Light seeped through the cracks in the window. As the closed door opened, warmth and the voices of people inside greeted Rensley vibrantly. Stan, Rensley’s fellow knight, grinned and tapped him on the shoulder. Since becoming friends, Rensley had occasionally visited Stan’s house, and today was one of those rare occasions.
“You haven’t been out for a walk beyond the gate lately. What’s up?”
“Do you know you’ve been saying that a lot lately? It seems like you wanted to hang out with me, so I decided to drop by.”
Stan’s younger siblings joyfully ran towards Rensley. The youngest, only four years old, reached up and pulled on Rensley’s hair mercilessly. Feeling the pain, Rensley bent down to pick up the child, whose small hand continued tugging at his hair.
“Ouch! Marzit, that hurts!”
“Marzit, no! You shouldn’t pull on people’s hair. You should say it’s pretty, like this.”
Stan demonstrated by petting Rensley as if he were stroking a dog, and the four-year-old quickly imitated her older brother. As the child playfully messed with Rensley’s hair, laughter filled the room, and Rensley soon joined in, forgetting the pain.
Meanwhile, the two ten-year-old siblings ran around Rensley’s legs, behaving energetically.
“Ren, did you come to play?”
“Are you going to make something delicious again today?”
“Alright. But can our little princess and prince have snacks at this hour?”
Following Stan, Rensley walked into the sitting room. Although his house, like many in Aldrant, was modest, it exuded richness and warmth. Rensley had visited several times after joining the order, but the atmosphere remained consistently comfortable.
“Where are your parents?”
“They both have meetings today, so they’ll be late. Good timing.”
“Can I borrow the kitchen?”
“Are you really planning to make snacks?”
“Let’s make some for the siblings and us. It won’t take long.”
Stan instructed a servant to bring wine and beer. As Rensley entered the kitchen, Stan followed him. Like Stan’s home, the kitchen was well-equipped and tidy, a consistent feature of Aldrant residences.
Rensley sliced the tomatoes flatly after sprinkling some salt on them. Stan looked over his shoulder.
“What’s this? I’ve never seen this fruit before.”
“Tomatoes.”
“Never heard of that name before. Can we eat it even though it looks like it’s not fully ripe?”
“Don’t worry; I’ll make it edible. Just wait. Get me a beer.”
Rensley quickly removed excess moisture from the tomatoes, sprinkled flour on them, dipped them in well-beaten egg water, generously coated them with breadcrumbs that Stan’s household servants had finely crushed, and heated oil in a pot. While waiting for the temperature to rise, Stan, with his siblings now gathered around him, observed Rensley’s cooking from behind.
“Kids, it’s dangerous, so stay over there.”
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After taking a moment to chew the lukewarm food, Stan, wiping his mouth, blinked at Rensley with surprise.
“This is delicious. What is it?”
Taking a bite himself, Rensley seemed relieved as he watched Stan react.
“Do you think it will suit the tastes of people here?”
“No! Hmm, it’s delicious. It’s a taste I’ve never experienced before. Tangy yet savory. I won’t get tired of it; I can keep eating.”
Rensley chuckled and offered a wine glass to Stan, who also raised his glass casually. Rensley picked up one of the fried tomatoes to taste. As the crispy coating broke, a refreshing flavor and a fresh aroma, uncommon in typical fried dishes made with plenty of oil, spread in his mouth. He smiled at the anticipated taste.
“It’s been a while, but it’s not bad. I used to have it often in Cornia. Usually, it’s paired with lighter drinks, but it goes well with the robust alcohol here too.”
“Cornian cuisine? I’ve never tried fruit like this in my life.”
“It’s a rare one. Enjoy it.”
After swallowing one piece and downing the wine like water, Stan, seemingly examining something, remained silent.
Rensley faintly smiled. People he met here were all different, but they shared a depth of thought. At times like this, he missed the easygoing and shameless banter with old drinking buddies. Making everything light with jokes had made serious, unpleasant, and sad matters feel as light as air.
