“Take care, guest.”

Nigel left the merchant group, receiving Sally’s warm send-off.

She had left around lunchtime, but the sun was already preparing to set.

A sharp wind brushed Nigel’s face, but far from being unpleasant, it was rather refreshing.

It felt like a long-standing burden had been lifted from her heart.

“I’m really leaving…”

Now that the most urgent matter was resolved, it was finally starting to feel real.

While it might be just a passing place for others, the orphanage was as good as home for Nigel.

A slight sense of elation at leaving a familiar space to go somewhere new, and an indescribable, subtle, uncomfortable feeling that was neither regret nor sadness nor anxiety swirled in Nigel’s chest.

Only at this time – the scent of cold, fresh air mixed with wood fragrance, a warm and bustling space with no time for sentimentality, merchants who were always stern but sold goods cheaper than market price, and so on…

Every corner of the small rural village was steeped in memories.

This feeling was certainly…

‘…It’s not the time to indulge in nostalgia.’

Nigel’s steps quickened as she recalled the mountain of tasks still ahead.

And the moment of farewell approached quickly.

“Nigel, Nigel…!!”

“…Sniff.”

“Don’t gooo… Waaah!”

“Definitely…”

She barely swallowed the words, ‘Someone might think a person had died if they heard this.’

Knowing that if she made even one joke, everyone’s faces would become even more of a mess.

“…You can write letters. To Nigel Ars, Sienna Academy. Didn’t you learn how to write letters at school recently?”

Nigel wiped Jack’s tears with a handkerchief while choosing appropriate words.

…Whether he heard or not, the sound grew even louder.

‘There’s a perfect solution for times like this.’

“I really have to get on the carriage now. Are you really going to say goodbye with crying faces?”

At Nigel’s words, everyone’s crying stopped abruptly.

It was because of the custom that sending off a departing person with a crying face steals their luck, while sending them off with a smiling face brings them luck.

The sight of them forcing smiles after crying their hearts out was quite a spectacle.

Just then, Jack, with swollen eyes, tugged at Nigel’s sleeve.

“What is it, Jack? Do you still have something to say?”

Jack hesitantly took a step closer and brought out something hidden behind his back.

It was none other than… a scarf.

‘No wonder I couldn’t find it no matter how much I looked.’

Upon closer inspection, Nigel’s name was embroidered on one end of the scarf.

The uneven and crooked stitches showed that the children had embroidered it themselves.

Feeling a warmth welling up deep in her chest, Nigel was at a loss for words for a while before finally speaking.

“…Thank you, you all worked hard.”

“Sis, I chose the thread colors!”

“I, I did the embroidery design letters!”

The children eagerly boasted about the tasks they had prepared.

Nigel met each child’s gaze and responded with thanks.

“Nigel.”

At that moment, Benny, who had been quiet alone, approached.

As Nigel blinked and bent her knees, Benny wrapped the scarf around Nigel’s neck with clumsy hands.

“I put the scarf on Nigel, hehe.”

Benny grinned broadly.

Though the arrangement was sloppy, it was the warmest scarf she had ever worn.

And then…

“…Nigel.”

“Come here and let me hug you.”

It was the voice she had heard every day without fail for the past 17 years.

Ron and Handel took turns embracing Nigel.

“Our daughter…”

Ron’s whispered words as he hugged her made Nigel’s eyes grow hot.

“I’ll write often. And come back during vacations.”

“Yes, do as you please. This will always be your home.”

Just as tears were about to fall, the children rushed in and clung tightly to Nigel, making the tears retreat.

Nigel hugged each child lightly, whispered something, and soon departed on the carriage.

Just as she had come suddenly to the orphanage, she left suddenly as well.

Ron and Handel, before they could even indulge in sentiment, hurried to comfort the children who were showing signs of crying as soon as the carriage carrying Nigel disappeared, and entered the orphanage.

After putting all the children to bed, what greeted Ron and Handel during their tea time were two letters from different senders and a check labeled “Child Support” in a familiar handwriting.

The carriage traveled for a full day before arriving at the train station.

Nigel stretched a few times to loosen her stiff body before entering the station.

Unlike Tillin where everything was slow, here the speed at which people walked, the way they spoke, the constantly changing electronic boards – everything was fast.

When asking station staff how to get to Platform 9, they all just waved their hands expressionlessly without a word.

‘Where on earth is this Platform 9?’

It felt like she had circled the station at least five times.

“Excuse me… You look troubled. May I help you, lady?”

When a young man with a smiling face suddenly approached and spoke to her, Nigel reflexively shook her head and quickly refused.

