The next morning, Jessica spotted Sora coming down the stairs alone.
"Ah, where's Miss Louise?" she asked.
Sora smiled lazily as he took a seat by the counter. "Still asleep. She was… a little tired last night." His grin carried a self-satisfied edge.
Jessica blinked. "Oh. I see."
"Got any breakfast recommendations, Jessica?"
"This is just a small inn," she replied. "We only have pumpkin porridge and bread. Will that do?"
"That's fine," Sora said casually. "Make it ten servings."
"Ten?!" Jessica's eyes widened.
"Yeah, well… certain activities take a lot of energy," he said with a meaningful little smirk.
Jessica blushed, but said nothing more.
When she returned with the food, Sora dug in immediately—piles of toasted bread and steaming bowls of porridge vanishing one after another. The maids who drifted into the room could only watch in stunned amazement.
"What a strange noble," one whispered. "He eats like a soldier."
"At least he's polite. Unlike that tax collector," another muttered.
"Ugh, that one's the worst," said a third. "Drives customers away and gets handsy with the girls."
They all nodded grimly.
Sora's ears perked up. He swallowed his last bite of bread and turned toward them. "A tax collector, huh? Sounds interesting. What happened?"
The maids exchanged nervous glances.
"Ah, we didn't say anything!" Jessica stammered, waving her hands.
"What tax collector? You must have heard wrong," another added quickly.
Sora chuckled softly and gave them a disarming smile. "Relax, I'm not here to cause trouble. But if something's bothering you… maybe I can help."
Jessica studied his face carefully, then came closer. "You'd really help us?" she asked, lowering her voice—and her neckline—as she sat beside him. The loose collar of her uniform slid down, revealing a dazzling glimpse of fair skin.
Sora leaned back and crossed his arms behind his head, perfectly comfortable. "Of course. There are always bad nobles in every world—but there are also good ones. The noble, handsome type—full of justice and compassion… like me."
That earned a burst of laughter from the maids.
Jessica giggled. "Who brags about themselves like that?"
"Then I'll believe you," she said playfully before taking his hand and pressing it against her chest. Her skin was warm, soft, and impossibly close. "If you help us deal with that pig Qiu Liannu, I'll make sure you're well rewarded."
Sora's grin widened. "Well, with an offer like that, how could I refuse?"
Jessica's tone shifted as she explained. "The old king of Tristain has passed away, and Princess Anrietta is still young. That means most affairs are handled by the ministers… and some of their lackeys have been taking advantage of that. Men like Qiu Liannu—corrupt tax collectors who extort and harass civilians. They act untouchable because the ministers cover for them. The people can only suffer quietly."
Sora's eyes narrowed slightly. "So it's like that, huh. A lot of them in power, I take it?"
"Yes," Jessica said softly. "He's vile, but if he knew someone like you, a noble, stood with us… he'd think twice before doing anything rash." She ended with a perfect expression of fragile helplessness that drew sympathetic looks from her coworkers.
Sora enjoyed the attention—the way their eyes lingered on him, hopeful and admiring. "Alright. I'll take care of it. Leave this Qiu Liannu to me."
"Truly?" Jessica beamed. "Thank you, Sora!"
The other maids sighed in relief. A few even gathered around him, fussing like courtiers: one massaged his shoulders, another poured tea, another offered freshly baked treats. Sora leaned back, half-closing his eyes.
"Ahh… I could get used to this treatment," he murmured contentedly.
After a leisurely stretch and some teasing banter with the girls, Sora finally excused himself and went back upstairs.
Louise was still fast asleep. Her breathing was soft, her hair tousled across the sheets. And she said she couldn't sleep in a cheap bed, he thought, smiling affectionately.
Pulling up a chair, Sora sat beside the bed and rested his chin on his hand, just watching her.
He couldn't help recalling the night before—her shyness, her warmth, the way she'd clung to him, trembling yet tender. For a moment, Sora felt the weight of the world fade away. Being summoned to another world isn't bad at all, he thought. Meeting Louise… that's the best miracle of my life.
He leaned down and kissed her forehead gently. "I love you, Louise," he whispered.
"Mmm…" Her lashes fluttered as her eyes blinked open.
"Ah, you're awake," Sora said softly, smiling down at her.
Her gaze focused slowly, then widened in recognition. In an instant, her face flushed crimson and she dove under the quilt.
"Y-You! Go outside! I have to get dressed!"
"It's okay," Sora said innocently. "I can help."
Her muffled voice rose from beneath the blanket. "No! I can dress myself!"
"Really now?" Sora teased, yanking the edge of the quilt before she could react. The morning light flooded across her bare skin. For just a second, time froze.
"Ahh!" Louise shrieked, curling up and clutching her chest.
Sora chuckled and handed her the folded clothes beside the bed. "Alright, alright, I'll behave. Get dressed."
Still blushing furiously, she hesitated, then reached out with trembling hands and took them. Back turned to him, she dressed quickly while muttering something inaudible under her breath.
When she was done, her face was still the color of a cherry blossom.
"Okay," Sora said, stretching. "Let's get breakfast downstairs and go for a walk after. It's not often we get time alone like this."
Louise managed a small nod, her lips still pouty but her eyes soft.