Chapter 47

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 47

Chapter Title: The Dead Forest and the Fairy Garden (4)

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Since he had introduced himself, Roxiana spoke up as well.

"I'm Roxiana."

Kain grinned.

"I know. You're the princess of Kanta, aren't you?"

She was tired of correcting people that she wasn't a princess anymore and to just call her Roxiana. Instead of fixing his words, Roxiana asked,

"So, what brings you here?"

"Ah, I was just wondering why you're here. Is something bothering you?"

"No, His Highness told me to wait."

"I see."

An awkward silence fell for a moment. Kain scratched his forehead with his index finger, then asked as if something had just occurred to him.

"By the way, is that wolf pup growing well?"

"Ah, the wolf... Actually, I'm worried about him."

"Why? What's wrong?"

Roxiana had thought all the knight captains disliked her except for Hexston, so Kain's genuine concern surprised her a little.

"He doesn't seem sick or anything, but he doesn't appear to be growing. It's already been a month, and he's the same size as when I first brought him home."

"Really? That can't be... You're feeding him plenty of meat, right?"

"Of course. The cooks bring him fresh, high-quality meat..."

"Then why isn't he growing? He was supposed to grow up in the wild, so maybe the change in environment? Or was he a weak one from birth and just doesn't grow well?"

Kain rubbed his chin with his thumb, pondering seriously. Roxiana added,

"Come to think of it, he was on the smaller side compared to his siblings who were caged with him."

"Yeah? Then maybe he was always a bit frail. Hexston said that pup was the only one with a different color from the others."

"That's right. They were all brown, but only Lion was gray."

"Lion? Is that his name?"

"Yes. Is it too much?"

Kain bared his teeth in a broad smile.

"No, it's good."

Kain looked fierce because of the black eyepatch, but when he smiled, his vibe changed. He was a man who smiled refreshingly, almost boyishly.

"For now, I think you should watch him for another month or so. If he's naturally weak, his growth might be slow. If there's still no change after that, take him to Shaan—er, Kirshan. That guy knows his way around beasts too."

"I wouldn't want to trouble him."

"Come on, after all the lives the princess saved, you think that's any trouble? If you hadn't treated the victims that day, Kirshan would've been way busier right now. So, feel free... Ah, my lord!"

While Roxiana was talking with Kain, Floyd had returned, now properly dressed, with two massive beer kegs slung over his shoulders. The two beer mugs hanging from his fingers looked tiny by comparison.

Kain's face lit up at the sight of the kegs.

"Oh, gonna have a drink? Count me in."

Roxiana was surprised by Kain's casual tone toward Floyd. Now that she thought about it, Hexston had treated Floyd informally too.

"Not tonight. Let's go, princess."

As Floyd took only Roxiana with him, Kain called out in a whiny voice.

"Hey, that's not fair. Just you wait, my lord. Next time good beer comes in, we'll drink it without you!"

"Try it. You'll end up drinking seawater instead of beer."

+++

Roxiana climbed the narrow stone stairs, watching his back as he led the way. The already cramped space felt even tighter with Floyd in it. His shoulders, burdened with the wooden beer kegs, were wide enough to touch both walls.

He's really huge.

Of course, the world was full of big people like Floyd, but this was the first time Roxiana had seen someone quite so massive.

Come to think of it, most of the knight captains are pretty big too.

Except for the one named Adrian, they were all tall and imposing. Not just the knight captains—the servants were all lanky as well.

Maybe they grow like weeds because of the warm weather?

Lost in such thoughts, she reached the top. He opened a sturdy-looking door, revealing a stunning vista.

A deep indigo sky densely studded with stars, a moon casting a fresh glow, the cityscape sprawling below, and the dark sea stretching beyond.

"Wow."

An exclamation escaped her lips. It was that fantastical a sight.

"Not a bad spot for a drink, huh?"

Floyd said as he set down the kegs.

"Yes, it's wonderful."

"It's one of my favorite places."

"I can see why."

It had been years since she'd last climbed to a spot like this on the castle walls as a child. Gazing down from on high at the open landscape, breathing in the wind carrying the sea's scent—it felt like her chest was opening up.

