Chapter 5 - Raising A Flag (6)

The main market sprawled across an open-air plaza, stalls lined up in rows hawking various goods, from dairy and meat to vegetables and fruits, and some... sketchy stuff I couldn't confirm as edible. Well, people were buying them, so I guess it's safe to assume those sketchy things weren't poisonous.

The fading sunlight spilled through the narrow gaps between the buildings surrounding the plaza, casting a warm orange glow that turned the whole scene into something out of a fairy tale.

I was with Charlotte Sierra, guiding her back home. She was a petite woman, brown hair tied in twin tails with ribbons. An incredibly attractive lady, her face could give models a run for their money. Her legs seemed long, maybe accentuated by the short skirt she wore, or maybe they were naturally that way. Those white, long legs were adorned with calf-high white socks, adding a touch of eroticism. She sported casual clothing you'd typically see on a date, making her stand out even more in the crowd. The men, in particular, couldn't help but eye her with interest.

I could easily tell from her look that she'd be one of those cheeky underclassmen, always throwing sassy remarks and wearing a mischievous grin when you're around. Well, technically she's my upperclassman, but that didn't really change my impression of her.

But right now, she was playing the meek card. Probably because it's our first interaction. Despite her cheeky appearance, she seemed a bit shy with strangers.

"Uhm, once again, thanks for saving me. And sorry for inconveniencing you like this," she suddenly spoke up, maybe trying to spark some conversation during our walk.

"No big deal. Don't worry about it."

"But because of me, you quit your job..." she lowered her head and mumbled.

"It's fine. I didn't need that job anyway."

After that, an awkward silence hung in the air. What the hell was going on? I thought someone like her would be all friendly and chatty, but I guess I read her wrong.

"A-Anyway, let me introduce myself. I'm Charlotte. Charlotte Sierra," she said, her voice a soft melody against the backdrop of the busy marketplace.

Oh, right. We still hadn't done the whole introduction thing, had we? "I'm Leon," I replied, my words hanging in the air, a low hum amidst the lively chaos of the market. No need for fancy titles or family names. Keep it straightforward.

She looked down, her eyes tracing invisible patterns on the cobblestone path. A quiet mumble escaped her lips. "Leon, huh?" After a moment, she lifted her gaze, locking eyes with me. "I see you're not surprised to hear my name."

"Well, I know you, after all," I said, the words flowing effortlessly, as if acknowledging an inevitable truth. The bustling sounds of the market seemed to fade, creating a bubble around us. "It's not exactly hard to be in the loop about the Duke's daughter on the brink of hitting the gold class."

Not to mention, she's the only one outside the royal family with that royal blood. Her old man tied the knot with the then princess of Milham. Sadly, her mom died during childbirth. That's the intel Gabrielle dished out, by the way.

The conversation continued as we strolled along. It mostly revolved around Charlotte talking about herself and throwing questions my way. However, my mind wasn't really in it, so my replies were pretty vague at best. I felt sorry for her, but right now, engaging in a conversation just wasn't on my agenda.

Someone had been keeping a close eye on our every move. No, even back when I was fighting those kidnappers, this mysterious figure was already watching me. The thing was, I couldn't sense their presence. It was probably their skill at work. How did I know someone was spying on me, you ask? The answer lies in my senses. Even if I couldn't feel them, I could sense their gaze on me. Their skill masked their presence but couldn't erase the feeling of being watched.

Admittedly, it was a nifty skill, despite that little flaw. Perfect for tailing someone and gathering information, unless, of course, your target happened to be one with heightened senses—a rarity. Too bad for the watcher; this happened to be one of those rare cases. Still, as I mentioned, it was a commendable skill. While I could sense their eyes on me, an ordinary person would be oblivious. Here's hoping the wielder of this skill was a woman.

 ***

Finally, I managed to get Charlotte back to her estate. She wanted me to stick around for a bit, but I told her I had something to take care of, so I split right after dropping her off. The person who had been watching me seemed to vanish once Charlotte was safely home. Were they just making sure I got her back? Well, whatever.

I still had an hour before my meet-up with Shredica. It would only take me three minutes to get there from here. Plenty of time on my hands.

I pondered how to make the most of this remaining time as I strolled back toward the main marketplace, hands in my pockets. That's when I heard an intriguing sound emanating from one of the nearby buildings.

I licked my lips, a mischievous grin forming. Why not have a bit of fun with my free time? No action today yet, and while Elise provided some entertainment earlier, it didn't quite quench my insatiable thirst. I hadn't relished the warmth of wet flesh with her, so why not indulge in some spontaneous pleasure with a random woman whose moans hinted at a good time? Plus, there was the chance of acquiring a new skill, making it a two-birds-one-stone kind of deal.

I cast my illusion magic to cloak my presence, fading away in the midst of the bustling crowd.

 ***

When I got back home, I flopped onto my bed, convinced this day would stick with me, even as I aged. First, I endured a date with Daemon, a guy who couldn't stop boasting about how amazing he was, claiming he could outdo Prince Jacob and Professor Sesillian in everything, even in bed. I couldn't fathom why he was so confident about that, but his incessant prattle about satisfying me made my skin crawl. Seriously, couldn't he dial it down on how much he lusted after my body? Even a perv wouldn't bluntly tell someone to their face that they wanted to get laid.

Fed up with his nonsense, I ditched the date, only to end up getting kidnapped. Yep, you heard it right. After a disappointing date, I found myself in the clutches of kidnappers. And guess what? My date didn't swoop in to save the day; instead, he bolted, tail between his legs. Talk about a lousy day, huh?

Fortunately, though, someone did step in to rescue me. A young man with jet-black hair and fiery crimson eyes, sporting a waiter's getup. He was good-looking, seemed around my age. This guy single-handedly saved me from the kidnappers, effortlessly taking them down.

And then, not only did he save me from that mess, but he also made sure I got back home safely. I told him I'd reward him someday for this, but all he wanted was a date with me. I couldn't help but wonder if that was enough of a reward for him, so I asked if there was something more, but he just told me that having a date with someone like me was more than enough.

"Leon... the young man bringing up the rear in the bronze class, huh?" I mumbled to myself.

It was hard to believe that he ranked the lowest in the first year's bronze class. I mean, with the kind of fighting skill he showed and his incredible magic, you'd think he was at least from the gold class. But no, he wasn't. I couldn't shake the feeling, thinking about how effortlessly he took down those kidnappers one by one. Did those fighting capabilities really belong to someone from the bronze class? I had my doubts. I knew it was wrong, given that he saved me, but I couldn't stop feeling that way.

Oh well, whatever. Maybe he's just hiding his true power. Maybe he doesn't want the attention. Whatever the case, it didn't really matter. I still planned to repay him for what he did for me.

While lost in those thoughts, a knock echoed through the door.

"My lady, someone sent you a letter," a voice came from the other side.

"Come in," I replied.

A maid opened my room's door, entered, and approached me with a letter. After handing it over, she bowed and exited.

I glanced at the sender's name, and my heart quickened. I opened the letter with care, not wanting to ruin the envelope, especially since it was from him. I delicately pulled the letter out and began reading.

"How are you doing? I hope Daemon didn't cause you any harm. If this letter reaches you, please send a reply immediately so I know you're safe."

"Professor..." I mumbled after absorbing the short message. Despite its brevity, I could sense his genuine concern. So, I hurried to my study table and penned him my reply.