The day of departure.

Alvard, who had been waiting in front of the main castle since early morning, frowned when a pitch-black six-horse carriage appeared.

Although carriages are usually painted in dark colors because they are easily soiled, there were no cases like Kalos’s carriage being painted entirely black.

Even the horses pulling the carriage were all black.

Anyone who saw it might mistake it for a coffin carrying a dead person rather than a carriage.

With dark clouds heavily filling the sky, it felt even more gloomy and eerie.

No matter how he looked at it, Alvard didn’t like it and clicked his tongue.

He needed to get to the capital as soon as possible, but it was not to his liking to travel by carriage instead of horseback.

Moreover, the reason for traveling by carriage was to bring along a concubine, which made him frown even more.

“It seems His Grace the Grand Duke of Esper has no intention of reaching the capital quickly.”

“And to attend a sacred court trial while bringing a concubine. I don’t understand what he’s thinking.”

“I heard he plans to introduce his concubine to the Emperor and nobles on this occasion. She’s just a figurehead, but still royalty after all.”

Although Crown Prince Jerdin personally stated that Irene was his distant relative, almost no one believed it at face value.

It was common for nobles to disguise their concubines’ status, not wanting them to be disrespected by others.

Most people thought Irene was one such case.

In any case, there was a clear justification for bringing Irene along, so even if they didn’t like it, they couldn’t comment on that aspect.

“W-what is that black deer?”

“Isn’t that a magical beast?”

But if it was a magical beast, that was a different story.

Surely he doesn’t intend to bring a magical creature to the capital!

Judging by the collar it wore, it seemed to be a tamed magical beast, but that didn’t change the fact that it was still a magical creature.

Moreover, since the temple distrusted and opposed the magical beast system, the priests and holy knights, including Alvard, looked at Yomi with even more disapproving eyes.

Although not as much as them, the imperial nobles also had displeased expressions.

Count Aliore, representing the people, asked the man wearing a monocle:

“Is that magical beast also going to the capital?”

“Yes. It’s a magical beast that the young lady cherishes, so it’s coming along.”

Count Aliore’s eyebrows raised.

“You must know that people are afraid of magical beasts because of how they went berserk and mercilessly attacked people during the Poyeonje incident.”

The man nodded.

“This one is an imprinted magical beast, so there’s no need to worry about it going berserk.”

“Hmph, that remains to be seen.”

Count Aliore snorted and folded his arms.

Amusement flickered in his crimson eyes.

“Then why don’t you tell the Grand Duke directly that he shouldn’t bring the magical beast?”

“……”

As if on cue, Kalos appeared, and Dewey looked at Count Aliore as if urging him to go and speak.

“Ahem.”

Lacking the courage to do so, Count Aliore cleared his throat and backed away.

Those who had been whispering and cursing Kalos also fell silent at once.

And they stared intently at the rumored concubine who appeared alongside Kalos.

According to rumors, she was said to be an extraordinary beauty, so they wanted to see how beautiful she was, but unfortunately, her face was hidden behind a bonnet.

“……”

As if displeased by the pouring gazes, Kalos frowned and skillfully shielded Irene.

Not stopping there, he sent a fierce glare as if telling them to stop staring, causing those who almost met his eyes to flinch and turn away.

Just how lovable must this concubine be for Kalos, famous for being cold-blooded, to cherish and protect her so much?

People’s curiosity about Irene, far from subsiding, blazed even more intensely.

It took about ten days to travel from Esper territory to the capital.

During that time, there should be at least one chance to see Irene.

“Let’s get going.”

People mounted their horses, hoping that opportunity would come soon.

*

The black carriage pulled by six horses crossed the drawbridge at a rapid pace.

“……”

As Irene watched Castle Esper grow smaller through the window, she tightly clenched her hands neatly placed on her knees.

Since deciding to stay in Esper territory by Kalos’s side, she had never thought about leaving.

Yet now an opportunity to leave had come.

Of course, it wasn’t leaving permanently but rather a temporary departure before returning, but still, the act of leaving itself held meaning.

……And the fact that there was a place to return to as well.

“……”

Her hands, which had unconsciously tensed up, relaxed gently.

Once Castle Esper was completely out of sight, Irene looked back at Kalos.

And she asked something she had been curious about but hadn’t managed to inquire:

“Are the priests coming along as well?”

There were many other people besides the priests, but.

Due to her vivid memory of being burned by a priest, only they entered Irene’s eyes.

Kalos answered in an indifferent tone.

“No. They will go directly to the capital.”

“I see.”

She had been worried about what to do if they were coming along, but it was a relief.

As Irene smiled, finally at ease, Kalos also smiled slightly.

By now the dark clouds had cleared, and the sunlight that revealed itself outside the clouds poured dazzlingly onto the black carriage they were riding in.

*

The carriage that had been diligently running came to a stop.

It’s not time for a break yet, so why did we stop?

Unlike Irene who was puzzled, Kalos seemed to know the reason, sitting calmly.

A moment later, the door opened and Jessie climbed in along with Kara.

