『It’s because he’s a Count! It’s because Lyle’s going to be a Count in the future! 』
『Well, it’s true that he’s been rich from the moment he was born. He’s a tried and true pampered brat.』
Within the clamor of the crown, I heard a clear voice again. It definitely sounded close, and my name was even brought up.
“Are you alright, Lyle-sama? Your complexion is a little pale.”
“I-I’m fine!”
My impatient voice came out quite loud. It sounds like Novem didn’t hear anything. The voices started coming again.
『And wait a god damn moment… go take the girl’s bag’s already. You’re pretty much empty-handed, kid. You truly are inconsiderate.』
『Count, was it? I guess the child of something like that turns out like this. He’s on the side that’s used to getting taken care of.』
“… What did you say?”
I heard it again. And it’s coming from really close to me. What’s more, each and every voice is different. There are multiple of them.
“Lyle-sama?”
In order to not trouble Novem, who looked worried, I opted to ignore them. But it really is wrong for the girl to be carrying along a heavy bag while I don’t have anything.
“Y-yeah… Novem, isn’t that heavy? I’ll carry it.”
Saying that, I took her bag. While she insisted that she would carry it, I took it slightly forcefully as we entered the restaurant.
But then they came again.
『He should’ve taken her hand, and escorted her.』
When we entered the place, I heard a voice like that. An image of me offering my hand to her flashed across my mind for an instant.
(No, wait, we’re already in the store… giving her my hand now holds no meaning.)
As I was lost in thought with my hand extended, I was left in a flustered state in front of her.
As if she sensed that, Novem took my hand.
“Lyle-sama, that seat looks open, so can I trust you to guide me there?”
“Ah, eh… y-yeah.”
As I escorted her the short distance, Novem offered a final thanks.
“Much appreciated, Lyle-sama. Um… ah, excuse me.”
Saying that, Novem went and called over the waiter to order without hesitation. She asked what was recommended from the menu, and ordered two portions.
She pointed to some things, and asked whether they were fine with me, and I merely affirmed without any idea of what I was going to be served. There, I heard the voices again.
『Hey, isn’t this guy a bit of a wimp?』
『It’s because he’s oblivious about the world. Well, he does have some unreliable spots too.』
『Here, it’s fine because the girl’s being considerate, but a normal one’d dump him, right?』
As my evaluation was steadily dropping, I thought to myself.
(Just what is it with this situation!?)
–
–
–
Night.
After returning to the inn, I accepted the hot water the owner had prepared for us.
Apparently, I was to wipe my body with the hot water in the bucket.
“There’s no bath?”
Novem answered my question.
“Even in this rest town, there are some places that offer it based on price, but it’s standard to simply wipe down your body with hot water. Even in inns with baths, there are few with public ones for guests to use freely.”
“Really? I heard in town that there were some private rooms with baths, though…”
Novem had a troubled face as she dipped the towel in the bucket, and wrung it out. She had me take off my clothes, and started wiping me down.
“Inns that have private baths are ridiculously expensive. They’re at a level where they charge silver coins per night.”
“I have some silver, though. Novem, are you sure you’re alright without a bath?”
As I said that, she cautioned me.
“That’s no good, Lyle-sama! From now on, money is going to be scarce. If you don’t economize when you have the chance, it’ll run out before you know it.”
“R-really?”
As she scolded me, she finished washing my back, and moved to my hair. After lifting the bucket over my head, Novem gently poured it over me.
I heard a fed-up voice.
『Oy, spoiled brat, when your body’s clean, leave the room at once.』
“Eh?”
“What’s wrong, Lyle-sama?”
I heard a threatening voice, so I started looking around at once. As my hair was wet, water flew around.