Chapter 6
(Chloe should have known. Just how tyrannical that father is, and how he sees his daughter as nothing more than a tool. But my past self just assumed I had become free.)
As Chloe grew discouraged, Erich gently patted her shoulder as if to comfort her.
“Don’t be so down. I’m not telling you to give up on becoming an adventurer.”
“Yeah…”
Chloe understood that well enough.
We’re being pursued.
Rather than acting recklessly, we should move carefully and at the right time.
She just felt a little anxious.
She had gained the power of magic, and a partner in Erich.
Everything had been going smoothly, and she believed she could live freely just like this.
But just a small setback had made her uneasy.
“You don’t have to worry. Leave dealing with them to me. Chloe, you should enjoy life as a commoner in the capital. It’s better than a noble lady suddenly becoming an adventurer.”
“Yeah… that’s true.”
Now that he mentioned it, Chloe remembered she had been a sheltered noble lady.
Because of her past life memories, she had already started thinking like a commoner.
But in this different world, common sense might be completely different.
It might be a good idea to experience life in the city first.
“If you change your hair and eye color with magic, you should be able to go out safely.”
When asked if she could do it, she answered, “Probably.”
(I’ve only just awakened, so I don’t even know what I can do yet.)
Her lack of knowledge about magic was also a problem.
While living in the city, she might need to study it a bit.
(In games or novels, you’d immediately become an adventurer and set off, but reality isn’t that simple.)
She realized that her lack of knowledge and common sense was what made unexpected situations feel so unsettling.
First, she needed to learn.
“I’ve only just realized I can use magic. I need to study a lot.”
“…Is that so?”
At Chloe’s answer, Erich widened his eyes in surprise.
“Yes. That was the first time I used it with my own will.”
“And yet you blew away the princess’s magic. Chloe, you’re amazing.”
Being praised so openly made her blush.
“I-Is that so? But there’s still so much I don’t understand, so I have to study. If there’s a library, I’d like to go there too.”
But would simply changing her appearance really be enough?
“I can change my hair color and such, but is that really enough?”
“Yeah. Your hair and eyes are very beautiful, Chloe, so they stand out too much.”
“I’ve only ever been told they’re plain.”
Pale golden hair and light blue eyes.
It was the first time anyone had called them beautiful.
“Who said that? Prince Kirif or the captain, right? Between them and me, who do you believe?”
There was no hesitation in her answer when he brought up her unfaithful fiancé and overbearing father.
“Of course, I believe you, Erich.”
“Good. That’s how it should be. You’re beautiful, Chloe. So make sure to disguise yourself properly.”
“…Okay.”
She had never thought being called beautiful would make her this happy.
Blushing, Chloe nodded, and Erich smiled in satisfaction.
“First, we need to find a base. Staying at an inn costs too much, and there are too many eyes. Let’s rent a small house somewhere in the lower district and live there.”
“Together?”
“Of course. It’s dangerous if we’re apart, and I’m relying on your magic too. It’s better if we stay together.”
Hearing that he was relying on her made her happy, and she nodded.
“…Alright. I understand. I’ll leave finding a house to you, Erich.”
“Got it. I should find a small place, preferably with only one bedroom. Of course, that’s for budget reasons. We don’t know how long this will take, so we can’t waste money on a large place.”
“Ah, okay.”
Considering this might turn into a long-term situation, it made sense to keep costs low.
As Chloe nodded, Erich gave a refreshing smile.
He said he would go look for a property.
“I’ll also check on the capital’s security. Chloe, don’t go near the gates under any circumstances.”
“Got it. Be careful.”
It felt like she had been pushed along a bit, but leaving it to Erich was probably safer.
After seeing him off, Chloe gently touched her own hair.
Pale golden hair.
She had always hated this hair.
She envied her brother’s shining golden hair and Erich’s shimmering silver hair.
(…Beautiful, huh.)
But if Erich said so, maybe it wasn’t as bad as she had thought.
Touching her hair, Chloe smiled just a little.