episode_0052

Swaaaah-

“… … .”

As the water poured down, Isabel stared blankly at the ceiling light.

The soft lighting typical of an inn used by nobles dimly illuminated the bathroom.

Since I often used outside accommodations when I traveled down the mountain for my main job, which was to interrogate heretics, I didn’t feel particularly out of place.

Still, her current mood is very uncertain, probably due to the influence of her companion.

It was hard to believe, considering that I always had a room to myself, or at least the times I had with Israfil. Oh my, sleeping with Evan?

‘The Duke of Rayham… … .’

Isabel bit her lip faintly, smoothing her golden hair.

I never thought he would do something so deadly and petty.

If they really put pressure on all the inns so that we couldn’t even find a place to rest, then it would be different, but what’s the point of leaving just one single room?

It was indeed ambiguous, but at the same time malicious. Perhaps it was something he did because he knew a lot about Isabel’s personality.

“… … Sigh.”

Isabel sighed and turned on the tap. The water from the shower stopped flowing, and she reached out and squeezed the water out of her hair.

If things were to go wrong, I thought about putting Evan in the guest room and wandering around outside the city.

-No, what the hell is that?

Rather, Evan had no choice but to oppose the game by starting it on his own.

But since he couldn’t really send Evan out of the city, what could he do? He had no choice but to play along as the Duke wished.

Finally, I came in. I decided to share a room with the boy I once taught as a disciple.

“Ahhhh… … .”

Isabelle, who had been leaning against the bathroom wall for a moment, had to twist her body in extreme distress.

Anyway, the other person is a man, so is this union and cohabitation really right?

First of all, unless Evan was Isabel’s lover, this would be against her personal beliefs. Even if he was, and even if there was no such act, this sleeping together was a step into debauchery.

‘I’m sorry, Israfil, and Young Lady Heresia.’

Moreover, Evan was a married man. Whether it was Israfil Ha’el or Lete Heresia, the other person was not Isabel.

Even if it was something that couldn’t be helped, there’s no way to avoid feeling guilty.

But what can I do? I’ve already booked a room. I’ve also washed up to get rid of the toxins.

In other words, she had reached a point where she could no longer retreat. Isabel took a deep, calming breath and drove away the worries that had filled her mind.

“… … Okay, let’s go.”

So I finished preparing myself mentally. Isabel patted my cheeks one last time and put on the white gown hanging on the wall.

And as I opened the glass door to the bathroom and went outside, Evan, who had been sitting on the edge of the bed, looked up with a start, looking unexpectedly nervous.

“… … .”

“… … .”

Their eyes met. For just a moment, Isabel noticed Evan’s red gaze sweeping over her entire body, clad only in a gown.

Of course, I didn’t intend to mention it because I knew that the purpose of that gaze wasn’t to tease.

I understood that it was a man’s inevitable instinct, and I intended to tolerate it. Although she was old-fashioned, she was not inflexible.

“Ahem… … .”

Instead, he just coughed awkwardly and changed the subject.

“I, I washed everything.”

“… … Ah, um. Yes.”

“You can come in.”

“… … Yep.”

“… … .”

“… … .”

And then silence fell again. Evan and Isabel rolled their eyes, then flinched simultaneously as soon as their eyes met, starting a battle of wits.

Evan sat up awkwardly at her words. Isabel watched his movements and quickly made way for him on his way to the bathroom.

Evan Lane walks cautiously, fearing that he might touch even the tip of her hair.

Isabel Cedent, who also pays attention to the consideration.

The man and woman continued their comedy routine even though no one was watching. Then, just as Evan was about to enter the bathroom.

“… … Mr. Evan.”

Isabel called out to him from behind, and Evan looked back at her, wincing nervously.

“Yes, yes?”

“… … .”

She answered, but the words did not continue right away. Isabel continued to move her lips for a long time while receiving Evan’s questioning gaze.

“So, that’s… … .”

I wondered if it was right to say this myself, if it was correct, but I still felt strangely uneasy.

She overcame the guilt of needlessly suspecting an old acquaintance and shouted, “Bam!”

“… … Hey, I won’t do anything dirty! Got it?!”

“… … ?!”

And Evan shook his eyes, greatly bewildered by the unexpected form of shouting.

Because I never imagined that Isabel would be the first to mention that story.

What on earth are you talking about, Miss Isabel? Evan wanted to ask back without thinking, but her expression was more confused than he had expected, so he stopped.

A flushed face, throbbing pupils and ears, even an outstretched index finger.

With her other hand, she held onto the gown to keep it from slipping down, but because of that, her arm stretched out in front of her exposed her smooth armpit.

Evan slapped me in the face as my heart suddenly sank and blood suddenly rushed to my head.

puck!

“Eh… …!?”

This is because, apart from the desires that arose as a reflex reaction, self-control was still intact.

Conversely, Isabel was startled by the action. She quickly retracted her outstretched fingers.

“Ms. Isabel.”

“Yes, yep?”

Evan opened his mouth with a deep sigh, and Isabel flinched like a thief’s foot.