Floyd placed mugs on top of the keg, rummaged in his pocket, and pulled out two apples, a wedge of cheese wrapped in paper, and a few pieces of dried fish in a paper bag. He set them all atop the keg.

So different from the lordly spreads she knew, Roxiana blinked in stunned silence. Floyd fetched two small chairs from the corner and placed one in front of the keg for each of them, asking,

"Too shabby? Should I have them set up something proper?"

Roxiana quickly shook her head.

"No."

Ornate tables trimmed in gold, exquisite dishes artfully arranged with fine appetizers, goblets and utensils of gold or silver. Having always been surrounded by such opulence, Roxiana found this hearty setup delightfully novel—and just a little thrilling.

Is it okay for me to enjoy this?

The thought dampened her spirits right away.

As Roxiana sat in the chair and smoothed her skirt, Floyd bent at the waist to pour the beer. Golden liquid filled the well-worn wooden mug with a gentle slosh.

He handed the brimming mug to Roxiana, saying,

"Don't get drunk. I've never dealt with a drunk woman before."

"Yes, sir," Roxiana replied, taking the mug. It had looked small in his hand, but holding it herself, it felt quite large and heavy.

Floyd filled his own mug, hesitated a moment, then asked,

"Shall we toast? Or not in the mood?"

"Let's. What for?"

"Anything the princess wants to toast to?"

There was.

The eternal rest of her family. And a toast to the hellfire that would separate Lucas and Elise.

But hiding her true feelings, she shook her head.

"No. Whatever you want, Your Highness."

"Then, to how no one in the grand ducal palace died—thanks to you."

They had escaped major losses because of Floyd. If he hadn't slain the magical beasts, not just the palace but the entire city would have been draped in black mourning veils.

Roxiana raised her mug and said,

"And to Your Highness, who slew the beasts."

Floyd shrugged and extended his mug. Roxiana clinked hers lightly against it and brought it to her lips.

Bitter, malty beer slid past her lips. Thicker and nuttier than what she'd drunk in Kanta, with a deeper flavor. Roxiana drained the mug in one go without pausing once.

Floyd stared blankly at Roxiana downing a mug nearly the size of her face in a single gulp.

I thought she'd sip it...

This was the first time he'd seen a woman chug beer so boldly. Noble ladies didn't drink beer to begin with. No matter how fine, it was dismissed as "rough men's booze."

As Roxiana set her mug down with a thunk, Floyd smiled faintly. The white foam clinging to her upper lip was adorable.

Without thinking, he reached out and wiped it away with his thumb.

Roxiana was flustered by his childlike treatment but didn't pull back. But when he licked the foam off his thumb, she nearly screamed.

The perpetrator, utterly unfazed, said casually,

"You drink well."

"A little."

Roxiana tried to play it cool in response, but her heart was pounding.

What just happened? Why did he wipe foam from my lips... Is that some Torkan custom too?

No, that couldn't be. What custom involved licking foam off someone else's lips?

Her mind, filled with a whirlwind of worries and thoughts, went blank.

"In Kanta, even noble ladies enjoy beer, huh?"

Roxiana had no idea how to respond to him casually tossing out an innocuous question after such a shocking act. She couldn't look straight at his lips, which had just licked the foam, so she lowered her gaze.

"No. But I like it. My brothers teased me, saying it wasn't ladylike."

Floyd pictured the mischievous boys who used to tease their little sister, and the peaceful scene of her beaming amid their loving banter—something he could never have, no matter how he wished.

He never dreamed that girl would grow up to sit before him, boldly chugging beer.

Her downcast lashes shimmered faintly in the starlight, more mystical than the view below.

"You are a lady. Plenty. Exceptionally so."

Roxiana dipped her head slightly in thanks for the compliment.

Floyd emptied his mug, poured another round, and set one before each of them. This time, they sipped slowly instead of gulping, gazing at the scene below, picking up a piece of dried fish to chew now and then.

If they listened, the sound of waves occasionally drifted up. Various noises mingled with the silence, ringing like music.

He sat with legs crossed and one arm draped over the railing; she sat primly upright. They savored the settled quiet for quite a while.

Both thought that passing this cool, serene, slightly lonely time wasn't half bad.