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Chapter 6
A Life Pawned
With those words, Howard took a step back and calmly straightened his slightly loosened necktie.
“Then I should be going. I’ll be back this evening.”
Irina, who had unconsciously held her breath, let it out slowly and glared at him.
“I couldn’t care less.”
“If you need to go anywhere, tell Casey. As for everything else… we’ll discuss it when I return.”
They argued for a little longer, but he truly seemed busy. Without wasting another moment, Howard left the dining room.
Irina stared at the untouched dishes on the table for a while before standing up herself.
The moment she stepped outside, Casey hurried over.
Apparently Howard had already left the estate in his carriage.
Of course, he had also left behind a large number of knights to escort her.
Escort? More like guards keeping an eye on me.
Returning to her room, Irina checked her belongings once more.
She slowly looked around the room again.
No matter how many times she looked, she still couldn’t believe this was Howard’s house.
What in the world happened during those years?
With that thought lingering in her mind, she picked up her luggage and walked outside.
“If I leave this mansion, you’re all going to follow me wherever I go, aren’t you?”
“Yes, Lady Irina.”
“Hm. Did that jerk tell you to follow me everywhere?”
At the word jerk, the knights visibly flinched.
“No, my lady. He only instructed us to eliminate any potential dangers.”
So Howard hadn’t ordered them to monitor her every move.
Since they were only following orders, she figured arguing any further would be pointless.
“All right. Potential dangers, huh… I need to go out. Can you escort me to the commercial district? I also have business at the temple—take me to the nearest one.”
Seeing her ask politely, the tense expressions on the knights’ faces melted away.
“Of course, my lady. We’ll escort you safely.”
Irina said she wished to leave immediately.
The carriage was prepared in no time.
After adjusting her bonnet, she climbed aboard in a hurry.
The carriage departed from the estate and headed toward the heart of Voltier.
Compared to Arendor—the fourth-largest nation on the continent—Borman was relatively small.
However, it possessed an abundance of mana stones, far more than most other countries, and its mild climate blessed it with prosperous seasons year-round.
Most notably, centered around the Arena, which had earned Voltier the title of the City of Gold, stretched an enormous commercial district overflowing with merchants from every corner of the continent.
It was a nation coveted by everyone.
Yet no country had ever managed to conquer Borman.
The reason was simple.
It maintained an exceptionally close alliance with the continent’s greatest empire.
There was even a joke claiming that the entire underground of Borman was one gigantic mercenary base, making invasion impossible.
Irina had only heard stories before.
This was her first time seeing it in person, and her gaze naturally wandered outside the carriage window.
It doesn’t seem that different… But then again, it does feel like a foreign country.
Lost in thought, she silently wished they’d arrive downtown soon.
“We’ve arrived.”
Stepping down from the carriage, Irina surveyed her surroundings.
“This really is Voltier… It actually is Voltier. Damn that bastard.”
She muttered under her breath.
To use the nation’s teleportation gates, one’s identity had to be verified and permission granted.
There was no way Howard would approve that.
Otherwise she’d have to walk all the way back to Arendor.
And she wasn’t a mage.
The situation was utterly ridiculous.
Now that she had confirmed where she was, she intended to head straight to the temple to settle her debt.
But for some reason, she could feel countless eyes on her.
Turning around, she noticed people repeatedly glancing at her as they walked past.
They were actually staring because a noble lady had stepped out of a carriage bearing the Lingester family crest.
Irina, of course, had no way of knowing that.
“Is there something on my face?”
“Huh? N-No! You’re beautiful!”
Casey answered instantly.
Ah… that wasn’t exactly the answer I was looking for.
Embarrassed, Irina looked herself over.
Maybe it’s because my clothes look old…
Her cheeks reddened slightly.
Voltier was much wealthier than most nations.
Naturally, fashions here would be far more luxurious.
Instead of heading directly to the temple, she searched for a clothing boutique.
Although she was a noblewoman, she was still a foreigner.
If people were already staring at her, they’d probably become suspicious.
She needed a new dress.
The money had originally been meant for living expenses after concluding her deal with Marquis Aire.
Instead, she’d have to spend it now.
It can’t be helped.
Lifting one eyebrow confidently, Irina pushed open the boutique’s door.
The employees immediately bowed ninety degrees.
“Welcome! Thank you for visiting Liant.”
Not bad.
The building hadn’t looked particularly large from outside.
Inside, however, it stretched far back and was surprisingly spacious.
A designer wearing an elegant wine-colored hat approached her.
“Welcome. Are you looking for a custom-made dress or ready-to-wear clothing? If you’d like something custom, I’ll show you this way.”
He pointed toward a long hallway.
Irina gently shook her head.
“I need something I can change into immediately.”
“Ah, certainly! This way, then. We have ready-made dresses available. You’re welcome to browse yourself, or we’d be happy to recommend something.”
“I’d rather look around first.”
“Of course. Please take your time. Call me whenever you need assistance.”
Following the designer, Irina entered the display area.
Dozens of dresses hung gracefully from overhead rails, each displaying its own unique charm.
