605.
“Is the room to your liking?”
Leo, after looking around the room, glanced at the innkeeper with a slightly surprised expression.
The inn room was fairly spacious.
Additionally, each room came with a small, attached hot spring.
“Well, giving us a storage room would have been fine too.”
“Haha. How could I do that after hearing your story? Look at how hard your younger siblings have worked for their older brother and sister!”
The innkeeper laughed heartily and patted Leo on the shoulder.
Then, turning to Marchel, he spoke seriously.
“Life is full of arguments at times, but there are far more good things than bad.”
The innkeeper’s voice softened slightly as he continued.
“I lost my wife many years ago. We fought a lot, and now I deeply regret not creating more memories with her… Not being able to treat her better…”
The innkeeper’s expression darkened momentarily before he cleared his throat.
“I seem to be getting overly sentimental. Nonetheless, you two should stay here with no worries today. However! Expect to be worked hard until the early evening!”
“We’ll unpack and then come to help right away.”
With that nod, the innkeeper left the room.
“Hmm, I wondered why you gave us such a nice room, but it seems you had your reasons.”
Leo muttered quietly before removing his shoes and entering the room.
“The floor’s warm.”
“This is Eastern Continent-style interior design, isn’t it?”
Marchel looked around after entering the room behind Leo.
There was no bed inside.
Instead, the presence of thick blankets suggested they would be sleeping on the floor.
“Hmph. I apologize for my earlier behavior despite knowing why Master Leo arranged such a place. It seems I couldn’t control my emotions even though I understood.”
“Don’t worry about it. I never really believed everyone would obediently enjoy sightseeing anyway.”
Leo said while unpacking.
“Well, at least setting everything aside for a day and cooperating might develop some teamwork. I plan on doing this once more when we return from Retin, for a whole week.”
“Hmm… There will definitely be some people who defy you tomorrow, Master Leo. What do you plan on doing with them?”
“Since they’re asking for it, we’ll give them what they want.”
“…Seems like Chelsea and Master Leo coming here was a good decision.”
Marchel sighed in relief.
“Still, I’m worried about where Chelsea is.”
While Marchel might have been friendly towards Leo, who was both from the Flove family and a magic practitioner, being of the Zerdinger bloodline, the same couldn’t be said for Niel’s feelings towards Chelsea’s relationship with Celia.
“I suppose it’s awkward for a man and a woman to share a room.”
“Yes, now that Chelsea’s grown up, it’s inappropriate for me to share a room with her…”
Marchel trailed off and Leo interjected casually.
“Do you want to share a room with Senior Niel?”
“Huuh! Cough, cough!”
Caught off guard by Leo’s sudden question, Marchel started choking.
“What kind of question is that?!”
“Didn’t Chelsea tell you two were quite close back in the day?”
“Yes, we were close back then, but not anymore! It’s just an old story! Besides, I’ve never once entertained such thoughts about Niel Loda…”
“Didn’t you think about marriage at one point? Even if you were young, considering that the heir of the highest-ranking family of Lewallyn was willing to accept a non-magician knight as a wife suggests you were quite serious about it, no?”
“To form an engagement with a non-magician from such a prestigious magical family would’ve required a monumental resolution.”
“…”
Marchel sighed softly after Leo’s statement.
“There was a time we envisioned such a future together.”
“You sure made quite the fool of yourself.”
“Master Leo, don’t you remember that I’m four years older than you?”
Marchel, watching Leo treat her like a child, asked with an exasperated expression.
Despite her words, Leo simply smiled at Marchel.
“Sometimes when I look at Master Leo, it feels like I’m looking at an older brother.”
Shaking her head and letting out a hollow laugh, Marchel continued.
“We haven’t been like that since we found out each other’s true identities. It felt inappropriate towards her.”
Looking at Marchel intently, Leo inquired.
“What if Senior Niel wasn’t from the Loda family?”
“…”
At this statement, Marchel paused, then smiled bitterly.
“Would such a situation ever arise?”
‘So there are lingering feelings? Not very honest.’
Unsatisfied with Marchel’s firm denial, Leo internally scoffed but suggested otherwise.
“How about we go assist with the work now?”
“Let’s.”
“Chelsea, the food’s ready.”
“Alright!”
