Chapter 12: Did you have a good date?

“Come on.”

Iska nodded at the hand he held out as if he was desperate.

“You don’t know much about Imperia yet, but I’ll especially guide you myself. Because it’s you, Lavella.”

Lavella laughed at Iska, who emphasized the word “especially.”

Look at this guy, are you trying to sweet talk me? I don’t know who would fall for it.

Lavella raised her chin as she looked at Iska’s shifty face.

“…Do horses have bones?”

Korean proverb: For words to have a hidden intention.

“Well, what do you say?”

Iska, who glanced at Lavella with her eyes down, grabbed her hand and pulled it toward him.

“Hmm. Did I ever give permission?”

“If you don’t like it, you can shake me off.”

As Lavella’s squinted eyes with anger, he pointed at his hand.

His grip was weak enough to pull her hand out at any time. Thinking for a moment, Lavella chose to stay quiet.

Today Lavella was going to be as sweet as a meringue cookie to get Iska’s mouth to open. She didn’t have any cards in her hands, so it was better for Iska to make an opportunity first.

Lavella, who made up her mind, clung to Iska so that her arms would touch his.

“…….”

As she looked up, his purple eyes with wonder came down. Iska’s eyes looked as if he was trying to read her intentions.

Lavella pulled out her hand with a faint smile, and slowly laced her fingers through Iska’s.

“Well.”

Iska, who raised one eyebrow, smiled mischievously and applied pressure to her hand.

‘I’ll pretend I don’t know.’

Although Lavella’s inner thoughts were clear, he loved holding her small hand.

Lavella, who raised her other hand, lifted the tip of her finger. Iska lowered his head gently.

“You know, it’s very suspicious, right?”

As he whispered in her ear, the fluttering sound of Iska’s soft laughter rang pleasantly.

“I know. So keep wondering about me.”

Looking at Iska with his eyes folded gently, Lavella gave a small laugh.

“What about the wound? Is it okay to walk?”

“I guess.”

Because she took off her pants and wore a dress, she felt comfortable because there was no irritation on the wound. Come to think of it, it was the first time that Lavella wore a skirt after she moved to Imperia.

“Tell me if you’re having a hard time.”

“Don’t worry about it. Just guide me.”

“Alright, let’s fill up your stomach first.”

As soon as they walked to the market, she could see a row of colorful tents connected with decorative cloth tied together.

The area was crowded. It was the first time the village itself was so lively.

Lavella looked up at the building before mixing in with the crowd. It was a perfect location for snipers to hide.

‘Oh, there’s no gun here.’

Belatedly remembering, Lavella relaxed. Hiding a gun in such a place is meaningless because there was no distance.

Lavella’s steps became lighter as there was nothing to worry about. The two walked into the growing crowd.

“Get behind me.”

Iska, who was walking beside her, took half a step forward and obliquely covered the front of Lavella. It was an act of being considerate so that her injured body would not bump into others.

“…….”

Lavella felt strange when she saw his shoulders and back walking ahead.

Was there anyone who treated her as a woman like this? Of course, some men approached her when she was posing as a lady.

But none of them knew who she was. The guild members did not treat her as a woman, but as loyal dogs who protected their owner.

In that sense, Iska was a strange fellow.

Iska’s steps stopped in front of the tent that was grilling large meat on a skewer.

“It’s made of Ulan. It’s only caught in the north of Imperia. It’s not easy to find, but it came all the way here.”

“Hey, you wanna know something? It’s been years since people in this area tasted it.”

How many years? Originally, there must have been active trade between regions. Lavella listened to the merchant.

“From your accent, you must be from the north.”

“Right. I came here because I heard rumors that Kirah helped clear the road.”

“I see. Make a lot of money then.”

Iska handed over a silver coin to the merchant.

“Sir, you’re handsome. Miss, you’ve got to hold on to a man like this.”

Lavella, who shrugged at the smiling merchant, took a bite from the long skewer that Iska gave her. The feeling of the juices spreading in her mouth wasn’t bad.

As they entered the plaza square in the center of the village, a large stage appeared.

Children and adults were sitting around the stage.

