Sunlight spilled over the cobblestone streets.
Roadside stalls were piled high with fruits, silk, and medicinal herbs.
The air was filled with the fragrance of food, flowers, and… a faint hint of rust.
The marketplace buzzed with noise.
A vendor shouted loudly, “Fresh apples! Two copper coins!”
Wooden signboards creaked in the breeze.
Children laughed and played, wooden cart wheels rattled over the stones, and a minstrel’s fingers plucked a cheerful melody from a harp, occasionally accented by the soft chime of wind bells.
“Just as lively as ever.”
The girl wore a simple nun’s habit.
Her jet-black hair glowed softly in the sunlight.
Beneath a light veil, ruby-like eyes calmly swept across the stalls.
In the woven basket she carried were fruits, flowers, and medicinal herbs.
The breeze fluttered her skirt while the sunlight outlined her figure like a painting—pure and elegant—drawing frequent glances from passersby.
She stopped in front of a herb stall and gently picked up a leaf with slender fingers.
“This can be used to brew a mid-grade mana potion. Good quality.”
“Twenty copper coins, Sister.”
“Alright…”
A little girl came running and playing, accidentally bumping into her and falling onto the ground.
Tears instantly filled her frightened eyes.
The girl knelt down gently, helping her up and handing her a blooming flower.
“It’s okay, it’s okay. Here~ take this and cheer up.”
Her smile was warm and sincere, revealing an unexpected calmness and charm far beyond her age.
The little girl burst into laughter again, clutching the flower as she skipped away.
…
Not far away stood a boy in a simple white linen shirt, sleeves rolled to his elbows.
Sunlight kissed his shining blond hair, and curiosity sparkled in his blue eyes.
He seemed to be about to buy something, yet his gaze kept drifting toward the nun.
Adrian had secretly slipped out again.
He loved blending into the marketplace, fascinated by the lively, authentic atmosphere of ordinary life.
Every time he sneaked out unnoticed—or at least, that’s what he believed.
“Her smile is so sincere… She’s so young, yet so gentle…”
He had noticed the girl a few days ago.
The moment he first saw her, he was deeply captivated.
That day, he had even given her a small bit of help—though she never knew it.
Since then, the girl often appeared here whenever the market was lively, and before noon she would leave hand-in-hand with an elegant lady.
He could always find her easily.
And whenever she left, her basket was always full.
“Is she an alchemist too?”
“Maybe… I could ask about her name at the monastery?”
The girl seemed to have finished her shopping.
She looked toward the sun and smiled, revealing a small tiger tooth.
“Is she leaving?”
Adrian’s heart stirred.
The girl turned calmly and began walking toward the road that led out of the market.
He subconsciously followed, trying to get closer—
—but accidentally knocked over a fruit stall.
Crash!
Apples rolled everywhere, getting stepped on by passersby, picked up by others, or rolling into a dirty gutter.
“Trying to run?”
The vendor jumped up and grabbed Adrian’s arm tightly. “Kid, pay up!”
“I’m sorry! I’ll pay, I’ll pay!”
Adrian hurriedly apologized, reaching for the money pouch at his waist.
“My pouch… where is it?”
His face went pale.
“Hmph. You’re with those guys, aren’t you?”
The vendor sneered, pointing at several figures who had grabbed apples and run into an alley.
“Pay up! Four silver coins!”
“I said I’ll pay! Can you let me go? I’ll go back and get the money…”
Adrian tried to pry open the iron-like grip, but his arm was already turning pale from the pressure.
“Do I look like an idiot? Come on! Let’s go see the guards!”
“No! Don’t get the guards involved! I’ll pay you—I’ll give you a gold coin!”
“Pah! Now you’re scared?”
The vendor dragged him forcefully toward the road where the patrol guards usually passed.
Adrian panicked, blurting nonsense, which only made the vendor even more determined not to let him go.
With such a handsome face, even without money he could still be used to pay off the debt.
Hearing the commotion, Lukoko turned around.
Her gaze landed on the center of the disturbance.
As Adrian struggled, she caught a brief flash of a royal crest at his waist.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
“So which noble family’s young master has come to ‘experience the common folk’s life’?”
“Should I go watch the show?”
“Aurelia still has a while before she ‘gets off work.’”
Tilting her head slightly, she watched with interest.
The mysterious veil over her eyes combined with her enigmatic smile left a passing young noble completely stunned.
[Charm ♥♡♡]
“Father! I want her to be my maid!”
The boy blurted.
Smack!
His father, who rarely used force, slapped him across the head.
The boy burst into tears as his father dragged him away in embarrassment.
Lukoko seemed completely unaware.
She was just about to enjoy the spectacle…
[System Notification: Story quest triggered — Act 1: “The Spark of First Encounter.” Accept?]
