"Yuna, are you done with unpacking your things?" ［Grey］
"Just a minute～! I'm just storing my luggage." ［Yuna］
"Alright. I'll help you with that." ［Grey］
It was a cozy room, not too big nor too small, more than enough to contain a large bed, a closet, a couple cabinets, a table and some chairs, and some shelves by the sides, all colorful and filled with artistic patterns.
There was a large window up front, and a small balcony as well, the room filled with pointed arches and pillars protruding from the corners of the room, a couple small holes for ventilation located along the upper rim of the room.
Apart from the architecture style and the materials used, the room at the inn they were staying at seemed relatively similar from the ones they've been in in Oiros. It was very cozy and homey, more than perfect for staying a couple of days.
"Was that all there isー Oh! Looks like there's still another luggageー" ［Grey］
"Wait, Grey! I'll do that myself! Those are... You know, those..." ［Yuna］
"Yuna, it's already too late for that, you know? I've already seen all your clothing from top to bottom. It shouldn't matter much if I help you with these as well. And, I'm your fiancé, remember? This sort of thing will be normal once we get married." ［Grey］
"S-Still! It's embarrassing! Just give me a minute, and I'll be finished!" ［Yuna］
"No can do, Young Lady. We still have a lot to do and explore for the day, so let's just get it over quickly." ［Grey］
Grey and Yuna have now settled in one of the inns the old man recommended to them. It cost just about the same as the Rabbit's Den, and the extra food and services were also relatively cheap. It was a good place to stay.
And now, the two are unpacking their things to prepare themselves for their short stay. The young lady was being fussy about her undergarments being seen, but it was already far too late. It wasn't the first time Grey had seen them, after all.
All Yuna could do was be in dread and despair as Grey opened her final luggage. The young man had already prepared himself, but even he was shocked when he opened it. There were some quite... bold outfits, stored inside...
"Th-Tha-That's! H-Helen said bringing that would bring good luck! I-I really had no other intentions in mind! U-Un! For good luck!" ［Yuna］
"I haven't said anything yet." ［Grey］
"Grey... I'm not an improper and indecent girl... I don't always think of things like that... I really have no other intentions! Please believe me!" ［Yuna］
"Like I said, I haven't said anything yet." ［Grey］
Of course, what's some unpacking without a little bit of shenanigans? Just when Grey thought things would pan out smoothly and peacefully, he was suddenly greeted by a surprise he had never anticipated, his heart feeling conflicted once again.
The young man didn't doubt Yuna's words one bit, as he knew she would never do something so bold without being coaxed into it. There were also highly graphic novels inside as well, all of them filled with contents Yuna has been reading as of late.
As a man and her fiancé, Grey felt a little happy, but at the same time, he was a little concerned about how easy it was to gaslight Yuna, Helen providing them proof of it time and time again. Their extracontinental vacation was already off to a great start.
"Yuna, remind me to check your luggage before we go next time, alright?" ［Grey］
"All the time...?" ［Yuna］
"Yeah. All the time. My heart won't be able to handle it if you bring something even bolder than this next time... At least tell me beforehand, yeah?" ［Grey］
"Uuu... Grey... I really have no other intentions..." ［Yuna］
There was no point dwelling too much about jt. What's done is already done, and Grey simply tucked in the Young Lady's undergarments in the cabinet, making sure that they are organized neatly, hiding the more risky one from plain sight.
Yuna was fidgety the whole time, but Grey really wasn't mad at her. He quickly gave him some words of reassurance, and spoiled her a little bit. It didn't take too long before the young lady made a quick recovery, her ears still having a tinge or redness.
"Right... Speaking of which...." ［Grey］
And while they were on the topic of clothing, there was another issue they had to address while they're at it. It was the very clothing they wear which stands out like a sore thumb in a crowd wearing all sorts of traditional Middle Eastern clothing.
It doesn't really matter much if they just ignore the curious stares, but it would be quite tiring to be subjected to it throughout their whole stay. They've already gotten so much attention in Galderia, they don't need it here as well.
"Yuna, should we do a little wardrobe change?" ［Grey］
"U-Un! Let's go!" ［Yuna］
There was no time to waste. As soon as they decided they would be changing most of the clothes they're wearing for the day, they quickly headed downstairs and asked the receptionist for a place where they could buy new clothes.
Luckily enough, there was a clothing store just nearby selling not only affordable, but wonderful and colorful garments as well. There were all sorts of designs present from tight-fitting and formal clothes all the way to loose and casual clothing.
But perhaps the most important part is the fabric used and the embroidery laced out on them. There was a ton of variation to choose from and also a lot of accessories which would go well with them. It was pretty much a new world to them.
