My Strange Savior - Chapter 102

Chapter 102

The members who had secretly been watching those two locked eyes with each other and covered their mouths.

“Am I right?”

“Darn it.”

Spencer gestured toward it from a distant table. Jacob grinned at Spencer’s amusement.

“Yeah, you’re good, man.”

The members who had been there before Kalion and Gia came in pressed themselves against the wall as much as possible.

Being on the opposite side, they could avoid Kalion’s notice. Unaware of their presence, the commander continued his date with Gia.

Certainly, Jacob didn’t expect the atmosphere to turn like this when they set out. Jacob sighed and gripped his hair.

Even if he died, he didn’t want the commander to betray him, Jacob prayed with clasped hands in anger, then placed coins on the table.

“Is it done?”

Although he knew about the peculiar currents between Gia and Kalion, Jacob didn’t want to believe until the end.

If even the commander falls in love, then Jacob, who had never had a girlfriend, would be the only solo left. Kalion and Jacob had different positions, but secretly, Jacob considered the commander no different from himself.

However, there was a difference between not dating and being unable to. Looking at the commander, Jacob, comforting himself in the situation of being unable to date, gulped down the beer as if his throat was dry.

“Hehe. Now, the only solo left is Jacob, right?”

“Is that okay?”

Jacob’s smile faded at Spencer’s laughter-filled voice.

“I don’t want to get involved in this.”

“Ehhh. You’re not the kid you used to be anymore.”

“Nonsense.”

When Jacob threw the snack he was chewing, Spencer skillfully avoided it.

“Ah… If Vice Commander Rockt had seen this scene, he would have liked it the most.”

Spencer pressed his lips in disappointment.

“Yeah, if he did. Wouldn’t he have teased Jacob first?”

Thinking of the deputy commander who left first, Bill next to him showed a lonely expression.

Jacob reminisced about the members who left first and swallowed the curses he had intended to say.

“Even if it’s unfair, as soon as I arrive in the capital, I’ll start dating.”

“Huh? Jacob, you… Haven’t you done it until now? You could have, but you didn’t? Wow.”

“This guy deserves a scolding, scold him. Follow me to the training ground.”

Under Spencer’s teasing, Jacob’s face turned red. 

The efforts of the two to lighten the atmosphere were overshadowed by the gloominess of the members.

* * *

Rattle, rattle.

The swaying carriage did not offer a comfortable ride. Still, Gia thought she had adapted a little. 

However, the carriage she boarded again after three days made Gia’s bottom uncomfortably aware of its discomfort.

Stretching and squirming with Rey, Gia glanced at the opposite side, where Yuria sat without a hint of disarray for hours. 

Gia secretly admired Yuria. With an upright posture and the same demeanor as the first day, Yuria now seemed even more impressive.

Moreover, while Gia found convenience in wearing combat attire under her pants, Yuria remained dressed elegantly, just like on the first day. Carefully extending her legs to avoid disturbing Yuria’s full skirt, Gia observed.

In this world, as Kalion had mentioned, all women wore skirts. Whether in the village or the castle, they adhered to skirts regardless of their activities. In contrast, Gia, wearing pants, pursed her lips in disdain.

She felt a bit envious of Yuria’s sky-blue skirt made of luxurious fabric. Even without any action, Yuria exuded elegance effortlessly. It was a completely different atmosphere from Gia, who had become rough and tough from her travels.

“Did you say Lady Gia?”

“Huh? Oh… yes, yes.”

She had to be respectful to the nobility. Reminded of Kalion’s words, Gia hastily added politeness, feeling that Yuria looked much younger than her.

“When we reach the capital, you must pay your respects to His Majesty. Do you intend to meet him dressed like this?”

It seemed as if Yuria was asking if Gia planned to meet him while wearing such inferior clothing. The suggestion to consider Kalion’s dignity was subtly omitted, but it lingered in the tone.

Less biting than before but still sharp, Yuria’s retorts made Gia roll her eyes.

“Oh, probably? This is all I have.”

Unashamed, Gia replied confidently, prompting Yuria to shield her mouth with a small fan.

‘Why carry a fan when it’s so cold?’

The protagonist, Gia, stared at the fan in disbelief at the unfamiliar items in this world. It seemed as if she found it absurd. Perhaps the fan and its usage were different from what she knew.

Knowing it was winter, a luxurious fur cape adorned Yuria’s extravagant dress. A large ribbon tied the cape, and next to Yuria, there was a white fur stole. Before getting on the carriage, Yuria crossed her hands, wearing gloves-like accessories.

‘Quite peculiar.’

Yuria, adorned with a fan regardless of the weather, raised her eyebrows at Gia’s apparent ignorance. In social circles, fans were not carried around to cool the body temperature.

In a world where men took swords to war, the fan seemed like the elegant weapon of the social realm, a tool for conveying discreet messages among women. It could be a sharp weapon, piercing enemies, or aiding allies. It was essential in social circles.

Observing Gia’s mysterious gaze on the fan, Yuria spoke with a hint of sympathy.

“It’s a necessity for ladies and mistresses, especially in social circles.”

“Even in this cold winter?”

“It doesn’t matter with the seasons. You mentioned having a title similar to a knight there. Do you, Gia, not take a sword because it’s cold?”

“Is that the same thing?”

“Yes, there’s hardly any difference.”

Yuria’s description of the social circle seemed to equate it with a battlefield. Gia swallowed nervously, her body tense. Rey, having eaten well, dozed off with a satisfied expression.

Gia carefully laid Rey’s head on her thigh.

