There are many things that happen every day. It even includes rare accidents. However, the rarest one to happen is the good accidents.

***

There were no problems when we departed. Though there are some slight problems because of Marie which isn’t in the original plan, we managed to fix it because of Jane who is taught by mom a lot.

I was actually worried about her leaving the mansion. Being a former [Core], I thought that she isn’t allowed to leave the barrier which powers Petal’s core. However, it was just an unfounded fear since Marie didn’t show any reactions after leaving the gates.

I told and explained everything that happened from last week to Sora. He got surprised to know that Petal isn’t human, but even more when he knew that Petal gave birth to Marie and I was her father. I can understand that. I mean, where would you hear about a human and an android having a human child?

About Sanjeet, I let them meet with each other. Sora was slightly puzzled from Sanjeet’s explanation about how he got here in Marzenthura, but then he just shrugged it off while saying, “Just like the novels in my hometown.”

And during our journey, we finally met the winter snow. I lent some coat for everyone of course.

***

Today’s the second day of our journey. We’re now heading towards [Split Horizon] which is a mountain that’s, like the name implies, split in half. According to our map, there’s a town on the end of that mountain. We just have to pass through the mountain. That was the original plan. However, one of the adventurers said that that place is crawling with bandits so were going around the mountain instead. It would take a whole night, but since life is a number one priority, we follow the second plan.

By the way, our caravan’s setting is like this; the first group is on the front, a carriage that’s protected by two cavalries. The second group is on the far back, the same as the first group. The carriage that’s carrying the girls and my daughter *cough!* are in the middle, followed by the cargo carriage. Sora, Sanjeet, and I are currently riding on the carriage talking about our home, Earth. And also, I secretly pulled out a bottle of liquor from one of the crates. I don’t want the girls to find out because they’ll scold me since mom told me not to let me drink too much.

“So let me get this straight. You don’t want to go back to Earth because your girlfriend is a crazy? It sucks to be you Sanjeet.”

“How dare you say that! You can’t even properly talk to… what was her name again?”

“Ghena”

“Ah right! Ghena, you can’t even properly talk to her. You’re more of a coward than I am.”

Right now, Sanjeet and Sora are arguing about girls. They’re already close after we drank four bottles. On the other hand, I’m here eating jerky.

“How ‘bout you Key? Which of the two noble women is your girlfriend?”

Sanjeet turned towards me while holding the bottle of liquor with one hand. After that, Sora leaned towards him while making a slightly drunk angry face.

“Believe it or not Sanjeet. Those girls are both his fiancées. Moreover, that maid he’s with? Even she has a crush on him. Riajuu! EXPLODE!”

-What the heck does ‘Riajuu’ even mean!?

“Shut up! It’s not like I wanted everything I have now, though I have no qualms about it. Even so, I still prefer going back to earth. But I guess that’s a faraway dream, now that I have a daughter here, I can’t.”

Since we’ve been drinking for almost 2 hours now, Sanjeet fell asleep first. After him, Sora is throwing up with his head outside the carriage. The looks on the ladies that are driving the carriage that’s following us is indescribable. And I, I’m here leaning on the crates while feeling sleepy. I don’t look like a rich noble, or so the women’s whispers tell. I can hear then since the night is quiet.

Just when I was about to fall asleep, the carriage suddenly stopped. Even if I wanted to stand up, I can’t. I’m too tipsy and can barely stand.

After a few moments, I can hear Marie’s cries getting closer. It’s that time again huh…

“Sir, Marie won’t stop crying. I think she’s looking for you.”

“I thought so.”

Jane’s the one who carried Marie. She told me that she’s the one who requested for the caravan to stop for a moment.

Before I took Marie from her, I first took some [Mint Sheet] and chew it. It’s a food that’s slightly similar to mint gum. It has the appearance of a paper and can be swallowed. And like the name implies, it kills my bad breath and gives me a minty one.

After taking the crying Marie from Jane, for some reason, she also rode the carriage then the caravan started to move again.

“This must be very unsightly to you Jane.”

“No Sir, I’m actually used to this. This happens often back in my village.”

Jane took the empty bottles that’s moving around inside the carriage and put them in the crates. After that, she cleaned the space beside me and sat down.

“Is it cramped sir?”

“No.”

While asking me, she looked at Marie who’s slowly calming down.

I kept rocking Marie for minutes until she quieted down. I’m quite impressed with Sanjeet and Sora because they didn’t even wake up after that noisy crying.

