Home/I Didn't Want a Honeymoon Like This/ch21

Chapter 21

It was just enough to cover the palm of her hand.

"With this money, we have to make it back to Latria. We don't even know what means we'll need, so we don't know how much we'll require. And you're telling me to spend a not-insignificant amount of that money, in this uncertain situation, to save Naomi? I can't do that."

Everything Alexei said was right. There was no gap to slip through, no flaw to exploit.

If she were asked what was wrong, she wouldn't have an answer.

Because he always, with cold precision, gave the right answer.

And that very point was what made Angelina resist. Whether it was sheer stubbornness or not, she just didn't want to follow his lead.

Does everything have to be simple? Feelings aren't simple.

"It actually works out well. If we take her to the police station, she'll be registered as a lost child. She'll get protection."

"She doesn't want that."

Angelina shot back coldly.

"I'm not encouraging running away, but if she's rejecting it that strongly, she has her reasons."

"So?"

"If we can just stop her from being dragged away without spending our own money, that's enough, isn't it?"

Alexei brushed back the hair that had fallen over his forehead. He had no idea what she was thinking.

"Right?"

"Yes."

Hearing his answer, Angelina turned and walked briskly toward Naomi.

"Will you do as I say?"

Naomi nodded. Angelina immediately pointed to the telescope slung over Naomi's shoulder.

"Sell that."

"I can't sell this."

"Then how about that?"

This time, her finger pointed at the monkey on her shoulder.

"He's my friend."

"Choose between the two. No, three—the telescope, the monkey, and you."

"Fine… I got it. Here."

Naomi reluctantly pulled off the strap. Angelina turned the telescope over in her hands.

"This is really valuable, right?"

"Of course. It's one of the things my father treasures most."

"You said fifty Bath? No take-backs?"

"Oh, yes. I'm good with numbers."

The vendor's eyes widened.

"Wait here, then. I'll get the money right away."

Until that moment, Angelina had been triumphant.

---

"…Five Bath."

"Five Bath?"

"Yes, five Bath."

The antique shop owner put down the telescope and confirmed.

Since Imperial law fines thieves ten times the value or more, and that was the minimum—

One piece of meat × 10 = 50 Bath (the vendor's demand)

One piece of meat = 5 Bath.

Therefore…

One piece of meat = the telescope.

Are you telling me to hand over this telescope for the price of one piece of meat?

"Do you have any idea how special this telescope is? It's been passed down through generations—it can see a thousand miles!"

Angelina added some embellishment in her excitement.

"Does it show you treasure islands?"

"Not that."

Treasure islands only exist in pirates' delusions.

"Telescopes that see far are a dime a dozen. People bring in this kind every single day. This is a port city, after all. The craftsmanship isn't even ornate—it's just a lump of brass."

"Calling a perfectly good telescope a lump of brass? Isn't that too harsh?"

"Anyway, the most I can give you is five Bath. If you don't like it, take it elsewhere."

At her urging, the antique dealer gave the lens another look, then pushed the telescope back with a bored expression.

— We buy high and sell low.

That's what the shop window said.

"Angelina, let's just go back."

"Then what about this?"

Angelina took off her necklace and earrings and placed them on the counter.

"We don't deal in jewelry—"

The owner, who had been answering dismissively, suddenly widened his eyes and adjusted his magnifying glasses.

"This is rare. Is it real?"

On this barren land with few resources, gemstones were also scarce. While foreign gems were traded, they were so expensive that only royalty or high-ranking nobles could even look at them.

"No. It's fake."

If they were real, she could sell them for a high price, but it wasn't without risk. If the merchant were particularly patriotic, they might find it suspicious that a traveler had expensive jewelry and report her to the police.

The reality where I can't even call real things real.

Lamenting the ill-fated jewelry that had become fake, Angelina spoke with emphasis.

"But it's a top-grade imitation. Made of the finest glass with delicate craftsmanship—a special A-class item. If you don't give me a fair price, I'll take it elsewhere."

"How did you come by these?"

It was the question she had feared.

