VPSML | CH 15

Chapter 15

Jay, startled, quickly placed the box on the table.

His whole body remembered the taste of those chocolate madeleines from before—it was dangerous.

It felt like he might ignore his master’s control at any moment, open the box, and take a bite.

“…No. I don’t like it, no matter where it’s from.”

Jay tried hard not to look down at the box, since just seeing it made his mouth water.

Whenever his eyes accidentally fell on it, he even thought he could smell a sweet fragrance that wasn’t really there.

Pdea tilted her head at the way he desperately rejected the box.

She wondered if his tastes had changed while they hadn’t met.

With a soft hum in her throat, Pdea started imagining what new things Jay might like now.

“Then, what do you like?”

Pdea focused on Jay, determined to remember his new tastes clearly.

Jay felt uncomfortable under those passionate eyes.

He wanted to say something just to escape her gaze, but nothing fitting came to mind.

“…Something I like? Not really… nothing in particular.”

Jay felt embarrassed as he said that.

He had just gone along with life as time passed, and now he had become a person who didn’t like anything.

“Let’s go out.”

“…Huh?”

Jay, embarrassed, opened his eyes wide. Pdea suddenly pulled him up to his feet.

“Today, you’re going to find something you like—with me.”

She couldn’t just ignore this. Pdea wanted Jay to live surrounded by things he liked.

He at least used to enjoy chocolate madeleines, but now he said he hated them.

She had to find something else for him, quickly.

I should start with the nearest count’s territory.

Pdea made her plan in her head and linked arms with Jay.

Since he was still hesitating even after she told him to come, she decided to drag him if she had to.

As she held his arm tighter and moved forward, Jay stumbled and reluctantly followed.

Dragged along, Jay’s face turned red, not knowing what to do.

He didn’t know how to push her away.

If he pushed too hard, Pdea might get hurt.

But if he stopped, Pdea would just press her arm against his even more, saying she was holding tighter.

Whether he wanted to or not, Jay could feel Pdea’s warmth too clearly.

He covered his flushed face with his free hand, scolding himself inside.

Don’t just stand here like an idiot—think of a way out, quickly.

At this rate, he was going to end up spending the whole day with Pdea.

* * *

The weather was sunny, so the village owned by Retter was crowded with people.

Everyone laughed and enjoyed themselves, but Jay sighed gloomily, all alone.

Sigh…

He wanted to smack himself.

He hadn’t thought of a single way to escape Pdea, and so he had ended up here.

Only after they arrived in the village did Jay manage to get out of Pdea’s arm lock.

But he still felt tied down.

He followed behind her closely so people wouldn’t spread rumors that they were on a date.

Pdea, aware of his footsteps behind her, looked around.

She was searching for a suitable general store.

“Wait here.”

Finally finding one, Pdea told Jay, who had been following her.

Jay, caught off guard while looking at her, flinched and then nodded.

As soon as she went into the store, Jay tilted his head, curious why she went in alone and left him outside.

Then he saw the sign: General Store.

“…She said we’d find something I like. But now that we’re out here, seems she just remembered something she needed.”

Leaning against the store wall, Jay muttered to himself.

Whatever it was, he doubted there was anything inside that he would like.

She probably just wanted to buy some necessary items while they were here.

Jay watched the people peacefully passing by, but soon stepped away from the wall.

Not even five minutes later, Pdea came out.

“The sunlight must be too strong for you.”

Jay saw Pdea wearing a bonnet hat and glanced at the sky.

It was sunny, but not that hot. Maybe Pdea was just sensitive to sunlight.

He considered using this as an excuse to suggest going back, but when she squinted and frowned as if the light was blinding, he stayed quiet.

“Well… it’s not the sunlight. It’s the gaze of someone looking at me—that’s too hot.”

“….”

Pdea stared directly at Jay.

Jay flinched, realizing she meant him.

He coughed awkwardly and turned his back, pretending not to notice.

Behind him, he heard a short laugh.

“Let’s keep moving.”

Pdea lightly patted Jay’s back as if urging him to walk.

Jay hesitated, wondering if he should walk at some distance again.

Wouldn’t that make them look less close?

But as he glanced at Pdea’s new hat covering her face, he thought—

If her face was hidden, maybe walking side by side wasn’t so bad.

And besides, hadn’t she just said that walking behind her made her feel someone’s gaze on her back?

So, Jay matched her pace.

Just for today, he would walk beside her.

* * *

Before long, the blue village square was dyed red by the sunset.

The once-busy streets were now quiet.

The few people still outside were families heading home, or merchants moving to prepare for evening sales.

Sitting on a bench in the square, Jay glanced at Pdea beside him.

It was about time she returned to the ducal house, yet she still looked around curiously, like everything was new.

Jay let out a faint, tired laugh.

Looking back on the day, he hadn’t found anything he liked.

Instead, he felt like he had just been Pdea’s servant.

* * *

From Jay’s perspective, ever since Pdea bought the hat, she had just walked and walked.

Realizing she didn’t have a destination, Jay began observing her.

She looked like someone who was completely new to this sort of thing—unsure what to do.

This shop is said to be very popular among the villagers lately. They say it has unique and cute trinkets.

If he left her alone, she’d probably keep wandering all day.

So Jay intentionally pointed out a shop.

It wasn’t really the kind of place Pdea would normally go, but if they started here, maybe later they’d come across something better.

Besides, since this was her first time in this town, she wouldn’t know where to go by herself anyway.

Thankfully, Pdea stopped walking just as he’d hoped.

She looked at the trinket shop and then at Jay, before nodding.

Then, let’s go in.

…Really?

Of course. Lead the way.

Jay hadn’t planned on actually entering, so he was surprised.

This shop didn’t suit Pdea at all—was she seriously going in?

Reluctantly, Jay approached and opened the door for her.

Pdea slipped inside, and Jay realized she was serious.

The trinket shop was quiet.

The young shopkeeper welcomed them warmly, telling them to take their time looking around.

But from the moment they entered, neither of them moved.

…She wanted to come in, so why isn’t she moving?

Both the shopkeeper and Jay felt awkward.

The shopkeeper wondered if they came because of some problem.

Jay just felt awkward seeing Pdea frozen in place.

Does she expect me to bring items for her to look at?

Jay swallowed nervously and began to move.

Originally, he had planned to just wait while Pdea looked around, but clearly, she wasn’t going to.

But as soon as Jay moved, someone followed closely behind him.

He quickly noticed and glanced back.

Not the shopkeeper—but Pdea.

She was trailing right behind him, looking at the displays only because he was moving.

Startled, Jay stopped.

And at that moment, Pdea’s hat brushed against his back.

She hadn’t been watching where she was going.

Jay didn’t know this.

He thought he had carelessly bumped into her, and tension filled the air.

Worried she might be upset, Jay quickly grabbed something from a shelf.

“…Ah, I-I found what I was looking for. If you turn this, the decoration on top will move. Would you like to see?”

He had picked up a small music-box-like trinket.

It was a square object with a handle on the side and a small bear figure posed as if dancing on top.

Pdea stared silently at the trinket Jay held out.

Trying to cheer her up, Jay quickly turned the handle.

Click—

But nothing happened.

Thinking it was broken, Jay stopped.

Then suddenly—pop!

The dancing bear shot upward out of nowhere.

“…Ah.”

And it was right in front of Pdea, who had been staring at it.

Hearing her short exclamation, Jay suddenly felt the whole shop turn icy cold.