Chapter 72: I Can’t Help But Fall in Love With You

Chapter 72: Chapter 72: I Can’t Help But Fall in Love With You

"You still remember that."

Lorin’s mouth twitched. How could this girl hold such a grudge? Seeing her lack of reaction earlier, he had assumed she had long forgotten about it. To think she had kept it in mind until now, even going out of her way to take a bath and change her clothes just to mock him back.

However, he couldn’t help but take a closer look at Erin.

Erin usually preferred practical clothing, a trait she shared with him. Those Magic Robes or light outfits covered in various pouches could hardly be described as beautiful; they were simply highly functional. The most casual attire he had ever seen her wear was a morning gown, which was typically only worn in the early hours of the day.

Now that she had changed into a dress whose sole purpose was to make her look more beautiful, Lorin finally realized just how stunning this girl could be. That undeniable, aggressively captivating beauty even made his heart beat faster.

Unable to hold back, he offered a genuine compliment. "So beautiful. I can’t help but fall in love with you."

"You... you!"

Erin’s mind went completely blank. She had mentally rehearsed Lorin’s reaction, but she never imagined this guy would say something like that. She had specifically changed into a beautiful dress she had never worn before, put on the earrings her mother had given her, and even applied makeup. She had expected Lorin to be flustered by her beauty, struck completely speechless, but she certainly hadn’t anticipated this.

She thought, "This lecherous scoundrel! How dare he! How dare he!!!"

"GRUMBLE—"

The little guy panicked and clutched his belly. Suddenly feeling as though he were being eyed by a terrifying Magical Beast, he froze in place and played dead, not daring to move a muscle.

Erin withdrew her murderous glare from Pip. She looked at Lorin as if she were looking at a dead man, her teeth gritted as she spoke. "You’d better recite the Flaming Arrow Spell flawlessly tomorrow, otherwise..."

Lorin was genuinely panicked now. The relaxed composure he had while leisurely checking her out vanished in an instant. He quickly took a couple of steps toward her, hunching over and rubbing his hands together with an ingratiating smile plastered on his face.

"Please don’t! I know I was wrong. I’ll stay up all night memorizing it, and I promise to get it right word for word tomorrow. Will that do?"

Startled by Lorin’s sudden approach, Erin shrank back and grabbed the doorframe. It was only when she realized he wasn’t going to do anything inappropriate that she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Mimicking Lorin’s earlier actions, she scrutinized him closely. Discovering that he was actually wearing a set of tattered clothes, she frowned. "Today is the Midwinter Festival, and you’re wearing this?"

"Uh... is there a problem?"

Lorin looked down at himself. He had just changed into a freshly washed, long-sleeved linen shirt. It felt perfectly comfortable in the warm tavern.

Erin poked him in the shoulder in exasperation, enunciating every word, "Mid-win-ter Fes-ti-val! You need to wear your best clothes!"

"Huh? Is that a rule?"

Lorin scratched his head. He wondered, "Why does this festival feel so much like the Spring Festival? But my best clothes... Does she expect me to wear that Silver-Forged Fine Steel Breastplate? That would be way too inappropriate."

Seeing his expression, Erin immediately understood. This miser had made so much money, yet he still couldn’t bear to buy a decent outfit. Waving her hand in disgust, she said, "How embarrassing. You’re an Official Professional now, couldn’t you at least dress the part?"

Lorin submissively stepped aside to make way.

Erin walked past him, her long skirt brushing against his calves. She didn’t stop until she reached the edge of the stairs. "After we get our quest rewards tomorrow, you’re coming with me to buy some proper clothes."

With that, she headed straight down the stairs.

The little guy watched her disappear down the stairs before finally taking his hands off his belly. He lowered his voice and said, "Pip thought he was going to die just now."

"Let’s go, let’s go. Let’s head down and get a drink." Lorin patted his shoulder and hurried to catch up with Erin.

The tavern during the Midwinter Festival was bustling beyond description. The yeasty aroma of ale, the greasy scent of roasted meat, the resinous fragrance of burning pine branches, and the breathing and laughter of over a hundred people all mingled together, packing the entire space to the brim.

Erin stopped halfway down the stairs and scanned the hall, looking for an empty seat. Her turquoise skirt cascaded down the edge of the stairs with her movements, looking as beautiful as a painting.

A young Adventurer by the bar was laughing loudly with his companions. His glass was halfway to his mouth when he caught a glimpse of the stairs from the corner of his eye, and his hand instantly froze in midair.

"What’s wrong, Remi? Can’t handle your drink after just a little bit? Aren’t we going to Rosemary and Thyme for some fun later? You’re going to end up dying drunk on a Nightingale’s belly..."

Remi’s companion thought he was simply a lightweight and cheerfully teased him, but to his surprise, Remi instantly grew flustered and furious.

"Shut up... shut up, stop talking!" He shoved a piece of roasted meat into his companion’s mouth.

The embarrassed and furious Remi was far from the only one who noticed Erin. The patrons seated around the stairs unanimously stopped what they were doing. Some put down their glasses, some forgot the rest of their sentences mid-speech, and some nearly shoved their food up their noses.

Soon, the only sound left in the entire tavern hall was the crackling of the firewood in the fireplace, popping away oblivious to the sudden silence.

Erin calmly accepted their stares. Whether these gazes were appreciative, greedy, or surprised made no difference to her. She had been used to them since she was a child. Spotting a small empty space at the corner of the bar, she stepped down the last few stairs.

The crowd automatically parted to make way for her.

The heads of the young Adventurer and his companion turned in unison with her footsteps, like two puppets pulled by the same string. A waiter carrying a full tray of glasses pressed himself tightly against the wall, holding the tray above his head. Ale foam spilled onto his clothes, but he remained completely oblivious.

Erin smoothly made her way to the bar and sat down on a high stool. She turned around, only to find Lorin and Pip still standing where she had just passed.

"What are you standing around for? Hurry up and get over here," she said, her brow furrowing slightly. Though her voice wasn’t loud, in the dead-silent tavern, it carried clearly to everyone’s ears.

Everyone’s gaze instantly snapped toward the stairs.

Lorin felt goosebumps break out all over his body. Those curious, scrutinizing, and envious looks, along with a few that bore undisguised jealousy and hatred... They were all conveying the exact same sentence.

Why him?

Lorin silently looked down at his linen shirt, with its loose, overworn collar and a thread poking out of the cuff.

"Pip, am I dressed pretty embarrassingly right now?"

"Yes."

"Looks like I really do need to get a new set of clothes."

Lorin chuckled. No longer caring about what he was wearing, he met their gazes confidently and strode toward the bar.

The crowd parted before them once again. Ignoring the owners of those stares, he calmly walked up to Erin and sat on a high stool beside her.

"Sorry for the wait," he said with a smile.

Erin glanced at him from the side and said flatly, "You took forever."

"Well, there were too many people," Lorin replied without batting an eye.

The little guy had already hopped onto a stool, rattling off their dinner order like a menu. "Three glasses of the Midwinter Night Special! Pip also wants a roasted meat platter, a stew, and three pies!"

He proudly pulled out ten Silver Coins, slammed them onto the bar, and declared, "The rest is for Lily! Pip doesn’t owe her a tip anymore!"