Chapter 74

On the other hand, Eidan was riding his beloved horse, moving without rest.

Riding was something he enjoyed, and running straight to a distant destination was quite fun.

The scenery changed, and the shock transmitted from the ground changed as the soil changed. There were uphill slopes and steep inclines, and he would reach out to touch trees while walking.

When he was tired, he would walk, and then whimsically run again. He would take a break by the river, giving his horse water, and then move on.

When he closed his eyes and galloped, he felt as if he could forget that he was the prince of Pencilnia and become just an ordinary person.

He ran his horse from the capital, with two nights of camping in between.

He could have gone through the city, but Lias suggested that it would be good to combine it with military training, so the journey to the destination became a camping trip.

He thought Cynthia would oppose it, as she usually made a sour face when he got scrapes during training, but she surprisingly gave her permission, saying that it would be fun to think of it as a camp.

Occasionally, Cynthia would have a bold sense that even Eidan found surprising.

Right beside Eidan were Tan, Orenzia, and Deputy Knight Commander George. Since they were all familiar with each other, Eidan felt a sense of liberation.

He said their destination was the granary area, and they would arrive by noon the next day. Eidan's true destination, the winery, was just around the corner. He wanted to advance there as well.

He wrote to Aila that he might stop by on the way. There was no reply. Aila was not good at writing, so she usually didn't reply.

The problem was when to tell George, who was leading the knights.

He didn't think he would be opposed. Unlike Marivelle, Eidan could protect himself, and he had always decided on the destination. Moreover, this was Pencilnia territory.

However, he felt he might be teased.

He wanted to make it look natural, as if he was just stopping by on the way.

So, he planned to first seriously inspect the granary area, check the management of the national warehouses, and confirm the irrigation canals. ——Then, perhaps, he could casually stop by at the end.

The knights wouldn't say anything as crude about their lord's romantic affairs as Eidan thought.

After all, Eidan was only 12 years old. He wanted to act mature and nonchalant, but it was a difficult age.

When they visited the granary area as planned and inspected the national warehouses, Eidan was somewhat moved by the scale. The fields they visited were for corn and wheat.

It looked like a dry grassland, but it was said that the entire area was used for growing crops.

The size was convincing as a support for the country, with warehouses scattered everywhere. Each one had a proper manager.

They stayed for a few days, inspecting the irrigation facilities and canals, and then set off again.

The return trip was also camping.

They set up a base in the forest they had passed through on the way.

While they received lavish hospitality in the granary area, Eidan quite liked the camping.

Today's campsite was in a slightly open area in the forest.

"The most effective training is hunting, Eidan-sama," George strongly recommended, so they practiced hunting while camping.

They had good results that day, catching rabbits and boars.

"Excellent, truly, it's terrifying."

George laughed heartily, though he didn't seem to think it was terrifying. His beard around his mouth shook when he laughed.

He was a man whom Marivelle found rough.

The knights divided their tasks, gathering wood to start a fire and preparing the luggage.

"Master."

"......"

When Tan called him, Eidan turned with a weary look.

"Tan. Stop that."

"Stop...?"

"Calling me 'Master.' ——What?"

"Will you help with the butchering?"

Tan, who hardly ever spoke, called Eidan 'Master.' Since he had been serving Eidan since he was 4, it was understandable, but Eidan wanted him to change the way he called him.

However, since he was rarely called, it was difficult to correct.

"I'll watch. I'll leave it to you."

"Understood."

Tan went to the nearby water source to butcher the animals. Eidan watched him. Other knights were also bringing birds. They were all skilled at cutting the meat.

Eidan had also learned the process and could help with the preparations.

However, he was quite bad at the smell of wild animal meat. He used a lot of herbs to remove the smell, but he was not good at that either. The knights would pick herbs during their breaks, and sometimes small bugs would be in them. Eidan found it shocking.

Although he hunted, he thought it was enough to eat the dried meat he carried. He ate some of the dried meat from his leather bag and returned to the campsite, leaning against a tree to rest.

When the meal was ready and they were about to eat, Eidan was called by George.

"Eidan-sama, we have a guest."

"Guest...?"

A guest during camping.

As he thought this, he saw Aila approaching with a basket in hand, leading a horse.

He thought he might be seeing things.

"A, Aila? Why are you here?"

"I felt like you were here. ——This is a gift."

When he looked at the basket she thrust forward, he saw wine and dried grapes.

