Chapter 85: To Wester (Lukes POV)

I didnt want to send you two like this because youre both still students, Otou-sama said anxiously. Perhaps, he might look expressionless to others. Hes a damaged person even though hes my Otou-sama. However, he didnt care about how anyone thought of him.

Im wearing simple black trousers and a long white, shiny, silvery jacket that looks silver embroidered with violet threads. Its the Albans uniform. I probably look a little like an Albans even if Im only 11.

Otou-sama, thats what weve been saying. Lei wont be convinced if I didnt go. It probably wouldnt do even if Jude goes. She wont return easily if shes not convinced. Thats how Lei is.

But

Its Westers capital, so I can go. The Supervision Department wont let me go if she was in Lentforce, this is actually good, I smiled to reassure Otou-sama.

And you know, youre getting Jude to come with us. And Ill be with Gill. I looked at Gill. Hes wearing the same simple black trousers as me, and a black jacket with blue embroidery. The 14-year-old Gill is thin, but hes almost as tall as an adult.

Im really grateful because there should be few elements that look down on us because were children.

I think weve taken all the measures conceivable together, but we dont know what will happen. Nevertheless, please take care of yourself and not just Lei and come back safely.

The things Lei has given me.

Not only lovely Lei herself, but also the free love that she gives.

And, Otou-sama.

I dont think Otou-sama is a cold father at all. According to what I heard at the academy, noble parents arent very affectionate. After Okaa-sama passed away, I was lonely, but I thought it was natural.

But, Lei gave me Otou-sama. She taught him that it was alright to love his daughter and son like he had loved Okaa-sama. It was very warm to receive love from someone like I had from Okaa-sama. Not only that, Lei taught me the joy of showing love.

So even if Lei is gone, Otou-sama will still love me, and I can love him. I reached out to Otou-sama without hesitation.

He hugged me tightly. People around us looked at us in surprise. Are you embarrassed even though youre old enough to attend school? Dont do anything youre embarrassed about. Ill do it as much as I can. And, Ill get the courage to move on, Lei and Otou-sama.

After the departure ceremony in front of the royal castle, Gill and I rode the Rug Dragons and headed towards Westers capital. I improved so much that I could ride Rug Dragons by myself if we werent in a hurry. Its unusual for people to ride Rug Dragons from when theyre children, and I think thats why the Rug Dragons became emotionally attached to me. So much so that it surprised the breeders. Your Otou-sama was the same, an old breeder had told me, but Otou-sama was the same as always, Ive never compared it to others, so I dont know if its true or not.

Westers capital, Sebel, is a little southwest from Kingdoms capital. So, we werent taking the path that Leis kidnappers took. We were passing through Earl Rouges fief, then Earl Tuckers.

Therefore, Earl Rouge and Earl Tucker, who stayed at the royal capital, will be accompanying us.

Annoying, Gill said, but whether it be Gill or his father, why are the Lisburns so straightforward even though theyre part of the same Four Marquises?

Gill, I know how you feel, but keep that in your mind.

Well, Im anxious about my uncle, but its annoying that I have to care about other guys until we get there.

Im also anxious about Lei. I dont know why shes with a Lisburn or why she ended up in Lentforce

Yeah. Whats the likelihood that shed be with someone else who has the Four Marquis blood when Frontier is so big?

Of course, even though Lei is alive and healthy, I couldnt help but worry about the other things. However, the Lisburn child is said to be 11-years-old. Gill is Gill, and he seems to be worried about having to call someone younger than him uncle, but I was probably anxious that myself and memories of me have been replaced because the Lisburn child is the same age as me. Because its been more than six months since Lei was kidnapped. What if she calls someone else Niini?

It would take a long time for Lei to return from Lentforce. She would barely reach Sebel even though a round-table conference was held, the messengers were adjusted, and even if we prepare slowly. We werent overdoing it and are heading to Wester on a slow schedule.

Earl Blaze and Earl Blackley enthusiastically said, You have time anyways, so how about going through Kaylie? However, Otou-sama knew that they only wanted to appeal to the citizens that they were acquainted with the Four Marquises, so he refused courteously, and a bit rudely.

When Lei comes back, and youre able to go wherever you like, then youre free to travel until you become an adult. But at least for now, I wont give them anything that will benefit them, Otou-sama whispered to me secretly. Apparently, he still held a grudge against them because the kidnappers had passed through their fiefs and they hadnt cooperated in the investigation afterwards. I think its interesting that he could actually hold grudges when he wasnt interested in anything.

On the other hand, Earl Rouge and Earl Tucker are delightful people. Earl Rouges fief is an agricultural area that doesnt connect with Frontier and is far from the mountain range. He didnt seem obsessed with the Four Marquises and the barrier probably because his fief wouldnt receive much damage from the Hollows even if the barrier didnt exist.

Earl Tucker took the current matter most seriously, because his fief is located very close to Westers capital. As one of the messengers from Kingdom, he will also accompany us to Wester.

We originally traded a lot with Wester, especially Sebel. We imported half of their magic stones, and Blackley imported the other half, no, Blackley imported more than us?

Apparently their current situation. The Albans, who handle magic stones in Kingdom, mainly traded with Blaze and Blackley. Thats why my birth mother is also a member of the Blaze House.

However, I interacted with Earl Neville throughout the summer holidays, and Otou-sama also turned his attention to Farland. And through this, he also turned his attention to Sebel, and not the country, Wester, nor the town, Kaylie.

People around me put their guard down around me because Im only 11. Of course, I wasnt told to confirm anything. Still, I decided that I would do as much as I can so that Lei wouldnt be kidnapped and used again in the future.

Youre too stiff.

Gill, youre too honest.

Leis going to hate you if youre too rigid.

Hey, thats not true. Lei will hug me and call me Niini no matter how I am. Im sure of it. Im sure shell forget about you since youre just brothers friend who comes to see me once in a while.

Sh-she wont. Im sure shell call me Giwwin her cute voice.

Lisburn men are optimistic. I feel like I could understand how Otou-sama feels a little.

Oh yeah, the First Prince of Wester is also Gilbert.

Y-you dont think she calls him Gill too?

She might not be able to tell.

No. Its fine. Its alright, Gill muttered while looking sideways, and the Rug Dragons slowly advanced through the deep autumn prairie. A little more. Just a little more.