"Thank you for your patronage!"
There was no need to think too much. As soon as something caught Grey and Yuna's eyes, they quickly tried it out and bought in when they liked it well enough. The two are now in new kinds of garments they've never been in before.
Yuna wore a sleeveless and light-colored garment for the upper portion and a rather flowing and baggy trousers for the lower portion, a band of vibrant, loose, and smooth fabric wrapped around her waist and a long, open green sleeveless coat with golden laces and embroidery as a nice finish.
Rather than long boots, what Yuna wore now were thin sandals with leather straps tucking her feet. For her accessories, there was a silver bracelet on her left wrist and some clipped-on silver earrings down her pointy ears.
They were just simple clothing in Arihal, but when Yuna wore them, they shone like they were some kind of intricate garments woven together as masterpieces. Now, Yuna stands out for an entirely different reason.
"You really do look good in everything, huh, Yuna?" ［Grey］
"Fufufu! Thank you～! Grey is handsome as well!" ［Yuna］
As for Grey, he was wearing the same kinds of loose and flowing garments as Yuna, the only difference was that his upper clothing were long sleeved and that the color of his open coat was blue, wearing almost similar accessories as well.
Heck, Grey even put on a clipped-on golden earring on one of his ears. It doesn't look as intricate as the one Yuna was wearing, but such simplicity suited him well, his hair even tucked backwards to suit the style. He looked different but just as gorgeous,
"Hahaha. You're gonna make me blush, My Dear." ［Grey］
"But it's true! Grey is the most handsome in the world! Even if you wear different kinds of clothes, I'm sure they will all fit you perfectly!" ［Yuna］
"Then I must be the luckiest man in the world... Because I was given such a beautiful and adorable girl as a fiancée. You look stunning, My Love." ［Grey］
"Fweeeh?! W-why so suddenly?!" ［Yuna］
She was dishing out compliments left and right, but when Grey returned the favor, she immediately turned red all the way to the tip of her pointy ears, both happy and embarrassed at the same time. She really has no defense against it.
"Then, shall we start our little tour, Milady?" ［Grey］
"A-Ah, un! I'll be in your care once again, Sir Grey." ［Yuna］
"Likewise, Milady." ［Grey］
And off they go!
As soon as everything had been settled, Grey and Yuna quickly went around the city and wandered aimlessly to wherever their foot took them. They wandered all over the streets, buying all sorts of things which caught their eyes.
The timing couldn't be any more perfect as the noon bells had just rang. With the arrival of lunch, Grey and Yuna enjoyed themselves in the marketplace and had a taste of the Talsparan cuisine, treating their tongue to a new array of flavors.
All their food was delicious, seasoned with copious amounts of spices and fragrant as can be. There are a lot of creamy foods present, but unlike Middle Eastern nations on Earth, they aren't limited in using any kinds of meat.
"Mmn～! This is mutton, right?! It's so juicy and delicious! Fragrant too!" ［Yuna］
"I heard they marinate their dishes here with a ton of herbs and spices. That must be why they're so delicious! I think these would pair nicely with rice." ［Grey］
"Ohh! That's a great idea! Do we have some left from breakfast?" ［Yuna］
"Yeah. They should still be hot. Let's find some tables first." ［Grey］
Needless to say, Grey and Yuna enjoyed their lunch in the marketplace. The street food was already delicious, so one could only imagine how tasty the dishes inside the restaurants will be. They couldn't wait for dinner.
It wasn't long before Grey and Yuna found themselves an empty table, and enjoyed themselves with a mix of Talsparan cuisine and their own cooking. They went hand in hand with one another as if they were meant to be from the very beginning.
Of course, with big rivers present around the city, there was no shortage of seafood. There was a vast selection of seafood dishes, and each one of them was delicious as can be. Especially the lobsters coated in special sauces. It was exquisite.
There was a lot of spices and herbs, so Grey warned the young lady whenever she was about to eat something she couldn't handle. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable meal, only smiles afloat on their faces.
"That would be 893 kiels in total, Good Sir."
"Here you go... Please check if there's something missing." ［Grey］
"One... Two... Seven.... No, it's perfect. Thank you for the patronage,"
With such copious kinds of herbs and spices present, Grey and Yuna didn't waste any time and also bought a lot of spices by the market stalls and got their hands on new ingredients they have never seen before.
They may be adventurers, but they are also great cooks as well. Just seeing the sheer amount of new ingredients present in the market, they didn't even try to hold themselves back, their blood boiling in happiness and excitement.
Of course, Yuna also missed a beat and bought some medicinal herbs and magic plants she had never seen before. They are ones which could only be found in Vartes, and something she couldn't wait to run a couple experiments with.
