“Sir Eliom, are you leaving already? The sun is still up.”
As always, that annoyingly familiar voice greeted her. Rajin swallowed a sigh. She tried to hide her grimace, but she wasn’t as skilled at it as her friend.
“It’s precisely on time, actually.”
“Oh, come on. You’ve just been lazing around until now. Don’t get too used to relying on your status as the madam’s friend. We even let you skip the initiation.”
Why should a knight without a proper rank handle paperwork, and what did being Goyo’s friend have to do with labor exploitation?
She could counter that as much as she wanted, but her superior was the type who didn’t listen—more precisely, someone who had no intention of listening. Until now, Rajin had simply put up with it.
‘If they won’t listen, then I’ll just have to make them.’
Changing her expression, Rajin smiled brightly.
“Baron, are you lonely?”
“What?”
“I mean, ever since the Marquis left for his trip, my overtime has suddenly increased.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“Let’s be honest here. You’re interested in me, aren’t you?”
The look on Kolabe Perroto’s face screamed, *What nonsense are you barking now?* Ignoring it, Rajin exaggerated a look of pity.
“At first, I thought you were jealous of my handsome face.”
“Jealous? Of a girl?”
“Beauty transcends gender. It’s universal. Anyway, I thought that was the case, but lately, it seems different. I’m only accustomed to women’s affections, so I was a bit slow to notice.”
“No, this feels like when I deal with the Marquis. It’s been a while since I’ve heard such utter nonsense.”
“Every night, you keep me working overtime, a rankless knight at that. Your desire to spend more time with me has been crystal clear.”
“That’s because you’re a knight who knows how to handle paperwork—”
“No need to deny it.”
Rajin placed a gloved hand on Kolabe’s mouth, silencing him. Grasping her superior’s face, Rajin leaned in closer, watching as Kolabe’s bewildered expression twisted into one of pure irritation.
“But, Baron, I must apologize. I don’t engage in workplace romances.”
Kolabe slapped Rajin’s hand away.
“First of all, move that presumptuous hand. Secondly, when you call it a workplace romance, it sounds entirely different.”
“I will cherish your feelings nonetheless.”
“I said stop spouting nonsense. My type of woman is—”
“Well, I’ll take my leave now, holding your feelings close to my heart.”
With a formal bow, Rajin turned and walked away. Her retreating figure radiated dignity, leaving Kolabe rubbing his mouth roughly with the back of his hand.
He’d only meant to pester the insufferable parachute hire a little; it wasn’t supposed to last. But he hadn’t expected such a comeback.
To think there could be another lunatic like that out there—the world must be ending.
Kolabe’s face twisted in irritation, only to turn serious as a thought struck him.
“Does Annecy Bethelgius have a relative…?”
—
Even after the first day, the Bethelgius couple continued their journey to unpopulated areas. They traveled through grasslands, forests, and various locations.
If the train reached nearby destinations, they used it; otherwise, Annecy teleported them to their destination.
Although it seemed like they were straying from the concept of a train journey, both were satisfied with the trip regardless of its original purpose.
On the last day of their journey, the couple arrived at Mount Polamerte, home to a magnificent waterfall.
Since the waterfall was located deep within the mountain, the two needed horses to reach it.
The horses prepared for them were a jet-black one with white spots named Jelly and a chestnut one named Melly.
Drawing on her riding experience at the Eliom estate, Goyo mounted her horse without the caretaker’s help. However, the mountain-bred horse was much larger than those raised in the city, making her ascent less stable than before.
Though she managed to climb up, she wobbled, struggling to find her balance. Annecy, still on the ground, quickly steadied her.
Embarrassed by her unsteady attempt after managing to mount without assistance, Goyo’s voice softened.
“…The horses here are bigger than the ones I rode in Eliom.”
“They’re raised in the mountains, so there’s a difference in build. Even seasoned adults might struggle to mount in one go. For someone with only one riding experience, your talent is quite remarkable, Madam.”
“Please don’t sugarcoat it. It’s genuinely embarrassing.”
“I’m not sugarcoating anything, but come to think of it, Madam, I forgot to mention something. I’m not particularly confident in horseback riding, so I tend to admire those with talent.”
“You? That’s surprising.”
“Yes, I haven’t had much experience.”
Annecy, who had only ridden a horse 108 times, shrugged his shoulders.
“So, I was wondering… Would you mind if I rode with you?”
“I’ve only ridden once, though. Haven’t you ridden far more times than that?”
“Technically, yes. But since I lack talent, I’m no better than someone riding for the first time.”
Despite his fifty years of experience, Annecy, who claimed to have no talent for riding, spoke with a tinge of bitterness.
Even though it was a considerate way of putting it, why did it feel so transparent? Goyo chuckled lightly.
“In that case, I don’t mind.”
“Thank you, Madam.”
As soon as she gave her consent, Annecy mounted the horse behind her.
Without so much as a foothold, he leapt up gracefully, landing behind her with such stability that it seemed almost too practiced for someone supposedly bad at riding. It was as if he was afraid of being mistaken for a competent rider.
Though Goyo had felt a bit unsteady even after mounting, she found herself stabilized by the person sitting behind her. His presence provided not only physical balance but also a comforting warmth that spread to her chest. Pretending not to notice, she chided him.
“You could at least try to act like a beginner.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“I can’t tell if you’re mocking me or being serious.”
“Truly, I don’t know what you mean. Ah, Madam, we should set off soon. It’ll be dangerous if the sun sets.”
“The sun seems far from setting, but fine. I’ll play along.”
After sending the caretaker and the remaining horse back, the two rode off into the mountain. Compared to her previous horseback experience, the increased height and speed of the mountain-bred horse made Goyo’s initial posture quite precarious.
