Chapter 14
Red Hair
“Zarel, were you able to get us rooms?”
Zarel silently nodded and led them into the inn.
As soon as the group entered the dining hall, every head turned toward them. The cheerful chatter fell away like a receding wave, leaving behind a sudden, uneasy silence.
“W-what’s going on?”
Ai clutched Yoko’s hand tightly.
Dozens of curious eyes fixed on them—no, not on them, they realized, but on Lilith.
“Second floor,” Zarel muttered and started up the stairs, Lilith following quietly behind.
“Hey! Hold it right there!”
The loud bark came from behind the counter. The innkeeper, a burly man with a scowl, was glaring directly at Lilith.
“That red-haired kid—he’s with you, isn’t he? You plan to let him stay here? Sorry, but that’s gonna be a problem.”
Lilith lowered his gaze, gently released the prince’s hand, and urged him to go ahead. Then he turned and walked toward the counter.
But even as he was nudged forward, the prince couldn’t bring himself to move on—he was too uneasy.
From the stairs, everyone watched anxiously.
“Your hair… and your eyes too, they’re different colors. Gives me the creeps.
No offense, but your kind’s bad luck. I’d rather not have you under my roof.”
“I understand your concern,” Lilith said quietly. “But I must remain with my companions.
Please, allow me just one night.”
The innkeeper frowned, thinking it over.
Lilith kept smiling politely, and after a moment, the man grudgingly nodded.
“…Fine. But you’re paying extra.
I’m only letting you stay because I have to, got it?
Keep that hood up while you eat, and sit in the corner out of sight.
I think you understand why.
Now—payment up front.”
“Thank you. You have my gratitude.”
Even after such open insults, Lilith didn’t argue back.
It was clear this wasn’t the first time—it seemed almost routine to him.
Ai and the others swallowed their anger, unable to speak.
From the window, the sun dipped behind the mountains, painting the sky in vivid red and gold before fading into dusk.
When the group finished dinner and returned to their room, the soft orange light was already melting into darkness.
This world, it seemed, had no electricity.
Lilith soon came from the next room and lit a small oil lamp, filling the space with a warm glow.
“The baths are down the hall—there’s a staircase leading out back. It’s quite dark, so please be careful.”
“Wait, a bathhouse? Like… hot springs? Lucky us!”
“Yes. Atrana is surrounded by mountains.
Winters are cold, but we are blessed with fine hot water.
Please remember to lock the door properly.”
“Okaaay! Got it!”
“Then, if you’ll excuse me—good night.”
“Ah! Wait a second!”
Yoko stopped him before he could leave.
“Why didn’t you say anything back to that jerk earlier?
That was horrible discrimination! That kind of thing would never be allowed in our world!”
Lilith listened quietly, smiling faintly as always.
He closed the door he’d just opened and turned back to her.
“A long time ago,” he began softly, “there was a woman—a sorceress—who wielded power far beyond that of any human.
In her arrogance, she tried to dominate not just Atrana, but all the neighboring lands.
She was beautiful, but cruel.
Because of her, the seas raged, tornadoes tore through the skies, volcanoes erupted, the ground split apart… countless lives were lost.
It was only when the King of Atrana, master of dragons, led the dragons into battle that the sorceress was finally defeated.
Since then, the people of this land have despised her name—Lilith Sareen—believing her to be a demon, a bringer of disaster.
And the witch’s appearance, they say, was marked by blazing red hair and red eyes.”
Lilith Sareen? The name even sounded like his own.
“But… that’s not fair,” Yoko said, her voice trembling. “You have nothing to do with that woman.”
“Thank you for your concern,” Lilith said gently. “But I was simply born like this.
One cannot choose their form.
There is nothing to be done.
My master—who took me in and raised me with kindness—taught me that neither this hair nor these eyes are shameful.
He told me never to hide, never to be ashamed, and never to let words wound me.
‘Let them say what they wish,’ he said. ‘Hold your head high and live proudly.’”
Did he really not care as much as he claimed?
He was always smiling—always calm. A mysterious man indeed.
“…Sorry,” Yoko mumbled, giving an embarrassed grin.
Lilith smiled back, his hand on the door.
“Please don’t worry.”
“Then—can I ask one more thing?
When dinner came earlier, you tasted it first, right? Why?
Is Kian… sick or something?”
Lilith smiled again and stepped out of the room.
Just before closing the door, he looked back.
“That was poison testing.
Please, don’t trouble yourselves over it.
Rest well.”
Click.
From below, the noise of the tavern drifted up through the floorboards—laughter, clinking cups, muffled voices.
Poison testing… Lilith was literally putting himself in danger to protect Kian.
Without recognition, without thanks.
“This place looked so cute from the outside,” Yoko muttered bitterly, “but it’s awful inside.”
“Yeah,” Ai sighed. “Not like Heidi at all.”
Yoko lowered her eyes, the unpleasant weight of the day sinking deep into her chest.
