Chapter 5
As she was thinking about that, the women inside the cafĂŠ suddenly grew noisy.
Wondering what was going on, Chloe looked toward the source of the voices.
“Ah.”
There, she saw Erich, who had become her partner just yesterday.
(Ah, he really is handsome⌠Yeah, I can understand why theyâd make a fussâŚ)
He was dressed like a typical swordsman, but on his tall, well-proportioned figure, it looked as if it had been tailor-made for him.
His shimmering silver hair and well-defined features stood out.
His deep blue, gem-like eyes scanned the room, and the moment he spotted Chloe, he smiled brightly.
“Sorry, Iâm late.”
The women who had been making a fuss over him were now whispering while glancing at Chloe.
(Well, Chloe is plain⌠Theyâre probably saying I donât suit him or something.)
If it were the Chloe from before regaining her memories, she might have teared up and looked down at such words.
But to the current Chloe, the voices of outsiders were nothing more than noise.
Without caring at all, she returned his smile.
“No, itâs fine. It was interesting just watching everyone around me.”
“I see. Thatâs good then.”
Erich sat down gracefully across from her and looked at Chloe.
“Have you eaten?”
“Yes, I have. This is dessert.”
“I see. Then Iâll tell you the results after we return to the room.”
Erich ordered a light meal for himself.
Chloe had clearly eaten more, but he pretended not to notice.
No matter how much she ate, she could simply burn it off.
After leisurely enjoying their meal, the two left the cafĂŠ and returned to their room at the inn.
The women around them were making noise again, but just as Chloe thought they were a bit annoying, the voices stopped.
(Whispered insults can actually be heard quite clearly.)
Whether Chloe was plain or didnât match Erich, they had chosen to be together.
Outsiders had no right to say anything about it.
Once they returned to the room, Erich immediately reported the results.
“I managed to exchange all the jewels. This is your share, Chloe.”
With that, he handed her a cloth bag filled with gold coins.
“Thatâs so much.”
She let out a voice of admiration at the heavier-than-expected bag.
“The jewels you had were all simple and didnât seem to have any questionable background. They were bought as normal gems.”
“I see. Thank you.”
Her father never allowed her to wear flashy items, so her accessories had all been plain.
But this time, that seemed to have worked in her favor.
(With this much, I should manage until my work as an adventurer gets on track.)
Eventually, Iâll earn even more myself.
With that resolve, she put away the gold coins.
“What should we do now?”
Chloe wanted to quickly register at the adventurersâ guild and leave the royal capital.
But Erich frowned at that suggestion.
“It might be a bit difficult to leave the capital right now.”
He said the security was tighter than expected, and Chloe responded,
“I heard there are many immigrants, so I thought it wouldnât be that hard to leave the capital.”
The maids at the estate had said that many immigrants from other countries lived in the capital, and that some areas were dangerous.
“âŚItâs a bit complicated.”
Erich, who had once been a knight, spoke with a serious expression.
“Many immigrants come to the prosperous capital seeking work. Itâs relatively easy to enter, but only those with citizenship can leave freely.”
“I see.”
Even after searching through her memories, Chloe didnât know much about that situation.
The capital of this country has separate entrances and exits.
The entrance isnât very strict; even without proper identification, people dressed as merchants or adventurers can enter easily.
However, the exit is strictly controlled.
Itâs a remnant from when slavery still existed in this country.
This country is very strict about social hierarchy.
At the top are, of course, the royal family, followed by nobles, and then those born in this country.
Below them are immigrants who have officially obtained citizenship through merit.
At the very bottom are immigrants without citizenship who have simply settled in the capital.
Naturally, immigrants are not treated well.
They are paid low wages, discriminated against, and even if they want to escape, once they enter the capital, they cannot leave freely.
Although slavery has been abolished, the treatment of immigrants is almost no different from that of slaves.
As a result, they are forced to take on jobs that the people of this country refuse to do, for very little pay.
(Itâs like a trap you canât escape from.)
Moreover, the gates are guarded by knights.
They are my fatherâs subordinates.
It seems the knights who usually guard only the gates are now patrolling not just the exits, but also the city itself.
“Do you think theyâre really looking for me?”
To her father, a daughter who proved useless was nothing more than unnecessary.
He might pretend to search for appearancesâ sake, but she thought he wouldnât care whether she disappeared or died somewhere.
“Is there even a reason to look for me?”
“There is, of course. Even if Prince Kirif said it emotionally, royal engagements canât be broken that easily. The one who decides is not Prince Kirif, but His Majesty the King.”
“âŚYeah, that makes sense.”
When she thought about it, he was right.
This was an engagement between a marquessâs daughter and the second prince.
Neither Chloeâs will nor Kirifâs will really mattered.
“And Prince Kirif probably believed you were completely devoted to him. He likely expected you to cry and beg not to be abandoned.”
“What?”
At that unexpected answer, Chloeâs expression twisted in disgust.
“I would never do that. I wasnât even in love with Prince Kirif. I just obeyed because I was afraid of my father. Besides, he was walking around with such a beautiful woman.”
Even if it was a political marriage, he ignored his fiancĂŠe Chloe and openly walked around with his lover.
So why would he think he was loved?
“Even if I had liked Prince Kirif, I wouldâve lost all feelings instantly after being treated like that.”
“Thatâs normal. And the captain seemed to have some motive for wanting to marry his daughter to Prince Kirif. He wonât give up just because you ran away.”
Erich, who had once been under her father, called him âthe captainâ instead of marquess.
(Still, I never thought Father would actually be looking for me.)
Ambition for promotion? Desire for prestige?
Or something else entirely?
“âŚIf itâs that father of mine, heâs definitely plotting something. For that, heâd drag me back if he had to and make me bow my head to Prince Kirif.”
Chloe, who had only been thinking about her future, was now faced with the reality that she wouldnât gain freedom so easily, and let out a deep sigh.
“I thought everything would work out once I left the capital.”
“Itâs not what we planned, but we should lie low here for a while and observe the situation.”
“Sigh⌠I guess we have no choice.”
Chloe could only reflect that she had been too optimistic, imagining only a bright future.