Chapter 372: Two Ordinary Citizens
Retze and I gazed at the Es River from the balcony.
「I can’t calm down. 」
「I can’t calm down either. 」
This inn was recommended by Hauron, and it’s fit for royalty — literally. It’s favored by the royal family. Argh, the palace is just nearby so why bother staying in an inn! — it’s not like the thought didn’t cross my mind, but Es River’s is changing gradually so the palace is far from it now, apparently.
In the past, the palace stood imposingly by the riverbank of Es, but after the distance between them became wider, the succeeding generations of monarchs started to build royal villas near the river bank. However, those mansions were abandoned after the dramatic decline of the kingdom’s influence. Ah, I think it’d be more accurate to say that management of the villas was turned over to the merchants.
I glanced around the room.
Khan was lying on the semi-inclined rectangular couch draped with silky fabrics and brimming with cushions. Hauron was also doing the same at a spot slightly away from him.
There’s no problem with that per se, but they were surrounded by waistcloth clad young lads and lasses with similar faces and physiques who looked like they were just one step away from adulthood.
Khan and Hauron were eating something while reclining on the couch. Servants stood beside them, awaiting their orders while holding water jugs.
「Why was I crammed into this sort of room again…? 」
There were five connecting rooms in this inn and this particular room seemed to be the best among them, but I have a hard time staying here.
「Hey, you’re above those two, you know. If someone has to wonder why he’s here then that should be me. 」
Retze sighed as he gazed at the passing boats on the river.
A sunshade cloth also hung on the balcony, making it cooler compared to indoors.
Retze, Hauron, Khan and I stay in one room. The Dinosso family have their own room, Ash is staying with Butler, while Chris and Dean each have a room of their own.
「All the other rooms have at least two of those… folks, right? 」
Retze dejectedly commented.
「I checked them earlier — Ash and Butler seemed nonchalant about the whole thing, while Dean and Chris seemed to accept this as normal. The kids are still out cold; Dinosso and Shiva didn’t seem bothered too. 」
I wanted to join any of them if they’re staying in a relaxing room, but unfortunately, all of the rooms had servants.
I also saw for myself how Ash used that aristocratic skill of ignoring the servants serving her from the sidelines, and how the Gold-ranks dealt with the public eye too.
Dean and Chris probably got used to it at the brothel. The ladies that looked like walking sign boards advertising themselves are accompanied by young little maids. Those girls were in charge of preparing the alcohol and food and other miscellaneous chores.
The rooms where Ash and the others are staying are one to two ranks lower than the one we were staying at, but it was still for the affluent nobles’ use. Or should I say the inn itself is a high-class one, so all rooms come with one person at the very least to fan the guest.
Well, what can you expect from a room that comes with its own set of servants, but still, the layout is a bit… Ah, no, I just can’t help but look at the room with bias.
I can probably escape from this place as long as Hauron and Khan are here, but the servants were holding the water jugs while standing approximately one person away from them.
「It’s a bit creepy how they silently assess and anticipate whatever we might need. 」
「 They’re under the contract of confidentiality, I heard. 」
「Confidentiality?」
「Right. They’re not allowed to speak within the building’s premises, and they aren’t allowed to disclose to anyone about whatever they see or hear, apparently, although it’s only up until they’re fully trained. 」
Retze, you already gathered intel in such a short time? The fanning servant won’t speak
about it, so he probably heard it from Hauron? Dunno.
At any rate, let’s do our best not to meet their eyes!!
Evening finally came after a restless day. I was still on the edge when Ash and I went out of the inn to take a stroll. Everyone had been with us until we reached the marketplace then we parted ways.
Even the roads were lined with different goods for sale, so it’s not convenient to walk around in a huge group. It might look like I’m alone with Ash, but Butter is probably somewhere nearby. Ash and I can go riding or bear hunting with only the two of us, but he’s probably on standby because it’s an unfamiliar place.
「 Is there something you wanna see? Es has local specialties like linen and carpets — perfumes in glass bottles and jewelries made with Lapis lazuli. 」
I changed course and recommended products fit for ladies after realizing halfway through.
「Mm… What about you, Jean? Is there anything that you want? 」
「 Hmm.. A blue-patterned cotton print, maybe? 」
It’s that cotton fabric with the pattern stamped on it. Back when I visited this place, I came across one with a blue pattern but I ignored it, Now that I’m planning to sell blue Textiles made on the island, I couldn’t help but be curious about it.
「 Is that so? Then let’s go look for one. I’m not sure what I want, but I’m already having fun just looking at different stuff like this. 」
And so, it’s decided that we will do that.
We found a dye shop midway, so I bought a lot of stuff — dyed fabrics, materials that can be used as dyes such as saffron, madder and woad, and also a few stamps while at it. Ash also picked a few pieces for me, so I’ll dye something later and send it to her.
We took a break and drank some honey-infused ruby-red tea called Karkade made from the essence extracted from the dried calyx of plants — hibiscus, it
seems?
「Mm…」
「 Give it to me for a bit. 」
I took Ash’s tea and secretly added honey and mixed it to vamp the sweetness. The color of the tea is pretty but it’s sour.
「 Thanks. 」
Ash happily sipped the tea that became sweeter than it’s sour.
The following day, Ash sent me a blue-patterned cloth. We didn’t find it yesterday, and so when did she…
Notes
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T/N: cheers for Ash and Jean moments 🙂
Karkade or Hibiscus tea originated from Egypt.
NEXT CHAPTER
RELEASE RATE
I Got Transferred in the Middle of a Mountain
Speed up schedule by 10 hours
Current schedule: Every 80 hours
It’s cute that we get the see Jean and Ash going on little dates like this.