The crackling of coals echo around the train, the steam starts to rise. William checks the gauges, making sure that safety is abide.
"Rose."
"Yes? Are we bound to leave?"
"In a while, we will."
"Good, I am starting to be impatient."
"What's with Ordinoch anyway?"
"Don't you remember?"
A scene flashes in William's mind, "No, I simply back down from the violence of dueling, perchance this may be an act of cowardice to you, but I do not consent myself in any incident that includes the use of swords.", says a letter.
"Oh, piece of inbred seething rot."
"Oh, is he?"
"I found about it after a quarrel with a young lady who served there 5 years ago."
The train starts to move.
"Are you Veilßhäns always peering with everyone?"
"Mhm, perchance we do."
"Why leave lady Resotta?"
"I trust her and Eddy."
"And for what reason?"
"If Edward has failed me back then, you won't even see me breathing, Lady Rose."
"Is that so?"
"Have you no trust after my colleagues?"
"I started doubting you since Gerono."
"It's just one time."
"And you let yourself be friends with that fool who took my sister to Väronia."
"That is not my fault no more, you lot simply let Amelia elope!"
"How dare you think of us Elisavithans as fools?!"
"Woah, since when?"
"Just now!"
"Hehe, I'm just playin' with ya."
"You better be."
A moment of silence passes by for a minute. The dust kicking off the sand.
William dryly smiles.
"To know that KönigsHerz used to be Veilßhän land."
"Ah, really?"
"During the Hålßhenian times, when you lot are fighting for the throne, my grandfather was busy, trying to fend off Hendall's, my grandmother had fled to Rüßwall by the winter of 1803."
"And how come you lost the land?"
"Hendall's grandfather used to have many mercenaries, my father almost died, during those times of black powder, Hålßhein had it's first civil war among nobles."
"I know."
"They tried fending off around 500 people surrounding the KönigsHerz mansion, but the defenders are mere numbers of 10."
"And your grandfather was shot, as you told me long ago."
"Yes."
"Well, here we are, his treasuries must be destroyed, we cannot let him have a chance."
"I remind of you... An informant gave word to me that his manor is surrounded by other mercenaries— And so I got these."
He pulls out two cases containing the newest bolt-action rifles made from the neighbouring country.
"HRT-82 rifles, newest in production, military grade."
"You say that we will eliminate in the process of rifles?"
"Against Hanschrift, you do the blade, I work dirty."
"Hence why you dye your hair to look like a commoner."
"Correct! Now... Mason and Jason will clear the guards."
"And I dare Hendall?"
"Not yet. There will be more guards, I'll take care of them, but I will be handing you this in case of skirmishes."
He hands a revolver engraved with a rose.
"I ne'er knew you can make them look elegant."
"Yes, we are approaching the new world. Soon, blades will be only a sidearm. I doubt cavalry will still last for more than a decade."
"You speak of the army, not of aristocrats."
"I doubt us too."
"Worry not, I have the knowledge of firearms, I can discharge one as such."
"Good. Then we can proceed, I'll take down the guards, you may 'gut' him as you said."
He chuckles.
"Oh, I was not kidding, William."
"Proceed as you may then!"
Time passes, they reach KönigsHerz, a place where are least one of their belongings got stolen, the train roars away after William and Rose step onto the station.
They go into a park where they can discuss the plan in some other way.
William adjusts Rose's wide-brimmed hat, smiling.
"Why do you always frown? Was that emotion plastered onto your face for default?"
"I prefer to look dangerous, thank you."
"I think dangerous means elegant for such a person like you, hehehe."
"That is enough of you."
"You cannot halt a man who compliments you once in a while, Lady Rose."
"Sod off, William."
"Rude of you."
"In a way you can't tolerate."
"Ah, yes."
"What of the Hendalls?"
"We do what we always do."
"We do a lot."
"The usual."
"William!"
A few strangers look their way.
"Pardon my woman! I may have teased her a bit too much—"
His mouth gets covered by Rose's hand.
"You imbecile! Do not listen to his words, he's nothing more of a fool!"
The strangers try to ignore them.
"HEH."
"You fool! I hate you!"
"Love you too~..."
She gasps, then a slap to the face.
"You dare not pretend to court me in the middle of this park, William Veilßhän!"
"Hey, I was not! I am merely trying to humor!"
"Well, it does not humor me!"
The strangers look at them again, an old man speaks.
"Ah, young love, you managed to be close to a noble, hm?"
William smiles, feeling relieved that people think of him as a commoner through his disguise.
"Oh, we have been friends for over a decade now, since our youths, sir."
"Well, lucky you, young gentleman."
"I bid farewell, she's—"
He gets pulled away by Rose to a more secluded area.
"Just what is in your broken mind!?"
"Trying to relieve myself from the things that I know are definitely going to happen?"
"You bastard, how dare you call me yours!?"
"I mean, you seemed to like it."
"In the name blithering hell, not!"
"I now despise your lack of humor."
"Uh... Excuse you?"
"I'm the kind of man that is to tell a joke when somebody is dying, pardon my sense of humor, but it's broken, and you will not like it... I tell you now!"
"Mother was right, you people are idiots!"
"For over two centuries now, lady Rose."
"I will strike you in the guts!"
"Go ahead—"
He receives a rather painful one. Ouch...
"Do you want another?"
"No, thank you!"
He coughs.
"Just as I thought from you."
"Don't expect much, I'm a sack of dirt."
He brushes off the dirt on his pants.
