Chapter 97: The Imperial Capital
“Big Sis, where should we go?”
“Ah… No matter how often I hear it, ‘Big Sis’ is too powerful.”
Even after we left the castle at the center of the imperial capital and entered the city, Emma reacted dramatically every time I called her Big Sis.
“…We are already in public.”
I wanted her to stop doing things that made our disguises pointless.
“I didn’t know you could smile like that, Noah. It looked natural.”
“…My name.”
Did she intend to maintain our disguises? We had been speaking normally all this time.
“I can manage a little acting too… Ah! Big Sis, I want a grilled skewer!”
I created an obvious contrast and slipped back into character.
“…All right. Shall we get one?”
Emma followed my lead.
We had reached a crowded area. It was time to act properly.
“Look, they’re selling paintings.”
The Austin Empire was famous for its rich culture. Painting, music, and the other arts had flourished there.
“They’re beautiful.”
I looked at the paintings displayed at a street stall.
Looking at paintings made me feel that I was experiencing human culture. It reminded me a little of my peaceful previous life. I rather enjoyed looking at them.
“Would you like one? Big Sis will buy it for you.”
“No, looking is enough! This one is beautiful, isn’t it? I think it is a painting of Lunoa Kingdom’s capital. I have never been there, but I can tell it is beautiful.”
I continued looking while casually praising Lunoa Kingdom.
“Young lady, you have a good eye.”
The man running the stall spoke to me.
“Do I?”
“You do! I have just the thing for you. Here it is!”
Smiling, the man handed me a small pendant.
“Wow! It’s beautiful.”
The pendant bore a beautiful image of Lunoa Kingdom.
“It won’t get in your way. Go on, take it.”
“May I? Thank you!”
“That’s nice, isn’t it? How much is it, sir?”
Emma took out her purse beside me.
“You don’t need to pay for something that small. Take it.”
“But we can’t—”
He was remarkably generous. We had money, so we wanted to pay.
“Go on, off you go!”
“Then… we will accept your kindness.”
“Thank you, sir!”
“Don’t mention it!”
Since he was offering it out of kindness, insisting too much would prevent him from looking generous.
I gave him a broad smile, thanked him, and left the stall.
“Enjoy your sightseeing!”
“…Thank you!”
He had easily noticed that we were not residents of the capital.
Perhaps I had made my makeup too cute. Someone who traded in the city every day might notice an unfamiliar face, and I had shown genuine interest in the paintings.
“Where should we go next?”
“Let’s see…”
Emma and I were wandering aimlessly through the capital, looking at the streets, when a shout rang out from somewhere.
“What is wrong with the people of this country!?”
“…!”
The instant we turned toward the voice, Emma and I both frowned.
Two Friez Kingdom soldiers wearing colonels’ insignia were shouting in front of a shop.
“What should we do?”
“Do you really need to ask?”
There was no hesitation. I walked toward the two shouting soldiers.
“Honestly. This is why Central Europe’s backwater countries are…”
“The people of Friez Kingdom truly are unbearably barbaric.”
I stood before them and insulted them without restraint.
“What? Who are you, you brats!?”
“Tch. What do these piss-smelling brats think they are?”
As expected, the two soldiers used truly vulgar language toward the girls they thought we were.