“Why are you asking that?”

“For an additional fee, you can use a private bathroom for couples.”

“No. We don’t need it.”

“We’ll take it.”

Acceptance and rejection came simultaneously. Cordelia turned her head sharply and gave Leonard a strong look.

“D-dear. Don’t we not need such a large bathroom?”

“I need it.”

“My opinion is… Right. When did you ever ask for my opinion? Do as you please.”

“Shall I prepare the bathroom for you then?”

Leonard nodded. The employee smiled cheerfully and guided the two to the last remaining room.

Fortunately, as it was an inn located on a route frequented by merchants, the condition of the room was not bad.

“Here’s the key to the bathroom. Enjoy your stay.”

He bowed and left the room. Cordelia looked around the room once and then glanced at Leonard cautiously.

She had just blindly followed him, not wanting to sleep in the carriage, but would he really willingly give up the bed?

‘If it comes to it, I’ll just sleep on the settee. It’s better than sleeping cramped in the narrow carriage.’

It’s best to lower expectations to avoid disappointment. Cordelia put down her luggage in a corner and circled around the settee. Leonard, in the middle of unbuttoning his shirt, spoke.

“Why are you standing there?”

“Huh? Oh, nothing. I was just wondering if I should sleep here…”

“Why would you? Sleep on the bed.”

“Really? Is that okay?”

“Yeah. I’m going to wash up first.”

“Okay, okay!”

Cordelia’s face brightened. Though no one treats her like a woman, it seems her master at least acknowledges(?) the fact that she is a woman.

Fearing he might change his mind, she quickly grabbed her luggage and hopped onto the bed.

Then she began to take off her dress piece by piece. Since it was a journey without a maid, she had prepared clothes that were easy to put on alone instead of complicated and fancy dresses, so she was able to undress down to her chemise without much difficulty.

As she was taking off her stockings, there was a sudden sound of the door opening and steam poured into the room. Without turning around, Cordelia said,

“Are you done washing up?”

“Yeah.”

“Then I’ll also… Eek!”

“What? Did you see a mouse or something?”

“Why are you ly-lying there?”

Very naturally, Leonard had laid down right next to Cordelia. When she jumped up and shouted, he rather questioned her as if finding it strange.

“What do you mean why? Where else should I sleep?”

“There! There’s a settee, isn’t there?”

“How can a person sleep there?”

Thinking her words were a joke, he gave an unconcerned reply. He patted the pillow, got under the covers, and closed his eyes.

Cordelia stood stiff, unable to move, only rolling her eyes. Her mind was already in overload.

‘What is this, what is this, what is this? Is he telling me to sleep in the bed or not? Surely he’s not suggesting we sleep together?’

“Then what about me?”

“Sleep in the bed or don’t. Do as you please.”

Even though he has her husband’s body, inside he’s a completely different man. Sleeping in the same bed felt awkward no matter how she thought about it.

After hesitating, Cordelia quietly got up and went to the bathroom. She washed up quickly and came out, but the man occupying the bed still showed no signs of moving.

She walked over to the settee and sat down. The candlelight flickered, illuminating the dark room. Cordelia lay down on the chair but realized there was neither a pillow nor a proper blanket to cover herself.

After lying there for about five minutes, her back started to hurt and her body shivered from the wind coming through the wooden walls.

Unable to endure for even ten minutes, she got up again and walked to the bed.

“Master.”

“What.”

“Are you really going to sleep there?”

“I’m really going to sleep here, so stop talking to me.”

“Really, really?”

“…”

Now he doesn’t even respond. Leonard was already trying to sleep with his eyes closed. He showed absolutely no signs of a gentleman’s consideration to give up the bed for Cordelia.

At this point, she had two choices.

Either pretend not to notice and sleep next to him or lie on the settee.

Cordelia glared at the settee. Then she turned and said to Leonard.

“Master. If you happen to touch me…”

“If you say one more nonsensical thing, I’ll throw you out.”

Leonard said with his eyes closed. There was a hint of irritation in his voice, and she instinctively realized this was the final warning.

‘It’s my husband’s body anyway.’

This is an appropriate sentence to rationalize the situation. Legally and physically(?), he is her husband after all.

Embarrassment comes second. She had already been sitting on the hard carriage seat all day, and it seemed impossible to sleep naked on that settee.

Cordelia slowly slipped into the bed. Just feeling the soft cloth against her back relieved her fatigue.

She forcibly lifted her drooping eyelids and thought,

‘Stay alert, Cordelia. No matter how much he doesn’t treat me like a woman, Master is still a man! Just in case, I’ll sleep when Master falls asleep.’

