SFO CH 13

The Young Man Misses Him

“No matter how I look at it, Finn doesn’t have a strong sense of impending danger, so I decided to go with him.”

“Understood, Master.”

“Eh? Eh? Ehh??”

This was our exchange three days ago, and today we are leaving for the frontier.

I don’t think I could afford to have him accompany me on my business trip for an entire week, but I couldn’t say anything because of the servants’ pressured smiles…

By the way, Sebas, Edna, and Tommy are staying at home and handling the work on our behalf, while Mia and three selected bodyguards are accompanying us on the trip. When I told the aide that my husband would be accompanying me, he agreed with a warm smile before adding,

“I had a hunch it was going to turn out like this.”

I suppose he probably assigned me this job so that I would have time to spend with my husband. As expected of the next Prime Minister… I feel like I am being set to dance on the palm of his hand. And I can only thank him for his concern.

I will use this business trip to come to a conclusion about my feelings for my husband.

With this momentum, I set out on my trip.

It takes two days to reach the frontier by horse-drawn carriage. The plan is to spend three nights and two days at the frontier and then return. It is not every day that I get a chance to stay with my husband for such a long time. I have to take this opportunity and settle this, no matter the outcome.

Accompanying them on the trip are the fifth-year junior Joshua-kun, two company commanders who have been appointed by the Knight Commander for this mission, six carefully selected bodyguards, and several apprentice knights who will be taking care of the commanders’ personal affairs.

However, I’ve been placed in the marquess’ carriage along with Mia and my husband. I wonder if Joshua-kun is getting along well with the apprentice knights.

“Are you feeling okay, Finn?”

“I-I’m fine, hus… A-Al.”

After this casual arrangement, my husband wants me to call him by his pet name ‘Al.’ But the force of habit is still too strong, so the word ‘husband’ is usually the first thing that comes out of my mouth. But it’s embarrassing, so I try to be careful not to make the mistake.

“Have you ever been to the frontier, Finn?”

“No, I’ve only heard about it from the student council president, but I’ve never actually been there. Have you, hus… Al?”

“I went once when I was very young. I remember learning a lot about how soldiers work so hard in such a harsh environment so that we can live peacefully.”

“That’s right.”

The frontier is the border between neighboring countries and is the first land to be attacked in times of war. The strength of the soldiers defending the frontier can make or break a war, so it is a very important place for a country. Therefore, margraves have a great deal of autonomy and develop their own policies in accordance with the movements of neighboring countries.

If supplies are not delivered to such an important frontier location in a timely manner, it will affect the morale of the soldiers, and depending on how such a situation is handled could shake their loyalty to the royal family, so the response to this incident is extremely important.

Contrary to the tension before setting out, the journey was smooth. There were no signs of anything strange on the roads, and when we asked the people in the towns we stopped at, they told us that they did not see anything unusual. Was it because we were still close to the royal capital?

However, even on the second day, the peaceful streets remained the same. The closer we got to the frontier, the more rural our surroundings became, and the more villages there were. But their residents would say the same thing: that the volume of logistics didn’t seem to have decreased.

Hmmm. That’s strange… What does that mean?

We all exchanged glances at each other, and before long, arrived at the frontier.

The margrave’s residence was a fortress, and the solidly built building was quite imposing. As soon as we announced ourselves, we were led to the margrave.

“Oh, I see you’ve arrived safely!”

“My name is Finn Graphite, head of the survey team. This is Captain Massicotte of the Order of the Knights. We will be under your care for the next three days.”

「I am Margrave Algernon Venit. These are my wife Sarah and my son Ethan.”

I made eye contact with the once student council president. It’s been about ten years since the graduation ceremony, but he has become much stronger. His once androgynous face has become more fearless, likely tempered by the wilderness of this frontier. You can also tell at a glance that his body has been well-trained. But the look on his face when our eyes met and the way he smiled at me was just as he had been back then.

“Let’s talk about the matter at hand right away. Will you come to my office, please?”

I arrived at the office with Joshua-kun and the two company commanders. My husband and the others were shown to their rooms.

In the office, we were shown documents such as customs duty records, carriage entry and exit records, and reported sales. It seemed that goods were coming in as usual, but the amount of sales seemed to be a little low.

