Chapter 14: Monster Subjugation (VII).
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Town of Alamana: Porai's Inn
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"K-Kyah! You're covered in blood and have killed somebody!"
The innkeeper yelled in a panic and even grabbed a vase for self-defense.
Olivia jolts, seeing her bloodied state and the unconscious girl in her arms, anyone would think the same. Hell, if she saw a bloodied noblelady who seemed scary and with a carefree attitude coming back to the hotel it would raise a few red flags.
"N-No, it's a misunderstanding. I was on a monster subjugation quest and we were hunting goblins, I saved this girl from an attack." (Olivia) explained quickly and clearly as she can, the blood must've dried but a few stains were left on the carpet that she was standing on. "My apologies for the blood."
The innkeeper, after hearing the explanation, lowered the vase down back into the table and coughed awkwardly. "O-Oh… I'm sorry I thought you were- I misunderstood."
She started fidgeting and prayed that the ground would swallow her up from this embarrassing situation. 'S-She didn't actually hurt that girl- oh I am so impulsive!'
Olivia nods in understanding, not blaming the innkeeper for her careful nature. "It's quite alright, I do feel guilty for dirtying your carpet. I'll pay a little more before we check out of the inn. I would like to have our stay extended for one more day as well. I'll have my friend stay in my room if it's alright."
The innkeeper who felt guilty for thinking the noble woman was up to no good immediately said yes to her request, wanting for her to not pay for their extended pay as her apology for her sudden rude behavior a moment ago. "I-It's alright! I'm glad that you're not hurt, milady. Please y-you… don't even have to pay for your extended stay."
"It's alright, I'll pay." The villainess gave a soft smile assuring her before turning back to a thin line excusing herself. She shifted Mariana carefully in her arms, then glanced back at the innkeeper, her expression returning to its composed, firm line.
"If you'll excuse me I'll get settled and help my acquaintance. I'll also prepare a letter for her family, her father must be worried for her. Night has fallen, and with monsters roaming the woods, he'll be livid not knowing where his daughter is." (Olivia) definitely thinks ahead.
Baron Borbon, as rumors suggested, has been nothing but a good father towards Marianna. Olivia has known in the game that the heroine cares a lot for her family, so she knows to take that into consideration.
Olivia walks up to the stairs, minding each of her steps to not wake the sleeping heroine. Sebastian trailed behind her, his eyes and hands on guard as if ready to help but knowing better than to intrude his lady's clear protectiveness over the girl.
…
"Sebastian," (Olivia) gestures for him to open the door seeing that her hands are full.
He understood immediately and hurried ahead, pulling the brass handle.
Clack.
The door creaked open.
Inside, the candlelight flickered against the modest furnishings. Olivia stepped in and went straight to the bed, lowering Mariana with a gentleness that surprised even herself. She lingered for a heartbeat longer, smoothing the blanket beneath the girl before straightening.
"Get me a basin with warm water," (Olivia) ordered quietly. "Then you can leave, Sebastian. Tell the innkeeper I will also need a fresh set of clothes- if she has any. We will pay her well before leaving."
"Certainly, milady." He bowed slightly and withdrew. He excused himself and went down on the first floor to talk to the innkeeper to get what his lady requested, his boots clicking on the wooden floorboards until the sound faded down the stairwell..
Left all alone with the woman in her bed, she could only truly relax.
She exhaled a long, slow breath.
"What horrible luck." (Olivia) takes her bloodied armor pieces, removing them bit by bit the metal clinking dully against the chair where she set it. Her eyes, however, never strayed far from the girl resting on her bed.
Her heart feels heavy, regretting calling it horrible luck. "No… I'm glad I got to you in time. If I wasn't there then…"
If the villainess was not there- then something else would've happened. The plot would not even continue…
Mariana's lashes cast faint shadows over her pale cheeks, her lips parted slightly as if caught in a quiet dream. In that serene stillness, Olivia's chest ached.
"No use on dwelling." She whispered as her gaze softened, keeping an optimistic mind. "At least you're safe now."
Once she collected herself, Olivia realized that she needed to take the heroine's old dirty clothes from the attack- it was also covered in blood. Her hand hovered above the fabric, fingers brushing lightly against the laces of the corset.
She froze. The sight of it brought back heat, memories she had no right indulging in now- the nights when Mariana had leaned into her touch, when Olivia's fingers had tugged at these same places while she was intoxicated with wine.
"...Hah."
Her throat tightened.
'This isn't the time for such thoughts.'
Even so, her hands trembled as she began undoing the ties. Each loosened string felt strangely intimate, achingly familiar, and Olivia had to force herself to remember why she was doing this. The heroine needed her help, her care- not her longing.
"I'm only changing you out of your clothes," (Olivia) whispered as though convincing herself. Yet when her knuckles grazed warm skin beneath the bloodstained fabric, she felt the ghost of their past lingering there.
She closed her eyes for a moment, pressing her lips into a thin line before continuing. "Just… let me take care of you… as… a… woman who… wants to help another woman."
Olivia stared at the sleeping face of Mariana, her chest tightening with a mixture of relief and frustration. Slowly, she raised her hands in defeat, muttering under her breath. "Gods, this is awkward."
She let them fall back to her sides, shoulders slumping as though she had just admitted a crime. Her lips twisted in a wry smile. 'I've fought goblins without flinching, but undressing you like this… feels more terrifying than any monster I have to kill.'
Her eyes softened despite herself.
