From the back of a horse-drawn cart, I turned my gaze toward the girl sitting across from me.
When I stole a glance, she was looking at me too. Our eyes met, and we both looked away.
"Haha, how innocent," the middle-aged traveling merchant said, laughing at the sight of us.
Her name was Novem Foxes.
Her side ponytail suited her bright, long brown hair. The square leather bag she carried was probably filled with travel belongings.
She had chosen practical clothes rather than the dress she usually wore when we met.
She wore thick-soled boots that made her look taller than usual, giving her a more mature air. Her plump, gentle features were, for today at least, visibly tense.
I spoke in a voice low enough not to be heard by the merchant.
"How did you figure it out? And are you out of your mind, following me?"
"...Was I a bother?"
Novem looked troubled. She was the second daughter of a baron family.
Of course, a marriage between her and me—an earl—would be a mismatch in social standing. But the Foxes family had served House Walt for generations.
My marriage to Novem from such a family had been decided by my parents when I turned thirteen, because it was convenient for them.
Normally, one would present the matter to families of appropriate standing or have proposals brought in for consideration.
"That's not it. I've been cast out of my family. Following someone like me would be something only a fool would do."
There would be no benefit for Novem or for her family, the Foxes, in following me now that I had lost everything.
Any decent noble would prioritize their family's interests. There were occasionally those who didn't play by the rules, but they were a minority.
I never imagined Novem would be one of those minorities.
Since we were the same age, I had run into her many times as children.
We had memories of playing together.
But after my parents had begun to shun me, I couldn't recall many conversations with her. I had thrown myself into training and studying, desperate to earn my parents' approval.
"You're being a bother. Here I was, thinking I could finally live freely on my own."
If I said something terrible right to her face, she might leave. That's what I thought, and so I said something I didn't actually mean.
Novem was not the type of girl to be a dreamer, and above all, by the standards of House Walt's family motto, she was unquestionably a qualified bride candidate.
"...I'm sorry. But I've decided that I will marry Master Lyle."
Hearing that, I told her.
"I have no intention of that. I'm going to become an adventurer, surround myself with women, and live freely. Being cast out from my family? I'm glad to be rid of it."
It was a terrible thing to say. Surely that would make Novem lose interest in me.
Even as I thought so, I looked down. I didn't want to see her scornful face, but knowing the conversation wouldn't progress otherwise, I looked back up.
(She must hate me now.)
That's what I thought when I looked up, but Novem was smiling.
"I decided this on my own. Even if you won't marry me, I'd like to continue serving by your side."
I wanted to hold my head in my hands.
"...What about the Foxes family? Your parents will be upset."
When I brought up her family, Novem answered with confidence.
"That's perfectly fine. I'm the second daughter, and my older brother will inherit the family home. I have an older sister and younger sisters too, so my parents sent me off, saying it was fine for at least one of us to do as she pleased."
(What are you saying, Mr. and Mrs. Foxes!)
My head was starting to hurt.
Novem was, to put it mildly, a beautiful girl. On top of that, she had been strictly raised and was well-educated. She would have had no shortage of marriage proposals without lifting a finger.
Perhaps she could have even married into a viscount's family.
It seemed a waste to let the happiness she could have had slip away for my sake.
Because I had known her since childhood, I wanted Novem to be happy. But her resolve seemed firm.
Come to think of it, she had always been stubborn, even as a kid.
"...Do as you please."
When I looked away, Novem covered her mouth with her hand and smiled.
"I'll do just that."
It seemed the merchant had overheard, because he spoke up.
"Youth really is something. That right there is treasure enough."
He had heard everything.
My face flushed with embarrassment. But just then, I heard a voice.
'Hey now, looks like you're pretty popular.'
A teasing voice reached my ears. I looked around.
On the cart, there was only Novem and me. The merchant was up front, holding the reins. Around the cart, there were other travelers and merchants heading for the commercial district, but none were close enough to have been the source.
"Novem, did you hear that? Some kind of teasing voice."
At my question, Novem shook her head.
"I—I'm sorry. ...I didn't hear anything."
As Novem apologized with a guilty look, I told her "It's nothing, don't worry about it," while scanning the area.
The voice was male, fairly solid and clear. There were men around, but none within audible distance.
Besides, the voice had sounded like it came from somewhere very close.