“Stan, do you plan to keep living in Roudken?”
“Do I have anything to think about? Unless I miraculously inherit the household or marry a woman from elsewhere, I’ll probably stay. My father originally came from Midgalen but moved to Roudken when he got engaged to my mother. Why? Do you want to go somewhere else? If living in the Duke’s residence is uncomfortable, just come out and live here. If finding a house is difficult, come to our place. We have vacant rooms.”
“It’s not uncomfortable. I decided to live in Aldrant, but if I stay inside the Duke’s residence all the time, it feels like time will continue similarly. I guess.”
“I used to envy you at first, but these days, I feel like being too close to the lord isn’t necessarily a good thing. Don’t you think you should come out and live? Where would you go? This is practically your second hometown by now.”
Leaving one’s hometown was never an easy thing. Wanderers and strangers were rejected everywhere. Rensley, welcomed by people here, was fortunate.
The children, initially eager to try the unfamiliar food, took one bite each and abandoned it, claiming it wasn’t tasty. Only Rensley and Stan continued to swallow the tomatoes, fried and accompanied by alcohol, one by one. Rensley, momentarily absorbed in eating and drinking, suddenly spoke.
“The lady you mentioned from the Northern Garrison.”
“Yeah. She’ll be back in a month or so. It’s been quite some time since she came here.”
“I heard she gave up the title of Duchess. Does she have an engagement?”
“Well… If she had an engagement, she wouldn’t have come to the defensive wall. If a royal offers to be the commander of the Northern Garrison, it means giving up on an ordinary life, right?”
Rensley nodded slowly. As he took each bite, he realized the plate was now empty. Despite Stan’s protests to let the servants handle the cleanup, Rensley quickly washed the empty dishes and left.
“I should visit Max’s shop after a long time.”
“Now? Alone?”
“I originally planned to go together with you, but your parents are away on business. Shouldn’t you be with your siblings?”
“You’re really something. Why today of all days? Just stay at our house and play quietly today.”
“I feel like going to a tavern today. Let’s go together next time. If you can come later, feel free to join.”
Smiling, he stepped out. Rensley walked the streets slowly, alone, outside the Duke’s residence after the sunset. It was almost the first time since he arrived. For a brief period after his arrival, he had been confined to his bedroom, and until joining the Order, it felt as if there were only Gezell and Rensley Maelrosen in this world. Even after joining, he mostly stayed within the Duke’s residence.
Whether that was better or not, he wasn’t sure. As you learn more about the world, you tend to become attached to it.
“Long time no see!”
“Ren!”
As the sign swung, Rensley entered the tavern, where people drinking and chatting inside greeted him. Rensley took off his coat and approached the owner. The owner smiled and pulled out a bottle of liquor.
“I was thinking of selling it to someone else because you said you’d come to finish it but didn’t show up.”
“Sorry. Just fill up a glass right away. And Benjamin! Shouldn’t we continue the game we were playing last time? I went to bed early that day; sorry! Since I came thinking of staying up all night today, let’s keep playing until one of us is penniless.”
“Well, stop whining and bring a glass with you. Let’s start right away!”
Holding a full glass, Rensley went to the gamblers’ table. The most popular game at Max’s shop wasn’t a card game but a betting combat game. Of course, in the narrow shop, real people or large animals couldn’t fight. Instead, they confined insects like crickets and beetles in a box and bet on which side would win.
Unlike their polite nature, people from the north had a combative taste for gambling. Rensley had participated a few times, but he couldn’t find interest in watching bugs, and instead, he was expanding the influence of the less popular dice game here.
As Rensley took his seat, some who had been watching the ant races gathered around the table. They took turns rolling three dice inside a cup.
“10, 5, 9!”
It seemed that the experienced Rensley had an advantage. Every time he lifted the overturned cup, he accurately guessed the numbers of the dice. Coins piled up in front of Rensley.
