27. Blooming (7)

"Money..."

After staying at Baman's house for a while, we faced our next problem.

It was finances.

Based on our experience living together for about three days, Baman didn't seem to be what you'd call a bad person.

Though there were occasionally awkward incidents from living under the same roof with women, at least he never tried to assault us while we slept.

Even if he had tried, Knight Evernoir and I would have subdued him instantly anyway.

Anyway, after living together like that, we eventually encountered the aforementioned money problem.

Of course, it wasn't that serious.

"Well, actually... the living expenses are starting to..."

One person working.

But three people living.

Naturally, money was going toward food and cleanliness expenses like baths, so it was inevitable that it would become a burden.

"I... hadn't thought of that. My apologies."

I'd love to put it on the imperial palace's tab, but such things don't work in a small village like this.

It wasn't a matter of trust, but simply a matter of reality.

These were people living day-to-day, surviving in the real world.

Credit or tabs meant nothing to people who weren't even sure about tomorrow's meal.

"Evernoir-nim, it seems we need to find work."

"Huh? I'll do it. There's no need for Your Highness to dirty your hands with such matters."

Ever since that day we spent together in the cave, Evernoir-nim's overprotectiveness seemed to have become somewhat excessive.

But that doesn't mean I'm the type to make Evernoir-nim do everything while I do nothing.

If you receive kindness, you should return it in kind.

"No. I'll naturally look for work too."

"...Understood."

It's not yet time to leave this village anyway.

To return to the imperial capital for resupply, we need to go to the capital.

I don't know if any horses remain in Arbel Village, but practically speaking, it's better not to go to Arbel Village.

The Succubus Queen might have set a trap there.

So if we want to prepare, we should do everything in this village before departing for the capital.

We should acquire clothes to wear and spare clothes, and since we have no horses, we should also get food for the journey.

'...So we need money after all.'

Whatever the case, money is essential.

I clearly understand how important money is.

But that doesn't mean I've lived penniless outside the imperial palace before.

Naturally, having never experienced it, I didn't know how much money we needed or how much we could earn.

"Huh? Help? Don't really need any!"

"...I see."

"Hmm~ I appreciate the offer, but I have no problems handling things alone right now?"

"...Is that so."

They might help out of neighborly goodwill without payment, but the village wasn't so lacking that they needed to pay outsiders for help.

In other words, the village already had a regular economic cycle established.

Even when trying to find work, there was no suitable work to be found.

Wanting to work but not being able to because there were no positions - it was so different from the capital.

"Huff! Huff! Hup!"

"Your High- No. Princess. Your sword's trajectory is shaking severely."

The daily morning training with the captain.

Even in that training, I noticeably became somewhat rushed.

"Do you have some concern?"

"Hmm."

My mind had already wandered away to continue holding the sword.

So Knight Evernoir wiped sweat and sat beside me.

"If you have concerns, I'll listen. I might be able to help you somewhat."

Was it that worrying?

Still, I didn't refuse Evernoir-nim's kindness.

I spoke honestly to Evernoir-nim.

"...You found work, didn't you?"

"Yes. I agreed to help an elderly grandmother with her field work."

The elderly couple living across the way farmed a field that wasn't large but wasn't small either.

They were among the residents who lived modestly by selling their crops to village people.

For the village's food supply, farming had to continue steadily.

However, since they lived very frugally and were advanced in years, they decided to pay Evernoir-nim a little money to handle the field work instead.

Thus Evernoir-nim found work and could earn ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠at least some money but...

I still hadn't found work.

And there were no places that needed help.

"It's somewhat concerning."

No matter how much money Evernoir-nim earned, it wasn't a large amount.

Just enough to cover living expenses at Baman's house with a very little left over.

So Baman asked occasionally.

If I still hadn't found work.

-Jolt!

"How dare they give you looks! I'll kill them, Your Highness!"

"Enough. Sit down."

But I was also conscious of the situation.

Even putting aside daily expenses like food money, if this continued, Evernoir-nim might have to bear the funds for our departure to the capital alone.

That might mean staying here for several months, or even years in the worst case.

