13. Dungeon Conquest
We woke up the next day and immediately began preparations to head to the royal capital. With Sierra's help, we borrowed a fairly nice enchanted carriage that allowed us to pass as nobles by using her family name. We also secured sturdy horses—not the scrawny nags or pack mules, but prime stock that fell just short of warhorses but were still top quality.
On the road, we'd even hired a separate coachman this time, so no one had to drive. We all piled into the carriage together. Being enchanted, it was surprisingly spacious inside and quite comfortable. No rattling or jolting like you'd expect from a regular carriage—it felt as solid and steady as that fabled bed that could withstand an elephant stomping on it.
Of course, even in that comfort, some were still suffering from the carriage's subtle sway.
"Ugh... my head. It's splitting."
"Uuu... Darling, can you give me some water?"
It was Bella and Cheong-ah, who'd been chugging booze nonstop from the morning I left with Dina for the promotion exam until my return that afternoon. I gently tilted the water bottle to Cheong-ah's lips, letting her drink, then grabbed her frowning brow and guided her head to rest lightly on my lap.
"Cheong-ah, come lie down here."
"Yeees... just for a bit, please, Darling."
"Hey, me too..."
"...Lie on the other side."
Bella, who'd been leaning her head against the window, saw this and slyly pushed in closer, so I offered her the remaining leg on the opposite side from Cheong-ah.
"Hey, Ian. This pillow's too hard."
"That's what makes it good, Bella. Sometimes a firm pillow like this gives more stability than something soft."
"Stability my ass... Ugh, Ian, water. Feed me too."
"...Alright, hold on."
Dina, sitting across from us, puffed out her cheeks and pouted at the sight.
"Kuhuh... The water's so cool. Yeonja, those two brought it on themselves. Pay them no mind. Their habits are poor."
"Hey, if you're jealous, just say so, you little brat."
"This beast girl! Who said I'm jealous...!"
"You're jealous but pretending not to be. You were planning to sit on Ian's lap first, weren't you?"
"Eut, um... N-no, that's not it."
"Really? Then you wouldn't mind at all if I lay here, right? Oh man, Ian's legs are so comfy."
"Uuuut, Yeonja! This beast girl mocks this body!"
"Both of you, cut it out. We have a guest here."
I let out an involuntary sigh, and that's when I felt Sierra staring intently at me from her seat. Her distant gaze seemed like she was reminiscing about the old days while watching us now.
I gently stroked the forehead of Cheong-ah, who had fallen asleep on my lap with her breathing evening out, and asked Sierra.
"What's up? Miss Sierra."
"Huh? Oh, no, nothing."
"Come on, doesn't look like nothing. What were you thinking about so deeply?"
"W-well, um... Just old memories. Seeing Bella like that brought some back."
Old memories... Come to think of it, Bella and Aria were childhood friends, right? Sierra had been friends with Aria for years too, so she and Bella must have crossed paths.
Sure enough, my hunch was right. Bella, who had flinched and was bickering verbally with Dina from her spot on my lap, grumbled curtly toward Sierra.
"Hey, why bring up ancient history all of a sudden? Stuff I barely even remember anymore."
"It's not sudden; it just came to mind. Back when we were kids, you and Aria fought all the time with me stuck in the middle, didn't we?"
"When did I? If anything, you and Aria were the ones always fighting. I was the one suffering, caught between you two."
"Huh? What, Bella? You just said you don't remember at all."
"Tch... I meant it like that. Whatever, drop it!"
Bella clicked her tongue, huffed dramatically, and turned her body sharply toward me. Sierra watched the back of her head, chuckling softly, then propped her chin on her hand by the window and gazed wistfully at the distant mountains.
"Those days were so carefree and fun, without a worry in the world."
Bella's past... Now that piques my curiosity. Thinking about it, I realized I didn't know much about Cheong-ah or Bella's backgrounds. Cheong-ah was asleep now, so I'd ask her later, but maybe I could get some from Sierra about Bella?
I knew Bella was a princess of the Mountain Kingdom, crown princess like Aria and next in line for the throne. Betrayed by her uncle, she lost an eye and had her arm severed before fleeing the country—that much I'd heard roughly from Aria. That's why she'd led her loyal retainers as mercenaries to reclaim her kingdom. And joining our party was on Aria's orders for that same goal.
