Rail Star Universe

His bread basket was still full. For the past hour, Kael had been wandering around the market, searching for the right customer. An hour had passed; his steps took him past vegetable sellers, butcher stalls, and rows of small shops selling cheap jewelry and fabric. Not a single customer felt "right" to him. Kael knew exactly the type of target he was looking for—people who could not only afford his bread but also bring profit beyond the standard.

The soft morning sunlight touched the cobblestones. Kael let out a light sigh. His carefully arranged bread was starting to cool. Enough, this is a waste of time, he thought. His steps changed direction, leaving the market for quieter streets.

A carriage came from the right and moved forward. The carriage looked different from the usual ones he saw at the market—cleaner, more elegant, with detailed carvings on the sides of its glass door that reflected the morning sunlight.

As the carriage approached from the right, Kael noticed through the thin silk curtains a beautiful woman. A noblewoman, her face smooth and pale, with emerald green eyes and an almost flawless, graceful demeanor, gazed out of the carriage window. Her long blonde hair was adorned with white lilies neatly pinned on the side of her head, making her look like a living painting.

"Not human," Kael muttered, stunned for a moment as he stared at the noblewoman's face.

The carriage stopped right in front of a luxurious large shop, positioning its right side to face Kael. The coachman got down and quickly entered the shop.

Kael squinted to get a better view of the carriage from afar, his gaze fixed on the slightly open carriage window. Inside, a woman sat, her face clearly visible though partially hidden behind the thin silk curtain. Her long blonde hair softly cascaded over her shoulders.

That's my target market. It's not the time to be awestruck. That carriage is an opportunity. If someone as elegant as that woman takes an interest in his bread, he could profit and quickly reunite with his younger sibling. He adjusted his expression, ensuring a faint but convincing smile adorned his face—not overly friendly, but reassuring enough.

The carriage remained still as Kael approached. Now he could see more clearly. The woman sat on the right, wearing a luxurious dark green gown with contrasting white details. Layered ruffles adorned the wide and flowing skirt, while the sleeves gathered beautifully with green and white ribbons. A golden-brown corset complemented her slim silhouette, and a mock-neck lace collar with an emerald green brooch at its center gave her a perfect aristocratic look. A pair of thin white gloves covered her fingers.

Beside her sat a young girl—probably about fourteen years old—her eyes sparkling with curiosity. Evelyn's blonde hair was styled simply, tied with a dark green ribbon that matched her dress.

Her face was bright, her smile freer, without the reserved demeanor of her cousin. Kael stopped on the right side of the carriage, maintaining a polite distance. He slightly bowed his head.

"Good morning, Milady," he said in a soft but firm voice. "Allow me to introduce the finest bread you'll ever encounter."

The woman—Audrey—turned slowly. Her green eyes looked at Kael with calmness, as if weighing something. A faint smile appeared on her lips.

"Bread?" she said. Her voice was soft but carried an undeniable note of authority.

"Indeed, Milady." Kael lifted his bread basket slightly. "The bread I sell is not ordinary. Made with the finest ingredients, perfected with techniques I've learned since childhood. This is not just food but an experience worth trying."

The girl beside Audrey—Evelyn—immediately leaned closer to the carriage window. "Really? How much is it?"

"One gold coin per piece, Milady," Kael replied without hesitation.

Audrey raised an eyebrow, her sharp eyes fixed on him. Evelyn, on the other hand, was surprised. "One gold coin?!" she said softly, her voice tinged with shock.

Kael gave a small smile. "Quality comes at a price."

Audrey remained calm, but her gaze never left Kael's face. ["Too calm for an ordinary market vendor daring to sell bread to a noblewoman at an unreasonable price. This one's a trickster."] A slight furrow appeared on her brow, but it was fleeting. She showed no signs of displeasure.

"Has this bread sold often?" Audrey asked, her tone slightly misleading.

Kael nodded. "I always seek customers who can appreciate quality. Of course, not everyone understands that. But I'm confident that both of you have refined taste."

Evelyn smiled brightly. "Audrey, let's buy one. I'm curious!"

Audrey did not answer Evelyn. She continued to gaze at Kael. In her heart, she cast a small spell—a spell that could read a person's thoughts. But what surprised her was that she didn't find anything ordinary. The young man's mind was filled with variables, plans he meticulously crafted.

["He's thinking about many things. Steps, words he needs to say, even how his facial expression should appear before me."]

Kael remained calm, but Audrey knew he was assessing the situation. The young man deliberately presented himself as someone naive yet professional—a clever strategy.

"One gold coin is a strange price for a piece of bread," Audrey finally said.

"Sometimes price reflects value," Kael replied. "And if I'm wrong, you can prove it by tasting it yourself."

