Ch. 120

Chapter 120: Side Story 6

Suddenly, the quick-footed aide ran over and bowed his head to Ardion. “I’m terribly sorry, Your Majesty. It’s all our fault for causing such a commotion…”

“That’s enough. Just catch the cat and send it off somewhere appropriate.”

“Yes, right away.”

At the aide’s order, the nearby servants brought a container and carefully coaxed the cat inside.

The cat struggled for a moment before curling its back and baring its teeth. A servant carried the container outside, and as if on cue, Arpe, the innkeeper, arrived and hurried over to Ardion.

“Your Majesty, I deeply apologize. Had I known, I would have gone down to the basement to check. This is entirely my fault.” Arpe knelt before Ardion, pressing his forehead to the ground.

“It’s fine. No one got hurt, so let’s leave it at that.”

Only then did Arpe begin bowing repeatedly, his head low.

Ardion gazed at him quietly before speaking. “By the way, what was that cat doing in the basement? I took a quick look, and it was nothing but piles of books.”

“Now that you mention it, there used to be a group of vagrants staying down there long ago. One of them might have brought the cat, and it ended up trapped when they left.”

“So that cat has been down there since the old man passed away?”

“I don’t believe so. We only started hearing strange noises from the basement about three years ago.”

I was surprised for a moment. Did that mean the cat had survived down there for three whole years? It was honestly impressive that it had managed to stay alive all this time.

“Judging by that, it probably survived by hunting mice down there. When I looked around earlier, I noticed water trickling between the walls. It must have been drinking that.”

“That sounds likely. In any case, thank you so much for resolving the situation in the basement. If it weren’t for Your Majesty, we might never have realized the cat was down there.”

Ardion simply nodded.

The aide said cautiously, “There’s no need for thanks. We’ll be leaving soon anyway.”

Arpe’s face fell instantly. It seemed he had already made preparations for a banquet. I looked at Ardion and held his hand.

“Your Majesty’s visit has brought us great joy. Would you allow our village to host a small banquet in your honor?”

“Ardion, the carriage repairs might take a while anyway. Why not go for a little while?”

“We still need to travel by carriage. It hasn’t been fully repaired yet.”

Arpe quickly chimed in, “Please don’t worry! We’ve prepared a carriage just in case.”

He beamed with excitement, clearly hopeful. I glanced at Ardion, silently urging him. At that point, it didn’t seem right to refuse. Ardion, reading my mood, gave a slight nod.

Smiling, I squeezed his hand.

Ardion gripped mine in return and turned to Arpe. “Alright. Get everything ready. We’ll head out shortly.”

“Yes, Your Majesty! Please wait just a moment.”

It was clear Arpe had made thorough preparations for us. The aide also followed him out to inspect the carriage.

Ardion and I waited in the drawing room of the inn. When we sat at the table, servants brought out dessert.

“These are potato scones made from the local harvest.”

The royal palace chefs were always skilled, but these must have been made using ingredients provided by Arpe.

I took a bite of one of the fist-sized scones, and my face instantly lit up. The flavor was exceptional. The outside was delightfully nutty with a rich butter aroma, while the center held mashed potatoes seasoned with just the right amount of salt and pepper for a subtle umami. I couldn’t help smiling the entire time I ate.

“Laila, is it good?” Ardion tilted his head slightly as he looked at me.

I nodded enthusiastically.  “I’ve never had scones this delicious.”

They were even better than the ones we had during the hunting competition. Considering the scarcity of ingredients in this area, I had to admire the chefs who had managed to create something so tasty.

While I was still marveling at the flavor, Ardion simply watched me, not taking a bite himself.

“Ardion, aren’t you going to eat?”

“I’m not particularly hungry.”

Now that I thought about it, Ardion never seemed that fond of food. In fact, he ate so little it sometimes seemed excessive. But back when he was younger, he used to enjoy bread with cheese. He liked fruit too.

“What are you thinking about, Laila?”

“I was just remembering how you used to eat everything I gave you.”

