When Your Secret Crush Wizard Took a Love Potion - Chapter 16

My overall plan was straightforward. Head straight to the port city of Meroni, take a boat across Lake Martin, and upon reaching the west, rent a horse from a stable to quickly reach Mistwood Forest.

If all went according to plan, I should arrive within a month.

“No boats available?”

Of course, life seldom goes as planned.

“That’s right. We have cargo ships, but there’s a limit to how many passenger or tourist boats can dock at the harbor. Tickets sell out fast because they are typically booked days in advance.”

My plan was derailed from the start.

“I see dozens of tourists like you every day.”

Looking at me who was taken aback by the unexpected situation, the port administrator clucked his tongue in annoyance.

“Well, unless you’re a member of a guild or friends with owners of luxury ships, that’s a different story. But how likely is that?”

“That’s unfortunate….”

“I understand you’re disappointed, but there are other customers waiting, so please step aside.”

The administrator was clearly overwhelmed with the number of people he had to deal with other than me.

“Next customer!”

I considered my options, but there seemed to be nothing I could do immediately. Looking at the long line stretching out the ticket office, it seemed pointless to hold onto the helpless administrator any further.

“Now what?”

I left the ticket office and walked toward the breakwater, feeling heavy.

Crossing the vast sea that separates the Enix Kingdom from the western continent without a boat was impossible. Although construction of a bridge was initiated four years ago under the proposal of Victoria Sestia Lee, the 35th monarch of Enix, it was far from completion.

I sighed and decided on the next step. Since we would need to stay for at least a few days, we need to find an inn first.

“Edgar, this way!”

I spotted the tall blond man standing a head above the crowd.

His striking blonde hair and amethyst eyes, along with his sharply chiseled features, easily caught the attention of passersby.

His robe not fully closed might have caused the frequent glances he received from the people bustling by. Despite the increased crowd and the hectic situation, yet he seemed indifferent.

I felt a strange disconnect. Standing aloof as if isolated in space, with eyes I had never seen before, he almost appeared inanimate.

As I slowed my pace, intrigued because he looked different than usual, Edgar looked directly at me and smiled like a blooming rose.

“You’re here.”

The soul seemed to return to his indifferent purple eyes, bringing warmth to his face that had been as cold as a statue moments before.

“Did you wait long?”

“Not at all. It was actually quite interesting.”

Edgar greeted me with a smile, his cheeks flushing shyly, resembling a freshly blooming rose.

“Meeting like this feels like we’re on a date after making plans.”

Edgar’s thought circuits that were influenced by love, were remarkably positive. After the incident, I witnessed various sides of Edgar. The more I saw, the stranger I felt.

Was it purely the effects of the love potion? Or was a genuinely love-stricken Edgar would act this way? The answer was unclear, but one thing was certain.

If it weren’t for the love potion, Edgar would never have shown me such an expression.

“Now that we’re done here, let’s go.”

I quickly pulled my robe up to hide my disheveled expression. Since we hadn’t secured a boat, we needed to find a place to stay.

I wasn’t sure what the city night would be like, but surely, the hard ground of the vibrant city wouldn’t be more comforting than the forest.

* * *

Meroni, having pioneered an innovative trade route, is said to have become the most flourishing commercial city in the Enix Kingdom over the past decade.

Thanks to its active trade with various countries around the world, the city has developed a diverse array of transportation options, making it the busiest hub for cargo traffic today.

Tourist guides and travel books often add similar descriptions about Meroni, mentioning the constant influx of tourists, locals planning overseas trips, merchants preparing for trade, and sailors, all stamping their footprints ceaselessly throughout the city.

Although I was somewhat prepared, experiencing reality firsthand was different from what I knew only in theory.

“It’s overwhelming…”

It was truly an enormous crowd.