*

　When I woke up, I found myself in a carriage.
　Even though it's a carriage, it's not the covered wagon or wagon used to move around the territory, it's the guest room of a box carriage.
　The interior is simple, with only couches facing each other, but there is plenty of room to load your luggage.
　There is an occasional jolt that hits the carriage, but once you get used to it, the carriage journey is surprisingly comfortable.
　The reason why he was in the carriage was because he received a letter from Tilia in the imperial capital.
　The text, written in a flowing penmanship, was wonderfully written and gave a glimpse of Tilia's deep cultivation, but to summarize it, ''I'm having a ball in the imperial capital, come quickly!　That's an order!' That was it.
　Crono hurriedly packed up his belongings, pulled out the carriage that had been gathering dust in the warehouse, and set off from Hachel.
　On the way, they were attacked by armed bandits, but the subordinates acting as guards.......five cavalrymen with Faye as their captain and archer Leila the archer.....stood their ground without danger and fought off the bandits without causing any casualties.
　No, there was only one subordinate who was about to die.
　It was Fay, the captain of the team.
　Fei had chased the fleeing bandit alone and was ambushed.
　If he had used the divine power technique from the start, the result might have been different, but Fei was surrounded by bandits, stoned endlessly with a stone thrower, and dragged off his horse when he was weakened.
　Here, Faye's fate could have ended, but she was safely rescued by the four horsemen and Leila.
　Thanks to Faye's use of the Divine Majesty Technique to defend herself, the rescue team was able to rush over, so perhaps it should be said that there was a divine blessing.

''Crono-sama, please wake up.''
Hmm, are you there yet?

　Crono sat up when Layla called out to him.

'You sleep well, Anne........!

　Elena interrupted the sarcasm she was about to say with a jolt that hit the carriage.
　Apparently, she had bitten her tongue.

'Yo, how do you sleep, Anta?
I guess I'm used to it.

　Crono replied lightly to a teary-eyed and sarcastic Elena.
　Crono leaned out of the window and checked his surroundings.
　The surrounding area was a wilderness as far as the eye could see, and a gray mass that looked like the imperial capital could be seen ahead.

''........Crono-sama, it is dangerous.''

　Letting the horse run alongside the carriage, Faye said to Crono with a depressed look on her face.
　Apparently, he had lost his confidence after the incident with the bandit.

''I am........a bad knight.

　Crono patted Faye's head, but she didn't seem to have the energy to brush it off and let out a deep sigh.
　Phew, Faye let out a long sigh and dropped back to the back of the carriage.
　Crono walked back into the carriage and settled back into his seat.

'Are you still depressed, Fay-sama?
It's going to take you a little longer to get back on your feet.
If you were so worried, you shouldn't have been so angry.

　With that, Elena looked at Crono with accusing eyes.

'If it was my usual mistake, I'd tolerate it, but this time it almost killed me.

　Very often, Faye fails with too much momentum.
　If you team up with your opponent in a military drill, you'll beat him to a pulp; if you go out to guard the city, you'll come down too hard on him; if you leave him to guard the Marquis' mansion at night, it's because Crono was trying too hard.... They would step into the sleeping quarters.

In case you haven't noticed, you're pretty shady when you're angry.
No, you don't, do you?

　When Crono asked, Leila's cheeks twitched so small that she had to look carefully to understand, and she looked away from her gaze.

'If you're angry, you should have been furious, but with a gaze like this, like you're looking at a bug, 'Why did you go after the bandit by yourself? And I don't know if it's a good idea to go on and on asking.
We need to tighten up where we can, or we don't want to make the same mistakes again.
He's just trying to rebuild the house, right?　So maybe that makes you more uptight than you need to be?
You know your stuff.
That's about all the information that comes in.

　Elena looked languidly at the scenery outside.

'I do feel sorry for you, though.'
You can be kind of a jerk, can't you?
Well, you know.

　Caressing the wound in his right eye, Crono chuckled.

'Hey, what, you just started laughing all of a sudden.
Come to think of it, we're a long way from home.

　Elena huddled in the corner of the seat as Crono lifted the corner of his mouth, looking frightened.

'Hey, you're not going to sulk here, are you?
No, I'm not that insane.

　When Crono denied it, Elena patted her chest as if she was relieved.

''Well Elena, would you mind comforting Faye?''
Why do you have to do that?

　Elena's lips twitched in frustration.

'I haven't yet thanked you for fulfilling my wish to go to the ball with you and for the new dress... so if you're willing to pay me with your body, that's fine with me.
Best smile you could muster, and that's a shitty thing to say.

　Elena crossed her arms thoughtfully.

