CHAPTER 139………………………………………
After the lunch guests had left in a flurry, the inn fell silent.
In such a small town, travelers were rare to begin with.
Even more unusual was for just a woman and a child to arrive, like the guests who came in the morning.
The innkeeper sat at the counter, holding the earrings up to the sunlight.
The delicately carved gemstones scattered brilliant light. They were clearly expensive… but…
“I’ve taken a loss. Who could I sell this to?”
In this town, the only place to sell such a thing was a general store, and a money-obsessed woman wouldn’t pay the true value.
Sighing, the innkeeper put the earrings down—they were almost a burden—and recalled the guest, whose cold, aloof first impression belied her surprisingly polite manners.
“Judging by her speech, she’s not a noble. But her appearance… she was clearly well-bred.”
Above all, her beauty was extraordinary. The innkeeper had never seen a woman so stunning.
“Perhaps a girl who ran away from a nearby estate?”
She must have been living as a noble’s concubine and had a child. But the primary wife’s jealousy had been extreme.
At that rate, she had no choice but to flee, or she and the child would have died.
Or she might have been expelled. That would explain why she had nothing and had arrived empty-handed.
Satisfied with the plausible theory, the innkeeper set the earrings down—but just then, the inn door swung open.
A tall man walked in, and the smell of wind clung to him. The innkeeper’s eyes widened as he saw the man’s face.
If the morning guest had been the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, this guest was the most handsome man he had ever seen.
“Is the meal ready?”
But his voice was chillingly deep. Goosebumps rose on the innkeeper’s arm.
He stood, brushing his arm as he spoke.
“Lunch is over, so we only have bread and stew. Will that do?”
The man nodded toward the outside.
“There’s a horse outside.”
“Just feed it?”
“He must be exhausted from riding all night. Take care of him.”
The innkeeper brought the food to the man and then went to the stables.
“Tom! The horse just came in, right?”
“Yes, sir! This one is huge!”
The servant Tom dragged in a massive black horse.
Even at a glance, it wasn’t the kind of horse a commoner would ride.
‘Surely a noble… but why is he speaking politely?’
The innkeeper had already suspected the man was a noble.
Though his clothing wasn’t flashy, it exuded extreme elegance.
The fabric shimmered subtly, and every button was engraved with intricate patterns.
Honestly, it looked more expensive than the lord’s attire the innkeeper had seen a few years ago.
“Check the horseshoes since he’s been riding all night, and give him plenty of feed.”
“Yes, sir.”
As the innkeeper turned after checking the horse, a thought flashed through his mind.
“Could it be… he’s here to find that guest?”
No other reason would bring a noble to such a place.
‘Ah! The earrings!’
At that moment, the earrings on the counter came to mind.
The flustered innkeeper rushed back inside—but it was too late.
The man was standing silently, holding the earrings in one hand.
He didn’t ask whose they were. He already knew.
‘He really is here for that female guest! This is bad!’
The man would not leave quietly. He now knew his target had passed through here.
The innkeeper swallowed nervously, anticipating questioning.
‘What do I say if he asks where she went? Just say I don’t know. Her crossing the mountain is a secret.’
After staring at the earrings for a long moment, the man finally spoke.
“How much?”
“I… I don’t know… pardon?”
“These earrings.”
The innkeeper tilted his head, surprised by the unexpected turn.
“I’ll buy them. Name your price.”
It was fortunate someone would buy such a troublesome item… cautiously, the innkeeper asked,
“Just the purchase? You don’t need me to say anything else?”
“Just the earrings. Nothing else matters.”
“Very well…”
The man handed over five times the innkeeper’s asking price, carefully wrapped the earrings in a worn handkerchief, and tucked them into his chest.
‘Looks like he isn’t here to harm the female guest…’
The innkeeper escorted the man out, casually remarking,
“Um, if you want to go to the Arosia coast, cross that mountain and take a boat.”
“…Did I say my destination?”
“If you’re heading this way, the only destination is Arosia Beach. Obvious, isn’t it?”
The man gave a small laugh, mounted his black horse, and rode off.
It was the most magnificent smile the innkeeper had ever seen.
Fortunately, we were able to cross the mountains before midnight.
With the remaining money, I booked an inn by the port and went into town to sell another ring.
Being near the port, I could get more money than in the previous village.
“Where can I buy tickets to Arosia Island?”
“A cruise? You can buy them at the port ahead. But today’s service is over. It departs only once a day, at 9 a.m.”
“Thanks.”
As I approached the port, the smell of the sea grew stronger.
Even in late autumn, the southern wind carried warmth.
I approached the sign that read [Cruise Tickets Sold Here].
The merchant barely looked at me, asking indifferently,
“Arosia Island?”
“Yes, two tickets, please.”
“Private cabin?”
“Yes, private.”
After buying the tickets, I entered a dessert café.
I wanted to get something for Piace, who was probably waiting alone in the shabby inn room.
“Welcome. Ready to order?”
“One box of cookies, please.”
While the server packed the cookies, I glanced around. There were quite a few travelers in the café.
“Did you hear about the prophecy announced at the temple?”
“Yes. The Duke of Ibrante is the evil one, and his adopted daughter is the saint, right?”
“That’s right! Her name is Biate? A six-year-old girl with pink hair.”
I overheard this conversation at a nearby table—impossible to ignore.
The prophecy hadn’t just been announced at the temple; it had already spread here.
‘Only two days…’
The speed exceeded my expectations, even considering the port’s high traffic.
“But how is the Duke evil?”
“They say he’s a dark sorcerer. Five years ago, he planned to summon demons again to wreak havoc.”
“Guest.”
“Really? Why would someone so high-born do such a thing? And if he wants to die, why not alone? Why kidnap the saint?”
“They say the saint purifies evil or something. Anyway, she was a hindrance to his plan, so he kidnapped her.”
“Guest?”
“So he planned to kill a six-year-old girl? Wow, I want to see her face.”
“Blonde hair, blue eyes—a stunning beauty. The Royal Knights are chasing her furiously. They’ll catch her soon.”
“Guest who ordered cookies!”
Startled, I realized someone was calling me. Flustered, I answered,
“Yes? Oh, yes!”
“The package is ready.”
“…Thank you.”
I hurriedly left the café and headed back to the inn.
Two days remained until the Raven Week ended.
‘I have to reach Arosia Island within that time…’
After causing a massive incident, it was obvious how the cursed author would try to intervene.
They might issue instructions to return to the capital.
So I had to arrive at a safe place, even if it meant taking penalties.
Before the Royal Knights found me.
