Both of them agreed to the terms, and the night passed.

Arthur woke up to the sound of a series knocks on the door. When he opened it, he saw Alice standing there with three huge pieces of luggage.

He was surprised—not because she arrived so early in the morning, but because she had so much luggage, as if they belonged to three people.

“You could’ve asked me to help you carry those heavy luggage,” he said, grabbing all three with ease and carrying them inside.

“You’re my boss. It’s not right to ask for help from my boss, right?” she replied, following him inside.

He frowned slightly and flicked her forehead lightly with his finger.

“Do I look like that kind of boss to you?”

She paused, startled for a moment, before a soft smile appeared on her face. She touched her forehead where he flicked her and whispered,

“No, you don’t.” She walked further into the house.

Arthur carried the luggage into an empty room and set it by the bed.

“Sorry if it’s a bit dirty, but this is your room,” he said.

Alice stepped inside, her eyes shining with  amazement.

“Is it really okay for me to stay here?” she asked, her voice filled with excitement yet a bit of hesitation.

“Yes, but like I said, it’s a bit dusty,” he replied.

She shook her head while her lips curved into a faint smile.

“It’s my first time having my own room, so I’m happy.” She said as her eyes wandered through the room.

“And don’t worry. I can clean the room anytime,” she said, her genuine happiness catching him off guard.

Arthur stared at her for a moment, then nodded.

“I’m happy for you. Anyway, I’m hungry. Can you make something for breakfast?” He turned and walked toward the dining room.

Alice followed him into the kitchen, her eyes lingering as she took in her surroundings.

She was mesmerized by what she saw. Refrigerators were rare and expensive to own, but Arthur had one. The utensils were sparkling clean, almost as if they had never been used before.

She even noticed that the fruit basket was completely empty, which only added to her suspicions.

She shot him a sideways look, lips tugging into a thin line.

“You never cook, do you? If your refrigerator is empty, I’m going to be mad.”

Arthur avoided her gaze, scratching the back of his neck.

“There’s nothing in the refrigerator,” he admitted bluntly.

“I don’t eat much… and I barely know how to cook. ” He paused, tracing her expression shift.

He let out a soft sigh. “But… since I’m not living alone anymore, let’s go to the market and buy what we need.”

Alice pouted for a moment, then faintly smiled.

“Well, since you’re honest, I’ll forgive you this time,” she said teasingly.

Grabbing a basket from the counter, she added,

“Let’s go shopping then.”

Together, they went out. They walked side by side, Alice talking nonstop while Arthur listened attentively.

This rare sight intrigued the people around them; they had never imagined that the

isolated soldier

and the

mysterious woman

—who some thought resembled a witch—would be walking together like this.

It made them curious and, at the same time, amazed by the sudden development.

The old couple from yesterday smiled, clearly happy at the sight.

“What a lovely sight we’ve got here, darling,” Mrs. Fredway said, her voice filled with relief.

Even though it was early in the morning, the vendors in the market had already opened their stalls, and there were plenty of people buying things and wandering through the streets.

Arthur looked at Alice. “What should we buy then?”

“For now, let’s get some ingredients for breakfast and lunch. What do you want to eat?” She replied.

“I want something light for breakfast so I can eat a lot at lunch,” he said.

She started walking. “Okay, then. Let’s buy what we need. You’ll pay for it, right?” she teased, a playful smile on her face.

“No, you’ll pay for it,” he replied immediately, pausing for a moment.

They locked eyes, and the silence between them lasted for about five seconds. Alice was at a loss for words, unsure of how to respond.

“Of course, I’ll pay for the expenses,” Arthur said, a smile appearing on his face.

Alice let out a sigh of relief. “D-Don't make a joke like that.”

They went through various vendor stalls, purchasing meat, eggs, vegetables, rice, fruits, and many other daily necessities.

As they wandered through the market, they ran into Jean, who greeted them with a knowing smirk.

“Aren’t things moving a bit too fast for you two?” she teased, lightly smacking Alice’s shoulder with a smug look on her face.

Alice smirked back. “We’re already engaged, Jean,” she replied quickly, which surprised Jean.

Arthur gave her a light tap on the head twice. “Stop making jokes like that,” he said bluntly.

Turning to Jean, he added, “Good morning. Thank you for passing on what we talked about yesterday. I appreciate it.”

Jean sighed in response. “You’re too stiff. Soldier, you’re way too serious. Relax a little,” she said.

Alice blinked, the color draining slightly from her face. Her gaze slid to Arthur, shoulders stiffening as if the air had suddenly tightened around her.

A soldier…

She thought.

.

“Sorry, it’s just a habit,” Arthur replied, his voice apologetic.

Jean coughed twice and gave his shoulder a friendly pat.

“Be good to her, Mr. Arthur. She may be a witch, but she’s human too,” she said, grinning at Alice.

Alice’s eyes widened in surprise, but her lips curved into a smile.

“I’ve told you a hundred times, I’m not a witch,” she replied, though her tone was more relieved than before.

Jean finally made her way to work, and Arthur watched her go.

“She’s quite a good friend of yours.”

But when Alice looked at him, he noticed her change in demeanor. Her expression had grown serious, as though something had shifted between them.

“I see, you’re a soldier from this country.” Alice said.

Arthur nodded. “Did I never tell you that?” he asked.

She shook her head. “Nope. Anyway, let’s continue shopping. There’s a lot of stuff I still need to buy.” She walked ahead, and he followed.

“Don’t make me go broke, Alice,” he joked.

“I’ll make you buy the entire market, and you still won’t go broke,” she replied in jest.