MEDP 04

Chapter 4 …

That day, the two of them decided to stay at a small inn and begin their activities the next day.

However, since it was already late, there was only one room available.

“Eh, only one?”

While Chloe was visibly flustered, Erich accepted it without hesitation and even paid in advance.

“Wait, are we really staying in the same room?”

“What’s the problem now? We’ve already seen each other changing clothes.”

“Don’t say weird things!”

She hurriedly covered his mouth with her hand and glanced around.

A woman who seemed to be a server was watching them with flushed cheeks.

“But it’s true.”

“You’re the one who suddenly started taking your clothes off!”

“Chloe, you’re being too loud.”

Teasing voices came from the men sitting in the dining area at the back of the inn.

“Take your lovers’ quarrel somewhere else,” they called out, making Chloe’s face turn bright red.

Of course, from anger.

“Well, you don’t have to be so wary of me,” Erich said casually.

“Thanks to Her Highness the Princess, I’ve become completely distrustful of women. If it weren’t you, Chloe, I’d refuse to share a room.”

“…Alright.”

Perhaps it was the same for him as it was for Chloe—she couldn’t trust other men because of her father, her brother, and her former fiancé.

Once he put it that way, she couldn’t strongly refuse anymore, and in the end, they decided to stay in the same room.

Either way, there were no other rooms available.

At first, she had all sorts of unnecessary worries, but since it was already late at night, she fell asleep quickly.

When she woke up, it was already morning.

It seemed Erich had done the same.

Having finally escaped from their “cage,” perhaps both of them had relaxed a little.

“Good morning, Erich.”

With her makeup removed, her already soft and unfocused features looked even more so as she spoke.

Erich, his silver hair slightly messy and shining in the morning sun, replied sleepily, “Morning.”

“I slept well for the first time in a while. It’s great not being under surveillance.”

Saying that, he stood up and started changing clothes right in front of her.

“!”

Chloe hurriedly turned her face away.

(Seriously… I wish he’d stop changing so suddenly.)

His skin was pale, not very knight-like, but his body was well-trained nonetheless.

“I’ll go buy breakfast. What do you want?”

“Um, sandwiches and fruit.”

“Got it. I’ll be right back.”

Dressed like a traveling swordsman, Erich left the room. Chloe quickly changed her clothes in the meantime.

(Sharing a room is fine, I guess. It saves money on lodging. But changing clothes is a bit of a problem…)

As she thought that and organized the belongings they had brought, Erich returned with an annoyed look on his face.

“Welcome back. What’s wrong?”

“There was a persistent woman.”

It seemed true that he disliked women.

Considering how handsome he was, it almost felt like a waste.

While Chloe was thinking that, he laid out what he had bought.

He had brought hearty sandwiches and a selection of fresh fruit—he must have gone to the market.

“The town’s a bit restless. They might be looking for you, Chloe.”

“Just me?”

“I doubt Her Highness the Princess would be looking for me. And if she were, she’d use the royal guards. So it’s not about me. I’ll go to the black market, so you stay here.”

“…Okay. Can I leave it to you?”

“Of course.”

She entrusted him with the jewels they had brought.

“Be careful.”

“I’ll be fine. The surveillance magic is gone now.”

Erich smiled lightly and headed out.

It seemed the princess had caused him quite a bit of trouble. Poor guy.

He had told her to eat lunch at the inn’s dining area when it was time, so she waited until noon and went downstairs.

It seemed the place wasn’t run directly by the inn but rather rented out to a shop owner. Perhaps because of that, it felt less like an inn’s dining hall and more like a stylish café.

(What should I get…? I had sandwiches this morning, so maybe a pasta set?)

The portions were small, but the beautifully presented dishes looked delicious. Surely, her father would never imagine that his plain and shy daughter was enjoying lunch at a café.

After finishing the lunch set, she ordered iced tea and cake as well.

While casually observing her surroundings, she enjoyed her tea.

There were no nobles, but well-dressed young women were chatting happily.

Compared to nobles, moderately wealthy commoner women seemed to have more freedom.

(Commoners really do seem freer—and happier. Being a noble just doesn’t suit me.)

Thinking that, she felt that it had been fortunate she regained memories of her previous life and was able to break off her engagement so quickly.

In her previous life, she had lived freely as she wished, so she didn’t want to be bound by noble rules and customs.

(Mm, the cake is delicious too. It might be fun to earn a lot and travel around the world trying all kinds of food.)

Chloe’s heart was already set on the future.

Her father, her brother, and her former fiancé didn’t linger in her thoughts at all.

(Life should be enjoyed. Since I’ve been reborn in another world, I want to experience all kinds of things.)