Chapter 22
Chapter 22.
Clatter, clatter-
The carriage, which had crossed the main road slowly, finally picked up speed after leaving the outer wall of the capital.
Passing by wide fields, farms, and pastures, villages formed here and there caught the eye.
They were villages of commoners who lived by farming or raising livestock on the nearby land.
Because traveling merchants or traders sometimes stayed there, such places had inns or lodging houses.
Perhaps one of those villages would be their nest for the night.
Except for a brief stop to have lunch, the procession, which had traveled for a full half-day without rest, reached a rather large village before sunset.
The village chief was waiting in front of the village, having received advance notice from the vanguard.
“Welcome, my lord. We heard you would be staying in our village, so we have prepared inns and houses available for lodging.”
“Good. Where is the inn?”
“This way. I will guide you.”
The sound of a knight talking with the village chief could be heard from outside. Soon, the carriage moved, and a knock echoed.
“My lord. My lady. We have arrived at the inn.It was Sir Huber, the second-in-command. Agatha, escorted by Enoch, alighted from the carriage and looked up at the building before her.
It was a decent, two-story inn, slightly old but ordinary.
For a moment, a tense atmosphere could be felt from the surroundings. Enoch whispered in a low voice.
“How about making arrangements to sleep in the carriage?”
“It’s fine. I’m quite used to long journeys myself.”
Sometimes when touring her territory or when she had to marry abroad.
While it would have been nice to always stay in good inns or noble mansions, in unavoidable situations, Agatha had also stayed in inns like this or camped.
What she learned then was that a building was better than sleeping outdoors. And when it came to safety, a room was better.
“It would be better for the knights to stand guard if I am in a room. Where is my room?”
“Ah, I will guide you, my lady. This way.”
Sir Huber, his face looking a little more relaxed, walked ahead into the inn. A clear bell chimed.
The first floor served as a dining area and inn, while the second floor was entirely dedicated to lodging.
As they climbed the slightly creaky stairs, Enoch carefully held Agatha’s arm.
The room Huber guided them to was the one at the far end on the left, relative to the center.
“They said this is the best room. Also, as you mentioned, my lady, a narrow passageway would be good for security, so we prepared this room.”
“Thank you for your hard work. Jessie?”
“Yes, my lady. Please wait a moment.”
The Nobilis maids, including the personal maids who had been waiting behind, moved quickly. They cleaned the room again and replaced the furnishings.
Soft carpets were laid on the floor.
Curtains were hung by the window, and even the bedding was changed to Agatha’s preferred ones, giving the room a cozy feel.
“We can have dinner while we wait. Where is my husband’s room?”
“Ah, that, my lord’s room is also a room at the far end.”
Huber pointed to the room at the opposite end with a bewildered look. Jessie, Agatha’s personal maid, who received his gaze, quickly bowed her head.
“I will make sure to check the Marquis’s room as well.”
“Yes, Jessie. Please do.”
Agatha turned around, holding Enoch’s arm. They had eaten simple sandwiches brought from the mansion while sitting in the field for lunch, so she wanted to have a proper dinner.
“I think a whole roasted chicken would be nice for dinner tonight. How about you?”
The man, who had been looking down at her with a slightly unfamiliar gaze, slowly nodded.
“……I will have the same as you.”
“Then I will tell the chef so.”
That evening’s meal consisted of mushroom soup brimming with fresh ingredients, a salad with mashed greens, roasted chicken, white bread, and for dessert, fruit and a glass of wine.
Agatha didn’t pay attention to the somewhat awkward atmosphere emanating from the retainers of the Aratus family seated around them.
‘This is a common problem when a new mistress of the house arrives.’
As time passed and the atmosphere changed, they would adapt to her presence as if nothing had happened.
As proof, Enoch, seated beside her, said nothing.
“This is delicious. Please tell the chef we enjoyed it.”
“Yes, my lady.”
After finishing the meal and tidying up, Agatha returned to her room and bid farewell to Enoch at the door.
The remaining journey to the port would take about ten days.
There were only three castles along the way, and one was a port city where they would board a ship, so the rest of the journey would mostly involve camping.
“Sleep well, Enoch.”
