CH ss - 52

[Alfine: Encounter with a Former Butler]

※Alfine’s POV

“Al, we’re about to reach the royal capital… Even though your appearance has changed, it might be better to cover your face with a cloak.” (Meila)

“…………” (Alfine)

“Hey Al, are you listening?” (Meila)

“Ah, un. Yeah, I’m listening. It’s about time for lunch, right? So? How about we eat in the shade over there?” (Alfine)

As I have been wandering what I should do when I meet Finn, Meila’s voice did not enter my ears, so I just lie to pretend to be listening to her properly.

“That’s not it, you know~. Meila-oneechan says that we’re about to reach the royal capital, so Al-oniichan should hide his face just in case.” (Maribel)

Maribel, leaning out of the luggage compartment, hands me the cloak I used.

“Eh? Ah, un. That’s right. Thank you, Maribel-chan.” (Alfine)

“Al sure has been like that since we left Inbahanes——no, since he found out Finn-kun’s current identity.” (Meila)

When I receive the cloak handed by Maribel, Meila, driving the wagon, looks at me with an amazed look.

“Sorry…” (Alfine)

While apologizing to Meila, I put on the cloak I received from Maribel.

“It’s not like you need to apologize, though——hey!?” (Meila)

The driving Meila suddenly tightly pulled the reins, slowing down the carriage.

“Kya! Meila-oneechan! If you break suddenly, the luggage would——” (Maribel)

When the speed of the wagon suddenly slows down, Maribel’s scream-like voice sounds out from inside the luggage compartment.

“Meila, wild driving is——” (Alfine)

“I know, but it was to avoid that wagon, y’know! It suddenly appeared from the side road! That coachman, to rush at such speed in the main road with heavy traffic, what the hell is he thinking!” (Meila)

After following Meila’s line of sight, I see a wagon speeding on the main road to the royal capital at a furious speed while raising dust cloud.

That side road should be the road leading to Lisburn village, where the orphanage we grew up in is.

Is that wagon that of a merchant who bring and sell supplies to the village?

“Why did they rush that much from such a narrow road, I wonder? Seems like they’re in quite a hurry, aren’t they?” (Al)

“I saw them coming and slowed down to some extent, so it was okay, but for them to keep up that speed even on the main road, unbelievable, don’t you think! Al, I’m gonna check on the luggage compartment, so hold the reins for a while. Maribel-chan, are you okay?” (Meila)

While Meila, who suddenly slowed down the wagon, is huffing in anger because of the other party’s wagon, she hands the reins to me, before leaving the coachman’s seat to check on Maribel who had screamed at the luggage compartment.

“U-un. Go check on Maribel-chan’s condition.” (Al)

Having been handed the reins, I reseat myself and glance at the darting wagon.

The hood of the luggage compartment of the darting wagon gets turned over by the wind, and I get a glimpse of the face of a familiar white-haired old man.

Nh!? That’s Vigo, right!? He should have been assisting Gile in the royal capital, so why is he in such a place!?

Moreover, the ones restrained in the back are Director Danton and Philia-sensei, right!?

In the luggage compartment that I glimpse at, I see the Director and Sensei who had been taking care of me when I was at the orphanage restrained, interposed between two huge men in cloaks.

Could it be, they’re thinking of taking the director and sensei as hostages in order to capture me?

I know there’s a possibility of them doing something like that, but…

I thought that as Gile was concerned about his reputation, it was unlikely that he would use such a strong measure.

That means, he really want to capture me to the point of resorting to that, huh.

Faced with the wagon darting with the Director and Sensei, my foster parents, I couldn’t leave it alone, so I pull the reins in my hands.

“Meila, Maribel, I know this is selfish of me, but please get off the wagon now!” (Al)

“Hold on, what are you saying, Al!?” (Meila)

“Al-oniichan?” (Maribel)

“Hurry up, if you come with me, you’ll be involved in a life-threatening situation! Let’s part ways here. Now, hurry and get off. Thank you for following me until now. As for the rest, I’ll do my best and try to settle them by myself.” (Al)

The two who are showing their faces out of the luggage compartment shake their heads.

“If we leave you alone, you would end up weeping uncontrollably again, wouldn’t you? Moreover, I’m already involved in this because I’ve come to know lots of secrets. Do you think I’m gonna quit here?” (Meila)

“It is as Meila-oneechan says, and Maribel originally should have died anyway, however, since Maribel’s life was saved by Al-oniichan and Meila-oneechan, she had decided to help with anything she could!” (Maribel)

The two seem to be unwilling to heed my words to get off the wagon.

“B-but this is more dangerous than anything we’ve faced so far.” (Al)

“Compared to being abandoned by Al-kyun, I prefer being in danger.” (Meila)

Saying that, Meila takes the reins from my hands and sits on the coachman’s seat.

“So, what were you going to do, Al-oniichan? Could it be, you wanted to chase after that wagon that suddenly popped out before?” (Maribel)

Maribel, with her face out of the luggage compartment, precisely guesses what I was trying to do.

“T-that’s not——” (Al)

“Meila-oneechan, Al-oniichan wants to chase that wagon!” (Maribel)

Huh! How do you immediately get that right!?

I haven’t said a word to confirm that, though!?

“Maribel sure is smart. Al-kyun suddenly told us to get off, so there must be something in that wagon~. Alright~, I also have to pay them back for earlier.” (Meila)

“H-hey, you two, this isn’t a game! Vigo who had entrapped me is in there after all!” (Al)

“Ah~, Gile’s spy butler. In that case, we absolutely have to chase it. Maribel, hold on tight, okay?” (Meila)

Meila, who hit the horses’ hips with the reins in her hand, drives the wagon at a tremendous speed.