And the two friends disappeared into the busy street, the other three left behind with the carriage and the remaining men.

Cedric felt his lips twitched, watching the son of a Marquess and a commoner leave together. It was an odd sight, even for him.

Hyde was really something else.

“Ah~ Don’t you feel like a third wheel, Cedric?” a voice squeaked behind him.

“Pardon?” he turned to the soldier, still more of a boy than anyone else with them. But, one of his closest friends.

A grin formed on Jamie’s lips, “It’s when there are three people together and one of them is left out. In this case you.”

“Wouldn’t that be me in this case?” Frank chortled behind them, a wry smile on his face.

Jamie's gaze whipped to their friend, “Noo! Frank don’t say that,” a pout soured on his face like a child. “I’m just teasing Cedric here, don’t make me feel bad.”

“Well my apologies then,” Frank poked Jamie's forehead as the younger boy tried to grapple him into a hug. "You don't need to do that."

"Aww, but if you're feeling lonely—least I can do is to give you a hug!"

If he were to measure Frank's relationship with himself, it would be mutual respect. Between him and Tom, James and Hyde—they were the serious ones. Still, the man was reserved with him and Hyde while more comfortable with James and Thomas.

And this was why Hyde was different, far different than him.

"You don't have to do that—ack!" Jamie now slung over their friend, almost like one of those creatures he had read before.

Frank was the man who could knock out Tom—[Flash Movement] abuser—in a spar with a clean hit.

But still treated Jamie like a younger sibling.

The younger man was right, he was the third wheel here. Not that it was a bad thing.

“If we’re going with your analogy, I don’t mind being the third wheel,” He found himself saying despite all his ruminations. “More often than not—I'm the ninth wheel or not even a wheel at all.”

The people all around him had closely-knit relationships with one another. He eyed another redhead disappear with a bumbling soldier she called a friend. A sister now following her brother's own footsteps. A pang of envy burned within him for a moment.

"Hey, Cedric… do you think we can escape too?" Jamie's voice pulled his attention back to them, the younger soldier giving him a doe-eyed look and a winning smile.

The guy was as troublesome as Tom and pulled this stunt to get away with it. Glancing at Frank, his friend only gave him a sheepish look that clearly reflected how he was willing to indulge in their younger friend's whims.

Someone clearly played favorites.

It was natural in relationships though, he sighed. A quick glance showed their captain's attention now with the guards at the gate's entrance. It was easy to slip away if they wanted to and chase after Hyde and Thomas.

This wasn't really his story, not at all—but it didn't mean that he couldn't have fun.

"Let me talk to the Captain."

"Tch. You're so boring." Jamie stuck out a tongue at him.

* * *

“Liam!”

And there she was.

He had barely gotten off his horse when he saw her step out of the carriage. The setting sun's rays shone on her—like a halo of light. Or perhaps bathed her in the sun's warm glow. He couldn't find the right words.

“I wanted to ask if we could find a nice parlor to sit down and chat, but I’ve been sitting for hours." She looked sheepish. "Would you like to walk together and converse instead?” she asked, drawing closer to him.

Rhine was more than sure that he was listening to her—and she was right.

Even though she was still a few meters away, he hung to every word she said.

Now only an arm's length away, she was smiling and not saying anything else.

"O-of course!" He berated himself for not answering in a heartbeat.

"Splendid, I've never been to Verona before..." Her voice trailed off, her gaze taking in the town's sights. It was more comparable to the cities surrounding the capital.

His lips curved up slightly, "Well, I haven't travelled to this place before, but this is a fairly well-known place." She was… endearing. Her eyes were lighting up, a refreshing sight.

"Indeed! This is one of the trading spots, well-situated between the Falcon and Flores territories." She walked over to a smooth slab of stone at the center of the main street.

"It is, my family has imported some goods from here." He agreed, following after her.

"Right, your family are composed of merchants." She gave him a smile before focusing on the inscriptions engraved on the stone.

He felt himself blush, she remembered that detail. Well, of course she did—she was intelligent! But remembering something about him? It was peculiar. He could still feel surprise whenever she called him by name.

"Liam, look at this." Her fingers slid over the smooth stone, tracing grooves that glowed shimmering liquid gold under her touch. "Not only can you find the list of streets and notable areas, it provides you the directions. A fine creation of a stone mason."

* * *

A blade dangerously waved in front of his face.

“That’s wickedly sharp eh?” Hyde carefully darted backwards, eyeing the scimitar pointed right behind him. He gave his friend a frown, "Don't swing blades haphazardly on my face."

Tom shrugged, “You’re using it to defend yourself, best get the most domineering one.” he returned the knife-hilt first to the merchant who gave him a withering look as he placed it back on his stall.

"Besides," Thomas grinned at him. "Wouldn't a face scar look awesome? Don't tell me you're aiming for a baby face like Jamie."

Hyde exhaled and turned to the wares displayed. The scimitar curved wickedly, glinting at him with promise. Arrays of daggers, short sabres, knives and other blades all showcased wide open.

Why?

That was a question he wouldn't ask the sour faced merchant in front of him.

"Oi, oi—choose one already."

By the unhelpful grunt of the merchant, that was perhaps the only thing that Tom and the merchant agreed on.

His earlier concern over his friend was more or less gotten over, instead taking the chance to look at the fine weapons. He glanced at Tom who was wearing his full armor ensemble, excluding the helmet. The hilt of his sword was simple and plain. But the blade was made of good steel.

"You know, I think you should get yourself a dagger too. A parrying dagger to be exact." Hyde found himself picking up a main-gauche, it was used primarily with a rapier like his. Gazing at the wares, he sighed a bit. "No swordbreaker or trident dagger."

"They're all just sharp bladed weapons to me." Tom chuckled, "But hey, that one looks good eh?"

