CH 8

Oh, my. What's with the sentimental thoughts?

Carefully, I took out a handkerchief from my pocket and put it on the tip of my nose.

"So, can I get down and look around here while waiting?"

"By yourself?"

"Yes. After being in the carriage for days, I feel stuffy, so I would like to look around here."

I pretended to be sad and used my crocodile tears as frugally as I could. I looked up at Sir Jerome with a very innocent face.

"It would be difficult to go out here once I entered the Archduke's castle. I have some things that I would like to buy."

"But… It would be dangerous to travel alone. Then, I will assign a knight to escort you."

"No. To be honest, I want to buy some things for women…."

"Ah…"

With a very shy face, I lowered my voice.

The lady whisper attack made Sir Jerome avert his eyes out of helplessness.

I knew he would be like this.

He did seem to have a weak heart, but seeing his face blushed like this, I guessed he doesn't have much experience with women.

Although if that was the case, I was the same. But I got the 'second round' advantage here.

"I am not sure if there are any ladies' stuff at the Archduke's castle. I want to buy those things here because I couldn't prepare properly before I came here. Is it really not possible?"

"T-Then, we will hide and watch from afar…."

"I want to change my clothes, too."

"..."

As I flapped the collar of my dress, Sir Jerome closed his eyes instantly. It was an old dress that covered my neck, so it didn't even show the skin underneath. However, it was enough to sway a young gentleman knight.

"!!"

Really, what is this young man doing?

Looking at him choking on his saliva like that, I almost wanted to curse at the author, whose real name was never mentioned before.

The more I thought about the future, the more I thought about how this naive man would become a promising R-rated prospect character.

"Also, if the knights in uniform are coming with me, everyone will know who I am. Wouldn't everyone avoid me, then?"

"Ah, you're right."

"Of course, it wouldn't harm me, but it would be better to avoid people circulating rumours about His Highness…."

I didn't forget to prick his bone-deep loyalty toward the Archduke.

No matter how weak-hearted and naive he was, it wasn't me who moves him anyway-it was the Archduke.

Once I properly stimulated his conscience, he finally gave in.

"You may go by yourself, then. Then, would it be okay if we meet up again here in three hours?"

"Of course. I would be finished by then. I will be going, then…."

The secret weapon of women.

I didn't exert all of it, but I was planning to if Sir Jerome didn't give up.

Unfortunately, that wasn't enough attack for me to let my Rose out of her hiding chest.

Before closing the window, I hinted at the knights and the coachmen to step back as far as possible.

"Ah, shall we change clothes now?"

Outside the window, I could hear the sign of a group of knights in silver armor retreating.

I knew it.

I lifted the lid of the chest with a remorseful smile. After I kept steady the kitten-like Rose in my arms, I opened the other door of the carriage.

"Sister, did the knights leave?"

"Yes, they did."

The second rule on how not to be taken as naive was if I didn't like one thing, I could just make it away.

Lyden, the center of the North, was a much more prosperous city than I expected.

The streets were rowdy enough to remind me of Hesse, the Capital of the Empire I lived at until my father's business went bankrupt.

The round-shaped square was crowded with carriages loaded with stuff, nobles strolling around, even children selling flowers and newspapers.

Everyone was having fun, except me.

Even when I stretched my sore limb, I felt annoyed for no reason.

Somewhere around here, there must be the people who devoured my father's money.

I gritted my teeth as I stretched my ankle one by one.

In a world full of frauds, I couldn't let my guard down simply because this place looked nice.

"Sister, where are we going now?"

"Ah, Rose."

I forgot about Rose, who mimicked exactly what I was doing.

The way she wiggled her wrists and ankles vigorously was exactly like a cat waving its tail.

Oh gosh. My cutie pie. Your big sister was thinking about how she couldn't let her guard down.

"Hold my hand, Rose."

At this rate, she might even have copied my tongue-clicking habit.

I quickly smiled and held Rose's little hand.

There were only three hours, so I had to finish my business here and get back to the carriage.

"Now, we have to buy the essentials."

"Sister, this place…."

"Yes. This is your first time going here, right?"

Of course, so was I.

