Two-Faced Princess

New Embers (8)

“A glass of warm milk please!”

At her favorite pub in the capital, Tanya ordered her favorite drink. She didn’t like alcohol much. Both her grandmother and brothers enjoyed drinking and weren’t particularly strict with her so she could easily access alcohol from a young age after getting out of terrible poverty. Still, she hated its bitter taste. They said she was good-natured when she was drunk, but she couldn’t tell. Maybe it was because she had a strong drinking capacity for alcohol.

“The beers taste good here. A grown lady like you must have a very unique taste.” The tavern’s owner said, pouring milk into a large glass. Tanya’s light purple eyes sparkled with welcome.

“I have chocolate powder. Do you want me to put some?”

Tanya nodded at the owner’s kind words. Soon after, a steaming hot milk-chocolate drink appeared.

“This is it! As expected, the hot chocolate you make is the best.”

“No other people in this Empire order milk at a tavern, girl.”

“Is it weird for a tavern to sell milk?”

Tanya smiled in satisfaction as she tried to pay but as soon as she reached into her pocket, her expression hardened.

“Where the hell——-”

“Huh? What’s wrong?”

“My money is gone.”

Scowling, Tanya groped her waist again. However, the heavy pocket that should be there earlier was nowhere to be found.

“How dare this thief to rob me?” She slammed down her glass of milk.

“Many pickpockets roam this neighborhood these days, so you should have been careful. You’re a regular, so you can pay for the milk later.” The bar’s owner said, taking pity on her. Tanya’s anger didn’t die.

“Later? I’ll catch that idiot who stole my pocket! I’m sure he’s still around.” Tanya tried to remain calm. Her money for travel was all in that pocket. Without it, she would have to return to Lishan by foot after the errand. She had shouted at his brothers that she wanted to go alone this time but things had gotten messed up from the start.

“It’s embarrassing to borrow money from Adrian.” While she was muttering awkwardly, someone put a coin between her and the owner. “I’ll buy it for you.”

Tanya turned her head and saw a man sitting next to her. He was wearing a hat at the moment so she couldn’t see his face well, but he seemed only four to five years older than Tanya.

‘He’s handsome.’ She thought to herself. ‘Just look at that jawline.’

Tanya was the type to change her crush several times a year but she had this feeling that she had seen this person before.

“Who are you?” She asked without loosening her guard.

The man grinned, showing white teeth. “Don’t be too wary. I have a favor to ask you.”

The tavern’s owner took the coin and moved his attention somewhere else.

Tanya tilted her head.

“Can I talk to you in a quiet place? You don’t mind going in that corner, do you?”

She glowered at him with suspicion. Did he like her? With her short hair and blunt tone, Tanya was quite popular. She had fallen in love with thirty people in a year and about a third of them reciprocated her feelings. Their shallow affection lasted only until Tanya fell in love with the next.

“Just listen to me first. Then, you can decide afterward whether you’d do me a favor or not. It won’t hurt you either.” The man added with a friendly smile. Tanya swallowed a sip of hot chocolate and glanced around. The corner of the bar was more familiar to Tanya than this man, and the man didn’t seem to have a companion. Not recognizing any danger, she nodded.

“Well, let’s hear it first.”

The man grinned and went to the corner table where few people had already settled down. Tanya followed him with a gentle step.

“What do you want to talk about?”

“I have a letter to send to your superior.”

Tanya’s eyes widened the instant she heard that.

“You! What did you just say? Do you know me?”

Her acquaintances were rare in the capital. Even if he knew, he would never have known about her relationship with Lady Idena or the boss.

“Are you on your way to talk to that person? I just heard about it.”

Should she have paid more attention to his disguise? Tanya looked again at the man with regret. His face was blank and he didn’t seem threatening in particular.

“Speak clearly. How do you know me?”

“I just heard it from someone I trust. Let me be clear. I have no intention of harming the owner. I just want to suggest a business.” The man raised his hands as if to show that he had no malice.”Some people represent companies in each region. Anyone who has a suggestion goes through there.”