Home/I Saved the Villain and Fell Asleep/ch 68

Chapter 68

The chef bent over cautiously. As if responding to his reaction, Mother lifted the brim of her hat slightly with her finger. The chef, having confirmed her face, trembled as if he'd seen a ghost.

"Ah, no...!"

"Shh. You recognized me."

"How could I not! The person who mercilessly demolished my own masterpiece—the legendary tear-inducing sauce!!"

I watched the sudden conversation with a bewildered expression. It felt like I was getting a glimpse of Mother's younger days.

"It was delicious after so long. I look forward to seeing you again."

"Yes, yes! Please take care, both of you."

As soon as we stepped off the stage, Kali handed me a cool fruit juice.

"I was just craving something cold. You're getting sharper, aren't you?"

"Look at your swollen lips. Did you get stung by a bee?"

"What?"

I looked in the mirror Julia handed me. They were a bit swollen, but not that bad!

"So, what should we do next? Want to look at some clothes?"

We followed Mother, who led the way. There were so many interesting things along the street that we kept stopping to look.

Huh? Wait. What's that sweet smell?

"Mom, what's over there?"

"A street selling liquor."

Liquor meaning... a street lined with shops selling alcohol?

"You're definitely an Algenprina. Getting so excited about alcohol already won't do."

"I'm not excited. Just curious. A tiny bit curious."

"What's so good about it?"

"...says the guy who got drunk off one glass of wine."

"Oh? Is that true?"

"Yeah. And it was low-alcohol."

"That's a constitutional thing, so there's nothing to be done about it. Don't tease him too much. Shall we take a look?"

The liquor street wasn't filled with drunks or dark and seedy. It was actually quite clean—and I realized why when I saw the prices of the wines displayed in the windows.

Expensive!

"That one might be too dry for Hari. How about the one next to it?"

"Rachel, aren't you going to stop her?"

Surprised by Mother's relaxed attitude, as if she'd gladly buy it, Kali asked with wide eyes.

"One glass a day is fine."

"...It won't end with just one glass, ugh!"

Don't ruin it when she's offering to buy. I hid my fingers after pinching Kali's side and clung to Mother's arm, looking up at her with expectant eyes.

Mother shrugged and bought a bottle without hesitation, handing it to me.

"Leave it with Kasha. One glass a day. Got it?"

"Kasha?"

Wasn't she one of the servants in the kitchen?

"Kasha's unique magic is excellent for storing wine."

The unique magic itself was impressive, but finding and hiring someone with that ability was even more remarkable.

"Get out of my sight right now!"

"Père! Please, just listen..."

"If you don't bring me a proper recipe, you'll have to close up shop! I'll use your debt to cover it."

Suddenly, a loud argument erupted nearby. A shabbily dressed man clutching a bottle stumbled backward as the shop door swung open.

"I never lied!!"

"What are you all doing! Get him out!"

With a thud, the man toppled toward me.

"Hari!"

Kali quickly pulled me aside, so I managed to avoid him. But the bottle he'd been holding shattered on the ground. As the glass broke, a fragrant scent filled the air.

Ah. This is it. The smell I caught earlier.

"Young lady, are you alright?"

The moment Kali pulled me back, two shadows appeared to protect us.

"I'm fine."

The shadows' troubled gazes turned to my skirt. The liquid had soaked into the navy fabric.

"Julia can handle it. Go back."

As eyes turned toward us, I sent the shadows away and looked around. Mother and Kali were fine. Julia was fine. Bibi was...

"Bibi! No! You don't even know what that is!"

Why did he grow up to be such a glutton? If it's edible, he'll put it in his mouth—that's the problem.

"Grr."

"Oh, oh dear. I'm so sorry. Are you alright?"

The man, who had taken off his worn hat and was bowing repeatedly, looked surprisingly young for his attire. No—he looked quite young.

"Hari, are you okay? Your dress is wet."

"I-I'm so sorry. Ar-are you nobles? P-please forgive me, just this once."

I stepped toward the man kneeling and bowing his head. He hadn't deliberately thrown the bottle at me, so I could forgive him—what's the big deal?

"What was that you broke?"

