0&1 Ch 21.4

When playing the game, there were two types of schedules that the player could create for the female protagonist: studying and part-time work.

The female protagonist of this game was a high school student who earned her own living expenses and tuition to attend the academy.

I knew that, but seeing her working even on the day before her entrance exam was a different matter.

Passersby were startled by the loud noise and looked at the female protagonist. But it was only for a moment. Soon, they seemed to get used to it and passed by her.

“What’s that?” A nobleman who appeared to be around Joffrey’s age leaned out of the inn. He looked at the main character and frowned. “She has no sense of shame.”

“Pavel. What are you doing? Your room is ready. Aren’t you coming in?”
“I’m coming. But is this the only inn around here? Can’t you see those beggars outside? It’s tacky.”

The boy named Pavel entered the inn. From inside, he could hear his companions talking in disbelief.

“This is the best inn around here. If you don’t like it, go outside and follow one of those touts.”
“Who said that?”
“What did he say?”
“Why would I talk to you? Let’s not talk.”

Pavel entered the inn.

Meanwhile, the heroine seemed to have found a customer and was crossing the street with someone, talking nonstop.

It was a strange feeling. The heroine of this game doesn’t know me. But I know her.

It felt different from seeing other characters in the game. My gaze was fixed on the heroine as if I had been sucked into her.

Dot came out of the main entrance.

“Your Highness, your room is ready. Would you like to go in and rest? Or would you like to look around the area?”

The heroine blended into the crowd. I turned my head toward the inn.

“Let’s go in and rest. Everyone must be tired. Tell them to eat and rest.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” 

Dot went to assign rooms to the group and returned. As the soldiers went upstairs, the crowd thinned out.

“How would you like to eat? Would you like to eat in your room or downstairs in the cafeteria?” Dot asked.

Cafeteria? Since becoming Joffrey, I’d hardly ever eaten out.

I felt restless and wanted to do something. I wasn’t really hungry, though.

“Let’s go downstairs.”
“Are you sure you want to go to such a crowded place?”
“Yes. I’ve always wanted to eat in a cafeteria. Alex, are you coming too?”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Alex stood behind me. A passerby walking past me was blocked by Alex’s arm and pushed out onto the street.

Dot took the opportunity to approach the people eating at the outdoor tables. As he spoke with them, he reached into his pocket. Suddenly, a huge bag of gold coins popped out. The people eating were stunned.

“… Dot, what are you doing?”

“Oh. I was making room, Your Highness. These kind people are letting us have their seats,” Dot said with a big smile.

What are you talking about? Are you blind?

You’re stealing their seats!

“Stop bothering the people who are dining and come here.”
“Oh. They said they’d gladly make room…”
“Never mind. Let’s eat upstairs.”

Dot put the bag of gold coins in his pocket with a disappointed look on his face. Was there a black hole in there? Alex didn’t seem to notice.

“Alex, is it okay to eat upstairs?”
“Yes, Your Highness. Anywhere is fine.”

As we were about to enter the inn, two men came out of the front door. It was Pavel, the man who had entered earlier, and someone I knew. Were they staying here?

He also noticed me. His light brown eyes widened.

Lowell Montblanc asked, “‘Your Highness, Joffrey?’

Pavel snapped at him. “Oh, come on. Stop pretending to be all noble? Why are you talking nonsense again?”

“Pavel, be quiet. I met someone I know.” Lowell suddenly spoke in a gentle tone.

“Oh, who is it?” Pavel looked up. He glanced at me indifferently, then his expression changed slightly.

I greeted Lowell. “Hello, Lowell. Are you staying here too?”

“Yes, Your Highness. If I had known you were here, I would have come to greet you.”

Lowell smiled broadly. It was his usual sparkling smile, but there was something awkward about it.

“I just got here too.”
“I see. You must be tired from your trip. You haven’t had anything to eat yet, have you?”
“No. I’m going to eat upstairs.”

“There are too many people down here. Good decision,” Lowell said casually.

Normally, this would be the moment to ask, ‘Why not join us for dinner?’

Dot, who was preparing to growl, looked at Lowell as if he found something strange.

At that moment, Pavel cleared his throat.

“Lowell, aren’t you going to introduce me to His Highness?”

Lowell smiled. With dimples appearing on his face, he scolded Pavel. “What are you going to do with His Highness?”

“What else? Say hello.” Pavel stepped forward and smiled. “Hello, Your Highness. It is a pleasure to meet you. I have heard a lot about you. May I introduce myself?”

As if asking for my permission, he urged Lowell without waiting for an answer. “Lowell, hurry up.”

Lowell smiled reluctantly.

“I apologize, Your Highness. This clumsy fellow is Pavel Bjorn Sanson. He is an exchange student from the Kingdom of Sherbet. I don’t know if he came here to study or for some other reason…”

“Cut the nonsense.”
“…Anyway, he said he is taking the academy exam. If he passes, we will be classmates.”
“Really? A guest from a neighboring country.”

I’ve never heard that this country is famous for its academics. I don’t know why he came here to study.

Was there a character like this in the game? I don’t remember at all. Anyway, he wasn’t a major character.

Pavel Sanson grinned.

“It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness. Please call me Pavel. I have heard much about you. Rumors have spread to my homeland that you are concerned about the lives of your people, that you visit the market incognito, that you are a leader in promoting garden culture among the nobility, and that you are so talented in commerce that you personally taught lowly sailors how to open new shipping routes.”

“Oh…” Such rumors have spread to foreign countries?

“I have heard my father say countless times that I should follow in your footsteps, and now I have the honor of meeting you. It is a great privilege.”
“Wow. Thank you.”

If even foreign nobles know about me, Edward at the border must have heard about it too.

Will he think that I have been doing nothing but enjoying myself while he was sent to the battlefield?

I wasn’t surprised anymore. I guess this is how people ruin their lives.

“Pavel. Aren’t you coming? You said you wanted to go somewhere more pleasant,” Lowell said.

“Of course, I’m coming. What, you didn’t want to go, but now you do? How about we bring the Prince too? Your Highness, please grant us the honor of having the pleasure of your company.””

Pavel smiled wryly and said, “I’ve been very interested in trade lately. I used to think that merchants were just singing songs of quick riches, but a new trade route sounds very appealing. How much have you invested, Your Highness? With the trade boom, the price of old ships has gone up a lot, hasn’t it? I’m most worried about the shipping costs, though. Oh, and I hear that even if you spend a fortune sending ships out to sea these days, there are severe mutinies on board. The world is changing.”

I had no idea what he was talking about.

“Sure. I’ll grant you that honor next time. I’m tired now.”

I replied with a smile. Pavel smiled back.

“Next time, I’ll take you up on that.”

“Hey, hurry up.” Lowell dragged Pavel away. As he left, he bowed his head slightly to me.

Are those two friends?

Pavel was saying something to Lowell in the crowd. Lowell laughed and kicked Pavel.

What was that?

I just woke up, but I’m already tired.