They Called Me Trash? Now I'll Hack Their World-Chapter 172: Thornhaven [1]

Thornhaven’s interior spread out before us in the warm glow of evening.

The main street was wide enough for two wagons to pass comfortably, paved with cobblestones that showed decades of wear but were well-maintained. Buildings lined both sides, mostly two or three stories, stone foundations with timber upper floors, peaked roofs designed to shed rain and snow.

Street lamps were being lit by workers carrying long poles with flames.

The smell of cooking food drifted from various establishments.

Market stalls were in the process of closing, merchants packing up their wares, calling out final deals to passersby. I caught glimpses of what they’d been selling preserved foods, traveling supplies, monster materials: claws, hides, what looked disturbingly like eyes in jars, weapons and armor in varying states of repair.

People moved with the purposeful energy of a working town at day’s end. Laborers heading home, their tools over their shoulders.

Guards walked regular patrols, their presence visible but not oppressive. This was a border town, they needed security, but they also needed to not scare off the trade that kept them alive.

Tessa was still holding my arm, pressed against my side, looking around with wide eyes and barely contained excitement.

"It’s bigger than Greyford," she breathed. "Look at all the different people! Is that woman wearing armor made of scales? And that merchant has goods I’ve never even seen before—"

She was practically vibrating with enthusiasm, her earlier exhaustion apparently forgotten in the face of new experiences.

Scarlet walked slightly ahead of us, her shoulders tense, her movements stiff.

Her glamour was still active, but something about her body language screamed discomfort.

Tessa noticed.

"What happened to you, Sara?" She called out, her voice taking on a teasing lilt. "You’re looking awfully tense. Is something bothering you?"

Scarlet’s shoulders went even more rigid.

"I’m fine," she hissed, not turning around. "Perfectly fine."

"Really? Because you seem upset—"

"I’m not upset!"

"You sound upset."

"I’M NOT—" Scarlet stopped herself, took a breath, and continued in a forced calm voice. "I’m just tired. And hungry. That’s all."

Tessa giggled, clearly enjoying this way too much.

"If you say so~"

I sighed and looked at Tessa.

"That was unnecessary. At the gate."

She raised an eyebrow, her expression innocent.

"Was it though? We saved money, didn’t we?" She shrugged, completely unbothered.

"And besides, we’re engaged. Isn’t kissing your fiancé a normal thing?"

I opened my mouth to respond.

Then closed it.

She’s not wrong. Technically.

But this isn’t an actual engagement. This is a political arrangement that we were planning to fake until it could be quietly dissolved.

Except she’s treating it like it’s real.

Or is she just using it as an excuse to mess with me?

My internal monologue was getting me nowhere, so I just kept walking.

Scarlet made another frustrated sound ahead of us.

"Can we PLEASE just find an inn? Any inn? I don’t care if it’s fancy or a complete dump, I just want walls and a door that locks."

"There’s one," I said, pointing ahead.

A three-story building with a wooden sign hanging above the door, painted with what looked like a sleeping cat.

The windows glowed with warm lamplight, and I could hear the sounds of conversation and clinking dishes from inside.

The Drowsy Lynx Inn & Tavern read the sign in slightly faded letters.

Not the fanciest establishment, but it looked clean and well-maintained. We approached the entrance. I reached for the door handle—

Tessa squeezed my arm.

"Remember," she said quietly. "We’re married. That’s our story now."

I looked at her. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

She looked back with surprising seriousness.

"It’s safer that way. For all of us. A married couple and their... maid draws less attention than three random young people traveling together."

"Fine," I said. "But no more surprise kisses."

"No promises~"

She was grinning again.

I pushed open the door before I could regret this entire situation even more.

The Drowsy Lynx’s interior was exactly what I’d expected, warm, reasonably clean, filled with the smell of food and ale.

A dozen tables filled the common room, about half occupied by various patrons. The bar ran along the left wall, bottles and kegs visible behind it.

A large fireplace on the right provided heat and light. Stairs at the back presumably led to the rooms.

A woman stood behind the bar, middle-aged, sturdy build, the kind of presence that suggested she could handle rowdy customers without breaking a sweat.

She looked up as we entered, her eyes doing a quick professional assessment.

"Welcome to the Drowsy Lynx," she said. Her voice was pleasant but businesslike. "Looking for rooms or just food?"

I stepped forward, very aware of Tessa still attached to my arm.

"Rooms. Two, if you have them available."

The innkeeper nodded, reaching for a ledger.

"Two rooms. How many nights?"

"Just tonight for now. Maybe longer depending on..." I paused, choosing my words carefully. "Depending on how our business goes."

She didn’t ask what that business was.

They’re used to vague answers.

"Two silver per room per night. Includes breakfast. Dinner’s extra if you want it, or you can eat in the common room. Bath water’s available for a copper if you need it."

I did quick math in my head.

"We’ll take them," I said and handed over four silver coins.

The innkeeper pocketed them, made notes in her ledger, then reached under the bar and produced two iron keys.

"Rooms seven and eight. Up the stairs, down the hall on your right. Dinner service ends in about an hour if you want hot food tonight."

"Thank you."

She nodded and went back to whatever she’d been doing before we arrived.

I turned to Tessa and Scarlet.

"Let’s get settled. Then food. Then we figure out our next move."

Scarlet grabbed one of the keys immediately.

"I’m taking a bath. And then I’m sleeping. Don’t bother me unless the building is on fire."

She headed for the stairs without waiting for a response.

Tessa took the other key, examining it with interest.

Then she looked up at me with that same sweet smile that was starting to make me very nervous.

"Shall we see our room, husband?"

My eye twitched.

This is going to be a long night.