Homecoming

The knights could not hide their astonishment as they watched my swordsmanship.

My swordsmanship was used only in the northern regions of the kingdom and focused solely on killing, making it very different from Imperial swordsmanship. My blade relied upon flexibility and speed, allowing even small women to cut through a goblin’s neck.

After the demonstration and the ensuing storm of questions ended, we shared the sweet drinks brought by the attendants.

“Your Highness truly is remarkable.”

Leonard, who had emptied his cup in one gulp, spoke bluntly. His tone was so stiff that I could not tell whether it was a compliment. When I gave him an uncertain look, he cleared his throat briefly and changed the subject.

“Come to think of it, are you getting along well with His Highness?”

“That is right, Your Highness. You did not answer us when you visited before!”

The knights, who had grown quite friendly while chatting on the dirt ground, spoke to me playfully.

I hurriedly lowered my gaze. Merely thinking about Victor seemed to make the tips of my ears turn red again.

“Victor is truly kind and considerate. He treats me very well too.”

“……”

“He is knightly and elegant, and he is always gentle with everyone……”

“Troll hide is probably thinner than the rose-colored veil covering your eyes, my lady.”

At Kaltz’s cutting remark, my cheeks flushed bright red.

“But it is true!”

“I even told you the truth so you could remove that veil…… Never mind. As long as you are happy, my lady.”

Feeling wronged, I raised my head. Strangely, the other knights sitting around us also wore extremely uncomfortable expressions.

“I see…… So the Grand Duke behaves that way toward you, my lady.”

“Well, we are merely servants who have no choice but to follow our master……”

“Even if it is rather sickening, there is nothing we can do.”

“Suddenly, I do not want to leave on this journey.”

I merely blinked in confusion. I could not understand why such loyal knights suffered so greatly at the mention of their lord that they nearly spat out their drinks.

Several peaceful days passed in that manner, and the day of our departure approached.

It was now fully summer.

The blazing sun heated the skies above the capital. As the roses withered, green leaves flourished, and the attendants loaded the luggage onto the carriages while drenched in sweat.

Although I groaned beneath the heat I had never experienced before, I finished the letter I intended to send to Lady Katarina. I wrote that I was leaving for Mort today, that I was truly grateful for everything she had done, and that I would await her reply.

Her reply would probably reach Mort.

I sealed the envelope, rose, and looked into the mirror. With my thin dress, my hair pinned up with a ribbon, and my sturdy boots, I looked exactly like a commoner woman setting out on a summer journey.

Now that I was actually wearing such clothes, they felt more awkward than a dress. They were neither trousers and leather armor nor the dresses I had worn over the past few months. Perhaps I should have worn a noblewoman’s dress after all, even if it felt as though I might roast to death.

At that moment, the door opened after a soft knock.

“Marion, are you ready?”

Victor, who poked his head inside, was perfect as always. His thin shirt hung loosely and exposed part of his chest, while black boots encased his long, slender legs.

He smiled brightly when he saw me.

“Dressed like that, you look just like a mischievous young lady.”

Feeling needlessly embarrassed, I crumpled the hem of my skirt.

“Do I not look like a proper Grand Duchess?”

“What are you saying, Marion? Whatever you do is what a Grand Duchess ought to do.”

He strode over and handed the letter I had written to the maids. He had seemed cheerful since breakfast, but now he was openly beaming.

Was he truly that happy to leave the capital? Had he not said we were going because something bad had happened in his territory?

As I pondered the matter gravely, he bent down toward me.

“No matter what you wear, you are lovely.”

“!”

“You cannot imagine how delighted I am to take you to my territory.”

He lightly kissed both my cheeks.

I stood there with my mouth hanging open like a fool before quickly stepping back. I could see the maids behind him giggling.

There were so many people here, yet it had already become a habit of his!

When I glared at him with reddened cheeks, he smiled broadly.

“I like it when you are embarrassed too.”

“Victor!”

“Come outside if you are ready. We must say goodbye to the servants.”

Fanning my flushed cheeks with my hand, I followed him.

When I stepped into the garden, the beautiful residence came fully into view.

The Black Lion Residence of the Grand Ducal House of Mort. In only a little over two months, this absurdly luxurious mansion had become my home.

The mistress’s chamber that I had only just grown accustomed to, the kitchen that always smelled wonderful, and the library I had visited faithfully every day came to mind. I remembered the awning installed for me and the shrubs with their broad, vibrant leaves. I also thought of all the servants who had fed me, dressed me, and treated me warmly.

Watching the servants hold my hands and express their regret made me feel strange.

On my first day, I had been a mysterious outsider to them, and they had merely made me uncomfortable. Yet before I knew it, everyone in the residence had become my friend.

Unlike the maids who shed tears at our departure, Mrs. Sermona remained composed.

“I will await the day you return.”

“Yes, ma’am. Please remain healthy.”

“You as well, Lady Amarion…… Please take good care of yourself.”

After tightly embracing the small woman, I turned around.

This was the first new world I had ever entered. It was beautiful and radiant, but also frightening and difficult in equal measure.

Nevertheless, I now had a new home of my own. That was enough.