Kara promptly sat at Irene’s feet and rubbed her face against her legs.

“That tickles, Kara.”

Irene stroked Kara while letting out a clear laugh.

As Jessie sat next to Irene, Kalos, who had been sitting opposite, got up and exited the carriage.

The carriage door closed quietly.

Irene tried to look out the window while petting Kara, but Jessie drew the curtains, blocking the view.

“Please take this, my lady.”

And she held out a pill smaller than a pinky nail and a water bottle to Irene.

Normally in this situation, one would ask what it is and why it’s being given suddenly, but Irene swallowed the pill without a word.

Jessie then sighed with a mischievous expression.

“Ah, how can you accept it so trustingly? What if I had given you something strange, why did you take it right away without asking anything?”

“Because it’s you, Jessie.”

Pure, innocent eyes gazed directly at Jessie.

“Because Jessie wouldn’t give me anything strange, that’s why I took it… Is that not okay?”

“……”

Jessie silently looked at Irene, then soon smiled and hugged her tightly.

*

As Kalos exited the carriage, the escort knights who had followed him also dismounted from their horses and moved in perfect unison.

Among them were Dewey and Deuce.

Kalos, who had been observing their actions, turned to face Alvard and Count Aliore as they approached.

They politely greeted Kalos before stating the reason for their visit.

“On the first day, everyone tends to be in good condition, so many think it would be better to camp rather than bothering with lodging facilities… What does Your Grace think?”

Judging by the way they glanced at the black carriage while speaking, it seemed the person they were concerned about was Irene.

Usually women disliked sleeping outdoors, so it was natural for them to be considerate.

Especially since that woman was royalty, albeit in name only, and moreover, Kalos’s lover, they were even more mindful.

“You’re worrying needlessly.”

Kalos coldly dismissed them.

“We’ll handle things on our end, so why don’t you worry about yourselves?”

At the blatant disregard, Count Aliore and Alvard’s faces turned slightly red.

Alvard spoke up.

“Coordinating schedules is essential when embarking on a long journey together.”

“……”

Kalos stared down at Alvard, who seemed to be trying to lecture him.

Alvard flinched and withdrew his neck like a turtle.

As the atmosphere instantly became awkward, Count Aliore tried to smooth things over with an awkward smile.

“We simply wanted to know Your Grace’s schedule, and if you had any other plans, we would need to adjust accordingly.”

Kalos’s gaze shifted to him.

“We had no other intentions, so please don’t be too angry.”

Kalos smiled, curving the corner of his lips crookedly.

“Well. I wonder if you’ll truly be able to keep up with my plans.”

“Pardon? What do you…?”

Count Aliore trailed off, startled as a man in black approached from behind Kalos.

Deuce placed his hand on his chest and bowed slightly towards Kalos.

“The preparations are complete.”

Kalos nodded in acknowledgment and walked towards the carriage.

Without even a simple farewell, Alvard and Count Aliore, feeling slighted, watched Kalos’s retreating figure with slightly displeased expressions.

As Kalos boarded the carriage again, Deuce also climbed onto the coachman’s seat and securely tied himself with ropes.

Dewey now occupied the seat where the coachman had been sitting.

Upon hearing a tapping sound on the carriage roof, Dewey took hold of the reins.

From that sight alone, it seemed they were about to depart.

Strangely, none of Kalos’s knights mounted their horses, simply gazing at the black carriage.

Contrasted with this, Alvard, Count Aliore, and others were bewildered.

Dewey curved his lips smoothly as if mocking those people, then pulled on the reins.

“Hiyah!”

At that, the once docile horses let out rough neighs and reared up on their hind legs.

“……!”

They began galloping at a speed that human eyes could barely follow.

A cloud of dust rose where the black carriage had been.

“Q-quickly, after them!”

By the time the dust settled, Count Aliore, having come to his senses, shouted, but no one moved.

More precisely, they couldn’t move.

It was clearly impossible to chase after the black carriage.

Count Aliore knew this fact as well, which is why he only shouted to give chase with his mouth, staring blankly at the now invisible trail of the black carriage.

*

Bump, bump—

As the carriage shook violently as if an earthquake had struck, Irene tightly shut her eyes and clung to Jessie’s embrace.

Although she hadn’t ridden in carriages much, she could immediately tell that this level of shaking wasn’t normal.

It clearly wasn’t normal, yet… why were Jessie and Kalos so calm?

Even Kara, who had been startled at first, perking up her ears and tail, quickly regained her composure.

With everyone else so nonchalant, Irene felt strange for being alarmed.

She wanted to remain calm like the others, but it wasn’t easy to regain stability in a carriage that felt like it could overturn at any moment.

Thinking it was fortunate that she at least wasn’t getting motion sickness, she burrowed further into Jessie’s embrace.

It would be much later that Irene learned the reason she didn’t get motion sickness was thanks to the anti-nausea medicine Jessie had given her.

*

About three days after leaving Esper territory.

The black carriage carrying Kalos’s party passed through Maybel’s checkpoint.