Chapter 204: Blois Hotel
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 204: Blois Hotel
"Oh, Saintess. It’s His Grace."
The priestesses whispered to me.
"We’ll take our leave now."
"No, wait, girls...!"
Before I could even try to stop them, the priestesses had vanished into the distance.
"Saintess."
With his massive frame, Loik closed the distance between us in just a few strides.
"Lord Loik."
I greeted him with a light curtsy.
"I heard you weren't expected back from the expedition until tomorrow."
Loik nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"Only the vanguard arrived early. The rest will enter the capital tomorrow."
"I’m glad you’re safe."
"It is all thanks to the blessing you bestowed upon us, Saintess."
"It wasn't me; it was the excellence of the knights. More importantly, you must be exhausted. Why are you out here?"
Loik, who had been standing with his hands behind his back, hesitated before extending one hand forward.
In his large hand, he held a bouquet of Blois flowers.
The moment we both looked at the flowers, we let out small, simultaneous sighs.
The flowers were withered, their spirits half-broken.
Loik’s dark eyes wavered violently as he looked at the flower stems drooping limply over his hand.
"What are these flowers for?"
"I found some flowers I hadn't seen before on my way back... and I thought you might like them, Saintess."
His hand faltered and lowered.
"I tried to hurry, but it seems they’ve already withered."
His broad shoulders slumped dejectedly.
As I reached out to take the flowers, Loik hurriedly pulled his hand back.
"Please, pretend you didn't see this. I will bring you a proper bouquet next time."
"Give them to me."
"But..."
"Come on."
At my insistence, Loik hesitated before finally handing over the bouquet.
I placed my hand over the drooping flowers.
Soon, a cluster of white light flowed out, and the flower stems surged back to life.
The curled blue petals unfurled brilliantly, emitting a soft, ethereal glow.
Loik looked at me with eyes full of wonder.
"There really is nothing you cannot do, Saintess."
"The flowers are glowing?"
"They are flowers from the East that release the light they've gathered during the day at night," Loik said, his face brightening with excitement.
"Does that mean you brought these flowers all the way from the East?"
He rubbed the back of his neck, looking a bit bashful.
"The flowers reminded me of you, Saintess."
"Thank you, Lord Loik."
Hearing my thanks, Loik’s lips parted as if he had more to say.
"...Um, last time, you said you would call me by my name once I returned from the expedition."
Was it because his hair was cut shorter than before? Even though his features hadn't changed much, Loik somehow gave off a more youthful, fresh aura.
"But you always call me 'Saintess,' Lord Loik," I said, awkwardly fidgeting with my hands. "It feels a bit... unfair if only I use a familiar name."
I trailed off shyly.
Loik took a deep breath, as if gathering his courage.
"Then, would you also grant me the permission to use your name?"
I lowered my head, pretending to smell the flowers, and gave a small nod.
Even after permission was granted, Loik hesitated for a long time before finally speaking.
His pleasant, low-pitched voice resonated in my ears.
Even though it was just a dream, my heart pounded frantically.
The moment I called his name in response.
Loik’s face turned as red as a tomato.
He covered his mouth with his large hand.
"This is, well, more awkward than I expected."
"You were the one who asked me to call you that first, Loik."
"I’m not saying I dislike it."
Loik waved his hands hurriedly.
"It’s just that... there’s no one left who calls me by my name anymore."
"Actually, it’s the same for me."
"...From now on, I will call you by yours," Loik murmured in a low voice. "Annette. It’s such a beautiful name; it would be a waste not to use it."
"Then I’ll call you by yours too, Loik."
Because it’s a beautiful name.
At those words, Loik burst into laughter.
I found myself captivated for a long time by that refreshing laugh, which made him look like a young boy.
And then, slowly, darkness fell over my eyes.
*
"Auntie! Hurry up!"
Dahlia, who had already stepped into the Blois Hotel, shouted and beckoned with an excited voice.
"Dahlia, can't you walk with a bit more decorum?"
Lady Gray, who was following her niece, momentarily froze at the sight of the lobby, which was grander and more luxurious than she had anticipated.
A massive chandelier on the ceiling emitted a warm glow, illuminating the lobby.
The walls, decorated with intricate stone carvings, added to the hotel’s sophisticated atmosphere.
Beyond the large glass windows, the magnificent scenery of the Pogen Mountains, covered in perennial snow, was visible.
The lobby was bustling with people sitting on sofas placed throughout the room, enjoying the view outside.
"Look at this! It’s real hot spring water!"
Dahlia, who had already reached the center of the lobby, urged Lady Gray forward.
In the center of the lobby sat a marble fountain, where hot spring water flowed out along with a gentle mist of steam.
— "Sister, I heard a hot spring hotel opened in Blenheim! I managed to get a reservation with great difficulty, but since I can't go, you should go instead."
Those were the words her younger sister had said while handing her the voucher for the Blois Hotel.
