Again I woke up this morning, expecting myself to be in a different position from when I slept. But I was still gently held in Claud's arms, his face pressed onto mine. So embarrassing... we're so close I can even feel his heartbeat... Fortunately I didn't roll onto Claud again... Just thinking about it makes my cheeks hurt...

I wonder... what is Claud dreaming of to have a look like this?

Usually he carries a guarded expression even while he's asleep but today he looks calm, as if a burden's been lifted.

His eyes look less evil like this.

-Claud Branford's Willpower: 23/24-

His Willpower is almost replenished, he'll be waking up soon. Both of our Willpower stats doubled at the same time last night... Is it because we learned something about each other at the same time? It feels like we're connected in a way.

I want to keep looking at this tranquil side of him for a while longer... but if he catches me looking at him sleeping, will he be annoyed? Should I pretend to be asleep and wait for him to wake up?

Remembering Claud and I crying last night makes me feel funny on the inside. Claud cried because of me. He cares about me... My breathing and my heart become weird when I think about that.

What can I talk to him about today? They would have to be yes or no questions so he could respond without expending Willpower...

He still doesn't know I'm the Hero. Maybe I can find the chance to surprise him soon...

His eyes are open.

He caught me staring...

"Umm good morning, Claud..."

With half open eyes, he smiles in acknowledgement of my greeting. Why is he smiling so calmly? Does he not feel anything with our faces being so close together? W-why is he starting to rub my cheek??

But slowly his eyes regain their alertness, his face flushes red and he abruptly lets go of me, sitting upright. He was just too sleepy to be embarrassed...

But why did he touch my face? Did he want to pinch me? But I didn't sleep on top of him this time...

"I slept well. Did you?"

-Claud Branford's Willpower: 23/24-

Eh?

He asked a question first? B-but he has to preserve his Willpower for the day ahead...

"I slept well too... Thank you. W-why did you rub my cheek?"

"Because I felt like it."

-Claud Branford's Willpower: 22/24-

Because he felt like it? He just wanted to rub my cheeks so he did? I don't understand.

"T-then c-can I t-touch you too?"

"Eh?"

Oh. That's a super rare Claud expression! I've never seen it before. He's rubbing the side of his neck with his hand and his lips are quivering... Am I doing something wrong if I touch him back? B-but he did it to me first?

"C-can I... t-touch your cheeks?"

Is he thinking about whether he should let me?

"O-okay..."

-Claud Branford's Willpower: 21/24-

He stuttered. Claud rarely stutters... even in front of that scary instructor. That means he's really shaken up. This is embarrassing for both of us but I'm curious why he did it... so I have to do it back.

"H-here I go, Claud."

His eyes are shaking more... as I move closer to him.

But as my fingers brushed his face...

"Young Master Branford, Lady Sophie. We are coming in."

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Somehow I don't want to be seen touching his face like this. I have to quickly-

Because I was sitting on my heels, my legs were numb and I fell forward while trying to retreat. Instinctively my hands reached out to catch myself, accidentally pushing Claud.

Claud was knocked onto his back but luckily caught me before our heads smacked into each other.

"..."

We both looked at the butler and maids simultaneously.

I don't know why but the way they looked at us made it feel like we got caught doing something naughty. We got upright and Claud quickly let go of my sides.

"Ahem. Young Master Branford and Lady Sophie. Please prepare for your departure to the Auguste residence."

I wish Claud didn't have to go meet my parents... He'll see it... I don't want to go home.

I want to play with Claud some more...

The maids whisked me off to a separate room to change.

I know I shouldn't doing this when the maids worked so hard to do my hair and put on a nice dress for me but I'm dragging my feet.

"It's going to be alright, Sophie."

"I don't want to go. I want to stay here, Claud. We can get married without my parents knowing..."

"Actually Lady Sophie, we do require permission from the head of your household."

I made no effort to hide my displeasure hearing that statement.

"It's okay, Sophie. If they hurt you, I'll bully them back!"

He'll bully them back..? It sounds outrageous but if it's Claud, maybe he really will. Thinking about that made me feel a bit better.

"Okay, Claud..."

"Hmm, we need to hurry. The train will be departing the station soon, onto the carriage. Quickly now, children!"

