Chapter : 48
“Go on in.”
“Get inside.”
Huh?
When I looked at Sirinyu with a puzzled expression, she frowned slightly and said to me,
“Why would I go in there?”
“Huh? You looked like you weren’t feeling well…”
“Me? What, are you asking me to lie down with you?”
“Huh? Just… hold hands?”
What are you even saying…?
“What?”
“Huh?”
Damn it! My thoughts and my words got mixed up!
What do you mean ‘just hold hands’? What nonsense are you spouting?
I hurriedly waved my hands, trying to fix what I’d just said. Sirinyu shook her head and said,
“I chased everyone away so you could rest…”
No way.
After she showed such kindness and consideration, what kind of filthy thing had I just said to her…?
I was so touched I couldn’t speak for a moment. When I looked at her with moist eyes, she shook her head again.
“Hold hands, huh. So you’ve got some weird hobbies too.”
“No! That’s not it! It just came out wrong!”
Being moved was one thing—but being treated like a pervert? I couldn’t stand that. Sure, maybe someone might see me that way, but actually calling me one was too much.
“It’s not like that,” I protested quickly.
Sirinyu pointed inside the carriage.
“Get in.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I obediently climbed into the carriage. She shut the door and called the knights over, ordering them to keep watch around us.
“I’ll ride alongside and escort this carriage.”
“Yes. Understood.”
Once the people who were returning left, the rest of our group set off. Through the window, I could see Sirinyu riding her horse beside the carriage.
I watched her fondly through a slightly parted curtain.
Luri looked at me like I was strange, then quietly wedged a cushion between the wall and my head.
I didn’t realize until we reached our destination that it was actually possible to sleep in such an uncomfortable position.
When I finally opened my eyes groggily, a large building filled the window.
The carriage had arrived at our lodging for the night.
“Ugh…”
As I pushed myself upright from where I’d been leaning against the wall, my back ached stiffly.
This is the badge of honor of a homebody…
I stretched proudly and climbed down from the carriage.
I’d heard we’d be staying at a noble’s villa along the way, and this seemed to be the place.
The large brick building looked old on the outside, but the inside was neat and well maintained.
In the lobby, people who appeared to be the villa’s owner and staff came out to greet me.
Luri said she’d go organize the luggage and headed to the room first. I stayed in the hall to greet the owner.
“Lady Wedden?”
A deep voice called from behind me. I turned toward it.
It was Baron Hover, the owner of the villa.
I lifted the hem of my skirt and greeted him.
“I’m Selene Wedden. Thank you for inviting us.”
“Lady Wedden, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“The pleasure is mine.”
The kindly looking baron dabbed sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief as he spoke.
“We had to prepare everything in a hurry, so there may be many shortcomings. Still, we did our best…”
“Thank you, Baron Hover. I won’t forget your kindness.”
Before I could even finish responding, Noel stepped in. As Noel spoke quietly with the baron, I ended up just standing there awkwardly.
Then the baron’s wife spoke to me.
“I’m terribly sorry to host you in such a humble place. Please be generous in your judgment.”
“Not at all. It’s not humble—thank you for letting us stay.”
No matter how luxurious the imperial carriage with a sofa was, a sofa was still a sofa.
Like how a foldable cot isn’t as comfortable as a real bed, a sofa isn’t meant for sleeping on for long periods.
And if that sofa is inside a rattling carriage?
Right now, even a cotton-padded floor would feel like a five-star hotel bed.
Just having a place where I could wash and lie down was incredibly moving. Even if the bed were made of stone, I’d gladly dive onto it.
Ah… I want to bathe and lie down already.
Just imagining soaking in a tub made my whole body melt.
Soon after finishing their conversation, Noel and Baron Hover called a servant to guide me to my room.
The room had an attached bathroom. Luri had already finished preparing a bath.
“I thought you’d be tired, so I got everything ready right away.”
“Luri, I seriously love you…”
“Huh? That might be a bit troublesome.”
With a prim expression, Luri took my outer coat.
Even my mom doesn’t do this for me—how could I not love her…?
I hugged Luri once before heading into the bathroom.
