50.

“If we don’t depart now, we’ll be late. Is all the luggage loaded?”

This was a line that hadn’t appeared in the previous two hours of dialogue. Finally! Ro exchanged hopeful glances with a few loyal maids standing behind the Duchess. Yet the very moment Ro nodded and reached for the travel bag, the Duchess betrayed their expectations outright.

“I can’t forget the moment I first held your tiny hand…….”

“…….”

Since “your tiny hand” had come up, the rest would surely follow in sequence—details about the scar on her left knee around age five, the story of falling from a tree…… It would easily take another thirty minutes. At this point, Ro could probably recite Lea’s entire childhood history by heart.

She let out a deep sigh and gave the Duchess’s shoulder a perfunctory pat. Had she followed her true nature, she might have thrown everything aside and grabbed a horse herself……. But even someone as reckless as her found it hard to be blunt with her mother. A mother—something she had never experienced before—was somewhat bothersome, yet warm and sticky, like laundry left out in the summer sun.

“Your Grace.”

Cardier gently took hold of the Duchess’s shoulders, gently pulling her away from his wife. Though the gesture was slightly improper by etiquette, his expression was so respectful that the recipient could only awkwardly retreat.

“Once Lea settles into Montrosa Castle, I will surely send a carriage for you. The summer and autumn here are lovely—it would be good for you to come and spend a season.”

“……Are you sure that would be alright?”

Now her manner had grown noticeably more relaxed, as if speaking to a son-in-law.

“Yes. Though it’s a modest town among the suburbs, it lacks nothing for comfortable living.”

Modest town? Syklid, where Montrosa Castle stood, was a city housing the largest port in the east—equal to the capital in every way. To describe such a massive place as a humble village was one thing, but—

“How will this child manage in such a remote place…….”

Watching the Duchess take that at face value gave Ro a splitting headache. Just as the Duchess reached out, sniffling, to embrace the handmaiden once more, Valdemore Duke, who had silently observed the mother-daughter reunion for over two hours, grabbed her shoulder.

“Isabel. That’s enough.”

His expression was fierce, as if his already thin patience had snapped entirely. He irritably pulled the woman’s hand away from his daughter. The Duchess reluctantly pulled back, her face brimming with lingering attachment.

“Your family’s being unusually sentimental today. We should go. I’ll contact you separately, Lea.”

At Valdemore Duke’s sharp nod, all the previously frozen attendants began to move. The coachman gripped the reins once more, and the maids lifted their luggage and climbed into the second carriage. Cardier opened the door of their carriage and extended his hand toward her.

“Let’s go.”

Ro alternated her gaze between Cardier’s outstretched hand and the Duchess. She had longed for this very moment—the escape from the wretched Valdemore estate—but the relief she expected didn’t quite arrive. Perhaps it was because the Duchess, now shedding tears over Lea’s fate, finally seemed like a real mother.

In truth, by Rosetta’s standards, the Duchess was not a good person. She had forced food upon her daughter, pressured her about clothing, and most often, casually ignored Rosetta’s opinions. And yet…… she owed a debt to the handmaiden who had given her this body. And to the Duchess who had given birth to her—especially since she fully intended to live recklessly from now on.

“Wait a moment.”

Just as Cardier reached to take her hand, Ro brushed him off and ran to the Duchess. She tightly grasped both of the woman’s hands. She felt she should say something, but few words came to mind. “Take care”? Too cold. “Live well”? Why not just write “I’m seeking a whole new life” across her forehead?

After much hesitation, Ro finally managed to speak.

“So…… I wish you good health.”

She saw the Duchess’s eyes widen in surprise. This was something Lea should have said, not her. But Lea would never return, and today, the Duchess had effectively lost her daughter. Though she would likely never know it.

Without looking back, Ro climbed into the carriage.

* * *

From the capital to Syklid took a full three days. Normally they would have hurried, but the problem was that heavy rains over the past two days had flooded most of the roads. Progress was slow until they turned onto the Borea Trade Road, the second route, as they had to clear muddy, uneven paths and fallen trees. They were already several days behind their scheduled arrival.

