Ryu and his companions decided to take a break at a small inn in a nearby village.
“That noble we just encountered, what a nasty brat.”
Sugo bluntly remarked as soon as he took his seat.
“I thought the same. Ignoring Ryu like that when he was speaking.”
Leanne chimed in, agreeing with Sugo.
“He probably figured out I’m from the Baron’s family. Our family crest is on the carriage. If so, he might be the son of the Torritter Count, a higher rank passing through this highway.”
“I see. Young master, you’re quite sharp. Indeed, if they are from a Count’s family, they might not bother with a mere Baron.”
“Hey, Sugo. What’s with ‘mere Baron’? Are you mocking the Landmark family!?”
Leanne snapped at Sugo.
“No, no! I’m just saying that’s probably how they see it! I personally don’t think like that!”
Sugo hastily explained.
“Both of you, calm down. Such things may happen frequently in the future. In the capital, you’ll encounter plenty of people like that, I’m sure.”
Ryu intervened, the person in question seemed unperturbed.
“Since there are many nobles in the capital, it might be wise to be mindful of hierarchy. If there’s any rudeness causing trouble, it would be the Baron’s family who would apologize.”
He emphasized to both of them.
Especially with Leanne, it didn’t seem like she cared much about such matters.
While Ryu appreciated the pride of the Landmark family, he couldn’t assure perfection in handling interactions with higher-ranking nobles.
“…Alright, I understand. I’ll be careful not to bring shame to the Landmark family.”
Surprisingly, Ryu nodded in agreement straightforwardly.
“As for me, young master, I’m always considerate towards nobility, even though I don’t get to meet them. Haha!”
Sugo, being experienced, could likely navigate those situations smoothly.
After such exchanges and finishing their break, they decided to set off again.
The coachman and territorial guards were already waiting.
As they were about to board the carriage, someone called out to them.
“Wait a moment! Thank you for earlier.”
It was the friendly coachman who seemed to serve Count Torritter.
“Oh, has everything been fixed?”
When Ryu glanced briefly behind the coachman, he noticed a noble boy stepping down from the carriage. Their eyes met, and he received a glare.
It seemed best to avoid further interaction.
“Yes, thanks to you. Ah, I serve as a coachman under Count Torritter. And you are?”
“I’m Ryu, the third son of Baron Farza of the Landmark family.”
“I see! I apologize for any inconvenience caused. Thanks to you, we managed to fix things before the young master’s mood soured. Thank you very much.”
Quietly, the coachman said this to Ryu, then thanked him again and left.
Their eyes had met, and despite the glare, maybe the young master wasn’t too upset…
That coachman seemed to have a tough job…
With these thoughts, Ryu boarded the carriage with Leanne.
That evening…
They arrived at a village and promptly secured accommodations at an inn.
Since Ryu was a nobleman’s son, the innkeeper offered them the best room available.
Ryu felt a standard room would suffice, but he reconsidered, thinking it was a noble’s duty to spend some money and benefit the village.
During dinner, after treating the coachman and guards generously and thus benefiting the village, Ryu retreated to his room. Soon after, the innkeeper knocked on his door.
“Excuse me, sir. I have a serious matter to discuss…”
Opening the door to a serious-faced innkeeper who was wiping sweat and looking pale.
And suddenly, he prostrated himself.
“Actually, we have a new guest coming downstairs, and they asked us to vacate the best room…”
If he said that to a noble, then he must be an even greater noble, that is, a viscount or above.
Could it be…?
“Is the name Torritter mentioned?”
“Y-Yes! How did you know…?”
“I met them earlier today. Alright, I understand. I’ll move to another room.”
“Thank you very much! I’m terribly sorry!”
Relieved, the innkeeper’s face regained color.
Initially, the innkeeper had tried to offer the best room meant for ordinary guests, which Ryu had declined. He didn’t want to impose like that.
Though Sugo and Leanne’s rooms seemed better, Ryu didn’t mind since he was only going to sleep.
He thought about moving to Sugo’s room but gave up when he found Sugo already asleep and drunk.
“As the captain, isn’t that inappropriate?”
Ryu was secretly annoyed that Sugo didn’t wake up even when he knocked.
In the end, Ryu moved to another vacant room guided by the innkeeper.
