We met Sir Preston and Sir Cane, who were already waiting for us in front of the carriage. We hurried over to greet them warmly, and they responded with equal enthusiasm. “No need to rush, young misses,” Sir Cane said with a ugh as he opened the carriage door for us.

  We would be riding in the Ducal carriage, which was rger than the one I usually used and designed to accommodate more passengers—almost like a limousine. In this world, all carriages are automated and do not require a driver. They operate through encrypted data, with a list of programmed destinations, allowing them to function independently. Additionally, the carriages are equipped with advanced protective barriers. Even the slightest bump or disturbance triggers an alert to the authorities, ensuring passenger safety in case of an emergency. Any unauthorized modifications to the carriage should also be notified to the authorities, making the system highly secure.

  These carriages are exceptional when it comes to safety and practicality, but their steep price puts them out of reach for most. While more affordable alternatives exist, they offer fewer features in comparison.

  One by one, the three of us climbed into the carriage, followed by our attendants, while the two knights took their pces at the front. Sir Preston, the older and higher-ranked of the two, exuded a serious demeanor, but he was surprisingly patient with Sir Cane, who, younger and still full of youthful energy, had a more pyful nature. Despite their differences, both knights enjoyed accompanying us. Sir Preston, with his sweet tooth, would happily join me in line at Sweet Anomaly to buy treats, while Sir Cane, though not as passionate about bugs as Eri, would enthusiastically share his knowledge of local spots where she could find interesting specimens to catch. As for Cece, she was more than happy to let us occupy her knights while she browsed her favorite bookshops in peace.

  We sat eagerly in the carriage, waiting to arrive at our destination. It didn’t take long before we came to a stop. Sir Preston and Sir Cane stepped out first to scan the area, ensuring everything was safe. After a brief moment, Sir Preston gave us the signal, and our attendants exited ahead of us to assist us one by one as we stepped down from the carriage.

  As soon as we were all outside, I pyfully shouted, “Attack!” and the three of us rushed off in different directions toward the shops we each wanted to visit first. But before we could get too far, Sir Preston quickly caught Eri and me by the shoulders, while Sir Cane gently stopped Cece.

  “Let’s all calm down, young misses,” Sir Cane said, clearly amused by our enthusiasm.

  Once we were released, I pouted. “We have to hurry! Sir Preston will come with me, and Eri has to tag along—she’s paying. You can go with Cece, Sir Cane!”

  But Sir Preston shook his head with a faint smile. “Unfortunately, things will be different this time, Lady Nia. The Duchess has instructed us to accompany all of you together, which means we’ll be visiting each store as a group, one by one.”

  I sighed dramatically, so much for our usual shopping chaos.

  There was no way we’d make it to our usual spot if we all stuck together—not with only an hour to visit Montercarlo Street. I could already feel the clock ticking, and the Duchess’s strict instructions weighed heavily on my mind.

  My thoughts raced. There has to be a way around this. I briefly considered bribing the knights, but dismissed it just as quickly. That would be reckless. If word got back to my father... Well, I could kiss my freedom goodbye. No more outings. No more Montercarlo. Just locked doors and lectures.

  “Okay, listen up,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “There’s no way we’ll get through every shop in an hour unless we split up. We need to be smart about this.”

  I turned to Cece. “Have Melody go to the bookshop and make a list of all the books you want. She’s quick, and she knows your taste.”

  Cece immediately stomped her foot in protest, brows drawn in a frown. I didn’t give her the chance to argue.

  “Eri, you send Cherry to the pet store. I’ll lend you Cecil too—they’ll be faster together. Your shop’s the farthest, and we’re short on time.”

  Eri shook her head, arms crossed. “No, no, Nia, you don’t understand,” she said with growing panic. “I’m the only one who knows exactly what my lovelies need. Cherry and Cecil won’t have a clue!”

  I let out a sigh. Of course she’d say that. Why did everything have to be this difficult?

  I pulled the two of them aside, out of earshot—hopefully—of Sir Preston and Sir Cane. I lowered my voice to a whisper.

  “We’re running out of time. You two need to decide what we’re going to do.”

  My mind kept circling back to the one pn I’d been trying to dismiss: bribing the knights. But the more I thought about it, the more it started to feel like the only option left.

  “I’m thinking… we give Sir Preston and Sir Cane a little gift,” I said carefully. “A token of our appreciation, you know? But this has to stay between us. Not a word to our parents. And make sure your attendants don’t spill anything either.”

  “Once they’ve received it, convincing them to split up and let us visit our favorite shops should be way easier,” I added.

  “That’s a great idea!” Eri said, her eyes lighting up.

  Cece nodded thoughtfully. “Hmm… I think we can pull that off. What if we gave them some expensive liquor? My father always says it’s ‘a man’s best friend.’ I could grab a bottle from his celr!”

  I shook my head. “Better if we buy it now and give it to them right away. That way, the charm of the surprise won’t wear off.”

  Cece grinned. “Alright! Let’s do it your way, then!”

  Unbeknownst to us, Sir Preston and Sir Cane had heard every word. Of course, they had—they were Advanced-ranked swordsmen, after all. Sir Preston was even two levels above Sir Cane.

  Sir Cane nudged Sir Preston and muttered, “Should we tell them we can hear everything they’re saying?”

  Sir Preston gave him a sideways gnce. “Let them plot. It’s more entertaining this way.”

  Sir Cane had to fight back a ugh, clearly amused by our desperate little scheme. Meanwhile, Sir Preston simply shook his head with a small, bemused smile, as if he couldn't decide whether to be fttered or concerned.

  We spun around to start moving—and froze. Sir Preston was watching us with his arms crossed and the faintest smile tugging at his lips. Sir Cane gave us an exaggerated thumbs up.

  I whispered under my breath, “We are so doomed.”

  Cece and Eri quickly realized that our pn had crumbled before it even had a chance to take off. We were now in a truly precarious situation. Not only did we have just one hour to spend on Montercarlo Street, but we were only allowed to visit once a week.

  Sir Preston, clearly uncomfortable, gnced at us. Our faces, once full of excitement and determination, now looked as lifeless as dolls.

  “Since we’ve already lost a few minutes,” Sir Preston said with an apologetic tone, “we’ll only have about 15 minutes to visit each shop. It’ll be a quick trip—just grab the essentials. Lady Eri, your favorite pet shop is a 10-minute walk away, so it’s best if your attendant handles that, like Lady Nia suggested.”

  Eri nodded slowly, her spirit defted. “I understand,” she murmured, her voice barely audible.

  “I’m sorry we can’t do more,” Sir Preston added, his expression genuinely regretful. “But... you can still give us the liquor,” Sir Cane interjected with a pyful grin, though there was a flicker of sympathy in his eyes.

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