Well you can at least talk to him, since you're not busy until the ball is held.
　He cowered his shoulders as if to say he had no choice.

*

　From the carriage's cabin on the way to Crawford's mansion in the Fourth Ward, Crono looked out over the streets of the new city.
　While the old town where the aristocrats and wealthy merchants reside is neat and orderly, the new town where a wide range of people from the relatively wealthy merchants to the poor live is quite chaotic.
　There are many two-story buildings of the new town, and although the street is paved with the stone pavement, the buildings built to fit the land and the vacant land of the triangle are dotted because they intersect at an acute angle.
　In such a new town, it is the twelfth district that stands out from the rest of the city.
　Although the bar and the brothel are lined up in the main street, and a certain order is maintained, the back street is loosely ordered.
　A market for stolen goods, cursed drug stores, illegal gambling parlors that make a spectacle out of killing each other, and brothels with prostitutes who are willing to perform outrageous perversions for a few coppers, the soldiers who should be policed are now customers, so it's out of control.
　I think gambling that makes a spectacle of killing each other would be profitable if the rules were set and made into entertainment.
　While Crono was thinking about such things, the carriage slowly slowed down and stopped in front of the Crawford mansion.

''........We're finally here.

　Crono let out a sigh and got out of the carriage, opening the door himself.

'It's been a long time since I've been here, hasn't it?

　Crono muttered as he looked up at the high walled Crawford mansion.
　The Crawford mansion is a four-story brick building with no gardens due to the fact that his foster father had built a more magnificent stable than necessary. However, less than ten meters from the gate to the front door is the front yard, so Crono doesn't mind at all, though.

''........Is my father getting there?　If you don't stay, I'm going to have to find a place to stay now.

　As Crono spoke of his anxiety, the gates began to open as if he had been watching for the right moment.
　On the other side of the gate................In the vestibule of Crawford's mansion, an elderly man stood with an elven maid.
　The man.....................His adoptive father, Baron Claude Crawford, would be sixty years old this year.
　He is half a head taller than Crono and has a muscular body.
　He's also a good friend of mine.
　The contours of his face are as angular as a shield, and his eyes are sharp enough to drown out the impression of his nose and lips.
　It's a face that fits well with words like vicious and fierce, and when he smiles....well, he looks dependable.
　An elf maid Myra looks like she doesn't reach thirty at most, but she's nearly sixty years old, a slave her adoptive father bought her when she began to make a name for herself as a mercenary.
　Her silky blonde hair is tied up in a bun, and her calmness at all times is the very definition of professionalism.
　Not only can she do the work of a maid, but she can also handle accounting, battle command, and even negotiate the price of crops, making her a perfect maid.

''Well Crono, I've heard the story.

　His adopted father walked up to him with a big stride and bash!　He clapped Crono on the shoulder.

'The quintessential son of mine. You didn't look like me, you didn't look like your dead wife, you didn't excel at all, but you've finally developed a talent. Your daughter over here is....

　His adoptive father gave a wild smile.

I know. Your mistress, right?　One half-elf and two humans........I always thought you weren't interested in women, but you're my son. Go ahead and make a cancerous baby so that you can die at any time!　Then Baron Crawford's house - no, because you're now the Marquis of Erakis, no, no, no, I don't care about the details!　The Crawford family is safe!

　Guhahahahahaha!　His adopted father laughed boldly.
　Elena gave him a dumbfounded look and Leila tilted her head in wonder.
　Faye, who was counted as one of the mistresses, looked thoughtful, as if that was not the case.

''I want my men to stay at the mansion, if that's alright?''
Don't ask me if it's obvious.

　When his foster father turned to look at him, his subordinate.......Leila turned over slightly.

''Hurry up and carry your things and have them relieved of their long journey. That half-elf girl over there........
Wow, I'm just going to... well, I have a little money to spare.
Can we go to the Chronosphere Room?

　Huh?　And Leila's eyes widened in surprise.

'I shouldn't, sir.'
I'm the one who gave you permission, okay?

　Myra let out a sigh and shook her head.

''Well boy, you have three mistresses, so the two of you who weren't chosen will be dissatisfied.
So why don't you guys just put the four of us in the same room?
It would be a mistake to ask that kind of caliber from a little boy.
...hmmm, well, yeah.

　Myra assured him, and his adopted father nodded crisply.

'I'll leave the room assignments to you, man.
Very well, sir.

　Myra nodded reverently.

*

　It was a room on the third floor that was addressed to Elena. Even the cavalrymen of the guards were addressed to a private room, so Elena wasn't the only one being given special treatment.

''It's a ... bleak room.''

