Chapter 123.2 : A Meeting In The Inn

.. .. ..

Rio is whispering those words with a bone chilling tone as he brings his face closer to the shopkeeper. Thereupon the shopkeeper put on an even brighter smile.

「Hehehehe. I-Is that was the case. Hehe, I won’t say anything to anyone who comes for it. Hehe」

「Yeah, please do so. It’s the best for both of us after all. You have no need to worry about anything as long as you lend your place」

「In that case, what about meal?　The bread and cheese is free of charge. Wine and beer is another matter though」

「You’re right, please let me to borrow your kitchen for a bit since I’m going to cook for them」

「Yes. Feel free to use the kitchen」

「My apologies for this.. Thank you very much」

「It’s nothing. Your room is on the second floor, two from the end on the right. Please enjoy your room」

The shopkeeper said so as he let out an ear to ear smile while looking at the shining big silver coin.

「Yes」

Rio is nodding at his words and then turning around to his companion,

「I got the room. Please follow me」

Saying so, he is heading toward the assigned room.

Thereupon――、

「This is a five person room?　The bed is just for four people right!　Moreover, there’s no internal lock! 」

Christina voiced out those shriek like words when they entered the room.

Lining up inside of the room is one wooden table and four beds made of the same material.

The humble looking bed is almost to the point of crude when compared to the custom made bed which she always used to sleep back in the royal castle.

「I never said that it is one person per bed. It’s enough for 5 people if they’re lining up sideways」

「............ You’re kidding, right? 」

Christina is staring at Rio’s face with a flabbergasted look.

「Unfortunately I’m not. There’s only these beds but they’re quite good you know」

Rio is saying so with a wry smile on his face.

Certainly when comparing this inn with those inns of major cities, the quality is actually below average.

But, this place is a post town which serves as the relay point during journey so this inn is definitely amongst the best in this town.

historical

Though this city does have an inn for wealthy people, those inns will definitely have some sort of connection with the ruling class.

Considering the fact that they’ll be traced easily as long as they use that kind of place during their journey, thus they decided to use this kind of inn.

「We’ll excuse ourself then. Though our room is opposing to each other, please try your best to not leave the room. Since it’ll be troublesome if we’re involved with a strange fella」

Beauties on the level of Celia and Christina will inevitably be wooed by some nasty fella.

Since he has to prepare for the dinner, Rio decided to leave the room along with the two other youths. But,

「W-Wait a minute!　How do you allocate the room? 」

Celia is calling to Rio in panic.

「I’m considering the plan to separate between boys and girls but......」

Rio replied with a curious tone as he feels that maybe there’s some inconvenience in his way.

「D-Don’t you need a guard, your highness?　This room has no lock」

Celia is proposing that plan with a anxious voice.

She stayed at the inn in Galwark kingdom along with Miharu-tachi before but that inn were the kind where they’re attentive on the safety of their guest. In contrast, she might have received a light culture shock in seeing this inn.

「....You’re right. Certainly. Vanessa is just being anxious」

It seems Christina is also sympathizing with Celia.

But then, one of the three men must be in the women’s room.

Christina who never slept with men except for her father couldn’t help but feel slight resistance toward it.

「It’s all right. Though we’ll be in a different room, I can guarantee that no bad fella will make trouble」

Rio’s telling her so with a calm tone.

But, Christina trembled due to disgust just by imagining a stranger male coming into the room.

「Uhm, if possible I want lord Amakawa to staying in this room with us」

「EH? 　Me?　But..........」

Rio is bewildered as he never expected to hear those words from Christina.

Even when he lived along with Miharu-tachi in the rock house, Rio never slept in the same room with Celia. It’s not like that was impossible or he feels nervous as long as it’s sharing a bed by sleeping next to each other.

He’s looking at Vanessa with a troubled face and then she nodded to him.

（What is the meaning of that nod just now.........）

Rio felt a cold sweat on his back since he can’t find any excuse to refuse her. A lone man won’t be able to sleep amongst the ladies of nobility and royalties since it’ll make them feel uncomfortable.

「Thus, is it okay if the two of you using the other room? 」

Christina is continuing while ignoring Rio’s anxiety.

「KuH, this discrimination solely for ikemen!　Unforgiveable.........」

「S-Senpai. Please stop doing something that will embarrass me」

When Rei muttered those words, Kouta hurriedly tried to warn him.

「No, this might be a cliche」

Kouta is dropping his shoulder in hearing such a reply from Rei.

「Ikemen?　What is that? 」

Christina asked that question maybe because she could hear Rei.

「AH, uhm, a man........... with extremely excellent appearance」

Kouta is awkwardly explaining the simple meaning of that word. Thereuon, Christina unintentionally chuckled in hearing that.

「Ah, so that’s the meaning. Lord Amakawa is definitely far more attractive amongst the three of you」

「P-Please don’t say that right in front of us. Kouta」

「Senpai, please stop acting like that already........」

Kouta is hanging his head down in embarrasment

☆★☆★☆★

Two hours later.

On the desk in the room where Christina-tachi is staying at, many dishes were lining next to each other along with wooden tableware.

Each of the dishes such as salad that were dressed beautifully and the soft and tender beef stew that will make one drool just by seeing it.

「These dishes really are fragrance right. I never thought that this kind of delicious looking dishes will come out」

Christina is saying so while smiling happily. Her body which exhausted by constant movement might be really craving for a sumptous meal.

