Veloria Ardent walked lightly along the cobblestone streets of the city market, Fina following closely behind, carrying a cloth bag and a small basket. Veloria's eyes scanned every stall—not to buy flowers or fruit, but to check the quality of the goods and their prices.
Veloria drew a deep breath, taking in the bustling market. The scents of spices, fabrics, and fresh fruits mingled together, yet her eyes remained focused—not on the smells or colors, but on opportunity, quality, and price.
"Fina, look at this," she murmured, tapping a piece of deep red wool. "Thin, almost like tissue. Who's going to pay full price for this? No one!"
Fina nodded, anxious yet impressed. For a few moments, they weaved between the stalls—but Veloria had already caught sight of Selena's approaching entourage.
"Oh, look… the carnival troupe again," Veloria muttered. "Three men behind one woman… classic drama. I almost want to tap them on the shoulder: 'Give her some space, maybe the world will keep spinning!'"
They stopped near a stack of fabrics, pretending to browse. Veloria tilted her head, observing Selena's every move. The girl looked graceful, her smile sweet, completely unaware of Veloria's gaze.
Duke Eldrick Moncrail noticed Veloria first. His sharp eyes swept over her, and Veloria met his gaze without fear, only a thin smile on her lips.
"Since when did you become a carnival observer?" Veloria murmured, loud enough for Fina to hear. "If you're going to stare, at least do it with style. Eldrick… this drama is far too dull for me."
Prince Lucient Valcourt, ever graceful, walked slowly beside Selena. He turned toward Veloria, tapping his chin with a delicate hand. His tone was light, almost mocking:
"Still keeping that sharp tongue, I see… Duchess Ardent?"
Veloria smiled as if agreeing—but in her heart, she added: "I used to die because of people like this. Now? I enjoy the free show and learn social strategies from them."
Sir Kael Dorian stood behind, keeping a polite distance. Veloria glanced at him briefly, nodding slightly, then turned to Fina:
"Watch closely. At least that knight restrains himself. Unlike Eldrick, who loves to complain."
Selena walked slowly, selecting flowers and spices at the stalls. Veloria muttered sarcastically in her mind:
"Oh, look… this girl is adored, escorted by three men, and still oblivious to the real world. I should cry for you, but… too much energy wasted. Let's focus on profit first, Veloria. No stale romance today."
Veloria stepped forward slowly, approaching the group, yet maintaining a safe distance. She knew every movement, glance, and smile could be turned into social strategy.
Duke Eldrick Moncrail tried to force a cold smile.
"Veloria… seems we meet again," he said, his tone light but carrying a hint of sarcasm.
Veloria stifled a laugh. In her mind, she replied: "You didn't care about me before. Now you greet me? How amusing."
Out loud, her voice calm yet cutting:
"Yes… we meet again. This market is too small not to exchange greetings, isn't it?"
Prince Lucient Valcourt gave a slight, thin grin.
"You've truly changed… there's something new in your eyes."
Veloria glanced at him briefly, then muttered in her mind: "Not something new. This is the surviving version of Veloria. Smart, sarcastic, and strategic. You wouldn't understand unless you'd come close to death a few times."
Fina stared at her, worried Veloria might be too revealing. Veloria lightly patted Fina's shoulder.
"Relax. I'm just writing an internal strategy. No need to panic, Fina. We'll learn a lot from this entourage—and hopefully they provide some entertaining drama."
Selena paused at a spice stall, smiling sweetly at Veloria.
"Veloria… you look… different."
Veloria smiled faintly, suppressing a laugh.
"Oh, truly different. I used to be afraid, now I assess market opportunities. Quite the difference, right?" She bent slightly, feigning grace:
"Good morning, Selena. A bright day, isn't it?"
Prince Lucient Valcourt raised an eyebrow.
"As usual… your response is clever."
Veloria muttered:
"Clever or sarcastic? Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference between surviving and mocking."
Duke Eldrick Moncrail tried to hide a smile, but his expression remained cold.
"You really haven't changed… except… more dangerous, it seems."
Veloria met his gaze briefly.
"I used to be fragile. Now I'm… the surviving version. You've only just realized I can annoy you."
Sir Kael Dorian bowed slightly, respectfully, and said:
"Duchess, you look different, yet elegant."
Veloria smiled faintly, though in her mind she added: "Elegant? I just look composed while manipulating the market and social observations. That's all."
Finally, the entourage moved on, and Veloria turned to Fina.
"Ballalala… see? They're busy with their own drama. Us? We have fabrics, spices, and opportunities. Come on, Fina. There are still plenty of stalls to check."
