117 - The Great City of Lagarette
"It shakes quite a bit, huh."
The moment the city's well-maintained cobblestones ended, the carriage wheels rattled and shook. The only time I'd ridden a carriage before was just moving around inside the city of Grenore, so we'd only traveled on cobblestones. The fact that the shaking didn't bother me back then was probably thanks to those cobblestones.
...Well, it's not like there are any asphalt-paved roads, after all.
Even the rattling carriage, after about an hour, I got used to. I took out my embroidery tools that had been packed inside the carriage rather than the cargo bed, for killing time, and continued the embroidery meant as a gift for Aurelia. Since the design recommended by Alf and Hermine-sensei was a gorgeous bouquet, the embroidery was becoming quite colorful and I was enjoying it, but I wondered if Aurelia would actually accept it.
...It feels a bit flashy, but Aurelia-san seems like she likes cute things, so maybe it's fine?
As I stopped my hands to check the progress, Leonardo, who was sitting across from me, leaned in to peek at what I was working on.
"You've made quite a bit of progress."
"At the Mandez residence, there wasn't time for study, you see."
Basically, all I could do was play board games with Kalisa, read books from the study, or do embroidery. Thanks to that, the embroidery was progressing quite well. Maybe I could even enclose it with my next letter. As I was thinking about that and about to return to work, Leonardo murmured in a small voice.
"...What about mine?"
For a moment, I blinked, not understanding what he meant, but I think that couldn't be helped. When it comes to Leonardo's embroidery, it's that. It must be about the embroidery going into the sleeves of the shirt he plans to wear for the Spring Flower Festival.
"Leo's is already finished."
It was completed before the Divine King Festival, and the fabric has been delivered to the tailor. When I explained that, Leonardo smiled contentedly. Maybe he was bothered because I'd been doing nothing but embroidery for Aurelia right in front of him.
...Are you jealous of Aurelia-san? If yours wasn't finished, I think Hermine-sensei would have sent you fabric for your sleeves.
If it's Hermine, that kind of consideration is only natural. There was nothing for Leonardo to worry about.
What a worrywart of a big brother, I thought with a warm feeling inside as I resumed my embroidery.
The carriage journey was more comfortable than I'd imagined. I'd vaguely assumed that since we were inside a box on wheels, it would just keep out the rain and wind and be slightly less cold than outside, but it was completely different. There was a small wood-burning stove for warmth, and though the large-built Leonardo looked a bit cramped, if he lay down on the seat to sleep he could stretch his legs. The compartment was separated from the escorts' and driver's rest area, and since Kalisa made delicious meals, we didn't end up in a heavy rotation of vegetable soup like that one time.
...It does take more days than by horse, but this is nice. Comfortable.
While enjoying the delicious cookies Kalisa baked on the wood-burning stove, we arrived at the great city of Lagarette on the sixth day at noon.
"It stopped shaking."
"Lagarette is a large city. Even before you enter, the roads are well-maintained and easy for carriages to travel."
It wasn't that cobblestones continued all the way to the nearest village, but a road with pebbles and weeds carefully removed stretched on for quite a distance. Even the jolt when transitioning to the cobblestone road was small. No sooner did I feel a slight shake than the sound of the wheels changed.
My interest piqued, I looked out the small window. Gray walls surrounded the city in a ring, and from this distance I couldn't see what the city looked like inside. But I could see the area around the city. Merchants and farmers with carts were lined up at the city entrance. I'd seen this scene when entering the city of Grenore too, so it was probably the same in any city. Guards and knights at the gate checked identities, and only those who received permission were allowed into the city.
"...Tina, make sure to bring an escort when you move around the city."
"Huh? Is Lagarette dangerous?"
"It's not like it's particularly dangerous, but there's nothing wrong with being careful, right? Lagarette is land ruled by a noble lord. It's outside my jurisdiction, so if something happens, I can't act immediately."
"So because Leo can't come help right away, I need to be more careful than usual?"
"Something like that."
