The bedroom door slowly opened.
The dim, amber glow from the corridor spilled in through the crack, blending with the moonlight outside the window. The room was bathed in a soft, hazy glow, almost ambiguous in nature.
Nora peeked her small face through the door, her nervous gaze locking onto Ron on the bed. It seemed like all the courage she'd spent so long gathering had been used up the moment she opened that door.
"I'm not some monster, you know… I'm not gonna eat you," Ron chuckled and waved her over.
Nora's face turned pink. Then, biting her lip, she summoned her resolve once more, grasped the doorknob, and slowly pushed the door open just wide enough for her petite frame to slip through.
And even though it would have only taken one step to enter, she shuffled forward bit by bit—taking several steps just to fully enter the room.
Turning around, she gently closed the door behind her and leaned against it. She stared at Ron, wide-eyed and speechless.
The truth was, before coming over, she'd been tossing and turning in bed for ages, running through dozens of ways to start a conversation and what she might say.
But the moment she stepped into the room—into this space that was soaked in her boss's scent—her mind completely blanked. [T/N:😒]
She didn't know what to say at all.
"Don't just stand there like a statue."
Seeing her cat ears and tail twitching nervously, Ron patted the edge of the bed and smiled. "Come sit. If you've got something to say, we'll talk it out."
"Mm…" Nora's face flushed even redder. She lowered her head and silently padded over to the bed. After sneaking a few glances at Ron, she finally sat down on the edge of the bed—barely even letting half her backside touch it.
At the same time, a soft, fair hand reached out from within the shadow beneath Ron's blanket and gave his thigh a hard pinch.
Ron's face twitched. He slapped the shadow with his hand under the covers.
"Boss…"
"Mm?"
"When… when are you going back to the Royal Capital?" Nora asked softly, her tone timid and cautious.
"In a few days, maybe. No exact date yet. But definitely before mid-December," Ron replied.
"Then…"
Nora anxiously wrung her hands over her thighs, gathering her courage to ask: "Can… can I come with you to the capital?"
"…Huh?" Ron blinked, completely baffled.
Why does everyone suddenly want to follow me to the capital?
Yuna was one thing—she was a sixth-tier assassin who could offer him real protection. That made sense.
But Nora?
He had no idea what kind of trouble might crop up on the way to the capital. There was no way he could bring someone with no combat ability—
Wait, no. That wasn't fair.
Nora might look like a shy, blushing little girl, but in reality, she could take on three street thugs at once.
Still, in the power struggle Ron was about to walk into, that level of combat ability was barely a drop in the bucket.
Apparently sensing Ron's hesitation, Nora quickly added, "Um… Boss, if you're opening a branch shop in the capital, wouldn't you need someone to help out? I've worked at the flower shop for so long—I know how everything works!"
"There's no shortage of staff in the capital…"
"I—I can also do your laundry! And clean! The trip to the capital will take at least ten days, right? I can help with all of that!"
"…The Church is sending people with me. You don't have to worry about that."
"Uu…"
Nora's anxiety began to spike, and her eyes grew misty. "Th-then, once you're in the capital, I can cook for you! You'll be super busy, right? Other people don't know your tastes as I do!"
"Boss likes scrambled eggs with tomatoes—but doesn't eat the tomatoes."
"For eggplant and pork, there has to be extra minced meat."
"You hate veggie soup, but your favorite is tofu and fish stew—and you always have a bowl of soup before your meal."
"For hotpot, you love fatty beef, rice cakes, tofu puffs, and meatballs."
"For barbecue, you go for pork belly, tenderloin, and lamb skewers…"
"…."
One after another, Nora recited all of Ron's picky eating habits with teary eyes—and Ron sat there, stunned.
"O-Okay, stop, stop!" Ron held up his hand, flustered. He reached under the blanket to catch that hand that had been pinching his thigh nonstop, and said wearily, "Why are you so insistent on coming with me? Can't you just stay and watch over the flower shop?"
Nora sucked in her lips, misty-eyed and sniffling. "B-but… once you go back to the capital, it's so far from the City of Chaos… I-I won't get to see you anymore…"
"…Huh? Why would you never see me again?" Ron looked even more confused. "I'm just going to open a shop, handle a few things, and then I'll come back."
"…Eh?"
Nora froze. Her face went blank for a moment, not quite processing it. "Boss… what did you just say?"
Ron chuckled at her expression. "I said—I'm just opening a branch in the capital. I'll stay a while, then I'll be right back."
"Really!?"
Nora broke into a joyful smile.
Her eyes curved like crescent moons, and the tears that had been pooling in them couldn't hold back any longer. They rolled down her cheeks in twin glittering streams—like sparkling beaded curtains.
"Why're you crying now?" Ron couldn't help laughing as he reached out to pinch her cheek.
"S-Sorry, Boss… I misunderstood…" Nora tilted her head back from the pinch and wiped her face with her arm, flustered.
Her face was completely red—whether from rubbing it, Ron's pinching, or sheer embarrassment over jumping to conclusions was unclear.
Ron sighed and gently patted her head. "I did explain everything clearly at dinner. Why doesn't anyone believe me?"
"Mm…" Nora lowered her head, letting him pat her more easily. Her face showed a shy smile, and her cat ears twitched lightly under his fingers, extra sensitive to his touch.
"Sorry, Boss… for bothering you so late…" she whispered, twisting her little hands together nervously.
Ron flicked her forehead with his finger. "Don't worry about it. Now that the misunderstandings are cleared up, go get some sleep."
"Ah—ow." Nora winced and cupped her forehead. "Okay, Boss… I'll go back to my room now."
She stood up, walked to the door, and pulled it open.
Just before stepping out, she leaned shyly against the doorframe, her face flushed red, and mustered the last of her courage.
In the smallest whisper, she said:
"Goodnight, Boss."
"Goodnight, Nora."
Click.
The door closed.
"Ow—stop pinching me already!"
"Hmph!"
"What was that for? Why were you pinching me this whole time!?"
"You're asking me? You slapped my shadow earlier—do you even know where you hit!?"
"???"
"Hmph! I still don't get what that dumb kitten sees in a guy like you."
"…."
"Pervert loli-lover!"