「I don’t know whether these dishes will be to your palate but. Please enjoy」

Everyone beging their meal at once with Rio words as the signal. Kouta and Rei is muttering 「Itadakimasu」 in low voice.

They immediately raising a joyful voice once they taste the dishes.

「UWAAA!　Delicious, too delicious!!!　Haruto-kun!　It might be even more delicious than the dishes served in the castle! 」

Kouta’s eyes glittered with excitement the moment he tried the beef stew that has been cooked till it became soft and tender.

「Thank you very much. Since everyone should be tired from that kind of journey, I made the seasoning on the stronger side」

Rio is saying so with a embarassed face.

「Fumu, your skill might be equal to the chef in the castle. Though I’m rather disappointed with the bread supplied by this inn, it’s surprisingly a perfect match with this stew」

「Yes. Our belly is full and the fatigue of the day is also blown away」

Vanessa isn’t holding back with her praise and even Christina nodding with a satisfied face.

「Ufufu」

Rio is the one who is being praised by everyone but Celia who sat next to him is the one who feels proud instead.

「Very much appreciated. Vanessa’s dishes are also delicious but rather than dynamic flavor, it has a bland taste」

Christina is smiling happily as she glanced at Vanessa.

「I-I’m a knight, so I was never taught any dish to eat in the battlefield」

Vanessa is blushing in hearing those words.

Such lively dinner going on till it’s bedtime.

☆★☆★☆★

And then, the next morning.

（Haruto, the morning will come anytime now. Wake up）

Rio is woken up by Aisia who is staying in his body in her spirit form.

When he opened his eyes, the scenery of dimly litted unknown ceiling in the darkness is reflecting in his vision.

（Thank you Aisia）

After saying his gratitude, Rio flipped his quilt blanket and about to get up.

（N?）

He felt a faint weight on his right arm, when he turned to see the cause. He saw Celia tightly grasped on his sleeve.

Her calm sleeping face is extremely innocent and can easily be mistaken as someone younger or of the same generation as Rio.

（She’s unexpectedly gripping strongly on my sleeve）

Though it’s not like he doesn’t consider the option of forcefully tearing off Celia’s hand that is tightly grasped on Rio’s sleeve, he decided to wake her up.

「Please let go of my sleeve, Cecilia」

「Huu........」

Though she moaned lightly, in the end she raised the same cute sleeping breath again. There’s no sign of her waking up.

「Cecilia. By all means please. Let go off my sleeve」

Rio’s trying to waking up Celia for the second time.

（Come to think of it, sensei is weak in the morning）

He’s recalling that it’s almost impossible to wake up Celia in the morning.

Then he decided to lightly shake her small shoulder from above the quilt.

Swayingswaying.

「Uhn? 」

Celia is showing a small reaction while letting out such a drowsy voice.

「Cecilia.　Have you woken up? 」

「Uhn, I woke u~p」

Celia’s eye blinking repeatly as she mumbled those words.

「Good morning」

It seems she’s still in dreamland but, since she can understand his intention, she greeted Rio who woke her up.

「Uhm, Rio. M’rni~ng」

Celia is smiling delightfully when she saw Rio from her slightly opened eyes. The reason why she calls him 「Rio」 might be because she’s still half asleep.

Rio looked at Christina-tachi in panic but he heaved a relieved sigh seeing that they’re still asleep.

Thereupon, Celia immediately creeped out from the quilt and hugged Rio’s body.

「WHA, Cecilia? 」

Rio is startled.

“My situation is even worse than before right?”

Celia wore nothing but cute negligee under her quilt.

She has a petite and dainty figure but her body is still that of a proper woman’s body, her body temperature and the soft feeling of her body making direct contact with his body.

「Nfufufu!」

Celia’s closing her eyes again with a delightful smile on her face while rubbing her face to Rio’s body.

「Uhm, Cecilia. Please...... Wake up. Very please」

Rio’s pleading with a somewhat flustered voice.

Seizing Celia’s shoulder, he then jolted it a bit stronger than before.

Thereupon, Celia’s consciousness awakened bit by bit and now her eyes are fully open.

Celia’s staring at Rio’s face from point blank range and then her body stiffened for a while. A while later――,

「........ Fue~? 」

Celia’s startled.

「W-W-W-W-Why are you in this place, Rio? 」

Celia’s lips is flapping as if she lost her cool.

Rio is smiling wryly and decided to explain the situation to her.

「Good morning. didn’t we decide yesterday that I’ll sleep in this room as a guard? I tried to wake you up but...... It seems you’re still half asleep」

「I-I see. So that was what happened」

Celia finally recalling the discussion last night which decided that she’ll sleep with Rio.

「And, please be careful when calling my name」

Rio quietly whispering in Celia’s ears.

「Ah, S-Sorry! 」

「No, I should be the one who is apologizing」

Rio’s apologizing with a awkward voice in seeing Celia apologizing with a blushing face.

「P-Please stop that. Since I was the one at fault for being half asleep」

Celia said so while fidgetting restlessly.

If the other party is a strong willed girl, she might have slapped him for unjustified reason and cursed at him with unspeakable words.

「No, that’s...........」

Rio feels relieved―― In the fact that Celia is a calm and composed girl.

Thereupon, Celia who being bashful on his chest can be seen as an angel, thus he can’t help but smile at her.

「W-What’s with that smile! 」

Celia’s cheeks became even redder and it goes without saying that Christina-tachi had already woken up due to their commotion.