Chapter 40: Being Targeted Again (August 2)
Lucia, naturally, hadn’t considered this.
Her scent was noticeable to others, but she’d long grown accustomed to it.
As if lingering in a room of orchids, one ceases to smell their fragrance—that was Lucia’s perception of herself.
While Fratina pondered the familiar scent, Lucia pulled the quilt over herself and fell into a deep sleep.
Though she’d stayed in the carriage all day, the lack of rubber wheels in this world meant no cushioning for the ride. Despite Fratina’s careful driving, the jostling prevented proper rest.
The bed, softened per Dorothy’s instructions, wasn’t enough to counter the constant swaying.
Fratina, meanwhile, found the quilt’s scent familiar but couldn’t place it. After mulling it over, she too drifted off.
The next morning, Fratina drove the carriage, bringing Lucia back to Elan City.
The city guards recognized Fratina but, bound by Londe’s treaty with the Church, didn’t dare speak out of turn. They respectfully watched her and Lucia enter.
Inside, Fratina found an inn, parked the carriage, and booked two rooms.
In the inn’s room, Fratina looked at Lucia, seated at the table. “Lord Lucia, I’m heading to the Adventurers’ Guild to check for nearby quests. If you don’t want to come, you can stay here or explore.”
“Go ahead,” Lucia replied.
She was curious about the guild but reluctant to appear there in her current guise.
Revealing her identity to Church clergy was one thing; exposing it to ordinary folk and adventurers was another. Dragons meant wealth and power, attracting ambitious adventurers. In her current state, relying on Fratina for protection, Lucia preferred to avoid them.
Fratina nodded, as expected. Lucia was willing to travel with her but seemed uninterested in mingling with her Hero social circle—a trait fitting her dislike for trouble.
After instructing Lucia to expect her back by evening, Fratina left.
Once Fratina was gone, Lucia went to the window, watching her fade into the distance. Then she left the room and headed downstairs.
After wandering the streets, Lucia slipped into an alley.
She didn’t mind strolling in her cloaked form, but as her identity would eventually spread, and the heavy cloak drew suspicion, she decided to shed her disguise to avoid hassle.
Fratina didn’t know her true appearance, so there was no risk of being caught.
Moments later, a beautiful girl with long white hair emerged from the alley, her curious gaze scanning the surroundings before locking onto a food stall.
The sight of roasting meat in a hanging oven made her mouth water.
In her previous life, this was a dish associated with certain cultures, though this stall lacked the crispy flatbread she remembered.
“Miss, want some roast meat?” a bearded man asked, smiling.
Lucia wiped her drool and nodded.
Unlike Fratina’s cave-roasted meat, this was cooked slowly in the oven, with juicy edges sliced off for customers, offering a consistently crispy texture.
At her request, the man spun the roast, slicing off portions with a long knife.
Lucia reached into her pocket, pulled out a gold coin, and placed it on the counter.
The vendor froze. “Miss, the meat’s not that expensive, and this coin’s too valuable. I can’t make change.”
“Oh… I don’t have smaller coins…”
Lucia pointed at the oven, helpless.
The vendor scrambled, borrowing change from nearby stalls to return to her.
He added, “Miss, when you’re alone, be careful. Don’t carry so much money. When you pulled out that coin, I saw people staring.”
In the capital, not everyone was worldly. Small vendors, toiling daily, could be tempted by a girl flashing wealth.
Lucia, surprised, said, “Thank you for the advice.”
To return the favor, she added, “By the way, you could team up with the flatbread stall next door.”
Using her change, she bought two fresh flatbreads, wrapped the meat inside, and demonstrated. “It tastes better like this. You can add veggies or sauce for more flavor.”
The meat was excellent, but eating it alone could be greasy. With bread, it was perfect—especially with extra toppings.
Plus, the bread stretched the meat into two portions, keeping costs low while satisfying customers.
As the vendor, inspired, tried it and nodded enthusiastically, he turned to thank Lucia’s genius idea—only to find the girl had vanished.