Before Chloe met Julius, she’d often drop by the diner for some food, but she hadn’t done that much recently, either. It was likely because Julius preferred the meals that Chloe made. Of course, Chloe would claim something along the lines of, “I’m being frugal because now I’ve got two mouths to feed.”
Roge had downed his mug of beer and asked for another one.
“I don’t know much about Rasheed, but I’ve heard that it’s a peaceful nation,” Roxy said while pouring another mug of beer. “There shouldn’t be much to worry about.”
Cyril, who was nursing his drink, unlike Roge, added, “The Astria royal family’s familiar with the head researcher of the Puerta Research Center, Jahala Garena. He’s young, but an excellent researcher and a man with good character too. I’ve only met his father, but I believe he’s passed away.”
Roxy handed Roge another mug of beer, but the man downed it in a flash and handed the empty mug back to her. Should I just leave you with a barrel of beer, or can you at least pour your own drink?
“You said the place isn’t dangerous, right, Cyril?” Roge asked.
“Right,” Cyril replied. “Rasheed has its fair share of secrets, but it’s not a nation that excludes others. I haven’t heard of any internal strife either.”
“And yet, Ms. Chloe hasn’t returned for a week! Something must’ve happened.”
“Mr. Roge, surely there are times when Ms. Chloe wants to relax and take a leisurely vacation,” Roxy replied. “Besides, Mr. Julius is by her side, so there’s nothing to worry about. Wait…perhaps they’re on their honeymoon.”
She clapped her hands together after she placed another mug of beer in front of Roge. A vacation, just the two of them, sounded nice. Perhaps they were relaxing in a beautiful inn within Rasheed. Being young is great. A honeymoon really takes me back…
When Roxy married her husband, she’d gone on one herself, to a city near the royal capital. They didn’t have much money back then, so the vacation was a simple one. She never was able to conceive a child with him, and he passed away due to an illness. Every now and then, Roxy felt a bit lonely, but even so, she was happy. She had her diner and while some customers were a handful, many came to visit her every day. Men generally visited her diner and in the middle of the clamor, Chloe was one of the only women who ever dared to drop by.
The alchemist felt like a daughter to Roxy. Chloe’s happiness translated to her own, and Roxy couldn’t feel more elated.
“A…honeymoon…” Roge murmured, turning pale. His hand holding his mug started to tremble. “I see, a honeymoon. No wonder they haven’t returned…”
“I believe she mentioned removing the seal from Julius and buying a dragon,” Cyril said, placing his metallic prosthetic hand over his chin pensively. Though his hand looked metallic, it apparently was made from a different material.
The former king claimed that Chloe had made it for him with her alchemy. Roxy met Chloe three years ago, when the young lady had just started her own alchemy store. Because of the nasty rumors that swirled around her, business was rough, and Roxy had forcibly dragged the penniless Chloe into her diner to give her some food.
This struggling alchemist had improved so much that she could create a prosthetic arm—she was now famed to be the best alchemist within Astria. A while ago, she had fought alongside Julius to protect Astria from the threat of monsters. Still, in Roxy’s eyes, Chloe hadn’t changed a bit since three years ago: friendly, a little airheaded, kind, adorable, and youthful.
Roxy likely wasn’t the only one with these fond thoughts. Everyone was worried about Chloe in their own way. Hence, the other customers in her diner had tuned in to the conversation with Roge and Cyril.
“I envy the man who can go on a private vacation with Ms. Chloe,” Roge said. “I’m so worried that she might be in danger that I can barely down my beer.”
“This is your third drink, Mr. Roge,” Roxy pointed out. “Stop spouting silly lies.”
“I’m just using a metaphor. I’m expressing how worried I am.”
“She’ll be fine. Mr. Julius is by her side, and he seems stronger than you.”
“Urgh…”
“Honestly, I don’t think anyone can match him,” Cyril interjected with a firm nod. “Julius is just as the rumors say—no, he exceeds them. He’s overwhelmingly powerful and I trust that he’d protect Chloe no matter what.”
“Urgh,” Roge croaked like a crushed frog.
“Mr. Roge, why don’t you give her up already?” Roxy suggested with a strained smile.
Roge had a crush on Chloe for quite a while now. While Roxy was unsure if he was trying to be considerate or he simply couldn’t pluck up the courage to confess his feelings, he’d been constantly watching over Chloe since she started her alchemy shop. Chloe seemed completely oblivious, but Roge’s feelings were so blatantly obvious to the rest of the mercenaries that it was more like an open secret.
“But Ms. Roxy, I was rejected before I even had the chance to confess,” Roge said. “And Julius popped up by her side out of nowhere.”
“I suppose so,” Roxy replied. “But that’s life. That happens sometimes.”
“Give up, Roge. Chloe’s had a tough time,” Cyril said, pausing with great sadness overcoming his features before adding, “because of me. You can’t get in her way.”
Roxy gave a weary shake of her head as the former king filled the diner with sorrow. It’s probably impossible to tell him to forget his sins, but Chloe’s kind. I’m sure she’s long forgiven him already… They really are a handful.
“I know,” Roge said, sounding more pathetic than usual. “I know, but let me wallow in my misery for just a bit more…”
He was still rather popular with the ladies, though he seemed completely uninterested in them. Time and again, ladies came to Roxy asking for advice, claiming that he was friendly but a tad cold, while other women liked that side of him.
“Well, I don’t mind if you do…” Cyril said.
“If Julius ever manages to remove that mark and is able to use magic, he’ll become even stronger,” Roge reasoned. “That’s a tough pill to swallow.”
“If anything happens, we might be able to lend them our power. We just need to do what we can. There’s no need to be so down.”
“Of course you can say that, you lucky guy. You’ve got her handmade prosthetic arm. Julius also has her prosthetic eye. And me? I’m the only one left with nothing.”
Roge became even more glum. Roxy shrugged and decided to give them her special stewed chunk of meat, free of charge. She hoped that would console Roge’s broken heart, even a little.