7 — 6

“I understand already. I’ll cooperate. I won’t run away. Anyway, please let me go back to the village once!”

“My contract with you starts right now! I’ll send a subordinate as a messenger later, so if there is any luggage you want collected, write it down here.”

“I have important things and all sorts of things there! Let me go back and get them!”

“There is no way anything valuable is sitting in a half-broken countryside hut like that! Hurry up and work.”

It was good that Beth had been safely released from the dungeon, but she had not brought a single piece of luggage with her, so she insisted that she at least wanted him to let her go back to the village to get her things, but Noel said that and refused to listen at all.

(Seriously! One of these days, I want to pour plenty of sap from a tree that makes the whole body itch all over this man’s head!)

In her mind, Beth tried tying Noel to the “absolutely do not touch” tree that grew thickly in the village forest, but Noel looked as though he did not care at all.

Noel apparently had no intention whatsoever of considering Beth’s circumstances or situation.

(He really is the worst. A nasty man who is all looks and nothing else.)

Noel paid no attention to Beth, who was furious.

After releasing Beth from the dungeon, he silently climbed the stairs on foot as if telling her to follow him, and went outside the building.

Then, after cutting straight through a cluster of old buildings, he walked left and right with sure steps, and before long, they came out into a corner with low buildings. It was one corner of the Magic Institute.

He apparently did not even intend to match his walking speed to Beth’s.

When she desperately kept up with Noel’s fast pace, they arrived on the second floor of a quiet, deserted building. There was not even any sign of light in any of the rooms.

(Oh, the dungeon and the Magic Institute are relatively close.)

As Beth was vaguely paying attention to such a trivial thing, Noel suddenly stopped in front of one room.

“Starting today, this is your room.”

After saying that, Noel brusquely handed Beth a key.

“Inside the room, everything necessary for daily life for the time being has been prepared.”

Urged by Noel, she went inside, and perhaps because of magic, the light of the wall lamp clicked on, and there was a clean, neat space.

It felt empty, but it was based around white, and only the bare minimum of pale wooden furniture had been arranged there.

It was certainly much cleaner than Beth’s house, and everything was far more expensive.

It was small, but there seemed to be a kitchen, and even a bathroom.

Even though it was an individual room, having a bathroom as well felt quite extravagant to Beth, a country girl.

Noel explained that it was a facility used when researchers who came from other countries sometimes stayed there.

Apparently, the last time it had been used was several months ago, but during busy periods, the researchers here also stayed overnight, so everything necessary for daily life was prepared.

“Ah! There’s a balcony! I can see outside!”

Beth hurriedly crossed the room and went out onto the balcony.

She had been at a loss after being told to live starting today in an unfamiliar room in a place she did not know at all, but her eyes sparkled at the night view of the Royal Capital spreading outside.

(Grandpa said it… that the nights in the Royal Capital were like stars falling.)

She remembered her dear grandfather’s face a little and felt a bit lonely.

“Ah. Once morning comes, you’ll be able to see the Royal Palace Garden below. This room has a good view, at least.”

Noel muttered as though he was not very interested.

Beth looked down at the night view of the Royal Capital and thought in her heart.

(Well, fine. I’ll stay here for a while and have them let me go home for the Autumn Festival. They should let me go home by the time Amy’s grapes bear fruit.)

“I’ll come to get you at nine tomorrow. Changes of uniform are in this closet, so for tomorrow, just wear whatever fits you from inside here.”

After saying only that, Noel left this small space that had become Beth’s new room, without any words of concern for Beth and without looking back.

(What kind of day even was this…)

Beth stuck her tongue out as hard as she could while blankly watching Noel’s back leave, and then drowsiness suddenly came over her.

(Fine. I’ll think about everything tomorrow.)

Apparently, she had been completely exhausted.

When she threw herself onto the white, clean sheets of the bed in the corner of the room, Beth fell asleep without dreaming.