After checking Rein out at the counter, he took her to the carriage waiting for them outside. The carriage was shiny and big, with gold designs, strong wheels, and white horses pulling it.
But Rein wasn't conscious of the carriage.
"Do you not have shame? How can you walk around naked?" she asked, confused by everyone's indifferent expression toward his indecent appearance.
"Aren't you from around here?" he asked, clearly puzzled by her reaction. For shapeshifters like him, it was normal to walk around unclothed.
"So you do not even know where I came from and you bought me? Who knows, I might be a killer or a spy sent to infiltrate your family," she said, trying to change his mind about taking her to his house. No one wanted to bring an enemy into their household.
"A spy would not reveal their identity," he said, eyeing her with a scornful expression.
"And if you were a spy, I could just end you," he added, nonchalantly, as if taking lives was a usual thing for him.
Reaching the carriage, the coachman opened the door for them with a bow, his face blank of emotion.
"So it's normal to be naked around here," Rein mused, noticing the coachman's nonchalant expression despite his master's indecency.
Bringing her down from his shoulder,
"Enter," Rohan said, pointing at the carriage, giving her no room to escape.
"What makes you think I would enter?" Rein asked, looking at him with disdain. She could have pulled the small knife hidden in her clothing, but recalling the strength he had shown earlier, she knew she could not escape.
But was she going to show a defeated expression?
No.
"Because you have no choice. Enter before I force you," Rohan said, threatening her with his gaze.
"Do not think I am scared of you," Rein grumbled as she stepped into the carriage, followed by Rohan.
Not wanting to sit close to him, she took the opposite seat, sliding far toward the window.
Seeing her childish behavior, Rohan chuckled, wondering how someone like her would care for a child when she was barely more than one herself.
The coachman locked the door and walked toward the front of the carriage, mounted the raised seat, and secured the reins. He was about to signal the horses to move when—
"Wait!"
Hearing the shout, Rohan stretched his head curiously to see who it was. A middle-aged man with a bald head and a robust body stood there.
Bowing slightly, the man said, "Sir, she forgot something." He was referring to Rein. In his hand was a small, old, brown bag—tattered and worn.
"Oh," Rohan muttered, taking the bag and tossing it to Rein without a second glance. A tattered bag like that meant nothing to him.
"Coachman," Rohan called out.
"Yes, sir?"
"Do not take us to the castle yet. Take us to a diner," Rohan ordered. He knew she had not eaten, but she was too stubborn to ask for food or even acknowledge her hunger.
"Yes, sir," the coachman replied and snapped the reins to signal the horses forward.
The journey to the diner was quiet. Rein's thoughts were elsewhere.
She was lost in thought, wondering how and why she had transmigrated into this world. She was supposed to be dead.
She had only read something like this in comics. Who knew it could happen in real life? And now, the most shocking thing had happened—to her.
"Why are you so lost in thought?" Rohan asked. He had only just met Rein, but her silence unsettled him. He had expected her to argue throughout the ride or do something outrageous—like jumping through the window. He chuckled at the idea.
His question snapped Rein out of her thoughts.
"None of your business," she hissed.
The carriage rolled to a slow stop, the horses snorting sharply and their hooves scraping softly against the ground.
The coachman stepped down and opened the door. "We have arrived, sir," he said with a bow.
"These people do enjoy bowing their heads," Rein muttered sarcastically.
"Let's go," Rohan said, taking her hand as they were about to step down.
"Wait! I am not going down with you like this—naked!" she hissed, pulling her hand away. Only then did she remember—he still was not dressed.
"That's true," Rohan nodded, as if he had just realized it.
"Yes," she said, thinking he was finally beginning to understand her feelings.
"Yo," he said. But instead of looking for clothes, he struck a pose. "Wouldn't want the whole kingdom to miss this."
"You—you—" she stammered in anger, her face turning red.
"Calm down. You are not dressed properly either. I can see everything that is supposed to be hidden," he said, his tone suddenly low and luring.
"And so?" she asked. On Earth, women were used to wearing and seeing themselves in revealing clothing. This was nothing to her.
"Let us get changed then. But you must also wear something decent. I do not want any man leering at you," he said, the last words sharp and dangerous.
It did not take more than five minutes for them to change. Rohan did not have clothes for women, so Rein had no choice but to wear his spare clothes. She did not have the luxury of choice—and she was too hungry to argue, though she would never admit it.
"Are you ready?" he asked, stretching his hand toward her, which she reluctantly accepted.
Walking inside the diner, they were escorted to a private room.
"I think he is popular," Rein mused, noticing how all eyes were on them—eyes filled with curiosity, fear, and admiration.
They sat down, and the waiter approached, asking for their order from the menu set on the table.
"What do you want?" Rohan asked Rein.
"I do not know," she replied. The food on the menu was unfamiliar to her. It was foreign.
"What do you mean you do not know?" he asked, suspicion creeping into his gaze. Rein did not behave like any other lady in the kingdom—she was blunt, bold, and now she could not even recognize food on the menu. It was odd.
Noticing his interrogating stare, she stammered, "Wha…t? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Where are you really from?"