Chapter 6: Encounter
“Did I startle you? Here, your luggage.”
He handed over the trunk to Claire with an invigorating smile.
As it turned out, he wasn’t a thief.
“I’m Viik. I was on a stroll when I called out to ojousama.”
“It startled me a bit, but you helped me when I was in a pinch. Thank you.”
Claire smiled back, feeling relieved.
“I helped you because you seemed to be in on something, and it’s getting late. Is the real attendant going to come? Isn’t dangerous for a woman to walk alone?”
((……ugh))
Bullseye.
When Claire was having trouble answering, he continued,
“Anyway, you hungry?”
―――――
In the city of Eias, cafés and restaurant were bustling even after 10 PM.
Every store was crowded with customers. From a beer hall with its delicious sausage, to a restaurant specializing in cheese dishes, even a bakery where people buy bread the next morning was still open.
Claire was walking with the man along the main street.
((It’s this lively, it’s been a while…!))
Even if she occasionally returned to the Martino’s Mansion, Claire, who only accompanied or took care of Charlotte’s evening party, was now excited.
“Seems like you’re enjoying yourself.”
Said the man to Claire with gentle eyes.
“I haven’t been to this city in a while.”
“We’re here. My friends are in the restaurant on the second floor.”
((THIS PLACE…?))
The place where the man invited Claire for a meal was the finest place in Eias. Claire was actually thinking of staying in this hotel, as the church was being watched and also very likely to be overcrowded.
((I was worried when I followed the stranger. But I’m glad it’s a place I know of.))
Upon entering the restaurant on the second floor, the man naturally escorted Claire to the innermost private room.
His gesture looked truly nice, Claire felt nostalgic and was relieved.
“I met someone when I was on a stroll, it’s okay right?”
The man said so as he opened the door.
“Good evening. Excuse me, may I join you?”
Following the man, Claire greeted them.
“Sure… you brought back such a beauty, Viik.”
There were three young people, who widened their eyes, sitting inside.
They seemed a bit older than Claire, judging by their clothes, they looked like knights.
The largest knight with the most youthful looks greeted Claire,
“Nice to meet you. I’m Keith.”
“Nice to meet you, too. I’m sorry for suddenly intruding. My name is Claire Ma— Marx.”
Claire, who was about to blurt her real name out, corrected it immediately.
“Claire-san, is it… My name is Louie.”
A beautiful knight with neutral looks and medium-length jet black hair asked Claire for a handshake.
“Nice to meet you.”
“I’m Doni. Welcome.”
A knight with a friendly childish smile spread his arms out as if asking for a hug.
((…Er…))
“—the heck you doing.”
When Claire was still confused, Viik slapped the back of Doni’s head.
“—Ouch. Why so serious, Viik.”
((Thank goodness, it seems like they’re not bad people.))
Claire was also glad that the man’s name, Viik, was not a pseudonym.
“Order whatever you like.”
Viik handed the menu over to Claire.
((Hamburger, fried chicken, baked potato and cheese with meat sauce, rice noodles…! There are so many things I haven’t tried since I last came to the city.))
Claire inadvertently getting excited.
The four of them giggled and smiled at Claire whose glittering eyes checking over the menu.
After ordering seafood paella, baked potatoes, grace of the forest salad, and two glasses of wine which she carefully selected, Viik said,
“Claire, you really are something, huh…”
“Is that so…”
“I think anyone would think so. Even though you’re wearing such fine clothes, you walked without an attendant this late, and you even tried to drove away your coachmen.”
“……” Claire couldn’t argue with that.
“As I thought, this is the finest inn in this city, yet it’s not the first time you’ve been here right?” Although he seemed to be questioning, his voice was gentle.
Surely, it didn’t seem like he’s prying into Claire’s origin, he might really just worried for Claire.
“Well, yeah. It’s true that I’ve been here several times.”
Claire, who couldn’t judge whether or not to talk to him about her situation, gave a vague answer.
Then she continued,
“But my companion won’t come, lots of things happened, and I’m thinking of going on a trip alone.”
“Alone!? Are you sure?”
Viik quickly asked.
“Somehow, Viik is anxious and a being worrywart… hehe. Just like a fa…ther—”
The moment she said it, while still grinning, large drops of tears spilled from her eyes.
“Claire?”
Louie, who noticed the change in Claire’s expression, pat Claire’s shoulder.
“…sorry”
Viik went silent as he realized that Claire had a complicated family background.
“Ah! Now you’ve done it, Viik. Claire, just ignore this carefree meddlesome guy. Are you hungry? How about more sake? The sangria here is popular with girls.”
Keith talked to Claire in panic.
“You really… to make a cute girl cry, what a jerk. Reflect on it, Viik.”
Doni also prompted Viik to change the mood.
“Wait… it wasn’t Viik’s fault… sorry…”
Claire managed to squeezed out some voice out of everyone’s kindness, but there’s no sign of her tears stopping.
((Even I don’t understand it.))
Perhaps it was because of the city’s nostalgic dishes… or maybe because it’s been a long time since someone spoke to her so gently.
Claire’s tears couldn’t stop whenever she recalls the anxiety her father gave her.
((How unladylike.))
Rather than making her feel restless, the tears that endlessly overflow softly healed Claire’s frozen heart.
50% of the Time 