I replied "Understood," and the carriage stopped. I pricked up my ears and could hear the exchange between the driver and the gatekeeper. I couldn't catch everything, but it seemed they were being asked about the purpose of entering the city, the identity of the carriage's owner, and the number of people. After a while, there was a knock on the small window from outside. When Leonardo showed his face at the small window, the inspection seemed to be over. The carriage slowly began to move again.
The lodging where Leonardo chose to leave his little sister was a hotel that was obviously high-class at first glance. It didn't have the friendly atmosphere of an inn, and it was closer to the residences in Grenore or Mandez. It was so gorgeous that if someone told me it was a nouveau riche merchant's mansion or a noble's villa, I'd probably believe it. The building was large, and the gardens were spacious too.
"...Whose house is this?"
"It looks like a mansion, but it's a lodging facility owned by the Blendrel Trading Company. Nobles and wealthy merchants use it."
"It looks expensive... so that's why nobles and wealthy merchants are the guests?"
"That's right. Security commensurate with the lodging cost is guaranteed."
When Leonardo said it would be perfect for Tina to stay at, it seemed the security was reliable. When I asked him about it curiously, he told me that the security staff at this lodging facility included quite a few former Black Knights. Some of them were even acquaintances of Leonardo's.
...Then I really can feel safe.
I got off the carriage with Leonardo's escort and proceeded to the entrance. Doormen stood on both sides of the front entrance, and as we approached, they gave a respectful bow before opening the front door for us.
...See, it's not a hotel. It's someone's house...!
The hotels and inns from my past life knowledge just wouldn't match up with the lodging facility before me. A strange guilt, as if I was trespassing into someone's home, made my stomach ache. Feeling somewhat uneasy, I gripped Leonardo's hand tightly.
"Welcome, Leonardo-sama."
A well-dressed man greeted us and exchanged pleasantries with Leonardo. The man introduced himself as Cidur Blendrel, and from his name, it was clear he was connected to this lodging facility.
...Huh? Have I met this man somewhere before?
Feeling like I vaguely recognized him, I observed the gentleman while hiding in Leonardo's shadow. I thought I was being discreet about peeking, but Cidur caught my eye and smiled warmly.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Tina-sama. We are truly grateful that you have chosen to use the lodging facility owned by our Blendrel Trading Company."
"It is a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for having me."
Since he greeted me, I returned with a harmless greeting, but I couldn't remember where I'd met him. When I tilted my head, unable to quite resolve the feeling, Cidur seemed to notice my suspicion. He offered the connection himself.
"I hear my youngest son has been in your company at the Menhishumi Church. Does the name Nils Blendrel ring a bell?"
"So you're Nils's father."
I said "Your son has always been so kind to me" and gave a little bow, and Cidur bowed to me as well. I had no idea Nils's father was a merchant.
...Huh? If he's a merchant's son, why is Nils working and living at the church?
Once that curiosity struck, several other questions bubbled up. It seemed odd that Cidur, the father, was in the city of Lagarette while his son was in Grenore. In a world with developed transportation like my past life, that might happen, but in this world, the basic means of travel is on foot. For those with a bit more means, it's by horse or carriage, but either way, you can't easily travel back and forth between cities. That would mean that unless Cidur's main residence was in Grenore and he just happened to be on a business trip to Lagarette today, it would be strange for Nils to be at the Menhishumi Church.
...Something's off, isn't it?
I thought so, but this was another family's affair. I probably shouldn't pry too much.
...Maybe it's only the facial features that are similar.
His facial structure was similar to Nils's, enough to make me feel I'd seen him before, but the atmosphere they carried was completely different. Nils was a gentle, laid-back boy, almost worryingly so, but Cidur had a sharpness about him that felt like he might swallow you whole if you let your guard down. Looking at this father, it was a mystery how such a gentle child like Nils had turned out the way he did.
"It's huuuuuge!?"
Normally I'd think this was the staff's job, but Cidur personally guided us to a section on the third floor. This section would apparently be our lodging for a while. After seeing Cidur off, I let out a cry of surprise upon entering the room again.
