‘Is this kid suddenly acting all clingy when he normally doesn’t?’
That absurd thought only lasted a moment. Soon, a sense of pity began to well up inside her.
No matter how mature and grown-up Joshua tried to act, he was still just a child.
But the changes happening around him were too sudden, and all heading in the wrong direction.
‘Of course he must feel anxious.’
It couldn’t be good for his emotional well-being.
Eugenia, suppressing her sympathy, held Joshua’s hand more tightly.
“See? Now I can hold your hand.”
With a reassuring smile that said ‘I’m here with you, so don’t worry,’ Eugenia turned to Enrique and dipped her head slightly.
Understanding her silent request for understanding, Enrique gave a short nod and turned around.
Albery quickly stepped forward and took a bag from Enrique.
“Then let’s head out.”
Enrique led the way, with Eugenia and the twins in the middle, and Albery taking the rear.
With two men escorting them, Eugenia left the inn with the children.
The five of them headed straight to the inn where Enrique was staying.
She couldn’t help worrying they might be ambushed again on the way, but thankfully, unlike before, no one approached them.
Still, it was hard to let go of the tension on the road.
Only once they stepped inside Enrique’s inn did Eugenia finally let out a long sigh of relief.
Naturally, the ones who picked up on her reaction most sensitively were the twins.
“Sis, are you okay? Are you sick?”
“Why are you sweating so much? Are you really not feeling well?”
Selmia and Joshua supported Eugenia simultaneously, worry in their eyes.
Eugenia inwardly clicked her tongue.
She had tried to act like everything was fine, but it hadn’t even been half a day since the attack.
It was still too soon to forget it, or to calm down.
The fear and tension she felt outside had been so intense that the moment she sensed safety, her body reacted on its own.
‘The kids will get worried.’
Biting down on the inside of her cheek, Eugenia straightened herself up and stood firm again.
She wiped the sweat off her forehead with the back of her hand, smiling as if nothing had happened.
“It’s nothing. I’ve been running around all day and I’m just a little tired, that’s all.”
Selmia looked up at her with teary eyes and gave her a tight hug.
“Thanks for buying us candy even though you’re tired.”
“It’s no big deal.”
But Joshua’s suspicious gaze didn’t ease so easily.
“Are you really okay? If you’re sick, just tell us.”
“I’m really fine. Why? Are you going to leave me behind if I’m sick?”
She chuckled, playing it off as a joke, not wanting to make them worry.
Joshua’s face turned bright red, as if all the blood rushed to it at once.
“You…! I mean—how could you say that about me…!”
“It was a joke. I just meant I’m okay.”
When Eugenia reassured him playfully, Joshua fumed silently for a moment before sharply turning his head away.
Scratching the back of his neck, he mumbled with a bit of a sharp tone.
“Fine. If you’re not sick. But if you are—don’t be stupid and hide it. Promise you’ll tell us.”
“I will. I promise.”
Joshua nodded at her answer.
With that, the discussion about her condition was more or less over.
Eugenia finally let out a subtle breath of relief.
But then her eyes met Enrique’s.
It seemed he had been watching her the whole time.
His gaze felt as if it were digging deep into her heart, and Eugenia offered him an awkward smile in response.
‘Please keep earlier a secret.’
She silently wished.
And strangely enough, it felt like he heard her unspoken words.
Sure enough, Enrique turned his eyes away and gently changed the subject.
“Let’s head upstairs. I’ll show you the room the three of you will be staying in.”
“Oh, okay!”
Eugenia deliberately raised her voice in response.
Selmia, clearly excited about the new room, let go of Eugenia’s waist and bounced up and down.
“A new room! A new room! I’m so excited!”
She hopped up the stairs like a bunny. Joshua and Eugenia followed behind her.
They stopped on the second floor.
“You’ll be using the room next to Albery’s.”
As soon as Enrique finished speaking, Albery promptly opened the door to the room next to his.
“Here it is. I hope it’s to your liking.”
Selmia was the first to dash into the room.
The little lady stepped inside, eyes wide in amazement.
“Gasp!”
She even covered her mouth with her tiny hands.
A soft blush rose on her cheeks, and her golden eyes sparkled brightly.
“Wow! ShuShu! Come look at this! It’s huge!”
“Hmph. It’s just an inn room. How big can it possibly—uh…? It is big…”
Joshua, who followed behind with a disinterested look, found himself at a loss for words.
‘What kind of room could it be to get that reaction?’
Eugenia hadn’t expected much, especially after seeing the chaotic state of Albery’s room.
‘Though I suppose the furniture will be in better condition than the last place we stayed.’
Still, she hadn’t expected anything particularly special.
Eugenia stepped inside last. And then—
“Wow.”
She too let out a small gasp of amazement.
The room was easily twice the size of the one they’d previously stayed in.
There were even three beds prepared for them.
The bedding was clean, and there was an attached bathroom.
It felt luxurious enough to compare with a lord’s chambers.
Of course, it couldn’t match a noble family’s guest room, but compared to what they’d been using so far, it felt like paradise.
“This is amazing!” Selmia exclaimed, dashing onto one of the beds.
“It’s so soft! Like a cloud!”
Joshua headed toward the bathroom and, pretending not to care, opened and shut the door repeatedly.
“Well… if you look at it generously, I guess it’s not bad.”
Watching the twins, Eugenia gave a bittersweet smile.
‘These kids…’
Had they really forgotten the luxurious rooms at the March of Kerayton?
Or had they grown used to shabby inns in such a short time?
Compared to their original rooms, this was nothing. Yet seeing the twins so delighted made Eugenia’s heart ache a little.
Just then, Albery and Enrique followed them into the room.
Albery placed the two bags near the wardrobe and said warmly,
“I prepared it on short notice, so I hope it’s to your liking.”
“Liking it is an understatement. It’s too much.”
“I’m glad to hear that, Miss Eugenia. If there’s anything else you need or anything you’re curious about, feel free to ask me.”
“I will. Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Albery.”
Enrique then added calmly,
“Let’s start by unpacking. After that, Miss Eugenia, come up to my room with Albery. We’ll have dinner together afterward.”
After seeing her nod, Enrique, as always, returned to his expressionless face and turned away.
Albery, with his usual playful smile, nodded a few times and gently closed the door.
But as the door clicked shut, Albery’s smile vanished.
He stepped up close behind Enrique.
Then, in a whisper barely audible, he murmured to his master.
“She really doesn’t seem to have a bad relationship with the children. They’re very comfortable with her. If she were truly a kidnapper, they wouldn’t be so attached to her.”
Enrique nodded briefly, as if in agreement, and sighed lightly.
“That’s enough. No need to dig deeper. Now that we’re in the same boat, we need to do our part in ensuring her safety as well.”
“Understood.”
Albery responded seriously—then suddenly stretched his arms wide.
“Ahhh! Finally, we’re getting out of this godforsaken Harlant.”
Hearing Albery’s lighthearted mutter, Enrique simply continued walking toward his room and added quietly,
“Yes, it’s time to leave.”
His voice was strangely lifeless.
And as he finished his brief sentence, he firmly shut his lips, swallowing a sigh that almost slipped out.
In stark contrast to Albery, who was clearly thrilled to be leaving.
