Free Web NovelChapter 170: Municipal Market
The Klento Municipal Market was huge and was not in the open air, but in a large building. It was a brick building with weathered walls, but still imposing. Majestic arches stretched along its many entrances, inviting visitors to enter.
Victor passed under one of these arches to enter. And if the city outside seemed bustling, the sounds inside the market were even more intense.
Vendors hawked their wares in loud, inviting voices, and the constant movement of people created chaotic queues.
Most of the shops had wooden crates displaying everything from exotic fish to weapons, and the other many shops were crammed with local handicrafts.
Victor began his search, meandering between the shops, his eyes searching for something that might suit Luísa.
The first stop was a jewelry shop. Silver and gold pendants set with precious stones sparkled in the soft light of hanging lanterns. He held up a necklace with a small amethyst and imagined Luísa wearing it because, after all, her eyes were a similar shade. But he knew that she already had a lot of jewelry, and something so ostentatious didn’t seem appropriate to relax her.
He continued his walk, stopping at a shop that sold handmade perfumes. Colorful glass bottles lined the shelves, each containing a unique essence.
The clerk, an elderly man with a white beard and small glasses, offered him a bottle with a delicate floral scent.
"This is our latest perfume," he said with a smile. "Made with flowers picked in the mountains of Lamía. If these flowers can smell in this place, they smell better than any other flower. It’s a gift for a lady you’re looking for, isn’t it? Any lady would love to receive this!" free𝑤ebnovel.com
Victor thanked her, but knew that perfume probably wasn’t the answer either. Luisa already had a collection of fine scents. He wanted something with a deeper meaning, something that could really help her relax.
As he walked, his thoughts turned to the conversations he had had with Luísa over the years. He remembered how she always spoke fondly of her childhood, of the times when she ran free in the fields of her family’s estates outside of Klento, without the pressures and responsibilities that began to surround her as a teenager. Perhaps something to remind her of those simple, happy times would be the perfect gift.
Victor entered a craft shop where a young woman was delicately carving a piece of wood. Sculptures of animals, monsters, and human figures lined the shelves. He approached the young craftswoman and watched her work.
"These sculptures are incredible," he said, catching her attention.
"Thank you," she replied, turning away from her work to face him. "I try to reproduce with my hands what I see with my eyes. Anything fantastic I want to replicate, it’s like an obsession haha! Anyway, can I help you with anything in particular, sir?"
"I’m looking for a gift for a very special friend," Victor explained. "Something to help her relax and remember simpler times from her childhood."
The artist smiled, seeming to understand his intention. "I have a few pieces that might interest you. Come with me."
She led him to a section in the back of the store where small pieces of furniture and decorative objects were displayed. Among them, the woman picked up a music box, beautifully carved from dark wood with silver details. She smiled and began to turn the delicate crank on the side of the music box.
A soft, enchanting melody began to play, filling the air with a sense of calm and nostalgia.
"This music box was handmade by me," the craftsman explained. "The melody is a traditional Athínas song, often played during spring festivals in the south."
Victor smiled, feeling that he was on the right track. However, he wanted to explore more options before making a final decision. He thanked the craftsman and continued his search at the market.
His next stop was an antique bookstore. Shelves full of dusty volumes reached to the ceiling, and the smell of old paper was comforting.
Victor wandered the aisles, reading the titles on the spines of the books. He knew that Luisa loved to read, but again, he wanted something that was more than just a book, as she already had many rare and expensive books.
While flipping through some books that looked promising, he found one that caught his eye. It was an old diary, with a worn leather cover and yellowed pages. As he flipped through it, he noticed that even though it was very old; the diary was blank. An idea began to form in his mind, but he quickly dismissed it.
Luísa probably signed papers all day long and wouldn’t want to spend what little free time she had writing on old pages.
Still thinking, Victor left the bookstore. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓
The truth that Victor began to realize was that he didn’t know Luísa Selvarum as well as he thought. She had been a friend for twenty years and had taken him in at the beginning of this winter, but the Luisa of today was not the one he knew. In fact, he wasn’t even the same man he used to be.
How could he give her a gift when he couldn’t even ask her why she wore a blindfold? Or understand what she really felt for him?
Victor was about to give up on the idea of giving Luísa a present when he passed a shop that displayed beautiful pieces of colored glass in its window. He didn’t even go inside, but was immediately greeted by a young woman.
"Hello, sir! What can I do for you today? Would you like to take a look at our products?" asked Eliana with an excited smile.
"I’m looking for something special. Something that can help relieve stress and bring a little peace. Do you have any suggestions?"
"Is it for a special person?"
"Exactly."
Eliana thought for a moment, and suddenly her eyes sparkled with ideas.
"I think I have exactly what you need. Come with me." She said and waved him into the shop.
Victor followed her and saw on the counter that there was a small collection of handmade snow globes. Each contained a different scene from Klento, capturing the essence of the city from above.
"These snow globes are enchanted. When you shake them, not only do they create a beautiful snowstorm inside, but they also emit a gentle melody that helps calm the mind and spirit. They’re perfect for someone who needs a moment of peace in the midst of chaos."
Victor took the globe in his right hand and shook it. Then snow began to fall inside the globe, and the scene of the main square lit by lanterns became even more beautiful.
"This is very nice. I think I’ll take it."
After paying for the globe, Victor thanked Eliana for her help.
"Thank you. I’m sure she’ll like it," he said.
"I hope so," Eliana replied with a broad, radiant smile. "Good luck, sir."
He said goodbye and left the shop. Victor searched so long for the ideal gift that he forgot the time, and it was already evening when he left the market.
When he arrived at the mansion, the large wooden doors were closed, and soft light came in through the windows.
Victor climbed the stairs carefully, trying not to slip on the ice that was forming. Before he could knock, the door opened slightly and Margaret, the longtime maid, appeared.
"Good evening, Mr. Victor. I saw you coming through the window of the main drawing room," she greeted him with a slight tilt of her head. "Come in, please. It’s a cold night."
Victor entered the hall of the mansion, feeling the comfortable warmth in contrast to the cold outside.
Margaret, with her nimble, experienced hands, quickly began to help Victor remove his heavy, snow-covered coat. He hesitated for a moment before removing it completely, remembering the gift wrapped inside.
"Margaret, wait a minute," he said, slipping his hand into an inside pocket of his coat and carefully removing the gift-wrapped snow globe. "I need to get something from here."
Margaret frowned and watched him curiously, her cheeks flushed with inner heat. When she saw the wrapped spherical object, she laughed briefly.
"That’s a present for Madame Luisa, isn’t it? That’s very sweet, Mr. Victor," she said with a smile that brimmed with pride.
A shy smile slowly appeared on Victor’s face. "Yes... I hope she likes it. Is she back from the board meeting by any chance?" asked Victor as he handed the coat completely to Margaret.
"Yes, sir. She arrived a few minutes ago and is in the library on the second floor. Looks like it was a long and tiring meeting."
"Thank you, Margaret. I’ll go up. I think this is the ideal time to give it to her."
"Right. Good luck, Mr. Victor."
The Selvarum Mansion was enormous, with long corridors that were well lit at night. Victor passed a staircase and several closed doors until he reached the library door, then took a deep breath before knocking lightly.
*Knock, knock*
"Come in, please." Luisa’s soft voice answered from the other side.
