Chapter 14

Verto, more surprised than the tavern owner, whipped his head around with a audible snap.

But I didn't stop.

"My father was strongly opposed. So we ran away, but if we go to Vallas Island, we'll probably get caught right away. I don't know what to do."

"You don't seem like the type to do something like that."

The tavern owner's gaze shifted to Verto.

Verto stiffened like a soldier on high alert and avoided her eyes. Instead of looking like someone on the run, he looked like a bashful fool who couldn't even confess his feelings.

"He may seem gruff, but he does everything I ask. He can be a bit frustrating sometimes, but that's what makes it fun to teach him."

"I suppose so. You're sneakier than you look, young lady."

"And actually..."

"What else is there?"

I gently stroked my flat stomach.

"Oh my, aren't you two not even married yet?"

This time, even the tavern owner seemed quite surprised.

"Because we love each other. I thought if I did this, my father would approve, but..."

I hung my head as if swallowing tears.

Glancing sideways at Verto, he had momentarily turned into a mess and was flustered, stammering.

'This clueless idiot.'

I subtly pinched his thigh, and only then did his hand clumsily reach up. The hand on my shoulder felt like a mannequin's.

"D-don't cry. My, my love..."

He was delivering his lines, but he seemed to be the one about to cry.

'"My love" my foot. Just call me by my name.'

Since he'd said he'd never dated anyone, it seemed Verto thought lovers used pet names like "my love" or "honey."

"No matter how much the young lady wanted it, how could you do that?"

The tavern owner scolded Verto.

"...I'm sorry."

Seeing him break out in a cold sweat, I quickly let go.

"Father had already finalized an arrangement with some noble, so we had no choice but to run. If we get caught on Vallas Island, I'll be forced to marry that old noble."

At the mention of "old noble," the tavern owner frowned, thought for a moment, then told us to wait and disappeared into the back.

I quickly grabbed Verto's shoulder and pulled him down, whispering in his ear.

"Pull yourself together. You're being too awkward."

"...Okay."

By the time she returned, we had our fingers intertwined.

"Here. This island is marked as a place where you can resupply before heading to the Orpena continent."

"Sister..."

I took the sea chart and looked at the tavern owner with a moved expression.

"Honestly, that man is far from perfect for you, but he's better than an old geezer. Have you secured a ship?"

"Yes. I stole a lot of jewelry when I left home."

"Good for you. I hope you arrive safely. A child who looks like the two of you would be really pretty."

"Thank you so much. I'll never forget this kindness."

"I should be the one thanking you, rather than hearing some boring adventure story. You need to be careful in your early pregnancy, so go back and get plenty of rest."

At her warm words of concern, I held the sea chart close to my chest and bowed my head deeply.

"Oh, by the way."

The tavern owner clapped her hands together.

"Next time, teach your lover how to act a little better. How can someone who pulled off such a major scheme get so red in the face just from holding hands?"

"Eh...?"

With a wink, she went off to attend to other customers.

Verto and I left the tavern with dazed expressions.

I never expected to get caught. If she knew it was a lie, why did she give me the chart?

"Well, I got it anyway."

Honestly, I'd thought there was a high chance of failure.

"Tatiana."

Verto, following behind, opened his mouth with a peculiar expression. I thought he was going to scold me for lying.

"What? I had no choice. You know it's hard to get this stuff without connections."

"It's not that. I thought it was fun."

"Huh?"

Verto was smiling. He, who rarely showed any expression, approached with a softened face.

"Let's go. You need to get some rest."

He gently patted my head and walked ahead.

After breakfast, I went shopping with Serena and returned to the inn, where I ran into Keith and Ferian on their way out.

Keith turned his head away the moment our eyes met and walked past. A dismissive "hmph" was thrown in for good measure.

'Is he still sulking?'

"You're back early."

Ferian, now accustomed to this situation, smiled and spoke to me.

"Are you going to learn how to swim?"

