Chapter 164: A Home for Two
The stable was a blessing—Dominic would be able to keep his beloved horse, Marengo, there.
"Dominic. There’s even a bath here. It looks like the sewage system is fully installed too. Very convenient," Shiao Yi called out with excitement as he opened doors while moving through the rooms on the first and second floors.
—So that’s it. He would be living here together with Shiao Yi.
The realization suddenly struck him with real weight.
Until now, he had thought only about finding some place with a roof overhead.
But this meant something much more.
If he were alone, the knights’ barracks would have been enough.
But because Shiao Yi was with him, he had to find a proper home outside.
—Wasn’t this the same as building a new home together after marriage?
The heat rose sharply to his face, leaving him unsettled.
What was this feeling? He was happy, and yet nervous, even sweating.
Was this what it meant to be embarrassed?
At the same time, a light and buoyant joy welled up inside him, lifting his heart so much that he almost wanted to run around the place in excitement.
"Do you like this one?" Lambard pressed gently. "It has just been built. It is a little expensive, yes, but it is clean and a very good deal. It can be rented or purchased. You might rent it at first, and if you are satisfied, then purchase it later."
Dominic confirmed the details with the agent who held the keys.
The price was not beyond his means.
In that case, he thought, he might as well buy it outright.
If in the future he chose to move elsewhere, he could always sell it.
Once the decision was made, the formalities were quickly finished.
The agent left after placing the keys on the table.
The only thing left was to arrange the payment through the guild to the property owner.
Dominic looked around the house again with fresh eyes.
From today onward, this would be the home of both himself and Shiao Yi.
...
After leaving the guild, Dominic went straight to a furniture shop.
The house was already decided, but there wasn’t even a table inside.
If they didn’t want to sleep on the floor tonight, they would need a proper bed right away.
In front of the shop, Lambard smiled and parted ways with them.
"I’ll go buy the smaller daily necessities. Lord Dominic, please choose the furniture you like."
Daily life required many different items.
But Dominic and Shiao Yi were both shockingly ignorant about such things.
Leaving it to Lambard felt like the safest choice.
When they entered the shop, the owner of the shop greeted them warmly, clearly pleased to see what he thought would be good customers.
Dominic walked straight to where the beds were displayed.
That was the most important thing for now.
He first looked at a large canopy bed that was familiar and grand in design. But as soon as he stopped in front of it, Shiao Yi tugged at his sleeve.
"You’re not seriously thinking of choosing something that showy, are you? I don’t like it. I’d never feel like I was really sleeping—I’d feel like I was lying in some world heritage site instead."
World heritage site? Dominic didn’t know what that meant. But if Shiao Yi disliked it, there was no need to insist on the canopy bed.
In the end, they chose a simple but sturdy large bed. It was trong, practical, and big enough that even three adults could lie down on it comfortably.
One bed was enough. They wouldn’t need another.
Next, Dominic chose a dining table set for the first floor, along with a tea table and some benches—things they would need right away.
It looked like they were all made in the same workshop, with the same wood and finishing style.
The furniture had a unified look.
There was no unnecessary decoration, only functional design, yet the corners were softly rounded, giving it a gentle warmth.
Shiao Yi seemed to like it too.
Dominic decided it would be best to buy any future furniture from this same place as well.
When he walked closer to where Shiao Yi was staring intently, he saw a chest of drawers that would be perfect for the upstairs bedroom.
It was clearly made in the same workshop.
It would be good for storing shirts, underclothes and small items.
"Do you like this one? Then let’s add it," Dominic said.
"Eh? But we already bought so much. Isn’t it a little too luxurious?" Shiao Yi asked.
"It’s something we’ll need anyway. If you like it, then that’s better."
Even to himself, Dominic thought his voice sounded unexpectedly sweet.
Why was buying furniture for the house he would live in with Shiao Yi making him this happy?
His face must have been slack with a foolish grin.
No way could he let his subordinates see him like this.
Then it struck him.
This was nest-building. Just like birds and animals building a nest for their mate. It was the same instinctive joy.
He was preparing a home for himself and Shiao Yi.
Of course it felt fun.
But when the payment was finished and the purchased furniture was stacked in a pile outside the warehouse, Dominic couldn’t help but sigh.
The amount was far more than he had expected.
Each piece was large, so it couldn’t be helped.
Even if he found a cart, moving the bed in one piece would be impossible.
They would have to take it apart and reassemble it inside the house.
At this rate, they might really have no choice but to sleep on the floor tonight.
"I’ll carry everything with teleportation. Dominic, can you distract the shop clerks for a bit?" Shiao Yi said.
Was it really okay to use such a skill for something like this? Dominic wondered.
But it was true that it would make things much easier.
He quickly guided the clerks who had been helping carry the furniture back inside the store.