Chapter 8
The steam bus, rattling along with its noisy yet cheerful rhythm, finally arrived at Luther Station.
But even that familiar clatter was quickly drowned out by the hissing steam and screeching metal of the trains, swallowed by the bustling energy of the crowded platform.
Most of the people using the station were nobles or wealthy businessmen, but they were mixed together with their attendants and servants, creating an endless tide of people. Even from a distance, the station’s lively atmosphere was impossible to miss.
As befitted the capital station of the Kingdom of Sahiris, it was enormous—large enough to seem as though it embraced an entire mountain.
Street vendors lined the entrance, while hundreds of elegantly dressed gentlemen, ladies, and traveling families crowded the plaza.
Many parents even tied ropes around their young children’s waists to keep them from getting lost in the sea of people.
Homeless people occupied scattered corners along the station walls, only to be chased away repeatedly by patrolling officers. They would simply regroup near the information booth afterward, where a street musician often played an old violin for them.
Whenever passersby tossed coins in appreciation of the music, the homeless would split the money with the violinist.
Feeling slightly awkward after the bus attendant’s teasing, Tracy suddenly heard someone shout that the train was arriving.
She immediately jumped down from the bus.
Valentin followed closely behind.
“Which carriage is she in?”
“I don’t know exactly, but this should be the train she usually takes. We can find her.”
She didn’t know the specific car, but the train was divided into military seating, VIP compartments, ordinary passenger cars, and freight cars, so finding Sadie shouldn’t be too difficult.
Valentin nodded in agreement before asking another question.
“Hm. I didn’t have time to ask Haskins… Is she attending Yurei Academy?”
“Yes.”
The academy Sadie attended was located far from the war zone.
Like most students in the Kingdom of Sahiris, she had been sent somewhere safe, choosing one of the largest and most prestigious academies available.
“…Come to think of it, your sister never got to attend your engagement ceremony.”
“……”
Caught off guard once again, Tracy simply remained silent.
There was no point dwelling on it now.
She still didn’t know why Valentin had suddenly insisted on meeting Sadie, or whether he had only now begun to understand her circumstances…
But she knew better than to let personal feelings interfere with matters like this.
Valentin smiled bitterly.
“She must have missed you terribly. Perhaps I shouldn’t have intruded.”
Tracy stopped walking.
She must have missed you…
The words froze her in place.
People following behind bumped into her as they passed, muttering in annoyance.
Even so, she couldn’t tear her eyes away from Valentin’s bright blue gaze.
Embarrassed by her silence, Valentin spoke first.
“Did I say something wrong?”
“…He called her baggage.”
The words escaped Tracy’s lips before she realized it.
Though her voice was barely audible amid the noise, Valentin listened without interrupting.
“He said that someone as worthless as trash carrying around baggage was disgusting.”
No one had ever believed the Blackburn sisters shared a close bond.
The large age difference led everyone to assume Tracy merely treated Sadie like a child.
And because Tracy was the daughter of Duke Blackburn and sister of the young duke, everyone believed she had inherited their way of thinking.
She couldn’t even argue against it.
No matter what she said, no one would believe her.
Her words would simply be twisted.
And perhaps…
Some of it was true.
As Valentin watched her dry, expressionless lips move, his brow gradually furrowed.
Tracy’s own expression hardened as well.
“Colonel.”
Her firm tone made the lines on his forehead deepen.
“If you’re treating me kindly because you hope Master Sergeant Haskins will cooperate more during the negotiations… then you’ve misunderstood.”
Yes.
Now she finally understood.
Why he kept insisting she had saved him.
Why he was so kind to someone everyone else avoided.
It had all been because of the negotiations from the very beginning.
He needed an expert’s help.
He couldn’t manage alone.
A moment later, after reading her lips, Valentin’s face tightened.
Whether it was anger or something else, she couldn’t tell.
But seeing that expression—which looked no different from everyone else’s—
The corner of Tracy’s lips lifted ever so slightly.
“So… you don’t have to go so far as bringing my sister into this just to—”
HOOOOONK!!
Her sentence was cut short by the train whistle.
She turned toward the platform.
At the same instant—
A firm hand seized her wrist.
“Ah!”
“You’ll get swallowed by the crowd! We need to get to the front before Miss Sadie gets off!”
Valentin took the lead, weaving through the sea of people.
Caught completely off guard, Tracy stumbled after him, unable to keep her balance.
Startled, she tried to stop.
