Heart Traps Everywhere on This Business Trip
"I'm fine, really."
I tried to sound as energetic and confident as possible, but he clearly didn't buy it.
I'm actually fine, though?
If I got a full medical checkup right now, everything would come back normal except my blood pressure.
Still, Edwin seemed to treat every word out of my mouth like it was pure bravado.
A touch as light as a falling feather brushed across my forehead.
Is he checking for a fever?
Fortunately my temperature was perfectly normal, and only then did Edwin finally look relieved.
"You get scared easily and you have such a soft heart."
I wasn't even sure if the "you" he was talking about was actually me.
I wasn't completely without fear, but this hadn't been a situation that should have frightened me.
Work comes first right now, so I let it slide today, but I fully intended to deal with it properly later.
As for the soft heart part...
Maybe he was thinking back to when we ran into those thugs last time?
I only said not to kill the guy because I didn't think he'd done anything bad enough to deserve death.
Sure, I have a low tolerance for blood and violence, but I'm not the type to go completely soft over something like what happened today.
It might look that way to a knight like Edwin, though.
Even now he was speaking more gently than usual, as if he was worried I might get startled.
Heh, I'm not some fragile cotton candy who'll get holes poked through her from a sleepless night.
Still, while it felt a little ridiculous to be on the receiving end of Edwin's concern, it wasn't exactly unpleasant.
I put on the most wicked smile I could manage and laid out my plan.
"Did you really think I'd just let this go? The moment we get back from this trip, I'm filing a full report on what happened today and requesting oversight of the capital guard's inspection."
I declared my grand ambition to dig up every last sin they'd ever committed, right down to illegal trash dumping.
"Guys like that need to be completely cut out. They're parasites eating away at the empire."
Only then did a satisfied smile curve across Edwin's lips.
"Exactly. They need to be cut out."
Fortunately, it seemed the level of punishment both Edwin and I considered appropriate was pretty much the same.
We were right in the middle of discussing how to create a massive wave of unemployment within the capital guard while standing practically on their doorstep when several more travelers heading to the same destination joined us.
Edwin noticed their presence before I did and quickly pressed a finger to his lips.
"We'll be staying the night in Feram Fief. Then we'll head out early tomorrow morning for Diegis, right? Diegis is quite a large territory, so it's a shame there's no ancient teleportation array that goes there directly. Still, it's only one mountain away from Feram, so it won't take long."
I spoke a little louder, as if I'd been talking about our post-travel plans all along.
Fortunately the late arrivals didn't seem particularly interested in our conversation.
"Seven passengers for Feram."
The wizard who'd been wringing mana out of himself all day appeared, looking utterly drained. These must be the last ones.
"Try not to move around too much. It'll mess up the coordinates."
With that listless warning, the ancient teleportation array activated.
Everything went pitch black, and I felt the floor drop out from under me.
When I staggered and couldn't catch my balance, Edwin caught me in his arms.
Following his guidance, I leaned into his broad chest.
Thump. Thump.
My heart always beat loudly whenever I touched Edwin, but right now the sound seemed twice as intense.
And it feels like it's getting faster by the second.
Thankfully, just before my heart could actually explode, we arrived in Feram Fief.
The moment the spatial fold released us, we sprang apart like people who'd been doing anything but hugging.
Edwin stepped three or four paces away, turned his back to me, and stared up at the starless night sky.
His ears, visible through his dark blond hair, were bright red.
It's unusually hot today, isn't it?
A proper summer night was hot enough to make your cheeks burn even if you were standing still.
I fanned my face frantically with my hands.
Only after my wrists started to ache did the flush finally leave my cheeks.
Edwin turned back toward me at almost the exact same moment.
After finishing a simple check-in process that was nothing compared to using the ancient array, we entered the Feram Fief proper.
The main street of Feram—one of the largest territories near the capital—was still surprisingly lively even after sunset.
"This fief is more bustling than I expected."
"The lord of Feram is quite competent."
I walked behind Edwin as he cleared a path and took in the sights of a place I'd never visited before.
"Is their specialty blueberries?"
Blueberry jam, blueberry tea, even jelly. Nice.
After passing the stalls selling all kinds of blueberry treats, we reached the street lined with inns for travelers.
Edwin paused at the entrance for a moment, considering, then headed for the inn that looked the most well-maintained.
It was late, so the first-floor dining area was quiet except for one table where people were drinking beer and playing half-hearted poker.
"Guests?"
The owner emerged from the kitchen attached to the dining room after hearing us.
She was a warm, friendly-looking woman with a cheerful face.
"Yes, we'd like to stay one night."
The owner wiped her hands on her white apron and glanced at each of us in turn.
Then she narrowed her eyes and asked, "Lovers, or a married couple?"
"M-married couple."
I answered reflexively, still stuck in the newlywed cover story.
But that was a question I should have considered more carefully.
"Then one room will be fine."
The owner immediately turned to fetch the key.
Wait, what are you doing? We literally just hugged a second ago.
I wanted to grab the hem of her apron and beg for two rooms, but it was too late.
As I fidgeted in panic, Edwin stepped in.
"Two of your best rooms, please."
The owner's gaze, which had been checking the ledger, snapped to me.
You said you were married.
That's definitely what that look meant.
Clearly, Edwin—who had far more experience with missions—was much better at this than I was.
"There are still some procedures left before the formal holy union."
"That's right. My husband... is from the east."
The eastern region was the most conservative part of the empire, and many people there still upheld premarital purity.
The especially traditional ones were known for refusing to consummate the marriage until every part of the holy union ceremony was complete.
It might be unusual in Feram, which was closer to the west, but the owner must have heard of the custom because she handed over two keys without any suspicion.
"It'll be hard to sleep with a pretty young wife in the next room, but if that's what you want, here you go."
The middle-aged woman's sly joke followed us, but at least we'd avoided the disaster of sharing one room.
However, as we climbed the stairs side by side to reach our assigned rooms, Edwin suddenly strode ahead as if he were angry.
It was almost like he had a reason he absolutely couldn't let me see his front.
I followed behind, staring at his back, and felt my palms grow slick with sweat.
I was gripping the key so tightly I worried I might drop it.
I swear I'll never mix personal feelings with work again.
Just staying in the room next door had me this nervous?
I fixed my eyes on the ceiling and prayed I wouldn't think anything disrespectful toward Edwin.
When I'd first heard I'd be traveling with Edwin, I'd imagined this business trip as an adventure with just a sprinkle of romance.
In reality, it felt like the god of lovers had grown frustrated with our painfully slow pace and decided to fill every corner with heart-shaped traps on purpose.
My heart's going to burst. For real.
I tried appealing to that god who might be watching from above, showing off my weak heart, but it was probably pointless.
The staircase that seemed like it would never end finally did, and we reached the top floor where the best rooms were clustered.
Edwin, still keeping his back to me, gave a short farewell.
"See you in the morning. Ahem."
His voice was so hoarse it sounded like it might crack at any moment.