Chapter 20
When the conversation abruptly ended, it was clear what message she intended to convey.
‘Don’t bring up this topic again.’
She wasn’t truly upset over a simple fur coat. The suggestion that military life might be difficult for her was what she disliked, and she pretended to be offended by it.
In truth, Etienne thought that Mia wasn’t the sort of person who could even afford to be bothered by such trivial matters. Just as some people are inherently bad at calculating, or others lack talent for singing, Mia Blanchard simply wasn’t built to pay attention to anything that wasn’t directly related to her goals.
Not that it mattered. Etienne appreciated even that aloof nature of hers.
He wondered why she hated the question so much, but it wasn’t a difficult thing to do, so he followed Mia’s instruction and stayed silent.
“Smile. People are watching.”
Despite not smiling herself, Mia had no problem making such demands. In a way, it felt like she was sending a message: that even this game of pretend romance was just another tool for achieving victory, and that it would be worthless once it served its purpose.
Mia continued to wander through the bustling market, and Etienne, with a guilty conscience, followed closely behind.
“Eli.”
“Hmm.”
“Are you looking for something specific?”
Unable to endure the silence any longer, Etienne asked suddenly. Mia clearly seemed to be searching for something. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be inspecting so many stalls one by one in this cold.
Instead of answering, Mia posed a question of her own.
“Did you see any notable alleys as we walked by?”
“Yes, well… no, not really…”
Etienne replied, puzzled. Since he didn’t know what kind of alley Mia might consider “notable,” it was difficult to give a definitive answer.
But if Mia hadn’t found it yet, then it must be further ahead. Etienne trusted her judgment implicitly.
***
“I’d like to take a look around.”
“Ah, we’re closing up for the day.”
The shopkeeper, seeing the nobles at the door, hurriedly tried to turn them away.
Mia hadn’t expected anything different. Unfamiliar faces, unfamiliar clothing, and an aura that didn’t match the run-down store at all. It would have been more suspicious if the shopkeeper wasn’t wary.
This level of resistance was anticipated. Mia pressed the shopkeeper more firmly.
“I just saw a customer leave your store.”
“That was the last one! Just wrapping things up now. We’re out of stock, so there’s nothing left to see.”
Mia took a coin out of her pocket. At first glance, it looked like an ordinary Veridian silver coin, but the way the shopkeeper’s eyes widened suggested it was no ordinary currency.
The shopkeeper muttered carefully.
“May the glory of the Goddess shine bright.”
“And eternal blessings be upon us.”
Mia responded promptly. The shopkeeper, who had maintained a flippant attitude, visibly relaxed. Though there was still some lingering suspicion in his eyes, his demeanor was notably more welcoming.
“Ah, forgive my rudeness. Please, follow me this way.”
Mumbling excuses about the dangers of trusting outsiders in these difficult times, he led them to the back of the store.
Mia signaled to Etienne with her eyes. The perceptive commander quietly followed her. A faint smile lingered on his face, as if he found the situation amusing.
The noble pair obediently followed behind the shopkeeper. The sight of the towering man trailing behind a petite woman was somewhat comical.
“Eli, I’m scared.”
“Stop whining. You insisted on coming, so I made time for you, and that’s all you have to say?”
“But…”
“Keep quiet and keep walking.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Their voices echoed too loudly in the cramped passage, creating a somber atmosphere that visibly unsettled the shopkeeper. To break the tension, he eagerly began talking about the various substances he had in stock.
“That one over there is a new arrival. It’s primarily a paralyzing poison, but in small doses, it’s great for insomnia.”
“I see.”
“That powder over there is said to awaken Divine Power. Ever since people started seeing results, demand has skyrocketed. It’s so scarce now that it’s hard to find in some regions.”
Though it was useful information, Mia already knew much of it from her past life, so it wasn’t of particular interest to her.
‘That powder was proven to be a scam, after all.’
As the war situation worsened and Etienne became less able to fight, Mia had desperately sought Divine Power herself. To prove her worth, she was willing to take untested substances without hesitation.
But even so, she had never awakened.
Mia died without ever being able to use a trace of Divine Power. She suspected that most of the other drugs, except for Shaten, would have similarly negligible effects. She responded to the shopkeeper’s words with feigned interest.
Sure enough, there was more Shaten hidden in the shop. It had seemed odd how little had been in the tavern.
‘With such a small quantity, they couldn’t have maintained a town of this size… Looks like I guessed right.’
There was no doubt that this was the real hideout of the smugglers the baron had been trying to conceal.
‘It seems like more than just supporting them—he’s definitely hiding something.’
He had been eager to please but poisoned their food, proposed marriage at the most foolish moment, and seemed constantly on edge. His behavior was utterly inconsistent.
‘Maybe he’s been compromised. Or perhaps he’s deeply entangled in this business himself…’
Either way, if Shaten was crucial enough to his plans that he needed to keep it hidden like this, then taking it away would be enough to ruin him.
As she looked around, Mia spoke calmly.
“I’ll purchase all the Shaten you have in stock.”
