Testing My Luck in the New World

Volume 3 - Chapter 12

"You know, Husband, while I enjoyed the show, I think we might have been better off if you finished instantly. Gino might have given up and left."

"It's fine," I said, shifting the wicker basket I made to keep up the ruse to my free hand.

While I didn't want to say so out loud – not that Mana would have minded – I had been keeping track of the time. Our little display of rapid passion only lasted a couple minutes. And I cleaned us up perfectly. Nobody will suspect a thing. We were just some adventurers that took their time donning their armor.

"He's right," Yua whispered, though she didn't look like she wanted to agree. "Gino's still here. I can hear him talking to someone."

She gestured to the hall door before pulling it open.

The Moonlit Garden's lobby was packed with people still dressed in their church best as they sipped their tea and snacked on baked goods. Freshly inspired by the word of their god, those that didn't need to return to work just yet were living it up.

"Come on, it's my turn!"

"Hahaha. Gotta catch me first!"

Elane had to sidestep and push the head of her axe out of the way when a couple of kids dashed about the room, weaving around tables and people alike, but the sounds of their playing was overshadowed by the litany of conversations keeping the room alive.

Seems we'd stumbled into another tea time we weren't invited to.

Thankfully, our return to public view didn't earn us any ire this time. Although, given the contented smile Mana wore as she hung off my arm, it might have been warranted. We'd hardly earned more than a look or two when we stepped into the room.

Although, perhaps this was due to the fact that a small majority of the patrons were women. Women whose attentions were fixated on something, someone, else.

Sat in front of a window, with his bronzed skin bathed warmly in sunlight, was Giulio, as Yua promised. With a devilishly-charming smile curling his lips, he bit into a cookie before choking on a laugh.

"We should sit," Yua said, guiding us to an empty table before any of us could protest.

I set my basket under the table and slid into a seat facing Giulio. Since she didn't need to see him to hear him, Yua sat opposite me. Elane and Mana flanked my sides, but only Mana pulled my arm around her waist to cuddle as we waited.

"What are we doing?" Elane asked.

"Listening. And keep your voice down. He hasn't noticed us yet."

"Are they talking about something important?"

"I don't know, but we may not get a chance like this again. Might as well have a listen."

He may be altering the way he speaks when we adventurers are around. Might as well have a listen to what he thinks when he doesn't know we're here.

Giulio pounded his fist against his chest and, coughing, he brought a cup of tea to his lips. Downing it in a couple of big gulps, he quickly cleared the sugary-blockage. Once he could breathe again, the old man across from him sighed. Though, he did so with a smile.

"Gino, you need to chew your food," Peter said. "I can't tell you how many times my wife got onto me about that. She was always going on and on with her, Peter, stop shoveling my cooking down your throat and actually taste it for once."