princesses to the weapons shop that Ariel had been eyeing when they had arrived in the town.


    He gestured inside the shop and said, "I''m sure you all would love to look around. Maybe you will find something you will like."


    "Ariel, you''re buying a weapon of my choice," Zach shouted and zoomed inside the shop.


    Ramon also didn''tin because he was also an enthusiast about the weapons. He and Nih entered the shop after Zach.


    Ariel then nced at Keh and asked, "You knew I wanted toe here?"


    Keh puffed his chest a little and boasted, "I am an observant man. I knew you would like it if I brought you here."


    Ariel smiled and out of the blue, she brought his hand close to her mouth and bit him.


    "Ow! Now, what was that for?" Keh pulled his hand away from her grip and questioningly raised his brows at her.


    Ariel shrugged and yfully said, "Habit." And she also rushed inside the shop.


    Keh rubbed his hand where she had bit her. And he pressed that hand over his chest as if he was treasuring that precious moment.


    Inside the shop, Zach was looking at a set of throwing knives. They looked sharp and shiny. He liked it so he turned to look at Ariel and asked, "Buy this for me."


    Ariel also examined those knives and approved. "They look good. Put it aside. We will pay for everything together."


    Ariel darted her eyes around the shop. Varieties of weapons, from swords to arrows, everything were disyed on the shelves. All the weapons looked sharp, polished, and beautiful.


    But instead of normal weapons like swords, her eyes fell on a box that had thin and long needles. She looked at the shopkeeper and asked, "What are those for?"


    "These are called acupressure needles, mdy. Ironically for this shop, these are for healing people and not killing them, unlike all these other weapons." The shopkeeperdy politely exined the use.


    Ariel raised her brows and thought, "Looks like weapons to me. It depends on who uses it, right?"


    She smiled and asked, "I will take six of those."


    The shopkeeper blinked twice and asked, "Are you sure, mdy?"


    Ariel nodded, "Yes. They look quite interesting."


    The shopkeeper then packed those needles in a small box.


    Zach was looking at Ariel as if she had gone mad. He sighed noisily and then mumbled so that only the ones with super hearing could hear him, "I guess this is what love does to people. It makes you crazy."


    Ariel gave a side-eye to Zach and asked while pointing at the set of throwing knives, "You don''t want this?"


    Zach instantly hid that box from Ariel and said, "Of course, I want it."


    After some more time, Ramon chose a single-handed sword from the shop even though he already had at least six of those in his quarter.


    Nih chose a foldable pocket knife just because it looked cute.


    And Keh found an interesting dagger. It could be pulled and made into two daggers, and then it could be joined together again.


    When they all finalized what they were going to buy, everyone paid from their own pocket, except Zach. As promised, Ariel paid for his weapons as well.


    They all headed out while carrying their respective boxes and bags.


    Zach pointed at another shop and asked, "Can we visit that shop as well? And that as well? Those dead snails look quite interesting."


    This time, Keh denied Zach''s request. "I''m sorry, Zach. It''s alreadyte. We took more time than I expected to choose the weapons. So we need to head towards the guest house now so that we can get ample rest. Some of you might not find the travel by ship to be pleasant.


    So you need to rest while you can."


    "Ah! Is that so? Then it''s okay. Let''s go and sleep." Zach instantly began walking towards the guest house.


    The others also followed him.


    The guards who had been tailing them until now also turned around and started to walk behind the Royals.


    They reached Allen''s guest house in no time.


    That owner had been waiting by the gate. And when he saw the Royalsing back, he weed them again, "I hope you enjoyed your time in the town square. Shall I prepare anything for Your Highnesses?"


    Keh shook his head and said, "Thank you, Mr. Allen. But we shall retire for the night. We have to start our journey early in the morning tomorrow."


    Allen bowed and said, "Then I wish you all goodnight, Your Highnesses."


    He walked the Royals towards their building and made sure that they had everything they needed.


    Ariel closed the door to her room andy down on her bed. She heaved a sigh and closed her eyes to get some sleep.


    But all she could think of was those golden bangles, and those beautiful pair of crystal eyes.


    She then realized that without her knowing it, Keh was also already sessful in making a ce in her heart.