Ch.69Addiction?

The walls surrounding the Royal Capital were now visible in the distance, signaling that we had reached the edge of the city.

Is this the last shop…?

Of course, if we searched every corner, we’d find more shops selling decorative items, but we lacked both time and energy for that. So today would be our final stop.

I felt a gentle tug on my arm and turned to see Elin nodding at me. I nodded back in response.

Exchanging this silent signal to enter, we stepped forward together.

The shop was shabby not only on the outside but inside as well.

It must have been built quite some time ago, as traces of age were evident throughout.

Fortunately, there was a surprisingly large selection of items.

Some looked particularly ancient, as if they had been purchased when the shop first opened and remained unsold ever since.

Anyway, what mattered was the bow. Elin and I began carefully examining the various bows hanging around the shop.

“How about this one?”

What I pointed to was a bow made of light-colored wood with blue patterns.

It had a beautiful shape and bright, pretty colors that would surely brighten up any home if displayed.

Elin picked up the bow I had indicated and began examining it to see if it met her criteria.

At first, she nodded indifferently, but eventually shook her head—apparently it wasn’t to her liking.

“I’d prefer something with a more natural charm.”

“Hmm… I’ll keep looking.”

“Thank you so much.”

I shook my head lightly at her words.

“I promised, didn’t I? And even without a promise, I would have helped if you asked.”

“Crow…”

She called my name longingly and buried her face against my chest. The subtle woody scent that wafted from her made my head feel clearer.

We stayed like that for a moment, but it didn’t seem right to be doing this in someone else’s shop.

She must have thought the same thing.

Elin naturally pulled away from me and began focusing on the bows again.

Though she didn’t let go of the arm she had been holding.

“Hmm… Am I being too picky? Why can’t I find anything I like?”

Examining the bows, Elin pouted her lips.

“Being picky is natural. After all, you’re getting this for your parents, not just anyone.”

If it were for myself, I could choose something casually, but when giving a gift to someone else—especially parents—one can’t help but be more particular.

That’s how important they are to me.

I’d probably be no different from her if I were shopping for a gift for Riano.

Riano is like family to me.

At least… that’s how I still think of her.

We circled the shop two or three more times. But still, nothing caught our fancy.

“Should we go now…?”

“Yeah, let’s look again tomorrow.”

Just as we were about to leave the shop, something caught my eye.

“Elin… how about that one?”

I pointed to a bow hanging high above the entrance, displayed more like an exhibition piece than merchandise.

Though not flashy in design, it had a distinctly natural charm.

Elin’s eyes widened when she saw it.

“I love it!”

Elin exclaimed loudly, then quickly covered her mouth with her hand.

She must have been excited at finding a bow she liked.

She glanced at me, then released my arm and approached the shopkeeper who was dozing in his seat.

“Excuse me…?”

“Huh?!”

Despite Elin’s careful approach, the man was startled and fell from his chair.

“Are you alright?”

“Ah, yes…”

He slowly got up and sat back in his chair. Fortunately, he seemed unharmed, so Elin carefully broached the subject again.

“Um… is that bow hanging up there also for sale?”

She pointed to the bow above the entrance and looked at him with pleading eyes.

Realizing what Elin wanted, he furrowed his brow, as if considering.

Well, if he refused because it wasn’t for sale but just decoration, there would be nothing we could do…

But I decided to hope for his generosity.

We had finally found a bow she liked after hours of searching, so we had to try.

Fortunately, he turned out to be a very generous person.

“Yes… well, just take it. It’s been hanging there for over ten years. I’m getting tired of looking at it anyway.”

“Really?! Thank you so much!”

He acknowledged Elin’s gratitude with a casual nod and closed his eyes again.

Seems he wanted to go back to sleep.

Seeing this, Elin turned and walked toward me, and I reached up to carefully retrieve the bow.

It looked even better up close.

The dark red bow stave had quite an atmosphere to it.

Elin, who had reached my side, carefully extended her hand toward me.

A silent request to see the bow.

When I handed it to her, she looked at it with a happy smile.

“Wow… whoever made this, it’s perfect.”

After saying that, she examined the bow more carefully and nodded all the way through.

She really seemed to like it.

Well, now that we’ve successfully found a bow to gift…

“Let’s head back now.”

“Yes, I think we can.”

With the decorative bow slung over her back, Elin took hold of my arm again, and with my arm wrapped in two soft mounds, I walked with her through the streets of the Royal Capital.

After walking for quite some time, we arrived at…

“Crow, this is where I’m staying.”

The inn where Elin and Derin were staying.

Just as Derin had said it was expensive, everything from the exterior to the glimpses of the interior through the windows was clean and sophisticated.

“Shall we go in now?”

“Sure.”

Elin and I stepped into the inn together.

The reason I came all the way here instead of returning to the workshop was simple.

She said she had something she wanted to give me.

I wasn’t sure what it was, but I’d find out soon enough.

At the end of the elegant wooden corridor that made no sound as we walked, was a room in the farthest corner.

When she unlocked the door and opened it, I could see a neatly organized interior and Elin’s belongings.

In the past, her accommodations would have been messy and disorganized.

She’s clearly grown in many ways.

Naturally entering the room with her, I began looking around.

Since she hadn’t been staying here long, there wasn’t much to see, and yet…

What’s this…?

I was startled by what I saw hanging on the clothes rack.

A dark brown, shabby robe and clothes so worn they looked like they might tear after a few more wears.

The things I had left behind at the lodging on the day I left the party were hanging there.

“Ah…”

Hearing a voice, I turned to see Elin standing there with a dismayed expression, having carefully set down the bow she had been carrying.

“I… I need some fresh air for a moment.”

Saying that, Elin hung her head low and began walking quickly, but I couldn’t just let her go.

I was surprised, but I didn’t feel disgusted or anything like that.

I don’t know what Elin was thinking, but that wasn’t it.

I moved faster than her and caught her arm at the door.

Elin stood still with her arm in my grasp, not moving a step. She wouldn’t even look at me.

“Elin, what’s wrong?”

“It’s creepy, isn’t it… Those are clothes you threw away. And I kept them…”

As she said this, she finally turned to meet my eyes.

Her beautiful eyes were moist, as if about to spill tears at any moment.

I knew this would happen.

Still holding her hand, I sat down on the bed, and naturally, she took a seat beside me. I could feel her trembling through her hand.

She really is such a fool…

“Elin, I don’t think it’s creepy at all.”

“Th-then what was that expression just now?”

“That was… honestly, I was surprised. I never thought you would have kept them.”

“Really…?”

Asking if I was sincere, Elin slightly pushed out her lips.

As if saying, “Prove it then.”

Yet her lips trembled slightly with nervousness, which I found incredibly endearing.

I raised my free hand to caress her cheek.

At my sudden touch, Elin flinched momentarily but quickly regained her composure.

As our lips drew closer and her faint woody scent intensified…

Our lips finally met.

Elin squeezed my hand tightly with her eyes shut tight.

For a moment, we confirmed each other’s feelings.

Smack—

With a short sound of suction, our lips parted.

“Crow, just once, just once more.”

Her breathing slightly ragged, she made her request, and I decided to comply.

This time, a little more passionately than before.