Of course, it was possible to charge the money to an official position, but if Princess Genie happened to figure out the secret, it would be a huge problem.
Jade thought it would be much safer to borrow money from Chi-yon instead.
"Of course. You, being a legendary warrior of Ash, shouldn't be walking around in such a shabby state. Here, take this."
Chi-yon handed Jade a bundle of coins from his pocket.
"Thank you so much, Choi Young. I will definitely repay this money."
Chi-yon chuckled.
"No need to mention it. There's no need for that between us. Before you leave, make sure to stop by Chi-yon's store in the harbor. I just want to see your face once more."
"I'll try. Thanks again, Chi-yon. I think I should head in now."
Jade looked at Chi-yon apologetically.
Chi-yon waved his hand, urging him to go in.
"Go on inside. But make sure to visit my store before you leave Ash, Jade."
----------
Meanwhile, Genie waited alone at the tavern with a lot on her mind.
'Jade definitely said with his own mouth earlier that he hasn't married. Then, was I wrong all this time? Was I completely mistaken, thinking that he had already married, when in fact he's still single...?'
Genie's heart began to race.
'Jade... hasn't married yet…'
She felt an inexplicable sense of happiness.
Just then, Jade returned to the tavern.
"What are you thinking so deeply about?"
Snapping out of her thoughts, Genie looked at him.
'Did you... not marry yet?'
Genie wanted to ask, but it felt a bit embarrassing to bring it up right now.
She didn't want to seem too interested in his marriage status.
"No, it's nothing."
Genie picked up her spoon again and took a large bite of the food.
The food tasted even better than before.
Jade stared at Genie eating nonchalantly.
"Luckily, it seems like the Princess isn't suspecting anything."
Jade breathed a sigh of relief.
After a while, Genie and Jade, having finished their hearty dinner, headed for the inn.
Since the tavern didn't provide sleeping rooms, they needed to find another place to stay.
Genie and Jade walked down the street as they watched the sunset.
A clothing store came into Genie's sight.
Genie had been feeling uncomfortable wearing the dirty clothes she had for many days.
"Jade, should we buy some new clothes from there?"
"Yes, sounds good."
Jade and Genie entered the shop.
A long blue tunic caught Genie's eye.
"I'll take that one!" she exclaimed.
"Then I'll..."
Jade carefully looked around the store.
There were many sets of men's robes and pants.
Genie watched Jade carefully examine the clothes.
'Jade is very meticulous when choosing clothes,' Genie thought.
Jade hesitated as he reached for a blue robe and pants.
"The Princess also bought blue clothes, so if I choose the same, it might look like I'm copying..."
He picked up a black robe and pants from the side.
"I've chosen mine. Please wait a moment."
Jade asked the elderly shopkeeper. "How much for these?"
"Forty cents."
Genie's eyes widened slightly.
"Forty cents? That's really expensive..."
Seeming to sense Genie's thoughts, the shopkeeper said, "The one you picked is a silk tunic, young lady. No wonder why it's expensive."
Genie nodded awkwardly.
Jade handed the money he had borrowed from Chi-yon earlier to the shopkeeper.
As they left the store, Genie said, "I have a lot of money to repay you when we return to the palace."
At her cute words, Jade smiled faintly.
"You don't have to repay me."
"No, I will repay you. And I will also make sure to tell His Majesty how much you've suffered for me," Genie said.
Jade felt a pang of guilt from Genie's pure words.
It felt like his heart was being pricked.
"... It's nothing. It's fine, Your Highness..."
----------
As the sun set, Genie and Jade, tired, entered the inn.
"Oh, look! A young couple has arrived. What kind of room should I give you?"
The innkeeper greeted them as they entered.
Genie awkwardly shook her hand.
"We're not a couple. Perhaps, are there two rooms left?"
"Not a married couple?"
The innkeeper looked at them alternately, surprised.
Indeed, it might seem strange for a young man and woman to come to a tavern together as the sun set.
The innkeeper pointed to the rooms at the ends of the building.
"Then, the lady will go to the room at the far right, and the young man to the room on the far left. Each room has a space to bathe, so you can wash up there."
Genie and Jade both slightly bowed their heads.
