Chapter 37
“Only One Room Left”
“…What do you mean?”
“Exactly what it sounds like. Are you seeing anyone right now?”
“…”
Roitz didn’t answer.
‘So… I guess not.’
His gaze turned slightly sad.
Not having dated anyone wasn’t a flaw, of course.
But for someone as confident as Roitz, it must’ve felt a little discouraging.
After a long silence, Roitz finally started walking again, muttering in a low voice.
“Let’s go. Stop talking nonsense.”
His footsteps felt heavier than before.
By the time we reached where the horses were tied, the sun had completely set. Even the faint red sunset over the hills had disappeared.
It would take about three hours on horseback to get back to the capital. It was dark, but if we lit a lamp and relied on the moonlight, it wasn’t impossible.
“Whoa—!”
Except for one thing: the sudden sound of rain hitting the ground.
‘Of course it’s raining.’
The sky was filled with clouds, and it didn’t look like it would stop anytime soon.
The rain quickly grew stronger.
I looked up at the sky beyond the eaves and said to Roitz,
“Senior, I don’t think we can go right now.”
Even though the rain had clearly started, Roitz still tried to get up on his horse.
I took out the lamp and flint, figuring we’d need to light something at least.
But the rain and wind kept blowing the flame out before it could catch.
“The fire keeps going out…”
After watching the fire die for the third time, Roitz finally grimaced and got off the horse.
As the rain picked up, the night grew darker.
We had no choice but to stay the night in the village.
“Over there—let’s go!”
It was a small village, so there weren’t many inns. We found the closest one and went inside.
Even though it was only a short walk, our clothes were already soaked and heavy.
“Hurry, come in.”
The inn’s lobby was lit by a single dim lamp.
In a small room behind a wooden wall, the innkeeper was sitting.
Roitz ran a hand through his wet hair and spoke.
“Two rooms, please.”
But the innkeeper looked at the two of us and replied apologetically,
“I’m sorry, knights. There’s only one room left…”
“…”
Roitz didn’t answer.
I stared at him.
His expression was clearly unsettled.
Since it was a small inn, most rooms were likely single-occupancy.
“…Are you sure there’s only one left?”
“Yes…”
Roitz’s eyes wavered sharply.
‘That look…’
He was clearly worried about how to handle this situation—likely debating who should take the room.
Trying to come up with an idea, I asked the innkeeper,
“Do you have a storage room or something?”
“There’s a shed… but there’s no heat, and it really is just a shed.”
Well, at least there was something.
But even after hearing that, Roitz still looked incredibly unhappy.
‘Is he worried I’ll make him go to the shed?’
But I wasn’t that inconsiderate.
I needed to keep a good relationship with Roitz moving forward, so I decided to yield.
“I’ll take the shed, senior.”
I demonstrated the virtue of respecting one’s elders.
It’s just one night in a shed—no big deal.
I’ve slept in the desert during training before. A shed was practically luxury in comparison.
Having a roof alone was a blessing.
“You serious?”
I’m not the type to lie about things like this.
“What else would it be?”
Roitz stared at me for a moment, then, with a less-than-pleasant expression, told the innkeeper,
“Then one room and the shed, please.”
I quickly took out the travel funds and paid.
Roitz looked like he was thinking hard as he stared at me, then muttered coldly,
“…Whatever. Not like I care where you sleep anyway.”
And with that, he turned and walked off with the innkeeper.
The shed was actually pretty cozy.
‘Plenty of straw too.’
After putting together a straw bed, I finally lay down.
‘Not bad at all—almost like a real mattress.’
It was a little chilly, but if I curled up, I’d warm up soon enough.
‘I wonder if Roitz is asleep yet.’
He looked tired and didn’t seem in a great mood, so maybe he’d already knocked out.
Even though I was assigned as his mentee, there was still some distance between us.
‘I wish that gap would disappear sooner…’
Just then, a cold breeze slipped through a crack in the door, making me shiver.
