I Will Break Off the Engagement Because I'm Jealous - The Untalented Villainess Who Rejected the Prince Searches for a Safe Haven with the Cheat Heroine - Chapter 5.1

Finally, I can rest. Emilia set down her luggage, stretched, and walked across the room to place her hand on the far window. She swung the glass pane inward, released the latch, and opened the shutters. A sturdy inn, she thought, admiring the place where she’d be living for a while then breathed in the night air.

“I’m glad we came, Empire. I’m glad I could come here with Iris.”

Her murmur vanished into the night breeze. When she gently touched the brooch on her chest, it felt as if the resolve she’d made days ago was coming back to life. Even while admitting that breaking off her engagement with Prince Sieg had been a mistake, she had still chosen to walk forward with Iris and that made her feel proud.

No longer pursued, finally able to enjoy her travels, Emilia smiled softly into the Empire’s night. The swaying light of the streetlamps dimly illuminated the streets.

(Magic is supposed to be lost… gas lamps, maybe? We didn’t have them in the Kingdom. A breath of civilization, I suppose.)

As she vaguely sensed something like an otherworldly mood, a savory aroma drifted in. Perhaps thanks to the light, a street stall seemed to be operating quite nearby. From somewhere, she could hear loud, drunken laughter.

(Nice…)

Emilia recalled her free-spirited memories from her past life and the times Sieg had dragged her around. Ignoring the slight ache in her chest, she immersed herself in longing and appetite.

“Should we go somewhere to eat, Iris?”

She asked Iris, who seemed to be unpacking behind her. When Emilia turned to look, their blue eyes met.

“Ah.”

“Um…”

Feeling a slight awkwardness, Emilia averted her gaze. Ever since she’d cried so much after shaking off Sieg’s pursuit a few days ago, things had felt a little uncomfortable.

(I went and said things like “Don’t forgive me” … it’s embarrassing, like I was drunk on myself…)

The warm wind brushed her cheeks. Hiding a sigh in the air’s flow, Emilia closed the shutters. After shutting the glass window, she drew the curtains.

“Two women going out at night really isn’t a good idea, Lady Emilia.”

Iris, still slightly bowed as she pulled clothes from her bag, said it like a reprimand. Emilia puffed out her cheeks, a little annoyed. True, it might be dangerous, but if anything, Emilia and Iris were far more like human weapons. Emilia carried numerous spirit tools hidden within her and could use quite a few skills. Iris, needless to say, had martial arts skill at a master level.

“That may be, but a few drunks shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

“If there’s trouble, we won’t be able to eat anyway.”

“Oh, that’s true.”

She gave an honest reply to the rebuttal, and Emilia’s expression softened. Iris’s eyes, now lifted, were somehow gentle too.

(Something’s making me restless.)

Once again, the two of them blushed faintly and averted their eyes.

“B-but there were so many places that refused foreigners! I’m glad we found a good inn!”

Her attempt to cover it up came out in a high-pitched voice. Feeling embarrassed, Emilia’s face turned red again.

“It seems high-class inns are difficult without a skill certificate.”

“Couldn’t you get one, Iris?”

“They only issue them to Empire citizens. Or to exchange students, but…”

Iris bowed her head again, casting a shadow over her face.

“I wonder what happened. In the Imperial Capital.”

“Who knows? We couldn’t get in, and even when we asked, no one gave a clear answer.”

After leaving the Kingdom by spirit carriage, they crossed the border without issue and headed straight for the Giena Empire’s capital, Gienius. But the city walls were sealed, and they couldn’t enter. Listening to the crowds, irresponsible rumors flew around—some said there’d been a coup, others that the Emperor had died.

With no other choice, the two discussed it and turned back. They came to this relatively large city near the capital, “Abilis,” and decided to settle here for a while, gathering information. The university didn’t start until spring anyway, so they had plenty of time. And since the Duke had given them funds before they left, their pockets were comfortably warm.

“Oh, that’s right! While we’re at it, let’s send a message. Aiter!”

