harold

How did you become a noble, then?

A very good question.

It's like how every member of the Caster family is sighing and asking why your Sir Enciodes had to be born a man of Kjerag.

We may never have a proper answer. All we can do is treat it as a jest of fate.

Do let your master know that the next time he is in our county, he <i>must</i> give me a ring.

I'll ask my wife to personally man the kitchen and prepare a taste of Victorian home cooking for you all.

Then you and him can stay with us a spell.

And when the time comes, we can send you off with some rousing local tunes—

Harold starts to hum softly.

The farmers by their side begin to accompany him with the folk songs of Kjerag.

Before they knew it, it had become a chorus amidst the fields, blending together songs of Victoria and Kjerag both.

Seems things are rather lively today.

Oh, Weiss! Delivering letters again, are we?

Yes.

The song they're singing sounds familiar, but also a bit not, if you get me?

Some old Victorian's singing along with them.

Still sounds pretty good, though.

An old Victorian?

Weiss follows the singing, only to find Harold counting out a beat as a local farmer sings.

His face works its way through several different expressions before finally settling on calmness.

I could say a couple of words to Weiss on your behalf, but I can't guarantee he'll listen.

This is just how he is. I hope you understand.

I was even more difficult to deal with when I was his age.

Hmm?

It seems you won't need my help.

Wha-?

Mr. Weiss.

If you had known that things were going to end the way they did, then why did you feel the need to keep up the pretense?

Mr. Weiss, a soldier can never in clear conscience ask his victims for forgiveness.

All I can say is...

I really do love Kjerag.

If possible, I'd like to wish her all the best. I'm thinking of bringing my whole family here to have a look around in future.

*sigh*...

I just happened to pass by on the way to deliver something to that Rhodes Island engineer.

You can come along, assuming you can keep up.

Weiss turns and walks away.

But he does not leap and bound into the distance as usual. Instead, he walks, at a speed somewhat faster than an ordinary man, heading towards the snowy mountains.

Weiss is also struggling inside.

Hah! Who isn't?

I'm struggling too. But for me, it's more like how my stump will ache from time to time.

It's not something I tell others often...

Not that anybody really cares in the first place.

Well then. Be seeing you, Matterhorn, my good man.

Hmm? Wait, Sir Harold.

What is it?

My master has just notified me that he will be holding a banquet in a few days, and he cordially extends you an invitation. Weiss, Degenbrecher and I will also be in attendance.

So that's how it is.

Pardon?

It seems I owe a favor not just to Madam Degenbrecher, but to Sir Enciodes as well.

(I just wanted to use this opportunity to establish a rapport with Rhodes Island at first, but from the looks of things, I suppose I can even hand in my onboard application tomorrow.)

(The wandering engineer was your handiwork, wasn't it, Enciodes?)

(Ah, no, can't quite say that for sure. All I can say is that we're of like mind. Me going to Rhodes Island will be a good thing for you, me, Kjerag and Caster.)

Sir Harold?

Do tell him that I'll be bringing some top-notch liquor with me! We'll drink till we drop!