“It’s a puppet show. I think the story is related to the myth about the founding of the Empire.”

Iska whispered in Lavella’s ear as he lowered his head.

On the stage was a battle between a doll with long gray hair wearing a cloak of the same color and a doll wearing a yellow crown in a uniform while riding a horse.

“You fool! Do you think you can beat me as a human being?”

The voice playing the villain shouted cruelly.

“I will defeat you even if I have to sacrifice my life in order to bring peace to this land!”

Even though it was a childish line, people were holding their breath as they concentrated on the stage.

It was when Lavella chewed a dried fruit while watching the stage.

“The wicked wizard, Chamer! Take my sword!”

Cough.

What? Who?

Lavella coughed after swallowing the food wrong at the sudden name of an acquaintance.

“Are you alright?”

Iska looked at Lavella’s face as he took her out of the crowd.

“Oh, I bit my tongue.”

“You should be careful. Let me take a look.”

Iska clicked his tongue then grabbed Lavella’s chin and lifted it.

“Stick out your tongue.”

“…….”

“Quickly.”

Lavella looked at him with her lips closed as if he were being outrageous. Iska put on a stern face and pressed Lavella’s lips open.

“Ahm not hurt.”

She lost her pronunciation when he pressed her lips. Lavella pulled Iska’s hand off and frowned.

“You know, you’re a lot of work, right?”

“What?”

Lavella was startled by the words she heard next.

“Well, that’s cute in its own way.”

“…….”

While Lavella was thinking about hitting Iska’s mouth for a moment, she suddenly came to her senses. This was not the time to be swayed by Iska’s wordplay.

“Iska. You just said that play was the founding myth? Is that true?”

Lavella asked what she was curious about. Of course, the doll’s appearance was nothing like the Chamer she knew. Except for the long hair.

“Yeah, it’s recorded in history. Why?”

“Just because.”

Lavella’s mind was complicated. Evil wizard? Was that really the same Chamer? You lost to the Emperor? Is that why you’re stuck in the necklace? She was full of questions.

Looking at Lavella’s confused face, Iska was convinced she knew nothing. ‘So you weren’t pretending you didn’t know.’

It was a great find.

He was relieved because he felt like he had an excuse to approach her sincerely.

“Lavella, let’s go back.”

Iska reached out and grabbed Lavella’s hand again.

* * *

“Didn’t you say we were going back to the Guild?”

“Oh, I heard the view from here is beautiful.”

Iska, who jumped off the horse first, hugged a puzzled Lavella.

It would be troublesome if her treated wound opened after making her move. At least Lavella was able to entrust her body to him as she knew that fact well.

It was a small garden outside the village that appeared just a short way up.

At the end, the colorful tents combined with the lighting to create various lights.

Standing next to Lavella while she sat on a suitable rock to capture the scenery, Iska asked.

“Did you have fun at the festival?”

“Hmm.”

Thanks to Iska, she collected a lot of new information, so it was a fruitful time.

“It’s a beautiful country.”

“…….”

“That’s why I want to protect it.”

Lavella quickly turned her head and looked up at Iska.

His profile standing with his arms folded and looking down at the village was strangely serious.

Unlike the atmosphere I’ve seen so far, it seemed heavy and intense.

“Lavella.”

Iska slowly turned his head and met her eyes. Iska’s eyes, where darkness fell, looked darker than usual.

“I hope you like Imperia.”

“…….”

“Enough that you can’t think of the world you lived in before.”

*   *   *

“Hey, Captain! Did you have a good date?”

“…….”

The next afternoon, when she slowly woke up and stopped by her office for the first time in a while, she met Argen, who was smirking and smiling.

“I heard the rumor all the way here, that our captain had a nice and friendly date with a handsome man.”

“It’s noisy.”

“I think he’s someone I know!”

“…….”

Lavella’s hand slipped down.

It was not until he saw his life pass in Lavella’s eyes that he kept his mouth shut. Her eyes were still full of people who wanted to tease her.

It was only natural for them to know about her whereabouts in the village as Argen collected and filtered all the information coming into the guild. It would be a problem if they didn’t know.

“The guild is quiet.”

“Everyone went to enjoy the festival except the ones who had requests.”

