“Ah… I see.”

Jenkins scanned her body up and down as though he hadn’t noticed before. While Sarah the maid glared at his lingering gaze, Evelyn seemed completely unfazed. Jenkins withdrew his gaze, only to glance sideways at Evelyn again moments later.

Even with these obvious looks, Evelyn remained still like a wooden statue. Normally, women who received his gaze might feel shy at first but soon surrendered both body and heart, but Evelyn was different.

‘Evelyn must be a virgin.’

That’s what Jenkins thought. Otherwise, she wouldn’t ignore such blatant stares.

Even in this remote area, finding women was easy. There were brothels for knights and soldiers, and occasionally village women sold their bodies to earn money.

Jenkins had satisfied his desires this way, but after seeing the silver-haired knight Evelyn, that no longer sufficed. He wanted to possess her. However, since Evelyn was a knight from an enemy country, he couldn’t take her by force, even if she was a commoner.

Evelyn didn’t particularly avoid Jenkins despite him being a knight from an enemy nation. She might be inflexible when working, but she held no prejudice against people. Sarah the maid, however, showed strange hostility toward Jenkins.

“You should leave after eating just this today, shouldn’t you, Lord Jenkins?”

“No. Today I’m going to bathe with Evelyn.”

“What?”

At the mention of bathing, Evelyn’s face brightened. As a knight who worked for her livelihood, she never refused anything free, and bathing was no exception. 

In this place where water was scarce, Jenkins occasionally invited Evelyn to his inn. The inn where Jenkins stayed had quite a large bath that men and women could enter together.

But Sarah the maid objected. Men and women engaging in indecent behavior in mixed baths was nothing new.

“No way, Lady Evelyn. What if Lord Jenkins suddenly turns into a wolf? You can’t even bring your sword there.”

“…Why would I need a sword, Sarah?”

“Even though this is a neutral zone, Lord Jenkins is from Peshar. We’re from Astia. Don’t forget we’re still enemy nations.”

“But I’ve bathed with Jenkins before and nothing happened. It’s fine, Sarah. I’m not that weak anyway.”

Sarah was at a loss for words. An ordinary man wouldn’t dare touch a female knight, but Jenkins was no ordinary man. He was quite robust even among knights. Evelyn might be more skilled with a sword, but one couldn’t bring weapons into the bathhouse.

“That’s right. I’m not a wolf.”

Jenkins winked at Evelyn. However, Evelyn only looked at Sarah. Jenkins disliked how she sought permission from her maid. He gripped Evelyn’s wrist tightly.

“Let’s go then.”

“…Wait, Jenkins.”

Evelyn freed her hand from Jenkins’ grip and met Sarah’s eyes.

“I’ll be fine, Sarah.”

“…But that man is extremely suspicious.”

“He’s not suspicious. He’s kind, isn’t he? He bought us food when you and I were starving.”

Evelyn believed that anyone who bought her food was a good person.

Yet despite this simplicity, she never accepted bribes while working. The blue birds were a case in point. She wouldn’t let them pass even though the supervisor had accepted a bribe and given permission.

[Come on, just let us through? Here…]

When a merchant handed over several gold coins, Evelyn shook her head.

[No. You cannot pass.]

With gold coins, she wouldn’t have needed to beg for food in the village. But Evelyn remained rigid, and eventually the supervisor came down and let the merchants through. Evelyn was cursed by the supervisor and had her salary reduced again for disobeying his orders.

Sarah stamped her feet.

“Lady Evelyn! I’m… I’m so angry that you were banished here.”

Evelyn stroked Sarah’s head.

“Just tell me if you ever want to go back. I can send you away.”

“No… I’ll stay by your side forever, Lady Evelyn.”

At that moment, Jenkins inserted himself between the two. He wrapped his arm around Evelyn’s waist and looked down into her eyes.

“How long do I have to wait?”

“Oh, sorry.”

“I want to wash up soon.”

Jenkins openly revealed eyes filled with lust. Seeing this, Evelyn smiled helplessly.

Before Evelyn could even wave goodbye to Sarah, Jenkins grabbed her wrist and dragged her out. Harvey and Max shrugged their shoulders at the angry Sarah.

While walking down the street, Jenkins asked:

“…What did she mean by ‘banished here’?”

Evelyn made a troubled expression at his question. After thinking for quite some time, she finally spoke.

“I beat up a formal knight in the Astia Empire.”

“Why?”

“That bastard touched my chest.”

“…”

Jenkins fell silent for a moment. He recalled how he had just blatantly pulled her waist closer. According to Evelyn, she was not only skilled in swordsmanship but also quite strong, so he needed to restrain himself from touching her carelessly.

Jenkins originally preferred small, delicate, ethereal women, but his preferences changed after seeing Evelyn.

Though Evelyn wasn’t the fragile type, her rare silver hair and amethyst-like eyes were beautiful. Whenever he saw her, he felt his manhood would burst from pain.

From their conversation, she seemed to dislike physical contact, but she appeared to allow his touches to some extent. At least he hadn’t been beaten like that formal knight.

“If you want to hit me, use your fists. A sword would hurt quite a bit.”

Evelyn laughed at Jenkins’ words.

“What are you talking about? Do you think I’d just swing my sword around?”

“Still, better safe than sorry.”

It was like a warning. What Jenkins wanted to do with Evelyn wasn’t just childish play. He wanted to kiss her, hold her, and thrust himself inside her. Though it wasn’t some adolescent wet dream, he couldn’t control himself whenever he saw her.

Until now, he hadn’t known exactly what this feeling was. Was he just hanging around Evelyn because he wanted s*x? Or was he merely interested because she was a new type? Would this thirsty feeling disappear after having s*x? 

Jenkins wondered about that.

The innkeeper bowed at a 90° angle upon seeing Jenkins. Jenkins said to the innkeeper:

“I’d like to use the bath…”

“As it happens, we have an empty couple’s bath available. Just the two of you, right?”

“Yes.”

The innkeeper personally guided them, with Jenkins and Evelyn following behind. Harvey and Max, Jenkins’ attendant and guard knight, walked silently behind Jenkins. Harvey didn’t like how Evelyn followed Jenkins despite hearing the word ‘couple.’

Even though they weren’t dating, Evelyn was far too casual about relationships with the opposite s*x. Harvey whispered to Max:

“She’s just playing coy, totally playing coy.”

Max blinked.

“Lady Evelyn?”

“Why call her ‘Lady’? She’s a commoner! You and I are nobles, and that woman is a commoner!”

Harvey started speaking quietly but his voice grew louder as his frustration mounted. When his eyes met Jenkins’, who was walking ahead, Harvey shut his mouth. Max looked forward again and continued walking silently.

Jenkins looked at Evelyn beside him. She must have heard Harvey’s words, but her expression remained unchanged.

“…Are you okay?”

“About what?”

“Never mind.”

Evelyn rarely revealed her inner thoughts. She appeared simple yet wasn’t. It would be nice if she just said whether she felt bad or good, but she remained silent.

Upon reaching the private bath, Evelyn opened the door first and went in. Jenkins glared at Harvey and Max who tried to follow.

“Why are you two coming?”

Harvey shrugged his shoulders.