I Don’t Want To Be The Protagonist of a Romance Novel – Chapter 62

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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“So, although it was late, there weren’t any particular issues, right?”

“Particular issues?”

“I’m talking about when you accompanied the knight order’s subjugation.”

“Ah, there weren’t any particular issues. At first, I had trouble controlling my firepower, so not only the magical beasts but also the knights got caught up in it… Ahahaha, well, as I got used to it, I was able to control it well.”

Several hours had already passed since they had ordered a drink each and sat across from each other at an outdoor table to have a conversation.

Starting from trivial personal topics, the conversation had unexpectedly continued for a long time.

Come to think of it, even after Rudrick had finished the magical beast subjugation, although Eileen occasionally visited the capital, there hadn’t been an opportunity for them to sit and leisurely converse like this.

Excluding the previous date, it had been a very long time since they had spent such an intimate time alone without the interference of others.

So just spending time conversing like this made them happy.

“I’ve heard that mages often experience such mistakes when they first enter real combat. It’s a problem that can only be resolved through experience.”

“But even if I made some mistakes at first, there were no such mistakes from the second time onward. Friendly fire is a bit of a problem, though, right?”

“Rudrick, you should be able to reach an even higher level without much difficulty.”

“Why do you think that?”

“Because I saw it directly, of course.”

Eileen shrugged her shoulders and joked.

If someone who knew her usual self saw this, they would be so surprised that they might scream in shock at the sight of such an unfamiliar behavior.

It was because it was difficult to imagine Eileen, the Grand Duchess of the North, responding with such gestures.

To be more specific, if Elena saw Eileen behaving like this, she would likely make a horrified expression or pretend to gag.

And while they were conversing, the number of people wandering around gradually decreased, and the sun slowly began to set.

“Then shall we get going now?”

“Let’s go have dinner. We ended up passing the time well while chatting.”

“…But even though it’s a rare opportunity to come out and play outside the Imperial Palace, is it really okay to spend time like this?”

“Oh, come on. I told you it’s really fine, didn’t I? It’s enough to just come out for a change of pace.”

“The Rudrick Weiss I know would prefer to laze around in bed alone rather than come out for a change of pace.”

“Ah.”

Rudrick made an embarrassed expression at Eileen’s words that simply hit the nail on the head.

Perhaps because she had even regressed, Eileen knew Rudrick too well.

Anyway, it was about time to head out for dinner now.

Walking down the street holding hands like a loving couple that anyone would find affectionate, Eileen, who was casually looking around at the surrounding buildings, pondered with much thought.

“…Where would be good to go?”

The capital where all the wealth of the empire was concentrated.

As evidenced by its nickname, the sleepless city, the nights in the capital were as bright as the days.

Of course, the number of open restaurants inevitably decreased compared to daytime, but there were still quite a few options available to Eileen and Rudrick.

However,

“Let’s go to the place we went last time.”

“…Hmm?”

Eileen made a puzzled expression at Rudrick’s words.

The place they went last time must have referred to the inn and tavern that Eileen frequently visited during her academy student days.

The very place where Rudrick got drunk last time, and Eileen and Sylphia suddenly intruded while tracking their location, claiming that they hadn’t returned even though it was night.

In the midst of it all, a drunk Rudrick showed a completely different side of himself and surprised the three of them.

It wasn’t a place with particularly good memories, but for Rudrick, it was more convenient to go back to a place they had already been to rather than wandering around here and there.

“…It’s not a particularly atmospheric place, but are you sure you’re okay with it?”

“I’ve been there before too, so I know what kind of place it is.”

“That’s true, but…”

“The food there was quite tasty, wasn’t it?”

“Well…”

Eileen made an expression of reluctance, but as soon as Rudrick suggested going, she nodded her head.

Of course, Rudrick had made this choice with various calculations in mind.

‘If we go there again, won’t they give us extra service?’

If there was something that could be exploited, it was best to exploit it to the fullest.

Rather than wandering around here and there and ending up with nothing, it was better to choose a stable option.

Walking through the now somewhat familiar alleyway they had been to before, they opened the door of the tavern located deep in the alley and were greeted by the smell of bubbling stew and the sound of drunk adventurers chattering.

‘…I should have gone somewhere else after all.’

To be precise, they weren’t lovers, but it was an excessively informal setting to come with a man who was equivalent to a lover.

As soon as Eileen, who had slightly frowned with a visible expression, opened the door, a middle-aged woman wearing an apron and serving food at the tables recognized them.

“You came again? Did you come with your boyfriend this time too?”

“I clearly remember telling you last time that he’s not my boyfriend…”

“Haha, there’s not much difference between a boyfriend and a soon-to-be boyfriend, right? Should I give you the usual?”