(A hallucination? Am I still tired? Come to think of it, fatigue has been hard to shake lately. Is it because my injuries haven't fully healed yet?)
Wondering where I'd heard that voice before, I looked up. After gazing at the cloth canopy stretched over the cart, I closed my eyes.
Perhaps I was more mentally exhausted than I realized.
"Are you all right, Master Lyle?"
When Novem asked with concern, I opened my mouth to speak. I was about to say "I'm fine," when I heard the voice again, right nearby.
It was clearly audible, but Novem didn't seem to notice.
'Having someone at your age already... I'm so jealous.'
'Dad sure had it rough, huh.'
I had been sitting, but now I rose up and looked around. Novem startled.
"What's wrong, Master Lyle?!"
But the situation around us was the same as before.
"...It's nothing."
As I said that, I thought to myself.
(Huh? Am I tired? ...I should just sleep for today.)
We arrived at the stage town that day, and after discussing it with the merchant, decided to continue traveling together the following days as well.
Whether it was the season, the stage town was bustling.
After confirming departure times with the merchant, Novem and I wandered around looking for an inn.
But here, a problem arose.
"Only one room? You can't manage two?"
When I asked the innkeeper, the answer was an immediate no.
"This time of year, we're packed. It's one person per room—can't be helped. I'm sorry, but since you know each other, could you make do with one room?"
I turned to Novem beside me.
She had followed me, but sharing a room with a woman was something I had been taught to avoid.
That's why the inn's policy left me uncertain.
However, Novem told the innkeeper "That's fine," and paid. She handed over copper coins and received the room key.
"H-Hey..."
Before I could protest whether that was really okay, the innkeeper spoke.
"Room's at the back of the second floor. The room number's on the tag attached to the key. Oh, breakfast and hot water are complimentary, but there's no dinner service, so you'd better grab a meal somewhere before you drop off your luggage."
I didn't understand why it mattered to eat before dropping off our bags.
(If we have the key, wouldn't it be better to drop off our bags first? Never mind me, but Novem's luggage is a travel bag.)
Despite the heavy-looking luggage, Novem thanked the innkeeper.
"Thank you very much. What should we do with the key?"
"I'll take it for safekeeping, so I won't pretend not to know you later. Just bring this tag when you want it back."
I was wondering why they had this system, but Novem took me outside.
After leaving the inn, as instructed, we went to eat at what might have been a restaurant or a tavern next door.
The stage town was crowded with foot traffic and noisy—
'...Wait a second. Is this kid some kind of big-shot noble? He's way too sheltered.'
'He's an earl! Lyle is the next earl!'
'Well, he was born rich, that's for sure. Literally a little lord.'
Amid that bustle, I heard those voices clearly once more. They sounded like they came from nearby, and I could even make out my name.
"Are you all right, Master Lyle? You look pale."
"I-I'm fine!"
My voice came out louder than I intended in my panic. Novem didn't seem to have heard them. And the voices came again.
'More importantly... you should carry the girl's bags. You're basically empty-handed. Way to be clueless.'
'He's an earl, right? An heir would be like that. People would serve him, not the other way around.'
"...What?"
I heard them again. The voices were coming from right near me. And they were different voices—multiple of them.
"Master Lyle?"
Not wanting to burden the worried Novem, I decided to ignore the voices. But it was true that she was carrying heavy luggage while I held nothing.
"Ah, uh... Novem, that must be heavy. Let me carry it."
I took Novem's luggage, half-forcing it from her as she protested that she could carry it herself, and headed into the restaurant next to the inn.
But the voices continued.
'You should hold her hand and escort her.'
As soon as I entered, I heard that. I briefly considered reaching out and taking Novem's hand.
(Wait, we're already inside the restaurant... there's no point in offering my hand now.)
Maybe because I'd extended my hand and then stood there frozen, I ended up just standing around cluelessly in front of Novem.
Sensing this, Novem took my hand.
"Master Lyle, there are seats open over there. Could you walk me?"
"Ah, y-yeah... Sure."
After escorting her the short distance, Novem thanked me at the end.
"Thank you, Master Lyle. Um... sorry about that."
With that, she turned to the staff and placed an order. After looking at the menu and asking for recommendations, she ordered for both of us.
When she asked if that was all right, I just agreed, having no idea what was coming. And then the voices came again.
'Isn't this guy a bit pathetic?'
