Chapter 39
“Guest, your order of potato cream stew and roast poultry with tomato sauce is ready! Where should I place it?”
A cheerful young voice rang across the table. The girl, who was just tall enough to reach my waist and still had chubby cheeks, was quite young.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
As Edgar took the plate from the girl and placed it in front of me, one of the mercenaries, who was picking his teeth with an empty skewer, grumbled.
“What’s with this inn, having kids working here?”
“I’m not a kid, and I have a good name, Oz Humen. Besides, I’m just helping my mom. What’s it to you?”
Although the mercenary might have been making a concerned remark, it came off dismissive enough to irritate. Despite this, the young girl’s confidence didn’t waver.
“You are quite a spirited child. Your mother must be very proud.”
Brightening at the praise, the girl’s eyes sparkled.
“Of course! I was praised last time for doing a good job. I even got the lead role in the festival play; everyone says I have talent.”
“Festival?”
Curious about her story, I asked further, and the girl became even more animated.
“Yes, in our village, Bisanto, we regularly hold a theater festival. We create and act in our plays, and I’ve been practicing for weeks. Today is the day of the performance!”
Her eyes shone brightly as she continued to chatter, but she mostly bragged about memorizing her lines perfectly and receiving compliments, rather than explaining about the festival.
“I always wanted to be a warrior traveling across the continent like the adventurers. But lately, I’ve been thinking it wouldn’t be so bad to become a famous opera singer like the fantastic Dorothea in the renowned opera company. So, I’m torn.”
“Either option sounds good.”
“But I can’t do both, right? I’ve often pondered what I want to do when I grow up. I’ve thought a lot about what’s better, but I still haven’t decided. So…”
I had never properly interacted with children before, so I hadn’t realized just how much energy it could take to keep up with one.
Once Oz started talking, it seemed impossible to stop her, and just listening to her endless chatter was surprisingly draining.
As Oz continued to talk nonstop, my hunger started to assert itself. I quietly picked up a fork and began to eat, not realizing I had started chewing until I tasted the savory juices of the meat.
“You hadn’t eaten all day.”
Edgar commented as he placed food into my mouth.
“How is it?”
The rich meat and spicy sauce were exactly to my taste. Unaware of my own hunger until that moment, I began to eat voraciously once I started.
“Chew slowly, Chloe.”
The man who had so agitated me in the morning with his antics about my sweat was now unexpectedly tender. It wasn’t just me noticing this change in Edgar.
Oz, who had been rolling her big, glassy eyes between Edgar and me, suddenly piped up.
“So, you two have done the last base together?”
I almost choked on the stew that was smoothly going down my throat.
“Where did you learn to talk like that?”
“I hear the guests say it often. They say it means you’re very close.”
The phrase was far too mature for a child like Oz. Working in an inn where she heard various guests speak, it seemed she had picked up some inappropriate language.
“It’s better to say they love each other.”
“So, are you two in love?”
“Not exactly that—”
How to correct this? As I sipped my water, pondering how to correct her statement, Edgar smoothly interjected.
“Of course. We even kissed.”
This was exasperating. Before I could deny it, the innkeeper, who had just come from the kitchen wiping her wet hands on her apron, seemed to catch the drift of the conversation and called out to the girl.
“Oz! Don’t bother the adventurers unnecessarily.”
“I wasn’t bothering them. Right, adventurers?”
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