“Good night, Agatha.”
Tired from riding in the carriage all day, Agatha washed up quickly and fell asleep.
Morning arrived early.
Huber Karwen, the second-in-command of the Aratus Knights, was a veteran of ten years on the battlefield, belying his young age of barely twenty.
He was skilled in horsemanship and excelled in operations such as rapid movement and tracking, making him one of Enoch’s trusted key figures for victory.
Having faced all sorts of variables and situations as a knight since he became an adult, he was now enveloped in a rather unfamiliar feeling.
It was due to the changes brought about by their lady, Agatha Nobilis.
“Second-in-command. Dinner is served.”
“Ah, yes.”
Huber accepted the food brought by a knight.
A large piece of meat, soup filled with vegetables, well-cooked sausages, vegetables, and bread drizzled with spicy sauce were placed before him.
The knights gathered around Huber murmured.
“It’s certainly different now that the mistress is here.”
“Indeed.”
Huber unconsciously agreed.
It had already been six days since they left the capital.
While it might seem like an ordinary meal, they were currently camping in the wilderness.
Knights who had always eaten dry rations or mixed stews in such situations felt this change profoundly.
“At first, I just hoped the mistress wouldn’t have too hard a time.”
The knights around him reacted to Huber’s words as he chewed on the piece of meat.
“It seems that was a needless worry, doesn’t it?”
“Her work efficiency is amazing. I haven’t seen any problems with drinking water or food supplies on the way here.”
“Her stamina management is also excellent.”
“Well, separate from that, she did seem to find the carriage journey difficult.”
“But there are no major issues with travel, right?”
Before they knew it, Agatha Nobilis was becoming a truly remarkable lady among the Aratus knights.
They knew she wouldn’t be easy, but to be this perfect!
Even their lord’s demeanor, which had been so bleak, had changed significantly since the mistress arrived.
His expressions had become more varied, and his aura softer.
“It seems we have an incredibly good mistress.”
Huber murmured again, chewing on another large piece of meat. The knights silently agreed.
Around the time Agatha felt 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 border region and entered new territory.
As the war had ended only a few months prior, a restless atmosphere could be felt around the tall, old border walls.
Rather than stopping at villages still under reconstruction, the procession headed directly for the port city of Saint Antrar.
Thanks to the Emperor’s priority on restoration for trade with the East Continent and the dispatch of an interim deputy governor, the easternmost edge of the Roxbard Empire had almost regained its former appearance.
When Aratus’s procession arrived at Saint Antrar.
Baron Solano, the interim deputy governor, was waiting at the outer gate of the city, which was formed along the coast.
“Welcome, Marquis Aratus, Marchioness Aratus. Welcome to Saint Antrar.”
It was exactly the tenth day since they left the capital.
Enoch lightly nodded to the Baron’s greeting.
“I understand that the Nobilis Family’s ships have arrived here.”
“They arrived a few days ago. We have anchored them nearby so you can depart at any time, but would you like to see them immediately?”
“We will.”
“I will lead the way.”
Agatha exchanged a brief glance with the Baron and turned around. She naturally took Enoch’s hand, who had fallen into step beside her, and gestured to her aide, Ethel Masro.
“You called, my lady.”
“Find a suitable merchant on the way. You can get help from Baron Solano’s retainers.”
“Understood. Should I prepare food supplies, drinking water, and medicinal herbs?”
“Yes. And find out who the Imperial Navy officer assigned to this escort is, and bring me the list of ships under the family’s command and the ship’s internal maps.”
“I will bring them immediately.”
Agatha gave a few more instructions to her personal maids and boarded the carriage, escorted by Enoch.
Ethel soon appeared and handed over a thick stack of documents. Huber Karwen, the second-in-command, who had been standing with a cheerful expression, closed the carriage door.
“Then we will depart. My lord. My lady.”
The procession soon moved, following the Baron’s carriage ahead.
The carriage, running along a well-maintained road for the first time in a while, was smooth and free of jolts.
Agatha, with a much more relaxed expression, began to review the Imperial Navy documents. Her expression instantly hardened.
「Commander: Count Caelo, Commander of the Imperial Eastern Navy」
