Nurturing the Hero to Avoid Death-Chapter 29.1: The End of the Summer (Middle Part)

My entire field of view is filled with gold and dark red. The sky, the clouds, the mountains, even the horizon.

It’s a very beautiful sight.

The colors in this landscape hold such warmth, and yet… a slight chill seems to penetrate my chest, as well as a sense of loneliness.

It’s probably because this view also marks the end of daytime. When we have to say goodbye to the sun and prepare for the arrival of the moon and the stars.

For this reason, dusk can represent separation.

Separation can be brief, lasting only until the next day. It can be long too, like when a loved one has to go far away.

And sometimes, it may already be the last farewell.

I open the carriage window, place my forearms on the frame, and stick my face out the window, looking around.

Has everyone already gone home for the day?

Because I don’t see any villagers around here.

Today’s dusk is rather quiet. Maybe a little too quiet.

Even when I strain my ears as much as I can, I hear nothing but the rustling of dry leaves and the sounds of small insects.

Soon, the carriage begins to climb up the slope leading to the herb garden near the western forest, going full speed ahead for a while.

From the gently meandering path, I easily spot a young blonde man from afar. He’s walking at quite the slow pace.

As the carriage approaches him, I notice the thick layer of mud covering his clothes, arms, and face.

And in his mud-caked arms is a white cloth bundle.

He holds it very, very carefully, as though holding treasure.

Whatever that item is has been carefully wrapped in a white cloth. It’s also small enough for him to hold it in his arms.

If that young man has noticed the carriage, he doesn’t show it. Not once has he looked up. He just… keeps his eyes trained on the white bundle as he walks.

Shurio notices him too. He then glances back toward me through the small window between the coachman’s seat and the passengers’ seats, looking like he really wants to say something.

I nod at him, silently expressing that I noticed him as well. “Shurio, stop the carriage.”

“Y-yes.”

After we stop the carriage on the shoulder of the road, I open the door and get off. “Alfred!” I call out.

The young man slowly looks up.

His eyes, usually the color of the clear blue sky, are now dark and murky. They resemble a mix between the colors of the day and night sky.

His face is devoid of any expression. I can’t read what he’s thinking or feeling.

Just like the Alfred from long ago.

Alfred continues to walk until he stops right before me, still quiet.

I flash him a slight smile and talk to him. All just like how I usually do.

So that I’ll look normal. Like I don’t know anything.

Yeah, just like the usual.

And persist in this deception.

“Are you heading home, Alfred? Since we’re travelling along the same road, I’ll send you back.”

Alfred shakes his head, still silent. He only continues staring at me.

Despite his refusal, I don’t give up. Not a crack in my usual smile, I once again offer him a ride.

I know this is just my ego in play. I’m well aware of this.

I know that what I’m doing is just to satisfy my own selfish desire. To ease my guilty conscience.

Still.

“You don’t have to be polite. It’s really no trouble at all. Come on, get in the carriage.” In front of Alfred, I swing the door of the carriage wide open, beckoning him to get in.

But Alfred remains as silent and unmoving as before. It doesn’t seem like he intends to enter the carriage.

Since he’s not willing to move himself, I guess I’ll just have to resort to force and push him into the carriage. Thus, I move to go behind Alfred, but then…

With the colors of dusk washing over him, Alfred slowly parts his lips, eyes downcast. After a pause, he says in a small voice, “I can’t possibly take a corpse inside, right?”

Corpse.

I shift my gaze down to the white bundle in Alfred’s arms.

It’s quite covered in mud. No one will think it’s a corpse just from appearance. Even so, I can already guess that that bundle is the corpse Alfred mentioned, even before he says it.

After all, Alfred has his arms wrapped around the bundle as though hugging it. And with very great care too… like he’s trying to protect it.

But that white bundle seems too small to be a corpse.

If I ask him the reason for that, he might tell me. But I don’t.

Because I know the answer will hurt him.

And besides, I already know the reason. As well as whose corpse that is.

I purse my lips, trying to keep myself from trembling. I pull my gaze away from the white bundle.

Afterward, I look up at Alfred, flash him a smile, and shake my head. “I don’t mind.”

Alfred sucks in a breath, eyes widening.

He’s surprised.

Well, that’s only natural.

Let alone Lian, no one of the upper class will have such an easygoing attitude.

I’m basically allowing a dirty commoner in tattered clothes, and with a corpse in his arms to boot, into my carriage.

I didn’t really “grow up” in Arcadia, so I’ve never found myself to be beneath the commoners just because of my noble status. But after my many years of living in this world, where different classes have strict boundaries, I’ve at least come to realize that such a class-based mentality is commonplace here.

It’s clear that I shouldn’t have said what I said. It deviates a bit too much from Lian’s character settings.

Alfred may even start suspecting something.

I know that. I understand that. And very well too.

But just for today…

“But…”

“Just how far do you plan to walk? The sun is already setting. It’ll be faster to travel on carriage. So, are you heading to the ranch? Or… the church?”

Though Alfred looks confused, he mumbles, “…The church.”

“Got it. Then I’ll send you to the church. Come on, get in. Quick, quick.” I place my hands on Alfred’s back and push him into the carriage.

Alfred looks back at me, unusually flustered. “W-wait, Lian. I’m covered in mud. Your carriage will—”

“I don’t mind. I can just have it cleaned later.”

After a lot of force, I successfully push Alfred’s large self into the carriage. I close the door and call out, “Shurio!”

“Y-yes?!”

“Get the carriage moving. We’re heading to the church.”

“Huh?! I-is that okay? What about the herb ga─”

“It’s fine. I can visit the herb garden at any time.”

Shurio breaks into a smile and nods. “…Understood.” After that, he pulls at the horse’s reins and guides it in the direction where we previously came from.

But even though the carriage has started moving, Alfred remains standing inside the carriage, eyes furrowed. He looks troubled.

I give his shoulder a light push. “Come on, don’t just stand there. Sit.” After he does so, I take the other seat, which is across Alfred’s.

Alfred doesn’t say a word the entire trip. He just keeps his mouth shut.

He doesn’t talk or even look at me. His gaze is just glued to the white bundle on his lap.

I don’t know what to say to him right now. I can’t bear seeing him like this, so I keep my gaze focused on the view outside the window, all the way until we reach the church.

The sun has started sinking into the western horizon. Meanwhile, the eastern sky, originally dyed in red just some time ago, has started to darken and turn indigo and purple.