I was dumbfounded as Ian naturally held out his hand, asking for my wrist.
When I remained frozen, he tilted his head and gently took my wrist himself, slipping the bracelet onto it with a calm touch.
“Since you’re right-handed, it’s best to wear it on your left wrist.”
The white shell reflected the lights above, shimmering softly. Ian glanced down at my wrist and, in his usual detached manner, commented,
“It’s pretty.”
“…What?”
I stammered, and only then did he lift his gaze to meet mine.
“Didn’t you tell me to say it’s pretty? You taught me to give compliments.”
“……”
“It is pretty.”
While it was true I had instructed him to give compliments like this, hearing it now made my cheeks burn with embarrassment.
I wasn’t prepared for him to come at me like this so suddenly.
Meanwhile, the vendor, watching this interaction, smiled warmly.
“Ah, newlyweds are always so sweet! Love is just pouring out from the husband. Aww, since I’m in such a good mood, I’ll throw in this too as a freebie.”
The vendor shoved a hair tie adorned with a shell into my hand.
“Oh no, that’s really okay…”
“Take it! I’m giving it to you like I would my own daughter.”
Despite my protest, the vendor firmly placed the hair tie in my hand and gave a satisfied thumbs-up.
Holding the hair tie awkwardly, I saw Ian glance at the vendor and offer a brief smile.
“Thank you, ma’am.”
“Oh my, your husband is so polite!”
I was left speechless at the sight.
‘…What just happened?’
At the same time, Ian turned away from the vendor, his expression immediately reverting to his usual stoic self, prompting me to quietly click my tongue.
“What was that just now?”
“We’re trying to keep a low profile, and it wouldn’t do to treat a vendor rudely,” he replied, clearly unfazed.
“Let’s go. There’s still time before the fireworks, so we can explore a bit more.”
He once again intertwined our fingers and led me through the crowd. Walking half a step behind him, I suddenly stopped as something caught my eye.
A large crowd had gathered near the square of the night market. Curious, I craned my neck to get a better look when a round of applause erupted from the crowd.
“It’s a magic show.”
“They perform magic at places like this?”
“Gypsies or traveling magicians visit the night market about once a month. Looks like one’s here today.”
“Ah, I see.”
I hadn’t expected to see a magic show here.
“Would you like to watch it? It looks fun.”
“If you’d like. I’ll take you to the front so you can see better.”
Then, after glancing me over, he added,
“You probably won’t be able to see from the back.”
…Did this guy just insult my height?
It’s not that I’m short—he’s just ridiculously tall.
Looking at the crowd, it seemed he was right. Unless Ian carried me on his shoulders, I wouldn’t be able to see from the back, so I obediently nodded.
Once I agreed, he led me to the front.
The magician, who had just finished a trick involving a birdcage, dramatically turned around. With a confident expression, he raised his fingers to his lips, took a deep breath, and blew. Suddenly, a stream of cards cascaded from his mouth.
“Wow!”
The crowd erupted in applause, and I was no exception.
“Look at that! Isn’t it amazing?”
I excitedly tapped Ian’s shoulder, and he glanced down at me.
“…Yes, it is.”
Meanwhile, the magician pulled a match and a red handkerchief from his jacket pocket.
“Now, everyone, don’t blink!”
He waved the handkerchief in the air, and when he struck the match, the handkerchief burst into flames, transforming into a bouquet of vivid red roses.
“Wow!”
Not just one rose, but an entire bouquet! My eyes sparkled as I clapped enthusiastically.
As the crowd cheered in amazement, the magician scanned the audience, looking pleased with their reaction. Then, his eyes landed on me.
“Oh-ho,” he exclaimed softly before striding toward me.
“I’ll give this bouquet to this lovely lady here.”
With a charming smile, he extended the bouquet toward me.
“To me?”
“Please, take it, my lady.”
As I absentmindedly accepted the bouquet, the magician winked at me before heading back to the center of the stage. Quite the showman.
“It’s been ages since I’ve received a bouquet. How neat.”
I waved the flowers at Ian, showing them off.
While I was excited by the unexpected gift, Ian’s expression was less than enthusiastic.
‘What’s his deal now?’
I looked at him for a moment, then plucked a rose from the bouquet and tucked it behind his ear. He flinched.
“…What is this?”
“Everyone else is smiling, but you’re the only one with a sour face. Either smile or wear this flower.”
“This flower?”
Ian looked at me as if I’d lost my mind. But no matter how he stared at me, he was the one with the flower in his hair, not me.
Suppressing a chuckle, I grinned darkly.
“It’s payback for buying me the bracelet. It suits you perfectly. You look like a flower boy.”
A madman with a flower.
I barely managed to hold back my laughter, my shoulders shaking slightly.
Ian gave me an incredulous look, as if to ask if I was serious, before sighing deeply in frustration. But even so, he didn’t remove the flower from behind his ear.
‘He’s weirdly obedient sometimes, isn’t he?’
Honestly, I wouldn’t have said anything if he’d just taken it off and gotten annoyed.
Meanwhile, the magic show was reaching its climax, with the magician pulling a rabbit out of a long silk hat.
“Looks like the show’s almost over. Let’s go. We still have other places to explore.”
Holding his hand, I led him through the crowd. After browsing a few more stalls and even buying cotton candy—something Ian hated—the sun began to set, and the surroundings darkened.
Looking up at the dimming lights, Ian spoke. “It looks like the fireworks are about to start. Let’s head to the square.”
“Okay. But how long are you going to keep that on?”
I glanced at him as I asked. Ian raised an eyebrow, confused by my question.
Barely able to contain my laughter, I pointed at the rose still tucked behind his ear. “The flower. It suits you, but…”
“Oh.”
As if only now remembering it, Ian pulled out the rose with a slightly troubled expression.
“That’s a shame.”
“Not at all.”
Teasing him with my eyes, I watched his stiff expression as we made our way toward the square. Fortunately, it wasn’t far.
By the time we arrived, the square was already packed with people eager to watch the show. We managed to find a spot just in time.
Boom!
Bang!
With a deafening noise, colorful fireworks exploded in the dark sky. First came small bursts, followed by massive fireworks that seemed to fill the entire sky. Uniquely shaped fireworks followed, painting the heavens with dazzling colors.
“Wow….”
A breathless sigh of awe escaped me.
After staring at the radiant sky for a while, I turned to look at Ian.
I thought he’d be watching the fireworks like I was, but instead, he was focused on a specific point in the crowd, not the sky.
‘Huh?’
Before I could ask him what was going on, Ian suddenly wrapped his arm around me without warning.
I stiffened at the unexpected contact.
“W-what are you doing?”
What’s gotten into him all of a sudden? Is he crazy?
Without looking at me, Ian spoke.
“Let’s stay like this for a moment.”
“What?”
I let out a nervous squeak at his low, quiet murmur.
‘Is he seriously losing it?’
But with the crowd so thick around us and his arm holding me tighter than I expected, I couldn’t easily pull away.
“…Hey, could you loosen up a bit…?”
“Shh.”
Shh? What’s with the shh?
As I seriously started wondering if the cotton candy I’d forced him to eat had some kind of hallucinogen in it, Ian tightened his hold on me and subtly moved us deeper into the crowd.
“Why, why are you doing this…?”
With narrowed eyes, Ian quietly replied,
“…I think we’re being followed.”
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