How To Ruin The Original Work (16 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 8

Nigel safely returned to the inn before sunset.

The inn was bustling with people drinking and having dinner.

“Oh, Nigel’s here! You’ll be eating, right?”

“…Yes.”

Nigel answered Andy while awkwardly avoiding eye contact.

“Haha! Good choice. A carriage came earlier, so I took your luggage up to your room. Check it later.”

Nigel nodded as she sat down in an empty seat.

“Nigel, you’re more resourceful than you look, aren’t you? Lumen’s Dressmaker—that place shows up in gossip columns all the time. Did you win the lottery or…?”

Whack!

“Ouch!”

At that moment, someone sharply smacked Andy on the back.

“Andy! How dare you ask such an impolite question to a guest!”

“Oh, Mom!”

The culprit turned out to be none other than the inn’s head cook.

“I’m sorry, Nigel. My child still lacks manners. Oh, I’m Julie, Andy’s mom. We met briefly this morning, right?”

Julie smiled warmly.

Nod nod.

“I’ll bring your food right away—just wait a moment.”

“…Yes.”

Nigel fidgeted with her hands as she replied.

Not long after, Julie herself brought the food and set it down on Nigel’s table.

At a glance, it was clear that both the variety and portion size differed significantly from what other guests were eating.

“This is grilled sausage with assorted vegetables, this is a gratin made with potatoes and broccoli, this is a meat stew simmered all day, and this is…”

“Mom! Are you trying to burst Nigel’s stomach?!”

Andy, who had been serving tables, dashed over upon seeing the mountain of dishes piled on Nigel’s table.

“Why? I’m giving it because you eat so cutely! Besides, look how sunken Nigel’s cheeks are—you need to eat well and gain some weight.”

“But you just scolded me for being rude, and now you’re being even ruder?!”

At Andy’s reproach, Julie awkwardly brushed her hair aside.

“I’m sorry—I’m just getting older and nosier. It’s just that seeing you reminds me so much of my daughter working far from home.”

“No, not at all. Thank you—I’ll enjoy it.”

Nigel replied.

Just as Andy had said earlier, this was a superb meal—one she might have regretted missing.

Especially the meat stew, which suited her taste perfectly. It reminded her of the stew Hendel occasionally made.

“I tried making it in the Northern style—I’m glad it suits your palate.”

Nigel, who had been dipping bread into the stew, looked up abruptly at the voice she suddenly heard.

“Um… I…”

“Why are you flustered and blushing like that? It’s making me embarrassed.”

“…You don’t have to worry about me while you’re busy.”

Nigel lowered her flushed face deeply as she spoke.

“Don’t worry—I’ve already swapped shifts with my husband. Oh, if I’m making you uncomfortable, I’ll leave.”

“No, no!”

When Nigel frantically waved her hands, Julie chuckled and sat down in the chair opposite her.

“How did a young lady like you end up traveling all the way from the North to the capital?”

“Well…”

“Oh dear—I phrased that badly. I’m not prying into your personal life. It’s just that there’s been a surge in scams targeting young girls your age lately, so I’m worried. Just a few days ago, flyers were plastered all over town looking for someone.”

Julie’s eyes radiated genuine, warm concern.

“I’ll be entering the academy soon.”

“Really? Goodness! That’s admirable—truly admirable. To come all the way from the North, you must’ve been accepted into a prestigious place, right? Gordon? Mailer? Or maybe… Sienia? Haha.”

“Yes.”

“Haha, my intuition’s spot-on today! Which one? Gordon? Mailer?”

“…Sienia.”

Nigel spoke hesitantly.

Hearing herself say it aloud made her cheeks burn—it sounded as though she were bragging.

“…Sienia?”

Andy, who had appeared beside Julie at some point, gaped with her mouth wide open.

“You mean *that* Sienia—the one Princess Abelin herself attended? Where most students are nobles?!”

Nod.

Nigel gave a single, firm nod.

“Oh my~ How lovely! If you’re this pretty, your parents must’ve been stunning too. They must’ve been overjoyed when you got accepted!”

As Julie stroked Nigel’s hair, Nigel’s face turned crimson.

“Ahaha, are you shy? Don’t hide your face—it’s fine!”

“I always assumed everyone at Sienia was stuck-up, but here’s an adorable freshman like you!”

Until the mother and daughter finally left, Nigel never once lifted her head.

[This is the timeline separator]

Nigel returned to her room after bathing—in hot water this time, not cold.

Whether it was from the warm bath or from being teased earlier, Nigel’s cheeks were flushed.

Though she’d been teased, she didn’t feel bad—in fact, she felt rather good.

Unconsciously, Nigel reached up to touch the spot on her head Julie had patted.

“…This feels strange.”

Accustomed to spending time only with men, she always grew tongue-tied and awkward around women.

“Right—that happened back then too.”

It was when Nigel had gone to the First Northern Temple for the novice priest exam.

The woman in white robes she met there—though young herself—had patted Nigel’s head, calling her admirable.

“It was because of her that I decided to go to Sienia…”

Though their meeting had been as fleeting as a mirage, that brief conversation had helped Nigel choose her future path.

“Well, of course, I got in through my own hard work too.”

