71 Lady returns to territory with the Black Knight 4

Remembering last night, Gilbert put Sophia on the horse without seeing Gilbert's face. My cheeks get stained with the body that touches them.

The further ahead, the scenery shifted one after the other, slowing down at sunset at the destination.

"─ ─ Enter the Baron's Landing."

Gilbert murmured in front of a small gate that appeared on the road. Baron territory, which is not borderline and is not very large, has little security and is free to enter and exit. Sofia grabbed Gilbert's sleeve ready to grip her hands and get caught up.

After a while, a flat road leads to a small town lined with houses. It's all night. There was no new building in the town illuminated by magic equipment, and every house and shop had a slightly old impression.

Still, there are a few lodgings, and I take a room for four at the largest place. Each of them left their luggage and rendezvoused at the restaurant on the ground floor.

"You tired?

Gilbert, who took Sofia's hand down the stairs, asked softly. Sofia shakes her head small and denies it.

"─ ─ No, I'm fine."

I was actually a little tired, but I don't think everyone was as vigilant and watchful of their surroundings. Sofia listens to conversations that come to her consciously, but she didn't have much to gain. There aren't many customers in the first place.

Kevin and Tobias order some dishes in a familiar way. From the plates lined up on the table, the clerk divided them into small plates.

"Hey, oneesan. What's the specialty around here?

Kevin calls out with a smile. The clerk, who would have been much older than Sofia, smiled.

"You're all travelers, right? That's right, this bean is a specialty."

The clerk points to a small yellow bean in the soup.

─ ─ Carna beans.

Sofia watched with surprise.

"Oh, you're familiar with it. I didn't think it was very famous."

"Is that so...?

It was familiar to Sofia from an early age. I still wonder if it was impossible to set up a merchant, but how should I deceive him? Gilbert, who remained silent until then, glanced at Sofia and opened his mouth.

"You know a lot about boulders. I also need to learn more. ─ ─ Can't the beans be eaten much in other regions?

Sofia was relieved by Gilbert's distraction. But the conversation doesn't allow Sofia to be distracted.

I see. I don't know what's out there, but he said it wasn't in King's Landing. "

"In King's Landing?

As Sofia tilted her neck, the clerk slightly wrinkled between her eyebrows. Bend down a little and lower your voice so that you can keep quiet.

"Yes... I can't say that loudly, but before the death of my ancestral lord, there was talk of spreading the beans to other lands. Let's make this place more prosperous with the deal."

Tobias was the first to react.

"That's a good idea, I agree. It's a corner, so why don't we take it home and sell it?

"Oh, are you merchants? Some of them look pretty good."

Tobias laughs bitterly at Gilbert and Sofia. Sofia wore a cloak that hid her face a little deeper in a hurry. Kevin is moving his hands.

"No, there are a lot of people in King's Landing. Because it has to be discreet!

I thought it was a suspicious excuse, but apparently the clerk didn't suspect it. Instead, she has a convincing expression.

"Yes, that's right. Since I became the new lord, the plan has disappeared. Taxes are rising every year, so Karna beans are a staple food around here these days. That's why you can't sell it to a merchant. I can't live without money and food."

The clerk exhaled a deep sigh together with his stupidity. Sofia looks at the soup in front of her. I thought it was a delicious soup, but it only contained finely chopped root vegetables and carna beans. Open your mouth with your head down.

"Um ─ ─ is that so bad...?

Sofia didn't know the clerk. I wonder what it feels like to be driven away.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Was it a shock to your daughter?... but in the last few years, life has become more harsh, people have been snatched, bad patterns have increased, vigilantes have not been relied upon, and people are on the decline. ─ ─ You should be careful. It's not safe around here at night."

"Really... Thank you very much."

I said that somehow. I wonder where Sofia's quiet and long-lasting Baron Lannish domain has gone.

─ ─ I wonder how Sophia is doing.

"Eh...?

Suddenly Sofia looks up at her name. It was sharp. Sofia is not named in this inn. However, the concern seemed to be worrying, and the clerk lowered his neck to the left and right and smiled a little.

"Oh, I see. You don't know him. She was the only daughter of the previous lord, and she was a cute girl. I've only seen it a few times, but I haven't seen it since I became the current lord ─ ─"

I hope the lord didn't blame me, but he moaned jokingly, and the clerk left the place in response to another customer's call.

"─ ─ Miss Sofia."

Kevin called out the name of Sofia in an unheard voice. When she noticed it and turned around, Kevin and her eyebrows fell down.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I... I'm fine."

Did I laugh properly? Smiles that were better than before were useful for hiding your mind. Gilbert is staring at Sofia.

When I tasted the soup in a deceptive way, the gentle taste spread to the mouth. Carna beans are refreshing and slightly sweet. I felt that the nostalgic taste comforted Sofia, who was still unable to do anything.