PLML 05

CHAPTER 05

“What do you mean by that?”

Teoris’s expression was serious. He didn’t seem to be joking. Jayna was dumbfounded by his completely unexpected words.

“Weren’t you about to break up with me…?”

“No. Why would I break up with you?”

“Because I was violent toward you…”

‘Violent?’

Technically, it was violence. Her wrist still throbbed from where Teoris had grabbed it. But grabbing her wrist hadn’t been something he did on purpose.

“I’ll make sure it never happens again. So let’s not… break up…”

“No, Teoris. I have no intention of breaking up. Who gets divorced the day after getting married?”

“…Really?”

“Yes, really.”

Teoris let out a sigh of relief. The expression that looked like he was on the verge of tears finally relaxed.

“You thought I’d ask for a divorce?”

“Yes.”

Jayna couldn’t help but burst into laughter at Teoris’s quick, dead-serious nod. Teoris, still confused, stared at her as she laughed and smacked the bed, clearly not understanding what was so funny.

“Going out, you say?”

When Jayna said she would forgive him if he accompanied her to the village in the territory, Teoris showed his first sign of reluctance. He really seemed to dislike going outside.

Eating a soggy nutrition bar and taking supplements, Jayna said,

“Yeah. I want to buy clothes, and I want a real meal—none of this tasteless, filling-less junk.”

“I’ve already called for servants. They’ll arrive shortly. Would that not suffice?”

“No, it won’t.”

“Then I’ll hire a guard knight. You can go alone…”

“I can’t wait that long. I’m starving to death here.”

Teoris’s firm expression softened at Jayna’s declaration that she was ‘starving to death.’ But he still didn’t agree easily.

‘Is it because the affection level isn’t high enough yet for the “outing event”?’

In the game, you had to reach an affection level of 30 or higher to go on an outing with Teoris. It usually took about ten in-game days to build up that much affection.

Jayna had only met Teoris a day ago. She hadn’t earned nearly enough affection, so it was understandable that he wasn’t willing to go out on a whim.

But Jayna didn’t have the patience to care about some affection gauge. She really was starving. She didn’t want supplements—she wanted a proper meal.

“I’ll take you to the village myself, then.”

Teoris finally said, in a tone that left no room for compromise.

“Teoris, I want to go shopping, eat with you, look around the village… I want to go on a date! A date!”

“…”

“How can we call ourselves a married couple if we haven’t even gone on a proper date? Do you not want to go on a date with me, Teoris?”

“…”

Still not working? Fine, then.

“Whatever. Just call a guard knight, then. Preferably a handsome and muscular one. Since you’re so against going out, I guess I’ll go on a date with the knight instead.”

As Jayna grumbled, Teoris’s eyes flashed with a hint of menace.

“No.”

As expected.

Though he seemed gentle now, Teoris was the textbook example of a yandere. The kind who’d massacre his own people or draw his sword against the Emperor for love. She knew teasing him with jealousy would provoke a reaction—and it worked.

“Then what will you do? Are you coming with me?”

“Yes.”

“Great.”

Though his expression clearly showed reluctance, Teoris began preparing to go out.

‘It’s not like I want to go out either.’

Jayna didn’t like going out any more than he did. She would’ve preferred to wait for the servants, as he suggested. But what could she do? She wasn’t a lab rat—no one could survive on just supplements and water.

They rode on horseback for over an hour and arrived at a small village.

Perhaps because it was far from any monster infestation zones, the people looked lively. Aside from an unusually large number of soldiers guarding the village, nothing seemed out of place.

As they entered, Teoris pulled his hood so far down that his face was completely obscured.

“You don’t need to pull it that low, Teo. No one can see your face.”

Teoris had asked to be called by a nickname while in town. Jayna, noticing how tense he was about being recognized, pulled him along by the arm.

It was such a small village that there were no fancy restaurants like she’d hoped for.

Jayna entered the cleanest-looking diner she could find. Thankfully, the owner was kind, even to two suspiciously dressed strangers.

