ESMLT 30

Chapter 30

Ssssss—.

I thinly sliced duck meat and tossed it into the frying pan, heated over the brazier stones. Then I added mushrooms and onions, seasoned them with pepper and salt, and began to stir-fry.

Fortunately, the western shelter, like the others, was well stocked with kitchen supplies.

It wasn’t a modern kitchen where you could just turn a valve and gas would come out, but at least there was a cooking brazier.

The structure itself was slightly different, though.

It was about 17 pyeong in size (roughly 560 sq ft), with a two-story layout. The upper floor had two private bedrooms and a combined bathroom with a shower.

The plumbing system was designed with magi-engineering and connected to the capital’s water supply, so even in the original story, the water never ran out until the male leads escaped.

That’s how they survived, even without food—by drinking water and eating weeds.

Ah, right. Of the two bedrooms upstairs, one was mine, and the other was Sien’s.

Each room had a wardrobe and spare clothes, so after showering, everyone had changed into clean shirts and trousers for the first time in a while.

I turned my gaze toward the door.

Next to the entrance were coat hooks, fertilizer, and farming supplies. Opposite the door stood a six-person dining table and a fireplace.

To the right of the fireplace was the back door, while to the left, in an L-shaped space, were a sofa and a set of bunk beds.

Good thing it’s spacious.

Sharing a cramped place with men would’ve been uncomfortable for me, too.

“Miss Ria?”

Sien, who had been last to finish showering, came down the wooden staircase beside the kitchen.

With a towel draped over his head, he leaned against the railing and looked down at me.

“Wow, you’re really good at cooking, Miss Ria.”

“Well, sort of ended up that way.”

“It’s surprising. A noble lady cooking.”

I shot him a quick glance.

It didn’t sound like he was doubting me—more like a simple, honest curiosity.

Still, depending on how I answered, it could come across differently, so I decided to end it with just a shrug of my shoulders.

Immediately after, I checked the soup boiling beside the pan.

As I stirred the mushroom cream soup, my mind wandered back to earlier.

When I explained the escape plan, Danha had looked a little stunned.

“So, what you mean is… we can escape here safely?”

“I have a Warp Scroll. It can transport five people, and there are exactly five of us.”

Danha blinked his green eyes once, then smiled calmly. A dimple deepened in his right cheek.

“Good.”

“…What?”

“I said good. Didn’t you say you’d save me?”

“You’re not suspicious?”

“…Should I be suspicious of you?”

“Not that you have to be, but you know how it usually goes. Why are you the only one with a weapon? Hand over the scroll, we don’t trust you, stop meddling, who do you think you are… that kind of thing. You’re not saying that?”

I could feel the burning gazes of three men on me from above.

Ignoring them, I looked back at Danha.

He gave me a slightly awkward but clear smile.

I already knew his laid-back, calm personality. Even in the original story, he had been cooperative in group living.

Honestly, that was one reason I hadn’t made any special strategy regarding him…

But this is way too easy!

Humming to myself, I cheerfully stirred the soup.

After a good dinner and a nice long sleep, I’ll head back to the capital with the male leads tomorrow!

I’d never given birth or raised a baby, but it felt like I was about to clock out from childcare duty.

Back in the Empire, there’d be no zombie cries or battles—just eating and sleeping like a lazy bear.

Smiling to myself, I suddenly felt a piercing gaze.

“Miss Ria, you really have a pretty smile.”

At some point, Sien had moved to my side, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, quietly watching me.

He tapped just under my eye.

“What are you doing?”

“Your eyes are pretty, Miss Ria.”

His hand lowered to my lips.

“Or maybe this part is prettier.”

His violet eyes curved into a crescent shape.

“Everything about you is beautiful, Miss Ria.”

What’s with the cheesy flirting? My cheeks heated despite myself.

Looking closely, Sien sometimes went beyond simple kindness, giving me subtle looks and words that hinted at something more.

It made me wonder—could he actually like me?

But then I quickly recalled the original story and dismissed the thought.