“Back then?”

“Yeah. You used to really enjoy the bread, cheese, and fruit I brought you.”

Ardion laughed. His bright smile lit up his handsome face, and I found myself staring without realizing.

Noticing my gaze, he gave me a playful look. “It tasted better because it came from you. And it was the first time I’d ever had food like that.”

He said it so casually, but somehow, those words made my heart flutter. I picked up another scone and held it out to him.

Ardion looked at me curiously. “Laila, you can have more.”

“No, I want you to try it too. This is honestly the best potato scone I’ve ever had.” I even cut it into a neat piece and offered it to him. When I handed him a fork, he took my hand along with it.

“Ardion.”

I gave him a look, and he smiled as he took the fork. Gracefully, he picked up the scone and took a bite.

“It’s good, right?”

Ardion nodded. “It’s pretty good.”

“Pretty good? Not amazing?”

He chuckled. “It’s delicious. In fact, I’m thinking of handing out rewards just because you seem so happy.”

He called over a waiting servant. The servant rushed over, took Ardion’s instructions, and left.

Just then, the aide returned. “Your Majesty, the carriage is ready. It will take you to the village safely.”

Ardion and I left the inn together. The new carriage was smaller than the one we had arrived in, but it was clearly well-maintained. Its glossy finish suggested a fresh coat of paint, and the interior was spotless.

In high spirits, I looked out the carriage window. The weather had cleared completely, and the bright blue sky was breathtaking.

White clouds drifted lazily across the sky, reminding me of the frightened cat from earlier.

“Ardion, what happened to that cat?” I turned to Ardion.

“Arpe said he’d take care of it. Apparently, the village grain storage has a rat problem.”

Hearing that brought Derol to mind and made me a little sad, but for the cat, it was the perfect opportunity, so I nodded.

Soon, the carriage slowed to a stop. The village wasn’t far from the inn. It was a small place with houses clustered together, and the fresh flowers decorating the area gave it a vibrant feel.

As Ardion and I stepped down, the waiting villagers came out to greet us, scattered flower petals around us, and placed floral garlands over our heads.

I smiled and looked around.

Arpe explained kindly, “This is a tradition in our village. We’ve always welcomed guests this way.”

It was refreshing to experience something so different, and the fragrance of the flowers was lovely. The eerie inn already felt like a distant memory.

“This way, please.” Arpe led us straight to the village square. A long table had been set up, overflowing with food.

Delzion and the knights stood nearby at a respectful distance, likely there just in case.

Ardion and I were seated at the head of the table. A renowned local band was playing, and a performer displayed all sorts of peculiar tricks, keeping things entertaining. The village had clearly gone to great lengths for us.

I enjoyed the spectacle with a light heart. After being in that gloomy inn, this lively atmosphere was a breath of fresh air. The performer finally stepped back. I glanced at Ardion. His expression, in contrast to mine, wasn’t particularly cheerful. He was watching everything with an unreadable look.

I nudged him.

He turned to me with a smile. “What is it, Laila?”

“Isn’t this fun?”

His smile stiffened slightly. Although his lips curved up, his gaze held a quiet intensity, as if he were hiding something deeper.

When I didn’t look away, Ardion said calmly, “I’d rather be alone with you. And judging by the time, we should’ve already arrived at the villa by now.”

I had no real response, so he looked at me intently and continued, “Laila, did you know?”

“Know what?”

“That the villa has all kinds of contraceptives.”

“What are you talking about…”

“It means you can take whichever one you like, whenever you want,” he said with a radiant smile, clearly in a good mood… and undeniably full of questionable intent.

I deliberately changed the subject. “Still, isn’t it nice to be surrounded by so many people? It’s been a while since we had fun like this.”

Hearing that, Ardion leaned in and kissed my cheek gently. “If you’re happy, then I’m happy too.”

You totally don’t look it. I narrowed my eyes at him, and he tilted his head and locked eyes with me. His playful look made me turn away first.

Just then, Arpe approached us cautiously.

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