Chapter 40: The Morning Market and the Water Serpent
The next morning, when I woke up, the sound of rain that had been pounding against the window so fiercely had stopped completely, as if it had all been a lie.
When I opened the window, fresh air after the rain flowed in, and I could hear birds chirping in the distance.
“Princess Rowena, it is morning. It is time for you to wake.”
Still riding the momentum from last night, I called out to the small figure curled up on the bed.
At least while we were in the room, it wasn’t so bad to play along with this little princess game.
“…nn… eo…”
Still half-asleep, Rowena slowly sat up, then stumbled over to me on unsteady feet and leaned against me with a soft thud.
She was still in dreamland.
With a wry smile, I supported her, wiped her face, and combed her hair.
After getting ready, I helped Rowena as before and headed toward the dining hall.
When I asked the staff at the counter about breakfast, they immediately beamed with excitement.
“Sir! Now that the rain has stopped, the fishermen went out early this morning! The riverside market has already started. You can eat at the stalls there, or there are seats available in the dining hall now—whichever you prefer!”
“That’s good to hear. Thank you.”
After thanking them, we stepped outside the inn.
When we reached the riverside, it was already bustling with energy.
Rows of stalls lined the area, filled with lively calls from vendors and mouthwatering aromas.
Fish skewers grilled over charcoal, shellfish stew simmering in large pots, and bread mixed with fresh river seaweed.
Rowena’s eyes sparkled at the unfamiliar scene as she looked around restlessly.
With so many people passing by, I picked her up in my arms.
“Here, you can see better from up here.”
From my arms, she could take in the entire market.
After walking for a while, we came upon a particularly large crowd.
“Ah!”
Rowena pointed toward the commotion.
“Hm? What is it?”
We pushed through the crowd toward the center.
It seemed to be a loading area, and everyone’s attention was fixed on a massive catch suspended by something like a crane.
It was a gigantic water serpent, covered in wounds.
Around it, a group of burly fishermen excitedly recounted how they had taken down the beast.
“Never thought we’d run into one of these in the Apon River! These things usually live deeper in the forest!”
“Probably got swept down by the rain! It was a monster! Tried to bite our boat!”
“But something was off. It was sluggish… I bet it was already wounded before we found it! It had plenty of old injuries too! We got lucky!”
As I listened to their tale with quiet admiration, Rowena in my arms poked at my chest.
Then she silently pointed at the suspended serpent.
Following her finger, I froze.
The tip of the serpent’s tail was missing.
As if it had been cleanly severed by a sharp blade.
The Black Leaf Forest, the swollen river, the log bridge—
That brief clash came rushing back vividly.
Rowena and I looked at each other in silence.
She had realized it too. This was the same one from before.
I leaned in and whispered softly into her ear.
“…Maybe we should try eating it again someday.”
At my words, Rowena nodded and clung tightly to my neck.
Leaving the loading area behind, we bought breakfast from a nearby stall.
Freshly baked bread stuffed with grilled fish and vegetables.
It was different from last night’s delicate steamed dish—this was bold, rustic, and delicious.
As we ate the hot fish together, we made our way back to the inn.
Back in the room, the laundry we had hung was still slightly damp.
“Just a little longer.”
I sat Rowena on the bed and checked her sprained ankle.
The swelling had gone down quite a bit, but I still couldn’t let her overexert herself.
“Alright, let’s go buy some medicine.”
I headed to the counter and asked the staff where to find an apothecary.
While I was at it, I also asked about a shop that might sell a sturdy leather pouch for my notebook.
The kind staff drew me a map and explained everything carefully.
“Rowena, let’s go.”
Lifting her into my arms once more, I set out toward the apothecary through the lively, revitalized town.