I'd thought it felt more like someone's mansion than a hotel, but the layout was indeed designed as a lodging facility. Since Leonardo had booked the most expensive room for safety reasons, this section had been allocated to us. I wasn't sure if it was correct to say the third floor only had two rooms, but it could only accommodate two groups of guests at a time. The floor was divided into left and right sections, and within that large room were a waiting room for servants, a living room, bedrooms, a bath and toilet, and even a small kitchen. Rather than thinking of it as a single room of a lodging facility, it felt more like a single-story house had been condensed into one room, and there were two such rooms on the third floor. The guest rooms on the second floor weren't this spacious, and there were apparently five rooms in total there.
...This really is a high-class hotel.
It was so large that I couldn't help peeking into each room one by one. Part of me thought I was acting like a child, but in this life, I'm still a child. Even if I act like a child, since I am one, there's no problem.
"Settled down, Tina?"
"Yes, I'm satisfied!"
While I was exploring the rooms here and there, Kalisa had brought in the luggage and was arranging the room. A pot of tea was already prepared in front of Leonardo, who had begun to relax in the living room. I sat down next to Leonardo in my excitement, and soon a cup of tea was prepared for me as well.
"I'll stay here tonight as well, but tomorrow I'll depart for the Lugmilama Fortress. I'd like you to wait at this inn during that time..."
"I remember. If I go out, I need to bring an escort, right."
"That's right. Don't go sightseeing in the city without an escort."
"It's fine. It's cold outside, so I'll just do embroidery in my room."
I thumped my flat chest, telling him to go on his trip without worry, and Leonardo gave a wry smile. He said that would be a waste, so I should do a little sightseeing.
There were two master bedrooms, but I still slept together with Leonardo. A bed in an unfamiliar city is just not very settling. I don't think I'm steadily regressing. Probably. Surely.
The next day, after meeting up with the Black Knight escorts who had come from the Lugmilama Fortress, I saw Leonardo off and returned to the room that would be my lodging for a while. Cidur, who had apparently been entrusted with various messages from Leonardo, showed me thoughtful consideration as I headed straight back to my room. He told me about famous sweet shops, stores, and sightseeing spots, along with routes that would be safe for women and children to walk.
...And as expected, I shouldn't go into back alleys or narrow streets.
I had no plans to go, but I'd keep it in mind just in case. As I was thinking about this and climbing the stairs, a pair of small feet entered my field of vision. Small, but just a child's feet. Not so tiny as a baby's.
...Is there a child in the neighboring room too?
Following the feet up with my gaze, a boy with bright blond hair stood in the hallway of the third floor, at the top of the stairs. He wore well-tailored clothes and looked like a well-bred child.
...Wow, he has a face so cute it's like a girl's.
I couldn't say it to his face, but I ended up staring intently at the boy's adorable features. I know it was rude, but the boy had a cute face, so it couldn't be helped. Cuteness is violence.
"Hey."
...Excuse me?
At the rough word coming from that cute face, I blinked, wondering if I'd misheard. It was a manner of speaking that didn't match at all with the words you'd expect from an angelically cute boy.
"It's you, you! Black cat girl! Why are you staring at my face!? Suspicious brat!"
At the second time, I realized it wasn't my imagination. The boy before me, with his angelic, lovely appearance, apparently had a very disappointing personality. I could think of several reasons a child would be in costume even when it wasn't the Divine King Festival, and besides, criticizing someone else's clothing was just tacky.
...Can I just ignore him?
I thought that, but in this case, I was indeed in the wrong. The fault lay with me, who had been staring at a boy I'd just met, thinking he was as cute as a girl. The boy was just cute, that was all.
...The personality seems terrible, though.
In that case, the best course was to apologize for my rudeness and leave promptly.
"Um, I'm sorry. You were so cool, I couldn't help but stare."
"Wh...!"
I bowed my head and apologized. Honestly, I was staring because I thought he was "cute," but he was a boy. I figured I'd rephrase it as "cool" for his sake.
...Alright, I apologized properly. Now I'll just avoid getting involved.
The boy seemed to have frozen, his face flushed, so it worked out perfectly. I slipped past him and quickly escaped into my room.
Tina is, of course, equipped with cat ears.
Typos and missing characters will be dealt with another day. Found some typos and errors, corrected them.