The main storyline of The Saintess’ Salvation was about the survival of the male leads.

The crazy, dog-like romance—born from the “saintess descending like a ray of light amid despair” paired with the already broken male leads—was wrapped up in just a few pages.

The strange flaw in all this was that when Roeni first saved them, the male leads didn’t fall for her.

But then suddenly, within just a few pages, they were confessing love, going on dates, attending balls, and even marrying her—like they had been replaced with different people.

The narrative made it absurdly unclear how, why, or when they had fallen in love.

Anyway, one thing was clear from that: neither Sien nor the other male leads were shallow paper cutouts who fell in love at first sight.

So if he’s acting like this, it must be for another reason—not because he’s instantly in love with me.

But then another, more pressing thought crossed my mind.

What should I do?

I glanced sideways at Sien.

Originally, I had planned to tell him about missing the former Tower Master’s urn in the Dawn Forest before we left, and then take him with me…

But maybe that wouldn’t be right.

Of course, if Sien chose to go back to the Sacred Forest after hearing the truth, I wouldn’t stop him.

Even if I hadn’t saved all the male leads, saving three of them was still quite an achievement. That should be enough. And the others would be able to testify that Sien had chosen to remain in the zombie zone of his own will.

As I stirred the soup, I snuck another look at him and cautiously began to speak.

“Tower Master, there’s something I need to be honest with you about.”

“What is it?”

He asked so brightly that it made it harder to say. I avoided his gaze slightly before continuing.

“Well, the truth is… I found the Tower Master’s grave in the Dawn Forest, but I couldn’t bring back the urn. I’m sorry for breaking my promise.”

“In the Dawn Forest?”

Sien’s eyes widened in surprise. But then, in an instant, his eyes curved into a half-moon as he smiled.

“You’re someone who keeps promises, Miss Ria.”

“But I didn’t keep it.”

“No, you did. That was more than enough. Thank you.”

“Then… what about the urn…?”

For a moment, his smile faltered. But he quickly returned to his usual languid expression.

“It’s fine. Just knowing that is enough.”

I gave him a suspicious look, trying to read him.

Is he really okay? Does he intend to return to the Empire with us as is?

As I mulled it over, I carried the soup bowls from the island counter—only to realize how unusually quiet the cabin had gotten.

On the dining table opposite the kitchen, the rabbit was sleeping soundly.

Wait. Danha had been watching it there just a little while ago.

“Tower Master, where’s Danha?”

“What’s my name?”

“Tower Master.”

I said it sternly, but Sien drooped his eyes in mock sadness.

I hadn’t called him “Prince” because it felt awkward, so the considerate Danha had told me I could just use his name.

That had led to a small squabble with Sien over why I wouldn’t use his name too, and now he was at it again.

I shot him a glare and set the bowls back on the counter.

The Crown Prince and Jaeger were out on patrol. Sien was right here next to me.

But Danha…?

Where on earth was Danha…?

“Forgive me, my lady. It seems I cannot go with you.”

Much later, just as I was setting up dinner, Danha returned—looking ragged—and said this.

Of course. I knew it wouldn’t be that easy.

Huff!

I blew up my bangs and folded my arms. Jaeger leaned by the window, watching Danha, while the Crown Prince sat at the head of the table, chin propped on his hand, studying us with interest.

Sien sat sulking in the middle of the table, poking at the rabbit.

I gestured with my chin, urging Danha to explain himself already.

“And why exactly can’t you come with us?”

Come on, hurry. The perfectly set dinner on the table was getting cold.

“….”

Danha furrowed his brows, looking troubled. I waved my hand, signaling him to just say it.

Finally, with a heavy expression, he spoke.

“I lost my bracelet.”

…A bracelet?

“My youngest sister gave it to me.”

Danha smiled bitterly. His eyes sank deep, as though lost in memory.

“To think I lost the bracelet she made for me with those tiny little hands.”

Then he lifted his gaze, his eyes apologetic.

“I cannot return until I find it. I’m sorry, my lady.”