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Chapter : 22
Clatter, clatter—
The carriage that had slowly crossed the main road only began to pick up real speed after passing beyond the capital’s outer wall.
Beyond the wide fields, farms, and pastures, small villages appeared here and there.
They were villages of commoners who lived by farming or herding livestock on the nearby land.
From time to time, because peddlers or merchants stayed there, such places had lodging houses or inns.
Most likely, one of those villages would be where they settled in for the night.
Except for a brief stop to deal with lunch, the procession traveled without rest for half a day and reached a fairly large village before sunset.
Having received word in advance from the scouts, the village chief was waiting at the entrance.
“Welcome, milord. We heard you would be staying in our village, so we’ve prepared the inn and houses that can offer lodging.”
“Good. Where is the inn?”
“This way. I will guide you.”
From outside came the sound of a knight speaking quietly with the village chief. Soon the carriage began to move, and then—knock, knock—a tapping sound rang out.
“My lord. My lady. We have arrived at the inn.”
It was Sir Huber, the deputy commander. With Enoch’s escort, Agatha stepped down from the carriage and looked up at the building before her.
It was a slightly old but ordinary two-story mid-grade inn.
For a moment, a faint tension could be felt in the air around them. Enoch whispered in a low voice.
“Would it be better to prepare sleeping quarters in the carriage?”
“It’s all right. I’m fairly used to long journeys.”
When she occasionally toured her territory or had to travel abroad for marriage arrangements,
it would have been ideal to always stay at fine inns or noble estates, but when circumstances were unavoidable, Agatha had stayed at inns like this or even camped outdoors.
What she learned then was that a building was better than sleeping rough. And in terms of safety as well, a guest room was preferable.
“It’ll also be better for the knights to stand guard if I’m in a room. Where is my room?”
“Ah, I’ll show you, my lady. This way.”
Sir Huber, his expression visibly more relaxed, led the way into the inn. A clear bell chimed.
The first floor served as both dining hall and inn, while the second floor was devoted entirely to guest rooms.
As they climbed the slightly creaking stairs, Enoch carefully held Agatha by the arm.
The room Huber guided them to was the farthest one on the left, with the center of the building as reference.
“They said this was the best room. And as you mentioned, my lady, a narrower passageway seemed better for security, so we prepared this room.”
“Thank you for your hard work. Jessie?”
“Yes, my lady. Please wait just a moment.”
The close attendant maids and the Nobillis household maids who had been waiting behind them moved quickly. They cleaned the room once more and replaced the furnishings inside.
A soft carpet was laid on the floor.
Curtains were hung by the window, and even the bedding was changed to what Agatha preferred. Soon, a cozy atmosphere filled the room.
“While they’re working, we can have dinner. Where is my husband’s room?”
“Ah, well… my lord’s room is also at the far end over there.”
Huber, looking slightly flustered, pointed to the room at the opposite end. Jessie, Agatha’s attendant who caught the glance, bowed quickly.
“I’ll make sure to check the marquis’s room thoroughly as well.”
“Good, Jessie. I’m counting on you.”
Agatha took Enoch’s arm and turned away. Since lunch had been a simple sandwich eaten in a field, she wanted a proper dinner.
“I think roast would be nice tonight. What about you?”
The man, looking at her with a slightly unfamiliar expression, slowly nodded.
“…I’ll have the same as you.”
“Then I’ll tell the cook.”
That evening’s meal consisted of mushroom soup rich with fresh ingredients, a salad with mashed greens, roasted chicken and white bread, and fruit with a glass of wine for dessert.
An awkward air lingered among the Aratus retainers seated nearby, but Agatha paid it no mind.
‘It’s a common issue when a new mistress arrives.’
Once they grew accustomed to the changed atmosphere, they would accept her presence as if nothing had happened.
As proof, Enoch beside her said nothing in particular.
“It’s delicious. Tell the cook we enjoyed it.”
“Yes, my lady.”
After finishing the meal and returning to her now-tidied room, Agatha bid Enoch good night at the door.
It would take about ten days to reach the port.
Along the way, there were only three castles, and one of them was the port city where they would board a ship—meaning most of the journey ahead would involve camping outdoors.
“Good night, Enoch.”
“Sleep well, Agatha.”