"Anyways, what are we waiting for?"
"Mason and Jason."
"Oh, right."
"Also, we cannot just randomly carry suspicious cases. While we're waiting, let us go after the new store that just opened."
"How come you have knowledge of this?"
"The informant, as always."
"Who is this informant?"
"Büllswerk. That cranky old bastard who takes care of the horses near the plaza."
"Yes, I know him."
"Well, can we?"
"Ah, yes. May you hold my hand?"
"Oh, surely."
He grabs her hand.
"No hesitation from you, Sir Veilßhän."
"What? No man is afraid of a little contact, isn't he?"
"Oh you blunt bloke."
"Let's just go, I'm starving."
"Did you not eat back home?"
"Do I look like I did?"
"Nay, we may proceed."
"Finally"
He sighs.
Both go to the store, William looks at a pair of bread with chocolate.
"Sir Veilßhän, I think not of you as one fond of such sweets."
"Ah, I don't eat much of these delicacies at home."
"An' why not?"
"I eat soot more than that."
"You've not been taking good of yourself."
"It'd always been like this for a decade, I'm used to it."
He waves at the counter, about to order.
"William, tell them I'd prefer that particular one with a cherry on top, such a staple I hadn't tasted in years!"
"Ah yes, hold on...
Good morning, I would like a pair of those with chocolate on 'em, and one slice— no, make it two of those with strawberries."
The cashier smiles at him, acknowledging his request. She then calls for the baker.
"Johnny! Two Chocolate Beffelspie, and Two slices of Strawberry Abelkusch!"
"Aye, Sænasteria."
(Beffelspie and Abelkusch are traditional pastries.)
Both continue their work, William's walks off with Rose to an empty table for two.
"The people are less barbaric here."
"Trust me, when it was our time here—"
"It was like Rußwäll? You don't have to tell me."
"Are we that obvious?"
"Oh, yes you are."
"Good to know."
"How are you so calm, even in the face of plotting to kill a man?"
"Hm? You're the one killing him."
"It depends, a duel like ours may end differently."
"Not like mine, you get shot, you're dead."
"Not very different."
"Makes sense."
"Oh, how I wonder the state of my sister."
"Knowing Gerono, she's alright.... Kind of."
"William, dare scare my heart."
"Pardon. Good lord, can't I humor once in a while?"
"But you look a little too serious."
"Unpredictable, am I?"
"And I somehow despise and adore it at the same time."
"You're used to it, that's what it means."
"Oh, bloody hell."
Amidst their chatter, the waiter serves them their pastries alongside a cup of tea.
"Here you go, Sir, Madame."
William nods, handing a silver coin for a tip.
"Here you go lad, that's yours."
"A-Are you sure about this? This single coin is worth more than the food you asked for."
"Go ahead, that's yours now."
"Thank you, kind sir."
He bows with a smile before walking off.
Rose looks at him, surprised he's that kind.
"Never knew you had a sense of being a gentleman."
"You say that as if you just met me, hm?"
"Go on, savor that bread, you only eat this once in a while."
"Oh, you... hehehe."
Not long after he takes his first bite, an arrogant noble enters the shop and demands a pie, rambling about his bad day, he even requests it to be free. He threatens the employees by showing his belt with his iron holstered.
William glares at him, which caught the imbecile's attention.
"How dare you look at me, commoner?"
"I have eyes, I use them to look."
"Your wit fuels my hatred against your kind."
Rose instinctively grabs his hand, worried it might escalate.
"William, don't."
William looks back at her as the noble approaches.
"Can't tolerate these since I was a child."
He stands up, facing the incoming one.
"You, Me, outside, commoner."
"Blade or gunpowder?"
"I prefer fists."
"Why not here, then?"
William kicks him in the groin.
"AGH, YOU MALEVOLENT SON OF A BITCH."
"It suits you well, which line are you from?"
"Huh?"
The noble recieve another kick, this time to the face.
"I asked, which line are you from?"
"And for what reason do you ask!?"
William sighs, not knowing how many times he has to hit him.
"Can you just tell me your flower?"
"Värdemossa, There! Are you done!?"
"You are one of Hendall's bastardly sons."
William looks back at Rose, gesturing for her to come over.
"Tell me, why do you simply this act upon commoners?"
"None of your business, you wretched—"
William cuts him off with another kick to the face. Rose brushes off the dirt on her sleeve.
"So, all the praise I heard about this place are lies after, hm? I've never seen such a place so grand yet rotten in the inside."
"You both regret humiliating me when you meet my father!"
William scoffs.
"Papa's boy, I see."
Rose sighs.
"Oh, you might want to stare at your father more closely."
"Are you telling me that he's a fraud!?"
"Ah, yes I am."
William shoves him out of the shop.
"Believe me or not, I am not afraid of nobility, for I am one."
"Your hair says otherwise."
"I dyed it, believable, is it?"
"Bastard."
"Get out of here, kid. You ain't got a better place in this world."
Mason and Jason arrive, carrying cases.
Mason wonders, and asks.
"Uh, Boss? What happened?"
"Had to do some business."
"Ohh."
"You can have the untouched Beffelspie where Rose sits, the bitten one is mine."
Jason dashes to get the Beffelspie.
"Too slow!"
He takes a bite, Mason's jaw drops.
"Jason, NOOOOOO—"
Hendall's son calls his chauffeur and flees from the scene.
"Well, that's one bastard taken care of."
Rose looks at William.
"There are a lot more bastards to take care of."
-End of chapter. 4