58 The Carnival 1 (2/2)

”Really?” I excitedly asked.

I accepted the cotton candy as the merchant gave me one of his largest puff of pink cotton candy on a stick.

”Just enjoy the capital! Once you come here again with more money, you can pay me back,” the merchant casually handed me a cute bunny ear headband.

Knowing that the merchant was simply a good-hearted person, I accepted the accessory and placed it on my head.

”Thank you!” I brightly smiled.

I left the stall to explore more of the fifth district as I knew I didn't have much time before Luke sent the knights out for a search party as soon as he figured out I sneaked out of the castle. When I walked deeper into the night market, the smell of various meat being grilled made me hungry again.

The dinner I had with Cillian and Luke was simple and resembled the typical meals we ate in the first district. We had our usual steak, salad and fruits for desert, but it was lower in quality.

There were no signs of 'junk food' that I desperately craved these days after finishing my supply of junk food that I bought in the third district.

However, all the street food sold in the night market were the definition of junk food. Unable to resist the delicious smell of the food while having no money, I quickly left the night market despondently.

”Hello, young lady,” a noble from the fifth district greeted me politely just outside the night market.

The noble looked dignified with his military uniform decorated with badges from various accomplishments.

”I was wondering if you got lost from your parents,” the noble kindly asked me.

'How were there nobles in this area? Weren't there only supposed to be commoners here? If that noble reports me as a lost child, there's a chance that Luke will find me more easily,' I thought with irritation.

”I came out here alone,” I honestly confessed so that the noble wouldn't report me as a lost child.

”A runaway child, I see.” The noble mumbled quietly to himself.

”Ummm... my parents were too busy to take me to the carnival so I came out here on my own!” I quickly denied.

”John! Check if there's any noble families in this area that is looking for a young girl.” The noble shouted to his colleague.

”Yes, Captain Robert!” John yelled back.

'Why couldn't you come up with a better excuse Rika?' I ridiculed myself.

”I'm not a noble,” I tried to convince Robert.

”No matter how you feel, you should never try running away from your family. You know there's lots of bad people in this world!” Robert started to scold me.

”Besides, you're wearing a similar design that my younger sister wears. And only nobles can shop at that boutique,” Robert sternly faced me like he was indirectly telling me to not take him as a fool.

Of course, I had to wear this fancy dress outside! I was so used to the fancy outfits I wore in the first district that I naturally wore this dress outside as if it was a downgraded and out-of-fashion dress from the first district.

'Why didn't you steal one of the maid's uniforms during the morning?' I reprimanded myself.

Seeing that there was no other option, I starting to run away from the noble as fast as I could as the noble focused on talking with his colleague. Thankfully, when I stopped to catch my breath, I found myself alone in the streets of the fifth district.

When I determined that it was safe to walk from here on, I walked towards the direction of the carnival. I saw the royal palace getting closer as the noticeable white marbled walls stood out from the far distance.

'I better walk carefully to avoid getting noticed by more nobles and knights,' I thought as the streets were bound to get more crowded as I got closer to the carnival.