Her encounters with Cardier had noticeably decreased. With only about twenty attendants, where did he manage to hide so well?…… Except at meals, she hardly saw him at all. His suggestion about sharing a bed seemed utterly meaningless. He returned late at night and left early in the morning. Ro had tried waiting for him, but fatigue from the journey always left her dozing off with her head against the window.

Yet whenever she woke, she was invariably tucked neatly into bed—blankets pulled up over her. Only Cardier would enter the Marchioness of Montrosa’s bedroom without permission, so the culprit was clear. This avoidance, then, was clearly intentional. What an utterly incomprehensible man. Did he think that since they were married, his goal was achieved……?

She sat on the bed, arms crossed, not even bothering to fix her messy hair. Inside, she boiled like a small, overheated stove. Not that she knew why.

“Are you awake?”

Anna peeked in, placed down a basin of water, and asked. Opening the window, the cries of seagulls and the briny scent of the sea rushed in. It was unmistakable—Syklid was close. With practiced hands, Anna dampened a comb and briskly smoothed Ro’s tangled hair.

“Maybe because the storm has passed, but the weather is especially clear today. I heard there’ll be a festival nearby tonight.”

“A festival?”

“I heard it’s a celebration honoring the sea god Pontos. Since it’s such a small town, it probably won’t be very big.”

Ro nodded with an expression of understanding. Since ancient times, people in the east had cherished this period after the typhoon, when the sea grew calm. Every year, they held festivals to pray for mild waves, clear skies, and bountiful catches. Whether the village was large or small, the celebrations were similar—floating lanterns, whole goats roasted, and lively dancing in the evening to the tune of lutes.

The excited chatter of people already celebrating carried on the wind. Ro rested her chin on the windowsill, basking in the sunlight like a lazy cat.

Looking down slightly, she could see the winding steps along the steep coastal cliffs and rows of yellowish brick houses. Seeing the awnings and lanterns already hung up, she truly felt she was back in the east.

“I’ve literally run out of clothes to wear now.”

Anna grumbled as she pulled out a white dress.

“Really?”

“I thought it would take exactly three days, so I only packed a week’s worth. Yesterday’s was my last fresh dress. At least if we keep moving quickly, we’ll arrive in Syklid by tomorrow evening…….”

“……Re-wearing one dress won’t end the world.”

“But you’re newlyweds! I heard you should captivate your husband with a variety of looks during this time.”

“…….”

This girl, who’s never even been in love, really knows everything……. Ro’s eyes momentarily clouded with disbelief, then sharpened as if recalling a grudge.

“That’s right. What about him?”

“Huh? Ah…….”

Anna tilted her head, confused for a moment, then trailed off with a knowing look. She didn’t even realize how frustrating that expression was……. Then again, when had this girl ever been perceptive of others’ feelings?

“Well…… don’t be too heartbroken, my lady. They say it’s not easy to get things right from the beginning. Even if the Marquis seems a bit awkward…….”

“Are you seriously incapable of not saying the wrong thing? Huh? What exactly can’t you do?”

Her voice rose a full tone, stung by unwarranted resentment. No, if she had actually tried anything, she wouldn’t feel so wronged hearing such words. But she hadn’t even attempted anything—hadn’t even seen his face much lately.

Yet judging by Anna’s reaction, her words had been interpreted differently. Anna’s face grew even more serious.

“So then…… could it be that it’s not the lady who’s unsatisfied, but the Marquis……?”

“……What?”

“That’s why he’s only been entering the bedroom when the lady is asleep!”

Ro pressed her fingers to her throbbing forehead. She didn’t know what was happening, but misunderstandings were piling up thick and fast—and in real time.

Ro waved her hand to dispel Anna’s misunderstanding.

“That’s not it.”

“What do you mean it’s not?”

Apparently, a full novel had already formed inside Anna’s mind. She glanced around sympathetically at the empty surroundings, then pulled from her apron a small wooden box, about the size of a palm.

“I brought this just in case. I heard every chambermaid keeps one of these.”