The moment I sank into the tub filled with the luxury bath salts I’d brought from home, I felt like I ascended for a second.
Heaven wasn’t that far away after all.
Honestly… it would be perfect if I could just go back home from here… though that’s probably impossible.
After finishing the bath that I wished could last forever, everything was ready for sleep.
“Then please go to bed early tonight.”
“Okay. Good night, Luri.”
She greeted me and left the room.
I dove onto the soft bed and burrowed under the covers.
And how much time passed…?
The thing I’m most confident at is lying down—and I can do it all day—but there’s one condition.
There has to be an endless supply of something within arm’s reach to eat.
I thought I’d fall asleep immediately because I was so tired, but sleep didn’t come as easily as expected.
Thinking about it, I couldn’t remember eating anything properly today.
Of course not. I’d been asleep while everyone else was eating.
Before tea time even began, monsters had appeared and flipped all the tables… and afterward, I slept so deeply that no one woke me.
Is there a dining room here?
I was about to get up, but paused while clutching the blanket.
Even if I’m a noble lady… getting caught rummaging through someone else’s villa kitchen would be bad.
Worse than embarrassment was the fact that Luri definitely wouldn’t let it slide.
Endure it…
Breakfast would be served in the morning anyway.
I lay still and stared at the ceiling. When you lie there doing nothing, all kinds of thoughts come up.
What would happen after sealing the Demon King…
Strangely, I didn’t feel like we would fail to seal him. Instead, something else worried me.
Then… I guess I won’t get to see everyone here anymore…
The time we’d spent together felt both short and long.
I felt sad about parting with people I’d grown attached to.
Grrr…
When I go back to reality, what should I do first?
Probably order delivery food.
I’d finally be able to eat late-night snacks without worry.
Ramen, fried chicken, jokbal… I miss them so much…
No matter what I thought about, food came to mind.
Grrr…
I couldn’t take it anymore. I finally kicked off the bed that had felt like part of my body and stood up.
Maybe… if I don’t get caught…?
There was a kettle of water in the room, but I didn’t even look at it. I knew myself well.
This wasn’t the kind of hunger that water could fix.
I decided to go downstairs first and, if any staff were still awake, ask for something simple.
“Ugh, it’s cold.”
I briefly regretted leaving the warmth of the blankets, but tonight hunger beat laziness.
When I opened the door, I could see outside through a window in the corridor.
I thought it would be pitch dark, but the lamp by the villa gate lit the area surprisingly well.
There were many trees planted within the villa grounds, and between them I saw something moving.
What is that?
Wondering if monsters had appeared again, I pressed myself to the window and peered outside.
The figure wore a dark robe and looked like a monster at first glance—but it was a person.
Looking closer, two people were standing behind a tree, talking to each other.
They seemed to be bickering—the smaller one grabbed the larger one’s arm.
The robe looked strangely familiar.
Brown…
It reminded me of the robe the woman who dragged me away earlier had worn.
Wait… is that the same person from earlier? Who is that?
I pressed closer to the window, trying to see the face. Just then, the hood fell back.
Inside was a face I’d never seen before.
Curly blonde hair, blue eyes—a dazzling appearance that could pass for a novel’s protagonist. She looked a bit sharp-tempered but very beautiful.
As the person being grabbed said something, the woman pulled her hood back up and disappeared among the trees.
The remaining person turned and began walking toward the villa. The light fell across his face.
Huh? Sir Noel?
Noel was approaching the villa with quick steps.
I felt confused.
Why was Noel out there? Did he track down and catch the culprit from earlier? But his behavior didn’t look like he was dealing with a criminal.
Grrr…
My stomach growled again as if asking, Did you forget about me?
I decided to think after eating.
Robes all look similar anyway… and if that person were a culprit, Noel wouldn’t have just let them go.
I carefully went down the stairs.
The hall was quiet. The staff had probably gone to sleep—only a few scattered candles lit the corridor.
Guess I’ll have to become a righteous kitchen thief…
How could I raid the kitchen without getting caught?
I tried to recall the skills I used as a child when I secretly picked pork out of my mom’s kimchi stew.
Just then, the villa door opened.
