Even he found it surprising. Ahwin hadn’t expected his feelings for Penelope to grow so quickly and so deeply.
“Stay quiet and watch until she’s satisfied with the state of her territory?”
He let out a silent scoff at the thought.
Even though he understood that was the most reasonable answer Penelope could give, there were times when he couldn’t help but feel irritated. It was especially maddening when he suspected that her response had been a clever way of rejecting him without outright saying it.
“Well, she didn’t say I couldn’t pursue her. And if any other man dares to get close, I’ll just remove them.”
Ahwin resolved himself to act as a fiercely loyal hunting dog, ready to tear apart anyone who reached out to Penelope. He had both the strength and the patience to back up that resolve.
“I may have stumbled and failed the first time, but there won’t be a second failure.”
Reaffirming his determination, he crossed his arms.
At that moment, Giselle shot him a pointed look, clearly urging him to join the ongoing conversation. It was an unspoken signal: Do something to help.
What exactly does she think I’m supposed to help with?
That overly meddlesome maid seemed desperate to push him and Penelope together. Ever since the journey had begun, she’d been giving him those looks at every opportunity.
“Like master, like maid—they’re both so unpredictable.”
Ignoring Giselle’s pleading eyes, Ahwin closed his own. Simply listening to Penelope’s cheerful chatter was enough to make his heart feel warm and light.
***
The train came to a stop at the midway station, Dallas. Here, passengers would rest for the night and resume their journey to the capital early the next morning.
Travelers could either stay at the hotel provided by the railway company or arrange their own accommodations.
Penelope chose to stay at the Filion Hotel, which the railway company provided. She had no particular reason for this choice other than its proximity to the station.
Her companions, likely wary of waking up too early, readily agreed with her decision—especially Ahwin.
“If you wish, Lady Penelope, I could arrange a suite at the Royal Hotel for you. From there, you’d have a stunning view of Lake Dallas,” Lianel offered.
“Oh, no, that’s alright. It’s too far from the station.”
“...I see,” Lianel replied, looking a bit surprised. He respected her choice, though it seemed he was suppressing a laugh.
Thus, Penelope and her party made their way to the Filion Hotel.
As luck would have it, Penelope’s room was a suite on the top floor, with Ahwin’s room next door. Lucas, Giselle, and the knights were assigned rooms on the floor below.
Giselle visited Penelope’s room to help her prepare, sorting through the clothes Penelope would wear for dinner.
“This place is lovely,” Giselle remarked.
“Isn’t it?”
“They serve dinner and breakfast here, so there’s nothing to worry about.”
“Let’s wash up and then have dinner. Go freshen up quickly, Giselle.”
Giselle hesitated for a moment.
“Are you sure you don’t need me to help you dress?”
“I can handle changing into a dress by myself. Go wash up. Aren’t you hungry?”
“Alright, I’ll hurry and come back. You get ready too.”
With that, Giselle quickly left the room.
Penelope took a warm shower and carefully dried her hair before changing into her dress.
“Why doesn’t this world have hair dryers? Of all the things, drying my hair is such a hassle!”
In this world, noblewomen grew their hair long and styled it elegantly with pins, considering it a mark of beauty.
As a northern noblewoman, Penelope’s hair was naturally long and thick, which made washing it an exhausting ordeal every time.
“They’ve developed flying ships with magical engineering. How hard could it be to invent a hair dryer? Maybe I should ask Ahwin—he’d probably know.”
She felt a sudden urge to go next door and ask him right away.
“Let’s just go,” she decided.
Penelope opened her door abruptly, only to freeze when she locked eyes with a man passing by in the hallway.
“I’ve seen him before... Who is he again?”
The man’s face lit up in recognition.
“Lady Penelope, acting Lord of Halo! What a surprise to see you here.”
“Ah, hello, Branch Manager of the Imperial Bank. It’s been a while,” Penelope replied, quickly erasing her startled expression and responding politely.
