Chapter 8
The Uninvited Guest
Nigel returned safely to the inn before the sun set.
The inn was bustling with people drinking and eating dinner.
“Ah, Nigel’s back? Going to eat?”
“…Yes.”
Nigel averted her gaze and answered Andy.
“Haha! Good choice. The carriage came earlier, so your luggage is already in your room. Check it later.”
Nigel nodded as she sat in the empty seat.
“Nigel, you’re more resourceful than I thought. The Ludin Atelier, huh? That place pops up a lot in gossip magazines. Did you… win a lottery or something?”
Thunk!
“Ow!”
Someone had just smacked Andy on the back.
“Andy! How dare you ask a guest such questions!”
“Ah, Mom!”
It was none other than the inn’s head chef.
“Sorry about that, Nigel. My kid still has a lot to learn. I’m Julie, Andy’s mom. You saw me this morning, right?”
Julie smiled warmly.
Nigel nodded slightly.
“Your food will be ready shortly, just a little longer, okay?”
“…Yes.”
Nigel fidgeted with her hands as she answered.
Soon after, Julie personally brought the food and placed it on Nigel’s table.
Just by looking, it was clear that the portions and variety were far greater than what everyone else was eating.
“This is a sausage and vegetable platter, this is a gratin made with potatoes and broccoli, this is a meat stew that’s been simmering all day, and this is…”
“Mom! Are you trying to make Nigel explode?”
Andy dashed over to Nigel’s table upon seeing the mountain of plates.
“Why, I just want her to eat well! Look at her sunken cheeks. She needs to eat and gain some weight.”
“You called me rude earlier, but isn’t this even ruder, Mom?!”
Julie laughed awkwardly, running her hand through her hair.
“Sorry, I’m just nosy because I can’t help but remember when my daughter worked far away.”
“No, thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”
Nigel replied.
As Andy had said earlier, this was an excellent meal she would have regretted missing.
The meat stew was especially to her taste. It reminded her of the stew Handel sometimes cooked.
“I tried a Northern-style stew, glad it suits your taste.”
Nigel, dipping bread into the stew, suddenly looked up at a voice.
“Uh… I…”
“Why are you blushing, looking embarrassed? Don’t worry about it.”
“…You don’t have to pay attention to me if you’re busy.”
Nigel spoke, lowering her red face.
“Don’t worry, I just finished my shift with your dad. Oh, if I’m in your way, I’ll step aside.”
“No, no.”
Nigel waved her hands desperately, and Julie laughed, sitting across from her.
“How did a young lady like you end up coming from the North to the capital?”
“Well…”
“Oh, I hope that didn’t sound like prying. I’m just worried because there’s been a lot of fraud targeting young girls like you recently. Just a few days ago, there were flyers all over town looking for people.”
Julie’s eyes reflected genuine concern.
“I’m about to enroll in the academy.”
“Really? That’s wonderful! If you came all the way from the North, you must have been accepted somewhere impressive. Gordon? Mailer? Or Sienia?”
“That’s right.”
“Haha, I’m feeling lucky today. Where? Gordon? Mailer?”
“…Sienia.”
Nigel hesitated before speaking. Saying it out loud felt like bragging, making her cheeks hot.
“…Sienia?”
Andy, who had appeared beside Julie, gawked.
“You mean the Sienia Princess Abeline attended? Most of the students there are nobility!”
Nigel nodded once.
“Oh my, so cute. She’s beautiful, so I wonder how lovely her parents must be. They must have been thrilled she got in.”
Julie patted Nigel’s head, making her blush deeply.
“Haha, embarrassed? Don’t hide your face, it’s fine.”
“I thought everyone at Sienia would be haughty, but there’s such a cute freshman too.”
Until the mother and daughter left, Nigel kept her head down.
Nigel returned to her room after bathing. This time she used hot water instead of cold.
Perhaps because of the warm water—or the teasing she had received—her face was flushed.
Although she had been teased, she didn’t feel bad. On the contrary, it felt pleasant.
Nigel unconsciously touched the hair Julie had patted earlier.
“…Feels strange.”
Used to being around men, she always froze around women, making her words and actions awkward.
“That’s right, it was like this back then too.”
She recalled when she went to the Northern First Temple for the trainee cleric exam.
Even then, a young woman in a white robe had patted her head, praising her diligence.
“It was because of her I decided to go to Sienia…”
Though the encounter was brief, that conversation had shaped Nigel’s future.