Since it's come to this, maybe I should go on the offensive.

"If you double the price for my story, I'll tell you."

The owner pondered for a moment, then said.

"Sixty Bath."

"Add forty to make it a hundred."

"That won't work."

"Neither will I."

As Angelina spun around, the owner waved his hands and called out.

"Fine. A hundred Bath. No more."

"Of course. I'm good with numbers too."

She smiled brightly.

"You'll take the telescope as well?"

"No. I'll pay you for that too."

Selling the jewelry alone would have raised enough money, but Angelina added the nearly worthless telescope as well.

"Here you are."

Afraid he might change his mind, Angelina quickly pocketed the money and fled the antique shop.

Either way, she was proud of having sold it, and relieved to have money.

So lost in that feeling, it took her a moment to realize Alexei was staring at her ears and neck.

"Alex?"

The cloak would have covered them anyway, so why is he looking so—

Ah.

The jewelry she had just sold was a gift from Alexei.

The day the wedding dress was fitted.

The attendant who brought the gift box smiled brightly, saying His Highness had chosen it himself. Lara clapped her hands, saying the Crown Prince had excellent taste.

Even she thought it wasn't bad.

"How did he pick something that suits you so perfectly?"

Surely the man who couldn't care less about anyone had chosen exactly what matched her.

It must have been a coincidence.

"Anyway, wearing them would have drawn attention."

"…Right."

What is that ambiguous look for?

"Thank you."

"……"

"I did like them. Quite a bit."

Alexei, who had been gazing at her silently, turned away.

"I'll get them back for you."

Was that a hallucination? No.

"What did you just say?"

Angelina questioned her own ears and grabbed Alexei's sleeve.

"Let's go. She'll be waiting."

Was his face, turned away, slightly red—or was that just my imagination?

Angelina let go of his sleeve and stared at his indifferent back, already far ahead.

---

"Yep, the money's right."

The vendor woman, unable to hide her delight, twitched her lips. She probably hadn't expected them to actually bring the amount she'd named.

"Now go on. And don't steal anywhere else."

Naomi stuck her tongue out at the scolding vendor.

Angelina grabbed her wrist and quickly left the street. Only after escaping the bustling market and entering a quiet alley corner did Angelina stop.

"You."

"Th-Thank you."

Startled by Angelina's gaze, Naomi quickly blurted out her thanks.

"Before that, there's something else you need to say."

"…I was wrong."

"And?"

"I won't do it again."

Angelina pressed thirty Bath into her hand.

"I saved you once, but I won't do it twice. Take this money and go your own way."

"…But I don't want to go back."

Tears welled up in her puppy-dog eyes again, but Angelina didn't waver.

"Whether you wait for your father here or continue running away is your choice. But remember that freedom comes with responsibility, and the money you have isn't enough."

At Angelina's cool advice, Naomi lowered her head.

"…Okay."

"Let's go."

There was nothing more to say. So it was a light farewell.

Angelina turned away with Alexei.

Now they really had to figure out their own future.

Angelina counted the money left in her palm.

Twenty-five Bath.

Could they buy decent clothes and shoes with this? Should they spend all their savings on clothes?

But before the future even arrived, they might go crazy.

For one thing, she wanted to get out of this eye-covering sack. She also wanted to escape the stares directed at a beggar.

Not attracting attention is ultimately a matter of survival.

Right, right.

"First, let's buy clothes."

"Let's make a plan before buying anything."

Alexei sat on the curb, took out his notebook and fountain pen—he had grabbed them when throwing away the sack's contents.

"How much do we have left?"

"…I forgot. Just a moment."

As Angelina was about to check her pocket, Alexei continued without waiting.

"You received 105 Bath from the antique shop, gave 50 to the vendor and 30 to Naomi, so we have 25 Bath left."

It was a simple arithmetic problem. Solveable if given time. Though the definition of soon might differ.

"If you knew, why did you ask?"

"To see if I could trust you with the money."

"!"

Alexei looked at her with his characteristic intellectual gaze.

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