When I quietly looked at him with an expression asking for more details, he reluctantly added a bit more.

“The common exam on the first day itself wasn’t difficult. There was enough time, and no confusing questions. Today’s individual exam was…”

The individual exam, he said, was in the form of discussing a randomly assigned topic with the exam supervisor.

It was quite a challenging method for an exam targeting 18-year-old children who had just come of age.

“I took it smoothly. I don’t know how the results will turn out, but I don’t feel any regrets, so I think it doesn’t matter what the outcome is.”

“That’s good enough.”

Whatever the result, if one can showcase all their capabilities, that’s sufficient.

If on top of that, one won’t regret regardless of the outcome, that’s even better.

After comforting Kardiel who had worked hard for two days, I shared one more piece of news.

“By the way, Kar. I’m planning to visit the Landgritz domain with Lord Joseph in three days.”

It was a long journey taking a fortnight each way for travel alone, and who knows how many days we’d stay there.

“You’ve set the schedule sooner than expected.”

“Yes, we need to return as quickly as possible so we can tend to the domain during the farming season.”

For reference, Sergei is also planning to accompany us on this journey.

Since we’re going to check the legacies of the Magic Era, Sergei’s expertise in magic studies will be necessary.

I asked Kardiel.

“What do you think, would you like to come along?”

Ever since learning about Lord Joseph, Kardiel had been wanting to be kept in the loop about related situations.

So I was sure he would want to this time as well, which is why I extended the invitation. However, Kardiel thought for a moment and then tilted his head.

“I assume Lord Sergei will be accompanying you as well. But if I also head to Landgritz, what will happen to my younger siblings?”

Well…

“The two children will remain in Daiern. Even without Lord Sergei, there’s Ms. Ernestine at the castle, and above all, Prince Raphael will be staying in Daiern.”

Hearing my answer, Kardiel blinked as if he had heard an unexpected response.

“I thought for sure you’d be taking my younger siblings along.”

“That’s how it’s been until now.”

I answered calmly.

“But is there really a need for that anymore?”

The truth is, the reason I’ve always taken the children everywhere up until now was simply because that dead husband of mine wanted to control the children like his possessions as he pleased.

In reality, children of no noble family constantly accompany their parents during the social season before their debutante.

Most of them enjoy their time without parents at their domain mansions or castles.

“Euphi is fourteen. She’ll be fifteen in a few months. Kar, you’ll finally be sixteen after your birthday in April, won’t you? Chelsie has grown up too.”

They’re old enough to be on their own. It’s not like they don’t have guardians.

“…Have you already discussed this with my siblings?”

Ah, about that.

Surprisingly…

“Yes, actually Chelsie wanted to come along, but Euphi said she’d stay behind.”

“Euphemina… did?”

I was surprised too.

I had prepared about ten cards to persuade Euphemina, and was even prepared to take all the children if it didn’t work.

She just asked when we’d return, without putting up any particular resistance.

I shrugged and conveyed my affirmation. Then after much contemplation, Kardiel answered.

“No, I’ll stay in Daiern.”

Half a month has passed since the beginning of the spring month.

If this were Daiern domain, it would still be in the midst of winter, but the Landgritz domain, being relatively southern, was different.

I raised my head at the scent of earth wafting in through the slightly open carriage window.

The sight of busy workers waking up the plains that had been put to sleep all winter came into view here and there.

It was a scene that made the snowfields visible just a few days ago seem like a dream.

“I wish it were October already.”

Loretta pouted as she tidied up my fur coat, which had become too warm to wear anymore.

“Then our lady wouldn’t have to wear that gloomy mourning dress anymore.”

“Hmm.”

At her words, I suddenly checked my appearance.

Come to think of it, since my husband’s death, I’ve always been wearing black clothes with minimal jewelry.

It’s the etiquette of high society to wear mourning clothes during the one-year period of spousal mourning.

But perhaps because I’ve been wearing it for several months now, this mourning attire feels quite comfortable to me.