After lunch was over, Grey and Yuna soon continued their tour of the city, and soon entered al, sorts of massive buildings in Arihal. From museums to theaters, and even public gardens. They were all rich in colors and diversity.
"Waah～! Look! There are all sorts of paintings in the floor, Grey! Aren' these people too talented in making art? This should have taken A long time!" ［Yuna］
"Should we paint our floor later as well?" ［Grey］
"I'd love that! We should buy some vibrant colors too, right?!" ［Yuna］
"As long as you're having fun, you can buy as many colors as you want. We already painted our walls, anyway. A floor shouldn't be too big of a deal" ［Grey］
"Ah! Then let's ask the orphanage children to play as well! I'm sure Priest Sephyr and the others would be delighted!" ［Yuna］
They are now inside of the library, and like all the massive buildings they've been to before, it was very grand and open, filled with all sorts of colorful patterns from the floor all the way to the ceilings, depicting simple to absurd pieces of art.
The building itself was a work of art as well, lots of pillars and small stairs present all over the place. Of course, the arches were present as well. Not only the round and pointed ones, but multifoil arches as well, subtle outlines carved around them.
All the pillars and walkways were decorated and chiseled masterfully, and even the windows were filled with subtle yet intricate details people would barely even notice. It showed off the true might of architecture that Arihal possessed.
"Grey, let's read some books! There should be great stories here, right?" ［Yuna］
"Yeah. Since Talspara is a Kingdom known for its art, it should also have a variety of literary works. I'm sure they're here somewhere." ［Grey］
"Great! Let's start searching then!" ［Yuna］
Enthusiasm blooming in her heart, Yuna soon explored the library like an excited child, dashing here and there, all the while making sure to be silent. She dragged Grey along with, setting off in a little adventure.
Of course, as they didn't have all the time in the world, Grey and Yuna only read for a few minutes. A few minutes which were more than enough to read various books of their liking with their monstrous reading speeds not even old scholars could compare.
"Ohh... So I can also make it like this, huh..." ［Grey］
What Grey was interested in were the recipe books which contained various dishes from different local cuisines throughout the whole Kingdom. It was very interesting, providing new insight on knowledge to sharpen his culinary skills.
"Waah～. So cute～. Does it really work like this?" ［Yuna］
As for Yuna, there was no need for worry. She is now reading the romance novels she has been into as of late, and happily and excitedly giggling to herself as if some sort of fool, blushing from time to time. She was very quiet in the library, of course.
There was also no need to worry as the one who picked her books was none other than Grey. He made sure first that there wasn't any indecent content in them before handing them over to Yuna... Just like an overprotective father...
Half an hour passed, and after visiting the library, Grey and Yuna went on ahead with their little exploration, heading to art galleries, street shows, the clock towers, and so much more. It wasn't long before they went outside for sightseeing as well.
"Ohh～! You can see the clock tower from here! Amazing!" ［Yuna］
"Well, we're pretty high up, after all. Be careful not to fall off." ［Grey］
"Grey, you're too overprotective. I'm not a child anymore, you know? I'm your fiancée. Learn to trust me a little bit more, okay?" ［Yuna］
"I would, if you stop walking on the cables." ［Grey］
The first place Grey and Yuna paid a visit was none other than the massive bridge they passed through just a couple hours ago, climbing the towers and watching a nice scenery from above which can see the whole city and the rivers.
Of course, such a thing was usually off-limits, but with the power of illusion magic and Yuna's abilities, there was nothing that was impossible. They were quickly able to climb the tower, Yuna even walking on the cables as if it was a tightrope.
She has now become a daredevil, void of any fears and worries even though she was walking on cables over 20 meters high from water level. Rather than be scared, she was simply humming to herself like an excited child.
"Grey, how many bridges are there around the city?" ［Yuna］
"Hmm... Including this one, there should be 5 of them in total, each built at different times and with different styles of architecture. Why do you ask?" ［Grey］
"Nothing too serious! Let's just go pay it a visit!" ［Yuna］
"Alright. That sounds great to me." ［Grey］
A random whim and a random answer. Grey and Yuna quickly hopped off the towers and into the ship passing below them. They landed with steps light and silent as a feather, not making another sound despite falling from such a height.
Another leap later and they landed towards the riverbanks. They made sure to not kick off too much dust and kick up a fuss. Both were headed towards the next bridge located over just a couple kilometers away. It didn't even take them a minute.