The Imperial Bank’s branch manager, Lihenz, stepped closer and asked, “You must be on your way to the capital, staying at this hotel? Have you had dinner yet?”
“Oh, I was just about to.”
“If you don’t have other plans, may I invite you to join us for dinner? Other nobles will be attending as well.”
Lihenz extended his invitation with utmost courtesy, his tone oozing charm. As a branch manager of the Imperial Bank, he likely had connections with several influential families.
However, Penelope found the proposal far from appealing.
“Dinner with a bunch of unfamiliar nobles?”
The thought alone was enough to make her lose her appetite. Awkward social meals were not her thing.
Feigning regret, Penelope replied, “What a shame—I already have prior arrangements.”
“I see. I do hope I can invite you to a banquet another time. Networking with other nobles could provide valuable information ahead of others, after all.”
“Thank you for your consideration,” Penelope said with a polite laugh, covering her mouth with her hand.
Lihenz stepped even closer, lowering his voice conspiratorially.
“As one of our esteemed clients, Lady Penelope, we at the Imperial Bank are always ready to assist you. Whatever you need, just say the word.”
“Your offer is most appreciated,” Penelope replied, forcing a smile to remain polite.
“Ugh, he’s so oily! Get that face out of here!”
She silently wished for this meaningless exchange to end, but Lihenz seemed intent on prolonging the conversation.
“When you arrive in the capital, where do you plan to—”
Just then, the door to the adjacent room swung open.
Startled, Penelope turned toward the sound, and even Lihenz’s mouth fell slightly agape.
Ahwin stood in the doorway, leaning casually against the frame. He wore only a white shirt and trousers, his damp hair dripping water that soaked into the top of his shirt, making it partially transparent.
His voice was cold as he asked, “How long are you planning to stand in the hallway? Aren’t you coming in?”
“I was about to! Did you just shower? Your hair’s still wet.”
“You weren’t here to dry it for me.”
Ahwin reached out and grabbed Penelope’s wrist, pulling her into his room with surprising ease.
Slam.
The door shut firmly behind her.
She thought she saw Lihenz’s stunned expression for a brief second, but everything happened so fast that she couldn’t be sure.
Ahwin’s voice, clipped and measured, cut through the silence.
“What were you talking about in the hallway for so long? Do you know him?”
“He’s the branch manager of the Imperial Bank. He’s the creditor, and I’m the debtor. That’s all.”
“Ah...”
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Ahwin furrowed his brow deeply before speaking again.
“Didn’t you just make a fortune in the stock market? Why not pay off your debt immediately?”
“I... I will.”
Penelope stammered, unsure of where to look. Ahwin’s appearance was entirely too distracting. His wet hair clung to his forehead, and the transparent shirt revealed his lean, well-defined muscles underneath.
“Why does a wizard who spends all his time reading magic tomes have a body like that?”
She found herself darting her gaze around the room, unable to meet his eyes. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment. She’d never been this close to a man’s body before.
“When are you going to pay it off? If you’re short on funds, I can—”
“Dry your hair first!”
Penelope grabbed a towel and threw it over Ahwin’s head.
“What are you doing?” Ahwin asked, startled.
“Your clothes are soaked! Do you want to catch a cold?”
Penelope huffed as she vigorously rubbed his hair with the towel, sending strands flying in all directions. Her ears felt as though they were on fire.
The fact that she’d let her mind wander about Ahwin made her feel flustered and uncomfortable.
“Ahwin, of all people, making me feel this way!”
She pouted slightly as she continued drying his hair.
Ahwin looked down at her, a bemused expression on his face.
“...What’s this about?”
“Didn’t you hear me? You’ll catch a cold,” Penelope retorted.
Ahwin narrowed his eyes slyly.
“Hmph... You seem unusually flustered for just that.”
He scanned her face, noting her flushed cheeks and slightly glossy eyes, still caught up in the moment.
A faint smirk curled the corner of his lips.
“You were just thinking about me, weren’t you?”