Chapter 46: Regarding Room Allocation…

Li Ya pushed open the carriage door, her feet landing on the wet stone pavement.

She looked up at the gray sky, then at the refurbished ancient castle in front of her.

She glanced down at her dress.

The hem was ringed with mud stains, and her boots were even worse.

With a sigh, she lifted her skirt and walked up the steps.

The door was open.

Li Ya pushed it open.

The first thing she saw was Seweina sitting in front of the fireplace, legs crossed.

Their eyes met in midair.

Li Ya froze.

She saw a white-haired woman sitting in Rex’s chair, wearing a knitted sweater clearly not her size, holding a teacup, radiating an air of being completely at ease.

Seweina studied her in return.

This outfit—delicate but impractical—looked completely out of place in the rundown castle in the North.

“…Who are you?”

Li Ya spoke first.

Seweina seemed to already know that this was the Li Ya Rex had mentioned, and decided to have a little fun with her.

“I’m Sevina von Lyon. Governor of the Northern Iron Cavalry. And you?”

At the word “Governor,” Li Ya’s expression shifted subtly.

She smoothed her skirt, lifting her chin slightly.

“Li Ya Granchester. President of the Granchester Chamber of Commerce.”

“Oh~”

Seweina nodded.

“The one building the road.”

Li Ya’s mouth twitched.

“…Yes.”

Li Ya stood by the door, scanning the living room.

Hilda walked out of the kitchen, holding a teapot.

“President Li Ya, welcome back.”

“Thank you, Hilda!”

Li Ya took the teacup and sat down opposite Seweina with practiced ease.

She glanced at Seweina’s clothes and guessed what was going on.

“Where’s Rex?”

“My Lord is upstairs. I’ll call him.”

Hilda turned and went upstairs.

Li Ya held her teacup, her gaze falling on Seweina’s sword.

She didn’t recognize the pattern on the scabbard, but from the wear and tear, it seemed the sword had been used for many years.

“You’re the Northern Governor. May I ask what business you have here with Rex?”

“Following orders. To observe Rex’s current situation and report back.”

“Oh.”

“Are you Rex’s girlfriend?”

“Ah?! No… I mean… NO!!!”

Li Ya jumped up to explain.

But at that moment, Rex happened to walk downstairs, only to see Li Ya’s face bright red.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing! I’m just hot! I… I brought you something. It’s in the carriage. I’ll have the coachman bring it in!”

With that, she hurried out and signaled the coachman to carry a box inside, then told him he could leave.

Inside the box was a complete set of coffee equipment: a hand grinder, a copper kettle, a filter cone, filter papers, and several cans of the Federation’s finest coffee beans.

“The set in your castle was too old. I had a new one made. All handcrafted by artisans, and much better to use than the ones on the market.”

Rex picked up the grinder, spun the handle.

It moved smoothly, with a faint gear sound.

“Must have cost you a lot. Thank you.”

“Hmph~ You’re welcome. Pocket change.”

Seweina looked at Li Ya’s delighted expression, then at Rex.

“Am I interrupting something?”

“What’s there to interrupt? Oh, Li Ya, I need to tell you something.”

“Ah?! You… you… what do you want to tell me? I… I’m not ready yet…”

Li Ya’s voice grew softer and softer, as if she had already planned out her future.

“We’re out of rooms.”

“(⊙ˍ⊙)?”

Li Ya blinked.

“What do you mean?”

“Literally. My castle only has four rooms. Mine, Hilda’s, the last one is now taken by Seweina, leaving only the study.”

Li Ya’s eyes darted between the three of them.

Her heart sank.

So now she had to compete with a stranger for a room?

“So?”

She tried to keep her voice steady.

“So if you don’t mind, you could share with Hilda for now.”

Just as he finished speaking, Hilda spoke up first:

“My Lord, I can share with you. That way President Li Ya can have a room to herself.”

At that, the living room fell silent.

Li Ya’s eyes went wide as she stared at Hilda.

Her mind buzzed.

“What—?! Share a room with Rex?! One room?!”

Seweina raised an eyebrow, her gaze shifting between Hilda and Rex.

A smile curled at the corner of her mouth.

She looked like she was enjoying the show.

“No way!!!”

Li Ya slammed her teacup onto the table with a crack, standing up so loudly she startled even herself.

But she didn’t care anymore.

“Absolutely not!!”

She leaned over the table, staring at Hilda.

“How can you… how can you… share a room with him!!”

Hilda tilted her head.

“Why not?”

“Because… because…”

Li Ya stammered, all the reasons in her head felt inappropriate.

“Because it’s not proper!”

“What’s not proper?”

“Men and women should maintain boundaries!!!”

“I’m a maid. A maid sharing a room with her master is reasonable.”

“Reasonable my foot!!!”

“Pfft hahaha!!!”

Seweina finally burst out laughing.

She never expected that on the day she planned to return tomorrow, she’d witness such a show today.

These past few days weren’t wasted.

“This little castle of yours is pretty lively.”

Li Ya shot her a glare, then turned back to Hilda.

