Mining City Dorf

“Lord Arthur, it seems we’ve arrived in the city!!”

Outside the carriage door opened by Marianne was a scene that looked like a foreign land. Brick houses and refineries built along the mountain stood in rows, and most of the humans and dwarves walking around were sturdy men.

Breathing in, one could smell minerals in the air. Arthur had requested they stop in the city before heading to the lord’s manor. He wanted to gather stories to bring back for Kei, who couldn’t accompany him.

It felt different from Jerusalem… Was the world really this vast…?

Having spent most of his previous life inside the royal castle, Arthur was once again amazed at the world’s diversity. And in that vastness, he found renewed excitement.

“Ahem… From now on, I shall address you as Lord Richard.”

“Yes, treat me as Richard, a provincial noble.”

Richard was the alias Arthur was using for this trip. According to the setup, Richard, a subordinate of Morgan, had come to Dorf to teach dwarf technology to the children.

The part about being Morgan’s subordinate was mildly irritating, but Arthur accepted it. After all, Arthur was broad-minded. Broad-minded… right?

“Lord Richard, this isn’t the royal capital—security here is rather poor. Please be careful.”

Marianne looked worriedly at Arthur as he stepped out of the carriage, supporting him so he wouldn’t stumble.

He thought it was a bit much… but perhaps because he was used to Kei, his overprotective big-sister-type maid, he accepted it without resistance.

“Ah, thank y—”

“Lord Richard… I understand my sister is beautiful and charming, but isn’t that a bit too close?”

Just as Arthur tried to thank Marianne, a golden-haired young man in armor leapt from the escort knights’ carriage.

Placing himself between Arthur and Marianne, he smiled brightly.

“I’m Gawain, in charge of your escort this time. A pleasure to meet you. Traveling in the same carriage with my sister must’ve been the best, right? Ah, I’m so jealous you breathed the same air!”

“Ah, yeah…”

“Brother Gawain, please stop! That’s so embarrassing! And it’s rude to Lord Richard!”

Marianne tried to push away the suddenly appearing Gawain, but he stood firm like a rooted tree.

Kei had told him: when asked for an opinion in moments like this, just agree…

Arthur had learned many things from Kei before this journey. Especially about communication…

However, what Kei taught were general social rules. She hadn’t anticipated what might happen when someone with no common sense followed them literally.

“Yes, Marianne is beautiful and attentive. The time I spent in the carriage with her was truly delightful.”

“Wha…”

“Lord Richard, you praise me too much…”

Unaware of the effect of his words, Arthur made Gawain’s face freeze and caused Marianne’s to flush bright red. Arthur found their reactions strange but figured it was fine since Marianne seemed pleased.

“Aah, Sister Marianne is getting all lovey-dovey in front of Lord Richard again!”

“Ees, you shouldn’t say things like that!!”

“Hey now, both of you! You shouldn’t be leaving the carriage without permission!!”

Coming toward Arthur were Bedievere, the boy Arthur had healed, and his best friend Ees. They were among the children accompanying the group this time.

“Hey hey, Sister Marianne. That food stall over there is selling some tasty-looking meat. Let’s eat it!”

“You two… Even if we’re undercover, we’re still servants of nobility. We can’t behave so improperly.”

She glanced briefly at Arthur as she scolded Ees for begging. Marianne wasn’t wrong—ordinary nobles never touched food from stalls, not knowing what might be in it.

All the more so for royalty.

Well, that aws… if Arthur were a typical royal.

“Fine, I’ll treat you. Let’s go to the stall.”

“Yay!! Brother, you get it!!”

“Wait, Lord Richard!?”

“Why not? It’s probably the first time the kids have had this experience, right?”

Arthur responded to Marianne, though it wasn’t out of pure goodwill. One reason was to make the children happy and rack up some Good Deed Points. The other—he simply wanted to eat it himself.

Smoked meat from a mining city…? What kind of flavor could that be?

Arthur, captivated by the tale of smoked meat Marianne had told him in the carriage, cheerfully led the children away.

Watching this, Gawain’s eyes widened.

“I see… As expected of Lord Richard.”

“What do you mean, Brother Gawain?”

“Think about it—we’re hiding our identities here. Who would suspect royalty eating from a food stall?”

“I… I see. We still have much to learn…”

And so, somehow, Arthur’s reputation kept rising.

But the journey that had seemed smooth was about to be disrupted by an unexpected event.

“No… That child… Is it true that Prim is gravely ill?”

Yes, the friend Marianne had planned to visit was bedridden with illness.