"I'll, I'll take responsibility and somehow handle it, Your Highness."

Pfft.

"Hearing you say that makes me want to depend on you forever."

"........."

Just as I was about ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to get up and leave,

"Excuse me, excuse me...!"

"Hmm?"

From very far away.

So early in the morning, I saw a girl running toward us breathlessly.

Her name was definitely...

"...Berry-yang?"

Berry.

If my memory served correctly, she was the daughter of the village innkeeper.

Why would she suddenly come looking for us?

Perhaps it was a demon beast attack.

If the Succubus Queen had somehow found us...

........Gulp.

We would definitely lose right now.

We need to run away now-

"My apologies-"

"Suddenly merchants-!"

Our words overlapped momentarily.

"B-by any chance, Miss, have you already found other work...?"

"No! No. I misunderstood. Please continue."

Thank goodness.

It wasn't a demon beast attack, and it seemed to be about the work I'd been desperately seeking.

"Ah! Then I'll get straight to the point! We're short-handed, so I was hoping you could help us, Miss!"

A merchant caravan had suddenly arrived.

Apparently they travel on expeditions to sell goods in various places.

They said they usually come since they can buy and sell goods even in small villages like this.

The problem was that it wasn't the regular caravan that usually comes, but an enormous large-scale moving caravan, and the family running the inn couldn't handle it at all.

"They probably won't be able to keep employing you after the caravan leaves... but you can earn quite a bit this time!"

I see.

In the end, wasn't Berry-yang just taking pity on me for constantly looking for work?

Still, I was grateful.

For the fact that she remembered me and came to find me as soon as they became short-handed.

Given the situation, my deliberation didn't take long.

"I understand. I'll do it."

"...! Thank you!"

####

"First, when a table becomes empty, bring a cloth from here and wipe it..."

Berry-yang diligently taught me the work, since inn work - no, any work excluding paperwork - was entirely new to me.

Honestly, it was even my first time holding what's called a cleaning cloth.

Though it somewhat concerned me from a cleanliness perspective that they kept using the same cloth even after wiping multiple tables, I tried to get accustomed to their way of life.

"Hmm..."

"What's wrong, Berry? Is there something still lacking?"

"No, that's not it..."

Berry pondered for a while while looking at me.

Wondering if I'd made some mistake based on her reaction, I was reviewing my actions when she answered as if she'd realized something.

"As I thought, Miss shouldn't be in the kitchen!"

"Huh...?"

Saying that, she suddenly grabbed my wrist and started leading me somewhere.

Normally I would have shaken her off saying I could walk myself, but I didn't bother.

She had come to find me personally to give me work, and among all the children I'd seen during my week in this village, she was the most kind-hearted.

So I had that trust.

The trust that no matter how much this child struggled, she surely wouldn't harm me.

Following Berry into a room, she handed me a bundle of clothes and said:

"Would you like to try these on?"

"...Hmm, alright."

At a glance, they seemed quite neat clothes.

Like a staff uniform.

And this room seemed to be used as a changing room.

Slip.

'Nobody's here...?'

I checked if anyone was around for no reason before taking off my clothes.

It had become a recent habit.

Before, I wouldn't have thought twice about taking off my top, but after becoming a woman, the act of undressing itself felt embarrassing even if nobody was around.

And when I tried putting on the clothes Berry gave me...

"Eek, eek."

..........

..........I don't know how to put this on.

Do I put my arms here?

No...

Then my legs here...

-Stagger.

"Hyah?!"

—Miss? Is everything alright?

"Ah, it's nothing!"

After all, though somewhat embarrassing, is this the only way?

I steeled my resolve.

##

"You're taking a while..."

After pushing the Miss into the changing room with her uniform, while waiting for her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to change, suddenly the changing room door opened.

'Ah, has she finished changing?'

But the expected appearance of the Miss wasn't visible.

Instead, suddenly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠from between the door crack...

Peek. Slooowly.

"Um... Berry-yang?"

"Yep?"

"C-could you help me put on these clothes..."

The Miss, requesting help with changing, had a bright red face and seemed to properly understand how embarrassing this situation was.

"Yes, yes! I'll help you."