Chapter 5 – Part 2

“You don’t have any magical power in your body, Erica.”

I see. Well, this place didn’t have magic originally.

I quickly gave up and decided to enjoy the foreign resort.

People speaking languages I’d never heard before wore a variety of clothing styles. No one seemed to be dressed in imperial fashion like Noah and me.

Anyone from the Empire wealthy enough to travel here would likely be in the capital for the social season, so there was no risk of running into anyone I knew.

I looked around curiously and asked Noah,

“Why was the place we were at earlier empty when there are so many people here?”

“Because it’s private property.”

Wow.

“That beach was yours, Noah? You’re rich.”

“Rich enough to get by.”

A modest, rich person—how cool!

Someday, I want to own a three-story building in the prime area of the capital, open a teahouse, and humbly respond to amazed customers, “Rich enough to get by.”

Near the scenic beach, there were several shops catering to tourists. One shop sold fabrics similar to what Noah and I were wearing.

There were also shops selling accessories that would appeal to excited tourists, even if they wouldn’t be suitable for a high-end jewelry store.

The scenes were entirely different from those in Count Marnel’s territory or the Imperial capital, captivating my attention.

As I wandered around, Noah handed a few coins to a nearby stall. The coins were in a design I had never seen before.

The stall owner accepted the coins and handed over two coconuts with straws made from hollow reeds.

Noah handed me one of the coconuts. It had a straw stuck into it.

“Thanks, I’ll enjoy it!”

Just like on Earth, coconut water here wasn’t particularly tasty, but the added fruit juice made it more palatable.

After the coconut water, we headed to the restaurant Noah had mentioned earlier.

I had imagined a small eatery by the sea, but it turned out to be much more grand.

“Wow, this place looks really expensive, Noah…”

“It’s worth it for the taste. Since I invited you, of course I’ll pay.”

It was almost too overwhelming to accept.

Noticing my hesitation, Noah’s expression grew sorrowful, and he added,

“Actually, a friend of mine loved this restaurant.”

“The friend who named your shop?”

Noah nodded.

A wistful smile crossed Noah’s face, as if he were reminiscing about his late friend.

“Even when I eat the food my friend loved, it doesn’t feel the same alone. It leaves an emptiness in my heart…”

Noah wiped his eyes beneath his glasses, his voice trembling.

“But if you’re not up for it, Erica, that’s okay…”

Startled, I quickly responded,

“No, I’m up for it! Let’s eat together! This place looks delicious!”

I patted Noah’s back and led him into the restaurant.

“I’ll be your second friend from Earth!”

So, Noah wouldn’t cry.

Noah must have been a regular because the staff recognized him as soon as he slightly lifted the cloth covering his face.

We were immediately guided to a quiet terrace on the second floor, where we removed our head coverings. The breeze felt refreshing on my face.

While we admired the beach view from the terrace, the food arrived without us having to order. It was a large crab dish with fruit drinks.

Using the tools provided with the dish, I cracked the crab legs neatly arranged on the plate and enjoyed the sweet, chewy, and tender meat.

I couldn’t help but exclaim in delight.

“This is delicious!”

“The dessert will be just as good.”

Noah’s face brightened as he spoke.

He had looked so forlorn earlier, but now he seemed like a completely different person.

After we had eaten our fill, Noah spoke up.

“I’m relieved to see you’re safe, Erica. I sensed an unfamiliar magical wave in the palace and was worried.”

“A magical wave?”

“The day before yesterday, it seemed a new outsider caused a commotion. You must have been quite startled.”

I had almost forgotten about it, having been so busy with Noah.

“I was really scared. I thought a war had broken out. There were sudden loud noises, and holes appeared in the walls and ceiling…”

As I recounted the story, I turned my gaze to the window. The vast turquoise sea met the sky at the horizon, a view that brought peace to my mind.

Eating tropical fruit for dessert in such a beautiful place felt like heaven.

“Anyway, thank you. Thanks to you, I’ve had a refreshing change of pace.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it, Erica. It’s been a long time since I had such an enjoyable meal too.”

A long time since he enjoyed a meal? 

‘It sounds like he hasn’t had a joyful meal since he lost his friend.’

I thought while wiping my hands carefully with a fragrant towel.

Noah’s friend was an outsider from Earth, like me. Maybe that’s why he was so kind to me—because I reminded him of that friend.

The more I got to know Noah, the more I found him to be a poignant figure.

I felt a lump in my throat.

As we were about to leave after finishing our meal, Noah handed me a small box.

Inside was a necklace.

A pendant set with a gem the same color as the turquoise sea on a delicate, elegant chain that seemed almost too intricate to have been made with the technology of this world.

‘Wait a minute, this looks like…’

A man handing a small jewelry box to a woman on the terrace of a luxurious seaside restaurant with a beautiful view.

And me, on the verge of tears, my eyes slightly red.

This looked exactly like…

I rolled my eyes in confusion and managed to stammer out a word.

“A p-proposal?”

Noah laughed out loud.

“No, it’s not a proposal. Just like that gem isn’t actually a gem.”

He laughed heartily for the first time in a long while.

Noah’s laughter was worth it. It was a joke that merited such a response, even if it was slightly embarrassing. Really.

I pointed to the necklace in the box and asked,

“It looks like a gem, but it’s not?”

“It’s a magic stone. A mineral not found in this region, enchanted with magic.”

That’s much more impressive than a gem.

“Wow, what kind of magic?”

“Protective magic. It detects and neutralizes a certain amount of impact.”

Noah checked that no one was around and then picked up a knife and struck the necklace.

A shimmering light appeared a handspan above the pendant, like a mirage, and the knife stopped as if it had hit an invisible barrier.

When Noah let go, the knife clattered to the table.

“That’s how it works.”

“Wow! Was that the magic just now?”

“Yes. I’d appreciate it if you could carry it with you, Erica.”

I hesitated, feeling reluctant to accept such a gift, but Noah added,

“It will ensure your safety, so I can focus on my shop without worry.”

Noah’s eyes were earnest.

Noah was seeing his old friend in me now, likely thinking, ‘What if she dies too?’

“I’ll gratefully accept it. Thanks to you, I’ll feel much safer working at the palace.”

When I took the necklace out of the box and put it on, Noah smiled with satisfaction.

We left the restaurant and walked down a quiet alley. Once he confirmed there were no prying eyes, Noah created a door to his shop and opened it.

Entering the shop and then opening the door again, we were already back in the Crown Prince’s garden.

I marveled at Noah’s magic once again.

“Isn’t this dangerous? You could have opened it a bit farther away.”

“This much is fine.”

Noah seemed confident that he wouldn’t get caught.

I bid Noah farewell and quickly exited the shop, closing the door behind me. The sky was darkening.

It was midday at the resort beach, but evening at the palace.

‘The time difference felt like six or seven hours. The coins were unfamiliar too. Was that the Western Kingdom?’

Considering the climate, it was likely a resort in the southern part of the Western Kingdom.

I watched from behind a tree as Noah’s shop door vanished, then returned to the servants’ quarters of the Crown Prince’s palace.

‘Traveling far away really does lift your spirits.’

Ever since the incident that half-destroyed the small dining room in the palace, I had been following the head maid’s advice and pretending everything was fine, but in truth, I was still scared.

Sometimes, I feared that if it happened again, it might be the end for me.

But now, I felt genuinely okay.

When anxiety crept in, I could look at the necklace and think of that magical-colored sea.

If chaos broke out in the palace again, I wouldn’t die instantly, thanks to the protective magic of the necklace Noah gave me.

‘It would give me enough time to escape to a safe place.’

This thought put my mind at ease.

* * *