Chapter 18: A Knight Princess’s Search

Yuli hurried backstage, only to find Fran already dressed in male attire, waiting quietly for her.

“Cough, cough—we meet again! I saw you earlier, Sister Yuli.”

Fran coughed lightly twice before speaking, as if explaining why he was waiting there. Yuli nodded, stepping closer to him.

“Were you waiting for me? Hmm… you sang really well, Fran.”

Yuli looked directly at Fran, earnestly embracing his shoulders. After her praise, she couldn’t help but reveal her true feelings to him.

“Where did you go…?”

A hint of grievance laced her tone.

‘Heh—’

Fran could only chuckle inwardly. ‘This guy, really…’

He gently pushed Yuli away once more, feigning an uneasy expression. “Sister Yuli, I’m sorry. I… I broke something at the shop before, so I haven’t dared to go back these past few days…”

“Oh, this…” Yuli frowned. ‘Was that all it was? I thought…’

“I’ll give you the money! Just tell me how much you need. And… I’ll give you the money for accompanying me last night too!”

Yuli grabbed Fran’s hand, speaking with agitation, as if afraid he might run off again.

This time, Fran shook his head. He simply extended a finger, tracing a line across her chest, then spoke softly:

“No, thank you, Sister Yuli. I don’t want your money.”

“Besides, my absence wasn’t entirely about the money. My black dress was stained with cake, and I hadn’t found anything suitable to wear.”

“I see…” Yuli nodded, tightening her grip on his palm. “How about this? I’ll take you to buy new clothes, Fran. Consider it compensation, alright?”

The youth hesitated shyly, seemingly deep in thought.

After a moment, Fran nodded gently.

Yuli seized the opportunity, taking his hand and leading him out of the opera house.

‘Holding hands… We’re actually holding hands.’

Yuli glanced back periodically, afraid the person holding her hand wasn’t Fran. Each time she looked, Fran wore a shy expression.

Yuli’s steps couldn’t help but become more confident, and with a joyful heart, the two arrived at Purburg’s commercial street.

She had long heard that Purburg was the global capital of fashion and commerce, with an overwhelming array of goods piled high. She had also heard that wealthy ladies from many countries loved to indulge in shopping sprees there.

But when Yuli first stepped onto the commercial street, she… she was dumbfounded.

In reality, the commercial street was not as beautiful as Yuli had imagined; instead, it was a scene of utter devastation.

Many shop doors were smashed, the interiors were in disarray, and most of the remaining stores had their doors and windows tightly shut, utterly deserted.

Yuli’s frown deepened with every step she took. After walking for a long time, she finally found an open clothing store with Fran.

The shop was run by an old woman. The moment she saw Yuli’s Teuton military uniform, she began to tremble with fear. Even though Yuli was a girl, the old woman dared not relax her guard in the slightest.

Yuli awkwardly entered the store, addressing the old woman in Francian:

“Excuse me, madam, I’m here to buy clothes for this child next to me.”

“Oh… not… not a robbery?”

The old woman awkwardly raised a trembling hand to adjust her reading glasses. Then, hunched over, she shuffled out, gesturing to Yuli and Fran.

“Come with me.”

Yuli turned back to reassure Fran, “Don’t be afraid…” She then checked the pistol at her waist, and after confirming it was secure, she quickly led Fran to follow the old woman.

The old woman led them into a storeroom, where a few clothes still remained. With a frail, raspy voice, she explained:

“Only these are left. Your people took all the good ones. Only women’s clothes remain. Just pick what you like…”

Yuli sighed, squatting down to sort through the clothes on the floor.

‘Hmm… this one’s alright, and this one’s quite pretty. It’s just… the fabric isn’t great. I wonder if Fran will be uncomfortable wearing it?’

She picked left and right, eventually selecting a few pieces, which she held in her arms before handing them to Fran one by one.

“Fran, go try them on. See which one looks best.”

“Okay.”

Fran nodded, took the clothes, and headed towards the fitting room.

Yuli found a spot to sit down, and while waiting for Fran, she struck up a conversation with the old woman.

“How many people actually paid for the things they took?” Yuli asked the old woman.

“Heh… paid?”

The elderly woman was so exasperated she laughed, a sound laced with bitter sarcasm. Hearing it, Yuli lowered her head, feeling a pang of disappointment.

“How much damage did your shop sustain? I’ll see if I can compensate you for a portion…”

The old woman shook her head, turning back to the cash register without another word to Yuli.

Yuli felt a pang of bewilderment. It was clear the old woman harbored a strong aversion towards her; had Yuli not appeared polite, the old woman likely wouldn’t have uttered a single word to her.

Yuli rubbed her fingers together, sighing.

‘That’s right…’

‘Even if I could afford to compensate for one shop, could I compensate for the entire street?’

****

‘Sigh—’

“Sister Yuli—!”

The fitting room door suddenly swung open, and a blond ‘girl’ in a captivating blue evening gown slowly emerged.

Yuli immediately looked up, casting her melancholic thoughts aside as she gazed at Fran before her.

Fran nervously fiddled with the hem of the dress, twirled the skirt, then shyly spoke:

“Sister Yuli, look… do I look alright in this? Did I get something wrong…?”

“You…” Yuli was utterly stunned. She waved her hand, telling Fran, “Fran, turn around, let me see…”

“Oh.”

Fran nodded, turning gently in a circle.

The flowing skirt outlined graceful curves, and a willow-like waist captivated the eye. Rose-red leg rings adorned slender legs, and the enchanting blue fabric fluttered like a dancing butterfly.

It was a long moment before Yuli finally snapped back to reality.

“Is it… is it pretty?”

Fran tilted their head, hands behind their back, smiling as they inquired of Yuli. They seemed much more relaxed. Yuli couldn’t help but let out a breath, then nodded enthusiastically.

“It’s so beautiful… How should I put it? Hmm… I feel like you’re outshining me, Fran. You’re even more charming than I am…”

“Heh heh, Sister Yuli, you’re looking a bit dazed, aren’t you? Speaking of which, Sister Yuli, do you like girls?”

Suddenly, Fran posed a mischievous question. Yuli froze. “Ah? I, I…”

Yuli thought for a moment but couldn’t give a concrete answer.

“When I was little, I always heard stories of princesses and knights. Knights rode valiant steeds, majestic and proud, while princesses were delicate and charming, graceful in every way. Girls are supposed to be princesses, aren’t they? Yet, from a young age, I wielded swords, practiced horsemanship, and archery. I…”

“I just kept wondering when this Knight Princess of mine would ever meet her own ‘princess.’ Yes, that’s probably it.”

“I see…” Fran nodded. “Alright, I asked too much, I apologize, Sister Yuli. Well… let’s stop trying on clothes here. I suddenly remembered I have something else to do. Can we… meet tomorrow, at the tavern where we first met?”

“Eh?!”

Yuli scratched her head. ‘Are they leaving already?’

“Alright, then, madam, please pack up the clothes I picked out.”

Yuli helped Fran gather the clothes. Carrying large and small bags, the two walked together along the streets of Purburg. As the sun set, Yuli looked up, feeling a rare sense of happiness in her heart.

‘See you tomorrow…’

‘Yes, see you tomorrow.’