Noelia's Point of View

　The huge warhorse that led the demons had left, and we parted to tend to the unfortunate adventurers who had twice drawn the demon herd, and as nightfall was nearing, we decided to encamp.

　And now the horizon was slowly beginning to brighten, and it was almost dawn.

　I was about to add wood to the fire that had been burning low and start preparing for the morning, when I was replaced by Master Flick, who had been keeping watch a while ago.


'Huh, Master Flick is obsessed with animals again, isn't he?


　I remembered Master Fricke's passionate talk at dinner last night about warhorses understanding human language, and I let out a mutter that could not be called a complaint.


'It would seem so. It's somewhat ...... for a lord of that age.


　I was about to change into my maid's uniform and gather up my hair when Susana called out to me from behind, and I was surprised to see her take down the wood in my hand.


　I thought I'd still be asleep, since I'd be driving the wagon all day today. ......


'Susana! Did you wake up at ......?　I'll handle the breakfast.


　Susana had been bought out to drive the wagon that used her concentration because she didn't do combat, so Master Flick had suggested that she get a good night's sleep.

　That Susana had woken up at an hour when the sun wasn't even up yet.

'Since Master Frick had finished his sentinel until dawn, he took out his own sleeping bag and went in for a nap. Besides, I thought that Master Noelia might be depressed again after yesterday's incident, so I got up early.


　When she saw the look on my face as I listened to Master Flick's impassioned speech about the giant horse at the dinner table, she seemed concerned.


　As expected, Susana, who has been with him for a long time, could see that .......


'So ......, what do you think Susana?'


　He didn't try to hide the bewildered feelings he had for her, who he considered a dependable sister rather than a servant maid, but he didn't try to hide the bewildered feelings he had inside.


'You mean Master Flick?　Or do you mean the horse?


　A smiling Susana smiles and asks a nasty question back.


　Ugh, I'm embarrassed ...... to have to talk about this kind of thing with Susana.

　Just a few minutes ago, I was huffing and puffing about the marriage Susana was recommending, with a book in my hand, but I didn't expect things to change so much in just a short time.


'...... It's Mr. Flick,'


　She felt her cheeks heat up as she answered Susana's nasty question.


'Am I not good enough for him? ...... Well, I was aware that I was not attractive enough as a woman.


　She understood that she didn't have any of the feminine charms that men were looking for in her.

　She had no breasts, she wasn't even pretty, and she was a strange woman who only showed a curious interest in magic.

　That's what I am now.

　I've been depressed since yesterday because I didn't think I was worthy of Flick-sama's attention, and I didn't think she'd be interested in me.


"Noelia-sama lacks nothing more than breasts, and I think she's attractive enough as a woman. That is guaranteed by this Susana. Noelia-sama is a woman I would not be ashamed to marry anywhere.


　I looked depressed, but Susana held my hand to encourage me.

　Her encouragement lifted my depressed mood a bit.


　I'm really glad Susana was able to follow along with me. ...... If I had been on my own, I might not have even found the opportunity to get back on my feet.


　This was the only time I found myself thanking your father for forcing me to accompany her.


''I think that Flick-sama's tastes are a bit peculiar for a lord.

Is that so?

A normal lord would be a little more interested in a woman right now at his age.


　Master Fricke is twenty years old like me.

　If he was around that age, most noblemen would be married, and even if he was a commoner, he would have a woman in his life.

　And yet, as far as I could see up close, they didn't show that much interest in women.

　If you are really only interested in animals, you can go to .......


　While I was mulling over Master Flick's tastes, Susana's story continued.


If that's the way you look ....... Maybe there was something in the past about a female relationship--ha!


　I'm sure you'll be able to see the expression on Susana's face as if to say 'shucks'.


　I was going to look away, but I still think the reason why Master Flick is not interested in women is because of .......

　I'm sure you'll be able to find out what's going on in the marketplace.

　After all, Master Flick was not supposed to like himself like this .......

　Susana's words reminded me of my position.

''Really--because I deeply regret what I've done.


　You're doing a terrible thing to him, and if you tell him how you feel like this, it should only be a burden.