Anyway, why didn’t I know there was a festival? Doubtful Lavella soon nodded and accepted.

If you were an Imperian, you couldn’t miss the festival. In addition, it was because she didn’t know about the atmosphere outside because she had been locked up in her room for the past few days.

“Why are you still at the guild?”

“I don’t care if it’s not money.”

“That’s a good attitude.”

At the blunt reply, Lavella rummaged through the documents.

“Find something?”

“Ah, I’m going to look at the clients Iska had been in charge of.”

“Hmm.”

“If you make that look again Argen, I won’t let you go.”

Argen rushed to hand over a bunch of papers.

“Tsk. Being quick is your strength.”

Returning to the office with the papers, Lavella opened the window wide.

As she sat by the window and looked at the documents, the conversation she had with Iska lingered.

‘The world I lived in before?”

She acknowledged that she knew she was summoned here.

She didn’t know that he would bring it up first when she was trying to pry.

“You…!”

“Lavella, can I tell you one thing?”

“…….”

“There is no such thing as platinum gold hair and eyes in Imperia.”

“…….”

“Only wizards have that look.”

“!”

“That’s all for today. I need to be of value to you, too. Now, shall we go back?”

“Who the hell are you?”

She wanted to call out to Chamer, but there was no sign of the unhelpful old man.

‘I’ll just have to check for myself.’

Lavella’s eyes became sharp when she saw the request for Iska.

*   *   *

“I’m coming.”

“Oh, Miss Lavella, I hear there are precious things in the pharmacy. Please stop by on your way back.”

“Okay.”

Lavella, who split up from Tora and headed to the cabinet, rubbed the wound unconsciously.

It didn’t take long for it to heal except for the faint scar. It occurred to her that the wound healed quickly.

It was a satisfying day in many ways because the conversation with Tora ended well.

“What else could have come in today?”

After her injury, Lavella began to study the poison and herbs of Imperia in earnest. It was a hobby that she started because she was bored when she didn’t go out for requests.

There were times when she instinctively guessed the efficacy, but there were many kinds of plants and animals she didn’t know yet, so she had to get help.

By the time the pharmacy sign was in sight, a small bird had leapt and flew over Lavella’s head. It was a small bird with a unique mixture of green and yellow.

“I think I’ve seen it somewhere…Oh, is it that bird?”

It looked similar to the bird she saw at her room one time. Lavella chased the bird with her eyes without thinking much. The bird flew and landed on the medicinal herb sign.

It was when Lavella, who reached her destination, slowed down. A familiar back caught Lavella’s eyes.

‘Huh, is it Iska?’

Standing right in front of the medicinal herb cabinet, Iska looked at something carefully. If she remembered correctly, he wasn’t carrying out a request at the moment.

Lavella approached to learn something but found a man standing next to Iska so she stopped walking without realizing it.

Lavella removed her presence in case Iska noticed, and glanced at the person standing next to him.

‘…Woman?’

It was a slender person who covered their face with a hood and a long cape covering their ankles.

All Lavella could see was small lips, white skin, and dark leaf-colored hair that came out of the hood and just below their shoulders.

Maybe they were a person whose identity should not be revealed. Why else would they cover their whole body like that?

They were just as mysterious as Iska.

‘Wait.’

But why am I hiding?  When Lavella raised one eyebrow, Iska was going in the opposite direction of herself with a woman to see if she had finished her work.

‘Where is she going?’

It strangely bothered her and she felt strangely intrusive. Somehow, she had a strong feeling that she should follow behind them.

‘Yeah, I was going to investigate anyway.’

After finding a logical reason, Lavella quietly covered her hood and began to follow suit.

Iska and the unidentifiable woman walked slowly down the street. The two stopped once and looked around the village store, and whispered with their faces close.

‘It’s just…’

It was obviously a lover’s date. In the meantime, the woman continued to drag down the hood suspiciously. It was like a careful gesture as if someone had seen their face.

The two people, who had been walking around the street a few times, entered the building as if they had made up their minds.

“!”

Lavella’s eyes distorted when she checked the identity of the building.

The place where the two entered was an Inn.