“It seems like things have been missing after entering the frontier… Have there been any reports of theft or other damage to stores recently?”

“No, there have been no reports of such things. I have thought about it and have increased patrols, but nothing has changed…”

“I see…. Tomorrow, I will go to the market and other places around the castle town. I might be able to get an idea of what’s going on.”

‘That would be great. Tomorrow is market day, so I’ll have my son show you around after breakfast.”

“Thank you very much. Could you prepare some clothes for us to help us blend in with the citizens so that they won’t recognize us as a survey team?”

“I see. I will make preparations for that as well. Now, I am thinking of a modest welcome party. I will summon you when the time comes, so please rest in your rooms until then.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

After meeting with Joshua-kun and the company commanders to discuss tomorrow’s security and places to visit, I returned to my room, where my husband was sitting on his bed, going over some papers. No, this is definitely not the time to be here.

“Welcome back, Finn.”

“T-thank you… Al.”

Al put the papers by his side, came over to me, and gently hugged me.

“W-what’s wrong…?”

“Well…”

What’s wrong…? He seemed to be acting strange.

“Al…?”

“…I heard that you used to date the margrave’s son.”

“…! You knew?”

“Yeah.”

“Umm… Well, we parted ways about 10 years ago, though…”

That’s right. No matter how attractive the once student council president has become, it is already water under the bridge. I am now Marchioness Graphite. I don’t know if I love Al yet, but I want to cherish him.

“I know. I know that, but…”

What should I do? He’s such a handsome guy, to the point where all of the daughters and sons in this society want to become his lovers, and yet… To see him become so timid… So cute.

“Al, Al. Husband. I may not know if I love you yet, but… I do like you.”

“You did love that man, didn’t you?”

“I already told you, that was ten years ago. Besides…”

Caught up in the moment, I whispered in Al’s ear,

“Your kisses are the best.”

“———Finn!!”

He almost kissed me straight away, but I had to stop him. This is my workplace for the next three days, after all.

The welcome party may not have been extravagant, but it showed that the staff put their heart and soul into the food. Subordinates and superiors alike joined together to eat and drink, giving the impression that they had lived a strong life in a harsh environment. This wasn’t something you would often see in the royal capital. Al was also smiling, which was yet another rare sight, and the atmosphere was pleasant from beginning to end.

I was a little intoxicated by the air and left the table to catch some fresh air. Al offered to follow me, but I declined, saying it wouldn’t go too far.

Stepping out to the balcony, the former student council president was already there.

“Hey, Finn. Is it really okay for the star of the day to be out here?”

“Ethan. It’s been a long time. How have you been?”

I didn’t want to pay too much attention to the welcome party, so I talked about the old days without thinking much about Al. Ethan is as good a talker as ever, and he leaned on the railing, gazing up at the stars and talking just like in the old days.

“By the way, Finn…”

“Yes?”

“How’s your married life? Is it going well?”

“Huh—? Well, it’s been rather pleasant lately.”

“Lately?”

“Mh-hmm. Never mind.”

“I see… So… No kids yet?”

“Hmm, kids… I’m not so sure about that—”

“Maybe things aren’t going well?”

“How should I put it? It wasn’t going well, but—”

I was a little fuzzy from the little alcohol I had consumed. It still felt pretty good to be able to talk with a close friend as usual. It sounded like fun.

“What about you, Ethan? You have a fiancée, don’t you?”

“Ah, we called off our engagement a long time ago.”

“What?! Why??”

“Because there’s someone I can’t forget.”

I couldn’t help but stare at Ethan. I sobered up at once. What…?

His strong eyes, unchanged from those days, were staring at me.

“I thought of giving up many times. You are already a marchioness, Finn, and you outright dumped me back then. But I just can’t help it, it’s like I can’t be with anyone because they’re not you.”

Ethan laughed to himself. I could only stare at him, unable to say anything.

“I have no intention of causing trouble for you or your husband. I just want you to keep me in your thoughts for just a little while.”

“Ethan…”

“And if things don’t work out with your husband, or you get sick of him, just think of me.”

Ethan then smiled mischievously and said, “Well, don’t worry about it too much. Good luck with the investigation starting tomorrow!” and returned to the party.

I stood there dumbfounded for a while, joined only by the night breeze.