Sharlene pondered for a moment after hearing Lena’s words, then continued, “What is your relationship with Silverbloom Sword Princess?”
“Friends.”
“What kind of friends?”
“Just ordinary friends.”
The bones of the monster ingredients were remarkably tough. Lena, being an ordinary person, lacked the strength to cut through them; her knife remained stuck.
Seeing this, Sharlene hooked her index finger, and a sharp surge of magic sliced through the bone from her fingertip, effortlessly cutting all the ingredients Lena had yet to process.
Just as Lena was about to express her gratitude, Sharlene moved closer, her hand firmly gripping Lena’s wrist while her other hand braced against the counter, leaving Lena no escape.
“One last question: why haven’t you replied to my messages?”
A faint smile played on Sharlene’s lips, yet for some reason, Lena found it profoundly menacing.
‘If I don’t answer well, who knows what might happen?’
The reason for not replying was actually quite simple.
Lena felt that Sharlene was overly enthusiastic, to a degree that transcended the boundaries of friendship.
‘Things needed to cool down.’
However, stating this reason directly was out of the question. If it were true, Sharlene would be deeply hurt; if it were false, Lena would merely be assuming too much, which would be utterly humiliating.
Thus, Lena blinked her innocent, wide eyes and meekly asked, “What do you like to eat? I’ll cook for you tonight.”
“Isn’t your attempt to change the subject a little too clumsy?”
Sharlene raised an eyebrow, clearly displeased with Lena’s deflection.
Just as Sharlene was about to press further, the kitchen door suddenly swung open. Isha, a piece of candy in her mouth, stared at them blankly.
“Big Sister Lena, what are you two doing?”
“Wow, I never expected you two to be *that* kind of couple.”
Aurora also poked her head out from the side of the door. Upon seeing their ambiguous posture, she gasped, covering her mouth as she whispered, “The Guild Master actually has feelings for Miss Lena…”
They had rushed over after hearing commotion from the kitchen in the living room. None of them had anticipated finding the Guild Master and their landlady displaying such affection in the kitchen.
Seeing this, Lena quickly pushed Sharlene away and earnestly told them, “It’s not what you think. Don’t spread rumors.”
“Mhm, mhm.”
Although Aurora nodded and chimed in, Lena knew she wasn’t convinced by her words.
Sighing, Lena pressed a hand to her forehead, instantly losing all desire to explain.
Nevertheless, their sudden intrusion had interrupted Sharlene’s interrogation, allowing Lena to breathe a sigh of relief.
Compared to getting her answer, Sharlene seemed more concerned with Isha and Aurora’s misunderstanding; even the fake smile on her face now held a touch of genuine sweetness.
She gently ushered the two girls out of the kitchen, then followed them, deciding not to disturb Lena’s dinner preparations further.
This allowed Lena to completely relax.
****
The sun gradually set in the west, its dim, yellow light painting the clouds crimson. Most of the birds still lingering outside the window had returned to their nests, and Lena’s dinner was finally ready.
Carrying the dinner plates out from the kitchen, she overheard Sharlene’s suggestion from the living room.
“Shall we go to the hot springs after dinner? It could help us bond, especially since we’ll be spending a long time together.”
The Hero’s Assessment was still six months away. Regardless of whether Celia passed, they would be together for at least half a year.
As the Guild Master, Sharlene would naturally have frequent interactions with them.
“Yes, please!”
Upon hearing about the hot springs, Isha excitedly raised her right hand. Meanwhile, Celia, seated on the sofa, trembled slightly and clutched her arms.
“I-I don’t think I’ll go.”
“Why not?” Aurora scrutinized Celia’s expression, immediately discerning that shyness was the reason she didn’t want to go to the hot springs.
“Hot springs and such…”
“Celia, are you perhaps feeling shy? After all, when we’re in the hot springs, everyone is practically baring it all,” Aurora said, choosing to provoke her.
If not for the lack of demon horns on her head, Lena would have thought Aurora’s true form was that of a legendary demon.
“What are you saying? How could I possibly be shy?!” Celia retorted, hands on her hips, doing her best to argue back.
“So, are you going?”
“Of course I’m going! It’s not like I’m scared or anything!”
Celia uttered the words without a moment’s hesitation. Afterward, however, she seemed to realize something, her face clouding with regret.
Aurora’s faint smile, in Celia’s eyes, naturally transformed into a mischievous grin of success.
Lena simply knew that Aurora had perfectly cornered Celia.
After dinner, Lena cleared the dishes and was just about to rest when Sharlene linked her arm through hers, pulling her along to the hot springs.
“Am I going too?”
At first, she had assumed Sharlene’s suggestion didn’t include her. After all, she was merely a landlady, and completely devoid of any magical power.
Among the women present, she was undoubtedly the most delicate.
“Of course! You’re their landlady, Miss! You spend only slightly less time with them than their instructor does!”
Calculating the time, Lena realized Sharlene was indeed correct.
Returning home after a tiring day, the landlady would always have dinner ready for them. Afterward, there would be various small tasks, and occasionally, she would even listen to the girls’ worries.
It always felt a little like a family of four.
With these thoughts in mind, Lena agreed to join them.
The hot springs were located north, not far from the Hero’s Guild. This area was essentially a Hero base within Vidona, where shops and services were almost exclusively provided for Heroes.
The hot springs were no exception. Walking into the main hall, Lena saw that everyone coming and going was a Hero from the Guild.
Upon seeing Guild Master Sharlene, they all greeted her, then began to scrutinize the people following behind her.
Most of those gazes quickly moved from Celia, eventually settling on Lena, then widening with a hint of confusion, as if they felt she shouldn’t be there.
Sharlene also noticed their stares. Deliberately moving closer to Lena, she linked arms with her in plain sight, disregarding Lena’s subtle resistance.
A faint collective gasp echoed through the hall.
The Heroes quickly averted their eyes, no longer focusing on Lena.
Approaching the front desk, Sharlene released Lena and addressed the receptionist, who was engrossed in some task. “Five people.”
Sharlene was a regular here, intimately familiar with the procedures. The receptionist, looking up, instinctively asked, upon seeing Lena, “Is this young lady with you as well?”
No sooner had the words left her mouth than she regretted them deeply.
Sharlene’s delicate brows furrowed. “Yes. Is there a problem?”
“No, no problem at all! This way, please.”
After frantically recording their information, she gestured towards the left corridor, directing the guests.
Lena, of course, observed all of this. Once they were out of earshot, she quietly asked Sharlene, “Are ordinary people forbidden from entering here?”
She feared that Sharlene, in her desire to go to the hot springs with her, had disregarded the rules and forcibly brought an ordinary person into the establishment.
As the Guild Master, people might not dare to say anything to Sharlene’s face, but the rumors behind her back would be unstoppable.
Lena didn’t want to cause trouble for Sharlene.