Still, Goyo had a firm belief that no matter how clumsy she might be, she wouldn’t be in any real danger. The steady presence of her husband gave her peace of mind, and she quickly adjusted.
Annecy, who had been quietly preparing his magic for any emergencies, soon relaxed and smiled.
The rhythmic sound of hooves echoed as the wind rushed past them.
Annecy kept his gaze fixed on the long strands of Goyo’s brown hair streaming in the breeze.
After riding for some time, the two arrived at a magnificent waterfall.
The roaring cascade of white water and the vivid blue lake beneath it were a sight to behold. Overwhelmed by the majestic scenery, the two dismounted to take it all in.
“I’ve never seen a waterfall before,” Goyo admitted.
“Neither have I,” Annecy replied.
“Really?”
“I spent my life secluded in the capital, and even after leaving, I was too busy learning the trade. Though I traveled here and there helping with merchant guild matters, I rarely had the chance to visit forests or waterfalls.”
“I thought you’d have an interest in natural features, given your studies in landscape design.”
“Oh, I was certainly interested. It’s just that there were more pressing matters to attend to. But now that I think about it, I wonder if those matters were truly so important.”
Annecy smiled and plucked a leaf that had landed on Goyo’s head.
“You mentioned helping with merchant guild matters?”
“Yes. After leaving the capital, I received help from a particular merchant guild. Strictly speaking, it was the ‘guild master’ who helped me.”
“Now that you mention it, I think I’ve heard about someone helping you before.”
“I don’t recall mentioning it, but if I did, it must have been about the same person. There’s only one who’s ever helped me.”
“Is your mysterious wealth connected to that guild?”
“It is. That guild now belongs to me. All my fortune comes from it.”
“Then it must be a massive operation. Would I recognize the name?”
Annecy hesitated for a moment but then nodded slowly.
Though he instinctively flinched at sharing something he hadn’t disclosed to anyone outside Valverde, he realized there was no reason to keep it from Goyo.
After all, Valverde was her maternal family. Perhaps this could even create a small point of connection between them.
Just as Annecy opened his mouth to speak, a droplet of water fell onto his nose. Both of them instinctively looked up at the sky.
“It looks like it’s going to rain.”
They hadn’t noticed while riding through the dense trees of the mountain, but dark clouds had gathered overhead.
As the raindrops grew heavier, the two of them looked around before finding refuge in a nearby cave.
While Annecy used his magic to dry them off, Goyo belatedly remembered the horse they had left behind.
“What about Jelly?”
“The horse should have already returned. They’re trained to head back in emergencies. I don’t sense its presence nearby.”
“That’s a relief.”
Sitting on the handkerchief Annecy had laid out for her, Goyo leaned against the cave wall.
Though the sound of the waterfall seemed loud enough to drown everything else out, the patter of rain striking the ground was surprisingly distinct. With both the waterfall and the rain combined, a misty white fog began to rise.
The scene was rare and mesmerizing, but simply watching in silence began to feel dull. Goyo turned her head.
“Have you ever been to Avalanche?”
“I have. But not to sightsee—just once for training. The rumors about the abundance of monsters there are true, though they weren’t so challenging that I needed to return.”
“That’s why you sent him without hesitation.”
“Are you speaking of the *discarded carriage*?”
Though it had been a while since he’d used that term, Annecy hadn’t forgotten it. Goyo chuckled softly at the reappearance of the crude nickname.
Annecy, feeling a small sense of accomplishment, smiled back, only for his expression to suddenly turn serious. His voice, cautious yet clear, broke through the sound of the rain as he asked her a question.
“Would it burden you if I asked why you stopped loving him?”
A flicker of surprise crossed Goyo’s face, her eyes blinking a few times. However, the ripples of emotion quickly subsided.
“It’s fine. I’ve long since passed the point where talking about Sir Alte would hurt me. As for why I stopped loving him… Well, I suppose it’s because I was unhappy. I lost that love during my first marriage.”
“What…?”
“Why do you look like that? I’m joking, of course.”
“A joke… I see. It sounded so genuine that it caught me off guard.”
“It couldn’t possibly be true. From the way you’re asking, I’m guessing you suspect the reason. It wasn’t because Sir Alte loved Melissy. Even after I knew about that, I still liked him.”
Annecy’s expression darkened slightly.
“There wasn’t a particular turning point. After he fell in love with Melissy, Terio Alte remained consistent. But my feelings changed.
If I were to pinpoint a reason, I’d say I was simply exhausted. I realized that staying together would only make me unhappy, so I gave up on my feelings.”
“Why didn’t he end the engagement himself when his feelings changed?”
“Sir Alte… He’s obsessed with being the perfect knight. Breaking his word would’ve gone against his principles. It would’ve violated his sense of chivalry.”
“That’s utter nonsense.”
“Exactly. Staying silent and leaving the responsibility to someone else doesn’t preserve one’s honor.”
Looking back now, Goyo thought Terio Alte’s sense of chivalry was pathetically shallow.
“Come to think of it, it’s quite strange, isn’t it? For a married couple, my former fiancé seems to be a frequent topic of conversation.”
“That’s true.”
“You keep bringing him up, Annecy. Could it be that you’re interested in Terio Alte?”
“If interest means wanting to punch him, then yes.”
The lighthearted jest was met with a heavy response. Goyo scrutinized his face to see if he was joking, but despite the faint smile on Annecy’s lips, he didn’t look playful.
“…Are you sure it’s okay to have a bad relationship with him? He’s the Emperor’s closest confidant.”
“I’m not 100% convinced that he’ll become Duke Alte, so it’s fine.”
“But…”
*He’s going to become Duke Alte.*
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