“Y-yes? But… I mean, Shaten is quite expensive, so perhaps you’d like to consider some of our other products…”
“Do you think I’m someone who can’t afford such petty expenses?”
“Well, it’s just that…”
“It’s all for something important, so don’t ask questions—just hand it over.”
Jingle.
A heavy pouch of silver coins landed on the counter. Even without counting, it was clear that the amount far exceeded the worth of the substances sold.
“Y-yes, of course. It must be hard for you.”
The shopkeeper hurriedly replied, scooping up the pouch. He had plenty of questions he wanted to ask, but like many others involved in such shadowy dealings, he knew well how to keep his mouth shut in the face of money.
***
“You remember our conversation well, right?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Remembering it might come in handy.”
What was she planning to do by gathering information about substances circulating in enemy territory? Did she intend to get involved in the business herself? With a complicated expression, Etienne nodded.
“Now that I think about it, their operations seem rather sloppy.”
“There are times when things need to appear that way.”
Mia had intended for it to look that way. Realizing this, Etienne refrained from asking further questions.
“Eli.”
His tone suggested there was more he wanted to say, prompting Mia to turn back curiously.
“So, when are we going on our outing?”
“…Pardon? What we just did was the outing, wasn’t it?”
“How can you call that an outing? I didn’t get to enjoy a thing.”
“So, did you think I would take you out to leisurely pick out dresses while we’re in the middle of a war?”
Etienne pouted, his disappointment clearly exaggerated, making his true feelings difficult to discern. Mia couldn’t shake the impression that even this reaction was something he intended.
“It does matter. I came along with such anticipation, only to spend the whole time working.”
“As I said earlier, Max, as you know, we’re in the middle of a war right now…”
“And whether we like it or not, we have to stay here for a few more days, isn’t that right?”
“What?”
“Come on, enough with the excuses. Let’s go.”
“Hey!”
Mia found herself being pulled along by Etienne’s hand. Amusingly, the warmth of his grip already felt familiar.
Mia had always been quick to adapt to changing environments, a trait that might have extended her political career but wasn’t necessarily beneficial in situations like this. Someone like Mia Blanchard had no business leaning on the kindness of others.
In that sense, it might be better if she never got used to the commander’s whimsical behavior.
Just like now.
It would have been more comfortable if Etienne acted as high-handedly as he did in their past life. This special treatment didn’t suit her at all.
What Mia had asked of Etienne was a simple act of “pretending to be lovers.”
She never expected him to play the role of a real partner.
As such, there was no reason for them to stroll through the market like an ordinary, affectionate couple, browsing through items they wouldn’t even buy.
Then why…?
“Eli.”
Before she knew it, they had left the alley behind. A faint laugh cut through Mia’s thoughts.
Mia turned her head towards the sound. There, holding a cheap trinket, was Etienne. He wore the same radiant smile she knew well but had never quite adapted to.
Mia tried to calm herself as she spoke.
“I didn’t know you had a hobby of collecting things like this.”
“Of course not. It’s not for me. Would you like to try it on?”
For me?
Setting aside how ill-suited such a trinket was to their status and roles, the modest accessory looked too much like a token of affection.
In Mia’s view, they were not the kind of people who exchanged such things.
She took a step back.
Etienne, however, insisted, bringing the necklace up to Mia’s neck. With a pair of well-dressed nobles making a scene in front of his stall, the shopkeeper stayed hidden behind his display, too scared to interfere.
Mia glanced at him, sighed, and bowed her head, allowing Etienne to fasten the necklace more easily.
Whatever this man’s intentions were, it seemed faster to go along with it than to argue in the middle of a busy street.
With a satisfied expression, Etienne clasped the chain around Mia’s neck. Mia looked down blankly at her chest. The brass trinket dangling over her expensive coat didn’t suit her at all.
Given how few people in the Holy Corps were as meticulous about appearances as Etienne, it felt illogical that he’d take pleasure in such a mismatched accessory.
Is he mocking me?
But he looked far too pleased for that to be the case. Mia couldn’t understand his motives at all.
Could this necklace, like the coins she had brought or the substances they had just purchased, carry some kind of strategic significance?
Mia didn’t claim to know everything from her past life.
If there was some information only the commander knew—something she had remained unaware of until her death—it could explain his behavior.
Even as Etienne paid the still-trembling shopkeeper, Mia couldn’t find a satisfactory explanation for what had just happened.
As soon as the transaction was complete, Etienne casually draped his arm over her shoulder as they walked away. The weight of that arm suddenly felt burdensome, and it wasn’t just her imagination.
Once they were far enough from the stall, Etienne spoke softly.
“Mi… Eli.”
Careless.
But she wasn’t in the mood to point it out. All she wanted was for this strange episode to end quickly, so she could have some time alone to reflect on Etienne’s actions.
Mia turned to face him.
“Sorry that I could only give you something like this.”
What?
Mia stared at him, bewildered. His words didn’t align with any of the conclusions she’d drawn.
“Next time, when the war is over… I’ll give you something better, something truly worthy of you.”
—
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