No use crying over what they couldn’t enter. Emilia pulled herself together, called the spirit carriage’s name, and held her hand over the wooden table. She had stored the carriage inside her just before arriving in town. A spirit carriage with the “Storage” skill—from its cargo, paper, a pen, an inkwell… and a blotter emerged, lining up on the tabletop. She quickly dipped the fountain pen and dashed off two lines. No address, no signature—she pressed the blotter firmly down. Confirming the ink had transferred, she folded the paper in two.

“—— ‘Meddlesome Mail Bomber’!”

A long, slender tube appeared squishily in Emilia’s hand. She had received many spirit tools from Iris’s father, the Baron—trinkets that were hard to use. But since her skills hadn’t yet “settled,” few of them were practical.

(Until skills settle, it still feels like someone else is controlling them… it’s creepy. But once you get used to them, they suddenly cling perfectly, and that’s kind of fun. The holy sword… “Sword” sometimes shines and sometimes doesn’t, so its mood is hard to read. But Aiter and this “Meddlesome Mail Bomber” are on the easier side.)

“…Does that thing deliver to the intended place now, Lady Emilia?”

As she happily stroked the tube, a hesitant voice reached her. Iris tilted her head slightly, peering over. Emilia grinned lazily and puffed out her chest.

“It does now~. I even get replies. But it probably sends to extra places too, so I can’t write any secrets.”

“If the goal is to spread the word, then that’s not a problem.”

“Exactly.”

Nodding with confidence, Iris made a bit of a sour face. Emilia was curious, but turned her attention to dealing with the letter first.

The tube had a lid; opening it and placing something inside would deliver it quite far in an instant. But it had the flaw of scattering copies to places other than the intended destination. The scattered copies disappeared after a while, but if someone wrote a “reply” on one, it would be collected and return to the tube.

“I’ve been properly corresponding with Lord Zlight since we got here. Okay, go!”

Emilia briskly placed the paper in the tube and closed the lid—a soft pop sounded. Opening the lid again, the contents had vanished properly. If a “reply” came back, at least Emilia, as the skill user, would know. Zlight… Iris’s father, if he was still awake, would likely reply within the hour.

“Lady Emilia… you’re so energetic. You seem to be enjoying the Empire, and even these junk-like skills, in your own way.”

(Is even Iris tired? She says we can’t go out to eat. I’m a little worried.)

Sure enough, Iris’s voice sounded heavy. But when Emilia looked at her with concern, Iris averted her gaze. Storing the tube, pen, inkwell, and blotter inside herself, Emilia stared out the window.

“Skills I’m not used to still feel really awkward. But the Empire—”

The innkeeper had told her, “There are windows, but don’t open them much,” so she couldn’t leave it open, which was a shame. But the night view of the city, seen for the first time, was firmly etched into Emilia’s heart.

“I kind of like this gritty feel. This town is a bit like the southern part of the Royal Capital. I saw big factories too. Is it near a mine?”

“Maybe that’s why the air is bad. I’m not really fond of it.”

Emilia gave a sly grin, but Iris wore a pained smile. Her cute face was frowning deeply, clearly displeased.

“Really? Even though you built spirit carriages in a warehouse?”

“The Royal Capital’s mines are pretty far away, aren’t they? In the Empire, they’re mining everywhere. The air is sooty all over. That’s why every window has shutters, and many are fixed shut.”

Now that she mentioned it, the dimly lit town’s windows were mostly tightly closed, with almost no light leaking out. Emilia, having been used to exhaust fumes in her past life, didn’t mind at all. For a mining town, this much was fine.

“Oh, you know a lot. Have you been here before?”

“Yes, my mother brought me.”

Hearing Iris’s short answer, Emilia tried to peer at her face. But Iris kept her head tilted down just enough that her beautiful blue eyes were hardly visible.

When their eyes met, they couldn’t help but look away.

But not being able to see her was frustrating.

“Iris, are you feeling down?”