While carrying the fainted Helena, I went back to the inn.
The sun is setting too, so Cecil and the others should have returned by now.
âFuu, that was really exhaustingâŠâŠâ
I managed to reach the inn, but the current events was more tiring than expected so I plopped down just like that.
Helena is not that heavy but I have to keep her from slipping off as I carry her.
The problem is, I am not currently in shape to carry someone over.
To the extent that I almost made her fall every time I advance.
I even had to focus my mind more than usual or else sheâs going to fall from my hands.
Moreover, Helena began breathing asleep in the middle, making me even more determined in this action.
âFinally, the inn at lastâ
I took a breather after reaching the entrance, then moved my legs again as I head to our room.
It was on the second floor, and looks like there are already people inside.
âI knew theyâd be back home by this time.â
I found relief not having to search for them again.
I knocked on the door.
âComing,âŠâŠAh, Allan-sama!â
Cecilâs voice rung inside.
âIâm home, Cecil. Are you the only one here?â
âNay, Fran-san is here tooâ
âIs that so? Then good. Please help me carry Helena to the bedâ
I showed her my back.
âAra, she looks so comfy. She must have got tired from playingâ
âAhahahaha, well somewhatâ
And it was an extremely radical one too.
I kept the last part inside my thoughts.
There are two bedrooms in this room that is even good for five people. I carried her to one of them.
Because both of my hands are blocked, I asked Cecil to keep the door open.
âPlease, this wayâ
âThanksâŠ..Heave-ho!â
I put down Helena carefully so as not to wake her up.
And because I had a good job carrying her, sheâs having such a good nightâs rest.
âNnâŠ..suuu, haaâŠâŠâ
She breathed softly as she lay in bed.
Looks like sheâs in a very deep sleep.
After that, I quietly left the bedroom.
âThanks for the hard work. It would have been hard for me to carry one person on my backâ
âItâs not that difficult. it was a bit stressing, but other than that itâs fine.â
When I went back to the living room, various dishes are arranged on the table.
That reminds me, itâs now the time for dinner.
ââŠâŠOh, Prince, you came backâ
From behind, Fran, appears with a tray on her hand.
There are drinking glasses on top of it. Looks like sheâs planning to take the break with Cecil.
âOh Hello. I took Helena home just now. Has Effie come back yet?â
I inquired about that girl whom I parted with at that tent.
Well, sheâs not the type to get lost that easily.
âShe came back once. However, she left again because she hasnât seen everything yetâ
âI see. Thatâs really like herâ
I became satisfied upon hearing Franâs answer.
It seems that Effie didnât go out so much from the forest that she used to stay.
So festivals like this might be rare for her.
I donât think sheâs hunting for men, but I have no choice but to believe her.
âI get it about Effie. By the way, did the two of you made these?â
I turned my eyes on the dishes on the table.
âNay, these are the dishes I bought together with Fran-sanâ
Taking a closer look, I saw some that were sold at the shops we had earlier.
âPrince, are you going to have dinner? If so, Iâll bring the plates overâ
However, I tried to stop Fran from going at the back.
âNo, itâs okay. Sometimes itâs good to pick them once in a whileâ
Thatâs why I took out knives and forks instead of plates.
âIf the prince says soâ
Fran nodded and sat down on another seat while holding another cup.
âWell, this is quite good for a changeâ
Cecil who normally prepares the table also agreed.
âYeah, thatâs right. You have to relax once in a while.â
After Cecil sat down, we started dinner, without waiting for the others.
Effie is still enjoying herself outside.
Helena wants to sleep a bit more.
Among other reasonsâŠâŠ
âWeâre digging inâŠâŠ by the way, what kind of meat is this?â
I reach out for the grilled meat that was in front of me.
Without any hesitation I put it in my mouth, and a savory and spicy saucy filling filled my tongue.
âIt seems to be turtle meat. It lives on land and seems to be quite ferociousâ
âOh, a turtle, itâs goodâ
I took a bite once again.
Mmmm~ itâs delicious and hot at the same time.
But for some reason, Cecilâs eyes looked a little strange.
Itâs like sheâs seeing something incredible.
âWhatâs wrong?â
ââŠâŠUhm, itâs a turtle you know? Itâs not the usual bird, deer or boarâ
Apparently, Cecil is shunning them.
Not that I blame her. In the Country of Elves, birds were the main source of domestic meat. Deer and boars are acquired through hunting.
Because I have eaten soft-shelled turtles in my previous life, I have no sense of tolerance for them. They are even farmed as they are a good source of aphrodisiac.
But I didnât think the turtles in this world were also edible, considering they are monsters.
I wonder if itâs in the way of cooking?
âPrince, can you give me one?â
âOf course, if itâs okay with you, Franâ
I moved the dish towards her.
âI used to get food by myself before. That time I was able to put my hands on oneâŠâŠMmmm~ this is quite tastyâ
âI see. I wish Cecil could eat this tooâ
I took a bite once again. Cecil made a bitter face.
âNo thank you, I am a very normal personâŠâŠâ
She reaches out on the nearby vegetable stir fry, and eats it with wine at the same time.
Wine seems to be well produced around here, and about five bottles were prepared in the room.
Cecil takes out one and opens it.
âI donât mind if you donât like it, but should you not drink too much?â
âI am okay, Iâll control it properly!â
âReally? Iâm worriedâŠâŠâ
From the looks of it, she doesnât really want to be the odd-man-out.
She took out the wine to get out of that resentment, but that would definitely get her drunk.
Itâs even worse that sheâs releasing a difficult-to-approach aura all over the place.
âFine, weâll also drink tooâ
I took the bottle and poured one to my glass.
The wine glass is not that fancy, but there is no need to worry about It breaking it on the contrary.
âI donât usually drink, but can I get a cup?â
âOkay, pour as much as you wantâ
I filled the glass Fran held to the brim with wine.
âP-prince, I canât drink this muchâŠâŠâ
âWhat, itâs okay. You can dilute it with water. Iâll bring it to you nowâ
I said so and left to take the water.
But it was hard after that.
What can be eaten and what should not, we have plenty of discussions about them while having our meals and also consuming the liquor at the same time.
After weâve gotten a bit tipsy, it became a small quarrel. The more we talk, the thirstier we became, and the more drink we consume. Itâs a vicious cycle.
It continued even after all the meals were cleared away.
âKuh, I drank too muchâŠâŠWater, waterâŠâŠâ
When I woke up, I realized that I had lost consciousness.
I drank up the leftover contents from a cup that was close.
I didnât confirm what the contents are, but luckily it didnât have alcohol inside.
Water enters my throat making me regain my consciousness somewhat, making me see my surroundings clearer.
Looks like Iâm in the sofa of the living room.
And, sleeping while leaning over me were Cecil and Fran, sandwiching my body in between.
âNnnâŠâŠThis is? Are, Allan-samaâŠâŠâŠ?â
ââŠâŠ! No good, I, to PrinceâŠâŠâ
They both woke up at almost the same time, then they finally realized what happened.
However, it was impossible for me to react, as my arms are being buried from the left and right of them.
I began thinking of how to slip out from this situation.
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