Chapter 10 …
After Erich went out, Chloe remained alone at the inn.
The weather today was nice, and the sky seen from the window was a beautiful blue. If she went for a walk outside, she was sure she would feel refreshed as well.
But before that, there was something she had to do.
“Hmmm…”
Chloe peered into the large mirror Erich had bought for her and fell into thought. Ever since being told she should change her hair and eye color, she had been thinking about how to do it.
(I wonder what color would be good. Maybe something familiar would be best?)
Black hair, and dark eyes with a slight brown tint.
Her facial features were different, but she chose colors that matched her previous life.
She closed her eyes and imagined what she would look like.
(I wonder if it changed properly?)
If she failed, she wouldn’t be able to go outside.
Feeling slightly nervous, she opened her eyes—and saw her reflection in the mirror.
“Waaah?”
A voice slipped out before she could stop it.
Light golden hair with low pigment, and light blue eyes. When she had been stuck with overly pale skin, her face had looked plain and unremarkable.
But now, with colors familiar from her previous life, she realized something—she was actually quite a beautiful girl.
(This… if I put on a little makeup, I could probably transform even more. Wow, I never realized…)
The impression that had once been dull due to her pale pigmentation had changed this much just by altering her colors. It was astonishing.
She now understood that when Erich had called her beautiful, it hadn’t just been flattery.
With such a dramatic change in appearance, she was certain she wouldn’t be recognized outside if she wore a mage’s robe.
(Yeah… now I’m actually looking forward to living in town. I even want to cook again after such a long time.)
From the cake set she had eaten yesterday, the food culture here seemed fairly developed.
In her previous life, she had loved eating out and also enjoyed cooking to some extent.
There were surely dishes in this other world that didn’t exist in her previous one.
Even if she eventually traveled to other regions, she wanted to enjoy the royal capital first.
(I also need to study magic. Alright, I’ll do my best!)
With that shift in mindset, Chloe waited for Erich to return.
Erich came back when the sun was already beginning to set.
Chloe, who had been sitting on the inn bed while absentmindedly looking out through the gap in the curtains, noticed the door open and turned around.
“Oh, welcome back.”
“…I’m back. You changed your hair to black.”
Erich immediately noticed the change in her hair and eye color.
“Yeah. Does it suit me?”
“I think it’s very beautiful. However, there are no black-haired people in this country, so you might be mistaken for an immigrant.”
“An immigrant, huh…”
She had seen black-haired people in town, so she hadn’t thought it was that unusual.
“But being thought of as an immigrant might actually be convenient.”
Her father would never imagine that a noble lady would disguise herself as an immigrant.
“That’s true. There are also foreign merchants who enter the country through proper procedures. Black hair shouldn’t be a problem. It suits you very well.”
“Ah… th-thank you…”
Even though she knew it was just polite words, she was still genuinely happy to hear them.
And she also liked her new appearance herself.
Chloe had always lacked confidence and only worn plain clothes, but with this new look, she felt like she could even enjoy fashion.
“Did you find a house?”
“Yes. It took some effort, but I found a suitable property.”
With that, Erich handed her dinner he had brought back.
A sandwich with fried chicken-like meat, fruit, and a salad.
“It looks delicious. It’s still warm.”
“You should eat it while it’s still warm.”
“Yeah, thank you.”
She sat at the table and enjoyed the meal first.
While drinking tea after dinner, she listened to him talk about the property he had found.
“It’s a little far from the main street, but there’s a large square and a park nearby, so it’s rich in nature. The house is small, but it should be enough for two people. There are many young couples in the area, and it’s not a bad neighborhood in terms of safety.”
“I see. It sounds like a good place.”
“I think it would be better for you to see it before deciding, so I haven’t signed anything yet. Let’s go together tomorrow.”
“Thank you. I’m looking forward to it.”
Erich had said that rather than a noble lady suddenly becoming an adventurer, it would be better for her to try living as a commoner.
But now that Chloe had regained her memories of her previous life, those memories felt even stronger than before.
She had originally been an ordinary Japanese person.
At this point, living in a small house as a normal citizen seemed far more comfortable than staying in a large mansion as a count’s daughter.
The house Erich had found indeed seemed like a comfortable place to live. It was apparently a somewhat old house, but the exterior had been repainted and looked very clean. The floors also seemed to have been replaced.
(The rooms are clean. A living room, a bedroom, and a kitchen. It’s a bit small, but since we’ll eventually leave the royal capital, it’s better not to accumulate too many belongings.)
It was a little far from the main street, but nearby there were grocery stores, shops for daily necessities, and a cheap, tasty eatery.
It would be more than enough for everyday shopping. There was also a large park with walking paths, which seemed good for getting some exercise.
The neighborhood also had many couples around their age.
This area seemed to mainly be marketed for families, with many newly married couples.
“Yes, I think I like it here too.”
When asked if she liked it, Chloe nodded.
A new life would begin here.
There were many things she wanted to do.
(But I can’t get too excited. I mustn’t forget that we’re being pursued.)
Even as she reminded herself of that, Chloe couldn’t fully suppress her rising excitement.
