We’ve finished all our errands and we’re finally returning to the Mastris Manor after dusk. Lights lit up while we walk back leisurely. The food during lunch was very good and interesting, I never thought orc meat was delicious. Let alone did it exist.

Next time, I’ll come back to that restaurant to eat there again. I remembered the restaurant earlier, what was the name again?

“Theo, that restaurant…”

I asked him while we walked back through the main street. We just finished that troublesome guild exam so I was getting hungry already.

“That one we ate earlier? The Orc’s Belly?”

Orc’s Belly, what a cool name. Do they only serve orc meat? Don’t they have any other meats? It’s weird but I feel like this place is too different from what I remember. For example, can’t we ride a taxi if we’re going to walk back from such a far away area?

“Hmm… Taxi?”

I accidentally blurted out loud. Theo looked at me with a confused expression. It doesn’t exist does it? A lot of modern things doesn’t exist here. I understood but I thought this was a remote region in a poor country. But the citizen boasted about the city being one of the most advanced in this country, in the world even.

Where is this? Time travel?

“Taksi? What’s that?”

He asked after processing my question. His confused expression was also filled with curiosity, this man sometimes looks like a kid. It makes me want to pet his golden hair and just tease him so he’ll make that cute pouty face forever.

“Heh…”

I exhaled a small laugh. I smiled and continued to walk with him.

“What’s so funny?”

He walked ahead looking back at me. His face was flushed and he was pouting cutely again. How can a grown man look this cute? No good. I’m grateful to this man, I can’t think about rude things.

But… he really is cute, like a huge golden puppy.

I can’t stop myself, I really…

“Wha—?”

I patted his golden head. As I thought, it’s silky, his hair slides off my fingers. It feels good. Ah, he’s pouting again. It’s decided, Theo = cute.

Theo looked away with flushed cheeks as I continue to pet him. He’s also too nice for his own good, letting me do whatever I like even though I’ve heard from the sour-puss that he’s a prince.

As we continued that fluffy feeling, people stared at us as they saw a man being petted by a woman. From the gazes, I noticed a silver-skinned girl who wore a maid’s uniform a couple of meters from us. Her face was fitted with a dumbfounded expression and she stood frozen while my hand continues to pet my golden puppy.

“From the manor?”

Hearing me, she got herself back, she fixed her face and gave us a welcoming smile. From there, I stopped myself from petting my new pup.

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My hand felt lonely when I parted from his silky hair.

“Yes, my name is Adele. The Lord and his family wishes to eat supper with the young sir and miss. That’s why I was sent here to pick you up.”

She bowed as she explained her purpose. Behind the maid’s headband was a pair of shiny black horn, with one having a huge chip on the side.

I stared at her for a while.

It was already weird that she had silver skin but even having horns… Although I understand that there’re rabbits with horns, orcs that’re edible, dwarves making swords and seeing a person with silver skin and horns are normal so, am I the abnormal one? Being ignorant makes me the weird one?

Seeing as I was staring at the maid, Theo coughed and explained.

“I’m sorry Adele. She doesn’t have any memories, so she finds other races aside from humans to be interesting.”

A dry laugh came from him after he explained. At this, I tilted my head as I thought, he’s too nice. If it wasn’t for him, I might’ve offended and killed a lot of people until I got my memories back. Even though I don’t have any memories of my past, I understand that I have a knack for killing. I might’ve been a criminal in the past.

I’m sorry my cute puppy, I’ll do my best not to cause too much trouble until I become independent. It would be a waste not to pet you anymore, when that time comes.

“I’m sorry.”

I bowed my head towards the maid. The girl waved both her hands up high trying to deny my rude actions.

“It’s okay, you don’t have to miss Violet. I heard that, that was the case so there’s no problem.”

With a graceful smile she brushed off the incident like it was nothing. She wasn’t flustered so she must’ve really been aware of me.

“Well then, shall we?”

The three of us returned while I tried to examine the area around the manor. I found some places with security holes and took note of it in case I needed to escape. As I thought, I really must be a criminal before I lost my memories. I need to be independent fast and not cause any trouble to Theo and the others.

The manor was bright from the lit up rooms. When we entered, maids dragged me towards a room and made me wear a light pink dress. It had a narrow neckline that hid my collar bone. The fitted sleeve reached up to my wrists with flowery accents sewn on the top part of the dress. The skirt was heavy, lined with a petticoat and more flower accents here and there.

“Why?”

I asked confused. The dress didn’t feel weird. In fact, I felt like I was used to it. The reason why I asked because I thought we were having dinner, do I really need to wear such over-bearing dress just to eat dinner? It is supposed to be a formal event?

Nobody answered me. They just continued to dress me and tie my hair into a very neat and tidy bun with more pink hair accessories.

“Pink?”

The maids jolted and stopped for a moment. I can see some of them sweat but they continued to dress me, with now, awkward movements.

I understand, I’ll keep quiet and be a good girl. This feeling seems familiar so I’m comfortable enough.

I saw a small flash of pink hair when I looked at the dress. A memory? I see, I remember being dressed by that pink-haired girl with pretty dresses too. Was the black and silver dress her doing as well?

Soon, I arrived in front of the dinning room. Before me, stood Theo wearing his formal dress. He wore a blue waistcoat with silver accents and a blue half mantle hung on his left shoulder with a silver chain. A silver ring was in the middle of the mantle that kept it bundled up while the ends freely swayed as he moved. On his side, a sword hung naturally. I knew it, I should’ve brought mine too. I looked around and saw only the two of us.

“The others?”

He smiled and walked towards me.

“I was the only one invited so they couldn’t come. Henry was allowed to dine but declined saying he hasn’t prepared his formal dress.”

“Me?”

I tilted my head. If the others who were knights aren’t allowed, then why me?

“You see, I heard miss Paige had taken a liking to you, so you were invited as well.”

Paige? The cute girl before?

“May I?”

He held out his hand with a sweet smile. So I gave him my hand and he placed it on his arm. Then, we entered the room together.

That dinner was a blur. Why? Because I was hungry, the food was cold and everyone was too nervous. I ate little because of the crappy texture and became so frustrated that after dinner, I climbed over the huge gates and went to Orc’s belly.

Oh how succulent was that grilled belly, brushed with sweet and salty sauce! The fat made the belly juicier and the contrast of the sauce outside and the meaty blandness inside makes one lick their lips at every bite. The fatty belly went well with cold ale, ah heaven! This is nothing compared to that cold dinner! That roast orc earlier at lunch was good too!

And that was the night I saw horns growing out of Henry. Stop fussing, I just wanted a proper meal.