“Anyway… it’s not happening!”

“Then does President Li Ya have a better suggestion?”

“I… I…”

Li Ya’s mind raced.

“I’ll sleep in the study!”

Seweina offered that if Li Ya didn’t mind, she could share with her.

Hilda shook her head.

“That’s improper too.”

“Then… even if it’s improper, you can’t share with him!!”

“Why not?”

“Because… because…”

Li Ya was about to cry from frustration.

She glanced at Rex, and found the man staring at her with a confused expression, as if asking, ‘Did you take the wrong pills today?’

“Rex!! Say something!!!”

Rex rested his chin on his hand, thinking.

“Hmm… I think Hilda has a point.”

Li Ya: “???”

“She’s a maid. Isn’t it normal for a maid and master to share the same house?”

Li Ya felt her blood pressure skyrocketing.

How could this guy’s brain be so peculiar?

“But,” Rex changed his tone, “you’re a guest. Letting you stay in the study isn’t right either.”

He thought for a moment.

“How about this. Li Ya, you take my room. I’ll sleep in the study.”

“You… you’ll sleep in the study?”

“Yeah. The study has a fireplace, so it’s not cold.”

“Then… what about your stuff?”

“I’ll move it over.”

Li Ya wanted to say something, but found she didn’t have a better plan.

She couldn’t really let Hilda share a room with him, could she?

Even though Hilda had made her feelings quite clear…

But absolutely! No!

“Then… I’ll reluctantly go along with your plan.”

Hilda glanced at Rex, said nothing more, and stood up to walk toward Li Ya.

“President Li Ya, hand me your luggage. I’ll tidy the room.”

“…Mm, I’ll come with you.”

Li Ya followed Hilda upstairs.

At the corner of the stairwell, she saw Seweina raising her cup at her with a hint of a smile.

Li Ya snorted and turned to go upstairs.

Inside the room, Li Ya looked out at the gray sky.

“Hilda.”

“Yes.”

“Just now… did you do that on purpose?”

“What are you referring to, President Li Ya?”

“The part where you said you’d share a room with Rex.”

Hilda didn’t answer.

She tucked in the last corner of the new bedsheet, then turned to face Li Ya.

“President Li Ya, don’t you want to share a room with My Lord?”

Li Ya’s face flushed again.

“Who… who wants to share a room with him!!”

“Then why were you so upset?”

“I… I was… I was thinking about you! Men and women should maintain boundaries! It’s improper!”

“Oh.”

Hilda nodded, still calm.

But Li Ya felt she was secretly laughing.

“Let’s go. It’s time for dinner.”

Li Ya followed, feeling more and more uneasy.

At dinner, the four sat around the table.

Li Ya seemed softer than before.

Seweina remained casual, eating at an alarmingly fast pace.

Hilda sat quietly beside Rex, occasionally pouring tea for everyone.

Li Ya ate while sneaking glances at Rex.

He seemed as if nothing had happened today, eating with enjoyment.

“Rex.”

“Mm.”

“Don’t you… think something’s wrong with today?”

Rex looked up at her.

“What’s wrong?”

“The… room assignment.”

“Nothing wrong. You take my room, I take the study. It’s fine.”

Li Ya stared at him…

And realized he was serious.

Rex didn’t see any problem with Hilda offering to share a room with him.

And he didn’t see any problem with almost sharing a bed with a woman.

Li Ya finally understood.

He was genuinely clueless about matters of the heart.

“What’s wrong? Your face is so red. Do you have a fever?”

“No!!!”

“Oh.”

Just then, Seweina put down her fork and wiped her mouth.

“President Li Ya.”

“What?”

“That dress today is really nice.”

“Um… thanks.”

“Did you change into it specifically for coming here?”

“What’s it to you?”

“Nothing, really. Just that someone doesn’t seem to notice.”

Li Ya unconsciously glanced at Rex again.

But he wasn’t listening.

She gave up and bit into her bread hard.

“President Li Ya, your tea.”

“Thank you.”

“Oh, by the way, President Li Ya. I happened to notice in your luggage there seemed to be a new men’s…”

“That’s for me!!!”

Seweina put down her teacup.

“You wear men’s?”

“I… I like sleeping in loose men’s pajamas!! Is that not allowed?!!!”

“Allowed.”

Seweina barely suppressed her smile.

“Of course allowed.”

Rex finally looked up.

“What are you all talking about?”

“Nothing.”

The three women said in unison.

Rex looked from one to another.

The atmosphere today felt weird.

Li Ya lowered her head, her finger slowly circling the rim of her teacup.

Her eyes kept darting toward Rex and then quickly away.

Seweina noticed this.

“Rex.”

“Mm?”

“The women around you are interesting.”

“What do you mean?”

“Nothing. Just a compliment.”

Even though Li Ya’s arrival had made the atmosphere in the house even stranger, Rex decided he was overthinking it.

He glanced at Li Ya.

Her face was still red.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine!!!”

“…Oh.”

Rex shook his head, thinking,

‘Women are strange.’