“Well, of course it was also thanks to my own effort.”
Recalling the grueling entrance exam, Nigel went to bed.
Time passed quickly, and it was already the day before the pre-festival.
Nigel bid farewell to Andy and Julie and headed to the communications office.
Even early in the morning, it was crowded.
Portable communication stones had recently been released to civilians, but their absurdly high price meant few owned them.
With communication offices all over the empire, there was no need to spend lavishly for convenience.
“Uh, who’s there?”
A voice came from beyond a large magic stone, carved into a vertically elongated polyhedron.
It was none other than Allen.
“…Could it be Nigel?”
“Yes.”
“Nigel! Do you know how long I’ve waited?”
Allen groaned.
“I wouldn’t know.”
“We were supposed to buy supplies together and tour the capital…”
“What a shame.”
Nigel said flatly, without changing her tone.
“It’s okay! We still have three years to hang out together.”
“….”
“Nigel? Hello, can you hear me?”
“Yes. The connection was unstable for a moment.”
“Yeah, the comms office is crowded these days, so it cuts out often. By the way, about tomorrow’s party, want to meet up before it starts?”
“Hmm…”
“Don’t worry. I’ll escort you properly. Huh? Sebastian says you have to go now?”
“…?”
“Sorry. I wanted to talk longer, but something urgent came up. Then let’s meet tomorrow before the party at 6:30 in front of the golden dragon statue! You’ll know where once you get to Sienia. See you tomorrow, Nigel!!”
“Wait a minute…”
Click.
The line went dead. He had said everything he wanted.
Nigel frowned slightly. She didn’t have anything to say, but she felt irritated.
Not angry, just irritated.
“…See you tomorrow, Allen.”
Nigel saluted the now-dead magic stone.
The day of the showdown.
Nigel’s expression was noticeably dark.
“Nigel, wasn’t today the day you go to Sienia? Why the gloomy face on such a nice day?”
Julie, speaking naturally, looked at Nigel with concern.
“…I’m fine, Julie. It’s nothing.”
It was a problem when what was nothing to others was everything to her.
Nigel couldn’t tell Julie that she hadn’t slept worrying whether she could find the golden dragon.
“You can eat, right? Since it’s your last day here, I made a little effort.”
…nod
“Gosh, you eat so well, it’s always a pleasure to watch.”
Nigel finished her meal thoroughly even on her last day.
“Nigel, there’s a carriage waiting in front of the inn.”
Andy, who had fed the stables, gestured outside.
Sure enough, outside the window, a carriage bearing the atelier’s logo was waiting.
It was time to leave.
‘…Can’t I find that golden dragon? It’s the royal animal; they must have made it huge.’
Nigel closed her lips tightly and lifted her now-heavier luggage.
“Already leaving? We barely saw you and already feel sad.”
“Right. Usually we only see older men, so it was fun having someone our age for a few days.”
“…I’ll stop by if I have time.”
Their expressions brightened at Nigel’s words.
“Good. Come with a friend next time. We’ll feed you plenty of delicious food.”
“Tell us all the fun things that happen there, okay?”
Nigel nodded.
“Well… thank you for everything, even for such a short time.”
“Take care, Nigel!”
“You’re always welcome. Really.”
Feeling a warmth in her heart, Nigel climbed into the carriage.
Since last night, Madame Ludin had been in high spirits, as if she could fly.
Though dark shadows under her eyes betrayed her fatigue, it couldn’t stop her professional instincts.
Clink.
Finally, the long-awaited guest arrived.
“Welcome, Lady Nigel!!”
With about ten hours left until the party, there was still a mountain of tasks ahead.
But on the bright side, Lady Nigel had ten hours to perfect her elegance.
“Su, Rina, begin.”
Ludin smiled at Nigel, who pretended to remain calm.
It was like a famished wolf staring at a lamb.
Chirp. Caw-caw.
As the sun began to set, birds were returning home.
Exhausted even before the party, Nigel plopped onto the sofa.
No—just as she was about to, she straightened her back at Su’s sharp gaze.
The time spent was evident in her reflection.
From morning till now, the three at the atelier had massaged her, applied every skincare remedy, delicately done her makeup, and meticulously arranged each strand of hair.
‘Looking at me now, I seem less like a girl from Tilin and more like a lady from a good household… well, that’s true.’
Ludin, Su, and Rina watched contentedly from behind as Nigel blinked at the mirror.
Clink.
At that moment, an uninvited guest suddenly entered the atelier.
