Allen, who had burst like a floodgate, began rapidly speaking about all the things that had bothered him until now.

“Do you know how worried I was? I sent letters but you never replied, so I thought you might have died and was just looking into the fastest transportation to Tillin with Sebastian! So when I received your communication, I was so surprised I thought I was hearing things!”

“Allen, Allen. Calm down for a moment.”

“Oh, yes, sorry. I’m just so happy.”

Allen, who had stopped his excitement, seemed to have trouble hiding his joy as intermittent laughter burst out.

“But there’s one problem. We need to get train tickets to arrive in Obeliu, but by now, wouldn’t all the tickets to the south be sold out?”

A beautiful emerald coastline as if painted in watercolor, cool weather without the sticky humidity clinging to the skin, along with fertile soil and delicacies from the clean beaches.

For these reasons, the entire southern region, especially coastal cities like Obeliu, were the most popular tourist destinations in summer.

In other words, getting a train ticket to Obeliu right now during the vacation season was more difficult than plucking stars from the sky.

“…What on earth are you talking about, Nigel?”

At that moment, a puzzled voice came from across the communication stone. A voice asking why she was worrying about such things.

Ah.

Only then did Nigel remember the power of the surname ‘Evans’ attached to Allen.

As someone once said, Allen was truly the richest person in the world.

“Don’t worry and just take any train, Nigel. I’ll take care of everything.”

For the first time, Nigel felt a reassurance from Allen as if a mountain was hiding behind him.

[This is the timeline separator]

The very next day.

Nigel boarded a carriage heading to the nearest train station, seeing off the orphanage family.

“…It’s been a while.”

In front of the train station at last. As Nigel took her luggage bag out of the carriage, she took a deep breath at the complex scene unfolding before her eyes.

With neither Allen nor Noah by her side to guide the way, she had to find the train to Obeliu on her own.

‘How hard can it be to find the way? I should be able to find it if I circle the station five times.’

Nigel steeled her resolve, but couldn’t quite control the sweat flowing from her hands.

Nodding, Nigel, ready to explore the maze that was the train station, resolutely entered.

“Are you Lady Nigel? I’ve heard a lot about you from young master Allen.”

Just then, a woman in a suit with a business smile that seemed to have Sally’s smile pasted on approached Nigel, who was about to go in the completely opposite direction of her destination, and bowed politely.

And she naturally took the luggage bag from Nigel’s hand.

“I’ll be escorting you from now on. As it’s vacation season, the station is much more crowded than usual, so please don’t hesitate to hold onto my arm.”

…Thank you, Allen.

Firmly grasping the woman’s arm, Nigel sent an inaudible thank you to Allen.

In front of the train bound for Obeliu, which they had reached before she knew it.

The excitement of enjoying a vacation on the mild and beautiful beach was evident in people’s light, fluttering clothes in fresh colors.

Seeing them all smiling happily, Nigel’s expectations naturally swelled.

“Lady Nigel, please come this way.”

At that moment, the woman called Nigel again.

“Lady Nigel, you’ll be riding in this.”

She extended her arm towards a train car where no one was standing.

Nigel was half in doubt, but thinking Allen wouldn’t have given her a cargo car seat, she boarded the train.

“Then, have a safe journey to Obeliu.”

After finishing her polite greeting, the woman only left her post after seeing Nigel fully board the train.

Nigel waved to the woman who was leaving after finishing her job, then slowly opened the wooden door with familiar patterns and luster right in front of her.

Then, the same sense of déjà vu she had felt on the train for the entrance ceremony hit Nigel.

It was none other than the smell of money poured into every nook and cranny, not missing a single gold coin.

Whether they matched the interior of the exclusive car according to the destination, while the train heading to the capital was full of furniture with heavy colors, this train heading to the southern resort was brightly decorated with blue and white as the main colors.

Indeed, those who know how to spend money spend it well.

Nigel slightly raised the corners of her mouth in a good mood and immediately rushed to the soft-looking sofa.

It was truly a perfect start.

[This is the timeline separator]

“…gel. Nigel?”

Nigel blinked awake to the voice calling her name affectionately. And she removed the book that was darkening her vision.

Then Allen’s face, which she hadn’t seen in a long time, appeared.

“…Allen?”

“Yeah!”