Once the food arrived, Jayna dug in hungrily. Teoris just watched her eat with his arms crossed.

“You’re not eating, Teo?”

“I’m fine.”

Jayna smiled and pulled down his mask.

“What are you doing?”

Teoris whispered nervously, glancing around.

“No one here cares about your face except me, Teo.”

She smiled mischievously and offered him a piece of meat. Though he shook his head, Jayna didn’t back down.

“If you keep refusing, I’ll pull your hood off too.”

“You promised…”

Before coming here, Teoris had made her agree to two things:

1. He wouldn’t take off his robe or mask in the village.
2. They’d return right after eating and buying necessities.

Jayna had readily agreed. But of course, she had no intention of keeping her promise.

“A promise? Hmm… I forget. Must be my old age~”

She laughed slyly. When she reached for his hood, Teoris finally opened his mouth.

“How is it? It’s good, right?”

Though he gave her a disgruntled look, Teoris nodded.

“Eat plenty. If you only eat supplements, you’ll stop growing.”

“I’ve already passed the age for growth…”

“You never know. I like tall guys.”

Teoris silently lifted his fork at that.

‘Cute. Look at him eat just because I said I like tall guys.’

After eating, they headed to a clothing store.

“How do I look?”

Jayna twirled with her dress held up in one hand. Teoris gave a quiet nod.

“Don’t just nod—say something!”

As she stepped closer, Teoris lowered his head and took a step back. Jayna grinned as she caught sight of his reddening ears under the hood.

‘Good. If this keeps up, I won’t have to die at his hands before reaching the imprisonment ending.’

“Teo, I asked how I look.”

“…You look… pretty…”

“What?”

“You’re… pretty.”

As Teoris mumbled and looked away, Jayna pressed on, asking if he had any thoughts beyond “pretty.” When his face turned red all the way to his ears, she finally stopped teasing him.

They bought six outfits and stepped outside.

Jayna chatted excitedly as she walked beside Teoris, who was carrying all the bags.

“This is the first time I’ve shopped so freely.”

“Is that so.”

“Yes. I used to always check the price tag first. Even if I liked the design, I’d put it down if it was too expensive.”

“I thought the Blake family wasn’t short on money. Was I mistaken?”

“Ah, ah.”

Without thinking, she had talked about her life before possession—as Kim A-min.

“Um, that’s because! My father didn’t like spending money on clothes.”

She brushed it off. Fortunately, Teoris didn’t press further.

“Anyway! I really liked that shop. I might come back often. I’d even want to bring them inside the castle if I could.”

Feeling a bit awkward, Jayna rambled. Teoris quietly listened, occasionally responding with a soft “I see.”

After buying some snacks, they returned to the castle.

“Ah, right! His hair!”

The moment she entered her room, Jayna threw herself onto the bed and shouted.

She had been so focused on shopping, she had forgotten one of the goals of the outing: to trim Teoris’s hair.

But she was too exhausted to ride another hour to town. And going out twice in a day wasn’t in her nature.

Guess I’ll have to do it next time.

Knock knock—

Huh? Did I hear that right? Why does it sound like someone’s knocking?

Knock knock—

It wasn’t just her imagination. The knocking grew louder.

Jayna shot up.

“Teoris, someone’s at the door.”

She called out to him while he was in the bath, but he didn’t answer—probably couldn’t hear her over the water.

Jayna hesitantly approached the door.

Knock knock—

“Who is it?”

…

Knock knock—

“…Who’s there?!”

Knock knock—

Whoever it was didn’t respond—just kept knocking.

‘No way… is it a ghost?’

Jayna felt a chill down her spine. She remembered an old ghost story—about someone hearing knocks at the door, opening it to find no one there, and a ghost slipping inside through the crack. The ghost couldn’t speak, so it only knocked.

‘No, that’s ridiculous…’

Then she recalled Teoris saying yesterday that he’d call for servants. It was broad daylight—there’s no way a ghost would be knocking now.

Still uneasy, Jayna stood a good distance from the door and stretched out her arm. Only once her fingertips reached the handle did she finally open it.