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Upon arriving at Kraus’s Mansion in Ruden, Alphonse headed into the city with Ken. Normally, Louis and Robin would have joined as escorts, but they were intentionally left behind at the mansion.

I thought it would be better to let the two of them be alone for a while, and with Ken accompanying them, there was no disagreement about the need for escorts.

As Alphonse stepped outside the mansion, his first destination was the street where they had just traveled by carriage.

He had mentally noted places he wanted to visit while peering out the window, and that’s where he intended to go. Above all, he wished to stroll through the streets on foot rather than in a carriage.

The journey into the city was done on foot, unlike the ride when they entered Ruden.

The family crest drew more attention from people than expected, and Alphonse wanted to move freely on foot rather than view the city from within the carriage. Since they usually traveled by carriage in the south, he didn’t want to do the same in Ruden.

“Walking really feels better.”

Seeing the city with his own eyes, moving his own body rather than just looking through a window, gave Alphonse a sense of freedom greater than he had anticipated. Ken, who understood that their previous journeys by carriage were for Alphonse’s safety, couldn’t help but smile at Alphonse’s happiness in this moment.

The two had changed clothes after arriving at the mansion.

Ken wore clothes that didn’t resemble those of a butler, while Alphonse dressed differently than a young nobleman. They might not have worn ragged outfits, but considering how affluent Ruden was, they blended in as a typical pair of grandfather and grandson rather than butler and young lord.

This was not just to avoid drawing attention but also to temporarily free them from the burden of their family’s name. With no need to worry about others’ gazes, Alphonse was like a child of his age, and Ken seemed like a grandfather out for a stroll with his grandson.

“Seems like you have a specific destination in mind.”

Ken remarked as he noticed Alphonse moving toward a particular place rather than just wandering aimlessly.

“I found some uniquely shaped shops along the way. I thought I’d browse and pick up gifts for my brother, sister, and Miss Hailey. I have some stuff from home, but I thought it would be nice to buy something new in Ruden too.”

“That’s a good idea. Since Damian enjoys deep aromas and bitter tastes, I can pick something for him, while for the young lady and Miss Hailey, it would be better for you to select something sweet.”

“No, I want to choose something for my brother too.”

“Are you sure? Last time you tried the coffee that Damian usually drinks, you didn’t touch any tea for a while after.”

At Ken’s words, Alphonse’s face reddened a bit.

Ken was referring to the time after Damian had left for the Academy, a day when he had made some achievements after receiving guidance from Arthur.

Perhaps because he associated some of his progress with becoming more mature, Alphonse had chosen that day to try coffee, a favorite of Damian’s.

Though he had avoided coffee due to its bitter taste, he thought he might manage it since he was now taking a step toward adulthood.

Both Damian and Arthur, along with Ken and the other adults around him, enjoyed coffee, so it made sense for Alphonse to view it as a drink for the grown-ups. Furthermore, he had heard that his mature brother also enjoyed coffee at his age, which might have influenced his thinking even more.

Of course, Alphonse was not unaware that some adults didn’t enjoy coffee, most notably Elena.

Regardless, Alphonse, having taken on the challenge of coffee as an adult, naturally faced defeat.

Was it because he was still young? Or did he simply not have a taste for bitterness? They say taste buds change with age, but as a young Alphonse, he had no way of knowing which of the two was the answer. The important thing was that he didn’t know how to appreciate bitter coffee and was quite inexperienced in that regard.

He recognized that he couldn’t enjoy bitter foods like his brother. Following Ken’s advice, it would be wiser for him to stick with sweet desserts when selecting gifts.

Alphonse scratched his blushing cheeks and spoke to Ken.

“Still, it’s my gift, so I should prepare it.”

“I see. Understood.”

At Alphonse’s response, Ken smiled and nodded.

Even if he couldn’t drink coffee, it was already known among the family that Alphonse was trying to act mature. Yet, Ken and the others didn’t outright tell Alphonse he was mature, as they found his efforts endearing.

The two slowly walked around the city, visiting the shops they had marked beforehand and leisurely enjoying their time. They had ample time and no rush, making their steps light.

As the most developed city in the Empire, Ruden offered plenty of sights, all of which brought joy to Alphonse.

“Although my sister likes sweet things, I think it would be wise not to overdo it. Last time, my brother worried that she might get sick from eating too many snacks with her.”

“Anything in moderation is best. It may be fine for a young lady, but there’s no need to add to the young lord’s worries.”

“I thought of something: if you’re unsure of what’s best to choose, wouldn’t it be best to just give my brother a little bit of everything?”

“That’s one way to go about it. Damian won’t be disappointed with whatever gifts you select.”

“Is this… a lion plushie? When I press it, it squeaks! It looks soft, so let’s grab this one too.”

“Miss Hailey would love it.”

“R-really?”

As they browsed the shop choosing gifts for the three, Alphonse and Ken’s hands began to fill with various odds and ends, including the gifts. They weren’t just picking gifts for the three; they ended up choosing items for themselves and others at the mansion, unintentionally resulting in a larger heap of gifts.

Every time they exited a shop, their load grew, making it clear that something needed to be organized.

“We should take a break for a moment.”

Even though they had been strolling leisurely, rest was still necessary.

Taking advantage of the need to organize their belongings, Ken led Alphonse to borrow a chair from a nearby shop. Since the weather was nice, the shop had an outdoor area.

Ken sat down and began to sort through the disorganized items, while Alphonse passed the time watching passersby.

“Oh.”

While watching the crowd, Alphonse let out a small gasp. Curious, Ken shifted his gaze in that direction.

There, where Alphonse was looking, was a little lady.

Maybe Alphonse reacted because he recognized her, but she was a face Ken didn’t recall. So, why was Alphonse reacting this way? Assuming she was a stranger, it was clear at a glance that the little lady was from a noble family, given her luxurious attire and accessories. Yet, there were no visible escorts around her. Had she hidden them, it would make sense, but she strutted down the street so boldly without any protection, making Alphonse think it was odd.

“Why is she alone?”

“Good question.”

She didn’t seem to be keeping an eye out, so she didn’t appear to be fleeing from someone; instead, she seemed like a young lady who had come out to explore without her entourage.

How she had slipped past the watchful eyes of her guards was a mystery, but the two couldn’t help but feel a strange unease watching the little lady. Sure enough, as if responding to their anxiety, chaos soon ensued.

As the small lady attempted to cross the street, she seemed too distracted by her surroundings to notice a carriage speeding toward her. The startled coachman tried to stop the horses after noticing the girl suddenly in front of him, but the carriage couldn’t be halted at such a speed.

Thanks to their prior vigilance, Alphonse quickly sprang into action at the first signs of trouble.

Without a sound, Alphonse vanished and successfully grabbed the girl before the carriage could reach her.

“Ah!”

While Alphonse had hurriedly caught her, the girl lost her balance and fell backward, but he managed to cushion her fall with his hand before she hit the ground, preventing any accidents. Gently, Alphonse helped her up and asked,

“Are you okay?”

“Ah, yes…”

Just to be safe, he checked for any injuries, and fortunately, other than her slightly flushed face, she seemed fine.

 

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