Forsaken Priest of the Hero's Party-Chapter 18: Frozen Tears

Like any other city,

Larpentia also had inns where one could find both lodging and meals.

Among those inns, the most famous was the Brown Inn run by a man named Camel Brown. It was a prestigious establishment in the industry that had been in the inn business since the generation of his great-grandfather.

In addition to the free hodge-podge porridge that anyone staying at the inn could eat to their heart’s content, their grilled fish was very famous. Of course, that wasn’t free.

Regardless, word about this inn spread, and it became a place where people going on long journeys, such as merchant groups or coachmen, would usually stay when they visited this area. The princess also set foot here.

“Ey, mate, as I was sayin...When I in....”

“Owner! Get me the usual would ya? No, wait...Make it three servings.”

“Hmm...Look at that fish in the oven...It looks delicious, let’s order one with cheese.”

Laughter, conversation, and joyful sounds echoed from all directions.

As is common for those embarking on long journeys, boisterous men set up tables with alcohol and happily got drunk while chatting. It was natural for them to sit around the oven.

“What would you like to have?”

A little far from the fire, in a place not crowded with people.

An employee approached the princess who plopped down there.

“I’d like a meal and lodging, please.”

“Then you’ve come to the right place! This is the best Inn in town.”

Mr. Camel Brown is a man of character. He always donates food to the poorhouse, under the excuse they had made too much. He was also kind to both employees and customers, never once delaying his employee’s pay.

The reason an ordinary employee takes pride in the Brown Inn is simply because he receives a higher salary than employees in the same industry and is treated well.

Putting a single silver coin on the table, the Princess said,

“Give me the cheapest room. And a light stew.”

Even if you’re hungry and want to grab a chunk of meat and chew it up, you need to have the health and digestive ability to be able to do that.

If not chewed through, even a piece of bread could turn into a burden to the body.

The source of this c𝓸ntent is frёeweɓηovel.coɱ.

Ordering a warm stew was, in a sense, an inevitable choice.

“Yes, then...”

The employee was about to take the order and pick up the silver coin, but only then did he notice the princess’s mask.

Even though it was cold, no one would wear a mask. And while the mask could serve the purpose of protecting her face from the chilly winds, she should take it off once she came inside.

The employee’s expression didn’t change, but the light in his eyes changed from moment to moment.

“Pardon my rudeness, dear customer, but could you take off your mask?”

“Do I really have to take it off? It’s probably not a face you want to see anyway.”

“If a criminal were to hide their identity and enter the inn, it could bring problems to the owner. It’s up to you to refuse, but if you do, I’ll have to ask you to leave.”

All of a sudden,

A few gazes turned towards the Princess.

“I didn’t say I wouldn’t pay, and I’m even offering an advance payment, yet you’re telling me to leave?”

“Just as it is the customer’s freedom to choose an inn, it is also our freedom to choose our customers.”

As the employee was about to open his mouth again, Mr. Camel Brown, who had been receiving porters from afar, walked over with quick steps and spoke.

“The reason our inn is called the best in this area and has many regular customers is, firstly, because of our excellent facilities, and secondly, because of the good quality of our food. The third reason is that accidents don’t happen here. That’s because we turn away people who might cause problems, even if it means giving up immediate profits.”

The owner just wanted to maintain the Inn’s reputation.

“Just show your face once, that’s all. If we have unreasonably suspected you, we will provide your meal and lodging free of charge. We’ll give you the best room for a night, so will you cooperate?”

Mr. Camel Brown was on guard in case any wanted criminals or offenders might sneak into the inn.

He could truly be called a model citizen. Of course, the princess was not a wanted criminal or an offender.

Yet, her face would be something more horrible than any of their darkest nightmares.

Naturally, she couldn’t take off her mask.

As she hesitated, Camel’s eyes narrowed.

“Please leave.”

He issued an order to evict her without further ado.

“Or I’ll call the guards.”

“Tsk...Would you turn away an exhausted guest who just wants a place to eat and rest?”

“You have a point, but I have to think of the greater number of guests.”

Camel shouted firmly.

“I can’t accept a suspicious person like you. Either take off your mask or leave.”

The princess trembled with humiliation. But she couldn’t say that Camel’s actions were wrong.

The proof was that among the gazes directed at her, there was not a single sympathetic one.

Everyone thought the inn owner’s judgment was right. Bluntly put, if the Princess was a wanted figure, the repercussions of her stay in this Inn could affect even those who ate and drank here.

If soldiers were caught and started investigating, even if not arrested and punished, the time that should be spent on their livelihoods would be wasted on the investigation. Neither Camel nor anyone else wanted such a situation.

In fact, if there was nothing unjust, she could just take off the mask. That’s what everyone thought.

So what could the princess say?

I’m the Princess Ardein of Illumina...

She wanted to reveal her royal identity if she could, but it would be meaningless. Leprosy was considered a curse from the Gods, the wrath of the heavens.

People called it a disease that divine power could not cure. It seemed truly like a divine curse, as the whole body rotted away.

If afflicted with this disease, even a princess cannot receive treatment befitting her status,

And nobles are immediately quarantined and must live in a tower for life.

The continental denominations, led by the Trinity Church, also refuse to help. They believe that those suffering from leprosy have committed many evil deeds and incurred the wrath of the Goddesses.

If this is revealed, being driven out is merely a token consequence.

In the end, the princess had no choice but to slowly rise and exit the inn. Camel Brown kept his mouth tightly shut.