Current objective: Help Prince Adrian escape trouble.
This is a continuous storyline quest.
Completing it will reward you with Footprint Fragments, an equipment chest, and Versadis reputation.
[Footprint Fragment]: Can be used in the current region to guide you to traces left by the one you long for.
Yes / No
Seeing the effect of the Footprint Fragment, Lukoko’s pupils shrank.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she nearly dropped the basket.
“Accept!”
[System Notification: The ancient Immersive Romance Module has been restarted. Enjoy the game, heroine.]
“Wait—what the—?!”
A sudden sharp pain stabbed through her head.
But it vanished instantly.
When she opened her eyes again—
“???”
Above people’s heads appeared floating labels:
[Can Be Romanced]
[Cannot Be Romanced]
[Someone Who Wants to Romance You]
The world had entered a strange visualized mode.
Then she looked at the boy being dragged away.
Above his head floated large golden words:
[Main Target: Prince Adrian (Romanceable)]
She looked above her own head.
[Main Target: Saint Lukoko (Romanceable)]
“…Huh???”
She stood there dumbfounded, completely forgetting to rescue the boy about to be “judged.”
[System Notification: Mission about to fail! Take action immediately.]
That snapped her out of it.
The guards were already about to question Adrian.
“Fine, I’ll just treat it like playing house with kids.”
Levitation!
She flew toward them instantly, speaking with just the right amount of panic in her sweet voice.
“Gentlemen, this is my friend. It’s just a misunderstanding.”
The guards froze when they heard the familiar voice.
Lukoko arrived, gently pulling Adrian behind her.
“I’m very sorry, uncle! Here’s compensation for your losses…”
She handed the vendor ten silver coins.
The vendor looked into her clear eyes and sighed.
He only took four silver coins and began cleaning up the mess.
The guards resumed their patrol, and the crowd gradually dispersed.
“Girl, being too kind will make you suffer,” someone muttered quietly.
Lukoko said nothing.
She pulled Adrian away from the market.
…
Finally away from the noisy crowd, she released his arm and smiled warmly.
“You should hurry home. Be more careful next time.”
Her gentle tone and elegant demeanor made Adrian’s heart pound.
“She’s really kind… She even helped me out like that.”
“Thank you…”
The boy said shyly.
“My name is Adrian.”
He clutched the edge of his shirt, trying to hide his embarrassment.
But Lukoko didn’t respond immediately.
Under the veil, her eyes narrowed slightly as she stared at several floating options.
“What is this thing…?”
Choose your response to Adrian
A. Gentle response: “It’s alright. Just be careful next time.” (Favor +3♥)
B. Cold response: “Don’t wander around like that again.” (Favor +2♥)
C. Tease him: “Young master, are you trying to demolish the marketplace?” (Favor +5♥)
Which one?
Ignore them all.
“Next time, keep your money pouch in your underwear.”
Lukoko tilted her head and said innocently.
“…Huh?”
Adrian stared at her in shock.
“That’s what the repair shop uncle said.”
She flashed her small tiger tooth with a pure smile.
“Oh… haha… I see… I’ll remember that.”
Adrian scratched the back of his head, blushing again.
“I knew it—such a wonderful girl wouldn’t say something strange like that.”
“Well then, goodbye Adrian. I should head back.”
She smiled sweetly and turned to leave.
“Wait!”
Adrian hurried forward.
“Is there something else?”
She asked, stepping back slightly.
“Um… thank you for not laughing at me…”
He gathered all his courage.
“Could you… tell me your name?”
After a brief silence—
“I am Dawn, a traveling nun.”
She performed a standard nun’s greeting but did not reveal her real name.
“Dawn… I’m glad to meet you.”
He extended a trembling hand.
“I’m glad to meet you too.”
But instead of shaking his hand, she took out a red apple and placed it in his palm.
“Following girls secretly isn’t very gentlemanly, you know.”
“Next time, try doing it openly.”
With a playful smile brighter than sunlight, she turned and walked away.
[Charm Effect] Favor +10♥ (someone unaware)
Adrian stood frozen, staring at her retreating figure.
Her words echoed repeatedly in his mind.
“Next time, do it openly…”
Only when she disappeared around the corner did he snap back to reality.
His face instantly turned redder than the apple in his hand.
“She knew! She knew all along that I was following her!”
“Your Highness?”
A gentle but slightly helpless voice spoke from behind him.
“Wah!”
Adrian jumped.
“Why is Your Highness’s face so red? Are you unwell?”
The old butler asked anxiously.
Adrian panicked and ran off, covering his face.
“I ran too fast! No—it’s the sun! Stop asking! Let’s go back!”
“Your Highness! Slow down! Careful! Don’t go through the front gate!”
The old butler chased after him, panting.
