The Guardian Knight of Affection-Starved Young Ladies

112 – Reunion (04)

113.

“Did you enjoy it?”

“Huh…? Ah, yes… It was good.”

*Creeaaak…*

A carriage passes over the quiet plains.

The carriage was so luxurious, it practically glittered on the outside.

It looked grand enough to bring to mind an imperial carriage.

But, if it were truly an imperial carriage, the surrounding escort wouldn’t be so lax.

It must be the carriage of one of the Empire’s top merchant guilds.

The carriage slowly travels across the plains.

Watching how the carriage doesn’t shake excessively and the horse’s gait is so well-matched, one can gauge how skilled the boy driving the carriage is.

The boy driving the carriage, Kalen, leaned back leisurely, looking around.

The owner of the voice that had answered him was nowhere to be seen.

“That’s a relief. The lady, she…”

“She’s sleeping.”

“Is that so.”

A conversation steeped in tranquility.

Like the surrounding landscape, the dialogue was a small shared understanding between the boy on the driver’s seat and the girl inside the carriage.

The play they’d watched before departure.

So unremarkable it could be called third-rate, and yet, simple as it was.

For some reason, a play that you couldn’t look away from, the happy ending the protagonists found was pleasing.

“More than that… you could even drive a carriage?”

“Yes. I’ve learned a lot of things.”

“…”

They couldn’t hire a coachman.

Of course, it was something perfectly possible, but Callen had climbed onto the driver’s seat himself.

Having already seen the play, there was a desire to not delay any further.

He’d learned how to drive a carriage long ago, so Callen driving himself was more convenient in many ways.

“…Could you tell me, by any chance, when you learned?”

“When I learned?”

“Yeah… I… I just want to know…”

If not for this, even this casual conversation would have felt awkward.

Even though there was an unwritten rule among coachmen not to eavesdrop on the conversations of their passengers.

And even though Callen had cast a spell to soundproof them.

And this was better for Laris and Velvet.

The inside of the carriage was truly spacious, but Callen was a man.

Meaning, it wasn’t easy for Laris and Velvet to relax.

Callen thought as he listened to Laris.

Perhaps because Velvet had fallen asleep and she was bored, Laris kept striking up conversations.

Making a mockery of his consideration that she should be comfortable.

“When I first met… Eliana… no. Lady Lacartus…”

Callen gladly accepted it.

Aside from his consideration, driving the carriage in silence was a dull affair.

Conversing with a barrier between them was one of the few enjoyable things to be found while driving a carriage across a quiet plain.

And so, Callen opened his mouth.

It feels like a story from so long ago now.

So much has happened, and Kallen spoke slowly, recalling that time.

“…Ah. Lady Lacatus…”

That was when I learned to drive a carriage.

Kallen could only finish speaking after remembering even the praise he’d received back then.

Laris, who had been listening intently, left such a brief remark of her impressions, then changed the subject as if she had no interest.

Maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned the last time I was praised.

Kallen felt a little sad.

“Kallen.”

“…Yes, Miss.”

“…”

“I’m listening.”

Laris stopped speaking when Kallen answered dejectedly.

Kallen questioned her, her voice full of hesitation.

A soft sigh escaped, and Laris said in a quiet voice.

“Will… my sister welcome us?”

Sister.

Laris’s sister, who fought alongside Laris against Flavur, and ultimately left as if she was being sold off.

Lunea Plache.

Laris was talking about her now.

That name, uttered without context or flow.

Kallen could guess what Laris meant.

The place they were heading to now was the estate of the Count’s family that Lunea Plache married into.

A family headed by a lower Count, not particularly well-regarded even among Counts.

It didn’t seem to fit the name Plache at all.

But if you understood the Lady Lunea, it wasn’t that strange.

From Flavur’s perspective, a noble family that they could control whenever they wanted, not a very grand one, would have been more convenient.

“Why do you think that?”

“…”

Laris was hesitating.

On the way to see her sister with Velvet.

If it’s her, who stood against the Lyle Merchant Guild with Laris, she couldn’t possibly dislike her.

“It’s just… I’m anxious. My sister said she’d return, but seeing as she hasn’t contacted us at all, maybe she’s content. And if that’s the case, wouldn’t I be the one shaking up the life she barely found?”

A hesitant voice, yet also hollow.

Before leaving, Lunea told Laris she’d return.

She said she’d gather money and definitely come to get Laris.

However, after going to the Count’s family, Lunea hasn’t contacted Laris at all.

The fear that, perhaps, Lunea is content in her marriage is what worries her.

What if Lunea had come to like the arranged marriage?

Then, Velvet’s existence would hardly be good news for Lunea.

“…”

But Kallen’s thoughts were different.

While Laris knows Flayver well, Kallen was the one who helped with Beln’s affairs.

