Sena

Su Li caught a whiff of raw scallions.

Sena caught a whiff of... a pleasant scent.

Even though Su Li hadn't bathed in days, the unique, cool aura he exuded (actually a lingering side effect of the [Introvert] trait, making him seem distant yet clean) still overpowered the smell of dirt.

"Um..."

Su Li was the first to react.

He let go and shrank back. His back hit a tree root, which felt uncomfortable.

What was going on?

How did he wake up to find a living person crouching in front of him?

And judging by her posture, was this girl... swooning over him?

Were village girls this bold nowadays?

The string of vigilance in Su Li's mind tightened instantly.

"Who are you?"

Su Li spoke.

His voice was a bit hoarse, carrying the nasal tone of someone who had just woken up. To Sena's ears, it felt like a feather tickling the tip of her heart.

It was tingly and numb.

Sena's face turned bright red in a flash.

She was as red as a freshly baked brick.

She stood up abruptly, but because she rose too quickly, a rush of lightheadedness made her sway, and she nearly toppled right onto Su Li.

"I... I, I..."

Sena stuttered.

The feisty spirit she usually displayed when bickering with the village boys was completely gone. Her tongue felt like it was tied in a knot.

"I... I'm from this village!"

It took her a long while to squeeze out such a useless sentence.

Watching her flustered appearance, Su Li's vigilance eased slightly.

It didn't seem like she was a female bandit out to rob him of his money or his virtue.

She was just a naive little girl who hadn't seen much of the world.

Besides, looking at her face, she seemed honest and simple, perhaps even a bit foolish.

Su Li's brain began to race.

His stomach chose that moment to growl.

"Gurgle—"

The sound was melodic and resonant, exceptionally clear in the quiet night.

Su Li didn't feel embarrassed.

Thick skin was something that had been worn away by life in his previous existence.

"Miss."

"Could you... spare some food?"

"I... haven't eaten in three days."

The statement was half-truth, half-lie.

He hadn't eaten, that was true; the three days were a lie.

But the effect was immediate.

Sena looked into those eyes that seemed to hold a sea of stars, watching the handsome man ask her for help.

In that moment.

She felt that even if she emptied her family's granary for him, it would be the right thing to do.

This was the will of the gods.

This was the arrangement of fate.

This was the first chapter of a Prince Charming in distress!

"Yes!"

Sena shouted.

Only after shouting did she realize her voice was too loud, so she quickly covered her mouth, glancing toward the village with the guilty conscience of a thief.

Then she turned back, nodding vigorously, her head bobbing like a chick pecking at rice.

"Food!"

"Wait right there!"

"Don't go! You absolutely must not go!"

With that said, Sena turned and bolted.

She ran faster than a rabbit.

In her excitement, she even tripped over her own feet, stumbling and nearly face-planting into the dirt.

Yet, she braced herself against the ground, scrambling to regain her balance before rushing into the darkness without a single glance back.

Su Li watched her retreating figure, which looked as if a wolf were nipping at her heels.

The corner of his mouth twitched.

That was... it?

He touched his own face.

This face is truly terrifyingly useful.

Su Li leaned back against the tree roots.

Although his stomach was still growling, he felt much more at ease now.

As long as that silly girl didn't bring her hammer-wielding father back, this meal was as good as secured.

Su Li gave a self-deprecating smile.

I suppose this is the fate of my life.

Not long after, a flurry of hurried footsteps approached.

Sena had returned.

Her arms were bulging as if she were cradling a watermelon.

She ran up to Su Li, squatting down while panting for breath.

Like someone presenting a treasure, she dumped everything from her arms in one go.

Two loaves of rye bread.

A piece of salted meat wrapped in oil paper.

And half a gnawed apple—it was the remainder of her dinner, which she had grabbed on a whim.

Most outrageously, she was also holding a flask.

It was Old Buck's prized possession, hidden under his bed—the rum he wouldn't even let her sniff under normal circumstances.

"H-here. For you."

Sena piled the items in front of Su Li, her eyes sparkling.

Su Li didn't stand on ceremony.

He grabbed a loaf of rye bread and took a bite.

Hard.

Hard as a rock.

It nearly chipped his tooth.

But the taste... it was divine.

This was the taste of grain. The taste of being alive.

As Su Li struggled to chew the bread, he mumbled vaguely:

"Thanks."

Just those two words made Sena grin like a fool for the rest of the night.

She squatted nearby, watching Su Li eat.

Even though Su Li's table manners weren't exactly refined—he was practically wolfing the food down—in her eyes, it was exactly how a fallen prince should look.

"Eat slowly," Sena whispered.

"No one is fighting you for it."

"That wine... it's a bit strong, drink less of it."

Su Li ignored her.

He finished half the bread in one go, then took a large bite of the salted meat. The briny, bitter taste exploded on his tongue, so sharp it made him want to shed tears.

He grabbed the flask and took a swig.

The fiery liquid flowed down his throat, igniting a blaze in his stomach.

Comforting.

Su Li let out a long breath.

He was alive again.

He set the flask down and wiped his mouth.

He looked at the freckled girl sitting before him, who was still grinning foolishly.

This girl's heart... was certainly warm.

Much better than those noblewomen in the city draped in gold and silver.

"What is your name?"

Su Li asked.

It was the most basic courtesy. Even if he was using her, he had to know his benefactor's name.

"Se... Sena."

The girl rubbed her hands against the hem of her dress, seemingly trying to wipe away the sweat from her palms.

"My name is Sena."

"Old Barker the blacksmith's daughter."

Su Li nodded.

"A good name."

In truth, the name was incredibly rustic. But since he was currently eating her food, Su Li didn't mind offering a hollow compliment.

"My name is Su Li."

Su Li pointed to himself.

"Su... Li?"

Sena repeated it.

The pronunciation was strange. It didn't sound like a name from the Orenda Kingdom. It sounded more like...

"From the East."

Sena's eyes brightened even further.

She had heard of it in the stories of wandering bards. The East. A place where gold covered the ground and everyone could fly. Mysterious. Distant.

"Mm."

Su Li didn't offer further explanation.

Let her misunderstand. Sometimes, a sense of mystery was a protective talisman.

"Um..."

Sena hesitated for a moment.

She looked at Su Li's thin, flimsy clothing.

It was late at night, the dew was heavy, and sleeping here would surely make him sick from the cold.

"Would you like to... come to my house?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, Sena regretted them.

A lone man and a lone woman.

If her father found out, he would surely break Su Li's legs, and then break hers too.

But Su Li's eyes lit up.

Go to her house?

That would be perfect.

There would be a roof to keep out the wind and rain, and perhaps even hot water for a bath.

"Is it convenient?"

Su Li asked, feigning hesitation.

"It... it is!"

Sena gritted her teeth.

Screw it.

At worst, I'll just hide him in the woodshed in the backyard. As long as I keep her father from hearing any noise, it'll be fine.

"Then follow me."

Sena stood up.

"Keep it quiet."

"I have a dog at home with very sharp ears."

Su Li smiled.

"Don't worry."

"I'm an expert at staying silent."

After all.

He was a man with the [Introvert] trait. Even though it was on cooldown, that instinct for keeping a low profile remained.

Su Li pushed himself up from the ground and brushed the dirt off his backside.

He followed Sena into the quiet little village.

At this moment.

Su Li felt that this countryside life might actually have some real promise.

At the very least, the girls here were easy to fool... no, wait, they were very hospitable.

Truly hospitable.