The fact that I can be somewhat free from the labor of dressing up, having to pay attention to clothes, jewelry, shoes, and hair ornaments every morning, is the main reason.

No, is it just every morning?

It’s customary for noble women to change clothes several times a day.

Morning wear, business wear, tea time wear, walking wear, dinner wear…

The time and effort that goes into changing clothes was enormous. Moreover, because so many clothes were needed for these changes, new clothes had to be constantly tailored.

There was a trend among noble ladies that wearing the same clothes frequently was shameful.

‘But when wearing mourning clothes, one can be a bit freer in that aspect.’

The need to change clothes every hour isn’t much different.

But at least there’s no need to feel ashamed about wearing the same clothes repeatedly.

‘Especially since mourning clothes are black anyway, they don’t go out of fashion, and there’s no need to adorn them with lavish decorations.’

So in many ways, I was now adapting to the mourning clothes lifestyle that had become like a uniform.

Ah, there was one thing I didn’t like.

It was the fact that these clothes symbolized mourning for my late husband.

“But since there’s less luggage, there are fewer clothes to manage, so isn’t it easier for you too, Loretta?”

We can bring fewer luggage carriages as well.

It takes over a fortnight one way to reach the Landgritz domain.

By that point, the clothes and accessories of noble ladies alone would more than fill an entire luggage carriage.

But for this journey, all the luggage for myself, Lord Joseph, and Sergei could fit in just one luggage carriage.

Thanks to that, the travel preparations were completed quickly.

Thus, our party became quite small in scale, consisting only of the carriage I ride in, the carriage shared by Lord Sergei and Lord Joseph, one luggage carriage carrying valuables, and a few carriages for attendants and their luggage.

“…That’s a different issue. I feel the purpose of life when our most beautiful lady in the world is dressed up splendidly.”

“From that?”

“What do you mean ‘that’? That’s too harsh, even for you, my lady!”

“…”

Loretta must be lonely in life. She finds purpose in such strange things. Well, she is of marriageable age. I should probably look for a suitable match for her.

I responded with a casual “I see, I’m sorry.” She then started tidying up my clothes again with a bright smile.

Suddenly, she turned to me with a curious face and asked.

“Oh, right! By the way, my lady, you suddenly asked me about that ointment back then, didn’t you?”

“Ah, that.”

Come to think of it, I forgot to mention that!

On the day I recalled about that ointment, I asked Loretta about it with anticipation.

Fortunately, that ointment was among the valuables Loretta had brought out from the fire scene.

The problem was that it was quite different from what the children had bought from the black market.

The difference was noticeable even to the naked eye.

The one from the black market was much more luminous. As if crushed jewels had been mixed in.

I immediately asked Lord Joseph what the difference was between the two ointments.

Air that rippled like magic enveloped the two ointments, and he soon resolved my curiosity.

It’s embarrassing to say it myself, but if what he brought is considered low-grade, then the ointment the children bought… that is, the ointment left as a legacy of Landgritz, is at least mid-grade.

In other words, if you want a function that can completely remove burn scars, the ointment Lord Joseph gave wouldn’t be very effective.

‘The world isn’t easy, is it.’

In the end, the use of the ointment he gave was really just to treat my ankle or erase the congestion left on my neck.

Well, Lord Joseph isn’t a fool, would he have gifted an item from the Magic Era to me, who might or might not become an ally at that time?

“Why did you suddenly look for it? You’re not hurt somewhere, are you?”

“I just suddenly remembered we had such a thing and asked about it.”

“Ah, I see.”

Well, so I told her to put the ointment back in its original place.

I thought about using it to erase the bruise marks that were still on my neck… but I didn’t bother.

It’s absolutely not because Lord Joseph said strange things! It’s because Loretta might be surprised if the bruises on my neck suddenly disappeared.

Really.

“Oh?”

Suddenly, a white flower petal danced gently through the open carriage window.

It was a magnolia petal.

The most common flower in Landgritz, my hometown.

Before I knew it, the carriage had passed through the plains and was crossing the walls of Landgritz Castle.