Exhausted from riding in the carriage all day, Agatha washed quickly and fell asleep at once.
Morning came early.
Huber Karwen, deputy commander of the Second Division of the Aratus Knights, was a seasoned veteran who had spent ten years on the battlefield, despite still being in his twenties.
He excelled at horsemanship, rapid maneuvering, and pursuit operations, and was one of the key figures behind their victories, earning Enoch’s trust.
Having faced all manner of variables and situations since becoming a knight shortly after coming of age, he now found himself feeling something quite unfamiliar.
That feeling stemmed from the changes brought about by their lady, Agatha Nobillis.
“Deputy Commander. Dinner is ready.”
“Oh—right.”
Huber accepted the meal the knight handed him.
Before him were a large chunk of meat, a soup packed with vegetables, well-grilled sausages, vegetables, and bread drizzled with a spicy sauce.
The knights gathered around him murmured quietly.
“Things really are different now that we have a mistress.”
“Yeah.”
Without realizing it, Huber agreed.
It had already been six days since they left the capital.
At a glance, the meal might have seemed ordinary, but they were camping in the middle of nowhere.
The knights, who were used to dried rations or mixed stews at times like this, felt the change keenly.
“At first, I was just hoping she wouldn’t have too hard a time,” Huber muttered as he chewed the meat.
The knights around him responded.
“Looks like that worry was unnecessary, huh?”
“She handles things incredibly well. We haven’t had any issues with water or food supplies all the way here.”
“And her stamina management is excellent.”
“Well, aside from that, carriage travel did look tiring for her.”
“Still, no real problems with moving, though.”
Before long, Agatha Nobillis had become an exceptionally impressive mistress among the Aratus knights.
They knew she wouldn’t be an easy person—but to be this perfect!
Even their lord, who had always seemed so austere, had changed noticeably since his wife arrived.
His expressions were more varied, his presence gentler.
“I think we’ve ended up serving an incredibly good mistress.”
Huber muttered again as he chewed another large piece of meat. The knights silently agreed.
By the time even Agatha felt that the atmosphere among the Aratus retainers and knights had returned to normal,
on the eighth day since leaving the capital, the procession passed through the old borderlands and entered new territory.
Since only a few months had passed since the end of the war, an uneasy mood lingered around the tall old border walls.
Rather than stopping at villages still under reconstruction, the procession headed straight for the port city, Saint Antrar.
Thanks to the emperor prioritizing restoration for trade with the Eastern Continent and even dispatching an interim lord’s representative, the new easternmost edge of the Roxbard Empire had nearly regained its former appearance.
When the Aratus procession arrived at Saint Antrar,
Baron Solano, the interim lord’s representative, was waiting at the outer gate of the coastal city.
“Welcome, Marquis Aratus, Marchioness Aratus. Welcome to Saint Antrar.”
It was exactly ten days since they had left the capital.
Enoch gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.
“I understand that a Nobillis family ship has arrived here.”
“It arrived a few days ago. We’ve had it anchored nearby so it can depart at any time. Would you like to go see it right away?”
“Let’s do that.”
“I’ll lead the way.”
Agatha exchanged a brief glance of greeting with the baron and turned around. Naturally matching pace, she took Enoch’s hand and gestured to her aide, Ethel Mars.
“Did you call for me, my lady?”
“On the way, arrange for a suitable merchant. You can get help from Baron Solano’s retainers.”
“Understood. Should I prepare food supplies, drinking water, and medicinal herbs?”
“Yes. And find out which Imperial Navy officer has been assigned to this escort, and bring the roster of the family’s navy and a map of the ship’s interior.”
“I’ll bring them right away.”
After giving a few more instructions to her attendant maids, Agatha boarded the carriage under Enoch’s escort.
Soon, Ethel returned and handed over a thick bundle of documents. Deputy Commander Huber Karwen, standing nearby with a cheerful expression, closed the carriage door.
“Then we’ll depart, my lord. My lady.”
The procession began moving, following the baron’s carriage ahead.
The carriage glided smoothly along the well-maintained road, barely shaking.
With a much more relaxed expression, Agatha began reviewing the Imperial Navy documents. In an instant, her face stiffened.
“Commander: Count Caelo, Eastern Fleet Commander of the Imperial Navy.”
