Front yard of Baron Liancools's residence, Komori Village.
Ever after Lala's departure to Donco Village, the children could be seen playing in the spacious yard.
Count Nelson leaned on the balcony, and gazed at the garden while complaining to Baron Liancool, or to say, Lala's father. He wasn't concealing his annoyance at how Lala clearly used the unknown visitor or whoever to put his purpose at the sidetrack and whisked away.
"Pray the lord, when will that girl realise she's far more important than she realised herself to be! For a visitor to visit the Donco Village in this desolate winter after tens of years, tell me a reason why I don't think they're not here with the ulterior motive to get on the graces of Lala!?"
'Now, now. Count,' Baron eases the irritation of Count Nelson.
"It might not be as black, Count. Quoting old lady Mu, the traveller had arrived at the village ridden with fever, and she had saved the traveler's life. And feeling a debt of gratitude for her, the traveler apparently thwarted the looming destruction of the village. I was still too young then, but I heard they'd suddenly departed for their journey. Connecting all the links, it's possible the current lord of the said person's family has come to pay proper respect. I mean, is this not a tradition of nobles?"
However, Count Nelson gave another glare to Baron Liancool.
"Don't give me 'now, now, Count'! It's because you, her father, has been so languid in approach that Lala is also casual with such things! Moreover, have you not found anything strange about the story that a girl, who hadn't been yet of 20, actually saved the village from a demon's disaster? It's too tall of a story... Alright, I take it that this is true, what do you think their demand is against that gratitude, eh...?"
For a moment, Baron Liancool contemplated if he should reveal that the said girl apparently hailed from the Dosperior family. However after taking another look at Count Nelson, he decided against it.
He knew Nelson was devoted to the Dosperior family more than anyone. And moreover, as old lady Mu had described, the words had seemingly come from the following attendant, while the girl had refused any connection, but he was inclined to believe the attendant as the grace with which that girl carried herself wasn't cultivated by anyone. ...He even believed as far as that she might be a direct descendant. But, if he decided to talk off this matter when there's no sufficient proof, and it turned out to be a false rumour, the fury for impersonating the Dosperior family would be an endless one for Count Nelson.
"If the woman has come solely to forge ties with that fossil, I wouldn't mind allowing it. However, have you heard of the details? She's here on a sophisticated carriage, with her entire family to boot! Let alone this, she even brought her son who appeared to be just the same age as Lala!"
'Now there, surely it can't be so,' Baron Liancool continued with his effort to cool down Count Nelson.
"The fanfare is too conspicuous! She had definitely searched up Lala's schedule for home return to even her admiration for fairytales, I would bet my rea that it's all but an attempt to create a fateful encounter like scenario!"
''Maybe, not?' Baron Liancool continued to pacify Count Nelson, Albeit, even he, too, had doubts started to appear after he listened to Count Nelson.
Certainly, the way the lady had arrived was a bit conspicuous, which he had noticed too. There's no saying that who should've been a graceful person would still be carrying herself with that dignity.
Maybe it's true that Lala's effort had been paid, and this was a fateful encounter for her. As her father, he only has blessings for her, but if it this turned out to be a deliberate setup, the situation might not be same.
"...If it turns out to be so, I believe greetings should be the limit. We can listen to details once she comes back, and if required, it wouldn't be too late to advise her then."
'Insufferable, haa,' However Count Nelson instead covered his face with right hand and stared at the sky when he heard him.
"Even the wise ladies often turn blind in love, what makes you believe that your stubborn daughter would listen to me given how much she's fixated on the notion of 'fateful person', huh?!"
Baron Liancool tried to imagine the lovestruck expression of her daughter, but reaching the conclusion, he shook his head, his face pale.
It appeared there was one more person—a kid, who was quietly staring at him, turned pale.
He was the same young boy, Tamotsu, who said he's out of the age to listen to girlish fairy tales. Starting last year, and as nine years old, he had been attending the elementary school in nearby Kunowa Viscounty, and had come back for the spring vacations.
The image of Lala departing on horse flashed in his mind. He had seen her side profile, which was certainly glimmering in the expectation for the person she admired.
After the innocuous grave visit, we returned to Donco Village and found Lala.
"It's yer chance, firmly grasp it in ya hand than scared of it, Ponna! Ah! Hey! Don't ya try to act smart and use your age to go for pursuit, Con!"
Lala was playing the children's capture the flag game. It was quite a tactical-ish game where every member with a certain age group or physical abilities would gather and play around.
For a mountain village where you might not be able to gather enough same-age peoples, this was quite a life-saver of a game. The rules often change based on the group, but it's kinda like a mix of soccer, tag-team, or kick the can.
Ultimately, the challenge would be to bring the flag set up by the opponent's force to one's team zone, which decided victory.
Anyway, since there wouldn't be any competition if she joins either team, Lala was acting as the referee.
However it was a jolting sight for me. Lala's usually out-of-place, vertical drill hair was now in a messy state as she ran around, and raised the voice more than anyone despite being a referee.
......Who the heck that girl was? Where's the lace handkerchief that she always kept along with herself...?
The Lala in my memory was like the so-called—though they shouldn't be existing in real life—villainess from otome media. She wouldn't miss on her mannerism, to the speech, and even the classic 'ohohoho' while placing hand against the mouth. Atleast, that's how I remember her, but...
"Look ad'ya, I knew you can do it, Ponna! Good, the game's heating up~!" Content orıginally comes from 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝⚑𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖⚑𝕟𝕖𝕥
My words, I couldn't describe the shock I was going through at the stark difference......
"Lala-sama, maybe you should refrain from such act in front of guests..."
However, the shout from the village chief put a pause on her action.
With her back still facing us, she quickly took out her handkerchief from sleeve and wiped off the sweat before turning to us, clearing her throat.
"A-Ahem. It's my pleasure to welcome your good presence in our Liancool Barony. I'm the current head of Liancool family governing this land, Lala Von Liancoo—w-w-what're ya doin’ here, Allen!?"
She was just introducing herself when she caught my presence, and the voice she had barely smoothen out once again adopted the local accent.
Lala was a hard worker, and had a nice personality too, but I had always felt as if she was forcing herself in the corner of my mind. Honestly, I wasn't just good at interacting with her.
I also heard she would spend her holidays learning tea party manners, or musical lessons, and had felt them mismatching.
But seeing her playing with kids, she looked genuinely happy, and was clearly having a blast. Frankly, I don't think many people would be able to get on the good side of children and seriously take them like her.
"Pfft! Heya, I dropped by to hang out. It looks fun, let me join in too!"