Nurturing the Hero to Avoid Death

Ch 20.2

As I climb down the stairs, the bustling pub from yesterday is nowhere to be found. There’s not a customer in sight.

I can hear various types of noises in the background, though. Sounds of conversation, footsteps, moving carriages, and so on. But I can’t pinpoint where exactly they’re coming from.

Only one person stands amidst the quiet pub, moving from table to table. A plump lady. She’s humming to herself, wiping the tables clean with a piece of cloth.

I remember her. Alfred addressed her as “Ma’am” yesterday.

She notices me once I step into the bar area. She stops wiping the table and looks up, directing her eyes towards me. I return her gaze.

And the next moment, she gives a wide smile, her eyes narrowing in the process, resembling those of the rabbit embroidered on her apron.

“Oh my, you’re already awake! Good morning!”

“G-good morning…”

The pub owner’s wife nimbly weaves her way between the tables towards me. She stares for a while, scrutinizing me, before breaking into a grin. “Thank goodness you look better now. Your complexion has greatly improved. When you had arrived yesterday, your face was so pale that I thought you were about to collapse…”

Is that so? I didn’t really notice.

“U-uh, thank you very much for yesterday’s matter. And I’m sorry to have troubled you during your busiest business hours. I’m truly sorry…”

For a moment, the stare of the pub owner’s wife transforms into one of puzzlement. Then she bursts into laughter, her plump belly shaking.

“There’s no need to be so polite! I honestly didn’t do much, so it’s not troublesome at all. You’re worrying too much.”

She truly looks like she doesn’t mind.

Did I phrase my apology weirdly? I don’t think so. Well, I don’t really mind if she’s enjoying herself because of this.

As I look at her jovial face, the tension in my body melts away. Finally, my smile is genuine.

“I’m really grateful for your help yesterday, Ma’am. You helped me a lot.”

The belly of the pub owner’s wife shakes once more from laughter, and she slaps me on the back. “It’s fine, it’s fine! Ah, that’s right. What’s your name?”

“Me? Ah, I’m Lian. Lian Owen.”

As soon as I tell her my name, her eyes widen.

“Ehhh? You are the son of Lord Owen?! How surprising.”

Completely forgot about my identity there. I probably shouldn’t have told her my real name.

As I grow more and more flustered, the woman is still just standing there with a smile.

“I see, hehe. You really are the gentleman that my son said you were.”

“Eh!?”

She has a son?! And it’s actually someone who knows me? Does that mean her son attends the same local school as me?

“W-what…”

On the one hand, I’m curious about what he’s said about me, but on the other I don’t want to know. In the end, my curiosity wins. Oh, and it could’ve been disastrous if her son had been here yesterday. I don’t want this matter to be leaked.

Her expression suddenly turns mischievous as she places her hand on her chin, and flashes a sweet smile.

“My stupid son told me that Lian-sama is a very, very gentle person. And a very, very beautiful man. And he does this so often, even as his face is red as a tomato.”