Reborn To Change My Fate-Chapter 154 - Hundred And Fifty Four

Meanwhile, in the central market square of Denver, the acrobats had started their act. Men in tight, bright costumes flipped through the air, forming human pyramids and tumbling with impossible grace.

Marissa stood in the front row of the crowd, her eyes wide. She clapped her hands, cheering loudly along with the children around her.

"Higher!" she shouted, laughing as one acrobat launched himself from a springboard.

Derek stood beside her, watching her instead of the show. He saw the way her face lit up. He saw the way she leaned forward, completely absorbed in the spectacle. It was a side of her he had never seen—joyful, uncomplicated, and free.

The performance ended with a final, dramatic pose. The crowd erupted in applause. Marissa clapped until her palms stung.

Derek felt a warmth in his chest. He reached out, his hand moving to take hers again. He wanted to keep that connection, that feeling of unity they had shared a moment ago.

But Marissa was already moving.

"Look!" she exclaimed, pointing to a row of colorful stalls further down the square. "Jewelry!"

She darted away, her cream dress swirling around her ankles.

Derek’s hand closed on empty air. He stood there for a split second, his fingers curling into a loose fist. He quickly dropped his hand to his side, smoothing his vest, hoping no one had seen his failed attempt. He felt a flash of embarrassment, but it was quickly replaced by amusement as he watched her weave through the crowd.

He followed her.

Marissa moved from stall to stall like a hummingbird flitting between flowers. The market was a treasure trove of trinkets and baubles, things far less valuable than the jewels in her own collection, but infinitely more interesting because they were new.

"My Lady! My Lady!" a vendor called out, holding up a tray of silver rings. "Come see! Finest silver in the city!"

Marissa stopped. She picked up a ring set with a small, blue stone. She held it up to the light, turning it this way and that.

"It is pretty," she murmured.

She admired it for a moment, then set it back down on the velvet cloth.

"Thank you," she said to the vendor with a polite smile. "Happy festival."

She moved to the next stall. This one sold necklaces made of colorful glass beads. She picked up a strand of red beads, draping it over her wrist to see how it looked against her skin.

"Very festive," she commented. Then she put it back.

She moved on again. Earrings made of polished wood. Bracelets made of woven leather. She touched them all, admired them all, and bought nothing.

But behind her, a silent transaction was taking place.

Derek walked up to the first stall. He pointed to the blue ring Marissa had touched.

"Wrap it," Derek said to the stunned vendor. He tossed a gold coin onto the tray. "Keep the change."

He moved to the second stall. "The red beads. I’ll take them."

He moved to the third. "The wooden earrings. The leather bracelet. All of it."

He didn’t haggle. He didn’t ask the price. He just bought everything her fingers had graced. Ian, following a few steps behind secretly, was laden with small packages, his arms filling up rapidly, constantly alert so that Marissa won’t spot him.

Marissa was oblivious. She was lost in the joy of the market. She saw a group of children sitting on a low stone wall near a fountain. They were laughing and braiding each other’s hair with colorful ribbons. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Marissa stopped. She watched them with a soft expression.

"Can I join?" she asked.

The children looked up, surprised to see a noble lady talking to them. A little girl with bright eyes nodded shyly.

"Yes, My Lady," the girl said. "Do you want a braid?"

Marissa sat down on the stone wall, heedless of her expensive silk dress. "Yes, please. Make me look like a festival queen."

The children giggled. Two of them stood behind her. They carefully took sections of her loose, dark curls and began to weave in bright ribbons of blue and gold.

Marissa closed her eyes, enjoying the gentle tugging on her scalp, the sound of the children’s whispers. She felt... normal. For the first time in two lives, she felt like she wasn’t fighting a war.

"Done!" the little girl announced.

Marissa opened her eyes. She touched the small braids at her temples.

"It is perfect," she said.

She reached into her reticule and pulled out a handful of copper coins. She gave them to the children.

"For your hard work," she said. " Happy festival."

The children’s eyes went wide. It was more money than they had ever seen. "Thank you! Thank you! Happy festival to you, My Lady."

Marissa stood up, dusting off her skirt. She turned to find Derek.

He was standing there, watching her. His arms were crossed, but his expression was soft. He looked at the ribbons in her hair, at the flush on her cheeks.

This was the first time he had seen the real her. There was no calculation in her eyes. No coldness. No plotting.

She was like a child visiting a place for the first time, falling in love with the sights, the sounds, the simple joy of being alive.

Derek walked over to the children. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of silver coins. He dropped them into the little girl’s lap.

"Buy yourselves something nice," Derek said.

The children gasped. "Silver! Look!"

Derek turned back to Marissa.

"Ready for more?" he asked.

Marissa nodded eagerly. "Yes. What else is there?"

They continued their tour. They stopped at a stall selling masks. Marissa tried on a cat mask, meowing playfully at Derek. Derek laughed and bought the mask the moment she put it down.

They watched a fire-eater breathe plumes of flame into the sky. Marissa clapped, her eyes reflecting the fire.

They stopped at a game booth where you had to throw rings onto bottles. Marissa tried and missed every time. She pouted. Derek took a ring, aimed casually, and landed it perfectly on the center bottle. He won a beautiful hairpin.

He put the pin on her hair.

"For you," he said.

Marissa touched the pin on her head. "You are showing off."

"I am," Derek admitted with a grin.