The Count Family's Young Master
Chapter 37 - Walking in the Air (2)

"Sister! Look that!" Dina exclaimed as she pointed at a fountain of white stone.

"Hm." Valias let Dina pull her hand towards the place the child pointed at. Dina removed her hand from Valias' hand and looked at the bottom of the pool of water filled with coins. From copper coins to gold. "Why is there a coin in there?" Dina turned her head towards Valias who was standing behind her.

"Coin?" Valias attached his eyes to the bottom of the pond and finally understood the child's intentions. "Maybe people make requests."

"People put coins to the bottom of the fountain to make supplications?"

"They threw it." Danial. "People believe if they throw a coin no matter what its value, the gods will grant their hope."

"Really?" Dina's eyes widened and then sparkled. "I want! I want to make hope!"

Lika reached into the bag of money and gave one silver coin to Dina.

"How do I do it?" Dina looked up at her two brothers.

"You just need to throw it." Danial replied. Feeling that what Dina was about to do was very useless.

"Lookin?" Dina extended her hand towards the pool. Waiting for certainty from Danial.

"Yes." Yeah." Danial frowned slightly. Dina swung her hand and the coin was thrown. He then clenched both his hands. Praying for something in your heart.

Valias watched Dina for a while before turning his attention towards a tower. Suddenly I felt something cover my head.

"Is something wrong, young master?"

Alister appeared with a smile on his face. From the side holding an umbrella in his hand. Covering Valias' body from the sunlight.

"Hm." Valias responds short.

"The city in our region is a city famous for ginger drinks. There's one of the most famous drinking spots in our Hayden kingdom. Is the young master interested in visiting?"

Valias' eyebrows moved up a little.

Hallia?

"true." Danial spoke slowly. "So, I've never tried it."

"We're going somewhere? Where's where?" ask Dina enthusiastically.

Valias was speechless seeing the enthusiasm on Dina and Danial's face. Although Danial looked flat-faced Valias could feel the boy's desire for Valias to go to a place called Alister.

Valias smiled faintly. "Should we go there?"

"Only if you want to." "Come on! Let's go! I've never been anywhere! Let's go over there!" both answered simultaneously.

Valias nodded. "alright. Let's go there."

Dina smiled widely and let Lika clean her hands before grasping Valias' hands.

"Where should we go?"

"To the back of the tower, young master." Alister replied with a friendly smile. Lead Valias towards the drinking establishment with Danial and Lika following behind.

The drinking place called Alister was a second-story building with a familiar scent that Valias could smell 5 meters from the entrance. A ginger aroma. The outside was not so crowded but when he entered he could see dozens of people filling the tables and chairs in the room. All were chatting with each other but then one by one realized the presence of noble families where they were. Especially Valias.

"Young master Valias." Everyone one by one lowered their bodies towards the door where Valias stood with Alister and the three others. Making Valias surprised and frowning confused.

"Young master. They all knew about what was happening in the palace. They thank you as the savior of the noble Frey." Alister put on a smile that made both of his eyes narrow.

"Everyone's been watching my brother since we got out of the train." Danial spoke slowly. "Sister's hair looks very showy."

"really? I'm not conscious." Dina's eyes widened in astonishment. He looked up at Valias who was frowning.

"Young master doesn't have to do anything. We can go upstairs. The top floor was the floor for nobles like the young master and the young master Danial as well as the young miss Dina." Alister grinning.

Danial realized Valias' discomfort and brought his body to stand in front.

"Come on, brother." he said.

Dina started to pull Valias' hand. "Sister come!" He was impatient to try a drink called Halia that he had never heard of but reminded him of the dance instructor.

"Oh." Valias clumsily complied with Dina's hand and carried her steps past the rows of dozens of people who bowed their bodies towards her.

The group of noble families had finally arrived at the empty second floor and looked more luxurious than the first floor. The open balcony door gives a view of the fountain where they were. From above the surface the water looks sparkling with light in the sky.

"Young master. Please sit down." Alister. That got Valias' attention distracted. Again Dina pulled Valias' hand until the young man sat in the chair Alister had prepared. Dina sat on the chair pulled by Lika while Danial pulled out her own chair.

"Is there a special menu that the young master wants?"

Valias' eyebrows shot up at Alister's question. She shook her head. "No."

"I'll be back in a minute." Alister leaned over and went downstairs.

Danial realized his silent brother was daydreaming. "Sister. Is it okay?"

"What's? Is there anything? Sister tired?" ask Dina worried.

Valias.

He was still shocked by what had happened just now. Everyone bowed their bodies towards him. He didn't feel it was the right thing.

Why would they do that?

Alister said it was because he saved Frey. But for Valias, that's not what's supposed to happen. He felt that this was a mistake. Those people shouldn't bow to him.

"Sister?"

Dina's voice resuscitated Valias. He could see the worried expression of the child. He turned his head to the side and saw Danial had a similar expression.

"Ah," Valias smiled slightly. "It's okay. Sorry to make you worry."

