Chapter 32

Chapter 32

We headed straight for where the carriage was parked. And there, we ran into Sir Dylan.

“Where are you off to, everyone?”

“Yes, I’ve been asked to buy a few things.”

“Then we’re heading in the same direction—why don’t we go together?”

“Where are you headed, Sir?”

“I’m going to the Second Garrison. There’s a sizable commercial district around there, so you’ll probably find what you’re looking for.”

The Second Garrison. He was likely heading to the military post near the border.

“So would it be all right if I joined you?”

This time, he looked at the Duke as he asked.

“Very well.”

The Duke replied. And just like that, our unplanned errand gained an unexpected companion.

“The same old road gets tiresome, so I’m glad for someone to talk to. Truth be told, Father’s been on my back—this is the third time today I’ve had to inspect the knights.”

Sir Dylan said, settling into the seat across from us in the carriage.

“You’re quite attentive to the border.”

“Seems that way. In my father’s day, there were quite a few skirmishes, weren’t there?”

‘My father’s day’… The phrasing made it sound like he was deliberately distinguishing me from Adrein.

“Things that were right then can be wrong now, after all. Stationing troops at the border in peacetime doesn’t make sense.”

As I was wondering at that, he said something subtle, as if he’d read my thoughts.

“Anyway, My Lady, what sort of things are you going to buy?”

Then he changed the subject and continued.

“Hmm… Cosmetics, and cosmetics. And flower tea.”

“Friends must have asked you to get them.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Krentis cosmetics seem to be popular among young ladies.”

“They are. There’s one particular product made famous by our imperial family’s use. It’s not terribly expensive, so it caught on.”

“I see. What about the flower tea?”

“The flower tea—the packaging is prettier than the taste, so I think people use it more as a gift.”

“Luision seems like a country that appreciates beauty.”

Sir Dylan smiled and nodded. I nodded back in reply.

Through the carriage window, the scenery slid into view. A long stretch of brick buildings ran alongside the road. In front of them, a few knights marched in formation, their steps measured and uniform.

Both Krentis and Luision were empires centered on the emperor’s authority. But Krentis gave its border territories unusual autonomy, letting them operate on their own. That policy solidified when the emperor granted that land to the hero Adrein—so the region could respond swiftly if war broke out. And Adrein had thrown himself into preparing for that war with relentless zeal.

The military district before her eyes was part of that effort. It was probably in the same vein that he’d pressed his son to inspect the knights.

The carriage soon rolled into the brick complex, then gave a lurch and came to a stop.

“I’ll get off here. I can take a military carriage later, so please, enjoy your sightseeing and head back at your leisure.”

“Until we meet again.”

Sir Dylan hopped out of the carriage with a light leap, and the Duke answered him. I, too, received his farewell with a respectful nod.

“……Lord Krentarion seems very interested in cosmetics and flower tea, doesn’t he?”

Once the carriage started moving again, I pulled my gaze from the window and muttered. The Duke let out a short, quiet laugh.

“He probably is interested. His policies lean that way.”

“Huh?”

“Adrein stationed a large number of soldiers here, but he doesn’t want too much of the budget going to the military. He’d like to reduce the forces down the line and foster commerce instead.”

The Duke gestured with his chin toward the window.

“Hmm… So the father and son don’t see eye to eye.”

I nodded as if I understood, and answered.

“At the banquet, we talked about expanding trade. He wants me to cast my vote in line with his vision when we draw up trade policy between our country and Krentis. Since I’m a high-ranking noble, I have a lot of voting power in the council.”

“Ah! I did think Sir Dylan was being awfully thoughtful. Now it all makes sense.”

Damn…! I’d wondered if inviting me to his house just because I was a fan of his father was a bit thin on purpose. And sure enough, there it was—lobbying. A small-scale lobbying effort.

“That’s about the size of it. Not that it’s bad for us, really. There’ll be plenty of things to negotiate between the two countries, though.”

The Duke stroked his chin, lost in thought. Watching him, I fell into my own.

‘But if that happens, there’ll be more work for the whole country. Naturally, that means more work for the Duke, too… Your Excellency, you’re going to work yourself to death at this rate, aren’t you?’

