IHFMC 11

Chapter 11

. I Have a Favor

This time, Shanellica could clearly read the man’s expression. He looked confused.

She understood why. From his point of view, she was someone who had entered a forbidden temple just to meet a god because she was hungry.

“He probably doesn’t know. This all happened today, so suddenly… and it’s my first time experiencing anything like this…”

“I asked too much. You don’t need to say any more. I overstepped.”

“No, not at all. I was the one who spoke out of turn.”

All she did was blurt out that he was handsome, and somehow that led to talk about him already being taken.

She looked down at her nearly empty plate. She had planned to scrape every last bit clean, but she had lost her appetite. Putting down her fork, Shanellica spoke.

“I shouldn’t have spoken so carelessly about something that’s not my business. I’m sure you’re doing your best in your own way.”

“……”

“I still believe we should make the most of what we have. But that doesn’t mean I should push that idea onto someone else. I was rude to you. Um… I’m sure you were offended, but still…”

She rolled her large eyes around.

“…Could you let it slide as a small mistake? I really just said that because I thought you were so good-looking. How often in my life will I meet someone I can say that to?”

There was a hint of shy laughter in her voice.

“……”

The man silently looked at her. Shanellica stopped smiling and waited nervously for him to respond.

Please say it’s okay…

But time passed, and the man remained silent.

Ugh. What now?

She had no idea how to break the awkward silence. Just as she was about to apologize again, thinking she had really upset him—

“I…”

“I’m fine, miss. I wasn’t offended.”

The man’s deep voice cut off her words.

“…What?”

“I was just lost in thought for a moment. There’s no need to worry.”

“Really…?”

“Yes, really.”

Whew. That was a relief.

Shanellica let out a silent sigh of relief.

“Did you finish your meal? Let me know if you’d like more.”

“No, I’m full. Thank you, it was delicious.”

At her reply, the man stood up first. After paying at the counter, he held the door open for her to leave the restaurant. Every gesture was full of grace.

Outside, the night air was noticeably chilly. As they walked slowly, the man asked,

“It’s late. Do you have a place to stay?”

Of course she didn’t.

“Actually… I have a favor to ask.”

She was about to flat out ask for a place to sleep, but decided to stick with her current persona—playing the pitiful, unfortunate woman as much as possible.

“Could I ask you for one more favor?”

“What do you mean?”

“I want to go back to that temple from earlier… just once more. Could you please let me in, just this once?”

The man’s brow furrowed at her anxious plea.

“Miss… surely you’re not thinking of spending the night there?”

“Um… well… would that be a problem? Sleeping outside is a bit much… I just need somewhere to avoid the wind…”

A dragon, begging like a homeless person. No—wait. I really am homeless right now.

Even as she played the pitiful part, she found it amusing. A god, a dragon, doing something so beneath them—it was oddly entertaining.

“The temple is not allowed. Can’t you go to your fiancé?”

The sharpness in his tone gave her a chill.

“My fiancé… oh…”

Pathetically. As pitiful as possible. If I mess this up, I really will have to sleep on the street.

Shanellica lowered her head and spoke softly.

“It’s hard to reach him. He’s far from here.”

Not quite true. In reality, all the man had to do was arrange a carriage to the Cartel mansion.

She had a feeling—if she returned saying she’d lost everything, Derwin would take her back.

But how could she? That would be too humiliating.

And if she did, she’d likely be confined again.

No. I have to hold out. Without his help.

“So… please let me stay in the temple just for tonight. If not the temple, then even a corner of your house’s storage shed would be fine. As long as I can stay out of the wind. Please?”

“……”

She clasped her small hands together and pleaded.

Her sorrowful eyes made it hard for the man to reply. He couldn’t leave her outside in the cold, but the temple was forbidden. He seemed genuinely troubled.

“Miss, there’s an inn run by someone I know. You can stay there tonight.”

That was his final decision after much thought.

Yes!

Shanellica cheered inwardly, though she kept her sorrowful face.

“No, I couldn’t. As you can see, I have nothing. I can’t impose like that.”

“It’s fine.”

“What? But still, I can’t cause you that kind of trouble…”

“Consider it a thank-you for the compliment. The thought of you spending the night in that cold temple doesn’t sit well with me.”

This was not the time to refuse.

Shanellica instinctively sensed the timing. If she pushed it too far, she might really end up freezing to death on the street in her fragile human form. As a hatchling, it was a real danger.

“Thank you. I won’t forget this kindness.”

She smiled brightly.

The blond man, Eleusis, left the inn after escorting the woman there. From the temple to the restaurant and finally to the inn, he had lost count of how many times she thanked him.

As he walked with long strides, he glanced back at the inn.

I didn’t even ask her name.

He had thought she was just a pretty face, but she was interesting, too. Surprisingly blunt—almost shamelessly so—but not rude. She had a clear sense of self.

She said she wasn’t beautiful enough to use her looks.

But she used what she had well. Not just her appearance, but her personality. She got a full meal and a warm place to stay out of it.

I knew, and I still went along with it.

A soft laugh escaped him. Eleusis thought he’d been acting a bit out of character today.

But so what? It’s not like we’ll meet again.

Sometimes, impulsive actions like this were refreshing. It felt like being enchanted by a pretty fox—but in a good way. And most of all, she had no idea who he really was. That made it even better. If she had known, it wouldn’t have felt the same.

“Have you finished your business?”

As Eleusis stood looking at the inn, a man approached. He was dressed head-to-toe in black, barely visible in the night—but Eleusis recognized him as Glynn.

“It’s done.”

Eleusis nodded. Glynn spoke.

“You spent too much time.”

“Don’t nag. It’s been a while since I went out. Let me enjoy it.”

Eleusis mounted the horse that had been brought to him. Glynn followed suit.

Clip-clop.

The horses began to move slowly.

“What happened at the temple?”

At Eleusis’s question, Glynn, riding close to his left, answered.

“They seem to have changed their plans. No one returned afterward.”

“So they got spooked?”

“I don’t think so. It looked like an urgent matter came up while heading to the temple, so they turned back.”

“A shame. Any other clues?”

“Nothing unusual. The only thing that stood out was the moved scriptures and candlesticks—probably touched by the woman you were with.”

“So, a wasted effort.”

Glynn stared at him. His voice sounded too cheerful for someone declaring a failed mission.

“You seem… to be in a good mood?”

“Me?”

“Aren’t you?”

The question made Eleusis pause. Am I in a good mood?

“I suppose I had fun, for once.”

He thought briefly of what had just happened and answered honestly. Even though the mission was a bust, it didn’t bother him. And the time spent with that woman… had passed in the blink of an eye.

“She must have left quite an impression. You spent money despite dressing like a commoner.”

“There you go again. Nagging.”

“That wasn’t nagging. It’s concern. Didn’t she seem suspicious?”

“Suspicious? She believed I was a temple administrator without question. Even gave me some heartfelt advice.”

“Advice?”

He recalled her sparkling eyes as she told him he was handsome.

Eleusis shook his head. He hadn’t liked hearing it at the time, but somehow, the memory had become pleasant.

“Nothing you need to know.”

“…Alright.”

“I told her the inn was run by a relative.”

“Why go that far?”

Glynn clicked his tongue, but Eleusis ignored him.