Chapter 3: Every person has a secret,,

Both of them agreed to the terms, and the night passed. Arthur woke up to the sound of countless 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 first thing in the morning, but because she had so many bags, as if they belonged to three people.

“You could’ve asked me to help you carry those heavy luggages,” he said, grabbing all three bags 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 then followed him further into the house.

Arthur brought the bags into an empty room and placed them on the bed. “Sorry if it’s a bit dirty, but starting today, 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 both excitement and hesitation.

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

Shaking her head, she smiled brightly. “It’s my first time having my own room, so I’m happy. 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 wandering 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. She noticed the fruit basket was completely empty, adding to her suspicions.

She turned to Arthur with a pout, crossing her arms. “You never cook, do you? If your refrigerator is empty, I’ll get mad,” she said, narrowing her eyes at him.

Arthur avoided her gaze, scratching the back of his neck. “There’s nothing in the refrigerator,” he admitted bluntly. “I don’t eat much to begin with, and I’ve never been one for cooking. But since I’m not living alone anymore, let’s go to the market together and buy the ingredients we need.”

Alice kept her pout for a moment, then 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 together then.”

Together, they went outside. 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 enigmatic 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 already buying goods and wandering through the streets. Arthur looked at Alice. “What should we buy then?”

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

“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.

They went through various vendor stalls, purchasing meat, eggs, vegetables, rice, fruits, and many other daily necessities. As they explored the market, they encountered Jean, who smirked at them.

“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, surprising Jean.

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

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, which surprised Alice since she didn’t know Arthur was a soldier. Alice stared at him, her expression now tense.

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

Jean coughed twice, then patted his shoulder. “Be good to her, Mr. Arthur. She may be a witch, but she’s human too,” she said, smiling at Alice.

Alice’s eyes widened in surprise, but she smiled. “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. She sighed. “I see, you’re a soldier from this country.”

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, laughing along with him.