When Marie finally fell asleep, I’m already tired. So I leaned my back on the crate while carefully shifting Marie’s position without waking her up.

“You’re very good at taking care of children sir.”

Jane suddenly commented while looking at me holding Marie.

“Nah, I just have experience in babysitting so this isn’t even a problem.”

After that, Jane had nothing to say anymore. She just quietly watched me cradling Marie by my side.

It’s too awkward, I should say something here.

“Uh… Jane.”

“Yes Sir.”

“What’s your reason in accepting my offer to become my household’s maid? Ah, forget it. I might be invading you privacy.”

Since I immediately took it back, Jane looked at me with a dumbfounded face. Next, she suddenly giggled like she’s seen through me.

“This is awkward. The silence is. And sir, you are actually violating my privacy with that question.”

“Sorry.”

“No, no. Don’t worry. I’m still going to answer it anyway.”

Before she started talking, she fixed her position a little bit to lean her back on the crate I’m leaning on.

“Actually sir, I hesitated. Though I have doubts about the conditions you gave us because it was too good to be true. But these past few days, I can actually say that I was wrong for doubting you.”

“Wait? I was doubted?”

“I’m really sorry about that sir. To tell the truth, one of my friends--”

-Ah shit! I’m slowly hitting the snooze button.

“—got tricked by a rich noble, and got taken advantage of. Since I heard that news, I didn’t want to become a maid. But when you showed up sir and saved our village, that mindset was slightly changed.”

*Author’s POV* (AN: It might be good to be poetic for once)

While Jane talked a lot of things beside Key, Key himself is struggling to keep his consciousness up. Since he drank too much again, his consciousness is gradually fading slowly by the second.

“Now that I remembered it sir, I never had the chance to properly say thank you for saving our village.”

Jane still continued to talk cheerfully. Unbeknownst to her that Key had already fallen asleep with his head leaning on the crate behind them.

“It really is late to say this sir but, I just want to do it for myself.”

With slightly rosy cheeks, Jane mustered up some confidence while also setting aside her embarrassment. Inhaling and exhaling, she thought of those two words strongly.

“Sir, Thank you—”

The moment she turned her head while speaking, Key’s head had leaned on her shoulder.

Jane got slightly surprised from that that her face became crimson.

“Ah! He already fell asleep, maybe next time.”

Followed by a sigh, Jane’s courage that she mustered ended up wasted. She only felt disappointment from her own tactlessness. The blushing on her cheeks slowly disappears.

The sound of wooden wheels running over small stones on the road, the sound of crates that vibrated inside the carriage, sounds of critters in the forest, other than those, the carriage was in total silence. Everybody was sleeping aside from the drivers of the carriages and the escorts. That includes Jane too.

As she let Key use her shoulder as a pillow, she kept her consciousness up.

After a few moments, she felt Marie on Key’s arms slightly shiver from the cold.

“Right, mam said that Marie mustn’t feel the cold very long or she’ll get sick.”

Saying it to herself, she looked around the carriage to find something to cover Marie. After a few moments, she finally found a spare coat that’s on Key’s other side. This coat is Key’s.

I think he wouldn’t be angry if I use his coat—Jane thought so while trying to reach out to the coat while keeping her steadiness so that Key wouldn’t wake up.

She tried hard, but because Key is leaning on her, she couldn’t reach out to the coat properly. She thought for a moment.

“I think this couldn’t be helped.”

Slowly shifting she body, she grabbed Key’s head with both of her arms and lifted gently. She then leaves Key’s side while putting Key’s head in a position in which looks like he’s leaning on the crate.

After taking the coat from Key’s side, she then put it on Marie to warm her. But because the space was cramped, it’s slightly a hard task. When she finished it, Marie stopped shivering and continued sleeping soundlessly.

“Now to return back…”

The moment she said that, suddenly, the wheel of the carriage hit a slightly large stone that shook the whole carriage.

Jane lost balance. Moreover, she’s falling towards Key and Marie. In a panic, she immediately used both of her arms to lean on the crate that Key is leaning on. No dangerous accident happened thanks to that, but—

No!

One word, but it wasn’t said out loud. Even though she wanted to, she cannot. All because her lips, is locked with Key’s who is sleeping.

She let out a blank stare without moving, without breathing, without thinking of anything. She just froze on the spot.

After a few seconds, her mind finally returned back to normal. And by normal, her face turned bright red and she immediately move herself away from Key.

