Chapter 4 - A Strange Girl

POV - Nate Lesley

I recently became a squire after taking a test at the capital, I was appointed a post was near a coastal town in a new Noble’s territory. I, Nate Lesley was born the 3rd son in a Noble family with many famous knights and we received a title of Viscount for our service, we have the wealth of Nobles but we still worked as knights, our names aren’t well known nowadays because the last conflict was against the now destroyed Lullura Kingdom 80 years ago. I swore to myself that I will make the Lesley house famous again after my father's death against the Crimson Scorpion bandits during a patrol around the capital, his goal was to make the Lesley house famous but it will now pass on to me, it’s possible because of the rising tension between the Malando Empire and our Crimea Dukedom which will likely lead to conflict.

Today is a patrol down the commerce district, I was well acquainted amongst the populace of this peaceful town, it has barely a thousand people but it was a prosperous town. I was still young, the minimum age required to join the knight order is 18 with 1 year of experience doing jobs like working as an adventurer or mercenary, I’m 16 right now, I’m a squire of a friend of my father who was in the 3rd knight order.

While Patrolling down the street, a super conspicuous girl who looked like she’s 10-12 years old, walking alone carrying multiple bags giving out an aroma of famous local dishes sold in stalls. The girl was conspicuous not because of her bags of food but rather her rare shiny platinum blonde hair and pale white skin with stuffed cheeks like a squirrel, a sight which everyone around her looked at with warm eyes, if she was a few years older she would be a beauty but she looks like a child of some rich Noble asking to be kidnapped wandering around like that.

I should probably take her to the guard station and search for her parents.

I approach the conspicuous girl who’s stuffing her mouth with 3 custard breads.

“Hey, Ojou-san, where are your parents?”

“Umh, alonmth, dondh worriths-”

“Ah, please finish eating first before talking.”

“Ah, sorry about that, I’m alone and don’t worry about it, I can burn any suspicious guys that comes near me.”

She’s impressive to be able practice magic at such a young age, but she’d probably be knocked out before finishing her chant.

“Still…. It would be better if you go to your escorts or someone you know and go home now, it’s almost night time and the streets are dangerous.”

“Ah, I should probably return to ‘him’ before I get scolded again.”

“Well, can I escort you then? My patrol duty is almost finished, so where are your parents?”

“I can go back by myself but having someone to talk to is interesting, I’m pretty sure the helicopter was in the Viscount guy’s front yard.”

Helicopter? Probably the name of the carriage, a very creative name indeed but who was this ‘Viscount guy’? Maybe an acquaintance of hers.

“Oh, by the way, my name is Nate, Nate Lesley, may I ask for yours?”

“Ah, I’m called Shiro, Shiro Ra Von Lesse.”

“Hoh, so you're the daughter of a big Noble family then? Is it safe for you to wander around like this?”

“It's perfectly fine, and I’m a noble myself as well.”

“Huh?”

“I have my own title.”

“Wow, so you got a Baron title at such a young age? You must be some prodigy.”

“No, it’s an Earl title, because my father is a Duke and the Prime minister, I was forced to become the minister of defense, that old man always stops me having some fun.”

“Haaaahhh?????”

Wait, so this girl who’s at best 12 years old is a Noble ranked Earl which is considered a high aristocrat, her father is a Duke and a Prime minister? What kind of nonsense is this?

“Hahaha, nice joke but joking about your rank is treason you know?”

“No, it’s true-”

“Ah! Shiro-dono! Thank goodness you’re fine.”

Rushing towards him and Shiro was the Lord of this territory, Viscount Matt Von Hilliary. Wait, why is the Lord running towards her? I guess she’s a daughter of an important aristocrat having a holiday near the coast?

POV Shiro

“Oh, hey there, I’ll be taking my leave now, the foreign ministry will send someone to visit you soon, I have to go back now, that ‘guy’ will scold me if I’m late.”

“Ah, um, thank you for visiting my -”

“I’ll have to go now, bye! Also, thanks for accompanying me, Nate-san!”

That was fun but I’ll have to go back to doing paperwork again….