　Elena lay down on the bed and spoke her honest opinion.
　Perhaps it was the nature of the landlord, or perhaps it was because of the Crawford family's short history, but although the house was well-cleaned, it was only equipped with minimal furniture and no ornaments such as vases or paintings.

''Come to think of it, he's a new nobleman. They're not similar father and son, but maybe it's like the family style that treats the servants so well.''

　If the family culture is one in which it is natural to take care of subordinates and servants, it is no wonder that children like Crono are being raised.
　However, it seems that Crono hasn't yet reached the point where he can actually understand his father's teachings.
　Thanks to his inexperience, he is able to attend the ball, so he has to be grateful.
　Even though they have a very special way of socializing, it is the nature of men to loosen their guard as much as the number of nightmares they have had.

'Philip, I will never forgive you.

　The slave-trader's former - how many times had she called his name in that darkened room?
　She didn't even realize that Phillip was the one who had tricked her into believing with all her heart that he would come to her rescue.

''Well you can ignore Faye,''

　
　Whipping her tired body after a long journey, Elena headed to the room addressed to Faye.
　Faye's room was in the middle of the third floor, near the stairs.
　When Elena knocked on the door, there was no response.

'It's not like she's sleeping, is it?

　Gently opening the door, Elena looked into the room.

''........God, God, I am a bad knight.

　Then I saw Faye in the corner of the room, holding her knees.
　Well, it's not hard to understand the feeling.
　For Faye, the sword arm was probably her last stronghold.

''........''

　Wobbling over to the bed, Faye took off her military uniform....and her simple designed underwear.
　You look good just because you're working out, said Elena, looking at Faye's well-trained body.
　Faye wrapped herself in the negligee she took out of her bag and twitched her nose around her two arms with a kunun.

'If you're going to go to a night out, you should take a bath in the hot water first.
.....

　Faye jumped back as Elena lunged at her.

'Are you Elena-dono?'

　Faye's eyes widened in surprise and she let out a breath of relief.

'I am not impressed that you would come in without knocking, sir.
I did, but you didn't see it.

　Faye's lips twitched like a sulky child.
　You're supposed to be over twenty years old and you're a little kid, Elena said, sitting back in her chair.

So, what are you doing?
I was just about to go and apologize to him.
In that outfit?
Holy shit.

　When Elena pointed it out, Faye looked down in embarrassment.

''Since you made such a mistake, it's not good to show your sincerity, right?
Wow, I'm glad you understand.

　Faye patted her chest in relief and headed for the door with great enthusiasm.

'I know you won't forgive me for saying, 'I'll have a night out,' but...'
.....

　Faye stopped moving as if frozen, reaching for the door.

'How can I be forgiven, sir?'
You could just say you're sorry.
Master Crono would not allow it.

　Faye clutched at Elena's leg with tears in her eyes, not caring if the negligee was dirty.

'So, a night owl.

　Elena crossed her arms and nodded repeatedly.
　Elena was about to offer her purity to help her get revenge, too, but she would have to put herself on the shelf.

'Nightlife is a lot harder than you think,'
Is it really that hard, sir?
At least you don't have to think like you do.
I'm a useless person, useless as a knight and useless as a woman.

　After saying this, Faye hung her head helplessly.

''Father, mother, Faye...Faye is not likely to be able to rebuild the Murifine family. Fugu, fugu, fugu!
Hey, hey, hey, don't cry.

　Elena hurriedly called out to Faye as her shoulders shook and she began to cry.

''Kuh, if even Crono-sama abandons you, it's all over and done with!
You're desperate.

　The way she cried, her face mangled with tears and snot, was not at all like a knight, nor did she look like a woman over twenty years old.
　Unavoidably, Elena gave Faye a hug.

''Don't cry anymore. You say that if they abandon you, but Crono-sama isn't the kind of person who abandons his subordinates as easily as you think.''
Ho, are you sure?

　Faye looked up, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
　This guy really looks like a child.
　Elena patted Faye's head and smiled reassuringly.

It's true. The reason I'm here ... is because you asked me to comfort you.
So why is it that you won't let me go?

　Faye stared at her and Elena let out a deep sigh.

'You see, Crono-sama wasn't angry because you failed, he was angry because you put the lives of his friends in danger by chasing after the bandits to take credit for it. Do you understand?

　Faye gave a small nod.

''Kuh, I am going to apologize to Crono-sama!
Hey, baby, go get changed!

　Faye ran out of the room and Elena hurried after her.
　When Elena entered Crono's room a little later, Faye was staring at Crono.

'Crono-sama, I finally understand,'
What?

　When Crono turned his frozen gaze on her, Faye cowered as if she was scared.

''........That is why Crono-sama was angry. I had only thought that Crono-sama was angry because he failed.
Keep going.