Yeah, that was then, but I wondered how things stood now. Listing it out like this, I actually know more than I thought. Still, since she's the woman I love, my curiosity to know even more about her stirs.
"Um, Miss Sierra."
"Yes?"
"C-could you tell me a bit about what Bella was like in the past...?"
At that moment, Bella interrupted, pressing her forehead firmly against my stomach.
"Ah, what do you wanna hear? Kids growing up are all the same."
"I'm curious, that's why."
Looking down, I saw Bella's ears flushed red with embarrassment. Was it because of her old friend Sierra? Bella kept grumbling.
"Jeez, why are you even curious about that?"
"Why do you think? Would I be curious about just anyone?"
"Ah, no, well... Yeah."
"It's because it's you, Bella."
"Ugh, you jerk..."
I smiled faintly and gently caressed her heated ear. The warmth spread from her ear across her face, turning her whole complexion the same shade.
"Argh, forget it. I'm sleeping!"
She yelled, covering her ears with her hands. Sierra watched, covering her gaping mouth in surprise.
"Wow..."
"What's that?"
"To see Bella acting so girly like this. It's just... surprising."
"Really?"
Bella was actually pretty cute like this... Is that what surprises her? I see this side of her every night in bed.
"Yes, the Bella I know is all brash and tomboyish, a real tough woman. Her skills match that image too."
"Fair enough... She only shows this side when it's just us."
"Aria would probably be pretty jealous seeing this."
"...Princess Aria?"
Why bring up Aria all of a sudden? I raised an eyebrow in confusion, and Sierra replied in an ambiguous tone.
"Yes, well... Aria actually really liked Bella back in the day."
"...Hmm? Really?"
"Yeah, she liked her so much that when she heard about Bella being chased out of the Mountain Kingdom, she cried buckets—totally unlike her, even though she'd been rejected."
Wait, what? That doesn't sound like just friends liking each other. More like... romantic interest.
...Princess Aria, no way...
"Ah, but she probably still likes her now. It's like a love-hate thing. That's why she even confessed once back then, saying if she became queen, would Bella marry her? Of course, she got turned down like I said."
"W-wait a sec, Miss Sierra. That sounds exactly like you're saying Princess Aria is a lesbian."
"...Huh?"
Sierra's expression went blank at my question, her usually intellectual face looking comically dumb.
"What's wrong?"
"D-didn't you know, Mr. Ian?"
"Know what?"
"Oh... Um. I thought you'd figured it out during that escort request last time..."
"Figured out what?"
What the hell was I supposed to notice? I shrugged, and Sierra tugged at her hair like she'd made a mistake.
"Seriously. I thought you already knew..."
"...Um, Miss Sierra?"
"Sorry. Um, well... Please don't go spreading this around? I really thought you knew. Sigh..."
What the hell is she on about? It's not funny anymore. Just as irritation started bubbling up, she finally muttered low.
"Sh-she... is."
"Pardon?"
"...Aria is a lesbian."
"Oh... Huh?"
Shock and unease flooded my mind. Wait, hold on. During that escort quest, how did Princess Aria look at Cheong-ah?
...Now that I think about it... Things that seemed innocent back then started connecting negatively with this revelation. The handshake with Cheong-ah felt like an excuse to touch her hand. Talking to her or sharing stories—maybe impure intentions? And at the end, trying to scout us, calling Cheong-ah a direct adventurer or whatever?
It hit me like swallowing the red pill and getting smashed in the head with a hammer.
"Miss Sierra. Cheong-ah is my woman. Tell that to Princess Aria."
"Mr. Ian, I don't know what misunderstanding this is, but Aria only feels pure curiosity and a desire for talent toward Miss Cheong-ah—no romantic feelings. I guarantee it."
"Toward Cheong-ah? Tell her Bella's off-limits too."
"Huh? Oh, uh... S-sure."
"Bella's my woman too."
I repeated it firmly, resolutely, like a parrot with unshakeable will.
"Absolutely not—make sure you tell her."
"Argh, damn it. Cut it out. You're embarrassing me so much I can't sleep."
This went on until Bella, too embarrassed to sleep, sat up and punched my shoulder. Meanwhile, the carriage smoothly continued toward the royal capital.