Chapter 68: A Familiar Ache and an Unexpected View

After bidding farewell to the beggars, Rodd and I continued along the path toward the town. This time, we proceeded with exceptional caution, the recent encounter serving as a stark reminder.

Yet, as we walked, the little boy’s expression kept replaying in my mind, leaving a persistent ache in my chest, as if a stone had lodged there.

“What are you thinking about? Still dwelling on those beggars?”

Rodd seemed to sense my low spirits. He spoke softly, “There’s nothing to be done. Every place has people like that. Compared to the lavish Emerald Harbor, the situation here in Whisperwind Town is actually quite good.”

“Hmm… but we already helped them, didn’t we? Those two silver wolves should be enough to see them through their difficulties.”

I tried to make my reply sound less disheartened, wary of dampening his mood.

“Not just two. There was your share, too,” Rodd gently reminded me.

“Ah… but compared to your generosity, my few copper eagles hardly count for anything, do they?” I responded with a wry smile.

“Hardly count for anything?” Rodd shook his head slightly. “I wouldn’t say that. The child was clearly happier receiving your copper eagles than my silver wolves.”

“Oh…”

Unsure of Rodd’s meaning, and fearing he might be displeased, I quickly explained, “I gave them more money afterward because I felt… I felt my initial approach was wrong. Just tossing money at them seemed to trample on their dignity a little.”

Rodd stopped walking. He spoke softly, “What if it trampled on their dignity? You worry too much about what others feel. There are many people like them, and if you were to go beyond simply shooing them away or giving charity every time, how much energy would that consume?”

Rodd’s expression was earnest, though not overly stern, as if he were offering genuine advice.

“You’re right.”

I acknowledged Rodd’s words but still defended myself. “I know I can’t help everyone, but at least for that child just now, I wanted to do something more for him…”

“Why?” Rodd asked, a hint of curiosity in his tone.

“If you ask why…”

I pondered for a moment before replying, “I suppose it’s a sense of empathy. After all, I saw something familiar in that child.”

“Something familiar?” He furrowed his brow slightly.

“Yes, because I, too, once endured such painful days, forced to bow my head and beg for mercy from fate…”

I shrugged, attempting to lighten the mood with a teasing tone. “As a noble, you probably can’t understand…”

The words had barely left my lips when I immediately felt a shift. Rodd’s hand, which had been holding mine, quietly loosened, and his expression grew solemn, as if lost in thought.

Seeing him like this, I became flustered, unsure if I had said something wrong. ‘Did that last remark upset him?’

A sudden fear gripped me. If I truly angered this man, the consequences were likely beyond what I could bear. After much deliberation, I decided apologizing would be the most prudent course of action.

But just as I was about to speak, Rodd unexpectedly spoke first: “Understand… Of course, I understand.”

His voice was light, and his gaze held a distant, reminiscent quality, giving me no opening to interject.

“Huh?”

I looked at him, surprised. ‘So this guy wasn’t angry after all?’

‘Phew… All that worrying for nothing…’

“What’s with that expression?”

Rodd suddenly leaned in close, his brown eyes fixed intently on me, as if trying to peer into my thoughts. His gaze was deep and focused, making me feel a little nervous.

“I’ve noticed you’re quite like a small animal,” he suddenly said, the corners of his mouth curving upward. “You occasionally reveal these startled, timid expressions.”

“Huh? I… I do?”

“You do, and… it’s rather cute.”

Rodd spoke in a gentle voice, nodding slightly, appearing quite serious. ‘Ugh…’

That single word, ‘cute,’ sent a shiver down my spine, an invisible goosebump-inducing sensation. ‘Heaven knows, I, a middle-aged person, would have a day when someone called me ‘cute’!’

‘What a pity, Rodd. If a regular girl were standing before you, perhaps she would blush profusely from your compliment. But I’m not that kind of ordinary girl; your praise only makes me want to vomit… Tsk, but I’m supposed to be playing your wife right now, aren’t I? If it were Irina, what kind of expression would she make?’

‘Perhaps something like that?’ I subtly lowered my head, covering my twitching mouth. By holding my breath, I simulated flushed cheeks, hoping to appear more convincing.

Just as I was trying to compose myself, a faint sound of music drifted from the distance. Despite its low volume, it still caught our attention. I looked up and saw a bonfire already lit in the town square.

Around the bonfire, strips of cloth and colorful flags fluttered gently in the wind. A group of residents had formed a circle, dancing to the rhythm of simple instruments.

“It looks like the celebration is about to begin,” Rodd murmured, a hint of anticipation in his voice.

“Come, I’ll take you to a good place.”

‘A good place?’

I had no idea where Rodd’s ‘good place’ was, so I could only follow him with a sense of trepidation. Before long, we arrived at an inn beside the square.

Around the inn, men and women were immersed in the carnival’s revelry, embracing and kissing in abandon. My somewhat settled nerves began to fray.

‘What’s going on? Is this guy already preparing for ‘business’?’ A wave of unease rose in my heart. ‘Was making me pretend to be his wife for this very purpose from the start? So, is he going to be using my body in bed while sickeningly calling out another woman’s name later!?’

Nervously, I lowered my head, hugging my arms. Grotesque scenes began to flash through my mind, and my body involuntarily trembled. ‘Oh my God, Rodd… I never knew you were this kind of guy! You’re really something else!’

Just as I was lost in these wild thoughts, Rodd suddenly stopped in front of me and said softly, “We’re here.”

“Huh?”

I abruptly looked up, only to realize that Rodd hadn’t led me to a room, but rather to the top floor of the inn. Standing high above, I cautiously peeked out, looking down at the square below. From here, the entire lively atmosphere of the celebration was perfectly visible.

The setting sun cast its rays upon the ground, firelight and twilight intertwining into a warm tableau, cloaking the entire town in a soft, exquisite glow. I glanced left and right, discovering that the top floor also featured a spacious platform, its floor laid with clean wooden boards, surrounded by simple railings, and adorned with several small lanterns emitting a gentle, rather romantic light.

Standing there, feeling the gentle breeze, my mood lightened considerably. ‘So, the ‘business’ Rodd mentioned wasn’t that kind of business after all…’

I felt my taut nerves relax slightly, a sigh of relief escaping me. But just then, Rodd unexpectedly locked the wooden door behind me and quietly said, “I’ve already spoken to the owner here and asked him to reserve this spot for me… Don’t worry, no outsiders will disturb us here.”

‘What does ‘no outsiders will disturb us’ mean?’ The more I pondered his words, the colder my back grew. ‘Could it be… Could this guy be planning… a wild romp?’

I gasped, my fists clenching. ‘Rodd, you’re really something else!’

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