I was going to visit the neighboring territory.
"It is the birthday of the daughter of House Laufen. You shall come along as well."
Father told me this a few days before our departure.
House Laufen. Their territory borders ours, and they are a martial house responsible for defending the border. I had learned about them in my history lessons. A Margrave ranks higher than a Count, and because they are constantly facing off against a neighboring country, they are expected to possess both military and political prowess. It seemed Father had long been acquainted with the head of the house, as I often heard his name.
The journey would take two days by carriage. Mira was to accompany us as well.
On the day of our departure, Father stopped me before I boarded the carriage.
"Rein. Take this with you."
It was a small dagger. It was sized for a child's hand, and a faintly glowing Mana Release Stone was embedded in the pommel.
"It is your Crest Identification. You must always carry it when traveling to other territories. Try channeling your mana into it."
When I did as instructed, mana was released from the Mana Release Stone in the shape of the House Werl crest. It seemed that because the stone had been carved into the shape of the crest, the mana flowed out along that specific form.
"It is a noble’s proof of identity. For men, they are often in the form of daggers; for women, pendants. Do not lose it."
Father hung the dagger, sheath and all, from my belt. My first dagger felt heavier than I had expected.
The carriage ride, my first, was bumpier than I had imagined. However, the seat cushions were high quality, so my rear didn't end up hurting. When I lifted the seat, there was a storage space underneath for luggage. It was wide enough for a single child to fit inside. Everything I saw for the first time was a novelty, and Mira laughed at me as I poked and prodded everything in sight. At first, even the scenery visible from the window was a wonder, and I spent the whole time staring outside. Fields followed by forests, then more fields. Eventually, it became repetitive, and I gradually grew sleepy.
Before I knew it, I was sleeping on Mira's lap.
On the afternoon of the second day, the scenery visible from the carriage window changed.
Our territory has many gentle, rolling hills, but once we entered the Margrave's territory, stone watchtowers began to appear here and there along the road. Among the people traveling the highway, there were many armed soldiers. So this was the atmosphere of a territory close to the border.
"Lord Rein, we will be arriving soon....Oh dear, you have a bit of bedhead. Hehe, please stay still."
Mira took out a comb and began to tidy my hair with a smile. She also quickly straightened my collar.
The Margrave's castle was completely different from ours. First, there was a moat. We crossed over the deep, water-filled moat via a drawbridge. Beyond that was a thick outer wall, and even further inside stood another wall. It was a double-walled structure. Round towers loomed at the corners of the walls, and I could see soldiers with bows stationed at the top. The gates were reinforced with iron grates; if our castle was a "grand manor," this place was a true fortress. The number of guards standing before the gate was also double that of our home. After passing through the main gate, we entered a large courtyard.
The person who welcomed us was—to put it simply—enormous.
He had brown hair and black eyes. He was a mountain of a man, a literal walking personification of the word "brawny," and he stood a full head taller than Father. His arms were about as thick as my own torso.
"You've come, Vilhelm!"
Margrave Georg Laufen. His voice was as thick as his appearance suggested, and when he laughed, I felt as if the ground itself shook.
"It has been a long time, Georg. —This is my son, Rein."
"Hoh. So this is Rein?"
He crouched down and peered into my face. He was very close. His eyebrows were thick, and his eyes were piercing. Honestly, it was a little scary.
"...He's not a young lady, is he?"
"He is my son."
Father gave a wry smile.
We were led to a gazebo. Located at the back of the garden, it was a structure surrounded by stone pillars and ivy. It was more rugged than our gazebo, but it was well-ventilated and felt pleasant.
Once tea was served, another person arrived at the opposite seat.
She had a chestnut bob and bright brown eyes. She wore a dress tailored for easy movement, and her strong-willed eyes sparkled like jewels in her well-featured face. She was a very beautiful girl of about six years old.
"I'm Katia! Katia Laufen!"
She stood up and introduced herself with great energy. She was so lively that one would hardly think she was the daughter of a high-ranking noble.
"I am Rein Werl. It is a pleasure to meet you."
