Chapter 36
Pawned Life
As soon as the rain stopped, the escort knights searched the whole area and found the inn.
By the time Irina finished her bath and came out, Casey was waiting for her with a fretful expression instead of a staff member.
“Mi–lady!”
Sniff, sniff.
She looked as though she might burst into tears any second, so Irina cut her off before that happened.
“Casey! I’m fine! It was so warm and comfortable!”
“Waaah… I thought something terrible had happened to you—”
“He was with me. Why worry? Don’t you trust your master?”
Casey shook her head, her tied-up hair bouncing wildly.
“It’s not that— But you suddenly disappeared like dust! It scared me!”
As Casey helped Irina change clothes, she kept talking nonstop.
“We left in such a hurry I couldn’t bring your clothes from the carriage. Is it itchy? Or too rough?”
“That’s probably… a new outfit?”
The inn often provided simple, plain new clothes for travelers.
But for Irina and Howard, instead of using the inn’s stock, one of the staff had run through the rain to buy clothes from the clothing shop next door.
“Still! The knight said he’d bring the carriage around. Once it arrives, I’ll fetch your clothes right away. Please wait just a bit longer, my lady.”
“Don’t worry too much. It can’t be helped.”
At the count’s manor, she’d worn even old clothes many times, after all.
Swallowing the rest of her words, Irina looked at herself in the mirror after dressing.
It was quite comfortable—but it also kind of looked like pajamas.
She began eating the soup placed on the table when the door opened.
Howard entered, already changed into his clothes.
Cough!
Irina’s face turned red instantly, like the carrot floating in her soup.
When she ducked her head toward the soup as if trying to hide her face in it, Casey gave her a puzzled look.
“My lady, do you not like the soup?”
“Oh, no! I mean… I do. I like it.”
“That’s a relief! Ah, then I’ll go get your clothes now!”
A honeymoon couple’s time together shouldn’t be disturbed!
Without knowing Irina’s flustered state, Casey quickly vanished.
Irina continued her staring contest with the soup.
The soup, having no eyes, only sent up faint wisps of steam as if sighing.
Howard came over and sat beside her.
Kneeling, he was looking up at her from below.
Irina forced herself to meet his eyes.
Howard smiled gently.
“You’re done changing.”
“Ah, yes. Casey helped me…”
Setting down her spoon, Irina clasped her hands together nervously.
The air between them was thick and ticklishly awkward.
She had been fine before he walked in.
Now it felt like she could start knitting just to keep her hands busy.
Howard reached out and took her hand.
Hic!
The moment her hand was enclosed in his, a hiccup escaped her lips.
Howard chuckled softly.
“If this keeps happening, we might have a problem. I plan to do this often.”
“Stop teasing me, you idiot.”
“I’m not teasing. Would you like to stay and have a little more fun?”
He looked toward the window as he said it.
He meant—since the rain had ruined their outing, did she want to stay longer?
Irina followed his gaze to the window, then looked down at her clothes.
She had teased him so boldly earlier, but now her confidence had shrunk to nothing.
“The innkeeper says it doesn’t look like it’ll rain again.”
Seeing her hesitate, Howard added,
“Then… let’s stay a bit longer.”
“Yes. I’ll wait for you downstairs, then.”
With a graceful kiss on the back of her hand, Howard lightly brushed her hair and left the room.
“Haaah…”
Irina, her face red again, covered it with both hands and exhaled all the air from her lungs.
Their spontaneous trip ended with one more night at the villa.
Irina, who had grown friendly with the villa’s staff in that short time, promised to visit again.
The best part of the trip, to her, was that she hadn’t had a single nightmare.
Maybe she had just been too tired—or maybe it was the unfamiliar bed.
Whatever the reason, she hadn’t dreamed at all.
That alone made her wish she could stay there longer.
“I’ll miss this.”
From inside the carriage, she gazed at the distant Listern Harbor through the window.
But once they stepped through the transport gate, they were instantly back in Voltier, and the carriage soon arrived at the gates of the duke’s estate.
The next morning—
Howard went out early to meet someone.
“You’re the one coming to me first? That’s new,” said Lurasa.
“You met her, didn’t you?”
“Yes. I did.”
A strange gleam flickered in her eyes.
“What did you ask her?”
“Her memory’s already been altered. She’ll only remember my odd questions.”
Irina had indeed said Lurasa had been strange that day.
That day, Lurasa had asked about the necklace—
How much Irina knew about it, and since when she’d had two of them.
She’d tried entering Irina’s consciousness to ask, but the girl knew nothing.
In the end, unable to get any answers, Lurasa had simply layered a false memory over hers.
Because of that, Irina had left feeling unsettled and upset.
“Don’t touch her again. That wasn’t part of the deal. I’ll take responsibility.”
Lurasa crossed her arms and stroked her chin with one finger.
“I don’t think so. If her necklace carries Kisie’s energy, I should be the one asking questions. I can’t afford not to know.”
“It’s just residue from my deal with him. I told you—I only want her to be safe.”
Lurasa raised both hands as if in surrender.
“Hm. We’ll see. I didn’t threaten her, if that’s what you’re worried about. I was just curious. But she really doesn’t seem to know anything. Are you sure you’re fine with that? Don’t you feel… tempted?”
“…I’ve already made my choice.”
“How touching.”
Lurasa whistled softly, phweee, then disappeared with a wave.
Howard stood frozen for a while, only loosening his tie once her presence completely vanished.
“Phew—”
‘Don’t you feel tempted?’
Lurasa’s words echoed in his mind.
Of course he did.
Even if they could be together for a lifetime, how could he not?
With a heavy heart, Howard finally turned and walked away.
A few days after returning from the trip, Irina received a message from the guild.
Since Howard had already told her in advance, it didn’t shock her.
She quietly paid the remaining balance and went home.
“I should go visit.”
Thinking of Scarlet gave her a headache.
She couldn’t imagine what Scarlet thought about his death.
Had she already sold off the rest of his belongings?
Irina wondered if she might at least feel a little sadness, a little pain.
“Casey.”
“Yes, my lady!”
“I’ll be going back to Arendor soon. Can you pack lightly for me?”
“Yes! Will you be staying long?”
“Hmm. Probably not… Actually, I’m not sure. Just prepare moderately.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
As soon as Irina finished speaking, something came to mind. She opened the bedside drawer and took out a few gold coins, slipping them into a small pouch before handing it to Casey.
“Here, Casey. Take this.”
“…Huh? My lady, why are you giving this to me?”
“Buy your mother something nice to eat. You’ve worked hard caring for her—and for yourself too.”
“Wha—? Oh, no! I couldn’t possibly! You already do so much for me. Ever since I came here, I haven’t paid a single hospital bill!”
Casey’s expression froze—not from fear, but because she felt she was being treated too well.
Irina smiled reassuringly.
“It’s a reward for doing your job so well. Go on, take it. My arm’s getting tired.”
“Oh, my lady… you’re too kind…”
In the end, Casey hugged the pouch tightly, her eyes brimming with tears.
“All right, all right. I want to rest now, so off you go!”
Sensing that if Casey stayed any longer she might burst into tears, Irina gently pushed her out.
Once she was gone, the room felt strangely empty.
Irina drew the curtains closed, darkening the room.
Though it was still daytime, she crawled into bed and curled up under the blanket.
The truth was—ever since coming back from Listern, Irina had been suffering from terrible nightmares.
Not only that, but she began hearing phantom voices and ringing in her ears that had never been there before.
It made the peaceful, dreamless night at the villa feel like a lie.
Exhausted from sleepless nights, Irina shut her eyes—
hoping, just for once, she could rest.