Recalling the grueling entrance exam, Nigel climbed into bed.

[This is the timeline separator]

Time flew quickly, and before long it was the eve of the festival.

Nigel bid farewell to Andy and Julie and headed to the communication office.

Even early in the morning, the office was packed with people.

Although portable communication stones had recently been released for civilians, few could afford them due to their exorbitant prices.

With communication offices scattered throughout the empire, there was no need to spend a fortune just for a moment’s convenience.

—Hey, who is this?

The voice of someone who *had* spent that fortune drifted through a large, vertically elongated, intricately faceted mana crystal.

It was none other than Allen.

—…Could it really be Nigel?

“Yeah.”

—Nigel! Do you have any idea how long I’ve been waiting?

Allen groaned dramatically.

“I wouldn’t know.”

—I’d even made plans to go shopping for supplies together and tour the capital…

“What a shame.”

Nigel replied flatly, without a hint of emotion.

—It’s fine! We’ve got three whole years to spend together!

“…”

—Nigel? Hello? Can you hear me?

“Yeah. The connection cut out for a second.”

—I heard the lines have been unstable lately with so many people using the office. Anyway, about tomorrow’s party—how about meeting up beforehand and going in together?

“Hmm…”

—Don’t worry. I’ll escort you properly. Oh—wait, Sebastian’s saying I have to go now?

“…Huh?”

—I’m sorry. I’d love to keep talking, but something urgent came up. Let’s meet tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. in front of the Golden Dragon statue! You’ll recognize it right away once you arrive at Sienia. See you tomorrow, Nigel!!

“Wait a sec…”

Click—

The connection cut off—after he’d said everything he wanted to say.

Nigel’s expression soured slightly.

She didn’t actually have anything to add, but she felt… off.

Not bad—just off.

“…See you tomorrow, Allen.”

Nigel offered a greeting that wouldn’t reach the now-darkened mana crystal.

[This is the timeline separator]

The day of reckoning.

Nigel’s expression was noticeably gloomy.

“Nigel, isn’t today the day you head to Sienia? Why the long face on such a wonderful day?”

Julie, now speaking casually, gazed at Nigel with concern.

“…I’m fine, Julie. It’s nothing.”

The problem was that what seemed trivial to others was deeply troubling to her.

Nigel couldn’t bring herself to admit that she’d tossed and turned all night, worrying whether she’d even find the Golden Dragon.

“You can still eat, right? Since it’s your last day here, I went all out.”

…Nod.

“Oh dear, you’re just so cute when you eat heartily.”

And so, until her very last day, Nigel scraped her plate clean.

“Nigel, a carriage just arrived out front!”

Andy, returning from feeding the stable, gestured toward the door.

True to her words, a carriage bearing the dressmaker’s logo waited outside the window.

It was time to leave.

‘…How hard could it be to find some stupid Golden Dragon? It’s the imperial family’s symbol—they must’ve made it absurdly huge.’

Nigel clamped her lips shut and hefted her now even heavier bag.

“You’re leaving already? Feels sad already, even though we only knew you a few days.”

“Tell me about it. After seeing only old men every day, having someone my age around was fun for a bit.”

“…I’ll stop by sometime when I have the chance.”

At Nigel’s words, both their faces brightened.

“Yes! Come back with friends next time. I’ll feed you so much delicious food your stomach bursts!”

“And tell us all the fun things that happen there, okay?”

Nigel nodded.

“Well then… thank you both for everything during this short time.”

“Take care, Nigel!”

“Come anytime—you’ll always be welcome here.”

Feeling a warmth bloom in her chest, Nigel climbed into the carriage.

[This is the timeline separator]

Madam Ludin had been in such high spirits since last evening that she felt like she might float into the sky at any moment.

Dark shadows beneath her eyes bore witness to her exhaustion, yet fatigue could never override her professionalism.

Jingle.

Right on cue, the long-awaited protagonist arrived.

“Welcome, Lady Nigel!!”

With just ten hours remaining until the party, there was a mountain of tasks ahead.

But on second thought, that also meant Lady Nigel still had ten whole hours to cultivate her elegance.

“Soo, Rina—begin.”

Ludin grinned as she watched Nigel, who was outwardly acting as if nothing were wrong.

It resembled nothing so much as a wolf that hadn’t eaten for days staring hungrily at a lamb.

[This is the timeline separator]

Chirp chirp. Caw caw.

The sun was already sinking low, and even the birds were clocking out for the day.

Nigel, utterly drained even before the party began, collapsed onto the sofa.

Well—she *tried* to, but Soo’s sharp glare instantly straightened her spine.

All that time and effort had paid off: the reflection in the mirror looked quite presentable.

The three from the dressmaker had worked since morning—massaging, applying every known skin treatment, meticulously painting makeup with powder and rouge, and styling each strand of hair until perfection.

‘Looking like this, I don’t seem like someone from Tilin at all—more like a young lady from some fine household… Well, I suppose that’s technically true.’

Ludin, Soo, and Rina stood directly behind her, watching with satisfaction as Nigel blinked repeatedly at her own reflection.

Jingle.

Just then, an uninvited guest abruptly barged into the dressmaker’s shop.