"Rein, huh. Yeah, I've got it! Call me Katia!"
She gave a broad grin. It was a greeting completely different from the etiquette I had been taught, but it didn't feel unpleasant. Rather, it was almost refreshing.
Along with the tea, baked sweets from the Margrave's house and the sweets I had brought were served together.
They were baked sweets I had made in the kitchen the day before our departure. I had simmered honey, butter, and cream in a pot until they reached a candy-like consistency, mixed in thinly sliced almonds, and placed them on top of a cookie base to bake. I believe they were called Florentines in that long dream.
Perhaps finding it unusual, Katia took one, bit into it, and her eyes went wide.
"What's this? The top is crunchy, and the bottom is so crisp...! It’s delicious!"
She reached for another one while looking at me.
"The cook at your house is amazing."
"Actually, I made this."
Katia's hand stopped.
"...Eh? You did?"
"Yes."
"Even though you're a boy, you can make sweets?"
"It makes me happy when the people who eat them are pleased."
Katia stared at me for a moment, then bit into the sweet again.
"...Hmph. How strange."
Though she said that, her cheeks softened as she reached for one after another. It seemed she liked them quite a bit.
After a while, Father and Lord Georg looked at each other.
"We will step away for a moment. We have some difficult matters to discuss."
Father said this and stood up. Lord Georg followed.
"Rein, get along well with Lady Katia."
"...Don't get too close, though."
Lord Georg turned back and added that last part in a low mumble.
"Father!"
Katia snapped, her cheeks turning red with embarrassment, but Lord Georg had already turned his back.
I could hear a little of the two men's voices as they left the gazebo.
"—What is the situation at the border?"
"It's not very good..."
I didn't know the details, but the weight in their voices concerned me slightly.
With the adults gone, only the two children were left in the gazebo. Mira was waiting a short distance away.
Katia was staring intently at me.
"...What?"
"You really do look like a girl, you know."
She scooted her chair closer and reached out. She started poking and patting my cheeks.
"Hey..."
"Your skin is so smooth, too."
Next, she started touching my hair. I could still endure that much.
However, Katia suddenly brought her face right up to mine.
"...You even smell nice."
The tip of her nose was so close it almost touched my neck.
"—!"
My face suddenly flushed hot.
Due to the influence of my previous life, I keep my body much cleaner than other children of the same age in this world. Daily bathing is a matter of course, and I use what is considered high-quality soap to wash myself. I hadn't expected the difference to manifest in such a way.
"H-Hey...!"
I stood up from the chair and took several steps back.
Katia's eyes went wide, and then she gave a mischievous grin.
"Ah, you ran away."
"I didn't run away."
"You did, you did! Wait up!"
She came toward me.
I reflexively backed away. We ended up facing each other with a pillar of the gazebo between us.
"Ahaha, you're really running!"
"I'm not running. I'm just maintaining distance."
"It's the same thing!"
Katia tried to circle around the right side of the pillar. I moved to the left. After repeating this two or three times, Katia puffed out her cheeks in frustration.
"...You're nimble."
"It's because I run every morning."
"You run? Every morning?"
"Yes. It doubles as practice for Physical Enhancement."
"Physical Enhancement? You can already use it?"
The look in Katia's eyes changed slightly. It was as if she were appraising me, but she soon returned to her usual smile.
"Heh... I thought you were just like a girl, but you're actually pretty good!"
The two of us sat back down in the gazebo's chairs. We were a little closer than before, but strangely, I didn't mind it.
That was when Father and Lord Georg returned, having finished their talk.
Seeing us sitting side by side, Lord Georg's expression shifted. Noting how Katia was leaning toward me, he marched over with his large frame.
"Hey. Aren't you two a bit close...?"
Lord Georg looked back and forth between Katia and me, his voice low and suspicious.
"We aren't close, Father. We're just sitting normally," Katia replied nonchalantly.
"No, even if you say that... I think all men are wolves, so you should keep your distance."
"Wolves...?"
Katia tilted her head, looking at me. How rude.