This BL Novel Is Ruined Now - Chapter 247
Chapter 247
Translator: Yonnee
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Reina, having heightened her alertness again, quickly moved off the forest path and hid behind a nearby tree.
Soon after, a donkey pulling a rickety cart appeared along with a middle-aged couple. The white-haired couple slowly moved along the road, chatting quietly with each other.
“What would you like for dinner tonight?”
“How about the leftover potato soup and bread from yesterday?”
“That sounds good.”
Could they be locals? There didn’t seem to be a village nearby…
‘But their clothes indicate they’re commoners.’
Their relaxed demeanor also suggested they weren’t knights from the Bohr family or servants hiding in the abandoned building.
Reina bit her lip, lost in thought.
‘Should I ask for their help?’
Of course, she could just walk to the Venzen family or the Grand Duke’s domain on her own.
However, riding on a donkey-pulled cart, even though it looked unimpressive, would definitely be different from walking there on her own two feet.
‘Walking could… make it easier for House Bohr’s knights who are out searching to spot me.’
Though the likelihood of that happening was still low.
But this possibility was still higher than successfully calling the imperial family disguised as Jeremy or convincing the elves to let her cross the Grand Duke’s domain.
‘So, asking them for help seems like the better option…’
The question was whether they would be friendly towards Reina.
Let’s think about it from the other perspective.
If you encountered a person walking alone and naked in the forest, wouldn’t you naturally suspect their mental state and be wary?
“Haa…”
Are all the options so unsafe? Why does everything seem like a gamble?
Unaware, Reina sighed, but then she suddenly realized she had made a noise.
“Huh? Did you hear something just now, dear?”
“It seems like it. Sounded like a human voice.”
“I thought so too.”
The cart full of goods and the donkey stopped. The husband, holding a stick, got off the cart and advised his wife.
“Hold onto the knife I gave you, dear.”
“Yes, be careful.”
The sound of shoes brushing against grass grew closer to the tree where Reina was hiding, hunched over in her naked state. Hearing the approach, she clenched her eyes shut.
“Damn. Looks like I don’t have a choice now.”
She had no choice but to ask for their help.
But the idea of greeting them naked and explaining her situation was mortifying. Unable to decide what to do, she curled up even more.
As Reina hesitated, the footsteps finally stopped. It was the first time she had ever wasted time agonizing over a decision.
Unprepared to face the situation, she found herself speechless.
And it seemed the other party felt the same.
“……”
“……”
After all, how could anyone casually exchange greetings like ‘hello’ when they encounter a fully grown woman, hair disheveled, stark naked in the middle of the forest?
The two stared at each other, wordless, as if time had stopped.
Then, not long after, the middle-aged woman broke the silence.
“What’s going on? Why did you freeze there…”
But she too soon dropped the knife she was holding and shut her mouth.
“……”
“……”
“……”
An awkward silence hung between the three.
Occasional bird chirps disrupted the stillness, but that didn’t prompt anyone to speak prematurely.
The middle-aged couple’s faces turned red as they struggled to find the right words, while Reina was simply blank-minded.
Fortunately, the middle-aged woman’s kindness soon put an end to the silence.
“Isn’t it cold?”
Although she had many questions, the woman refrained from asking more out of consideration for Reina. Instead, it seemed to the middle-aged couple that Reina looked like a shivering wild rabbit.
“Dear, could you bring a blanket and some clothes from the cart?”
“O-Of course…!”
As the husband hurriedly left his spot, the wife crouched to meet Reina’s eye level.
“It’s a bit shabby, but we have some spare clothes we picked up on our way to the market. They are clean, so you should wear these.”
The couple was kind-hearted.
Unsure of what to say or how to fabricate an excuse to ask for their help, Reina was hesitant, but they demanded nothing from her.
They simply provided clothes to warm her frozen body and shoes to cover her dirt-covered feet.
“Thank you.”
Although it was the help she needed, it wasn’t the kindness she had expected, so Reina timidly offered her thanks.
Then, as the husband helped Reina onto the cart, he smiled warmly and simply.
“Are you hungry? We’ll be home soon, and you’re welcome to join us for a meal.”
It dawned on Reina that since being captured by Grace, she hadn’t had a sip of water. Realizing this, she suddenly felt a pang of hunger.
“…Would that be alright?”
“Of course. It’s nice to have company for dinner, isn’t it, dear?”
“You’re right, dear.”
Even though the people were friendly and seemed trustworthy, Reina was still in a position where she should be wary of anyone.
However, the cold she had endured while naked, her worn-out feet, and the rapidly encroaching hunger and thirst made her vulnerable.
Honestly, who could refuse such a warm gesture in such a desperate situation?
‘If they’re from Grace’s side… well, that’s beyond my control.’
How could she be suspicious and reject such an offer when they are so kind, especially in such dire circumstances?
Comforted by this resolution, Reina nodded and leaned back in the cart.
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