"Thank you, ma'am," Genie said.
"We'll rest well," Jade also said.
Genie turned and looked at Jade.
"Go rest well," Genie said.
Jade lowered his head.
Genie quickly entered the room at the far right.
She entered the connected bathroom and dipped into a tub filled with warm water.
"It feels so good..."
Genie leaned back in the tub and tilted her head.
It was a small, but satisfying tavern.
'By now, Jade is probably bathing in warm water as well. He really has had a hard time. When we get back to the palace, I need to tell His Majesty that Jade deserves a special reward.'
Meanwhile, Jade was also in the bathtub connected to his room, bathing.
"It feels so good..."
His quiet voice echoed in the small tub.
'The Princess is probably resting well too by now...'
Jade closed his eyes quietly.
Even with his eyes closed, he could see Genie's face.
'I can't...'
Jade shook his head, splashing warm water onto his face.
After a while, Genie, having finished her bath, entered her room wearing the blue tunic she had just bought.
It felt so refreshing to wear clean clothes instead of the dirty ones.
How long had it been since she had properly slept in a warm room with a blanket?
Genie thought back to the nights after the shipwreck when she had to sleep in the cold and uncomfortable conditions.
And each time, Jade had been there beside her, protecting her.
Genie pulled the blanket up to her neck.
She felt incredibly refreshed, having bathed and changed into new clothes, and looked up at the ceiling.
'This is such a happy evening. I'm so tired so I better sleep now.'
Genie closed her eyes.
The feeling of wearing clean clothes and sleeping in a warm room under a cozy blanket was just wonderful.
But no matter how much she tried to sleep, she couldn't.
She felt like she wouldn't be able to sleep until she solved this curiosity.
Finally, Genie threw off her blanket and jumped up.
"I'll have to ask."
Genie opened the door and stepped out into the inn's courtyard.
The lantern light illuminated the dark night.
She walked across the courtyard to stand in front of Jade's room.
"Jade, are you asleep?"
Genie knocked gently on the door.
After a moment, Jade opened the door and appeared.
"Are you not asleep yet?" Jade asked, looking at Genie standing at the door.
'That blue tunic she bought a while ago looks great on her,' Jade thought to himself.
"Could we talk for a moment, Jade?" Genie asked, gathering her courage.
Seeing Genie's somewhat serious expression, Jade suddenly felt a surge of tension.
'Did she overhear the conversation I had with Chi-yon earlier...? No, surely she didn't realize...?'
Jade tried to hide his nervousness as he followed Genie into the courtyard.
They sat side by side on the inn's porch, gazing at the night sky.
"What is it that you want to talk about?" Jade asked, trying to sound casual.
Genie, as if having made a decision, looked into his eyes.
"Have you not married yet?"
Jade's tension melted away, and he smiled slightly.
"Is that what you were worried about asking?"
Genie, feeling a little embarrassed, tilted her head back and looked up at the night sky.
"I haven't yet," Jade answered in a soft voice.
Genie's heart began to race.
"Then, Jade..."
Jade looked at Genie, who was staring at him seriously.
"Since you haven't married yet... Jade..."
Jade waited for her to finish.
His own heart began to pound.
He was unknowingly waiting for what she would say.
"Since you haven't married yet…"
Jade's heart racing grew faster.
"Please become my bodyguard again."
Genie smiled as she finished speaking.
"Ah..."
Jade didn't know what to say.
'What had I been expecting?'
He felt suddenly embarrassed.
But that embarrassment was short-lived. At Genie's request for him to become her bodyguard again, a faint smile spread across his face.
"Well, if His Majesty commands it, then I will do so."
Jade answered, trying to hide the smile that was spreading.
"Of course, if I ask His Majesty, he will surely agree. But are you really okay with leaving the King's bodyguard position to join mine?" Genie asked.
She felt a bit sorry, wondering if she was making an unreasonable request.
"Serving the Princess is also something a warrior of Hana Kingdom should do. So that doesn't matter to me."
'If I stay by the Princess's side, my influence will increase once she becomes the Queen... That will make it easier to complete the tasks I have to do for Ash...' Jade thought.
'But...'