Even though it was late spring, rainy nights could still be bitterly cold.
My robe, jacket, and shirt were all soaked, so I was only wearing a black undershirt now.
That’s when—
“…Serdin.”
Roitz’s voice.
What now?
“Yes?”
“I’m coming in.”
After my reply, the rickety wooden door creaked open.
The rain pounding outside suddenly sounded louder.
Roitz stood there in the doorway, face serious.
“Senior? Why are you here?”
He looked so grim that I wondered if a monster had appeared or something.
I shrank back from the cold wind blowing in behind him.
I didn’t know why, but he looked mad.
“Can you please close the door first?”
I was already soaked and cold. The breeze made it worse.
Still holding onto the straw, I sat up.
The chill instantly made me shiver.
Roitz strode toward me and grabbed my shoulder.
He looked upset.
“Why didn’t you complain?”
“About what?”
Like me, he was wet, but his hand felt warm.
“You were okay with sleeping in the shed? You think that’s acceptable?”
“Pretty harsh to say that in front of the person who did think it was acceptable.”
“….”
Roitz let go of my shoulder and picked up my bag from the corner of the shed.
“That’s my stuff.”
“Just follow me.”
Still visibly irritated, Roitz walked out of the shed.
Having my things taken like that, I rushed after him, leaving behind my carefully made straw bed.
“Senior.”
“….”
He was walking toward the room, face clearly annoyed.
‘What’s he mad about?’
It’s not like I told him to sleep in the shed.
I even offered to go myself.
“Why are you angry?”
“I’m not.”
“Your face says otherwise.”
Roitz stopped in front of the room.
When he opened the door, the warmth from the fireplace inside softly brushed against my skin.
He gently pushed me from behind, guiding me inside.
His cold voice came from behind me.
“I said I’m not mad.”
The room was quiet. Only the sound of the firewood crackling filled the space.
I stood in the entryway and looked around.
Then I turned back to look at Roitz.
His navy eyes met mine—and trembled slightly.
He grabbed my face gently and turned it back toward the room.
It was bigger than I expected.
I had assumed it would be a tiny single room with just a bed, but there was a sofa and more—easily four times what I imagined.
‘So… there was plenty of space. I didn’t have to go to the shed.’
It seemed like Roitz realized that too—and came to get me.
He walked past me into the room.
He placed my bag beside his near the corner.
Then he took my wet clothes and placed them near the fireplace to dry.
Suddenly, he grabbed his own bag again and headed for the door.
“…?”
I quickly reached out and grabbed him.
“Where are you going?”
I just happened to grab the back of his collar.
I tugged hard, and Roitz brushed off my hand.
Then he tried to leave again.
I grabbed him once more.
I didn’t understand him.
If he left, the only place left to sleep was the shed.
The same shed he had said was not okay for me.
Yet he looked like a prisoner trying to escape.
I pulled him back in, shut the door, and stood in front of it.
“What are you doing?”
“Where are you going—with your stuff?”
I gave him a look of disbelief.
But Roitz looked ready to open the door by force if needed.
At this point, I started to wonder if something was wrong with this room.
“You really plan to sleep in the shed?”
My cold hand grabbed his arm.
Roitz froze for a moment.
He stayed silent, his expression stiff and still looking angry.
‘Is this because I insisted on staying?’
Seeing his hardened expression, I was about to step aside.
That was my plan.
But at that moment, Roitz also moved—and tripped over my foot.
“…Whoa.”
He stumbled, unexpectedly caught on my foot.
I reached out to catch him—but he ended up pulling me down with him.
“…!”
Just before my head hit the floor, Roitz caught it with his large hand.
Thud. The cold floor pressed against my back.
“…Ouch.”
I opened my eyes again—and found Roitz’s face right above mine.
“….”
One of his hands supported my head, while the other was pressed to the floor beside my cheek.
Our noses were almost touching.