Given her shabby appearance, anyone addressing her as ‘lady’ with that grinning face – nine out of ten times, such guys were con artists.

After Nigel had literally circled the station ten times…

“Hmm… We’re on the same train? You can come with me to the train then!”

Someone placed their face on Nigel’s shoulder.

Nigel turned her head in surprise to see a young man with light brown curly hair and a gentle expression smiling brightly.

“Hello? I’m Allen! And you are?”

“…Nigel.”

Faced with such a natural attitude, Nigel unconsciously grasped the hand Allen extended.

“Nice to meet you, Nigel. Cool name.”

Allen shook her hand vigorously.

“Now that we’ve introduced ourselves, we’re friends, right? Let’s go to Platform 9 together. Come on, let’s go!!”

“Wait…!”

Allen arbitrarily put his arm around her shoulder and dragged Nigel along.

Moments later, Platform 9 really appeared.

It was truly baffling how it had hidden its identity so stubbornly when she was looking for it, only to be so close all along.

On the platform, a red-bodied train with a black head was blowing steam while emitting a loud whistle.

Nigel was about to board the train immediately but stopped when she saw Allen standing there with a serious face, stroking his chin.

She could spare a moment to hear him out, since she had safely arrived thanks to Allen after all.

“Hmm… I was thinking about following you to second class, Nigel, but… I think second class would be too uncomfortable!”

…This bastard?

The silver train ticket in Nigel’s coat pocket was mercilessly crumpled.

Regardless, Allen was busy with his own words.

“Hmm… But since it’s a connection of sorts, how about you come to my seat instead? I want to get to know you better!”

Now that she looked closely, Allen’s attire and his smooth hands that seemed to have never known hardship clearly showed he was a young master from a rich family.

“No.”

“Huh? What did you say?”

“I said no.”

Despite the firm refusal, Allen showed no change in his expression and clung to Nigel again with his friendly demeanor.

“Come on, Nigel, don’t be like that!”

And so Nigel was caught by Allen and struggled for quite some time.

No matter how many times she said no, it’s fine, and finally told him to get lost, he kept clinging on, making her feel like she was talking to a wall.

A wall with expensive wallpaper, that is.

Until just before the train’s departure time, no conclusion was reached.

That’s when Allen extended his hand first.

“Then how about this?”

“What.”

Nigel responded in a curt voice.

“For now, I’ll escort you to your seat. And carry your luggage while I’m at it!”

Allen made an L-shape with his arm and patted his completely flat arm with no trace of muscle.

‘As if a young master who’s never done manual labor a day in his life would be of any help.’

Nigel snorted.

“And then, to be fair, you can take a look at my seat too and decide where to sit, how about that?”

It was an unexpectedly not bad idea.

To be able to end this tiresome argument by just going to Allen’s seat once, it was a win-win situation.

“…Alright.”

For the first time since talking with Allen, a positive statement came out of Nigel’s mouth.

“I’ll do that.”

Allen’s face brightened instantly.

“Great, good thinking!”

Allen grabbed Nigel’s hand and shook it vigorously up and down.

Perhaps because the light grip on her hand was similar to that of the orphanage children, it wasn’t unpleasant.

“Now then, I’ll carry your luggage.”

Nigel handed over the handle of her square bag to Allen’s soft, outstretched hand.

“Ugh! How did you carry this heavy thing around? What’s inside?”

Allen, who had been proud a moment ago, immediately bent his waist awkwardly.

“If it’s too heavy, give it back.”

“Uh, no. I have to keep my word.”

“Alright then.”

Nigel boarded the train, leaving behind a groaning Allen.

“…Can’t you ask me one more time?”

Allen said in a pitiful voice.

“You only get one chance.”

“You’re so cold, Nigel.”

“Life is a battlefield, there’s no room for giving anyone special treatment.”

“Ha−awn.”

Just then, Allen yawned widely.

“Ah, sorry. What did you just say?”

“…Never mind.”

“Come on, don’t be like that, tell me, hmm?”

“No, it wasn’t anything important.”

Not to a rich young master like you, anyway.

“Hmm… I’m curious though.”

Allen mumbled.

“If you’re that curious, I’ll tell you, but in exchange, let’s go our separate ways from here. Not a bad proposal, right?”

“Nigel, where did you say your seat was again?”

Allen passed by Nigel and boarded the train, barely managing to carry the luggage with all his strength.

Nigel got on the train after Allen, chuckling dryly.

That’s when it happened.

“Excuse me…”

Someone called out to stop Nigel.