They didn't take a carriage.
Ron held Nora's small hand as they left Ron's Wonderful Flower Shop, strolling toward the hillside in the eastern part of the city.
Of course, Yuna didn't actually stay behind to watch the shop. Instead, she turned into a shadow and followed some distance behind them. Together with the nearby patrol squads—one hidden, one visible—they ensured the two's safety.
Although Yuna had already cleared out most of the spies around the area in recent days, it was still better to be cautious.
The two walked along the street.
Nora kept close beside Ron, her head slightly lowered, looking gentle and adorable.
Unlike the Royal Capital, although it was still cold in early January, the City of Chaos no longer had any traces of ice or snow.
Instead, the rain from yesterday afternoon left the streets damp and chilly.
But none of that could affect the warmth between the two of them.
Ron gently rubbed Nora's little hand as he followed her directions toward the hillside. Along the way, he told amusing stories about the Royal Capital, making Nora occasionally cover her mouth with a reserved laugh.
"Nora, have you ever seen the heavy snow in the north? And lakes frozen solid—you can actually walk across the ice without worrying about falling in."
"I think I saw heavy snow when I was very young. But after coming to the City of Chaos, it's rare to see it…" Nora spoke while looking at Ron's side profile, her gaze seeming completely absorbed by him.
In truth, she didn't like winter.
Or rather, she didn't like winter's cold, hunger, and death.
But now she was different from before. Ever since she could eat well and stay warm, she had begun to notice the beauty of winter.
That was something people living in poverty had no time to appreciate.
Ron had never truly experienced poverty—neither in his original world nor after arriving in this one—so he didn't understand Nora's change. He simply continued talking.
"Then I'll take you to the Royal Capital sometime."
"It's not snowing there now, but the snowy scenery is still around. Lake Impash is still frozen, too."
Nora opened her mouth to respond, then suddenly realized something.
"Boss… it takes at least ten days to travel from the Royal Capital back here. How did you return this morning?"
Behind them, Yuna—still in shadow form—felt speechless.
This silly girl had been so immersed in the joy of the Boss returning earlier that she hadn't even realized something so obvious.
If Ron sold her, she'd probably help count the money too…
"I'll explain that after we get back," Ron said with a smile. "You'll understand then."
"Oh." Nora nodded obediently and didn't ask further.
The two walked for a long time before finally reaching a cemetery halfway up the eastern hillside.
Although the air was still cold, their tightly clasped hands remained warm.
In fact, Nora's little palm had begun to sweat slightly.
Mainly because Ron had been playing with her hand the whole way—and also because it had been so long since she had held hands with the Boss. Now they had been holding hands for such a long time that she was too nervous.
Nora led Ron to her grandmother's grave.
The grave was simple and plain: a stone marker engraved with a name, a small mound of earth, and rows of similar graves arranged neatly nearby.
Looking around, nothing about it stood out.
Perhaps because her grandmother had lived alone in her later years, the gray-white gravestone looked very clean. It seemed no one else had come to visit.
Nora took out a sheet of paper and laid it before the gravestone. Then she took the fruits from Ron and arranged them neatly.
Next came three small cups.
She filled them with mild rice wine—one placed before the grave, and two placed in front of the visitors.
The grave-visiting customs in this world were quite similar to those in Ron's original world, though the details differed somewhat.
Following Nora's instructions, Ron knelt on the clean sheet of paper and lowered his eyes, silently tracing the symbol of a Sheaf of Grain over his chest.
After finishing the prayer, Nora smiled softly and turned to him with her small face raised.
"My grandmother was a devout follower of the Goddess of Harvest — Hervesta. If she knew it was you, a Chosen of the Harvest Goddess, coming to visit, she would definitely be very happy."
After that, the two drank the rice wine in front of them.
Nora then spoke softly to the gravestone for a while.
Her eyes gradually grew moist, though she didn't quite cry.
She told her grandmother everything that had happened this year.
At first, her expression was heavy with sadness and loss.
But as she continued speaking, the corners of her lips slowly lifted, and her eyes filled with warmth.
Because she began talking about the flower shop.
And about the Boss.
Around ten in the morning, Nora lifted her head and looked at Ron.
"Boss, let's go."
"Mm. Wait a moment."
Ron rubbed Nora's little head, then crouched down so he was level with the gravestone. Holding Nora's hand, he smiled gently and spoke to her.
"Thank you for taking care of Nora before."
"From now on, I'll take responsibility for her life. Please rest assured."
Hearing those words, Nora's face turned red as she lowered her head shyly, her eyes full of happiness.
On the way back, Ron squeezed Nora's little hand and thought for a moment before speaking.
"When you have time, make a recruitment notice. We should hire a few clerks for the bar and the flower shop."
"Huh? I can manage the flower shop by myself, and the business isn't complicated…"
Seeing Nora being frugal and reluctant to spend money on wages, Ron smiled helplessly and pinched her cheek.
"In the future, I'm going to open flower shops in other parts of the Empire, too. What are you going to do—use a cloning spell? Run a shop while following me around?"
"Hire some employees and learn how to command and manage them. In the future, you'll be the head manager overseeing multiple flower shop branches."
"All those books you read every day—put the knowledge inside them to use. Turn it into your own ability. That's how you'll truly help me share the burden."
Nora pursed her lips and thought about it for a moment before finally nodding obediently.
"Oh… I understand. I'll write the recruitment notice this afternoon."
"There's no rush," Ron said, releasing her cheek and holding her soft hand again. "Take your time."
When they returned to the shop, Nora ran into the kitchen to start cooking.
Yuna's shadow slipped in from the balcony, eventually gathering into her human form on the sofa. Her face was full of regret.
"I should've known better than to follow you. You two are way too lovey-dovey… There was a perfectly good carriage, but you insisted on holding hands and walking all the way."
"I felt like it." Ron sat on the other sofa, grinning at her. "I enjoy seeing that jealous and uncomfortable look on your face."
Back in the Royal Capital, Ron had been force-fed a mouthful of dog food by Soven. Today, he had finally vented it out on Yuna.
If anyone was to blame—
Blame Soven.
It was all his fault.
"Hmph! Who's jealous?" Yuna crossed her arms and turned away. "I just feel sorry for little Nora, that's all—getting stuck with a pervert like you."
"Don't slander my reputation. A man as pure and self-disciplined as I is hard to find these days," Ron shot her a glare.
After all, he had refused Count Hodge's marriage proposal and also rejected Soven's invitation to… certain group activities.
That was already quite an outstanding performance.
Where else could you find such a handsome and loyal man?