Chapter 46 : Chapter 46
Volume 2, Chapter 15. Arrived
The news had shocked Leticia to her core. After all, she had lived through two lives already—and up to now, she was still brimming with virgin purity.
“You’re sure...?”
No matter what, she had to confirm. What if he had meant something else?
“Of course I’m sure.”
Stano snapped impatiently. “What else could I mean? I’m talking about chastity—chastity!”
“Uh...”
It wasn’t embarrassment, but simply that Leticia had never learned this word. However, its pronunciation resembled the religious term “purity,” so by force-fitting the meaning, she could understand.
And she made sure to remember the pronunciation...
Everyday speech contained no vocabulary on this subject, so even though Leticia could communicate fluently, there were many gaps in her knowledge.
She needed to keep learning (:з」∠)
“But it doesn’t make sense. Ilo’s still so young. How could she already... not be...?”
She muttered to herself. “Surely it’s not a case of a daughter following mother’s trade...”
Yet, recalling the farmer’s words and expression earlier, Leticia was surprised to realize—this possibility seemed rather likely.
Still, there was no way she could actually ask.
“Stano?”
Sensing something off in Leticia’s demeanor, Ilo skipped up to her and wrapped her arm around Leticia’s. “What’s wrong?”
A girl on the cusp of her most beautiful years—her body like a butterfly about to emerge from its cocoon, like a flowerbud about to bloom, right at the threshold of transformation.
The softness of Ilo’s chest pressed clearly against her arm. Leticia felt a flicker of discomfort, but didn’t show it much—only subtly pulled her arm away. “I’m fine. But you—could you not cling to me like that? I am a boy, you know?”
“I know.”
Ilo said with a giggle. “But it’s not like boys this age are dangerous. They’re all the same—if you just show a little initiative, they turn red as beets and want to crawl into a hole, or freeze like little chicks. Totally safe!”
“You’re really saying that to my face...”
“Well, you’re the exception.”
Ilo circled around Leticia with interest. “Instead of being shy, you think of my feelings first. Stano, are all outsiders like you? Mature, I mean—those our age.”
“Of course not.”
Leticia didn’t look at her eyes, just kept walking. “Even two people who grow up in the same environment won’t be identical. Some are mature, some not. I’m not that mature myself.”
“How could you say that?”
Ilo smiled brightly. “If even you aren’t mature, then I don’t know who is.”
What flattery.
Another kid might have floated away with pride, but Leticia wasn’t just any kid.
“Let’s drop this.”
She shifted the subject without hesitation. “Those places you wanted to visit—I’ve been by them before. But why do you want to go?”
The three places Ilo wanted to see were: the tavern, the merchants’ guild, and a brothel.
Leticia truly couldn’t fathom why Ilo wouldn’t just go herself, instead of insisting on being led.
There weren’t any rules here forbidding children to wander around (otherwise, she herself would’ve been caught long ago).
“Heh~ That’s Ilo’s secret.”
Ilo smirked slyly. “But, if Stano was willing to give me something in return, maybe I’d give you, the special one, a little hint~”
“Spare me.”
Leticia pushed away the face Ilo had leaned in. “I feel like nothing good ever comes of being with you. Taking you there is enough. The rest is your business.”
“You’re so boring.”
Ilo pouted in dissatisfaction. “You’re no different from old men and women.”
“Then what do you think is the biggest difference between young people and the elderly?”
Leticia asked.
“Um...”
The question didn’t take long. “Time, I guess!”
“Wrong.”
Leticia paused, then replied matter-of-factly. “Most obviously, appearance.”
“That’s so obvious! I thought you’d have something insightful. But it’s just looks.”
“Isn’t that natural? I’m just an ordinary kid.”
Leticia actually wanted to laugh, but couldn’t.
If she forced it, it would look unnatural, like making faces.
Even laughing was something she needed to train...
Her bland answer was also deliberate.
If she occasionally spoke in religious phrases, that could pass as “a pure child.” But if she expressed views beyond her age or station, it would be dangerous.
Even Stano, that little bastard, couldn’t be allowed to see through her.
Because every slip was a weakness.
“So dull, so dull!”
Ilo huffed. “I don’t even feel like playing with you anymore!”
“Don’t let me stop you.”
Leticia said lightly.
“...”
Ilo glared at her for a long time, then suddenly smacked her hard on the head in frustration. “Idiot!”
“Ugh...”
That slap nearly knocked Leticia out.
So even her head couldn’t take a hit. Wonderful. One restriction after another, shackling her tighter and tighter.
More and more things she had to watch out for. (monotone)
Staggering a few steps before steadying herself, Leticia clutched her head and muttered, “Why are you so strong?”
“I’m not!”
“Okay, okay, just don’t hit me again, alright?”
Seeing Ilo looked ready for another swing, Leticia quickly added, “We’re almost there. Just save the antics, okay?”
And it wasn’t an excuse.
As she said, there were more and more people on the road now, carts and horses passing by.
In the distance, under the shadow of the sky, stood the little town.