It was noon already when we decided to go to the place Jonah told us about.
"Hmph... this is quite disappointing for a baron of a large town to have," Fin complained, staring up to see the height of the mansion in front of us.
Baron Heldrick Muro is the apparent lord of this town. Jonah told to us that he's his half brother, and if we met him, we'd realize right away since they look similar.
"You come to deliver a letter from the lord's brother?" the guard look at us with doubtful eyes. "An elf and a higher ranking noble... if I may ask, why didn't you ask to be welcomed beforehand? A messenger would sufficed, and we would have welcomed you with more effort."
"Don't worry, we're not here for pleasantries. As Eria-sama said, we only came here to deliver something to your master."
"I... I see..."
"You can let them in."
The other guard who came to ask permission from inside the mansion came back and finally allowed us to enter. It looks like they were thrown off by us and didn't know what to do when we suddenly came in front of them without prior invitations. Because of that, they directly went to their superiors for directions.
Since Fin was a noble with a higher rank than their lord, they cannot just simply tell him to go away. Having him with me sure helps a lot in this kinds of situation. He's like a free VIP ticket for me to use.
"Please, allow me to guide you inside the mansion."
A maid who came along the guard when he came back nodded at us, asking us to follow her. She guided us to one particular room inside the mansion. As a sudden guest, we're treated as something similar to businessmen or merchants. We did not have any prior reservations, so it's reasonable.
"Welcome," the person sitting on a table in the middle of the office room greeted. It was Baron Heldrick himself.
Like his brother, he has a very masculine face. As Jonah said, the two of them looked pretty similar. And although he's not as big as Jonah, you could still see that he was trained like him; his body, or more particularly, his muscles, were bigger than most soldiers.
"I cannot trust the words of strangers, but seeing that a noble of a higher status is with you, I assume that what you're saying is true?"
It seems like Jonah, he's eloquent in his words.
"Yes," with a nod, I began explaining to him what have happened between us and Jonah's soldiers. After that, I handed to him the letters we were asked to deliver him.
Without minding our presence at all, he read the letters in front of us, and it only took him a moment to read all their contents.
"I see... I understand... then, as what my brother asks of me, I'll have you the best reception this city can offer."
"You don't need to worry about that," Fin interrupted.
While the first letter was personal, it looks like the second one was a letter of introduction for Fin and I. Most likely, it's asking for us to get a better welcome in this city. We might be able to get benificial discounts in all kinds of establishments with it. I'm sure that letter also contains some other messages, but since it's private, I won't ask for more of it.
"Mmhh... it looks like you won't be needing my help with that. As expected of a high ranking noble."
Fin has already troubled himself in providing me all the necessary expenses for staying in this town and more, so it won't be of any help at all. I honestly think it was unreasonable for Fin to do that, but since he insisted so much... I just couldn't refuse.
"Then, if you have anything you have on your mind I can be of help, you can ask for that instead," he said.
"Nothing of that sort," Fin scoffed.
"Mm... that's right, we're doing well," I answered as well.
"Is that so? Just ask anytime... a favor for a favor."
"Of course," I reluctantly nodded.
Heldrick's help might come in handy in the future. I might stay in this city for some time, while Fin will leave sooner or later. I doubt it will happen, but if I ever get into trouble, he'll be helpful.
"Then, let's go, Eria-sama. Our business here is done."
"H-huh? Oh... okay..."
With no hesitation whatsoever, Fin turned his back with the intention of leaving right away. It looks extremely disrespectful, but I guess as a noble, he gets a pass for it.
"S-since that's all we came here for, we'll politely leave now," I apologetically bowed my head.
"Umu... it's fine, I don't want to trouble the two of you anymore than this," Baron Heldrick nodded with an understanding face, but with a sudden spark in his eyes, he spoke again, "Eria, I hope we'll be able to develop a good relationship. I want to get along with you. After all, it looks like my brother holds a good opinion of you."
"Let's go, Eria-sama," before I can say anything else, Fin took me by my wrist and dragged me away. A maid followed behind us as well, but she was simply ignored by him.
"That was rude of you, Fin. Just when did you become so disrespectful?"
"T-that was... it's hard to explain, Eria-sama... but he was the one being rude."
"Eh... it didn't seem like that to me at all."
"But it's not just that... he was also looking at your body so intently..."
"Eh... you're mad about that?"
But pretty much every man we come across to were the same... why particularly hate him for it?
Of course, it did not take long for me to realize what he was thinking. From the tight grip of his hand on my wrist, it was easy to understand.
"Fufu... you're getting pretty bold, aren't you, Fin?"
Fin did not say anything, but the redness in his face told me everything. It was either because he was still angry about Heldrick, or he was embarrassed that I was able to figure him out.