His expression was truly serious. He called that employee from earlier and handed him something he had written.

“Go to City Hall and tell Inspector Franton at the Public Security Bureau that a suspicious person has appeared, mention my name, and ask him to put a tail on that woman. It’s obvious she’s a foreigner, and it’ll be too late if she causes trouble.”

He was truly a model citizen, immediately reporting a suspicious person upon sight.

The people at the inn also whispered amongst themselves. That woman just now was undoubtedly suspicious, no matter how you looked at it.

Rumors spread faster than a running horse throughout the entire city. Camel had lived in this area for a long time and had a wide network, highly respected even among others in the same industry.

The rumor that he had driven out a suspicious person spread in all directions. This was before the princess could even find the next inn.

“Welcome. Guest, what would you like to... It’s you! The person who was kicked out of Mr. Camel’s inn!”

The model citizen Camel had his employee go around to inform others of what he had experienced.

He emphasized that they needed to respond collectively. Naturally, the owner of the next inn also recognized the masked woman from the rumors.

He also demanded that she remove her mask, and the princess had no choice but to quietly leave.

“Halt there. There will be a brief inspection. Remove that mask. Otherwise, we will take you in for questioning.”

The soldiers tailing the princess at the order of Inspector Franton stopped her.

She was suspicious to anyone’s eyes. Being driven out of one inn could be overlooked, but being driven out of a second inn for the same reason...

It was a reasonable assumption that there was a reason she couldn’t remove the mask.

“Take me in...? What crime have I committed to warrant such nonsense!”

Humiliation and anger assaulted her not once, but consecutively, causing the princess to lose her reason as well.

She even spat out words she wouldn’t normally say.

“Do you even know who I am? How dare the likes of you...”

“It doesn’t matter who you are. Our duty is to protect our hometown.”

However, the moment she heard the guard’s words, that anger was immediately crushed.

“We cannot allow a suspicious person like you to continue wandering around. So please, remove your mask. We also do not wish to take you in and detain you when you have done nothing wrong.”

“The citizens are anxious about a suspicious foreigner roaming about. We did not come here without justification. If you do not remove your mask, we have no choice but to take you to headquarters for questioning.”

The princess fell silent.

This wasn’t right. It was unfair,

Unfair,

Unfair.

But there was no way to resolve it.

She realized it was pointless to vent her anger at them.

She simply laughed like a mad woman. Laughed and laughed again.

Her demented Laughter fully exuded her despair.

“What’s going on...?”

“They say she’s a suspicious person. The guards are inspecting her.”

“They’re doing a fine job, indeed.”

Countless people watched her,

But among them, none were on her side.

“Sigh...Men, cuff her for now, let’s take this woman to the headquarters.”

“You’ll arrest me then...Hah!”

The guard trying to cuff her stumbled back as if falling on his butt.

His face was filled with shock. He not only let go of her arm but also retreated far back. His fellow guard asked in surprise,

“What’s wrong? Are you hurt somewhere?”

“This, this, this woman... Her arm is soft. Like, like rotten meat, it’s squishy. Wha, wha, wha, what the... E-everyone, step back! She doesn’t seem human.”

“Damn it! Could she be an undead?”

Hearing those words, another guard swung his spear, knocking off the princess’s mask.

The sound of gasping breaths shattered the silence. People pointed fingers.

Some were too shocked to speak. The guard who grabbed the princess’s arm washed his hands over and over with water as if he had touched filth, even though their clothes were between them.

“....A leper! A leper has appeared!”

“Hide the children! She’ll try to eat their livers!”

“Monster, get out of our city!”

Thwack.

A rock flew and struck her back. The princess collapsed, coughing up blood.

When one person threw a stone, everyone picked up rocks. As they were about to throw, the guard stopped them.

“Calm down, everyone. Please calm down. If the leper dies here, we may be cursed too. Everyone, go home, lock your doors tight, and don’t look outside. We will also close the doors of our headquarters and rest for today. Whoever this woman is, if we don’t give her food or water, she’ll go elsewhere. Let’s just wait until then.”

People believe that lepers are cursed by the Gods.

It was natural for them to think that the curse was ingrained in their blood. There were even legends that if a leper’s blood fell on a field, the year’s harvest would be ruined.

Everyone quickly realized this fact and put down their rocks.

The crowd dispersed like a mist. The streets became deserted in an instant.

Only she and the guards remained in the silent city. The princess finally realized that she had been thinking wrongly. She now truly understood how the world viewed lepers.

When she was in the palace, she thought she had fallen,

But that was merely nonsense spouted without knowing the depths of despair.

Below the bottom, hell awaited.

“Wait. I have no strength left and I’m hungry.”

Fortunately, her tears had dried up. So she didn’t have to show them.

Thinking this, the princess pleaded with the guard.

“You can take me in for questioning, but could you at least provide me with a place to sleep? I don’t mind sleeping in a cell.”

“The place we work is a police station, not a leper den.”

The guard coldly refused.

“Even if you commit a crime and get caught, you won’t end up in a cell. My colleagues will bring a noose, put it around your neck, and execute you on the spot. Then your corpse will be cremated and burned. So don’t commit any crimes.”

Truly left alone, the princess simply lay collapsed.

She couldn’t even feel her body getting cold. Because her heart had already frozen solid.

Really, it was fortunate that her tears had dried up. That’s what she thought,

But a trail of tears ran down her cheek, froze, and turned into ice shards.

It was just that, she could no longer feel any sensation on her cheeks,

So she didn’t even know tears were flowing.