Even though they only came a few steps to the end of the market, the place where they stood was deserted and dark because the lights and the people were fewer around them.
“It’s my fault that we happened to come to the alley,” Uriel said softly.
“It’s alright. We should go back.”
When they turned in the direction of the market, their eyes widened in surprise.
The jewelry stall, which had been here a while ago, has disappeared.
Lights and miscellaneous goods were seen from the distance but there was no trace of merchants near them.
“What the hell is going on?”
“Stay still for a moment.”
Uriel drew close to Apollonia, finding the situation strange.
“We can walk slowly over there.” He calmly told her because he didn’t want her to panic but then, something made him stop talking.
Several shadows began to approach and surrounded the two.
“Stay close to me.”
Uriel stiffened and watched the approaching shadows.
He took a few steps forward and saw their faces.
Despite looking like five-year-olds, they were all adults dressed in rags similar to the previous child.
“Rich gentlemen have come all the way here.” said the man who was standing in the front.
His gray beard was shaggy, but he didn’t look forty just yet.
“I won’t say anything more so give me everything you have.”
When he spoke, the shadows that followed him laughed with a chuckle.
Uriel inwardly sighed with relief.
He was nervous for a moment because he initially suspected that they were trained assassins targeting Apollonia or himself.
However, the five men, dressed in rags from head to toe, seemed to be just gangsters who lived by robbing the neighborhood.
Their levels wouldn’t be that different from the three brothers——Ben, Tan, and Rune——a few years ago.
“We’re good at meeting people.”A younger man behind them said in a mellow voice and went on, “It’s very dangerous for a young man and a beautiful lady to walk around the streets at night.”
When Uriel’s initial relief faded, his sharp gaze shone as he stood firm between Apollonia and the shadows.
“Please give me 10 seconds, Your Highness,” Uriel whispered to Apollonia in a low voice so that the ragged bandits wouldn’t hear him.
“Your face is incredibly handsome but you must have a few loose screws in your head.”
The bearded man uttered a sarcastic remark as he walked a few steps closer to Uriel with ease.
“After that ten seconds, would you give us everything you——? Ugh!”
Before he could finish his sentence, Uriel’s long leg kicked him in the stomach and he collapsed in the blink of an eye.
*PUK*
“Oh? Brother——Ugh!”
*PUK*
“Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!”
“Argh!”
A few short screams were heard before all five men rolled on the ground, clutching their bellies, arms, back, and shoulders.
“Are there any more bandits?” Apollonia asked, not even dropping the bread in her hand.
She looked much calmer than Uriel.
“Are you still eating that? You said it wasn’t the food you expected.”
“I’m not eating it anymore but I just can’t throw it away. I’m going to eat it later. I had no time to throw it away and there was no reason to do it too.”
Unlike Uriel, who was furious at the young men’s assault, Apollonia didn’t appear to be nervous from the moment she saw them.
“What would you have done if you were their target?”
“The political situation right now isn’t similar to the past few years so there’s no reason for them to go after me. Besides, the Duchess is occupied with her business these days.”
Uriel exhaled a deep sigh.
Instead of being careful and meticulous, Apollonia could sometimes be too reckless when it came to protecting herself.
“I was less worried because you’re here with me or else I wouldn’t have come this far, so don’t blame me too much,” Apollonia said as an excuse.
As the color of her eyes switched to green, Uriel also noticed that she was glancing down at something.
The woman, who kept muttering about the head-sized bread, looked like an innocent child in Uriel’s eyes.
In short, he found her cute.
“Indeed, they aren’t close by but we don’t know when they will come for you.” He said.
“Let me ask you something.”
At Apollonia’s words, Uriel turned his head and examined her countenance.
Her child-like expression just now already disappeared replaced by a serious ruler’s sharp gaze.
Uriel sighed once again.
“If you have any questions, we should return to the palace. It’s messy here.….”
Uriel turned around to express his disapproval.
There was nothing very dangerous in his presence, but Uriel hated the fact that the things that had been looming over Apollonia’s face were near her.
Of course, he knew Apollonia would refuse.
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