Chapter 25 - Departure for the Coast
"Father, I am off."
"Yes. Take care of yourself. And look after your mother; she can be a bit flighty sometimes."
"Hehe, I will."
I was saying my final goodbyes to Father in front of the carriage. Paul stood behind him, watching our exchange with a gentle look in his eyes.
Father pulled me into a tight embrace, then leaned down to meet my eyes. "Ah, maybe I should... hmm..." he muttered, seemingly reconsidering everything. I tilted my head in confusion, but then Mother returned from checking the luggage.
"Rachel, everything seems to be ready. It's time to go."
"Yes, Mother."
"I'm going to be so lonely without you two. Maybe I should come along after all..."
"You have work to do," Mother said firmly, stepping in to peel Father away from me. She gave a brisk "Well, we're off then" with a smile and climbed into the carriage with the help of the coachman. Father looked absolutely devastated, his shoulders slumping.
"Well... I'll write as soon as we arrive."
"I'll be waiting."
Father helped me into the carriage, his movements a bit listless. I took my seat beside Mother, and Kuro immediately hopped onto my lap, curling up into a ball.
"...We're off."
I whispered the words to no one in particular as the carriage began to move. Through the window, the familiar sight of the Marquis's estate slowly receded into the distance.
We're really leaving.
To be honest, I was anxious. The last time I had visited the territory was when I was ten. During that short stay, I had done nothing but complain about wanting to go back to the capital, never even stepping outside. I had only caught glimpses of the sea from the carriage window and had never once visited the town.
But alongside the anxiety was a sense of excitement. I was eager to see, know, and learn. I didn't know what experiences awaited me, but my heart fluttered at the thought of taking this new step. Of course, Sarah was with me, as was Samuel, who had become my dedicated chef.
Furthermore, His Highness had lent me one of his knights as a guard. He was a commoner-born rising star in the Third Order of Knights. I felt guilty taking such a talented man away from his duties, where he could be earning merits, but he had simply said, "I give my all to every job," as if it were no trouble at all. This guard was Roger, the navy-haired knight who had accompanied us on our incognito date. He was polite but incredibly taciturn, never speaking unless necessary. Even now, he rode his horse beside the carriage, his eyes fixed firmly on the road ahead.
"Lady Rachel, I hope this turns out to be an enjoyable trip."
The lighthearted voice came from the person sitting across from me. Yes, there was one more companion: Theodore-sama. It turned out he would be coming to the territory as well. There had been a lot of back-and-forth about it, and I had only heard the final decision yesterday. Apparently, it was decided that he should stay near Kuro to investigate the Spirit of Darkness. My parents had readily agreed to let him share our carriage after he pointed out, "I'm actually quite strong, you know? It'll be safer if I'm with you."
I wondered if it was alright for him to be away from the Order of Mages for so long, but he had apparently received secret permission under the guise of a mission for the Crown Prince.
Kuro was currently meowing at Theodore-sama, seemingly complaining about something. Theodore-sama just patted his head and said, "Haha, I get it, I get it. We'll play later."
Wait, are they actually communicating? How?
Theodore-sama truly was a man of many mysteries.
♢
Five days after leaving the capital, we finally entered the Marcel Territory. Normally, the journey would take three days, but we had taken frequent breaks to accommodate my health.
"Look, Rachel! You can see the sea. We'll be at the manor soon."
"Yes, Mother. I'm so excited. And the water is sparkling so beautifully!"
"It is. The manor sits on a hill overlooking the ocean. You should go down to the beach and play once you've settled in."
"I'd love to!"
I couldn't help but smile. The sea was breathtakingly beautiful. The waves caught the sunlight, shimmering like diamonds, and I could see sea birds gliding gracefully through the air. I couldn't wait to explore.
Kuro let out a meow and looked out the window with interest. I stroked his fur, and for once, he sat perfectly still, seemingly captivated by the view. I think Kuro likes it here too.
"Ooh, the sea. All-you-can-eat seafood," Theodore-sama remarked.
He was as irreverent as ever. He showed no signs of fatigue, muttering things like, "Can't skip the shellfish. That chef said he could make some unusual dishes, didn't he?" He seemed completely oblivious to the sentimental atmosphere. During the trip, he would often vanish the moment we reached an inn, only to reappear later without explanation.
Still, his presence was a great help to someone like me who tended to overthink things. In any case, a new chapter of my life was beginning today. Once I had settled in for a few days, I would definitely head into town!
With renewed resolve, I turned my gaze back to the scenery outside the window.