Chelsea, entering the kitchen, picked up the dishes Leo had prepared and headed outside.
She placed them on the table where customers were waiting.
The inn that Leo’s group was staying at wasn’t a high-end establishment.
As a result, there were no noble guests.
Instead, it was a place frequented by families on vacation.
“Here’s the meal you ordered.”
Chelsea smiled brightly as she placed the dishes.
“Whoa, what a polite young lady.”
The wife among a family of four sitting at the table smiled at Chelsea.
“You guys are going to have a great trip!”
At Chelsea’s cheerful farewell, the daughter grabbed her mother’s sleeve and looked up.
“Mom, mom, I think I’ve seen this sister somewhere.”
“Hmm? Where?”
“Uh… The newspaper?”
“You’re so funny. Why would someone in the newspaper be here? Besides, you don’t usually read the newspaper much, do you?”
“No, I’m certain I’ve seen her. Right, big brother?”
“Yeah, I definitely remember seeing her somewhere too.”
“Heh heh, kids. Even if you read the newspaper, you only ever look at the hero’s articles.”
Chelsea had made the newspaper a few times.
But no one expected that Chelsea Lowallin, the famous golden generation of Lumern, would ever be serving here.
As such, people merely thought they had seen her somewhere before.
However, children were perceptive.
Smiling at the children whispering about her, Chelsea thought to herself.
‘They’re cute.’
She was reminded of herself and Abad when they were younger.
Chelsea returned to the kitchen.
There, she saw Marchel explaining the order to Niel while serving.
“Did you understand?”
“Hmph, I’m not deaf.”
“Good, seemed like your ears were open.”
With a sharp response from Niel, Marchel smiled coldly and left for the dining area.
Watching this, Chelsea shook her head.
To which Leo asked her.
“Isn’t the work tiring?”
“Nope, I actually find it fun.”
“Isn’t it bothersome when customers treat you rudely?”
“Leo, do you really think I’m a naïve aristocratic young lady?”
Chelsea had a status higher than most royalty.
She had been well-supported from a very young age.
But that didn’t mean she was authoritarian.
‘If she were, she wouldn’t have grown this way.’
She had easily befriended Karl, a commoner, from the moment she entered school.
She was very flexible-minded.
“Still.”
Chelsea crossed her arms as she looked at Niel who was chopping ingredients.
Niel, who had shown skill in cooking, was assigned kitchen duty with Leo.
The other kitchen staff marveled at her kn*fe skills.
“Amazing!”
“How does she slice through those thick bones so effortlessly?”
With her lifelong training as a knight, her capabilities shone in the kitchen as well.
“It’s freezing!”
“Tell me about it.”
Since being paired with Marchel, Niel had shown quite a sensitive reaction.
“Marchel still seems to have lingering feelings.”
“What? Really?”
Chelsea’s eyes widened in surprise.
Regaining her composure, she quickly adopted a serious expression and approached Niel.
“Senior Niel, do you still have feelings for Marchel?”
BANG!
“Ah?”
Niel, having chopped through an entire slab of meat by mistake, stared wide-eyed at Chelsea.
The ominous atmosphere caused all the kitchen staff to hold their breaths.
However, Chelsea faced Niel’s formidable gaze without flinching.
“Answer me.”
Niel finally clicked her tongue and replied.
“Why should I answer that? It’s none of your business.”
“Our family was part of the reason you two split up, so I can’t help but feel it concerns me.”
At Chelsea’s response, Niel put down her kitchen kn*fe and took a deep breath.
“Does it matter if I do or don’t? It wasn’t because of your family, or ours either. We just weren’t meant to be from the beginning. So you don’t need to worry about this.”
With that, Niel took off her apron and added.
“Sorry, I’ll be right back. I need some air.”
And with that, she left the kitchen.
Watching her reaction, Chelsea turned to Leo.
“Looks like she has lingering feelings too, right?”
“Seems so.”
Leo confirmed with a nod.
“What should we do?”
Deep in thought, Chelsea asked, and Leo replied.
“It’s their problem. As Senior Niel said, it’s not really your concern.”
“I know, but I can’t help but feel responsible since it’s partly because of our family.”
In the past, Chelsea probably would have given up, thinking it was something beyond her control.
But things were different now.