As if being called by name once was so pleasant, Allen grabbed both of Nigel’s hands and shook them up and down.

In fact, Nigel was just as glad to see Allen, so she went along with Allen’s chaotic greeting without complaint.

“But… where is this?”

Allen silently tapped the curtained window.

When Nigel drew back the thick curtains blocking the sunlight.

“…!”

A scene that made her eyes widen unfolded.

Beyond the train station platform, a cool sea of colors as if carefully chosen and painted could be seen. On the horizon where sky and sea met, seagulls roamed the sky as if it were their playground, and below, a few ships freely swam in the sea.

It was truly a scene more picturesque than a painting.

“Welcome to Obeliu, Nigel.”

And Allen, with his back to this wonderful scenery, greeted Nigel warmly with a bright smile like the sun.

[This is the timeline separator]

Clop-clop. Clop-clop.

On the way to Allen’s villa by carriage.

Nigel opened her mouth to the empty space she felt for no reason.

“Allen, you know…”

“You’re asking where Noah is, right?”

Before she could properly start speaking, Allen guessed the question at once.

Nigel quietly nodded and waited for Allen’s next words.

“Noah said he had some business to attend to, so he’ll be coming a few days later.”

…Good.

Nigel clenched her fist behind her back, hidden from Allen.

She hoped and hoped again that business would be meeting Meriel, that his relationship with Meriel would deepen.

“Geez, you and Noah care for each other so much when you’re apart, but why don’t you show it when you meet? Do you know how hard it’s been for me? Huh?”

Allen shook Nigel’s shoulders back and forth in frustration.

“If I knew the reason, wouldn’t I have already reconciled with Beselion?”

Nigel said calmly as she was shaken helplessly.

“Well, I guess that’s true?”

Allen let go of Nigel’s shoulders and smirked.

“Anyway, you’ll make up with Noah while you’re in Obeliu, right? Promise me?”

“We’ll see.”

“Don’t be like that. I don’t know why you two fought because neither of you will talk about it, but he’s not the kind of person who would do bad things to you, right?”

“…We’ll see.”

Allen let out a faint sigh and changed the subject.

“Oh, right! How was the protocol I prepared? I prepared it even more thoroughly than when we entertain guests at our company, worried that you might get lost or get bored on the way and return to Tillin.”

Then, unable to contain her overflowing satisfaction, the corners of Nigel’s mouth crept up without her permission.

“Well, it was nice.”

Even Nigel, who spoke nonchalantly, seemed to think this wasn’t right and quickly added one more thing.

“…To the point where I thought it was good to have become your first friend.”

Wham!

Pleased with an answer even better than he expected, Allen rushed to Nigel and hugged her tightly.

At the start of spring when the two first met, Nigel, who had been busy avoiding the noisy Allen, now closed her eyes and patted Allen’s back.

After a while, Allen finally let go at Nigel’s urging.

And tilting his head, he opened his mouth.

“Oh, Nigel. Did I mention this?”

“What.”

“That my parents are also at the villa.”

“What…?!”

The warm atmosphere disappeared in an instant, and this time it was Nigel who grabbed Allen’s shoulders and shook them vigorously.

And Nigel’s nagging poured out, not giving Allen a chance to explain.

Nevertheless, the carriage ran towards its destination without shaking.

[This is the timeline separator]

“We’re here, this is our villa.”

The carriage that had been running for a long time stopped at a place full of beautiful buildings meticulously carved from white stone.

“So… this building at the very front is your villa, right?”

Then Allen reached out and manipulated Nigel’s arm.

“So, from over there… to over there… That’s our villa.”

The direction Allen pointed was from the far left to the far right.

“No way… Are you saying all these many buildings together are your villa?!”

Nigel, who usually doesn’t get surprised easily, shouted loudly.

And that shout echoed throughout the well-ventilated villa.

It was then, as Nigel was blinking in confusion.

“My goodness. I can tell at a glance. You must be Nigel?”

“We sincerely welcome you to our villa, child.”

A man who had clearly inherited Allen’s honey-colored curly hair, and a woman who had clearly inherited Allen’s frail but beautifully straight figure and pretty eyes, greeted Nigel with bright smiles.

…I want to hide in a mouse hole.

But since there was no way a mouse hole would exist in this well-maintained palace-like villa, Nigel’s reddened face took refuge in her two hands.