The son of the duke

"Are there any problems?"

I moved my head back inside the carriage and looked at the young master sitting across from me.

"It seems like one of the young masters of the house of Blicra just arrived here. They are preparing to enter the inn, so you have to wait a little bit."

Alaric's brown moved up a little bit before he made an 'O' with his mouth and nodded his head.

"I understand."

After saying that, he didn't talk anymore and just sat there in his seat and waited in silence.

"Actually, it would be better if you approached the young master and greeted him."

Having the same reaction as before, but this time with puzzlement in his eyes, Alaric hesitantly glanced out of the window.

"I should go greet him? I don't even know who that person is..."

"It'd be suspicious if you didn't act like a gentleman and a proper noble. Also, it's considered rude and arrogant if you don't pay respect to a noble in a higher position than you."

"Oh!"

Alaric hurriedly sat up straight, tidied his cloth, and grabbed the door handle. Before opening the door, he turned back once again to glance at me.

"You come with me as well. I don't know how to act and might make mistakes... Also... It's more like a noble to have a servant with him when he goes around!"

I glanced at the slightly anxious face of my master and held back a chuckle.

"...It's actually not normal for a servant to be at the same carriage as their master, sir. It'd be more suspicious if they saw me step out of your carriage."

"Eh!"

Doing my best to stop the edges of my lips from rising up, I also stood up from my seat and checked my cloth. I gestured to the young master to move back, before opening the carriage door and stepping out with a straight back and stoic expression. I then opened the door wide, put one hand on my chest and the other on my back, and bowed to the entrance.

Before completely bowing my head, I saw Alaric's bewildered and almost frightened face. My extravagant movements were so eye-catching that everyone around us turned their heads to our side. Even the attendants of the duke's son were looking this way.

Being left under the gazes of so many people, Alaric hurriedly walked down the steps of the carriage and stood in front of me. He took one step back and whispered under his breath.

"What was that!? Didn't you say that it was suspicious if you left my carriage? You could've just left silently without anyone noticing!"

"He is Barnett."

Instead of responding to his naggings, I said something else in a low voice as I moved to the side of Alaric and pointed forward politely with my right hand.

"Huh..."

"Barnett Blicra. The second son of Duke Blicra. He is quite well-mannered and acquainted. It'd be best if you don't try to lie or hide anything in front of him, as he is quite a sharp fellow. He likes books and any kind of knowledge and doesn't have much interest in politics. He doesn't like to engage in idle chat and is straightforward most of the time."

Alaric walked towards the son of the duke while listening to my words with a face he barely kept neutral. He had his mouth gaped for the first few seconds and just closed it after noticing Ranger's gaze on him. He gulped and nodded his head in an unnoticeable matter. By the time I was done explaining, we were already beside Barnett's carriage.

"Ah, good evening lord Barnett. It's such a pleasant surprise to meet you here."

Alaric smiled and bowed his head slightly as he greeted the other young man with a polite smile. Barnett Blicra was pacing back and force in front of the inn, waiting for his servants to finish the preparations. Once he saw Alaric, he smiled at him and greeted him back.

"It's an honor to meet you, young master Alaric."

The two smiled at each other, and then silence descended between them.

'Oy! Do something!'

I took a deep breath in, deliberately making it loud so that Alaric could hear the sound. He flinched unnoticeably and opened his mouth again.

"How have you been these days? The weather is really hot... I guess it's hotter in the south where you are coming from."

"...Yeah."

Barnett Blicra gave a slight nod and turned around.

'I told you he doesn't enjoy the idle chat!'

Just when the son of the duke was turning around, his back hit a servant who was carrying a bag. The servant staggered as the bag slipped out of his hands and fell to the ground with a loud thud. The contents of the bag, which looked to mostly be books, spread around on the ground.

'As expected from Barnett Blicra. He is carrying books with him even on a trip.'

"Ah! I-I'm sorry!"

The servant trembled and bowed his head. Barnett however, only sighed and shook his head.

"Pick them up quickly."

"Y-yes!"

The young lord pushed away his slightly long dark brown hair and shook his head. I've heard he was very sensitive about his books, to the point that he'd get mad if there was a slight cut at the edge of one of his books. It seemed that he was suppressing his anger and annoyance because Alaric was around.

Just then, I noticed something move beside me. As soon as I moved my head to my left, I saw Alaric stepping forward and bending down his body as if to pick up a book.

No. I know that face by now. He didn't want to pick up the book, but to help the servant gather the books.

'What are you doing, you fool!'

Before Alaric could even bend his knees, I sat down on the ground and grabbed the nearest book with both hands. I literally threw myself at the book. Before the others could have the time to get startled, I said in a fairly loud voice only to be barely hearable by Barnett Blicra and the others.

"Yes, as you order, young master!"

Saying that I started to pick up the books at a fast speed. Fortunately, Alaric stopped whatever he wanted to do and stood back, blankly staring at me. An awkward silence descended between the group with there only the sound of books being put on top of each other.

After a few seconds, Alaric suddenly gasped and took one step toward me. He poked his head closer and stared at the book in my hand.

"You also read novels?"

The young master then tilted his head and looked up at Barnett Blicra, who also had a similar confused expression.

"You've read The Return of The Greatest Hero?"

"....."

The return of who?

"Yeah! It's a well-written novel. I've just finished it yesterday!"

An odd and rare smile appeared on Barnett Blicra's face.

"I agree with that. The writing is really professional. I didn't expect it to have so many details that match the truth in our current lives! I examined some of the data used in the book, and they were all true data! I guess the author must be a really educated person!"

Faced with an answer he didn't expect and nor had an answer for, Alaric shot a smile at Barnett Blicra, making everyone around us freeze from the shock of seeing Alaric Poqlen's smile.

"You are right, lord Barnett."

After a few seconds of being in great shock, Barnett blinked a few times and smiled gently.

"I didn't expect you to enjoy reading novels, young master Alaric! You'd never talked about such matters before."

"I've... I've taken a liking to them recently!"

At that moment, a butler exited the inn and announced in a loud but polite voice.

"My lord, your room is ready."

Barnett Blicra gave a nod at his butler and then turned to Alaric.

"It seems like I have to leave, however, I enjoyed conversing with you, young master Alaric. What do you think about having dinner together?"

"...."

Alaric instantly closed his mouth and his expression froze. He opened his mouth, but no words left it. Unwillingness was clear and visible on his face. Just when Barnett Blicra's expression also started to change and his brows knitted a little bit, I put the books down, stood up, and bowed my head.

"Of course, lord Barnett!"

"...."

While others, as well as the son of the duke, were sending me gazes that meant 'Who the hell are you?' and 'How dare you to talk to the lord?', I turned to Alaric and said in a firm voice.

"There is no need to be worried about your studies about the economy of the state, young master. You can take care of them later!"

Alaric froze even more at my words. He blinked several times and stuttered, not knowing what he was supposed to say.

"....Ah... Huh... Ah! Y-yeah!"

"Oh, so you were worried about that!"

Both of us turned to Barnett Blicra upon hearing his voice. The man with slightly long brown hair and light-green eyes chuckled to himself.

"If there are any problems, I can help you with that as well after dinner, young master Alaric! Well then, see you at night."

"...."

Alaric stared at the departing back of the son of the lord, then glanced back at me.

Looking at his face, I had no doubt that he wanted to sit down on the ground and cry.