'He's sheltered, after all. Well, he does have some unreliable qualities.'
'This works out because the girl he's with is sharp, but with an ordinary girl, he'd probably be abandoned.'
As my reputation continued to plummet, I thought to myself.
(What is this situation?!)
Night.
Back at the inn, I received the hot water the innkeeper had prepared.
I was to use the water in the bucket to wipe down my body.
"There's no bath?"
At my question, Novem answered.
"In stage towns, some inns have baths depending on the price, but generally speaking, using hot water to wipe yourself down is the norm. Even inns with baths mostly just have a large communal one for guests."
"Really? I heard that in the city, there were inns with private baths..."
Looking troubled, Novem soaked a towel in the bucket of hot water and wrung it out. Then she helped me undress and wiped down my body.
"Inns with private baths are expensive. They charge silver coins per night."
"I have silver coins, though. You don't do well without baths either, right, Novem?"
When I said that, Novem corrected me.
"You mustn't, Master Lyle! From now on, you need to be careful with money. If you don't save where you can, your money will run out in no time."
"R-Really?"
As Novem lectured me, once she finished wiping my back, she moved on to washing my hair. I held my head over the bucket, and she carefully washed it for me.
Then a weary voice rang out.
'Hey, princeling. Once you're done wiping down, step out of the room.'
"Huh?"
"What's wrong, Master Lyle?"
The threatening voice startled me, so I looked around. My hair was wet, and water was sprayed on the surrounding area.
'Good grief, this kid... completely oblivious.'
'I don't think there's really a problem.'
I told Novem it was nothing, let her finish washing my hair, and then got dressed.
I wanted a change of clothes, but I had nothing besides what I was wearing.
"Then, I'll use it next. Um..."
Novem seemed to want to say something, and I spoke.
"S-Sure. I'll be outside. I'll be right outside the door. (Why do I need to leave?)"
"I'm sorry."
Stepping outside, I found a chair in the hallway. I sat down in the creaky chair, and the voices stopped.
"Hallucinations, or... today's been enough. I should just..."
Sitting there, my eyelids grew heavier. I closed my eyes. Having wiped down my body, I felt refreshed, and my spirits were up.
(I'll just rest my eyes a moment...)
'Wake up, you brat!'
A roar jolted me awake. I was somewhere completely different from before.
"Huh, ah... wha?"
Moreover, there were people around me. Seven of them sat around a large, round table—
All dressed differently. And they were faces I'd somehow seen before. Where? As I thought this, I noticed a man wearing a beast pelt as a vest.
His arms were thick as logs, and his hair was unkempt. Around him were men who looked more refined. They all appeared to be in their late twenties to early thirties.
I turned my gaze toward the barbarian-looking man before me.
"Huh? Could this voice be—"
'That's right. It's us.'
And among them, there was a man who looked familiar. Unlike in my memories, he was much younger. But his demeanor hadn't changed.
'Lyle!'
"Huh? G-Grandfather?!"
There stood my grandfather, young again. His back was straight, and his build was more solid than I remembered.
'You've grown so much... I'm so pleased, Lyle.'
But the warm welcome came only from my grandfather. The others arrayed beside him were indignant, indifferent, or exasperated.
They each seemed to have different assessments of me.
Then my grandfather spoke up.
'Got something to say about my grandson?!'
The one who answered was the barbarian-styled man.
'Of course I do! What's with this weakling?! There's no way my descendant could be such a pathetic guy!'
"My... descendant?!"
I couldn't grasp the situation. And since my grandfather was here, maybe this wasn't a dream? As I thought that, another person spoke.
'No, I don't think there's really a problem. Rather than that, there's something I want to know more about. Let's see, it was Lyle, right? I'm your great-grandfather.'
"...What?"
The red-haired, slightly wild-looking man was dressed properly enough, but his clothes were slightly disheveled.
And I remembered the paintings at my family home. Those portraits of the successive heads of the family—they had hung in the house. A few had quite different impressions, but most looked similar.
The irritable, barbarian-styled man spoke.
'You're slow on the uptake! I'm—telling—you—we're your ancestors!'
Sitting next to him, a man dressed like a hunter murmured.
'I know you don't want to accept it, but this guy is the First Generation of the regional noble House Walt. Ah, no need for respect or anything like that.'
"...Huh?"
I must have been making a dumbfounded face.