"Why do you always do this to me…?" She whispered, brushing a lock of hair from Mariana's cheek before forcing needing a moment to herself.
All of the things Olivia remembered about the heroine, she's been acting against the plot recently. This is exactly what she feared, from the wine incident- to the nude art, to visiting the town to sew her uniform… Now it leads to this.
Olivia couldn't help but blame herself.
Knock! Knock!
Meanwhile…
The innkeeper outside came to help, she brought back a warm basin of water as requested and some of her personal fresh clothes. "H-Hello I have a basin with warm water and a new set of fresh clothes-!"
Olivia, hearing the innkeeper, nearly sighed in relief and thanked the gods for giving her a savior to her current predicament which is having her cheeks flustered in changing the heroine's clothes, betraying her composure.
"Do come in." She called.
"I-I have all that you requested, milady. I hope the clothes are to your liking." The door creaked open, and the innkeeper stepped in nervously, arms full. Her gaze flickering for a moment. She caught sight of Olivia- no longer in armor but in the fitted black shirt beneath- its lines tracing the toned strength of her frame. "...!"
Olivia frowned slightly, not at the girl but at herself. Her heart was in disarray, far from the calm required to tend to Mariana.
"My apologies," She gestured toward the unconscious figure on the bed. "Could you… tend to her for me? Change her into fresh clothes. I need to change as well- I'm still covered in blood."
The last part was true, though not the whole truth.
"A-Ah, yes! Of course, I can do that!" The innkeeper stammered, bowing quickly.
Olivia gave a curt nod, her voice softening a fraction. "Thank you. I'll see to it that you're properly compensated."
The innkeeper set the basin down by the bedside, her hands trembling a little as she wrung a cloth in the warm water. Carefully, she brushed away the streaks of dirt and blood that clung to Mariana's skin, her touch gentle, almost reverent.
"She's so young… and yet she's endured so much," The innkeeper murmured under her breath, though her patient could not hear her. With quiet diligence, she replaced the torn, blood-stained garments with the fresh clothes she had brought, pausing only to make sure the girl was comfortable beneath the covers.
Meanwhile, Olivia had stepped out into another empty room at the far end of the hall. She peeled off her own bloodied clothes, taking in the faint copper smell that still lingered. The cold water she splashed over herself helped clear her head. By the time she changed into a fresh set, her composure had returned, though a heaviness lingered in her chest.
When she descended the stairs, Sebastian was waiting in the lobby, standing watch near the entrance with his usual sharp-eyed discipline.
"You're here." (Sebastian) glanced at her, his voice steady but laced with quiet respect. "You did good today, young lady Olivia. How is your friend's condition?"
Her gaze softened for a moment, but she quickly composed herself and crossed her arms, "I couldn't… I had the innkeeper take care of her for now. I have no experience in taking care of people that makes my head hurt."
Sebastian looked at her in confusion before ignoring that part, now that the matter of helping a lost unconscious noblegirl is settled the next question should be- "…Will the plan continue tomorrow?"
"No. The plan will be moved for the next day. I have talked to Commander Lenof of my plans, after all we didn't knew that an attack like this would happen. I… don't trust them to care for this girl." (Olivia) shaked her head, filling him in all the details. "I have to make sure to send a letter to Baron Borbon informing him that his daughter is safe in our town, his guards on the other hand…"
"I see." He studied her carefully before speaking again, his tone low and deliberate. "Your friend has been through something terrible. She'll need someone beside her tomorrow."
Olivia turned her head slightly, avoiding his eyes, though the faintest shadow of emotion crossed her face. "…Are you suggesting I take the chance to stay by her side?"
His gaze sharpened, piercing through her guarded façade. It's no use for her to hide her worry, the intuition of an old man who has seen it all could never be wrong. "I could tell by the way you look at her. You seem to care quite a lot."
Olivia felt one of her nerves popping and quickly defended herself that she does not care for a beautiful woman like Marianna.
"You're mistaken, I don't-" She caught herself, then forced her voice steady. "I do not care for a mere adopted daughter of a lower Baron."
Sebastian didn't flinch, he wanted to tell her that the way she acted before during the goblin attack- how she didn't let anyone else touch the Borbon girl seemed- well, something that you do if you're close.
"Ahem." Instead, his voice was calm, but edged with quiet truth. "…You lie like your father."
Olivia's eyes narrowed, but she didn't answer.
Before the silence could deepen, the innkeeper descended the stairs with a small, timid smile. She bowed lightly, hands folded in front of her apron. "I have finished changing her into new clothes. And the uniform she was holding- I'll make sure to clean and fold it properly."
"She'll be needing a lot of rest," The innkeeper added softly.
"Thank you," (Olivia) replied, her tone clipped but not unkind.
The innkeeper excused herself back toward her duties, leaving Olivia to exhale quietly, tension loosening from her shoulders. She pushed herself to her feet and glanced at Sebastian. "I have to go get a pint. You coming? Trust me, we need a drink."
Sebastian raised an eyebrow. "Hmm… as your butler, I would advise you that it's improper for a lady to drink beer."
Olivia smirked faintly, knowing damn well that before Sebastian became a butler he was first and foremost a soldier- the months that they've known each other he would slip his other… personality only a few close friends would know. "And as my friend?"
A rare grin tugged at the corners of his mouth, day by day he accepted the newly reformed young lady. It's not always you see noble women like her boldly suggesting to drink beer- now that's a lady he can respect.
"As your bodyguard, I say why the hell not. We deserve it for saving a life today."
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