"Yeah. I keep practicing, but it's hard."

Ferian gave an awkward laugh.

It was only natural that a noble wouldn't know how to swim since they'd never need to.

Verto, the naval commander, and Keith, who had picked it up over years on the battlefield, were the exceptions.

"At this point, it seems like you just have no talent for it."

Serena looked at him with pity.

"I suppose I've spent too much time sitting at a desk."

Ferian's face was smiling, but he seemed a bit stung.

"Tatiana, when on earth did you learn to swim?"

He took the attack from Serena and aimed the arrow at me.

"Stop chatting and hurry up."

Keith, who had already reached the door, looked back at us with irritation.

Seeing him like that, I asked.

"Can't you go swimming later? Let's talk for a bit, Keith."

"...Follow me."

I thought he might refuse, but Keith readily stepped out of the inn as if he'd been waiting.

"Looks like it's already all resolved."

At Ferian's words, Serena chimed in.

"Then why was he sulking this whole time?"

I handed one of the paper boxes I was carrying to Ferian.

"Sorry for messing up your schedule. Call Verto too and share this. I'll be right back."

The place we arrived at with Keith was the central plaza.

In one corner of the lively space stood a tall clock tower, and in the center was a large fountain.

We sat side by side on a bench, facing forward. The fountain's spray sparkled and shattered in the sunlight.

"I'm sorry. I misspoke that day. I shouldn't have said that to someone who was trying to help."

I couldn't keep this cold war going forever.

"Haa..."

Keith ruffled his hair roughly.

"No, I'm the one who should apologize. I promised not to be rude, yet I pushed you too hard with unfounded suspicions again."

"Well, you did seem a bit petty, but I understand. The situation was bad."

"Did you just say petty?"

Keith turned his head and stared at me in disbelief.

I deliberately ignored him and quickly held up the paper box I'd brought.

"Want some pudding?"

Keith chuckled as if letting it slide this once, then leaned back comfortably and asked.

"What's with the sudden pudding?"

"A reconciliation gift. You like pudding, don't you?"

"I do?"

"Yeah. Don't you?"

It wasn't in the original story; it was information in my head.

Back when we'd been on good terms, we used to eat a lot of pudding at the bakery we frequented.

"This place has really good ones too. Try it."

When I handed him the wobbly, bright yellow pudding, Keith murmured quietly.

"I thought you didn't eat this anymore."

"Huh?"

I asked back because I hadn't caught what he said, but he shook his head.

"Nothing. I'll enjoy it."

I took out my own pudding, scooped up a heaping spoonful, and put it in my mouth.

When we were almost finished, I saw a faint satisfaction lingering at the corners of Keith's mouth and opened my mouth to speak.

"Hey, about Serena."

"Why is that woman still shamelessly clinging to us?"

As soon as I brought up Serena's name, Keith spoke up with discomfort.

Judging by his irritated tone, it didn't seem like he'd be easy to convince. In the original story, he had accepted her readily despite his wariness, almost out of pity.

"She probably has nowhere to go."

"That's not our problem."

"I've been thinking—you know about the kraken appearing in the sea these days, right? We don't have a mage, so..."

"No."

As I started rattling off excuses, Keith, having guessed where this was going, cut me off flatly.

"No, just hear me out. I got captured by that humpback whale before. If we had a mage, we definitely wouldn't have been taken down so easily."

His resolute eyes wavered slightly.

"Anyway, we have you as an aura user, so it won't be dangerous. If she does anything suspicious, we can part ways with her then."

Keith narrowed his eyes at me, let out a heavy sigh, and said.

"I'll think about—"

"Thank you! Then I'll go tell Verto to prepare a room for Serena too!"

"Wait...!"

I ran off without hearing the rest.

Ferian didn't look pleased when I said Keith had agreed, but he didn't strongly object.

Verto had no complaints either.

And so, Serena's room was additionally prepared, and finally, the day of departure arrived.