After that, I listened to Bram’s story after he calmed down.

  At that time, Bram who was participating in the party that Eleonora-neesan also attended, fell in love at first sight with her and then proposed to her.

  However, Eleonora-neesan didn’t accept the proposal as she ruthlessly rejected it.

  Bram who was unable to completely resign himself to that answer, attacked Eleonora-neesan many times that day, touched by his enthusiasm (most likely she was annoyed by him so she did it reluctantly), Eleonora-neesan said to Bram.

  『――If you can defeat me in swordsmanship, then I’ll be your fianceé.』


  ………………that’s impossible isn’t it…………


  We can’t beat her unless we ask for Nord-tousan the Dragon Slayer’s help.

  And lately, even those nobles from the martial arts faction like Earl Melna and the B-rank adventurer Rumba are no match for her.

  So I hate to say this, but I don’t think that Bram has the ability to defeat Eleonora-neesan in swordsmanship.

  And then Bram challenged Eleonora-neesan for a duel………and it seems it was an instant defeat.

  And after that, it looks like Bram sends Eleonora-neesan letters and written invitations for the party while looking for a chance for a rematch; however, it would seem that there has been no answers…


  Come to think of it, I’ve seen Eleonora-neesan burning some papers several times saying she was practicing fire magic.

  Most likely, they’re burned without being read.

  「And then, when I heard that the second son of Slowlett house would participate in this party this time, I took this opportunity to sent a lot of letters to Eleonora!」


  Bram proudly said that, but I can only think of him as an unpleasant stalker.

  And then, it appears that Eleonora-neesan’s reply came the other day.

  『If you can defeat my little brother, Alfried who will participate in the noble’s gathering this time, then we can have a rematch.』


  ………………………


  When I left the mansion, Eleonora-neesan gave a warning to me 「Don’t get involved with strange nobles okay」, but you just made such a troublesome matter then forced it onto me?

  Maybe, Bram’s letter arrives at the same timing as I left the mansion.

  If she had known it at the time, Eleonora-neesan would have directly said it.

  Darn it, the adverse effect of leaving the mansion early shows itself in such places.

  Eleonora-neesan should be burning a large number of letters that has arrived and casually eating cookies in the living room around this time.

  「So that’s why you have fight me!」


  「No way. I mean, it has nothing to do with me right?」


  「But, your name is written in the letter!」


  Carefully opening the folded letter, Bram pushed the letter to my face.

  Uwa, it’s been scribbled annoyingly. I’m sure she must have written the letter carelessly on the desk as her brows furrowed.

  「Ehー, what about this?」


  「Well, it should have been an official letter formally written by someone in the house ……」


  When I turn to Eric for help, he answers me like that rather than giving me support.

  「Certainly, a duel is inevitable with this. However, tonight is also a nobles’ exchange meeting with princess Kudelia present. I wonder if it would be fine if the duel is done tomorrow morning here, at the garden.」


  「……certainly, that’s true. I don’t mind that.」


  Bram nods in agreement to Alicia’s words.

  Rather, I wonder why is Alicia the one who arranged that…


  「Ehー, we’re really doing it?」


  「The royal capital tour is tomorrow afternoon yeah? 　And you’re going to settle it immediately and then come to the meeting place, right?」


  By ‘settle it’, it naturally doesn’t mean exchange of life between the duelists, but you know, it’s annoying to have a duel in the morning.

  In this way, the curtain closes on my second day of the nobles exchange meeting.

  And the next day.

  「…………uhh, I overslept……」


  I slowly got up from my bed in the inn.

  The sun has already risen overhead, the appointed time for the duel with Bram in the morning has already passed.

  Err, I don’t think there would be any problem as the time is still not quite noon yet, and if I head out now it will be just noon when I arrived.

  I opened the windows slatted shutter, bask in the pleasant sunlight and squinted.

  「What a good weather.」


  And when I stretch, I can hear cracking sounds from my body.

  I put my elbow on the windowsill, and idly watch at the scenery.

  The royal capital has good weather today. It’s so blue as there are no clouds at all.

  When I look down, the royal capital’s streets are bustling with people.

  Maybe since it’s lunchtime, I can see a lot of people going towards the South main street and to restaurant-like places…


  It’s good that the scenery is bustling with people, but as expected, I feel truly calm in Koryatt village with its green scenery.

  As expected, I prefer my hometown. A countryside.

  「………now then, shall we go and play with Eric?」


  But is it fine with the duel against Bram? 　Well, I didn’t particularly say anything about accepting his challenge, so it will probably be fine. I mean, I think it’s wrong for the other party not listening to the other person’s answer properly.

  To begin with, today I’ve made a promise earlier to go and explore the royal capital with Eric. So I won’t go out of my way to change the plan and follow other’s urges.