After browsing for quite some time, she found herself torn between two dresses.
One was a deep, rich color.
The other was a soft pastel shade.
Since she had left her family home carrying only her own belongings, her budget was limited.
And she refused to accept any more help from Howard.
Just then—
“I think the pink dress would suit you beautifully.”
A gentle male voice came from behind her.
Almost instinctively, Irina turned around.
Standing there was a handsome man with hair similar in color to her own.
He wore a playful yet gentle smile.
His bright blue eyes sparkled like sunlight dancing across the sea.
The graceful curve of his lips only enhanced his charm.
As he approached, Irina found herself unconsciously looking upward.
He was tall and broad-shouldered, dressed in an elegant cream-colored military uniform.
The crest of Borman was embroidered on his chest.
Judging by it, he was either a nobleman or the commander of an order of knights.
Behind her, Casey respectfully bowed.
“You know him?”
Irina asked.
Casey nodded.
“Yes. He’s acquainted with the family head.”
“I see…”
So he knows Howard. Either he approached me because he knew who I was… or he just happened to run into me.
As she thought this, the man smiled brightly and stepped closer.
Irina instinctively took a step back.
Seeing that, he immediately stopped.
“You’re not from around here, are you, my lady?”
He had identified her as a foreigner at first glance.
“…”
“The ladies here don’t wear bonnets like that. They usually wear those smaller, taller hats.”
He pointed toward the designer’s hat beside her.
“Oh! Are bonnets common in the northern regions?”
Only then did Irina realize why everyone had been staring at her.
Apparently her appearance clearly marked her as an outsider.
She’d assumed that, with so many travelers in Voltier, she wouldn’t stand out.
Apparently she’d been mistaken.
When Irina remained silent, the man seemed to realize he’d been too forward.
“Oh dear.”
He extended his hand.
“…?”
Seeing her only tilt her head in confusion, he smiled awkwardly.
“My name is Damian Beyond Rosette. May I have the honor of learning your name, my lady?”
There was nothing particularly cautious about the way he asked.
Irina ignored his outstretched hand and simply stared at him.
Looking embarrassed, Damian slowly lowered it.
Turning her attention back to the dresses, Irina replied indifferently,
“You may call me Bonnet.”
Her grudge from earlier was clearly still lingering.
Damian scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
“If I offended you, I apologize. Please allow me to apologize once again, my lady.”
“It’s… fine.”
Well…
He wasn’t as handsome as Howard.
But he was still good-looking enough.
She supposed she could generously forgive him just this once.
Focusing once again on the dresses, Irina made her choice.
It wasn’t because of Damian’s suggestion.
Absolutely not.
Still, she ended up buying the pale pink dress.
She also purchased one of the fashionable hats commonly worn in Voltier.
With the help of an employee, she changed clothes in the fitting room.
When she came back out, Damian was leaning casually against a nearby table, gazing out the window.
She had taken quite a while changing.
The fact that he was still there suggested he had business in the shop.
Just then Damian turned his head.
Their eyes met.
“Wow… You truly look beautiful. It was an excellent choice, my lady.”
He even applauded enthusiastically.
Irina’s expression gradually stiffened.
His exaggerated compliments made her feel as though she were about to break out in hives.
People in Arendor rarely behaved so dramatically.
Unless they were…
Womanizers.
Or womanizers.
Or, well… womanizers.
“Aren’t you busy?”
Irina asked while smoothing the wrinkles in her dress.
“Me?”
“Yes. This is a women’s boutique, isn’t it? Usually men only come here if they have a lover… or they’re buying gifts for their lover or wife.”
She paused.
“Or perhaps… this is simply your hobby?”
Damian’s eyes widened.
Then he burst into loud laughter.
“Hahaha! I assure you, I don’t have that kind of hobby.”
Raising both hands as though to clear up the misunderstanding, he continued,
“The truth is… the moment I saw you outside, I felt I absolutely had to speak with you.”
His unusually serious expression contrasted sharply with his cheerful demeanor from moments before.
“I see.”
Irina smiled politely.
“But unfortunately, I have somewhere I must go.”
She had no idea how long she’d be at the temple.
Nor whether everything would go smoothly.
Just as she prepared to leave, Damian quickly spoke again.
“Then… is there anything I can help you with, my lady? I know Voltier like the back of my hand.”
“Hm… No.”
Her answer came without the slightest hesitation.
Damian’s face visibly darkened.
Judging by his confidence, he probably wasn’t used to being rejected.
“Thank you for your kindness,” Irina said politely.
“If we happen to meet again someday, I’ll ask for your help then. Until that day, may fortune always smile upon you.”
Damian smiled with obvious disappointment.
“And may fortune always smile upon you as well, my lady.”
In return, Irina offered him a bright smile, warm as the spring sunshine.
“Casey, let’s go.”
“Yes, my lady.”
The moment they stepped outside, the great clock tower towering over central Voltier rang loudly, announcing noon.
As Irina looked up at the tower, the sound of the bells echoed over and over inside her head.
The world suddenly spun before her eyes.