　Prompted to go ahead, Faye continued.

'This time, I was driven by merit and acted alone. At the very least, we should have worked together.

　You don't have to tell me that!　Elena exclaimed in her mind.

'Well, yes,'

　Crono gets to his feet.

I wouldn't mind if it was a mistake like I usually make, but people's lives are at stake. You'll be more careful next time.
Yes, I'll be careful.

　Faye straightened up and replied.

'So, what's the outfit?'
'I thought I'd be a night owl to ask Master Crono's permission!　But I was shallow!

　Faye clenched her fists around her chest.

I will study with Lord Elena and come back to you!
Uh... yeah.

　Faye had a sunny expression on her face, but Crono looked disappointed.



　Leila left her luggage in the guest room that had been addressed to her and faced Myra in her room on the fourth floor.
　Her room had the same bed, desk, and closet as the guest room, but her room had a tea set and a small table and chairs for a tea party.
　Sitting shallowly in that chair, Leila listened to Myra's story.
　
　Claude Crawford was a self-promoting personality who took his family name without a title, and at the same time, he seemed to have a personality that didn't think about the future, such as planting magic on Myra, teaching her how to fight and making her learn.
　If you teach a slave how to fight, there is a high probability that he or she will try to scratch you in your sleep.
　But apparently Myra has been extremely devoted to supporting Claude when he organized his mercenary band, when he was isolated on the battlefield after meeting the betrayal of his allies, when he joined the curtain of Ramal V, when he fought against the barbarians, and even after he became the lord of the southern frontier.

After all, it was right to stick it to the master. Even after the master became a nobleman, we had a hard time making ends meet, but now the southern frontier has become a rich granary and our lives are safe from now on.

　Myra finished her thirty-five years of hard work and brought her teacup to her mouth.

''It seems that my little boy is moving up the ranks nicely... and to be honest, I can't stop laughing.
Huh?

　Hahahaha!　Leila nodded vaguely, troubled by the reaction, as Myra laughed in a way that was typical of maids.
　'With a personality like this, life could be fun,' Leila said, sipping at her herbal tea.

'Um, didn't you have some business to attend to?'
"Young people shouldn't be so impatient.

　Myra stood up and pulled a book - more like a bundle of parchment - from a desk drawer and placed it on the table.

'Can you read and write?'
Yes, Master Crono told me about it.
Quite simply, father and son.

　Myra gave a small smile.

''About that.......I heard that Crono-sama came from another world. Why did Master Claude speak of Crono-sama as if he were his own son?
The little man is very soft spoken.

　Hmmm, Myra let out a sigh.

'Master Claude and his late wife had no children. Of course, Master Claude was deeply in love with his wife, but he felt quite lonely, and it's like he's letting off some resentment from those days.

　Myra folded her hands in prayer.

'But since Crono-sama's arrival, I think your husband has softened in character. Perhaps the master has found meaning in the act of entrusting the next generation. Well, I can't speak for Master either.
May I read it?
Yes, it's yours. Also, from tomorrow until the end of the ball and your return to the Marquess's estate, I will make sure that you are trained in the basics of maidery.
I wish I could serve Master Crono as a soldier.
No!

　Ban!　And Myra tapped the table.

'What are we to do with young people without ambition!　Elves should be enthusiastic enough to take advantage of their long lifespans to thrive in the house as servants and leave their influence on the next generation.
Well I'll see you tomorrow, please.

　Leila left Myra's room with the book in her arms.

*

　Sitting on the sofa in the parlor, Crono faced his adoptive father.
　His adoptive father poured two glasses of wine and handed one to Crono.
　The reception room, like the rest of the room, has the bare minimum of furniture.......only a sofa and a table.
　An ordinary nobleman would have a portrait on display, but as far as Crono knows, the Crawford family owns only one portrait.

''There's no 'Quicksilver, my son', is there?
'It's a good thing I think of you like a real son,'

　You haven't changed, Crono said, sipping his wine.

'You look like you've been through a lot.
It's a lot calmer now.

　His adoptive father tipped his wine and squinted at Crono to see how he was doing.

'Unlike me, you ain't much of a fighter, you ain't much of a fighter.
I'm aware.
If I had to give you any advice, it would be to 'laugh'.

　Saying that, his adoptive father smiled wildly.

'Smile when you're about to shit your pants when you face the enemy, when you slay the enemy, when you're stuck in all directions and there's nothing you can do about it, when your subordinates go to their deaths to escape you, and when your men come back in tatters.
Don't be ridiculous.
You do the first three.
I'll keep that in mind.

　Crono shared a drink with his adopted father the first night was over.