  If Bram can’t have a duel with me, then he will also be unable to have a rematch with Eleonora-neesan.

  That way, Bram wouldn’t end up suffering excessively. This is me being considerate of him.

  I made water using water magic and placed it in an empty cup then I brought it to my mouth.

  After that, I wash my face on the washstand, prepare my clothes and put on the rough clothes.

  In the end, after arriving at the royal capital, I couldn’t go and have a satisfactory tour of the royal capital because of the matter with the lost child Ra-chan and going to Elna-kaasan’s home.

  The nobles exchange meeting also ended yesterday, so today I want to enjoy myself to my heart’s content…


  「Yosh, the meeting place is at the plaza, right…」


  I started running towards the main street while humming a song.

  The large plaza, located in the middle of the royal capital, was still calm and quiet today.

  Children playing around the water fountain. Even though they’re still dressed in their clothes, the children jumped into the water.

  Won’t it feel unpleasant with their clothes sticking to their skin like that…


  I thought so in my mind, but the children themselves don't seem to care about such things as they keep playing with innocent smiles on their face.

  There are benches placed in the surroundings with couples and elderlies sitting on them, having casual conversations while watching the children playing.

  「Surely, it’s around noon that I have to meet with with Eric here right.」


  There are no convenient things such as watches or cell phones in this world, so if you’re going to meet with someone then you’ll experience hard times.

  After a fixed period of time has passed, there are the sounds of bells ringing in the royal capital, however even those feel considerably inaccurate.

  In the early morning the bell will softly ring once. And the bell will ring loudly at noon and in the evening, a total of three times. With that as a base, the bell would ring once in between of those three times, for a total of five times.

  They probably judge the time using the sun’s position and shadow.

  Because of such ‘rough’ time format, the people in this world are quite loose in regards to time.

  Of course, for some people such as merchants and knights are punctual, but their daily lives are laid-back.

  In front of the stone statue and on the bench in the plaza, you can see people who seem to be annoyed because the people they were supposed to meet-up with haven't come yet.

  Uwaー, I’m really scared of the women over there.

  When that guy finally comes I would first slap his face or else I won’t be satisfied! she give off that kind of impression.

  Looking at the distance, there is a guy who appears to be the boyfriend who came running.

  To me, it only appears that this man is approaching closer to the gallows.

  The man put his hands on his knees and caught his breath, then he put his palms together and apologized to the woman.

  I wonder if he would say something like 「I’m sorry! I’m late! 」 , those kinds of words.

  While the woman would then break her tsun expression, and faced him with a gentle smile on her face. 3

  「It’s fine. In exchange, you have to take me to a nice place today okay!」 or maybe it will develop towards such a bittersweet atmosphere.

  Everyone on the plaza watches the scene while holding their breath.

  Even the children playing in the water fountain, and the elderlies sitting on the bench.

  Then the time restarted again along with a certain sound.

  GON, GOONNN, the magnificent sounds of the bells resounds in the royal capital.

  It’s the sound of a bell signifying that it's noon.

  And when the sounds of bell stop ringing,

  「You said that we will meet here when the second bell rang didn’t you?　But it’s already third bell isn’t it!」


  「Wa, wait!　Daha-!?」


  The woman hit the man’s stomach with all her strength.

  The childrens who watched that exclaimed in wonder.

  「「Oooooh!」」


  「That oneechan did it in the end, huh!」


  「That oneechan has been here since morning.」


  So that woman has been waiting since morning, eh. Then she must have been looking forward to today’s date. And if that’s the case, her anger is quite understandable. The man who arrived late is at fault. I personally think it’s awful for him to arrive at the third bell.

  「Ooh, what a nice body blow.」


  「It’s a fine punch.」


  「He wouldn’t be able to get up again.」


  Un, I am of the same opinion.

  The man appears to be in pain as he crouches for a while now. I don’t think he will be able to stand up very soon.

  Before long, the woman became embarrassed, maybe because she noticed our gaze, her cheeks and ears flushed red in no time.

  「――hgh!　Baka!」


  Then she ran away after verbally abusing the man with those words.

  「……Quin………na……」


  The people in the surroundings were telling the man to chase after her with their gaze, but the man is unable to stand up.

  That must have been such a strong blow.

  Nord-tousan also said something about that. About a blow that was packed-full with the opponent’s feeling that reverberated through the inside of your whole body.

  Though it would have been better if Nord-tousan didn’t say it while rubbing his red, swollen cheeks.

  I’m sure it would be the same this time around.

  「Why are you not chasing after me!?」


  Ah, the woman from before came back.

  「……I’m…sorry Quina. I wanted to chase after you……but…I………can’t stand…」