“Colonel! What are you doing?!”
“Think whatever you like!”
As he spoke, he politely apologized to everyone they squeezed past.
Yet his grip around her wrist remained firm—
As though he had no intention of letting go.
Why?
Her thoughts came to a halt.
Eventually, she simply relaxed and allowed herself to be led.
Valentin glanced back over his shoulder.
“Then I’ll do as I please, too!”
His words almost sounded like a threat.
But his tone wasn’t hostile at all.
It was resolute.
Clear.
Almost as if he were declaring his own innocence.
He paid no attention to people bumping into him.
Instead, all his focus was on making sure Tracy—who had come only for her sister—wasn’t jostled by the crowd.
His strange behavior left her thoughts in complete disarray.
Then, as the train finally pulled in, thick clouds of steam and coal smoke billowed across the platform.
“Ugh…!”
She instinctively raised an arm to shield her face.
Suddenly—
Her arm was gently lowered.
Hands settled firmly on both her shoulders.
She was turned around in one swift motion.
His coat fluttered through the air, blocking much of the drifting smoke before it could reach her.
Instead of coal fumes, she caught the clean, heavy scent of his cologne.
“Did something get into your eyes?”
His voice sounded directly above her head.
A shiver ran down her spine.
Tracy shrank her shoulders, swallowed hard, and quickly stepped away.
“I’m… perfectly fine.”
“That’s good, then…”
“But I’d appreciate it if you didn’t do something like that again.”
Without seeing the pain flicker across Valentin’s face, Tracy lowered her head.
“Please.”
“……”
She never heard his reply.
Perhaps he answered.
Perhaps his words were simply swallowed by the noise.
Without waiting, Tracy turned and disappeared into the crowd.
She deliberately slipped between people so Valentin couldn’t follow.
Her heart was beating far too fast.
The feeling unsettled her.
Her expression gradually stiffened.
“Titi!”
A high-pitched voice suddenly rang out.
Tracy gasped.
Looking around with widened eyes, she finally spotted Sadie leaning out the train window, waving enthusiastically.
A smile bloomed across Tracy’s face.
“Sadie!”
Hearing her sister call, Sadie ducked back inside the carriage, grabbed her luggage, and hurried off the train.
The moment she stepped onto the platform, she dropped her suitcase onto the ground.
Then she ran straight toward Tracy.
“Titi! I missed you!”
Tracy wrapped her tightly in her arms.
A bright smile spread across her face as the sweetest voice in the world reached her ears.
Sadie had grown noticeably taller since the last time they’d seen each other at the end of the previous semester, half a year ago.
“I missed you too. You’ve gotten so tall, Sadie. You’re almost up to my shoulder now.”
“Really? But I’m still not as tall as you, Titi.”
“You’ll grow more.”
“I hope so.”
The sisters embraced quietly for a moment, savoring the comfort of each other’s presence.
Then Valentin approached from behind.
“Hello, Miss Sadie.”
Tracy immediately looked up.
Sadie’s eyes grew as wide as they possibly could.
With most of the passengers now gone from the platform, Valentin greeted them as though nothing were unusual.
“Uh…”
Sadie stood frozen with her mouth hanging open.
She couldn’t say a word.
Only Tracy, who finally let out the breath she’d unknowingly been holding, turned around.
“Sadie, let me introduce you. This is Colonel Seymour from the Republic of Allstow.”
“Huh?”
Sadie’s pale green eyes widened even further.
Forcing a smile, Tracy added,
“He’s… Master Sergeant Haskins’ friend.”
“What?!”
Valentin laughed heartily at her obvious disbelief.
Only then did Sadie compose herself and offer a proper aristocratic curtsy.
“Please forgive my delayed greeting, Colonel Seymour. My name is… Sadie.”
Like Tracy, she omitted her family name.
Tracy had never taught her to do that.
Sadie was simply perceptive enough to understand on her own.
That realization made Tracy’s heart ache.
“No apology is necessary,” Valentin said warmly. “I came here of my own accord. Even if you hadn’t stood on ceremony, I would’ve understood. You must be tired after such a long journey.”
Still smiling kindly, he held out a small drawstring pouch.
At his nod, Sadie untied it.
The moment she saw what was inside, her eyes sparkled even brighter.
“Chocolate chip cookies…!”
“I thought you’d like them. I’m glad I was right.”
Everyone there was smiling.
Everyone…
Except Tracy.
