Reunion

As we walked toward the square where the shared carriages stopped, I started to relax a little when the square came into view. Then I stumbled for a moment and collided with someone walking toward me.

"I'm sorry! Are you hurt?"

"Ah, I'm fine. Wait, you're... the boy from the diner, aren't you? Leon, if I remember correctly. What are you doing here?"

When he said that, I hurriedly looked at the person's face—and was shocked. He was the man I'd bumped into in front of the diner on the day I was reincarnated in this other world.

"You were the man from back then... Frederick-san, right?"

"You remembered me."

Thank goodness I remembered his name... I'd thought we'd never meet again, so I'd almost forgotten it.

"I'm sorry for bumping into you again."

While I was apologizing, Marcel-san noticed I'd run into someone and came back.

"Leon, what happened?"

"Marcel-san, I bumped into this gentleman..."

"My apologies... Huh?"

Marcel-san had tried to apologize with me, but froze upon seeing Frederick-san. Why?

"You are Marcel-dono, if I'm not mistaken?"

"Y-yes. I am Marcel Roncoli. It is an honor to meet you, Frederick-sama."

Marcel-san was greeting Frederick-san in an extremely polite tone. So that was his family name, Roncoli, huh? I was thinking about something completely irrelevant.

"What is your relationship with Leon?"

"Yes, I run a magic-tool workshop near Leon's home, and I got to know him when he came to visit. Do you know Leon, Frederick-sama?"

"Yes. I happened to meet him in front of the diner when I went to the area around Leon's home on my day off. I've been wanting to talk to Leon again. Since we're here, why don't we talk for a little while? Would that be all right with you too, Marcel-dono?"

Um... If Marcel-san was speaking politely, that meant Frederick-san was at least higher in status than Marcel-san... Which meant he was definitely a noble...

There was no way I could refuse!!

"Yes. I have some time, but... Is that all right with you, Marcel-san?"

"Yes, that's fine. Frederick-sama, I would be honored to accompany you."

"Good, then let's go. That café over there should do."

We went to the café and ordered only drinks. And now the drinks have arrived. Yes. This is awkward!!

We hadn't said a single word since arriving at the café. Marcel-san was nervous, but was this man really that important??

I didn't understand anything about the situation, so I couldn't just talk carelessly. It was scary not knowing what topics might be land mines.

Trying to mind my manners as much as possible, I nervously sipped my tea. Finally, Frederick-san spoke to me.

"Leon, we never properly introduced ourselves. I'm Frederick Townsend, a knight with the Royal Guard. To meet twice like this, we must be fated to cross paths."

"Ah, thank you. I'm Leon, the son of the owner of a diner on the outskirts of the royal capital."

I was extremely nervous, but somehow managed to answer.

How powerful was the nobility in this world? I'd heard there were good nobles and bad nobles, but which kind was this man...?!

"What did you and Marcel-dono come to the central district to do?"

What should I do...? I didn't know whether I could trust this man, so I wasn't sure how much I should tell him. For now, I should probably keep our visit to the bank a secret.

"Um, we went to a café. Marcel-san brought me here, and it was really delicious."

"I see. Food culture has been developing among the nobility lately. Speaking of which, this place makes excellent bruschetta. Can you eat it?"

"I-I can eat it, but that's okay!"

I hurriedly refused, but Frederick-san ordered it anyway with a smile.

"Are you going to take over the diner someday, Leon?"

For some reason, Frederick-san asked me that.

I wondered what I should say, but I'd heard that plenty of commoners took the entrance exam for the Royal Academy, whether or not they passed. I figured it would be safe to say that, so I answered honestly.

"I'm thinking of taking the entrance exam for the Royal Academy. I don't know if I'll pass, though..."

"Oh, is that so? Why the Royal Academy? Of course, plenty of commoners take the exam, but is there a reason?"

"Yes. I thought magic tools were wonderful at Marcel-san's workshop, and I heard that if I became a government official, my dormitory would have magic tools..."

"Ha! Magic tools are convenient, aren't they? Leon, you're an interesting boy. You're different from ordinary commoners. Most commoners only say they want to rise in the world or that they want lots of money."

Frederick-san was laughing quite a lot. Was my answer strange? Of course I'd want magic tools! They're so convenient.

"Sorry for laughing. So, have you been able to study?"

"Well, I don't know anyone who can teach me... It would be nice if I could at least get some study materials..."

"You don't need someone to teach you? Could it be that you already know how to read and write, Leon?"

Oh! I'd said too much again... I hurriedly covered my mouth with my hand, but it seemed it was already too late.

It would probably be better not to try to cover it up awkwardly.

"Yes, I can read and write, but I want study materials because I don't even know what the exam will be like."

"Where did you learn to read and write? And to speak so respectfully, too?"

"An old man who lived nearby taught me. That's how I learned."

"I see. You were fortunate."

"Yes, I am grateful."

I gave him the same explanation I'd given Marcel-san, but I wondered if he had actually accepted it. Frederick-san had been smiling faintly the whole time. He seemed kind, but I couldn't tell what he was really thinking.

I had the feeling he suspected me, too...

"Then I'll prepare the study materials for you."

Frederick-san said that with a smile. He might have had some ulterior motive, but I had no one else who could teach me... Maybe I should accept.

"Um, would it be all right if I asked you to?"

"Yes. I'll bring them to your diner the next time I get a day off."

"Thank you so much!"

Just then, the bruschetta we'd ordered earlier was brought over.

"Well then, shall we have a little?"

Frederick-san took the bruschetta that had arrived on a single plate and transferred some to his own small plate with a knife and fork before eating it elegantly.

I did my best to imitate him and took a bite. Delicious...!

The combination of tomato and cheese was perfect.

"It's delicious, just as I thought. I like this."

"Yes, it's delicious!"

"You should have some too, Marcel-dono. Sorry for monopolizing Leon's attention."

"No, that's quite all right. I'll have some."

Marcel-san still didn't seem to have relaxed. Was Frederick-san really that important...? Had I caught the eye of someone dangerous?

I'd ask Marcel-san about it later.

After that, we chatted about trivial things for a while before parting.

"Well then, see you again, Leon. And thank you for today, Marcel-dono."

"Yes. I look forward to seeing you again."

"It was my pleasure. It was an honor to accompany you."

With that, Frederick-san left.

The two of us looked exhausted as we started walking toward the square.

It had probably only been about thirty minutes, but it had left me several times more exhausted than that.

"Marcel-san, who exactly is Frederick-san?"

"He is Frederick Townsend-sama, the third son of the former head of the Townsend ducal house. He will not inherit the ducal title, but he is said to be talented enough as a knight to receive a knight's title. Since his family holds a ducal title and he himself is expected to receive a knight's title, he is well known among nobles. And the fact that he already belongs to the Royal Guard at the young age of eighteen is extraordinary as well."

He really was an incredible person... Then again, to me, just being a noble made everyone seem incredible, so I couldn't really tell the difference...

For starters, duke was the highest noble rank, right? At least that's what I remembered...

"Marcel-san, what's the order of noble ranks?"

"From lowest to highest, they are baron, viscount, count, marquis, and duke. Knight's titles and quasi-noble titles that last only one generation vary depending on the rank of one's family."

So the order was the same as I remembered.

So Frederick-san was... I felt like I'd gotten to know someone really important.

But I couldn't tell whether that was good or bad. Well, I'd decide it was good. Otherwise, I'd be far too anxious.

After that, since Marcel-san and I were both exhausted, we took the shared carriage home in near silence.

I told myself that he didn't seem like a bad person, at least, and forced down my anxiety.