[IFITAOAMV] Chapter 28

'Did my expression give something away? Surely I didn’t say anything out loud, did I?'

Edwin’s words, as if he had read my mind, left me frozen in place, barely able to breathe.

"Well, not that it matters. We’ve already made a blood pact, so running away is impossible."

Edwin stepped back, his demeanour shifting back to playful as if he hadn’t just been so chilling.

"Do you like your new look? I’m quite fond of it."

Still half in shock, I nodded numbly.

"Great. Then let’s head out."

As usual, Edwin scooped me up and carried me out of the room with enthusiasm.

Outside the building, Seth and several knights were waiting.

"Everything’s ready?" Edwin asked.

"Yes, you’ll have a delightful time," Seth replied cryptically as Edwin helped me into the carriage. Unlike usual, he didn’t sit me on his lap but had me sit beside him, right next to the window.

Although curious about the change, I didn’t ask, as it allowed me to look out the window freely. As we left the mansion and passed along the tree-lined road, buildings began to appear one by one.

‘The roofs really are all red.’

In the original story, it was mentioned that in the Aserian Empire, the colour of the roofs varied by region, with the western region having red roofs. The stone-paved streets and the lack of tall buildings created a unique landscape.

"Are you enjoying it?" Edwin asked, noticing my interest in the view.

I was lost in the scenery when I suddenly felt a warm, woody scent and the slightly hot touch of Edwin’s body against my back. My body tensed up for a moment, but I quickly resigned myself to it, knowing that Edwin wouldn’t stop just because I wanted him to.

"Yes, it's fascinating to see so many new things," I replied.

"I’m glad you’re enjoying it. The western region isn’t as flashy as others, but it has its own charm," Edwin said, his voice filled with contentment.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"Let’s start by exploring the city. It’s a busy place, perfect for showing off my bride," he replied, clearly excited. 

It puzzled me. At first, he was so intent on keeping me hidden, yet now he wanted to parade me around. Even if he had changed my hair and eye colour, it still seemed risky. I couldn’t understand his sudden shift in behaviour.

"They’ll all be stunned when they see you. There’s no woman more beautiful than my bride," Edwin murmured, rubbing his face against my shoulder affectionately. I stiffened at the unexpected contact.

'You’re going to give me a heart attack at this rate.'

While I was used to being held, this kind of intimate touch made me uncomfortable, especially around my neck, a place so closely tied to my survival. The very thought sent chills down my spine.

"We’ve arrived," came the voice of Beryl, the head of the knights assigned to escort us, as the carriage came to a stop.

"Perfect," Edwin said, stepping out of the carriage. After checking my hair and eyes one last time, he seemed satisfied and helped me down. As soon as we stepped out, passersby began to glance our way.

'Have they recognized the Western Dragon?'

But that seemed unlikely. In the original story, Edwin had spent so much time dealing with Raven and the monsters that he rarely ventured beyond the Muhas Desert and the border regions. As a result, most of the people in his territory wouldn’t have recognized him.

'Why are they staring?'

As I tilted my head in confusion, Edwin suddenly scooped me up into his arms. Instantly, everyone’s attention zeroed in on us.

"Oh my, they must be lovers," someone whispered.

"They’re in the honeymoon phase, I bet."

"What a perfect couple," another person commented, making my face flush with embarrassment.

"Ed, could you put me down? I want to look around," I whispered, but instead of setting me down, Edwin held me even tighter.

"As I thought, no one can take their eyes off my bride," he said, beaming.

'Of course, they’re staring because you’re carrying me!'

I shot Edwin a frustrated look, still baffled by his insistence on showing me off. If he really wanted to flaunt me, wouldn’t he want to openly declare our connection to the Crawford family? But that wasn’t the case—our carriage bore no family crest, and even the knights weren’t wearing any emblems.

'What on earth is he thinking?'

As I racked my brain trying to understand Edwin’s seemingly nonsensical motives, he hummed a tune and glanced around.

"What would look good on my bride?" he mused as we wandered through the city. Eventually, he stopped in front of a shop.

"This place seems perfect."

The shop, located on the main street, was more ornate than any of the others we had passed. I looked up at the sign and saw the name "Charlotte" displayed prominently.