"——What?"

Eidan was at a loss for words at the unexpected visit.

Aila peered into Eidan's face.

Her clear blue eyes were close, and Eidan hastily took a step back.

"Are you okay? Are you tired?"

"I, I was just surprised... I didn't get a reply to my letter."

"Hehe. Sorry. I wasn't sure if I could come."

Eidan, still surprised, took the basket.

"——Ah, we're about to have dinner. Would you like to join us?"

"Sure!"

Aila answered immediately.

A winter campfire was essential. They burned the wood and gathered around it. Eidan laid out a mat and sat on it with Aila. The large circles of people were a bit distant from them.

George brought the food with a smile.

He was trying to smile. The fact that it looked like a smirk was just Eidan's subjective view.

"This is the wild boar Eidan-sama hunted."

George explained as he handed it over.

"Wow, that's amazing. You brought down a boar? With a bow?"

"Yes—don't say things like that."

Eidan handed the wine basket to George as if to shoo him away.

"——Oh, that sounds warming. Thank you!"

The knights happily thanked Aila.

Eidan sipped his soup. Aila started eating right away.

The menu was a vegetable soup with wild boar, bread, and hard cheese.

It was probably about an hour's ride from the winery. It was already dark because it was winter.

"——Isn't that dangerous? Did you come alone?"

"Now?"

Aila laughed.

This laugh was Aila's.

When they finished eating and settled down, he finally realized something.

"By horse? Alone?"

"It's fine, it's fine. There's nothing around here. I'm used to it."

"That's not good, it's dangerous."

"Aw, you worry too much."

Aila chuckled.

It wasn't a laughing matter.

"——How's the winery?"

"It's so much fun! I want to work here forever."

"Really...?"

"It's winter now, so there's not much to do and it's quiet. But during the harvest season, it was so busy, but it was fun."

Aila's eyes sparkled.

"When all the work is done and the grapes are shipped, the vineyard turns red. It's like a reward for the hard work of the year, and it's a beautiful sight. I wanted to show it to you, Prince."

"About that 'Prince'..."

"Ah, is it okay?"

"It's fine. There are only knights here."

Aila called him 'Prince' when she went to the store because her parents were strict. She called everyone by their first names, but always called him 'Prince.'

"Then, Eidan."

When his name was called, Eidan felt a pang in his chest.

He tried to maintain his composure and asked.

"Did you make wine too?"

"Just washing and crushing. I just watched the rest. We all stomped the grapes in the barrels. It smells so good! By the end, my legs were dyed up to my knees."

"Up to your knees... Do you all stomp with your knees out?"

"More than that—"

"A, a, a, no, no, no, don't show me!"

Was it because Aila wasn't a noble, or just because it was Aila? She was so casual about showing her legs.

Eidan felt his face burning.

Fortunately, it didn't seem to be noticeable in the firelight.

"——I'm glad you had fun."

"Yep! What about you, Eidan? What did you do?"

"The same as always. Studying and training."

"Hmm, that sounds tough."

"Yep—so, this trip is really fun."

"You're so responsible."

Aila said this and patted Eidan's head.

Eidan had been seen crying by Aila in the past. Since then, he felt he was treated like a younger brother.

Aila was still a bit taller. He knew he would eventually grow taller, but it still felt complicated.

This head patting was also complicated.

He wanted to push it away, but at the same time, he found it comforting—

Eidan sighed and covered his face.

He must have looked strange. He didn't want to be seen.

"What's wrong? Not eating your soup?"

"Yep. ——I'm not good with this smell."

"Want me to eat it for you?"

Aila kept holding out her hand.

E, eat it? This.

Eidan hesitated.

"What's wrong? Are you going to eat it?"

"Um, no—"

"Then, I'll take it."

Aila quickly took Eidan's bowl and started eating.

But, you just drank from that...

He thought about saying it but couldn't.

Was it normal for commoners to share utensils? ——No, it shouldn't be.

Maybe only very close people did. ——So, does Aila think I'm close...?

"Eidan?"

"Ah!"

When she called him, Eidan quickly returned to reality.

"Are you okay? You seemed deep in thought."

"I, I'm fine."

He had been thinking silly things.

In front of Aila, his thoughts lost all logic. He knew they would, but he couldn't help it.

Eidan drank the cold water as if to clear his head.

In front of Aila, his IQ drops.