“…Sure.”

The inn owner laughed heartily and patted Eileen’s back before quickly disappearing into the kitchen.

Eileen, who had sat down at the table in an awkward manner, glanced at Rudrick out of the corner of her eye, worried that he might have been offended by the conversation just now.

However, contrary to her worries, Rudrick was looking at Eileen and the kitchen alternately with a surprised expression.

“That’s interesting.”

“What is?”

“How would that owner react if she found out that the person whose back she just patted is the Nord Grand Duchess?”

“…It wouldn’t be a particularly pleasant reaction.”

Eileen muttered glumly while wiping the table with the provided napkin.

It wasn’t that she had a particularly authoritative personality, so she had concealed her identity and was pretending to be an ordinary commoner adventurer who had graduated from the academy.

In that sense, such informal behavior didn’t offend her.

Rather, she was the type to show a down-to-earth appearance more often than an authoritative one that didn’t befit her identity as the Nord Grand Duchess.

Rudrick chuckled.

“I suddenly became the Nord Grand Duke, didn’t I?”

“…Eek.”

Eileen flinched at the words spoken without any particular meaning, like a joke, and Rudrick, who didn’t notice, added with his usual mischievous smile.

“Isn’t it good if she’s mistaken? If she thinks you came with your boyfriend, she might give us extra service.”

“…Well, there’s a saying that people are free to have misunderstandings.”

As soon as Rudrick, who recalled the memory of getting various things last time under the pretext of service, finished setting the fork and knife, the food arrived.

Of course, it wasn’t the finest course meal served at restaurants frequented by nobles.

It was just a simple menu consisting of bread made from wheat that didn’t discriminate tastes, warm meat stew, boiled vegetables, and fruits.

However, if there was a problem, it was that the portions were somewhat large.

“…Owner, this seems like too much.”

“You’re at an age where you should eat a lot, right? You need to eat a lot when you’re young to have strength. It’s on the house, so don’t feel burdened and eat up. I’m just happy to see you after a long time.”

The inn owner responded to Eileen’s startled question with a hearty laugh. And at the end, she winked as if to ask, “You know what I mean?” before disappearing again, forcing Eileen to close her mouth.

Rudrick also muttered upon seeing the excessively large amount of food compared to last time.

“…This is too much. I can’t eat it all.”

“I don’t think I can finish it all either. The portions are too big.”

“Shall we have some drinks to go with it?”

“Let’s avoid alcohol.”

“…Okay.”

Eileen flatly rejected Rudrick’s cautious question.

Having experienced the catastrophe that occurred after drinking a glass of strong wine last time, she had no intention of repeating the same mistake.

Rather, Rudrick responded in an embarrassed manner to that resolute immediate answer.

Anyway, since the amount of food was large, the meal naturally continued for a long time, and by the time they had barely finished the plentiful food, it was already close to bedtime.

“…I’m full.”

Rudrick muttered weakly as he put down his fork.

Eileen also silently put down her fork without showing it.

It was getting close to the time to wash up and prepare to end the day.

As evidence, most of the adventurers who had been drinking and chatting loudly at various tables on the first floor had already left their seats, except for a few drunkards.

The inn owner, who had been clearing the plates while going around the tables, approached them again and spoke.

“You managed to eat almost all of it. Well done, well done. You need to eat a lot to have strength.”

“…”

“…You’ll be using quite a bit of strength tonight, won’t you?”

“What kind of vulgar remark is that… No, in the first place, I clearly told you that we’re not in that kind of relationship.”

The inn owner subtly poked Eileen’s side so that Rudrick wouldn’t hear.

Naturally, Eileen reacted with a serious expression, but it was the inn owner who spoke as if puzzled.

“Huh? Nilly, weren’t you going to sleep here tonight?”

“…I was thinking of sleeping here since it’s late.”

“We only have one room available right now, you know?”

“…What?”

When Eileen asked back with wide eyes, the inn owner naturally took out the only remaining key from her apron and shook it.

“This is the last room we have left for today. Even if you try to rent two like last time, you can’t. You’ll have to sleep together.”

“…”

Although she had experienced numerous tribulations today, there was still a true ordeal remaining.

Faced with the appearance of an unexpected variable that had been lurking until the very end, Eileen stared at the key blankly with her mouth open.

And then,

“…Well, I don’t particularly mind. If there’s only one room, as long as Eileen isn’t uncomfortable with it.”

“…”

Eileen opened her mouth, unable to find words to say, and only moved her lips.

Rudrick, who understood her silence in a different way, carefully added,

“I’m really okay with it, you know…?”

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