As Non and Emily walked away from the church, the sileween them was filled only by the echo of their footsteps.

  Non, still processing the ret events, g Emily, alking beside him with a somewhat distracted expression.

  "Have you eaten anything?" Non asked suddenly, breaking the silence.

  Emily blinked, surprised by the question, but quickly forced a small smile.

  "I'm fihank you," she replied. However, her empty stomach growled in protest. She hadn't had a ce to eat since she left home early that m.

  Non was not someone who could be easily deceived. Emily's pale fad the way she avoided his gaze, he knew she wasn't telling the truth.

  "You o eat more," he ented gently, without judgment, just stating what he already knew.

  After a few minutes of walking along the cobblestoreets, they arrived at a luxurious bakery that stood out among the surrounding buildings.

  Uhe small, modest bakeries Emily was used to, this one was grand, with a carved stone fa?ade and rge windows showg an exquisite sele of products inside.

  The golden sign shimmered with a magical touch, while delicate lights floating at the entrahanks to small entments, created a warm and weling atmosphere.

  The bakery door opened stantly, allowing finely dressed servants to e and go, and occasionally a noble would pick up their order in person.

  The aroma of freshly baked bread filled the air, and the lio enter moved slowly as more ers approached.

  When they finally entered, Emily couldn't help but be awestruck by the interior.

  The shelves, adorned with gold details and intricate engravings, were filled with a variety of breads that seemed too perfect to be real.

  There were rge loaves adorned with shiny seeds that glowed softly, golden, crusty baguettes, and delicate pastries floating slightly on ented trays, waiting to be picked up.

  The bakery's magical lights illuminated every er, highlighting the warm tones of polished wood and the subtle touches of magic that made this pce more than just a simple bakery.

  Noe being a bit overwhelmed by the opulence, mao pce his order without any issues.

  Several fresh, soft, and appetizing-looking loaves were pced in a basket that was hao him at the end of the line.

  The basket itself was a work of art: decorated with silk ribbons and notes of gratitude for the purchase.

  Emily, watg everything silently, couldn't help but pare it to the basket she had given Non the day before.

  Hers had been simple, made of worn wicker, without decorations, barely filled with modest, hard, and dry breads.

  Her grandmother had yelled so much when they prepared it that she now wondered if Non had accepted it out of sheer pity.

  Her thoughts spiraled into a whirlpool of insecurity.

  'Did he pity me…?' Emily thought as she looked at the decorated basket Non now held.

  The trast was overwhelming.

  As she sank into her doubts, Non handed her one of the freshly bought loaves.

  "Here," he said with a small smile, breakihoughts.

  Emily, surprised, accepted it timidly.

  "Thank you…" she murmured, looking at the bread in her hands.

  Though she was hungry, she felt embarrassed to eat in front of Non, especially in such a luxurious pce.

  Even so, she began to nibble on the bread carefully, trying not to make a mess.

  Her focused expression as she ate slowly made Non feel a certain tenderness.

  It was obvious she was hungry, but at the same time, her desire to be discreet, to not draw attention, was evident.

  After a while walking through the streets, they finally arrived at Non's home.

  Emily, who had been focused on not losing him in the crowd, looked up and gasped at the sight of the mansion before them.

  Non's house was enormous, a majestic white stone building with imposing ns leading to a wide, perfectly manicured garden.

  Vibrantly colored flowers decorated the entrah, while marble statues stood on both sides, each with such fiails they seemed about to move.

  Emily stopped iracks, uo believe what she was seeing.

  As she watched, she noticed the household staff: gardeending to the pnts with dediaids ing the tall, gleaming windows, and others taking care of the immacute grounds.

  'Non must be a very important noble,' she thought, and her heart immediately raced.

  She had never imagihat the person who had helped her so much beloo such a high social css.

  He hadn't just spoken informally with the princess, but had also struck a hout hesitation for messing with her.

  Non… was in a pletely different league from her.

  The mansion's staff, upon seeing Non arrive, greeted him with respectful gestures.

  Non responded with a slight nod as he tioward the entrance, followed by an increasingly nervous Emily.

  She could feel the curious stares of the staff on her, like needles prig her skin.

  She swallowed hard, trying not to appear intimidated, but inside, she prayed that nothing would happen to draw attention to her.

  As she walked behind Non, she felt her world had ged pletely in just a few hours.

  Everything she knew, her simple and humble reality, now seemed insignifit pared to the life of this young man who, somehow, had taken her under his wing.