"The ones you're looking for, sir are rarely produced by blacksmiths, but we could request an order—"

"Oh, you don't have to do that. We're simply travellers, but… I'll uh, take this dagger," Hyde looked at the merchant before dropping his gaze back at the weapons, "This one too mister! Give me five of them."

"Alright sir!"

* * *

"What is it, Darby?" The Captain didn't even glance his way. The older man's attention was still on the guardsmen at the town's entrance.

Whether it was a [Skill] or precognition of some sort, it left Cedric impressed. Taking on a leadership role did provide beneficial skills no doubt, but experience also held value.

It was enough to ignore how he was called Darby.

"The noble household?" A guardsman whispered to his companion. The man was subsequently elbowed and hushed.

Cedric pretended he didn't hear anything.

"Captain, I'm hoping if you could lift our sentence today? It has been a couple of days since the incident at Wren." He pointed out with an embarrassed smile.

"Excuse me, gentlemen." Captain Duncan's gaze fell on him. His lips were pursed and he lifted a brow. "Rectify my statement if you will, but I do remember the orders I'd given that day. I was lenient enough to let you men relax for a couple of hours instead of the usual routines at dawn—but disregarding my order to come back immediately after finding your companions who happened to make a scene?"

Cedric knew better than anybody to not answer a rhetoric.

Duncan shook his head, "If it weren't for sir Gus picking up your little friend..." His gaze fell back on him. "Are you questioning my authority to discipline you and your friends?" It was the look of someone who couldn't care less whether or not he was of aristocratic lineage—they were all under his command right now.

"No, sir."

Still…

"Captain, your methods of discipline is fitting. On the other hand, would it not be beneficial if we could keep an eye on sir Falcon?" Cedric motioned to the vicinity bereft of their ward.

"The Marquess is here?!" One of the guards yelped.

Cedric raised a brow, did they expect the Marquess to visit with a single carriage and handful of soldiers?

The Captain exhaled and silenced the guard with a look, "Alright, the three of you are free to keep an eye on your friend."

He bit back a smile and bowed, "Thank you Captain!"

* * *

"Fine craftmanship, though it certainly pales to what Lady Rhine can do herself."

His presence overcasted them, a looming figure that appeared suddenly. Liam stared at the butler for a moment, wondering how he sneaked up on them.

"S-sir Gus! You give me too much praise," Rhine flustered, not at all bothered by the man showing up unannounced. "I haven't studied how stone and magic work together so I certainly can't recreate this."

He was probably overthinking this, he was more or less enraptured—focused on Rhine to notice the butler arriving. Still, it felt… unsettling? Unnerving that she was...

"You could if you wanted to, a young lady like yourself has the opportunity if you wished to."

"I definitely could… ah, I don't have many books on Artificing though." She turned away from the butler, her attention back on the stone.

He bit the inside of his cheek, his judgement was clouded. Honestly, he didn't want to admit it, but he felt a bit jealous that the older man could bring out this side of her.

She hasn't spoken a word to Thomas since they left Wren, but he couldn't help but wonder how they had been together. Did she act as flustered as she was right now?

"Do you think we should head to the marketplace or a book shop?" Her brows were furrowed slightly as she asked him, or perhaps she talked to herself aloud.

Either way, it brought a sense of relief in his chest.

He bit back a smile. "We could check them both if you wish."

"I wouldn't wish to intrude," the butler spoke up.

You're already intruding as it is...

"But could I perhaps join the two of you? If you wish, I could ask somebody to do it in my stead—assuage some of my security concerns." The butler prodded with a half smile.

Security concerns? Liam paused. Why did it feel like the butler was referring to him?

"Please relieve yourself of such unease." Rhine waved him off. "I'm more than capable to deal with such threats and Liam here is quite sufficient as it is."

"If that is your wish, Lady Rhine." The butler made no further steps to disagree.

"Well then, let's go Liam." Her hand reached for his and tugged him forward, "We'll be back in an hour."

Both her touch and words were enough to make his face aflame.

* * *

"Pfft, I think you would have bought almost half the wares if I weren't there to stop you," Tom chuckled as they strolled the streets.

He felt his ears burn, carrying a leather bag filled with sheathed blades. "You were the one who suggested we buy daggers in the first place."

"And the merchant is a pleasant man now, a happy ending to all of us!" Tom flourished with a gallant wave.

Hyde rolled his eyes, his earlier concerns further abated with his friend doing a theatrical skit in front of him.

"Well, look at these two lovebirds~"

Jamie sprung towards them, Cedric and Frank right behind him. Cedric gave them a wave and a smile.

"Hey, isn't this new?" Tom chuckled, slapping Jamie's back. "Slacking off our duties, honestly I'm proud."

"Forgive me for letting you down, but we asked for permission." Cedric shrugged with a wry smile.

"I knew it was too good to be true." Tom shook his head, "Still glad to see you, gentlemen. Where are you guys off to?"

"Well, we were supposed to follow after the two of you—but it seems like you two are already on the way back." Frank spoke up, nodding at him and Tom.

"I blame Cedric for taking too long."

"Better than getting punished by the Captain further."

"He's right, you know?"

"Wah, Frank is siding with you!"

Hyde felt his lips twitch, he really should have gotten used to this sight by now… but it still felt cathartic to have them all together.

An arm draped over his shoulders.

And though he usually would have shrugged it off—not really liking skinship, but he let it stay.

"You guys are clearly still boys, bickering over that." Tom remarked with a roguish grin. "We can definitely find a brothel in a town like this, if you kids are up for it?"

And now he regretted it.

"I see no reason to disagree."

He must have misheard Cedric acceding with Tom's shenanigan.

Yeah, he definitely did.