He knew how vile that old man was.

That’s why Kallen spoke slowly.

So that Laris wouldn’t worry, so that she could feel reassured.

“I think Lady Lunea is waiting, actually.”

“…Waiting?”

“Even if Lady Lunea couldn’t endure and got married, Flayver would have obviously done something to that Count’s family.”

“…Surely…”

“Yes. Isn’t that why there’s been no contact all this time? Flayver doesn’t trust anyone. He’s suspicious of everything, and he’s made it so Lady Lunea can’t contact you, Miss.”

Flayver was more than capable of that.

Kallen continued to speak in a comfortable tone.

“It seems Lady Lunea cared for Miss Laris very much. Is that right?”

“My sister is… yeah. She’s stronger and kinder than anyone.”

“Then, shall we bet on that? On the Lunea you knew better than anyone, instead of the Lunea we don’t know now.”

“…”

The carriage raced across the plain.

Starting to enter a quieter street.

A place that felt more peaceful than the bustling center.

In the distance, a slightly unremarkable-looking noble’s manor began to appear.

“…Understood. Thank you, Kalen.”

“You’re welcome.”

A voice, certain, sounded from behind the screen separating the two.

Kalen, reassured by it, slowly drove the carriage.

*

“Who is it?”

“We’ve come from the Flasche family.”

“Flasche…? That, the Flasche family?”

“Could you let word be put in, please?”

“Ah, understood. Please wait a moment!”

Having arrived at the manor, after passing beyond the lands managed by the count’s family, a guard standing watch at the main gate addressed them.

Kalen got down from the carriage and answered him.

The guard, upon hearing the name Flasche, became greatly flustered and quickly went inside.

Laris, having been abandoned by her father, cannot use the Flasche name.

But Kalen paid no heed and used the Flasche name.

Saying Laris was not as effective as using the name Flasche.

A fact easily seen just by the guard’s reaction.

Furthermore, with his reaction, Kalen confirmed one more thing.

The Flasche family.

More accurately, Flaver.

The vile old man of the Lyle Merchant Guild, he had certainly stretched his hand even here.

That’s probably deeply connected to Lunea.

Otherwise, a mere family guard wouldn’t be so flustered.

It’s better than going through a complex process or being suspected of identity.

Even if Kalen’s own guess was wrong, there isn’t a noble who would take the Flasche name lightly.

“…Was it okay?”

“Yes. Much easier than I thought.”

“…”

“It seems I was right.”

Kalen, staring at the manor, answered Ralis.

At the same moment, the manor door opened, and someone appeared.

A proper bearing.

He didn’t seem to possess a naturally imposing presence, but he was not lacking in appearance for one leading a lower count family.

This man, with such an impression, walked up and stood before Kalen.

“You said you came from the Plache family.”

Despite this being their first meeting.

Even though it was obvious at a glance that Kalen was younger than the man, the man did not speak informally.

Maintaining formality toward everyone was part of a noble’s training, but that was something usually upheld between adults.

“Yes. I am Kalen.”

“…Dessed Garshi, head of the Garshi family.”

The family head, who introduced himself as Dessed, glanced at the carriage behind Kalen.

Perhaps because the carriage was lavish, Dessed didn’t seem suspicious.

Unintended, but somehow the situation was naturally unfolding.

Dessed calmly took a breath and asked,

“May I ask who is inside?”

If the person inside was not Ralis but Phleber, how would this man, Dessed, have acted?

Sadly, it was something Kalen could not know.

“It is Lady Ralis and Madam Velvet.”

“…Ralis?”

Dessed’s eyebrows twitched at the mention of Ralis’s name.

As if he knew her name well, Dessed seemed subtly relieved.

“…I was on edge, hearing that you came from Plache. It is not the old man, then.”

“Are you disappointed?”

“Not at all. I am thankful. That old man… no, let’s stop there.”

“I said I came from Plache, is it alright to speak like that?”

“At the very least, you aren’t on that old man’s side. I am well aware of the Plache heiress’s situation.”

“If the Lady is on Phleber’s side…”

“Your words just now made me more certain. Phleber. A bold young boy. That old man is so suspicious that he does not trust anyone. There is no way he would entrust such a task to another.”

Kalen relaxed.

If things went south, I was ready to pull out magic, but it didn’t seem necessary.

Desed visibly relaxed, and knowing about Laris, he wasn’t on Flavre’s side.

“I understand why you’re here. Though, how you got here in that carriage is beyond me.”

“I wish to see Lady Luneia.”

“Alright. Leave the carriage and come in.”

Kallen nodded and knocked on the carriage door.

“My lady.”

“Yes, I’m coming.”

Kallen had reduced the carriage’s soundproofing, so Laris could hear everything.

After a small sigh, the carriage door opened.