----------------------------------------

Huff huff. We barely made it. The poor butler had to carry all of our luggage.

"We can handle our own bags, butler..."

-Claud Branford's Willpower: 20/24-

"Yeah, Mister butler! It looks tough carrying all those, we can help!"

"Ah, is that so..? This old man appreciates your graciousness, Young Master Claud, Lady Sophie. Now, for the duration of this trip, please remain in the 1st class carriages. My cabin will be over in 2nd class.

Master Claud, here is a herald device for when you require me. When you let mana flow into it, you can send your voice to this receiving instrument, regardless of distance. Your esteemed father, Count Branford purchased this prototype. Currently communication is one way, but the inventor plans to release it once messages can be sent and delivered on both ends."

"Wow... That's an amazing device, Mr Butler..."

Even Claud's eyes widened at that... he's impressed by it too. He received it carefully from the butler, treating it reverently.

"Claud, do you like this device that much?"

He nodded more enthusiastically than I've ever seen him before. He sure has a peculiar taste for gifts. Does he really like having a servant at his beck and call that much? But he never called for a servant when we were back at his home...

"Now the journey to Eindell will take roughly 5 days, so you may explore around the train and enjoy yourselves. But... do remember to keep your voices down."

"Okay, Mr butler we will!"

The butler left through the door at the end of the hallway towards the 2nd class carriage.

I look at Claud to see him, with both hands still carefully holding onto his new gift in front of the cabin.

"Oh. I'll get the door for you, Claud."

He nodded a quick thanks.

After setting down the device and our bags, he quickly examined the room before fiddling with the herald device again.

Hmm... I want to know why he likes it so much. In the future, I can get a similar present for him.

"What do you like about it?"

-Claud Branford's Willpower: 19/24-

"The possibilities-"

The possibilities to call a servant?

"-with this you could call your friends and family even if you're far apart. It can deliver information over a distance faster than a letter or person could travel."

Are Claud's eyes tearing up? T-that's... so sentimental. I was more impressed by the inner workings of the machine so that didn't even occur to me. But Claud was thinking about using it to talk to close ones far away...

But who would he call? I don't know much about Claud at all... maybe he has friends or family I don't know about. Or maybe he wants to talk to his parents now that we've left...

"Claud... do you perhaps want to talk to your parents?"

He shook his head.

"Is it a friend?"

He's rubbing the side of his neck again... Could he really have friends beside me?

Oh no! That was very rude and insensitive of me! Fortunately I didn't say it out loud. It's as if I insinuated that Claud never made any friends before me!

Just because he called me his best friend, doesn't mean I'm his only friend...

It's true that Claud seemed unfriendly at first but he must have made some friends. I'm the one who never had friends before meeting him...

"You're my one and only friend, Sophie... I've never had any other friends before."

-Claud Branford's Willpower: 19/24-

Then that means... I'm his first friend and best friend!

Kyaaa! I'm so happy I could scream and jump! We're each others' best and first friend! We're super friends!

"C-Claud! Lets go see the rest of the train! We'll only be here for 5 days after all! Leave your books in the cabin! We can read them later!"

He smiles in response so I take his hand and pull him out of the cabin.

"Look! Outside the window, Claud! We're about to head into the Ruvere Mountains. This track goes around the Ruvere Strait. Originally the train was supposed to have a shorter route with an artificial isthmus cutting through the strait.

But powerful monsters forced the builders to take a longer detour through the mountains instead. They even tried forcibly drying up the lakes with fire magic to force the monsters away. But it only ended up creating higher tiered undead monsters after they died from the polluted water..."

I sneak a glance at Claud to gauge his reaction. He looked very passive. Maybe he already knows all of this. He comes from a Count family after all... He must've taken this train many times to go on holidays to different countries... Unlike me who used it for the first time to come to the capital city...

"Umm... Claud, would you rather I talk about something else? After all, your family must have used this train a lot before. I can talk about something else!"

-Claud Branford's Willpower: 18/24-

"No, this is my first time on this train actually. I'd like to hear you talk more about it."

Claud might be lying to make me feel better but that made me very happy.

"Okay. Don't be grumpy and pinch me when I talk your ear off, kay!"