　So, it's better to keep these feelings in your mind for a long time so you don't ruin the relationship.

　I should be able to endure this for a long time as a punishment for the terrible things I have done.


　Although I thought so, I couldn't stop the feelings from growing as we traveled together.

　I'm not sure if it's regret or despair, but I can't help but feel a surge of emotion and my vision is blurring with tears.

　Susana, who was worried about me, held out a handkerchief to me.


'Don't worry. I'm not talking about Noelia-sama, but I'm guessing that Flick-sama had a lot going on with women before that.


　Susana held out her handkerchief and gently patted me on the head as if to tell me off.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find out what's going on in the world," he said.


I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this by visiting the website. Does that mean something happened there?


　Susana's words had reminded me that I knew almost nothing about the man I loved.

　All I've heard is that he honed his sword skills as an escort for a troop merchant, but when that troop merchant disbanded and he was out of work, he drifted to the Yuguhanotes and became an adventurer.

　Even if I tried to ask him more than that, he wasn't someone who wanted to talk about himself, so I couldn't ask him myself.


　I really don't know anything about Flick-sama .......

　I know about his magical talents and sword talents, but I don't even know where he was born and how he grew up .......

　I was so swept up in the emotion of liking him that I broke out in a cold sweat for not trying to get to know him.


　He did a horrible thing and then only pushed his own emotions and turned his favor on ...... the opposite s*x that I would never want to be involved with if I were Master Flick.

　It made me realize that my current place was secured by his extraordinary kindness.


　It really is the worst opposite s*x ...... This is not the way Master Flick would be interested in me .......

　I've been misled by being near him.


　I'm sure you'll be able to find out what's going on in the world, and you'll be able to find out what's going on in the world.

''Noelia-sama. It's still too early to despair. In a manner, I've used the Adventurer's Guild on my end to find out a little bit about Flick-sama. He has no criminal record, it was his own declaration that he was a troop guard, and his birthplace was Algren, a large northern city. But he doesn't have a distinctive Algren accent. However, one thing has come to my attention.

I'm curious.


　As Susana pulled my cheek with her hand and forced me to smile, I was bitten by the information she brought me about Master Flick.


It's a good idea to make an anonymous donation to an orphanage in a village near the royal capital. I'm sure you've donated a significant amount of the money you've earned since arriving in Yggkhanotes: ...... I can't help but think that perhaps that is the real place of birth of Master Flick.

"Susana thinks Master Fricke is lying about his place of birth?

'It's not necessarily just the place of birth. "It's not just the place of birth, there may be more than just the place of birth, and it's possible that you are faking everything. However, looking at your personality, you have some unavoidable circumstances. He is so skilled with both sword and magic, yet he tries to hide his true identity. Noelia-sama still loves Flick-sama?


　There was a mystery about Master Flick's past that Susana shouldn't have mentioned, but even if she did, she had asked if she liked him.

　I thought I would be more shocked by the information that Master Flick might not actually be Master Flick, but I wasn't shocked, surprisingly.

　Because whatever he had been in the past, he had met himself in the Yuguhanotes and was still traveling with them. It seemed to me that I couldn't see any lies in his personality.

　So the answer to Susana's question is 'I love you'.

　This is solidified as my own feelings, which will not change no matter who or what Frick-sama is.


"No matter what my past is, I like Master Flick. ......


　When Susana heard my answer, she removed her hand from her cheek and smiled at me.


''Then it's no problem. Flick-sama's attitude should soften during the journey. We just have to take our time and earn his trust.


　I don't have any confidence in myself at all, but if Susana says so, then I have to win his trust, little by little.

　I'll redeem him and win his trust without imposing my own favors.


　Thanks to Susana, there is a little light in the path that seemed to be closed off.

'I guess I was in too much of a hurry. I'll follow Susana's advice and try to be steady.''

'I think it is the privilege of a woman in love to feel that way. Now let's go and grab a stomach, the first step in securing Master Flick's trust.

　With that, Susana went back to the wagon to get the pots and ingredients to start preparing breakfast.