Even though it was an unexpected reaction, Evan felt disappointed even with that.

“I don’t know what you thought of me, why you said that as soon as I came out of the shower. Were you worried that I would attack you?”

“… … Huh? Oh, no, not necessarily.”

“The situation has inevitably turned out this way, but of course I have no intention of doing anything that Miss Isabel would dislike. As you said, of course that includes dirty things.”

There was no time for Isabel to speak. Evan, with a look of considerable disappointment on his face, glanced at Isabel one last time before dashing into the bathroom.

Isabel, suddenly left alone in the spacious guest room, stood there blankly with a stupid expression on her face.

While I was unable to put my half-raised hand down, I heard the sound of water coming from the bathroom.

“… … Ah… … .”

Isabel was able to look back on the words she had impulsively blurted out a moment later.

I realized that those words… … must have sounded quite rude to the other person.

“Ahhhh.”

She covered my face with both hands and groaned. The tips of her ears turned red, showing embarrassment for a different reason than before.

Idiot, fool, idiot, pervert. Isabel muttered to herself several times, feeling like she was sitting on a bed of thorns as she glanced at the bathroom.

*****

“Hoo.”

After taking a slightly longer shower than usual, I put on the bathrobe hanging on the bathroom wall like Isabel had done and went out.

Then, Isabel, who was sitting cautiously on the edge of the bed, just as I had been a few dozen minutes ago.

She flinched at the sound and glanced up at me, and I scratched my cheek awkwardly.

“That, um, what is it?”

Should I say something? I was a little cautious because I couldn’t quite forget the conversation we had just before I went into the bathroom.

Of course, from her perspective, it was understandable that she would say such things. How could she not be nervous when she suddenly ended up sleeping in a room with another man?

It was just disappointing, and there was a strangely awkward atmosphere that made me feel uncomfortable.

“… … Go to bed and sleep. I’ll just sleep here, leaning back on the sofa.”

I wiped the water off my hair with a towel and glanced at the sofa near the wall. It wasn’t the best place to sleep, but what can I do?

If she was really uncomfortable, I would try my best to make it comfortable for her.

From my perspective, that’s also convenient.

“… … Ugh, Mr. Evan!”

But Isabel seemed to be thinking differently. As soon as I leaned towards the sofa, she quickly sat up.

She muttered with impatience as she looked at me, who was blinking her eyes in confusion.

“Don’t do that, just sleep together.”

“Yes?”

“… … Chi, in bed.”

“?”

I froze in place with a question mark in my face, and Isabel watched me closely, but did not change her mind.

Rather, as if he had gathered a little more courage, he simply slammed his fingertips on the bed next to me!

My expression hardened twice, but Isabel continued speaking quickly, fidgeting as if she was trying to interpret that reaction.

“Jo, I’m sorry about a little while ago. Rather than suspecting Mr. Evan or something, yes. I just made a guess and threw it out. It’s not that I have a bad opinion of Mr. Evan.”

“Ah… … . Yes, I know that part well. I won’t misunderstand, so don’t worry… … .”

“Ji, it’s true. I’ve always tested you, Mr. Evan, but I’ve never once seen you in a bad light… …! Rather, I, I.”

I wonder if this person doesn’t want to listen to what I have to say. I felt strange seeing him interrupting me mid-sentence and getting impatient again. I really wasn’t thinking much of anything.

“Okay, okay, Isabel. You don’t have to say anything else, really.”

I let out a small sigh and raised my hand. I had no choice but to hang up, because I felt like I would be apologizing endlessly if I let him talk any longer.

“It’s really okay, so should we stop now? The carriage ride was tough, and I think we should take a break because of that damned work.”

Even though it was a visual thing, there was no denying that we had a really hard time today.

Starting tomorrow, I’ll be wandering around the city, so getting enough rest is a priority.

It was at that moment that I was about to lay down on the sofa with a blanket. Bam! I sighed inwardly as a slender hand grabbed my arm.

“… … So, you’re mad at me, Evan?”

Isabelle Cedent, who came to me with her arm around me, almost sobbing.

Even though I tried to repeat the same thing over and over again that I was really okay and that I didn’t care, when I saw that sad expression on her face, the words wouldn’t come out as I wanted.

She looked up at me, mumbling like a child.

Sunset-colored eyes that sparkle sadly.

“You and I… … . Sleep together… … . When we were young, we often shared the same blankets, right… … ?”

“… … .”

“I want to apologize properly… … .”

The force with which she dragged me towards the bed was minimal, but it was her mental assault that truly shook me.

Are all the Inquisitors good at persuasion, coercion, and intimidation? It really was.

Isabel’s sad plea, looking up at me with her youthful yet beautiful appearance… was too powerful to be coldly rejected.

‘… …Hold on, Evan Lane.’

But I did not give in. The mental strength I had built up through arduous training was strong and firm enough to not give in to this type of attack.

Isabel was like my second teacher. She was the one who taught me manners and etiquette, so I had to be more careful about what I did.

Even if we were put in such an irresistible situation, we couldn’t sleep in the same bed.

*****

Got in.