Chapter 18.1

Erich, too, accepted this preaching. Since Franz also happened to be Bertram’s friend, he had no reason to doubt what he said.

“I will remember! So His Highness has wretched social skills, and he dislikes noisy places….”

As Erich murmured to himself, Franz chuckled.

“You sure are working hard, Erich.”

“Um… I will do my best in everything!”

“Don’t overwork yourself. The reason I brought someone inexperienced like you was to show the wide world to a promising soldier, after all.”

“Is, is someone weak like me promising, sir?”

“You have the ability to listen attentively and think for yourself. That is a virtue you’d be hard-pressed to find in cocky new recruits nowadays.”

Faced with Franz’s gentle smile, Erich’s face was reduced to mush.

The other soldiers hid bitter smiles. How innocent he was, hooked onto the fishline from the obvious carrot dangled in front of him.

Deeply moved, Erich was just about to burst out of there to find Bertram right that instant, when—

Someone knocked on the door of the inn and spoke.

“Excuse me… is Mr. Erich in?”

A female voice. Franz and the soldiers exchanged looks. Erich also looked as if he did not know who it might be, but when the woman continued to stammer out her words, his eyes widened.

“Is this the room of Mr. Erich? The one who was looking for someone named Bertram last night?”

“Yes, I’m right here!”

Erich opened the door.

Lara’s eyes widened at the incredibly large room before she recognized Erich’s meek face and smiled lightly.

“Hello! Wow, are you staying alone in such a large room like this?”

“Alone?”

Erich looked behind him.

Franz and the other three soldiers had huddled into a corner of the room in no time. Mouthing and gesturing with his hands and feet, Franz talked to Erich.

‘It’ll be scary if a bunch of men crowd over her. Hear the witness out by yourself. I believe in you.’

Erich received his role resolutely.

“Lady. What testimony do you mean to bring me today?”

“Hehe, you’re calling me lady again. I’ve heard of the man you told me about yesterday, the huge grungy one with black hair!”

“Where is he!”

“You know that the city pig festival starts today, right? It seemed like he was aiming to take advantage of the chaos to go for the flock of sheep from the farm southeast to the city!”

“The flock of sheep?”

Erich included, doubt bloomed in all the people’s expressions.

If he was starved and out of money, Bertram wasn’t the type to aim for other people’s livestock; wouldn’t he rather crunch on some rocks instead…?

“Have you really heard this? You haven’t confused him with someone else?”

“I’m just telling you what I heard. Hmph, I have no idea why you would ask me for information if all you were going to do is ignore what I have to say.”

“Then, if I may ask where you heard the information. If he’s the person I know, he really isn’t the type to aim for livestock, so….”

“Don’t know.”

Lara’s tone was increasingly sharpening.

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“I didn’t even come here looking for a reward, and here you are dismissing me so easily. Never mind, then. It’s up to you whether you believe me or not.”

“My apologies! That wasn’t what I….”

“I thought you would be brave because you’re a knight, too! What a disappointment!”

Lara left the hallway with purposefully loud steps.

Now that she had delivered false information to them, as per Bertram’s request, her work here was done.

On the other hand, the other soldiers left the corner one by one and surrounded Erich, where he stood dumbfounded.

“It is difficult to believe that His Highness Prince Bertram is after flocks of sheep. However, as of now, we have no other leads, so I suppose we must go.”

“Correct. And if we end up catching a sheep thief, then that in itself will be worthwhile progress. The patrol guards will be indebted to us, and then we’ll be able to put them to work. Which is why, Erich.”

Deflated, Erich looked at Franz.

He smiled.

“Good work. You’ve gotten us some good information.”

“Th…. Thank you very much!”

Erich’s eyes sparkled with delight—but for only a moment.

Franz soon narrowed his eyes.

“But what was the meaning of the ‘knight’ that young woman mentioned earlier? Don’t tell me you impersonated knighthood?”

While a random recruit training was underway, Bertram and Anna were heading to the location of the festival.

The young men determined to participate in the festival were absorbed in gauging each other’s forearms. However, Bertram’s line of sight was zeroed into the prize of the day: the pig.

It really was big and plump.

Bertram spoke.

“As I am to return to be indebted once more, I suppose bringing a pig or so would be necessary as a gift. Would Mrs. Carla like it?”

“Of course she will! Watch, she’s going to smile from ear to ear as soon as she sees that pig.”

But the truth was that Anna was the one smiling more brightly than anyone else at that moment.

For some reason, giggles were leaking out of her just by imagining the backside of Bertram carrying the pig gift for Carla.

Soon, street vendors lined up on the main road. Delicious smells wafted in from all directions.

Anna put a lollipop in Lara’s hand. Lara’s eyes widened.

“Anna, this cost as much as a bag of sugar!”

“It’s fine, so eat up. We can’t let you go back with only terrible memories of this neighborhood.”

“…..I appreciate that you’re thinking of me, but I’m not a child, you know.”

However, as soon as the lollipop touched her tongue, the scent of oranges blossomed around her. Lara lost interest in retaining whatever pride she had and closed down on the lollipop with her whole mouth.

Grinning, Anna stood at the next street stall. The menu this time was sausages.

“Mr. Bertram, you’re good with sausages, yeah?”

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But Bertram replied with a more important topic.

“Is it really alright not to convince the village chief anymore?”

That morning—

When the chief heard Anna announce that ‘we’re going to return with Mr. Bertram!’, he’d declared that he could never give them an answer and ran away somewhere.

But Anna only shrugged, as if she was not worried at all.