She immediately looked around to see if anyone saw her. But she can only see the sleeping Sanjeet and Sora.

“Thank goodness no one saw me.”

Jane let out a sigh of relief.

For a moment, she touched her lips that touched Key’s. I just kissed him—she thought. Then she shook her head for a moment to brush it off that she believed that was an indecent thought.

“No matter what happens, no one shall know about this.”

As Jane said so to herself, she clenched her hands together on her chest while having crimson cheeks.

*Back to our Alcoholic Protagonist*

The snowy morning came.

My head hurts from having been asleep with a wooden crate as pillow and my legs are numb because Marie was sleeping on me the whole night. But for some reason, Jane is beside me, sleeping while leaning on my shoulder.

Then, after a short while, one from the front group is riding a horse came to the carriage I’m in. His horse’s whine startled me.

“Ah! Good morning sir.”

“Good morning too. What brings you here?”

“We’re about to arrive in Parlit Town. My advice is you get ready sir.”

“Okay, thanks for the update.”

After that, he then returns to the front.

Because the day’s already snowing, I got slightly worried that Marie might be feeling the cold. But when I looked, she’s already covered up by my coat. I think Jane did this one.

“Ouch.”

My lips were cracking from the cold, and when I moved them, it got cut and bled a little. So I sucked on my lips flexibly to let it moist again.

“Hm… I don’t remember putting on lip balm.”

Moreover, it tastes like strawberry. This is very weird.

Then, out of a sudden, I can see Jane on my side curling down while holding her head. The sound of her hitting the wall caused everyone to wake up including Marie.

“Jane, are you alright?”

A few moments later, the pain probably subsided and she looked at me. But then, her face slightly turned red. HUH!?

“What happened Jane? Are you sick?”

“N-no sir! Ah, yes SIR! Ah wait, no…”

Jane is sick.

Then, when I looked towards Sora that is looking at Jane with a face that looks like he has an idea what’s up.

“When we’re in town, let’s ask Cherry for some medicine ‘kay?”

“Y-yes sir…”

It looks like she calmed down, but why does she look slightly depressed?

When we were near the town, we can hear a lot of people in clamor. It sounds like they have a festival going. But when I asked one of the adventurers, they denied it.

Our caravan suddenly stopped on its tracks.

Then the guy that talked to me a while ago returned. It looks like there’s slightly a bad news.

“Sir, there’s an unexpected problem. The town’s people are currently having a small festival in the main street, because of that; our caravan might get delayed for a day.”

“Is there a route that goes around the town?”

“We don’t know sir. Caravans only usually pass to the main street. Other than that, some streets of that town are probably lurking with thieves. We can’t risk it.”

-That certainly is true. Although I can just use my magic to defend myself, it’s too troublesome.

“Then let’s just enter the town for now and resupply. Might as well join the festival, it does sound fun after all.”

***

Food, drinks, clamor, and confetti, moreover, it’s also snowing.

Ghena, Matt, Cherry, Jane with Marie, Sora, and I, are standing in the middle of the street where the so-called small festival is being held. But with this much of clamor, I don’t think this is just a small festival.

“So, the escorts are resupplying and will guard the carriages. But is it a good idea to split with them?” (Me)

“You have me you idiot. I can track them with my magic so that isn’t a bit of a problem.” (Sora)

“Well, that is true. They do look like people that can be trusted.” (Me)

“You should stop worrying about the little things Key. Didn’t you say we’ll enter this festival?” (Matt)

“I didn’t know a festival could be as lively as this. This is the first time I’ve seen this kind of event.” (Ghena)

--What would happen if you Ghena see an Earth version of festivals? That would be very entertaining.

“This is my first time seeing this kind of this aside from the one in my village.” (Jane)

“Color…” (Marie)

“Marie just said a new word!” (Jane)

“For some reason, I’m having a bad feeling about this.” (Cherry)

Everyone was excited to roam around Parlit town. Well, everyone aside from Cherry.

A random stranger passed in front of me. I slightly tapped her shoulder to grab her attention. When she did, I immediately asked her.

“Pardon me miss. What is this festival all about?”

“Out of town? Well, this isn’t actually a festival. We’re having a party.”

“A party? This is one heck of a party if it involves the whole town.”

The female stranger laughed at my joke. And again, I wasn’t joking. I’m starting to think that my words might actually be jokes for other people.

