Chapter 107 - Surprise
I followed Rosmerta, who was walking lightly ahead, with a suspicious feeling. We eventually arrived in front of what seemed to be a guest room. Rosmerta knocked lightly on the door and opened it without waiting for a response.
"Sorry to make you wait in your room. But I brought a friend, so please forgive me."
She said something playful as she entered the room, but who could it be? I followed her in without hesitation, and there was a familiar face.
That person dropped the pen they were writing with and gasped.
"…Yukari-san!?"
"Caroline!? What are you doing here!?"
"Hehe, a touching reunion, isn't it?"
Got me. I have no idea what Caroline did to end up in hiding, but it looks like Rosmerta had been sheltering her.
What I'm curious about is their relationship, but I'll save that for later. The important thing right now is that Rosmerta helped my friend. That gives me another reason to team up with her. I don't intend to betray her now. Honor is important, after all.
"I have work to attend to, so I'll leave now. You two must have a lot to catch up on, so I'll have some tea brought in. Please take your time."
Whether she knew my thoughts or not, Rosmerta left the room with a calm demeanor. She really got me with this surprise. Hiding a card like this is impressive.
I sat on the sofa and accepted the maid's service before turning to Caroline.
"…Caroline, I'm glad you're doing well. I never expected to meet you here."
I moved to sit next to her, touching her here and there to express my joy at our reunion.
"Me too, Yukari-san. Rosmerta-sama sure knows how to play her cards."
A surprise, huh? Maybe this was her ace up her sleeve if our talks didn't go well.
"So, there might be a lot to it, but would you tell me what happened?"
"Of course!"
Caroline didn't hold back and told me everything. After returning to the Royal Capital from the Girls' Re-education Camp, she had taken charge of the former prostitutes, organizing the people who had fled during the war but had nowhere else to go.
Professional prostitutes are a crucial profession in a devastated environment. They offer comfort to roughnecks and lonely men at affordable prices, contributing to the city's security. They're important in peacetime, but especially indispensable in times of crisis.
As the boss, Caroline had been resolving conflicts with clients and dealing with the underworld organizations that tried to extort them. This was something she had been doing even before she entered the camp.
However, the significant power shift after the war was not in favor of the old underworld organizations in the Royal Capital, but rather the new forces in Retnark and the Snake Head Society.
Unfortunately, these new forces were not reasonable. They were just there to exploit. The exorbitant tribute, random confiscations, and the disappearance of prostitutes and their regular customers were rampant. Some were even drugged.
The blatant abuse led to resistance. As the boss, Caroline tried to unite everyone against the new forces. But resistance through violence was impossible. Skilled fighters among the prostitutes were rare, and there were no powerful allies to back them.
Determined not to stay silent, she planned to appeal to the guilds and the media for help but was ambushed in the process.
Caroline managed to escape, but those who had joined her in the resistance were captured. A bounty was placed on her, forcing her to go into hiding.
Rosmerta, who was independently working to eliminate child kidnapping and human trafficking, caught her eye. Caroline approached her and offered her information in exchange for the rescue of the prostitutes and her own protection, leading to the current situation.
I was surprised after hearing her story. It was a tough situation.
"…You've been through a lot."
"I have. But thanks to Rosmerta-sama, I've been saved to some extent."
Even a noble family couldn't rescue everyone who had been taken away. Only those who were imprisoned with children were saved, and that was all they could manage.
The prostitutes who had been saved or were safe had already left the Royal Capital. Some went to other cities, others to different countries. The absence of so many prostitutes in the Royal Capital made women more vulnerable, creating a serious problem. Rosmerta, with Caroline's help, planned to rebuild the red-light district after eliminating the opposing forces. She had a lot on her mind.
This meant Caroline would be busy in the Royal Capital for a while. We would discuss the details later.
"In any case, Caroline, I'm glad you're safe."
Putting aside the complicated matters, we hugged, celebrating each other's safety.
We talked for a while, and before I knew it, a lot of time had passed. I decided to return to the Kikyo Society's base and left Caroline's room, guided by a maid to Rosmerta's private quarters.
"Rosmerta, I'll be heading back to the base. We can discuss the details later."
"Of course, I understand. Oh, by the way, I'd like to see the Yukarinowe estate. I'll visit you next time."
What changed her mind? She was hiding in this prison-like place.
"Aren't you supposed to be hiding? There are plenty of people watching our base, and you'll be found out quickly."
"I've decided to team up with Yukarinowe and start moving. I'm done with hiding."
If she's that determined, I have no objections. I'm already on board.
Besides, it's a hassle to keep coming back to this place. If Rosmerta comes to me, it saves me the trouble.
"Let's make it around noon tomorrow. I'll send a vehicle to pick you up, and I'll ensure your safety."
"Oh, that would be helpful. You mean that flashy large vehicle, right?"
If it's no longer a problem for Rosmerta's location to be known, there's no need to be discreet. I'll send the Delta, which is heavily armored and can carry a significant number of knights. It's perfect for this situation.
Moreover, making a bold statement could be beneficial. Now that the noble family is ready to act, it's time to make a grand entrance.
"Exactly. The driver is as strong as your knight commander, so he can handle any unexpected situations."
The driver, Gradena, is a formidable fighter. I have no complaints about her taking on the role of Rosmerta's bodyguard.
"…The driver?"
"Yep. I'm heading back now. See you tomorrow."
Even Rosmerta seemed caught off guard by the idea of a strong driver. It's understandable, given that noble families don't usually have such drivers. Explaining Gradena's quirks would be a hassle, but she'll get the idea once she meets her. Nobles are good at reading the room, and Rosmerta is no exception.
Now, I can finally head back to everyone.