It was just a game to pass the time with a small pot. Still, no one left their seats, and as time passed, the voices predicting numbers gradually grew louder. As the night deepened and the streets became quiet, Max’s tavern became lively.
“Ah, my head hurts.”
One of those who only seemed to lose their bet rubbed his head and took out a pipe, asking if anyone wanted to share. As he lit it, the atmosphere rose considerably, and the somewhat tipsy Rensley laughed heartily.
“Is that a cigarette? I guess you made a lot while I wasn’t here. Smoking all these expensive ones.”
“There’s nothing like it for a headache. Want some?”
“Thanks, but I’ll pass. Since I’m just playing, I don’t have a headache now, right? Let’s take a break for a round.”
“Rensi! You’re not just winning and planning to run away, are you?”
“If you’re worried, put the winnings from today on the table, and I’ll leave it as it is.”
Rensley shrugged and got up from his seat, heading towards a group of women talking and sitting together. As he approached, they glanced at him and giggled. Rensley walked towards them gracefully, like a dancer on stage, and bowed before them.
“If I buy a drink, will you dance for us?”
“How shameless. You promised to teach us the rest when we met last time but didn’t show up afterward.”
“I’ll take responsibility and teach all three of you today.”
A woman with a high bun, pretending to lose, was the first to stand up. To dance, she took her place, and a man who had been drinking among the guests sat in front of the old piano.
Not particularly graceful, but fitting for a tavern, the music filled the noisy hall. As Rensley and the woman began to move, facing each other, stepping slowly in the same direction, and then reversing, they gradually got closer. Holding hands, they moved like tempting each other until they were even closer. When their faces almost touched, Rensley grabbed her waist with both hands and lifted her above his head as she giggled. The woman who was dancing let out a cheerful scream and laughed. The people in the tavern whistled and clapped. When Rensley gently put her down, the air-filled skirt swelled like a balloon before settling down. The two stepped again, and the woman whispered.
“Being a knight, are you stronger than you look? I’m not too heavy?”
“If it’s you, I could lift and hold you all night. Come on, one more time.”
“Haha! Is this Cornia’s dance?”
“Yeah. It was the most popular dance.”
While they were talking, some men and women who were drinking started to get up and imitate the dance. As the atmosphere shifted to a dance floor, the excitement for gambling also died down.
Rensley danced for a while, changing partners. When the small dance hall was filled with laughter, music, and the sound of people dancing, he finally stepped back and ordered another drink. The owner filled a large glass with liquor and handed it to him, expressing faint concern.
“Did you come to have fun tonight? But the gates of the Grand Castle will close soon. Is it okay? Is tomorrow a day off?”
“It’s fine. I’m going to stay here all night tonight. You need days like this occasionally.”
Rensley emptied the glass in one go. One more glass. Despite the owner’s faint worry, he silently refilled the glass.
Deng—.
While sipping the new drink, a deep bell sound rang out. Rensley stopped drinking, listening to the outside sound. It was the bell signaling that the gate of the Grand Castle would soon close.
Rensley immediately lowered his head again. Gulping down the rest of the drink, he quickly placed the empty glass on the table. Even though the scene was lively due to the spark he ignited, there was no joyful expression in his violet eyes. With a short sigh, Rensley whispered low enough for only the owner to hear.
“Max, I’ll come again next time.”
“Next time, come prepared to relax. My business philosophy is to sell alcohol only to those who want to have a good time.”
“Sorry! I’ll bring up the sales properly next time. Look forward to it.”
Amidst the cheers and singing of the intoxicated people, taking advantage of the noise, Rensley slipped out of the tavern. He went to the stable, found Marilyn, and mounted her.
“Marilyn, sorry, but run quickly. Yeah, sorry. I had a bit to drink. But it’s not a problem to sit on your back.”
Purrung. Marilyn, who puffed out her dissatisfaction, immediately started to run. In the quiet night, the urgent sound of hoofbeats, which didn’t suit the atmosphere, continued on the empty street. The bell kept ringing.
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Ahh you can feel the struggle in his heart.
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