“It can’t be helped. This party is hosted by one of the rich members of [Grey Legionnaire].”

At that moment, Cherry’s face became stiff. It seems she has an idea who it is.

“Did you just say [Grey Legionnaire]?!”

Cherry rushed in between me and the stranger. I really can’t tell if she’s in shock, or afraid of something. Wait? Shouldn’t one be shocked when she’s afraid?

“Y-yes.”

“Do you know who it is?”

Because of Cherry’s weird actions, the stranger got taken aback. But Cherry ignored it continued asking.

“It’s Allenshyre Neywyth the [Red Knight].”

When the stranger said the name, Cherry’s expression became one which you could say, joyful.

“Allenshyre, who the heck that?”

Since I’m obviously an outsider to this matter, I inadvertently asked Cherry who is in high spirits and kept on asking the stranger of this person’s whereabouts.

But judging from the name, this person is probably male.

When I thought of that, a part of me slightly ticked. Huh….

Cherry then turned towards me after the stranger left. She tugged my arm while jumping up and down. Ah… I missed this sensation.

“Key! Key! Let’s go to the center of the town! Allenshyre’s there. I want to go and meet him—no, I’ll introduce you to him.”

-You didn’t even answer my question.

Somehow, I feel like there’s trouble that’s going to happen shortly. Nah! Maybe it’s just me overthinking stuff.

“Okay, let’s go with everyone.”

With that, Cherry pulled me by the hand and rushed towards the crowd.

I feel like everyone’s not following with Cherry’s pace. I can see them just slowly passing through the crowd while evading strangers. I feel bad for the people who touched Matt since they got their energy drained without them noticing.

After a short while, we finally reached the middle of the town. There, a small fountain can be seen. Probably because the water’s cold, no one is near that area where the water sprays.

But that’s not the reason why we’re here.

Beside that fountain, there’s an obviously rushed built wooden platform. And above that, there are a few people dancing above. Most of them are women.

And there, a guy in red clothes is flirting with those women. He’s totally standing out. This playboy is obviously the guy Cherry’s looking for… I do not have the right to call him a playboy, do I?

“Key! There! Let’s go there!”

I didn’t even answer her but she pulled me anyway. She’s totally in high spirits today which is very rare.

When we got below the platform, Cherry looked up to that guy. For some reason, she’s taking in a lot of air. And in the next moment, I didn’t expect her to do something that would let us stand out in the crowd.

“Allen is a big idiot!!!!”

That’s right, she yelled. She yelled and it echoed across the streets and beat the clamor of the people around.

“Hey, hey, hey! What the heck did you just—”

“Cherlaine?”

To my surprise, the guy she called Allenshyre, heard her yell. That guy immediately found us under the platform.

“It’s been a long time Allen.”

“Cherlaine? Is that you!?”

Without wasting any second, that guy jumped down the platform and landed in front of us. Now everyone’s attention is around us. My stomach hurts.

“Cherlaine, I didn’t think you would be here.”

“I was just in a journey and we came pass through here. But really! What a small world. To be reunited with my childhood friend along the way.”

“I was also going towards the Capital to meet up with you. What are the chances?!”

“I know right!”

For some reason, the way this guy talks with Cherry ticks me off.

They talked a lot of things I don’t have any knowledge about so I kept my silence while I listen to them. But the way this guy is looking at Cherry, it totally pisses me off.

“Ah! I almost forgot!”

Then, Cherry turned towards me with a happy face. This is really a rare sight.

“This is my childhood friend, Allenshyre Neywyth of the Neywyth household.”

While Cherry is introducing her, the guy himself bowed to me. He still ticks me off.

“Also, Allen, his name is Key Godfre Chardelier, Head of the Chardelier Household.”

Following suit, I also bowed to him, but without letting him out of my sights.

“Cherry, aside in being a friend, what else is your relation to Sir Neywyth here? You two seemed rather close.”

Because of the way I talked, Cherry was slightly surprised of that.

On the other hand, this Allen guy seemed to understand what I’m trying to say.

He then suddenly grabbed Cherry by the hand and pulled her towards him. But in the next moment, I did not expect it to happen. NO, I should have expected it.

With surprised eyes, Cherry froze in front of the motherfucker. Not because of magic or anything, it’s only because this guy. Had the balls, to kiss my future wife in front of me.

“I am Cherlaine’s future husband.”

“You have some balls to do that huh.”

-End of Chapter-