Rising Shadows: The Fight for Freedom I

Chapter 15: The Virgin

"How disappointing! Not even a chance to tug at her braid or skirt!" Darren lamented, gazing at the now somewhat blurred silhouette of the graceful figure.

"Tch, Darren is indeed a novice; confronted with a blooming flower, he can only conjure such a lackluster idea!" Although Langiro felt equally disheartened, he immediately expressed his disdain for his companion.

"Then what do you suggest I do?" Darren asked, unusually humble.

"What should you do!? Of course, you should pluck the flower! We are nobles, after all. If we were to take that girl in, her family would surely be honored!"

"Is that so!? Hmph! I doubt it; those commoners would likely give you a good thrashing if you weren't a noble!"

With a huff, Darren lost interest in riding and returned to his carriage. Inside the swaying vehicle, he recalled the face that, while not conventionally beautiful, possessed a unique charm when infused with anger.

It was a face devoid of makeup, with youthful brows tinged with a hint of ire. Yet, this anger did nothing to diminish the girl's pure essence; rather, it added a vibrant hue to her understated elegance.

If only I had merely teased her a little, perhaps by caressing her cheek, those commoners wouldn't hold it against me! Alas, I only thought of this not overly audacious idea now; if only that flower hadn't wandered too far!

With a sense of regret, Darren began to drift into a drowsy slumber. However, after experiencing a fervent dream typical of youth, he was jolted awake by the sound of neighing horses. To his astonishment, he saw the flower from his dream reappear in another guise...

Is this what they call fate!? Watching the graceful figure that had just entered an inn, Darren suddenly felt invigorated.

Leaping out of the carriage with renewed energy, Darren discovered that the vast caravan had halted in a small town. Glancing up at the sky, he noted that the sun in the west would not dip below the horizon for another two hours.

The streets were bustling with pedestrians, the houses adorned with moss, and the cobblestone path stretched into the distance. After a cursory glance at the town's streets, Darren's attention shifted back to the figure that had just vanished.

"Are we staying here for the night?"

"Yes, my lord."

Fixating on the spot where the flower had disappeared, Darren inquired of a servant, who provided the expected response.

Excellent! This means I will have ample opportunities to interact with that beautiful wildflower. With mischievous thoughts swirling in his mind, Darren excitedly made his way to the inn where the girl had entered.

It was an unremarkable establishment, constructed entirely of ordinary wood. Due to its age, the timber that formed the inn had darkened and decayed; the paint had long worn away, and many areas were overrun with thick moss and lowly mushrooms!

A humble inn, clearly a place where only commoners would reside! Should I venture inside? Hesitatingly eyeing the dilapidated building, Darren furrowed his brow.

"Darren, what are you doing here?" Just as he was contemplating whether to enter the shabby inn, a voice suddenly rang out. Turning around, he saw Langiro and Bab approaching.

"Aren't you with Count Norman?" Darren casually asked, glancing at his two friends.

"Why would we need to be with Count Norman? We only require him to guide us to the capital; we don't need to follow him around constantly!" Langiro replied.

"Fair enough. So, have you found accommodations for tonight?" Unfazed by Langiro's response, Darren continued his inquiry.

"The Gilded Rose! The finest inn in this town. Count Norman has already reserved rooms for us. I checked, and the beds are relatively clean, and the serving girl is decent enough... What are you thinking about, Darren? Why do you keep staring at this rundown inn? The name 'Pig and Whistle' certainly has a certain charm!"

As Langiro looked disdainfully at the Pig and Whistle Inn, Darren finally made up his mind and stepped inside.

"No way! Darren? Darren?"

Within a minute, the three noble youths had entered the old inn. Just as Langiro and Bab were about to question Darren's motives for entering, they spotted the girl they had seen earlier on the street.

So that's why he would enter such a place that he wouldn't even glance at under normal circumstances!

The exterior was dilapidated, and the interior was equally ancient and worn. Aside from the seemingly clean tables and bar, there was little else to commend the establishment. After choosing a spot to sit, the trio faced the eager innkeeper, requesting only three cups of water.

"Esteemed guests, would you not like anything else? Our fruit wine is quite good; the locals all know..."

With a clink, a silver coin struck the hard wooden table, producing a crisp sound.

"Enough chatter, bring the water quickly!" Langiro commanded, not even glancing at the innkeeper. However, the innkeeper was not offended, as for a commoner, three cups of water in exchange for a silver coin was already a considerable profit.

Once the innkeeper retreated, the previously bustling inn fell silent, as the patrons in the lobby noticed the three noble youths and the silver coin.

Such a transaction must be quite profitable, right!? No, no, it's not just profitable; it's akin to pulling a fast one! Almost all the commoners thought enviously, while simultaneously harboring disdain for the three noble youths. Hmph, nobles are nobles; they have never known hardship, born into wealth, and will never understand the virtue of frugality!

In contrast to the myriad expressions and emotions of the commoners, the other patrons appeared much simpler. Upon noticing Darren, Langiro, and Bab, a few young men, armed with long swords, were momentarily taken aback, then displayed expressions of disgust and deep suspicion.

It's those three noble youths! What do they want here!? They exchanged glances with their companion, the girl who had been teased by the whistle, and the young men, soon to enlist, couldn't help but frown.

If these noble youths are here for the girl, what should we do? Beat them up? No, that would land us in jail, or worse, a death camp! But if we do nothing...

The young men, their expressions taut, were reluctant to think further, fearing that the more they contemplated, the more likely they would act impulsively, even if it meant facing severe consequences for harming nobles!

However, the young men were indeed overthinking, for to Darren, Langiro, and Bab, their youth had not yet matured to the point of harboring truly unacceptable malicious intentions; at most, they possessed some unacceptable bad habits.

Thus, while they had indeed followed the girl, Darren, holding a cup of water, was momentarily at a loss for what to do. Langiro and Bab, aware of what they could do but not yet fallen to the depths of villainy, had no interest in teasing a respectable woman without noble decorum.

To flirt with a girl with noble grace-that is what a true noble should do! Contemplating thoughts that diverged from societal morals, Langiro's eyes darted, and suddenly, he had an idea.

"Darren, you're still a virgin, right?"

"Pfft! Langiro! What do you mean by that?" Darren spluttered, a mix of embarrassment and anger coloring his tone.

"I mean nothing; I was just thinking that your parents must have been overly strict. It's quite remarkable that the son of a governor has yet to have a devoted maid by his side!"

Darren fell silent. He could relate to Langiro's observation; while other children had charming maids accompanying them since childhood, he had only known numerous wet nurses and aunts due to the so-called warrior spirit and noble upbringing...

If it weren't for my father's outdated views, how could I still be a virgin at this age? How could Langiro mock me like this? After all, I had always been the one to tease him!