"Ohh～! It's even much taller than the other bridge from before! Darker, appropriate, and even more slender too! It's amazing!" ［Yuna］
"Is there nothing not amazing to you, My Dear?" ［Grey］
"But they really are, I swear! Each one of them is a great masterpiece!" ［Yuna］
Like before, they once again climbed the towers supporting the bridges and treated themselves to a wonderful sight. Grey once again treated whipped out the camera and documented photos from high above, documenting the beauty of the city,
He snapped and he snapped, the photos coming out great and filled with definition, the blue sky looming over the horizon and the sound of waves splashing about in the river below them, whistles blowing as the ships passed through.
There was also the happiness and excitement from the children running around down below, gasping and exclaiming as they watched such rare and beautiful sights unfold, the parents looking out for them from afar and making sure they're all safe.
"Fufufu! How cute... Should we bring the children here next time?" ［Yuna］
"That may be difficult. We're on a different continent, after all. I'm sure the parents would be very much worried for them." ［Grey］
"Then why don't we have another vacation trip like last time? You know, let's bring everyone here to Arihal for sightseeing. I'm sure it would be fantastic." ［Yuna］
"Maybe next time. We still have a Labyrinth to clear, after all." ［Grey］
"That's a promise, okay? Don't you dare forget it!" ［Yuna］
One... Two... Three... Grey and Yuna visited the other bridges soon after and made a couple memories there, taking photos and sometimes, videos to preserve such great and precious times, capturing the colors and emotions of the moment.
It wasn't just all sightseeing as well, the two of them also playing about a little bit and causing a bit of mischief for the other person. Yuna was exceptionally great at giving Grey worries as she made a couple exhibitions by the towers and cables.
Well, not that she would get hurt even if she fell anyway. What really caught Grey by surprise was when he was taking another photo, the young lady suddenly rushing towards him and giving him a light peck on the cheeks.
CLICK SNAP
A subtle flash of light sparkled from the tip of the towers and a burning memory was captured. Yuna's soft and plump lips were gently pressing on Grey's cheeks and the latter had a nice expression of surprise painted on his face.
They have kissed a couple of times before, but never on camera. It felt silly, but for some reason, just somehow... It felt a little more embarrassing than usual, Grey's cheeks tinted a light red color as he held the photo in his hand.
"Yuna... I should be the one blushing, you know?" ［Grey］
Well, no matter how red he was, Yuna was still redder than him. She was the one who kissed him, thinking of playing a quick prank on him. But instead of Grey, she was the one who is most embarrassed, just now realizing the weight of her actions.
The picture itself wasn't really embarrassing per se, but the thought of Grey keeping it in one of his albums sincerely dedicated to her was more than enough to warrant a bit of embarrassment. It'd be very embarrassing if others saw it.
"Hey, if you're gonna blush, you shouldn't have done it in the first place." ［Grey］
"Uuu... I was just acting on impulse... I didn't think it would be this embarrassing. Why are you not flustered? This is unfair...." ［Yuna］
"Haha. It would take a lot more than that to make me flustered, My Dear." ［Grey］
Or so he says, but if Yuna hit it on the right spot, he would immediately turn red as well. He was just as flustered as the young lady, but compared to her, he knew how to keep all his expressions in check and subtle as can be.
Otherwise, with how cute and adorable his fiancée is, he would be blushing every time and his face would always be a fierce red color. He could only chuckle at the sight of his fiancée trying to compose herself.
"Hey, Yuna... Close your eyes for a little bit." ［Grey］
"A-Ah! Yes!" ［Yuna］
Yet another mischievous idea has popped up inside Grey's playful mind, and with the flow of things, a quick shot of nervousness suddenly struck Yuna, making her speech suddenly formal and her body tense as can be.
The young lady anticipated a revenge kiss from Grey, but a few seconds had already passed, but there was nothing. She peeked out with one of her eyes out of curiosity, and to her surprise, she found a chuckling Grey, trying to keep himself from laughing.
"G-Grey! You're teasing me again! You are, aren't you?!" ［Yuna］
"Hahaha. Sorry, sorry, you were just so cute, I couldn't help it." ［Grey］
"Geez! I knew it! You never take me seriousー" ［Yuna］
The young lady tried to pout and puff her cheeks, but she couldn't even finish her words. Grey suddenly closed in the gap between the two of them, tilted her chin up ever so slightly, and sealed her lips with a kiss.
It was so sudden, Yuna couldn't help but have her eyes open in shock and agape, and to make things even more intense, Grey teased her a little bit with a light bite on her tongue. A teasing smile soon bloomed on his face.
"Shouldn't you at least do this much to make someone really flustered?" ［Grey］
Asked Grey, but there was no response. Yuna was quiet as can be and all she did was look at Grey straight in the eye. It wasn't long before her brain overloaded with what just happened, her head running wild from being flustered,
"Ah... Did I go too far...?" ［Grey］
Her face was red as can be.
CHAPTER 406 END