Betty carried a soft, milky fragrance, as sweet and gentle as honey, faint yet clear and alluring.
His voice, thick with fatigue, softly pressed close to Betty: "Betty, I'm so cold..."
"You've hogged all the blankets for yourself, and you still dare say that?"
Betty raised her hand to push Green's head away, but couldn't muster any strength. In the end, she could only helplessly let go, allowing him to act up.
Green freed one hand, shook out the thick quilt, and wrapped it tightly around both of them. Then, he ducked down and burrowed toward Betty's feet.
"The quilt only covers the body, Betty. My face is frozen solid by the night wind. Warm me up quickly."
"You're going to die! Don't squeeze in. You're going to tear Betty's nightgown!"
Her soft, chiding tone was full of indulgence. Betty's fingers, clutching the hem of Green's clothes, loosened and tightened.
Her silver-blue eyelashes fluttered slightly. In the end, she turned her face away, allowing his head to emerge from her collar, his warm breath scattering across her neck.
Betty's tense shoulders gradually relaxed, but the tips of her ears burned bright red, softening her voice as she spoke.
"This outfit is practically unwearable now. Where are you nudging your head? Betty can hardly breathe."
"Yawn—you're so warm, Betty."
Green mumbled in response, burying his face back into the crook of her neck. His breathing gradually deepened, weariness surging in his eyes, wrapped in the warmth surrounding them.
Combined with the all-night, frantic running in the early hours, his spirit had finally reached its limit, beginning to feel light and airy.
Green's arm loosened slightly but still held firmly around Betty's waist. The milky scent at his nose grew clearer, becoming the most soothing sedative.
Betty lowered her gaze, her fingertips gently smoothing his soft hair. Her voice softened to a gentle, slow whisper close to his ear: "...Goodnight, Green."
"Mhm, Betty, it's so good to have you..."
...Dawn broke. The day of departure arrived as scheduled.
Green, Rem, and Emilia boarded the dragon carriage bound for the Royal Capital.
A necklace adorned with a magic crystal stone now hung around the young man's neck.
The Great Spirit Betty resided within the crystal, her fingertips gathering faint light as she meticulously removed impurities.
Roswaal did not accompany them. He had already activated a flight spell and gone ahead to scout the safety of the path for Emilia.
The detour along the small path was bumpy and difficult. It took the group a full three days of travel to finally arrive at the luxurious inn in the Royal Capital.
Green was feeling a bit carsick. As soon as they arrived, he quickly jumped down, taking deep breaths of fresh air.
Rem followed closely behind Green, like a little tail.
Ever since crying once in Green's arms, this blue-haired maid had started acting a bit strange.
She would steal glances at Green from time to time and occasionally giggle foolishly.
"Rem, is there something dirty on my face?"
Green felt inexplicably scrutinized by her gaze and rubbed his cheek a couple of times.
Rem frantically waved her hands, a bright smile blooming on her cheeks, her eyes curved like crescent moons.
"Not at all, Green-kun. Rem just thinks Green-kun today looks exceptionally heroic and outstanding."
Green preened, straightening his collar, and deliberately put on a stern, displeased face: "Oh? Was I not handsome yesterday?"
Rem's eyes sparkled like they held starlight. Obediently following his lead, she praised him, her voice soft, sweet, and earnest.
"Today's Green-kun is just a tiny bit more handsome than yesterday's Green-kun. Rem believes tomorrow's Green-kun will surely become even more splendid."
Green-kun is really so adorable—
Rem stared at Green so intently her gaze seemed almost sticky, giving off a rather obsessive vibe.
Green was somewhat surprised by the girl's answer, not expecting Rem to be so good at flirting.
Even the notoriously shameless Green felt his face grow a bit warm at this moment.
"Hey... you two!"
Emilia caught up, carrying quite a bit of luggage.
"Rem and Green were so engrossed in your intimate chat, you actually left me behind all alone!"
Rem suddenly realized her mistake and hurriedly trotted up to Emilia, taking all the luggage from her.
"I'm sorry, Emilia-sama! It's all Rem's fault for being so careless! I truly apologize..."
Rem bowed repeatedly, clearly feeling quite embarrassed.
As the head maid of the Mejereis Household, she had actually forgotten the Royal Selection candidate supported by the head of the household, Roswaal, in the dragon carriage.
Darn it, I was too busy staring at Green-kun.
After unloading the luggage, Emilia breathed a sigh of relief, then stomped over to Green, puffed up with anger.
"Green, you too! You were so listless in the dragon carriage, but as soon as we reached the Royal Capital, you immediately ran off."
Emilia grabbed Green's wrist, as if afraid of being left behind again.
Green's eyes shifted somewhat evasively.
"Sorry, Emilia. I just wanted to check in quickly so I could take care of Otto's matter."
Emilia's brows instantly smoothed out, her previously tense expression completely relaxing.
"I see. I misunderstood you, Green."
The three of them walked up to the front desk.
The clerk was a middle-aged gentleman who appeared rather serious.
"Welcome. How many rooms would you like to book?"
"Two rooms, thank you."
Green blurted out.
Upon hearing this, Rem's small face inexplicably flushed with two streaks of crimson. She quickly stepped forward, tugged on Green's sleeve, and whispered in his ear:
"Green-kun, as a maid, Rem cannot share a room with the noble Emilia-sama..."
If they only booked two rooms, Rem would have to stay with Green-kun.
The middle-aged gentleman glanced at Rem's blushing face, then shot a look at Green. His expression instantly turned subtle, a flicker of envy passing through his eyes.
He then leaned in closer, lowering his voice to ask quietly: "Sir, would you like some... health supplements?"
"Huh?" Green was baffled.
The middle-aged gentleman flashed an extremely brief, lewd smile, slightly raising his palm to reveal a small glass vial containing blue pills.
Holy crap, this sanctimonious guy is moonlighting selling Viagra?
Isn't this a luxury inn?
More like a 'luxury whorehouse' inn.
Green gave the clerk a disgusted look and changed his answer: "No, thank you. And we need three rooms."
The middle-aged gentleman actually looked somewhat disappointed, though it was unclear if it was due to missing out on gossip or failing to sell his wares.
"Very well, three rooms it is. Please present your identification documents."
Hearing this, both Rem and Emilia took out palm-sized identification tags from their pockets and placed them on the counter.
Green's heart sank. He scratched his head in distress.
He hadn't even sorted out his status as a free citizen yet. Where would he get identification?
Was he really going to end up sleeping on the streets?
After looking around anxiously, Green happened to see his own portrait posted in the VIP section behind the middle-aged gentleman.
"Got it! Speak of the devil."
It must be that Roswaal guy, knowing he lacked identification, had made arrangements in advance.
That clown truly lived up to being the current head of the Mejereis Household. His considerations were indeed thorough.
Pointing confidently at that portrait, he declared:
"As the front desk, you can't even remember what a VIP looks like? Take a good look at that portrait. Do I still need to register?"