Chapter 1-24 : The Girl And The Cat Ride A Stagecoach To The Royal Capital
After leaving the general store, Elle bought some freshly baked bread at the shopping district for lunch. She ate one while looking for a stagecoach and kept the rest for later.
The bread was fluffy and a bit sweet. Although it was sold at a small shop, it tasted just as delicious as the bread Elle bought at the bakery on the ship.
「Elle, if you’re hungry, why don’t you eat at a diner?」(Yoyo)
「No, it’s fine. I want to go to the royal capital as soon as possible. I’ll have a proper meal when we get to the inn.」(Elle)
「Alright.」(Yoyo)
After walking through the shopping district while eating her bread for a while, Elle spotted many carriages of different shapes and sizes parked alongside the road.
She heard from the old lady selling the bread that it would take a five-hour carriage ride from the port town to the royal capital. It wasn’t that long of a ride, but she didn’t want to feel uncomfortable along the way, so she started thinking carefully about which carriage she should choose.
The cheapest one cost only ten copper coins, but it had no roof and walls, so the passengers would be exposed to the cold wind.
「Elle, I don’t recommend that one. You will definitely catch a cold if you ride that for five hours.」(Yoyo)
「Yeah. We won’t ride that one.」(Elle)
The next carriage had cover, but it wasn’t actually for passengers because it was carrying a wealthy merchant’s goods.
Although it was carrying goods, people could still ride it. The driver would let them sit in the small gaps between the goods. It also had an escort to protect the goods from bandits, guaranteeing that Elle would be safe along the way.
However, the problem was that the goods were poultry. It was carrying chickens, geese, and ducks. The smell inside the carriage was awful.
In addition, Elle had witnessed how terrible black spot disease was. She didn’t think that being in close contact with animals that possibly carry the black spot disease pathogens such as poultry was a good idea. The fee was reasonable, but she didn’t want to take the risk.
The next one was a box-shaped stagecoach with four seats. It looked comfortable, and moreover, it came with an escort.
It was the best one so far, but of course, the fee wasn’t cheap at all.
There was a wooden sign with the fee written on it hanging on the stagecoach’s door. Elle folded her arms and thought while staring at the price.
「Five silver coins, huh…?」(Elle)
「Well, it’s expensive, but it’s the safest and the most comfortable one.」(Yoyo)
「You’re right. Alright, let’s go with this one.」(Elle)
Elle decided to splurge a little and chose the box-shaped stagecoach.
She approached the driver and asked him.
「Excuse me, can you take me to the royal capital?」(Elle)
「Of course. We’re heading there, but… Ojou-chan, are you by yourself?」(coachman)
「No. I’m with a cat.」(Elle)
Saying that, Elle turned her face to Yoyo who was standing next to her feet.
「Uhh… That’s not what I mean.」(coachman)
It seemed that the driver was trying to ask where her parents were. He was afraid that Elle couldn’t pay the fee.
However, Elle somehow knew what he was thinking.
「Ahh… You don’t have to worry. I have money.」(Elle)
She took out five silver coins from her magic bag and handed them to the driver.
He then immediately took them and let Elle get into the stagecoach without asking further questions.
「Alright. You may get in.」(coachman)
「Thank you.」(Elle)
Elle then opened the door and got into the stagecoach.
It had seats that were made of high-quality leather and elegant green-olive-colored walls. The interior was clean and well-maintained.
However, the first thing that drew Elle’s attention was not the interior. There was already someone else sitting inside.
「Good afternoon, Little Missy.」(nobleman)
It was a gentleman who seemed to be in his sixties with gray hair and beard. He was wearing a neat frock coat and holding an ebony walking cane.
He greeted Elle with a gentle smile as she entered the stagecoach and sat opposite him.
「Good afternoon, Sir.」(Elle)
He seemed to be a nobleman, so Elle politely lowered her head and greeted him back.
「It’s rare to see a young girl riding a stagecoach by herself. Are you traveling alone?」(nobleman)
「No, I’m with my cat.」(Elle)
「Nyaa~」(Yoyo)
「Haha. Pardon me. I see, so you are traveling with your cat.」(nobleman)
「Yes.」(Elle)
「How about your parents? They’re not with you?」(nobleman)
Without answering the man’s question, Elle awkwardly shifted her gaze and looked down.
The man was just curious because it was unusual for a girl of Elle’s age to travel alone, but seeing Elle’s reaction, the man got a clue somehow.
「Ah, you don’t need to answer if you don’t want to. Please forgive me. I’m just trying to have a conversation with you.」(nobleman)
「N, no. It’s alright. Please don’t mind it.」(Elle)
It seemed that the man wasn’t just asking out of curiosity, but also out of concern.
He replied to Elle with a smile, and Elle smiled back at him. He seemed to be a nice person.
After waiting for a while, the stagecoach finally started moving. There were no other passengers other than Elle, Yoyo, and the nobleman.
Their stagecoach passed through the port town’s gate and traveled down the main street leading to the royal capital.
Elle didn’t know how to begin a conversation with a noble adult, so she was just looking at the scenery outside through the window, but then the sound of a growling stomach broke the silence.
She thought it came from Yoyo, but…
「Pa… pardon me…」(nobleman)
The sound came from the nobleman’s stomach.
Elle couldn’t help but chuckle.
「Sir, are you hungry?」(Elle)
「Yeah, I didn’t have time to eat, so I skipped breakfast and lunch.」(nobleman)
「I see. I brought some food. We can eat together if you want.」(Elle)
「Can I?」(nobleman)
「Of course.」(Elle)
Elle had just eaten bread, but seeing a hungry person in front of her, she couldn’t help but offer him food.
「Thank you. You’re such a kind young lady. Let me at least prepare the table for us.」(nobleman)
There was a folding table between the seats for the passengers to eat. The nobleman tried to set it up, but he seemed to be having trouble.
「Uhh… Hmm…? How does it work…?」(nobleman)
Noticing the man having trouble, Elle decided to lend him a hand.
「Let me see… Umm… I think you have to unlock it first and fold it like… this.」(Elle)
She managed to open up the table and set it up. Meanwhile, the nobleman scratched his cheek with his index finger, looking a bit embarrassed.
「Ugh… I’m sorry. I didn’t know how to do it.」(nobleman)
「It’s fine.」(Elle)
「…..」(nobleman)
The man opened his eyes wide when Elle replied to him with a smile. He looked surprised for some reason.
「Umm… What’s the matter?」(Elle)
「No, it’s just… Normally, children would think that adults could do anything, right? But you didn’t even change your expression when I couldn’t even do a simple thing such as opening this folding table.」(nobleman)
「Hmm… I don’t know about other children, but I don’t think that way. Different people have different experiences and knowledge. Adults are no exception.」(Elle)
「True. You’re much more mature than you look, Little Missy. Usually, my servant does everything for me. There are many things I can’t do myself because of that. As an adult, I feel ashamed.」(nobleman)
「Why? You can’t do something you can’t do. It’s normal. I don’t think it’s embarrassing at all. You just need to learn how to do it, right?」(Elle)
「Well, It’s hard to explain, but the longer you live, you will develop self-esteem that you can’t control.」(nobleman)
「I see… Is that why most adults are prideful and selfish?」(Elle)
「Most likely.」(nobleman)
「Being an adult seems to be quite troublesome.」(Elle)
「Haha! It is.」(nobleman)
「Well then, Sir, let’s eat now, shall we?」(Elle)
「Very well.」(nobleman)
Now that the table had been set up, Elle took out the rest of the bread she bought at the shopping district and some food she got on the ship from her magic bag and then they ate together.
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