"If you're uncomfortable with these people, you can ask you to make an announcement to people not to do anything like that anymore." Danial flat-fisted. Makes Valias flabbergasted.

"What's? No. gabe. We don't have to do that." That's an unnecessary thing. Valias didn't feel it was needed at all. He's just surprised. Feeling like it's not what should have happened.

"It's okay. Thank you for worrying about me, Danial." Valias gave a gentle smile.

"Sister. Is there a place we'll visit again?" ask Dina.

"Is there any other place you want to go?"

"We've been to all the places I want to." Dina played both fingers of her hand. Ever since they got off the train all the places they visited were the places Dina had chosen. Most are knick-knacks that are able to attract the attention of children like him. The fountain was the last thing that caught his attention.

Valias nodded.

He wanted to make sure of a few things. He had already done that along his journey with Dina and Danial.

There was still one thing he had to make sure of. But he could not do it when he was with the two children.

This one I have to visit alone.

Valias' eyebrows shot up when he smelled the aroma of ginger getting stronger. Alister emerged from the stairs with two servants carrying trays. On top of the two trays was a large kettle, several cups, and a wooden knitted bowl in which was placed a white cloth.

The objects on the tray are presented on the table. Inside the wooden bowl is a pile of pastries that are very appetizing to anyone who sees it. Ginger pastry with melted chocolate dice pieces.

"Gee!" Dina exclaimed enthusiastically. "Can I eat it??"

Getting that question Valias raised her eyebrows then chuckled. "Of course, Dina. Eat it."

Dina smiled widely and picked up the pastry before eating it with both hands. Eating it little by little is like a squirrel gnawing at its food. Danial looks unconcerned but secretly has the same high curiosity towards the cake with the chocolate. His hand grabbed a biscuit that was the size of Dina's palm and carried it into her mouth. Secretly pleased with the taste of ginger biscuits and the sweet sensation of chocolate melting in his mouth. Danial ate faster and was about to pick up a new biscuit before realizing something.

"Sister didn't take?"

Realizing the question Valias shook his head slowly. Giving a small smile. "You guys. I'm just gonna drink this ginger tea."

"Dam?" Dina raised both her eyebrows.

Valias chuckles. "I mean Halia."

Danial looked at Valias confused. "....Is something wrong?"

"What's? No."

Valias just don't really like sweet foods.

"You like it?" tanyakanya.

Dina and Danial in a slow motion nodded. Valias smiles. "Eat more."

Dina peeked at Valias hesitatingly. "....Brother really won't eat?"

Valias nodded. It made Dina and Danial feel discomfort in their hearts. But at the same time secretly they do want more cookies. There are only four cookies. If Valias doesn't eat it eat them both can get more servings.

The two children ate in silence. They both enjoyed their own food. Valias watched them and was amused. As soon as they finished eating their food and drinking their drink, they came out of the drinking place. Back past the crowd of people on the first floor yet this time they just stayed in their place with their heads bowed. Valias was more relieved.

Dina and Danial get in the car. Confused by the moving door being shut by Alister, though their older brother has yet to board.

"Sister?" Danial advanced the body to be able to see Valias who was standing outside through the window. Feeling herself stiffened when she realized her brother would not be coming home with her.

"Sorry, Danial. I still have business."

Valias gave a small smile.

He told Alister. There is a place he wants to visit. Alister had already prepared another horse carriage which from the beginning followed behind the horse carriage that Valias rode with his two younger siblings.

This time Valias will board a different train. "Son't you come with us?" Dina asked with widened eyes. His mouth opened stiffly when he saw Valias smiling and shaking. "Why?"

"Someone I want to visit." Valias answered.

"Why don't we go together?" Dina asked again. More worried this time.

Valias smiles. "The roads are quite up here first. I have to go somewhere else. I'll be home later this afternoon."

Dina and Danial still had similar facial features but Valias had already turned her back. A horse-drawn carriage approached Valias and their brother entered it as soon as the door was opened by Alister. Valias gives a wave of window glass. Slowly disappearing from Dina's vision as the train she was riding drove first.

Valias sat on his stool. Look up at the sky through the window.

"Young master's been acting suspicious since we first got to town."

Alister who sat in front of Valias made a sound. Put on a friendly smile mixed with grin.

That made Valias flabbergasted.

Rouse suspiction? Suspicious how?

He had no idea that Alister had been observing him from the very beginning. Seeing his young master set his sights on various things that Alister could slowly realize were the same thing.

A flower.

The flower that Alister later realized was not a flower that usually existed in the Bardev region.

That's suspect.

What he knows..

Alister watched his master with judging eyes. But Valias was not aware of that. "We can go now."

"Where?"

"Take me to where the bandit attack took place."

Alister raised his eyebrows. Didn't expect this at all. "You know about that?"

Valias fixed his gaze on the window and nodded slowly.

Maybe I know more than I thought.

It will be related to the reason why the name Bardev is not mentioned in the story that Valias read.

Valias plans to find out about it.

26/04/2022