Chapter 10

After Erich went out, Chloe remained alone at the inn

The weather was nice today, and the sky visible from the window was a beautiful blue.

If I went out for a walk, it would probably lift my mood as well.

But before that, there was something I needed to do.

“Hmm…”

Chloe peered into the large mirror Erich had bought for her and pondered.

Ever since he told her to change her hair and eye color, she had been thinking about how to do it.

(What color should I choose? Maybe something familiar would be better?)

Black hair, and slightly brown-tinted black eyes.

Though her facial features were different, she tried giving herself the same colors as in her previous life.

Closing her eyes, she imagined that appearance.

(I wonder if it worked?)

If it failed, she wouldn’t be able to go outside.

Nervously, she opened her eyes, and her reflection appeared in the mirror.

“Oh?”

She let out a surprised voice.

With her pale golden hair, light blue eyes, and pure white skin, her face had once seemed far too plain.

But now, with the familiar coloring of her previous life, she realized she was actually quite a beautiful girl.

(With a little makeup, I could probably improve even more. Wow, I never realized this before…)

The vague impression caused by her faint coloring had changed so dramatically just by altering the colors.

She realized that when Erich had called her beautiful, it hadn’t been mere flattery.

With this much of a change, if she wore a magician’s robe, she likely wouldn’t be recognized even if she went out.

(Yeah, now I’m starting to look forward to living in the city. I’d like to try cooking again too.)

Judging from the cake set she had yesterday, the food culture here seemed fairly developed.

In her previous life, she had loved eating out and also enjoyed cooking.

There were surely dishes unique to this world as well.

Even if she eventually left for other regions, she wanted to enjoy the royal capital first.

(I need to study magic too. Alright, let’s do my best!)

With that renewed determination, Chloe waited for Erich to return.

By the time Erich returned, the sun was already setting.

Sitting on the bed in the inn, absentmindedly looking outside through the gap in the curtains, Chloe noticed the door open and turned around.

“Ah, welcome back.”

“…I’m back. You changed your hair to black.”

Erich immediately noticed that Chloe’s hair and eye color had changed.

“Yeah. Does it suit me?”

“I think it looks very beautiful. But there are no people with black hair in this country, so you might be mistaken for an immigrant.”

“An immigrant, huh…”

She had seen people with black hair in town, so she hadn’t thought it was that unusual.

“But it might actually be more convenient if you’re seen as an immigrant.”

Her father wouldn’t expect a noble lady to disguise herself as one.

“That’s true. There are foreign merchants who have entered the country through official procedures. Black hair shouldn’t be a problem. It suits you very well.”

“Th-thank you…”

Even if it was just polite praise, it still made her happy.

And she herself quite liked this new appearance.

Chloe had always lacked confidence and worn plain clothes, but with this look, she felt like she could enjoy dressing up more.

“Did you find a house?”

“Yeah. It took some effort, but I found a suitable place.”

Saying that, Erich handed her their dinner.

Bread filled with something like fried chicken, fruit, and even a salad.

“That looks delicious. It’s still warm.”

“You should eat before it gets cold.”

“Okay, thank you.”

She sat at the table and began enjoying the meal.

While sipping tea after eating, she listened to him talk about the property he had found.

“It’s a bit away from the main street, but there’s a large square and a park nearby, so it’s rich in nature. The house is small, but it should be enough for the two of us. There are many young couples in the area, and the security isn’t too bad.”

“I see. It sounds like a nice place.”

“I thought it would be better to decide after you saw it too, so I haven’t signed the contract yet. Let’s go see it together tomorrow.”

“Thank you. I’m looking forward to it.”

Erich had said it would be better for her to try living as a commoner rather than suddenly becoming an adventurer.

But Chloe now had her past life memories, and those memories felt even stronger.

She had originally been an ordinary person.

Right now, she felt that living in a small house as a commoner might actually be much easier than living in a large mansion as a marquess’s daughter.

The house Erich had found did seem comfortable.

It was apparently a bit old, but the exterior had been repainted and looked very clean.

The floors also seemed to have been redone.

(The rooms are nice too. A living room, a bedroom, and even a kitchen. It’s a bit small, but since we’ll eventually leave the capital, it’s better not to accumulate too many belongings.)

Although it was away from the main street, there were shops nearby selling groceries and daily necessities, as well as a cheap and delicious diner.

That would be enough for everyday needs.

There was also a large park nearby with walking paths, which seemed good for getting some exercise.

The neighborhood had many couples around the same age.

It seemed this area was mainly for families, so many residents were newly married.

“Yeah, I think this place is good too.”

When asked if she liked it, Chloe nodded.

A new life would begin here.

There were so many things she wanted to do.

(But I shouldn’t get carried away. I need to remember that I’m being pursued.)

Even as she reminded herself of that, Chloe couldn’t suppress her excitement.