"Huh? Ah! It's nothing strange! Just alcohol."

"Alcohol?"

It smelled so sweet?

"Maybe a ghost who died without ever drinking possessed it."

Ignoring Kali's muttering, I sniffed the air. It was peach. A very strong peach scent. Since it was alcohol, it must be peach wine?

A small puddle of pale pink liquid remained on the ground.

"That looks like it'd be delicious."

"Huh?"

"Your name? What's your shop called?"

"Ra-Ravian. My shop is near the end of this street... It's a black signboard that just says 'Ravian.'"

"Can I buy some? The same as that."

"Ah! Th-there are a few bottles left! I'll give them to you—it's not enough to cover the dress cleaning, but..."

"No need!"

"Huh?!"

"I'll buy them!"

Julia brushed my dress with her hands a few times, and it quickly became clean and fresh again.

Ah. The scent disappeared.

Ravian looked up at me with a desperate expression, as if wondering how to make amends.

"Are you open until evening?"

"Huh? Yes. It's festival season."

"I'll stop by soon."

"Yes, yes! I'll be waiting."

I turned and left the bewildered Ravian standing there.

"Soon" would be today. Tonight! I heard the night market starts today—perfect timing.

"The scent was nice, but it's too..."

"Sweet?"

"For your mother, it is."

Like how young people love fruit-syrup-heavy highballs, but older generations don't?

"Bibi, you drank some—are you okay?"

"He's walking fine."

Bibi walked with cute little steps, no different from usual.

"Come this way. From here on, it's the dress shops. There's one I used to visit often when I was younger—want to see if it's still there?"

I clung to Mother's side as she looked down the street with nostalgic eyes. If it was from her younger days, Kali's mother must have been with her too.

"I remember Eve getting along well with the madam there."

Sure enough, Mother mentioned Kali's mother. Kali paused for a moment.

"I'd like to give you a gift from that madam. Will you accept?"

Kali fidgeted with his ear and nodded. He probably didn't realize his mistake—once measured, he'd be getting not just custom-made clothes, but at least ten pieces of ready-made clothing as well.

Mother led us to a three-story dress shop. In the center of the third floor was a large sign that read "El."

"Bibi, you'll have to wait here for a bit. Is that okay?"

"Woof!!"

With an enthusiastic answer, Bibi ran to a large tree beside the building and lay down. After scratching his head, I headed inside.

The spacious shop was crowded with people of all ages—it seemed they made everything from children's to elderly clothing.

Mother naturally headed to the second floor. There were fewer people there, and the clothes on the mannequins looked expensive.

"I should have contacted them beforehand."

Saying this, Mother fanned herself and stared at a spot—the wall beside the stairs leading to the third floor.

"Clocks?"

Various clocks of different sizes and designs were haphazardly hung on the wall.

"The black clock represents the madam of this shop. The blue clock is the madam's first apprentice, and the green is her second apprentice. When you want to see the madam, you turn the hour and minute hands. El's code is... 7:07, I believe."

Mother stared at the clocks, then reached for the black one.

"Oh!"

Just then, a voice—as if trying to stop her—called out. A staff member with brown hair tied tightly in a bun.

"Madam! You mustn't touch that."

Mother withdrew her hand and turned around.

"Were you speaking to me?"

"Yes, madam. That clock isn't a decoration—you mustn't touch it carelessly. The clothes you're looking for are probably on the first floor. Why don't you go down there?"

The staff member's eyes darted quickly. Having apparently scanned our clothes, she straightened her chest and spoke more confidently.

How can she work in a dress shop and not even recognize the fabric of Mother's dress?

"Don't be rude! This is—!"

Julia, who had been quietly standing behind, spoke up with an indignant face, but stopped at Mother's gesture.

"Why?"

"Pardon?"

"I asked why."

The staff member, flustered by Mother's question, let out an awkward laugh. Mother's expression began to sour.

"Madam, as I just said, that clock isn't just a decoration on the wall. If you touch it carelessly, guards will swarm in. Then both you, and the young lady and young master here, would be embarrassed."

Smiling as if kindly explaining, the staff member continued—her smile clearly a smirk.

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