There was no way she didn't know her sister’s true intentions.
It was surely a gift prepared out of pity for an older sister who had been shut away in her manor ever since losing her husband.
'I didn't realize I'd also be tasked with playing dream chaperone to a talkative niece, though.'
Unable to ignore the gesture, Lady Gray had left her home country of Rondoris for the first time in years.
Had she been shut away for too long?
'I didn't realize there were so many tourists crossing over to Blenheim.'
From the port in Rondoris to their arrival at the hotel, Lady Gray had been surrounded by crowds.
And the streets of Blenheim, seen after so long—how bustling and full of life they were.
The scenery was like another world, and she hadn't been able to snap out of her daze the entire way there.
"This is the room for Lady Gray and Lady Dahlia."
The room the staff member guided them to was quite pleasant.
"Auntie! Look at the bathtub. It’s huge! Does hot spring water really come out here too?"
"You can enjoy hot spring water from the Pogen Mountains 24 hours a day in every guest room."
Lady Gray, who had been thinking of resting in the room and taking a soak, was soon dragged back out to the lobby by her niece.
"The Fruit Wine Tour is this way."
An employee unfolded a small map that fit in the palm of a hand.
"Which program would you like to choose?"
"A program?"
The employee kindly showed them a pamphlet standing nearby and explained.
"The Fruit Wine Tour takes place every day from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. If you look at the map, there are ten booths in total. As you stroll, you can stop by any booth you like to enjoy fruit wine along with some snacks."
From the 1-course and 3-course options to... an unlimited pass, they could freely choose a program based on how many booths they wanted to visit.
Drinking while taking a walk.
It felt a bit indulgent, but at Dahlia’s persuasion, Lady Gray feigned reluctance and chose the 3-course program.
The walking paths of the hot spring village were incredibly peaceful and quiet.
"Auntie! Let’s go here!"
Dahlia, unfolding the map, pointed to the first location.
As they walked, a cozy booth soon appeared.
Comfortable picnic chairs were arranged around a small hot spring where water bubbled up.
There were already quite a few people at the booth drinking fruit wine.
A guide at the booth, covered by a bright canopy, greeted them.
"Welcome!"
The guide stamped the first circle out of the three drawn on the map.
"The fruit wines prepared at our booth are walnut wine, chestnut wine, and plum wine."
"Walnut wine? I’ve never heard of that before!"
The guide kindly explained the taste and benefits of each fruit wine.
"Drinking all three might be a bit much..."
"In that case, you must try the walnut wine!" the middle-aged guide said with great fanfare as Lady Gray hesitated. "You won't find three-year-aged walnut wine anywhere else but here."
She had heard that the residents who brewed the wine acted as guides themselves.
'Is he a walnut wine master? He certainly has a lot of pride.'
In the end, both Lady Gray and Dahlia took their walnut wine and sat in the picnic chairs.
"It pairs very well with the sweet pudding."
Another guide placed mini puddings studded with fruit pieces onto a cute table.
"How can the pudding be this soft?"
An excited Dahlia finished her glass in no time and ended up requesting the chestnut and plum wines as well.
Feeling the moisture from the hot spring water gently enveloping her face while sipping the slightly bitter walnut wine wasn't a bad feeling at all.
"Make sure to visit the booth selling lemon wine later," a lady sitting nearby advised.
"They serve it with Galapis steamed in hot spring water, and it is absolutely delicious."
"Thank you, Madam."
The lady, who mentioned she was already on her third course, had slightly flushed cheeks.
"I’m so glad I came as soon as the hotel opened."
The lady chatted lightly, saying that reservations would likely become even harder to get in the future.
"There are so many programs to enjoy at the hotel. I originally came here because I couldn't get a room at a hotel in Gold Lane, but now I don't even want to leave the hotel grounds."
"What are you doing this evening?"
At Dahlia’s question, the lady raised her eyebrows.
"Attending the hotel’s opening ceremony, of course. I heard the Saintess herself is coming."
Lady Gray’s eyes widened.
"The Saintess? Do you mean the Saintess from the Empire?"
"You haven't heard? They brought her in specially for the hotel’s opening ceremony."
The lady marveled, saying how truly impressive Blenheim’s influence was.
"She’s someone difficult to see even in the capital, so you must attend, Madam."
On the way back to their room, Lady Gray remembered what she had heard and headed to the counter.
"Oh dear, it seems our staff forgot to inform you. I am terribly sorry."
The employee spoke politely, saying that the hotel’s opening ceremony would be held this evening and asking them to please grace the event with their presence.
"Anyone can attend, even if they aren't a guest, so please spread the word to those around you."
"Is it true that the Saintess is coming?"
"Yes, it is. We have various events prepared with the Saintess, so you can look forward to it."
The employee said with a wide smile.
"Would you like to purchase a ticket?"
"A ticket?"
A look of bewilderment crossed Lady Gray’s face.