“I don’t have one… What should I do? This is my only dress. Kalion did mention he’d buy me one.”

“Oh?”

“I said Lord Kalion would buy me a dress.”

The title ‘Lord’ didn’t quite sit well with her. Gia, stammering with the title, finished her sentence with satisfaction.

“As expected…”

“Yes?”

“You two are in a relationship.”

“How did you know, or rather, how did you find out?”

It wasn’t easy to speak respectfully to the much younger Yuria for a long time. Gia, trying to avoid informal speech, hastily added a respectful tone.

“Usually, giving and receiving a dress as a gift implies a deep relationship. If you’re not close, is there any other reason for it between a man and a woman?”

In the fresh description of Yuria, Gia nodded approvingly. Yuria, although reserved, responded better than expected.

“If it’s Lord Kalion, he’ll arrange it at the dress shop that Bowers deals with.”

Thinking of the dress shop run by Duchess Bowers and her youngest daughter, Yuria pursed her lips. It was a well-known place where even the daughter of the marquis, like Yuria, would take at least three months to get a dress fitted.

If the order was placed at Bowers, she would have the result within this week. Even thinking about it made Yuria, who was not very interested in dressing up, tap her lips with her fingertips.

Did this woman, who had no interest in dressing up, understand the value of the precious dress shop clothes? It seemed doubtful. She seemed oblivious to how the world worked. However, Yuria didn’t show it.

“In that case, would you like to borrow one of my dresses temporarily?” 

Yuria suddenly offered.

Gia blinked at Yuria’s suggestion. 

‘Were we on such terms to borrow things from each other?’ 

Especially considering that the dress Yuria was wearing looked very expensive, even to Gia, who was an outsider.

“For me? A dress? Why?” 

Gia asked in succession at the inexplicable offer, and Yuria’s lips couldn’t hide a slight twitch.

‘She must be scheming something…’

An unpleasant scent emanated from Yuria’s innocent face. Gia, who could keenly smell the negative emotions directed at her, looked at Yuria with narrowed eyes.

It wasn’t hostility towards her. It was an uncomfortable expression. Uncomfortable with hesitation, Gia didn’t readily accept.

“Why? Are you afraid I might mess it up with some mischief?” 

‘I wouldn’t know.’

The fleeting expression on Yuria’s face had little to do with pure affection; it was distant. Gia, who had spent years on the edge of life and death, wasn’t one to easily read such emotions.

“No… well, it’s not like there’s a need to borrow from you.” 

Yuria shrugged unexpectedly in response to Gia’s roundabout refusal. Despite appearing innocent, Gia thought of her as a woman who knew only combat, but surprisingly, she could read hidden emotions well.

As Gia didn’t readily agree, Yuria’s eyes sparkled. 

“Well… I’m not lending it to you because I like you or anything.”

She expected as much. In both this world and the other, the one who made the first move in disappointment was an unwritten rule.

“Have you ever heard anything about the Crown Princess?” 

Yuria asked, rolling her blue eyes and looking at Gia.

“I have heard of her. But what does that have to do with anything?” 

“And did you know that the Crown Princess has her eyes on Lord Kalion?” 

Yuria’s voice dropped suddenly as if revealing crucial information, in the confined space of the three-person carriage.

Rey, being a child, wouldn’t understand the conversation anyway, and he was asleep. 

Why Yuria suddenly lowered her voice was a mystery.

‘Why act like that when there are only three of us?’

When Gia first saw Yuria, she thought of her as a Barbie doll bought at a department store. Pretty, elegant, beautiful. So, she admired her purely based on her appearance.

But that was just an expression of admiration for Yuria’s outward appearance. She was not as innocent as she appeared, not as ignorant of the world’s ways.

Giving away something without asking for anything in return? That was a behavior that went against Gia’s common sense. Everyone had their ulterior motives, presenting choices that benefited them.

In a world where humanity’s kindness was fading away, if Gia hadn’t had a good sense of perception, she would have been killed long ago.

She knew from the start that Yuria considered her a bumpkin. Knowing that Yuria couldn’t leave a scratch on her no matter how hard she tried, she simply ignored her.

Being cute and playful like a cat’s hiss was only something she did when there was no harm to her. If those claws were directed at her, Kalion, or Rey, Gia had more than enough willingness to retaliate.

Gia decided to observe a bit longer, responding to Yuria’s intriguing gaze. 

“I know that… What does it matter?”

“Oh, didn’t you say you and Lord Kalion are in a romantic relationship?”

“That’s true, but…”

“Well, then, you shouldn’t go in such attire if you’re going to meet someone who harbors feelings for Lord Kalion.”

Yuria’s gaze scanning Gia up and down contained a hint of disgust.

“Do you plan to go to a meeting with someone who has feelings for Lord Kalion in such an outfit?” 

Her growing voice sounded quite disdainful. Yuria couldn’t tolerate that at all, as if it was the one thing she absolutely couldn’t allow, and she clapped her fan against her palm in emphasis.

“You need to flatten the Crown Princess’s nose, who covets your lover.”

In the end, that was the goal. Gia looked at Yuria’s blue eyes, burning with more enthusiasm than herself.

“Oh… I see…”

“Stop the nonsense and just take the clothes I lend you. I’ll dress you up to the nines. Trust me.” 

Yuria, who seemed aloof and out of reach when she kept her mouth shut, surprisingly had a human side.

Flames flickered in Yuria’s eyes. 

Now that Gia knew exactly who it was directed towards, it seemed adorable for someone of her age. 

Thanks to that, Gia wondered if she was just lucky to be able to borrow Yuria’s beautiful clothes.