Even so, as far as I could tell, Sir Dylan’s policies didn’t seem all that bad for Luision.

“Well. No helping it. Work hard, Your Grace… Fighting…”

I quietly mourned the duke’s near future in my head.

The carriage pulled straight into the bustling streets. We stepped down before some row of shops, and I began browsing Krentis’s storefronts, sweeping up the items my friends had asked for. The duke followed in silence behind me.

‘He must be bored, just watching me buy my own things…’

He should have been, but he didn’t say a word. He just stood there at my back.

“Laura.”

Then, suddenly, he called my name and stepped closer. He placed something on top of the items I was holding — a red perfume in a rose-shaped glass bottle. The very thing that had caught my eye while I was looking around the shop.

“What’s this?”

“It suits you. Same color.”

He answered my short question just as briefly.

‘He means it’s the same color as my hair? He’s not making fun of me, is he?’

“…You came all the way to Krentis with me, and I’ve relied on you for quite a lot…”

So. A gift, he meant. This man sure had a long way of saying a simple thing.

“Thank you.”

I bowed my head. Come to think of it, I’d received quite a few things from him in the name of gifts.

“…It’s getting late. Let’s head in.”

He cleared his throat and then continued. Looking up, I saw the sun had already started to slant. It was about time for my appointment to talk with Adrein — and soon after, the maid ghost would show up.

We turned back and climbed onto the Krentarion carriage. On the way, I watched out the window at the bustling people. Then I spotted a girl selling flowers by the roadside.

“Hold on. Your Grace. Please stop the carriage for a moment.”

I shouted, and the duke told the coachman to stop. I hopped right out of the carriage and ran over to the flower girl. I bought a whole bunch of the flowers she was selling, then returned to the carriage with my arms full of blooms.

“Your Grace!”

“…You wanted flowers?”

“They’re for you.”

“For me?”

“Yes!”

I wished I could give him something expensive to match his gift, but I had no money. Practically every penny of my salary went straight home as soon as I got it.

Still, I could afford flowers. Common as they were, they were probably the most emotionally stirring gift I could manage.

“These suit you, Your Grace.”

“Me?”

He took the flowers, echoing my words.

“Indeed. Standing with flowers, one might forget which is which.”

“…”

‘Huh… Did I lay it on too thick?’

“…Do you not like flowers?”

“No. I do. But they suit you better. The color’s like your eyes.”

I gave a small shrug of my shoulders.

“They’re pretty.”

“…”

“That’s why he looks like the Duke.”

“Pretty…”

“Yes.”

Truthfully, ‘handsome’ might have been the more fitting word for the Duke, but ‘pretty’ worked too. How often did you see a man who looked so natural among flowers? So yes, pretty was fair game.

“Pretty suits me less than…”

The Duke clutched the bouquet, murmuring like he was reciting a line.

“Less than the Duke…?”

“…….”

“……?”

“……Never mind. The flowers… thank you.”

“It was nothing.”

He spoke in a low voice, and I answered with a soft smile. By then the carriage had already pulled up to the Krentarion manor.

* * *

As soon as I stepped into the drawing room, I took a seat right in plain view. Not long after, Adrein entered with a maid. The maid carried a tray bearing a teapot and teacups.

She quickly set the tea service on the table. Adrein sat in the seat across from me. He still wore his sword at his hip, just as he had during the meal — it gave him a bearing of such dignity that he looked ready to charge to the front lines of a war at any moment.

“How did you find the garden? It’s nothing special, so I hope it was at least a pleasant sight.”

He spoke.

“It was truly beautiful. Especially the white flowers in full bloom — they were magnificent. I’ve never seen that kind before. Are they a variety that can bloom even in weather this chilly?”

“I’m not well-versed in flower varieties myself, but the truth is we’ve had an unusually warm spell the past few days. It seems the flowers bloomed a bit early. Though, looking back, I’m glad it happened — it means we gave our guest a proper welcome.”

He lifted his teacup as he spoke. I thought to myself how gentle-spoken this man was, and raised my own cup to drink.

“Shall we talk about something else? You may ask whatever it is you wanted to know more about, young lady.”

Adrein set his teacup down with a clink. After that, we continued our conversation.