The bustling town square stretched before me, a mix of vibrant scents and sounds weaving through the air. Freshly baked bread, sizzling street food, the distant clang of a blacksmith's hammer—just another ordinary day for the townsfolk.
For me, though?
Not so much. Not after what happened a while ago.
Behind me, the so-called hospital of this world still housed the others. No doubt, they were deep in some important discussion about certain matters. Matters that conveniently didn't involve me.
I leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching the world move.
People bustled about, merchants hawked their wares, children darted through the crowd laughing. A scene of normalcy. A reminder of what life could be like if I weren't constantly dragged into questionable situations.
Then, the doors creaked open.
Aeron stepped out first, his usual relaxed charm in place but tinged with… hesitation. Livia and Emilia followed, both avoiding my gaze like guilty culprits. And lastly, Vivienne—the noble girl—whose name I picked up from her maid. Unlike the other two, she met my eyes for a second before looking away.
Interesting.
Aeron approached, stopping just a step away. "Uh… We got something urgent to do. Can you continue the shopping on your own?"
Oh? This should be good.
I raised an eyebrow. "Urgent, huh?"
"Yeah, you know…" He smiled sheepishly, but it looked forced. "Some important matters came up."
I shifted my gaze to Livia and Emilia. Still avoiding eye contact.
Then to Vivienne.
She remained quiet, but I caught the slight shift of her posture.
Ah.
So that's how it is. But is your excuse a bit off? You sounded like you didn't enjoy my company.
I looked back at Aeron, exhaling lightly. "I understand." I smiled—just a little. "Enjoy your triple date. I wouldn't want to intrude."
Aeron visibly stiffened. His forced smile twitched at the edges.
Livia and Emilia flinched, ever so slightly. They probably thought this was a good idea.
Vivienne… well, she remained composed. Points for that.
Silence stretched for a beat before Aeron let out a wry chuckle. "Thanks for your understanding."
With that, he turned, gesturing for the others to follow.
They boarded the carriage, the driver cracked the reins, and soon, they were disappearing into the crowd.
I watched them go with an indifferent gaze.
Beside me, Lenora—Vivienne's maid—stood quietly, her eyes also lingering on the departing carriage.
A beat of silence passed before I turned to her. "How did it go?"
She blinked, then nodded gratefully. "I did as you advised me to."
"Good." I nodded back. Then, after a moment, I asked, "By the way, where can I buy clothes fit for parties or balls? And I prefer nothing flashy or expensive."
"Young Master..." She looked at me in surprise. "…Aren't we going after them?"
Still worried, huh?
I let a small smirk tug at my lips. "Why should we? They clearly didn't want us there. If we showed up now, we'd only be ruining their date."
Lenora opened her mouth as if to argue but hesitated and then sighed in defeat.
"…Alright. Then, please follow me."
And with that, we stepped into the crowd, heading toward the finest clothing store the town had to offer.
______ ___ _
The mirror reflected a young man dressed in dark blue noble attire—simple yet refined. The fabric hugged his frame just right, neither too tight nor too loose. The silver embroidery along the cuffs and collar added just enough elegance without being excessive.
Jet-black hair though slightly tousled.
A calm, indifferent gaze.
The shopkeeper and Lenora kept stealing glances at the young man.
'…So I'm somewhat handsome, huh?'
Of course the one looking at the mirror was me.
A light, amused scoff almost escaped me.
Not that that mattered.
I am sure if either Aeron or Zephyr were here, they'd steal every last bit of attention. Aeron had that easygoing, ladykiller 'protagonist' charisma, and Zephyr? The brooding, 'scary-but-cool' type. Compared to them, I was just… well, me.
Still, being appreciated wasn't so bad.
I adjusted the cuffs before turning to the shopkeeper. "I'll take this one too."
Lenora brightened instantly. "A wonderful choice, young master! It truly suits you."
The shopkeeper, standing to her side, added with a smile, "You'll be stealing many ladies' hearts dressed like that."
I hummed in response, inwardly amused. Classic marketing lines. But hey, they were effective. I was buying them you know.
Anyway, after changing back into my other new clothes—a practical set with a long autumn coat for blending into the background—I completed my purchase. The shopkeeper, to my mild surprise, gave me a 10% discount.
"A little appreciation for such a fine customer," she said with a knowing smile.
I simply nodded, accepting it without fuss. With my not so great funds, I would welcome it with open heart.
With that done, Lenora and I left the store and headed for lunch.
_____ __ _
The restaurant we chose had outdoor seating, giving us a clear view of the bustling town. The meal was simple but satisfying—roasted meat, fresh greens, warm bread.
I ate in silence, but Lenora…
She barely touched her food. Her gaze flickered to the streets every now and then, as if expecting something—or someone.
I leaned back slightly, resting my chin on my hand.
Vivienne had tried to act indifferent back at the hospital, but her hesitation was obvious. And now Lenora was mirroring that same concern.
Both master and maid, worrying about each other. How touching.
...
Wait... Was Vivienne hesitating because Lenora was going to accompany me?
....
Nah, I'm overthinking again. Yeah…
Yeah...
....
Just as I finished my meal, the clatter of carriage wheels broke the rhythm of the street's usual noise.
I didn't need to guess who it was for.
A figure rushed out almost immediately, heading toward our table with urgency.
"Young Master Aman!"
It was the same driver from the morning.
And just like that, the so-called 'urgent matter' had finally caught up to me.
"They need your help!"
Of course, they would, they left the 'brain' behind after all.
Right, I'm talking about myself.
"Come on, Lenora," I said turning to hopeful Lenora.
"Let's go and save your master and my dumb classmates."
I could see the stars shining in her eyes at my words.
"Umm, thank you young master-!"
Alright, it's time for the background character to make his move.