First, we stopped by a bookstore. We could smell a distinctive smell of old parchment when we came in. I used to be a book lover, so I felt refreshed by the smell.

As I looked around the bookstore, the middle-aged owner approached me.

"Is there any book that you are looking for, young miss?"

"Ah…"

"Or can I make some recommendations?"

The bookstore's owner kindly approached me.

I noticed her gaze of admiration, but I pretended not to notice that and took my time thinking.

"I am not sure. I don't know which books are good."

"These days, 'The Marquis' Secret Night' and 'The Hot Knight Under His Armour' are very popular. Don't you think these are both set here in Lyden?"

"Oh my God!"

When I covered my mouth and pretended to be embarrassed, the bookstore owner smiled, pleased as if she had guessed my preferences right.

She might have given her recommendation because I looked like a girl with many dreams -- Well, too bad she was just wasting her time.

It was because she offered it to someone who made a big mistake paying for an R-rated romance novel.

The bookstore owner chose the wrong opponent. I wasn't going to say that I wasn't interested at all, but I would rather read it peacefully after making sure that I wouldn't be skinned alive.

"Uh… I am not interested in that kind of book. It is my first time coming to the North, so I would like to have a map."

"Ah, yes, a map! Of course! You must have a map if you want to travel around Lyden."

She picked up a map displayed on the front of the bookstore as she had just realized what I might need.

It was a typical map for female tourists with shopping places, dessert shops, and romantic spots marked with heart-shaped symbols.

As I looked at the map with an unreadable smile, the owner became anxious.

"How do you like it? Most of the ladies take this map. If you follow the course here, it's no exaggeration to say that you have seen everything in Lyden."

"Ah, I see... But is there anything more detailed than this?"

"Detailed?"

"For example, a map that covered the whole of the North, and the forest are all exposed... Oh, a cadastral map would be great."

I smiled refreshingly as if I had just come up with a nice idea, but the owner's expression became weird.

It was hard to read those kinds of maps if you were not an expert because the cadastral chart revealed all the materials, areas, land numbers, and land boundaries.

Maybe there were only two kinds of people who would look for those kinds of maps. It was either a knight who was about to go to war or a distinguished real estate broker.

"If this is your first time coming to Lyden, why would you need that kind of map?"

"Ah, that is…."

I smiled awkwardly at the surprisingly persistent owner.

Why would you ask so much?

Something flashed through my mind when I was trying to come up with a reasonable excuse so that we wouldn't be wasting too much time here.

"The truth is... I have read that before..."

"Yes? By that, which one…."

"'The Marquis' Secret Night' and 'The Hot Knight Under His Armour'"

I turned my back on Rose, pretending not to be shy.

I didn't forget to be extra friendly to the owner who still didn't understand.

"It was a masterpiece."

"That's right, but…."

"That's why I came to the North. I think I could get the bigger picture of it if I look at the cadastral map. Where the background of the Marquis' mansion set is, and where the vast land of the knight is… I want to know more about it."

"Ah, so that's the reason!"

Only then did the owner's face become full of indescribable satisfaction.

Why wouldn't she?

How many people had she met so far who came here for an 'R-rated novel fan tour'?

"I knew it was popular, but I didn't expect it to be this popular. I'm proud to be a northerner! I haven't thought that far!"

"Yes, I am coming here with my little sister. It would be embarrassing if I talk about it frankly, so..."

"I understand."

The owner lowered her voice and looked at me with an understanding look.

I didn't want to be understood, but I wouldn't mind continuing acting if I could move on from this situation.

"Wait here, please. I will be right back."

"Oh, and what was it? I think there was one story where the male lead was a judge… Oh my, I can't remember the title..."

"The Lady's Trial Takes Places at Night!"

"Oh, yes, that is the title!"

I couldn't believe such a book existed.

I bit my lips hard and collected my solemn mind, trying to hold back my laugh.

I felt sorry for the owner who has been admiring my fan spirit, but since we've set a course in this direction, it's not bad to go all the way with the acting.

"Then I would like a map that contains the latest aristocratic codes that the male protagonist in that book saw… Of course, it's just for my collections."