And then she closed her eyes for a moment.

Someone shook her body vigorously and said,

“The sun’s up. Wake up.”

“What?”

“It’s morning, so get up.”

She was about to ask what that meant. Rubbing her eyes and barely raising her body, sunlight was pouring in through the windows.

Good heavens. Despite all her tension, her memory was blank from the moment she lay down.

Looking around, Leonard was already fully dressed.

“It’s morning? Already? I feel like I just closed my eyes and opened them?”

“How long are you going to talk nonsense? Beluce and the Baron are waiting downstairs. Hurry up and get dressed.”

Leonard threw the words at her gruffly and left the room first. Cordelia just blinked her eyes and then got out of bed.

It’s unbelievable, but it really is morning.

She hurriedly put on her clothes, washed her face briefly, and went downstairs to the first floor.

Beluce, the Baron, and Leonard were already eating.

“You’re here. Please, sit down. I ordered oatmeal, is that alright?”

“Yes. It’s fine.”

The Baron handed Cordelia a wooden bowl filled with oatmeal. Cordelia received it silently and began to eat.

Beluce looked down at Cordelia and said,

“I trust you served the master well without any inconvenience while he slept?”

“Who? Me?”

“Yes, you. Surely you didn’t just lie down and fall asleep after the master graciously allowed you to sleep in the same room?”

His words stung a little, but Cordelia spoke up loudly instead.

“Beluce, you seem to be mistaken, but I am the Countess Abrams. I should be the one serving.”

“What’s a countess from some rural backwater bragging about? Our master is…”

“Hey! Why don’t you just get lost?”

Just then, an employee shouted loudly from the doorway. He seemed to be chasing away a beggar. Cordelia looked over there without much thought but then jumped up from her seat in surprise.

“Huh?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Isn’t that Lottie, Lottie?”

A skinny, plain gray dog. It was definitely the Lottie that Cordelia knew.

She put down her spoon and ran to the entrance. Seeing it up close, she was even more certain. Cordelia called Lottie’s name with joy. Lottie wagged its tail very slightly.

“Lottie!”

“Is this your dog, madam?”

Seeing Cordelia, who was clearly a noblewoman, call the dog’s name so familiarly, the employee stepped back awkwardly.

“Yes. It’s my dog. Can I bring it in?”

“Ah, yes. Of course. I thought it was a stray dog without an owner. I apologize.”

“Could you bring some meat for Lottie to eat?”

“Yes. I’ll bring it right away.”

The employee disappeared without a word, and Cordelia brought Lottie to the table. Leonard frowned as soon as he saw Lottie.

“How on earth did it find its way here?”

“Isn’t our Lottie so smart? It seems to have known we were here and came.”

“It seems that even if it’s a low-level one, a magic beast is still a magic beast. To have followed us all this way.”

The Baron stroked his gray beard and looked at Lottie intently. Just then, the employee brought a piece of meat. Cordelia gave it to Lottie whole. Seeming very hungry, Lottie gobbled up the meat.

“Eat a lot. You must have had a hard time coming all the way here. Our Lottie.”

“Goodness. If anyone saw this, they’d think we brought it along forcibly.”

“So, about that, Master.”

“No.”

“Why are you saying no without even listening?”

“I don’t need to listen to know. We can’t take it with us. You know well where we’re going, don’t you?”

“I know that, but… How can we send it back after it came all this way?”

“No.”

“That’s too much…”

“If you’re done eating, get up. We have a long way to go.”

Leonard spoke firmly as he stood up. As he rose, the two men followed silently.

Cordelia looked back and forth between Lottie and the departing group, then let out a sigh.

“Lottie. I’m sorry. Master says we can’t take you with us.”

The plate she had given to Lottie was already clean and empty. Cordelia reached out and lightly stroked the dog’s head. This time, Lottie didn’t shy away.

“It’s not too late, so go back to the castle. I’ll really be back soon. Okay? You understand, right?”

“A magic beast, I see.”

Just then, someone standing behind Cordelia muttered. His voice was so clear and pure that it made her turn around instinctively.

He was tall and wrapped his entire body in a dark cloak. His face was also covered by a hood, so all she could see was his chin.

“Who are you?”

“Just a passing traveler. But is that magic beast being raised by you, my lady? From which nasteng did you obtain it?”

“I don’t see why I should tell you that.”

Cordelia, full of suspicion and wariness, hid Lottie behind her back. Even the Baron hadn’t noticed at first, but this person immediately recognized Lottie as a magic beast at a glance. He was no ordinary person.

A mage superior to the Baron suddenly appearing in this rural village? Anyone would find it suspicious.