Victor extended his hand to me in front of the carriage.

“Please board, my lady.”

I took his hand and climbed into the carriage bearing the crest of the Grand Ducal House.

It was the beginning of a new journey.

“My lady! Wake up!”

I had been nodding off when my eyes snapped open.

It was pitch-black outside. Only the torches swirled chaotically beyond the carriage window.

I instinctively drew my sword and leaped from the carriage.

“Is it another monster?”

“Yes! Damn it, this region should normally be safe……”

Sir Kaltz cursed as he struck aside a bright red wolf charging toward him.

I frowned as I looked at the pack of wolves surrounding us.

Firewolves were not difficult to fight, but because they breathed fire, they were troublesome creatures for travelers using carriages and horses.

With my exhausted mind, I counted the days.

Today was…… the fourth day since our departure, was it not? We had traveled fairly far north, but we were not yet close enough to the frontier for monsters to run rampant. Yet here was an entire pack of firewolves, which supposedly lived only in the south. Had something gone wrong with the region’s defenses?

I pushed Sir Kaltz behind me and cut down three wolves in succession.

When I turned my head, the knights were each struggling desperately against individual wolves. My forehead began to throb on its own.

Only now did I realize that Kaltz had not been lying when he said they were weak during our sparring session. To struggle so badly against wolves. I was about to step forward to help them when a deeply subdued voice rang out from ahead.

“Everyone, move aside. You are in the way.”

A fierce blade split through the wolf pack like a gale. Victor’s enormous sword deflected the incoming fireballs before mercilessly severing the wolves’ necks. The monsters struck by the heavy blade screamed in agony as though they had been beaten with clubs. Red-furred corpses piled up like fallen leaves.

Before long, all thirty or so wolves had fallen silent.

After cutting down the final wolf that charged at me, I approached him.

“Victor.”

Victor, holding a sword from which blood dripped steadily, slowly raised his head. His dark amber eyes reflected me. The lingering murderous intent sent a chill down my spine.

In truth, the greatest problem with this journey was neither the monsters nor the unexpectedly weak knights.

Victor Mort, the “Walking Death,” was in an absolutely terrible mood.

I let out a short sigh.

“You should have remained inside the carriage.”

“It is fine. I was awake anyway.”

With a gloomy expression, he took out a cloth and wiped his sword. It was a dark demeanor I had never seen in the capital.

Then again, if he could not sleep at the inn, there was no chance he could sleep in a carriage. I barely swallowed the sigh rising within me.

Victor’s insomnia had returned.

None of us had anticipated it. The reason Victor and I had been able to decide to depart for Mort without hesitation was that his condition had improved greatly. He fell asleep easily every night, and even when he awoke, he had not displayed any particularly dangerous behavior. Since we would primarily sleep at inns with solid ceilings, we had assumed there would be no problem.

On the first day, I thought it was merely because he was excited about the journey.

At a clean inn near the capital, I leaned against Victor’s shoulder and listened to him speak throughout the night. He told me what Mort was like and how beautiful Mort Castle was. Excited by the rare journey, I spent a rather happy night listening to his sweet voice.

However, as the sleepless nights continued, the situation became serious. Normally, he should have been able to fall asleep as long as he had a sword and a room enclosed on all sides, yet strangely, he could not sleep even indoors.

Dideric, who had accompanied us on the journey, guessed that the change in environment was responsible. He believed Victor had grown too accustomed to the bedroom at the Grand Duke’s residence and had consequently become unable to sleep anywhere else.

The knights and I took turns guarding the bedroom door, but Victor never managed to sleep properly. Even when he appeared to doze briefly, he soon awakened and remained awake throughout the night.

After spending three nights that way, Victor became utterly exhausted.

“It is strange. I am this tired, yet sleep will not come.”

“Victor……”

He looked haggard, just as he had when I first met him at the royal palace.

His dry face seemed filled with an inexplicable anger, and a pitch-black oppressive presence covered the ground around him.

Yet to my eyes, he merely looked exhausted and weak. I carefully placed my hand against his cheek.

“This will not do. At our next lodging, you should at least take some sleeping medicine.”

“It will not work.”

“Even so.”

Everyone in the Grand Ducal House had already confirmed that no kind of sleep-inducing herb worked on him. But I desperately wanted to do something for him. I wished I were an exceptional healer who could make a medicine that would put him to sleep immediately…….

With a distressed expression, I caressed his roughened cheek. After sheathing his sword, Victor buried his face against my shoulder.

“I want to ride in the same carriage as you.”

“Victor, that……”

“Can I not?”

His voice was pitiful.

Upon hearing it, I suddenly wondered why Imperial noble etiquette should matter at all. When I nodded, he rubbed his face against the side of my neck like a large dog. A faint laugh sounded beside my ear.

“We should start moving again, Your Highness.”

“Please restrain yourself a little. How are unmarried men supposed to endure this?”

Victor slowly raised his head and glared ominously at the knights. Terrified, they hurriedly mounted their respective horses.

Just how exhausted must he be to grow angry even with his own knights? He was usually such a gentlemanly person.

My cheeks reddened with pity and embarrassment as I quickly led Victor toward my carriage.