Even if he wasn’t the handsome male lead, he had the looks that suited a younger male lead or a cute, charming male lead.

I was mesmerized, staring at the man’s hair that sparkled even in the evening.

Blond hair, blond!

It was the first time seeing blond hair in person since I came to this world, so I couldn’t take my eyes off it.

“Oh, you’re not looking for a place to stay?”

“No, no! I am looking!”

“Then how about our Viewglass Inn? I will serve you with utmost care.”

The man smiled cutely.

Blinded by the blond hair, I nodded unconditionally.

“Okay.”

“Then please follow me.”

“Yes.”

I followed the man as if under a spell.

I haven’t read many romance fantasy stories, but I have some knowledge.

Usually, the male leads in romance fantasy are crown princes, dukes, northern grand dukes, those kinds of people.

But we shouldn’t overlook the niche market.

Knight male leads, slave male leads, servant male leads, non-human male leads… These are also significant in demand.

Even commoner male leads have a solid fan base.

‘Maybe he could be my male lead…’

I thought as I looked at the round back of his head. He was about the same height as mine.

His height was a bit lacking, but well, he was cute.

“How long are you planning to stay?”

The man who led me inside the inn asked from the counter.

“Um, I haven’t decided exactly.”

“I see. I’ll set it up for daily payment then. Is that alright?”

“Yes, yes.”

I nodded at everything the man said.

How can someone be so round and puppy-like?

He’s a total golden retriever.

The man took a room key from the drawer and handed it to me.

“You can go to the room at the end of the left on the second floor.”

“Thank you. What’s your name?”

“……Why do you ask?”

A strong sense of caution suddenly appeared on his otherwise plain face.

Oh dear, it seems my potential golden puppy misunderstood.

“I’m interested in you.”

“……In me?”

“Yes, could you tell me your name and working hours?”

I wanted to check if he was my male lead before heading to the capital.

“Uh… I’m Tommy, and I’m stationed here.”

“I see. Tommy, actually, when I first saw you, you weren’t my type.”

“What? You just said you were interested…”

“In the stars of my heart.”

When I winked and flirted, Tommy’s expression became strange.

He seemed unsure whether to like or dislike it.

‘I hope this person is my male lead. So I can go back quickly.’

I sincerely wished as I climbed the stairs, leaving the awkwardly greeting Tommy behind.

And when I entered the room at the end of the left on the second floor, I realized something I hadn’t noticed because I was distracted by the blond hair.

‘Wow, this room is… really not great?’

I was trying to find a safe and clean place to stay, but the place I chose was old and dirty.

The window latch was all rusty, making me seriously doubt its safety.

‘I think I might have come to the wrong place…’

But it was too late. I had already paid for the room today.

Instead, I decided to think positively. This place has a decent-looking blond working here, so it might help in finding my male lead.

I unpacked my things, washed up, and came out. Without any spare clothes, I had to wear the uncomfortable dress again.

While carefully locking the window before bed, someone knocked.

“Who is it?”

“It’s Tommy. Sorry for the late hour. I have something for you.”

With those words, I quickly opened the door.

A blond puppy is always welcome!

Tommy handed me a plate with chocolate muffins on it.

“It’s a complimentary snack. Enjoy.”

“Thank you. Your face is already doing a lot of work, so you didn’t have to go this far.”

“Ahaha.”

Tommy laughed awkwardly and left, wishing me a good night.

I covered the muffins with a handkerchief to eat them in the morning, finished securing the door, and lay on the bed.

* * *

Carl quietly watched the woman’s retreating figure.

In truth, he hadn’t lost his memory as Shailyn mistakenly thought.

He was just exhausted from wandering around, and that’s why the memory of the incident was hazy.

‘What a strange woman.’

Her reason for going to the capital, and how she gave him jewels despite appearing poor herself.

Carl, who briefly evaluated Shailyn, started walking to go his own way.

But he soon lost his bearings and stood awkwardly in the middle of the street.

He had been wandering aimlessly for too long, and it was getting a bit tiresome.

‘Maybe if I had a ridiculous and trivial goal like that woman, it would be better.’

At least then he’d know where he should go.

After contemplating, he decided to find a place to stay and headed to the inn street.

Just in time, he saw Shailyn talking to some blond man.

Her white, delicate face relaxed as she followed the blond man into a small, shabby inn.

Carl watched for a moment and then went to the building across the street.

He got a room there and was organizing his things when the voices of chatting guests drifted in through the window.

“Hey, that Viewglass Inn, it’s a bit weird, isn’t it? Over ten thefts in the last three months.”

“And it always happens when a woman stays there alone. Didn’t someone who stayed last week have a broken arm?”

“Yeah, it’s suspicious no matter how you look at it. I heard that Tommy guy working there owes money all over the place.”

Carl jumped out of the window and approached them.

“Whoa! You scared me!”

“Is Tommy blond?”

“Y-yeah? Oh, yes…”

Startled by the sudden appearance of a large, dark figure in their view, the guests nodded, shrinking their shoulders.

Carl turned away with a cold face.

He had a rough idea of what was going on. And that Shailyn was currently in danger.

But thinking rationally, it had nothing to do with him.

What stopped him from going back to his room was a voice buried deep in his mind.

‘My son, you must always help those in need. Because you are―.’

‘Ha, this is driving me crazy.’

In the end, Carl turned back and barged into the Viewglass Inn.

Tommy, who had been dozing off, jumped up in surprise.

“What brings you here?”

“The woman in the robe who came in this evening, which room is she in?”

“Pardon…?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t understand and tell me quickly.”

Tommy instinctively felt fear when faced with Carl’s ominous black eyes and barely responded.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t disclose guest information.”

“Why, because you need to steal?”

“……!”

Tommy’s face turned pale. Carl grabbed him by the collar and lifted him.

“Tell me, now.”

“Ugh, ugh! S-save me…”

“I said, tell me.”

Just then, a commotion was heard from above.

Sensing it was related to Shailyn, Carl threw Tommy aside and ran up to the second floor.

As soon as he entered the hallway, Shailyn’s scream echoed.

Carl urgently kicked the door where the scream came from.

Bang!

“Shailyn!”

He unconsciously called out her name.

And what unfolded before his eyes was…

* * *

Shailyn was a light sleeper.

Thanks to that, she sensitively detected the sound of the window creaking open and woke up.

Peeking through squinted eyes, she saw two masked robbers breaking into the room.

As expected, the security is a mess.

She had somewhat anticipated it when she checked the condition of the room, so even though she was surprised, she quickly calmed down.

‘I don’t have much to lose, so it would be troublesome if they take anything.’

Fortunately, she had fallen asleep while hugging her backpack.

The robbers, diligently searching the room, began gesturing to each other when they found nothing.

Then one of them pointed at her.

‘I have a bad feeling…’

Seeing the men slowly approaching her, she mentally prepared herself.

She quietly grasped the thick wooden stick she had prepared just in case.

And targeting the relatively smaller one on the left, she swung the stick in a surprise attack.

Thud!

“Ouch!”

As one of the robbers, who was hit in the face, fell, she quickly grabbed her backpack and got off the bed.

“W-what? She’s awake!”

The robber on the right, flustered, looked between his fallen comrade and her.

She pointed the stick at him and spoke sternly.

“You’ve got the wrong room. I’m dirt poor, you know? Leave while I’m being nice.”