CH 107

[Reunion]

“Our Finn is with Florina-sama’s daughter, Noelia-sama. Hee~, I see~. Danton, is fate something that attracts people like this, I wonder?” (Philia)

“Ahh, un. You’re right. Fate, huh… yeah, maybe we can think of it that way.” (Danton)

Philia, who is squinting her eyes, looking at me and Noelia, turns her gaze toward her husband Danton.

Director Danton’s expression looks a bit strange…

Is he that shocked that I broke up with Alfine?

Or is he worried about something else, I wonder?

Though I’m worried about Danton who’s having an unreadable expression, I decide to ask for permission to stay in the village for a while from them, as it’s been a long time since I returned to the village and also because there’s still a chance that Alfine will come here.

“Director Danton, Philia-sensei. As Alfine may come here, I’d like to stay here for a while, however, is that okay? Of course, I will pay the accommodation fee.” (Frick)

“Eh? Ah, ahh. You don’t have to mind about something like an accommodation fee, you know. This place is like Finn-kun’s home after all. Besides, I’m sure the children will be happy to be able to play sword fight with you. Philia is also okay with it, right?” (Danton)

His expression restored, Danton smiles gently and give us permission to stay.

“Yes, I also would love to chat with Noelia-sama after all. Of course, I welcome you. Noelia-sama, I wonder if we could chat for a bit in another room?” (Philia)

“U-uum. Frick-sama and I are not in that kind of relation——” (Noelia)

After Philia bring out the flustered Noelia from the director’s office, Danton and I – left behind – decide to go pick up Suzana and the others waiting outside.

“Suzana-san! Are you there?” (Frick)

I call out to Suzana waiting near the entrance of the village with Diedur and Dimol.

Suzana, who is organizing the luggage, leans out of the luggage compartment hearing my voice.

“We don’t get information about Alfine, but there’s a chance that she will come here, so I decide we should stay in the orphanage for a while.” (Frick)

“I see. So, this person is——” (Suzana)

“Ah, un. This is Director Danton, the director of the orphanage where I grew up.” (Frick)

After noticing Danton, Suzana gets off the wagon with the luggage from the luggage compartment.

She then hands a bag to Danton.

“Thank you for letting Noelia-sama, the daughter of the Henestrosa family, and Frick-sama to stay on this occasion. This is something that our family head, Frontier Count-sama, tasked me to hold on to, please accept it.” (Suzana)

“H-haa? This is?” (Danton)

“It is not much, but this is a goodwill from the Henestrosa family. Please feel free to take it.” (Suzana)

Danton, curious about the contents of the bag, checks the contents of the bag he received from Suzana.

Eh!? Gold coins!? From the amount, it seems to be worth millions of oz……

The contents of the bag that I look with a glance are shining gold coins.

“I-I can’t accept something like thi——” (Danton)

“We have heard about the plight of your orphanage from Frick-sama; not only my mistress, Noelia-sama, but also the family head, Lloyd-sama, is very concerned about it. I think you can take it as alms for the orphanage, so to speak.” (Suzana)

Having gotten to know the contents of the bag, Danton tries to return the bag to Suzana with trembling hands, but she just smiles and doesn’t show any sign of receiving it.

“Finn-kun, w-what should I do?” (Danton)

Danton, at a loss at Suzana not showing any sign of receiving the bag, turns to me for help.

I can’t help but feel that it might be not an instruction from Lloyd, but Cassandra-sama at the royal capital, however.

Actually, neither I nor Alfine have been able to send back money, so I think the orphanage is tight on budget.

It is also not good to reject other’s goodwill.

“E-even if you ask me—— since it’s alms for the orphanage, I think you should just accept it. The money I sent under the name Frick wasn’t much either anyway, so I imagine you have it particularly tough this year, however.”

Having heard my reply, Danton is at a loss while looking back forth between the bag of gold coins in his hands and me many times over.

After thinking for a while, Danton takes a deep breath and bows toward the smiling Suzana.

“For the alms from the Henestrosa family, I will gratefully accept these gold coins.” (Danton)

“Thank you very much for accepting it. Both the family head and my mistress will be glad.” (Suzana)

“Thank you, Suzana-san. I’ll make sure to convey this gratitude to Frontier Count-sama and Noelia.” (Frick)

“No, don’t worry about it, this is just a matter of course.” (Suzana)

Suzana keeps smiling from beginning to end.

“Although the orphanage is in a remote and poor village, we are going to give a heartfelt hospitality to those accompanying Noelia-sama as well. Now now, take the carriage to the orphanage.” (Donton”

“Understood. I will move it right away.” (Suzana)

Danton walks in front of Suzana’s wagon as though guiding it.

“Director Danton, I will go take Dimol and Diedur to the children’s place.” (Frick)

“Ahh, I think their study time will be over soon, so play with them to your heart’s content.” (Danton)

“Yessir! Dimol, Diedur, shall we go?” (Frick)

The two I called replies with a flap of wings and a neigh respectively.

After going to the orphanage with Dimol and Diedur, I play with the children who come out of the classroom until sunset.

Then, the nightfall approaches.

“Finn-kun, the dinner is almost ready. We also got helped by Noelia-sama and Suzana-san, the dinner looks delicious, you know.” (Danton)

“Noelia-sama is so good at cooking that I can’t believe she’s a noble daughter. Finn-kun is also quite good, but she might be even better.” (Philia)

Danton and Philia came to me who has been playing with the children that the dinner’s ready.

Perhaps she came to like Philia after having a chat with her in another room, Noelia offered her help to make dinner together with Suzana.

“She had been studying under the head chef of Henestrosa family after all, and her personal maid Suzana-san is also a great cook… Unlike when I was with Alfine, the cooking duty was taken from me before I knew it.” (Frick)

“When Finn-kun say it like that, I, who did my best trying to teach Alfine how to cook, feel like I’ve failed to do my job.” (Philia)

“T-that’s not what I meant!” (Frick)

Looking at her depressed look, I hurriedly wave my hand and deny her.

“Haah~, there really is nothing at all in this village~. There’s nothing looking interesting either~. Frick, how long are we going to stay in this village~? It’s so boring~.” (Cinzia)

Cinzia’s bone bird, covered in bird skin, perches on my shoulder as I talk with Danton and Philia.

“A talking bird!?” (Danton)

“It spoke, wasn’t it?” (Philia)

The two stares in wonder at the bird perching on my shoulder.

Cinzia-sama, even though I told you to act like a normal bird in public places…

Why, are you talking as though it was the normal thing to do!?

“No no, you two, there’s no way a bird can tal——” (Frick)

“Could it be, that bird is a familiar of employment magic?” (Danton)

“Probably.” (Philia)

The countenance of the two seeing Cinzia’s bird has changed to a tense one.

You two don’t have to be so tense…

“Hm? I feel like I’ve seen those two somewhere before… h~mm, where it was, I wonder… my memory sure has become vague recently.” (Cinzia)

Perhaps curious of the two of them, with a flap, Cinzia fly around them, confirming their appearance.

“Cinzia-sama, please settle down a little!” (Frick)

I call out to Cinzia who is flying around without a care.

““Cinzia!?””

“Ahhhhhhhhhhh! I remembered! You two have grown old, so it’s hard to recognize you, but you are Danton and Philia, right! Why are you in such a countryside village!?” (Cinzia)

Cinzia, who is flying around, perches on Danton’s shoulder.

From the look of the three, seems like they are acquaintances…

Cinzia was a disciple of Linus-shi, if I remember correctly.

Where did she get acquainted with the director and his wife?

I tilt my head looking at the combination of the three.

A reunion, but not one that we’ve been looking forward to