Fina nodded, still suppressing a quiet giggle. Veloria's eyes swept across the bustling market, assessing every opportunity. Her sarcastic gaze didn't just see prices—it measured social power and human interactions.
"Ah, Veloria… you really are different," she murmured to herself.
"I used to die because of romantic drama. Now? That drama is just material for learning… and entertainment."
Her steps were steady, strategic, and relaxed—no fear, only sharp observation and internal humor. The market was no longer just a market; it had become a training ground, a small arena to hone the new Veloria.
Veloria Ardent paused at the corner of the market, her eyes scanning the clusters of merchants haggling over sacks of grains and spices. She tucked a strand of silver hair behind her ear, assessing the scene like a general evaluating the battlefield. Each shout, each movement, each hesitation—everything was data waiting to be analyzed.
"Fina," she murmured, her voice low enough for only the maid to hear, "observe the flow of their negotiations. Notice who bullies, who hesitates, and who thinks they can dominate. Every little flaw has a price."
Fina, carrying Veloria's small satchel and holding her skirts neatly, nodded quickly. "Yes, Your Grace. But… they're fighting over a few sacks of grain?"
Veloria's lips curved into a thin smile. "It's not about the grain. It's about reading the minds of those willing to squabble over trifles. Later, we'll see which strategies fail and which succeed. And we… capitalize on it."
The Duchess stepped forward subtly, letting her presence command attention without exertion. Her voice remained calm, almost indifferent:
"Gentlemen, perhaps a fair compromise will save everyone from wasted time and losses."
The tallest merchant blinked, momentarily disarmed. "And who are you, Duchess, lecturing us on trade?"
Veloria tilted her head lightly. "An observer… learning. Yet quick calculations tell me your pride is far costlier than your goods."
Murmurs ran through the merchants, some nodding reluctantly, others recalculating. Negotiations softened. Veloria retreated a few steps, satisfied. "Lesson one, Fina: even the fiercest disputes can be optimized if you understand the players."
They moved deeper into the bustling lanes of the market, past stacked fabrics, vibrant spices, and odd trinkets. Veloria's mind never stopped analyzing—opportunity, social hierarchy, weaknesses, and potential alliances.
"Fina," she said softly, pointing to a merchant selling low-quality cloth at an inflated price, "never buy from someone who overestimates themselves. Their pride always costs more than their goods."
The maid scribbled notes quickly, keeping a respectful distance. "Your Grace… do you really care about money that much?"
Veloria's silver eyes sparkled. "Caring is irrelevant. Opportunities do not wait for feelings. You take them—or they vanish. Sometimes, the cost is far higher than mere coins."
They passed a small stage where children performed acrobatics for coins. Veloria's sharp gaze observed how the crowd's attention shifted with precise timing. "Even entertainment has strategy," she whispered to Fina. "See what draws the crowd and how influence spreads. Social power is also currency, remember that."
From the corner of her eye, Veloria noted Selena Everhart laughing at a jewelry stall, unaware that tactical observation was upon her. Behind Selena, three men maintained positions: Prince Lucient Valcourt politely watching, Duke Eldrick Moncrail narrowing his eyes, and Sir Kael Dorian remaining neutral.
Veloria stifled a small smile. No approach was necessary; observation was enough. Every gesture, every glance, every laugh contributed data for her growing understanding of this social arena.
"Fina," she whispered, lowering her tone further, "remember: in any social arena, there are players unaware of the game. We watch, learn, and act when the timing is perfect."
The sun rose higher, casting sharper shadows over the cobblestones. Veloria approached a stall with rare spices, inhaling the aromatic bottles with careful calculation. "Potential," she murmured. "Quality product, few competitors, slightly undervalued. Secure the supply and the profit… delightful."
Fina leaned closer, adjusting Veloria's train. "How can you know all this just by looking?"
Veloria's thin smile hinted at her amusement. "Years of learning, and a few near-death experiences, teach you to read more than words. Read faces, intentions, hesitations. Everything carries meaning."
They continued through the market, Veloria's steps purposeful, mind calculating every risk and opportunity. What had begun as a simple stroll through the stalls had become a field of study—lessons in human behavior, commerce, and subtle social warfare.
Veloria felt a thrill she had never known as Duchess: a power not given by title or beauty, but born from knowledge, timing, and cleverness.
By midday, the cacophony of the market had become a symphony she could interpret with ease. She leaned slightly on the edge of a spice stall, whispering to Fina:
"Remember, those who survive are not the strongest, nor the prettiest… but those who understand the rules and use them subtly."
And with that, Veloria Ardent—no longer fragile, no longer naive—stepped forward, eyes sharp, mind sharper, humor intact, ready to turn every ordinary encounter into opportunity.