“It’s not right for Lowallin and Zerdinger to continue this hostility, is it?”
Chelsea understood better than anyone why Leo had arranged this setting.
Because she knew that Leo was the hero of beginnings, Kyle.
In the not-so-distant future, a calamity might arise that requires everyone in the world to unite their strength.
In such a situation, is it right for Rodren’s two heroic families, Lowallin and Zerdinger, to continuously remain in conflict?
During their second year at Lumern, Chelsea had changed considerably.
Celia was still annoying as ever.
But things were different from the days when the rallying cry was simply to overthrow Zerdinger.
Chelsea knew what Leo aspired to achieve.
For the current life she lived.
And for the future life she hoped to live.
Chelsea knew the harsh journey Leo had walked and the even harsher path ahead.
Therefore…
‘I want to help in any way I can.’
Arwen had said that Leo would never willingly share his burdens.
Then…
She wanted to lend Leo as much help as possible in any way she could.
Even if Leo could seemingly do everything.
She needed to do what she could.
‘The relationship between Marchel and Senior Niel symbolizes the conflict between the two families.’
She wanted to resolve this conflict, even just a little.
“I don’t expect them to go back to the relationship they once had. But I at least hope they can settle their ill feelings and become friends.”
Chelsea said sincerely.
“Is there a good way to handle this?”
While Chelsea was pondering, the innkeeper walked into the kitchen and spotted Leo and Chelsea, then smiled brightly.
“Thanks to both of you, we’re getting great reviews from our customers now! They’re saying the food tastes even better than usual! With such an attractive lady and gentleman serving and working here, business just happens naturally! You’re doing a fantastic job!”
Judging by his raised thumb, today’s sales were going exceptionally well. The innkeeper then hesitated.
“What’s wrong? Why does the mood feel off?”
“Well…”
After Chelsea explained the situation, the innkeeper thought seriously for a moment then slapped his chest.
“Still in a cold war, huh? Well, there’s no help for that! If so, we’ll just have to force a resolution!”
“Is there a good method?”
“Just leave it to me!”
The innkeeper raised his thumb confidently.
Watching this, Leo squinted slightly.
‘This plan is likely going to be quite reckless.’
As evening passed, and the moon shone brightly in the serene night,
Niel walked down the hallway.
‘What does Master Leo want from me?’
Niel’s expression darkened.
‘Could it be about the embarrassing situation caused earlier today?’
In that case, she had no defense regardless of how many mouths she had.
With a deep sigh, Niel arrived at Leo’s door and knocked.
“It’s Niel.”
There was no response to her knocking.
Perplexed, she carefully opened the door.
“It’s Niel. May I come in…?”
SWOOSH!
In an instant, Niel, sensing movement from behind, instinctively turned around.
But Leo was quicker, pushing Niel forward into the room.
BAM!
Chelsea, who had been waiting, quickly closed the door behind them.
Trapped inside the room, Niel’s mouth hung agape.
Then, she noticed Marchel inside the room with the same shocked expression.
On the table in front of them was a lavish spread of food.
Before she could react, Niel rushed to the door to open it.
Click-click!
BAM-BAM!
“Master Leo? Please open up! Master Leo!”
Panicking, Niel struggled to open the door, but it wouldn’t budge.
*
Snap!
Leo flicked his finger, casting a magic spell on the door.
“It worked!”
“Absolutely!”
Chelsea grinned and did a high-five with the innkeeper.
“I knew you would’ve planned something like this.”
As Leo muttered while shaking his head, the innkeeper laughed heartily.
“On occasions like this, sometimes you just have to force them to stay together! Alright, now let’s leave the rest to the couple and get some rest yourselves! I’m sure we’ll have good news by tomorrow!”
Laughing loudly as he departed, the innkeeper watched as Chelsea turned to Leo.
“Will this help them make up?”
“Maybe. But it might make things worse instead.”
Leo glanced sidelong at the door.
“Judging from their reactions, there may have been some necessity for this forced intervention. Now, it depends on how much they care for each other.”
![[TS] The Protagonist is Conquered](https://i3.wp.com/novelhitam.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/1743806812-5548-TS-The-Protagonist-is-Conquered.png?resize=85,105 "[TS] The Protagonist is Conquered")