Audrey felt a gentle nudge from Evelyn beside her. The girl now looked at her with sparkling eyes, full of hope. "Audrey, let's buy one! I want to try it," Evelyn said softly but insistently, like a child who found something exciting amidst the morning's boredom.

Audrey remained silent for a moment, her mind turning. She didn't like rushing decisions, especially when dealing with strangers who seemed more than just 'ordinary bread vendors.' Her gaze returned to the young man outside the carriage.

Kael stood still, barely moving. His bread basket rested in his arm as though its weight didn't bother him at all. His face was calm and professional—too professional for someone selling bread at the market. Though the small smile on his lips appeared friendly, Audrey could see a sharp glint hidden in his eyes. He's studying us.

["Interesting. A bread vendor with sharp words who knows when to speak and when to stay silent. Is this just coincidence?"] Audrey thought, the faint smile still gracing her lips.

Finally, she said, "Alright." Her voice was soft, but Evelyn immediately let out a small cheer beside her. "Give us one."

Kael handed the bread with respectful but not excessive manners, maintaining a sense of professionalism. Evelyn eagerly reached into her small purse, pulling out a single gold coin without hesitation and handing it to Kael.

"Thank you for your trust, Milady," Kael said with a slight bow.

Evelyn, now holding the bread, looked at it with enthusiasm. "This looks delicious! You must come to the Heart family mansion this afternoon!" she suddenly exclaimed.

Kael looked at Evelyn with a surprised gaze that he quickly masked. "The Heart family mansion, Milady?"

"Yes! We're having a tea party this afternoon. You can bring more bread. I'm sure the guests will love it!" Evelyn said confidently, her broad smile radiating youthful innocence.

Audrey closed her eyes briefly, as if holding back a small laugh only she understood. ["You're still the same, Evelyn. Too quick to trust others."]

"I'm sure this bread vendor won't disappoint, right, Audrey?" Evelyn turned to her cousin, seeking approval.

Audrey opened her eyes, her gaze falling back on Kael. The young man still stood firm, as calm as before, but Audrey knew his mind must be racing with calculations.

"Are you interested, Sir?" Audrey asked softly but with a slight edge, as if testing Kael's answer.

Kael gave a faint smile, playing the role he had prepared. "If Milady is willing to invite me, then I won't decline the opportunity. I am a vendor seeking customers, and of course, I feel honored to offer my bread at a place as prestigious as the Heart family's residence."

The words came out so smoothly that Evelyn grew even more excited. "See? He even knows how to speak like a nobleman! This will be fun!"

Audrey was silent for a moment. Her eyes looked deeply into Kael's, as if trying to pierce through his calm exterior. Then, without anyone noticing, she raised her hidden fingers within the carriage and formed a small sign in the air. An invisible scale appeared above Kael's head—small, subtle, and only visible to Audrey.

The scale was one of her old spells, a way to 'weigh' a person—not just their strength but also their personality, intentions, and courage. Kael didn't move, unaware of what was happening. But Audrey saw the needle of the scale remain balanced.

["Interesting. It's rare for me to meet someone with such balance,"] Audrey thought. ["Usually, people who are too clever or deceitful stand out clearly. But this young man... He seems to play both sides of himself simultaneously."]

"Then we'll see you this afternoon," Audrey finally said, deciding to let this play out further. Evelyn let out a small cheer beside her, looking pleased with the result.

Kael bowed slightly again. "I won't disappoint, Milady. Thank you for the opportunity."

The carriage finally moved slowly after the coachman returned with luxurious shopping bags, leaving Kael standing in his place. Audrey sat silently, watching the young man until his figure disappeared into the distance.

Evelyn, unaware of anything, exclaimed cheerfully, "Audrey, you're so kind to let him come! Imagine, we'll have a bread vendor at our tea party! The guests will surely love it!"

Audrey only gave a faint smile. "We'll see, Evelyn."

In her mind, she knew there was something different about Kael. He wasn't just a random young man passing by. There were plans, a mindset far sharper than what appeared on the surface.

["I want to know... What are you truly after, young man? And how far will you go?"]

The small scale vanished without a trace, but Audrey had already marked Kael in her mind.

Kael stood in his place, his bread basket now slightly lighter. His smile did not fade, but in his mind, he was already plotting his next move. The Heart family mansion. This could be a big opportunity.

He took a deep breath, then turned and walked away from the street. His steps were light, but his mind was full of calculations—variables, possibilities, and how he would play his role that afternoon.

["That young girl trusts too easily. But the other woman... Audrey Heart."] He murmured inwardly. ["Someone like that can't be deceived so easily. She reads situations like a master."]

Kael's steps paused momentarily, then he gave a small smile. "Interesting."

That morning ended with Kael successfully selling his bread, but the day was just beginning. That afternoon, he would face the Heart family directly.