Suddenly Going Together?
“Hmm……”
I paused for a moment. Normally in a situation like this you’d ask for permission first, but the authority I held was significant enough that I could judge for myself.
Is she trying to push for a political marriage?
When a noble offers their daughter to a man, the intention is obvious. It has to be marriage. We’d had no contact until I brought the relief supplies, and we weren’t even from rival factions. We weren’t on such hostile terms that she’d need to use a honey trap to dig for information.
In the end, I reached one conclusion. It was better to accept.
“I’m fine with it.”
The moment the words left my mouth, Amelia expressed her surprise not with her voice but through her expression and eyes. She looked like a child who had just been told she was going on a picnic.
“Thank you for accepting my sudden request.”
Her voice was calm, completely at odds with her excited face. It felt oddly chilling. Was it the disconnect that gave me the creeps?
“Not at all. By the way, have you packed your things? It’s fine if you come with just yourself, but you’ll probably be more comfortable with at least a few belongings.”
“Ah…!”
Amelia shot to her feet in surprise. She really had come with nothing but the clothes on her back.
“I’ll pack a few simple items and be right back.”
“I’ll be waiting, so take your time. You still need to tidy up and say goodbye to the viscount.”
I gently reassured the clearly rushed Amelia before sending her off. She looked more desperate than someone who urgently needed the bathroom.
She’s going to hurt herself rushing like that.
It was hard to picture a war hero getting injured from a simple fall, but heroes were still human. The kind of person who stubs their toe on a piece of furniture and suffers excruciating pain.
“Ouch.”
The memory of stubbing my toe while distracted, or banging my knee, or the kind of pain that made it feel like I couldn’t breathe, hit me all at once and my shoulders instinctively hunched.
“Young master? Are you all right? Were the potatoes bad?”
A man nearby approached and asked. The others around us began murmuring as they looked my way.
It was nice that they were worried, but this was a bit much.
“No, I just got lost in an old memory. I’m fine, so let’s finish cleaning up quickly.”
I shook my head slightly and sighed. The men looked at my face and slowly nodded.
“Ah, yes. Understood.”
“If you’re done eating, start cleaning up! And don’t stuff yourselves and get indigestion! I’ve seen plenty of guys pass out from that!”
The men began cleaning the area with lively energy. It was brisk and efficient. In terms of time, it took barely ten minutes. They even neatly disposed of the remaining ashes.
Not bad.
The saying that beautiful people leave beautiful messes came to mind. This was damn near perfect.
“I’ll go greet the viscount, so get ready to leave. We’ll head out as soon as I’m back.”
“Yes, young master.”
I entered the castle alone and greeted the viscount. Since he already knew the situation, he accepted my farewell calmly.
“I am truly grateful. I never imagined you would resolve even our debt along with the supplies. I feel ashamed for only receiving.”
“Not at all. I pray for the prosperity of your territory, Viscount.”
“Thank you. I know it is shameless of me to say this… but please take good care of my daughter as well.”
The viscount made the request with extreme politeness. His demeanor was exactly like a father sending his daughter off to be married, which confirmed it. He really was trying to marry her off.
“On the contrary, I should be the one asking for your blessing. I will treat her well.”
I answered in a deliberately dry tone, drawing a clear line that I would treat her only as an honored guest.
“Hmm. Thank you.”
The viscount nodded with a slightly bitter expression, but the sparkle in his eyes showed he hadn’t given up hope yet. Or maybe I was imagining it.
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
After the final greeting I stepped outside. All that remained was to wait in the carriage until Amelia arrived.
“You’re already here?”
She had come out earlier than me and was waiting. It made me feel strangely guilty.
“It’s nothing. How long have you been waiting?”
“I just got here. There wasn’t much to prepare, so it didn’t take long.”
“I see……”
I nodded as I faced Amelia. That was fine, then.
“Understood. The cargo space might be rather uncomfortable, so I ask for your patience.”
“Uncomfortable? It’s actually quite pleasant.”
Amelia smiled softly and climbed into the cargo hold. The way she mounted it, the way she settled onto the floor—everything was completely natural.
This is what a war hero looks like.
Horses, carriages, sleeping outdoors. She must have endured every hardship ordinary soldiers faced. I was genuinely impressed.
I climbed in and sat across from her. There were plenty of seats; there was no reason to sit close.
“If everyone’s ready, move out!”
“Yes!”
I shouted, the men shouted back, and the carriage began to roll forward with a rattle. Heading home.
Amelia had always found people unfamiliar. When they rescued her, they were benefactors. Once she was safe, most looked at her like a monster and kept their distance. Even her own family had been like that, so it was hardly surprising.
However.
The coachmen and soldiers traveling with Yohan were different. They showed genuine respect.
Of course, a sliver of fear still lingered in the corners of their eyes. They were only human, after all. Yet they were nothing like the people she had encountered before. Their attitude was closer to the slight awkwardness that came simply from differences in status—the kind she had occasionally seen before the war.
Thanks to that, it felt like she had returned to the daily life she knew before the conflict. It had been a long time since she felt this refreshed.
“My lady. Please have dinner.”
And.
She was happy because of Yohan, who looked at her with eyes that held not a trace of fear. It felt as if the melancholy pooled in her chest was melting away.
Roasted beans. Potatoes sprinkled with salt. Lightly blanched salad. It was a somewhat luxurious meal, yet the sort commoners might eat, and she liked it.
Even the porridge that had been boiled until it was nearly water with almost no ingredients. The grass roots she used to dig up and eat when they had to live off the land. All of it was welcome after the time their supply depot had been destroyed and even ordinary meals became impossible.
Just being able to eat like this is happiness.
Amelia smiled as she ate. It had been so long since she enjoyed a meal with a light heart that even her stomach felt at ease.
After eating came the herbs. She brushed her teeth thoroughly, cleaning her mouth.
“Brush your teeth! If you don’t take care of them normally, they’ll rot and you’ll suffer even more!”
Everyone did it. They had been given time to wash even during the war, but this was the first time she had seen them encouraged so insistently. She was even more surprised to learn it was at Yohan’s instruction.
A noble who cared about the dental health of commoners? She had never seen one. Not even the current crown princess, who was called a saint, had gone this far.
Amelia gazed at Yohan in the distance. His attitude and personality were so different from other noble children that she couldn’t look away. His handsome appearance only added to the effect.
Suddenly, the words Yohan had spoken tightened around her heart. Her body grew hot without warning.
Amelia never complained about the food or the sleeping arrangements. She was used to inns and even camping out. Thanks to that, the journey passed without incident.
Unlike the trip to Glachel Territory, they encountered no bandits. At this rate, it was a perfect score.
We’re almost there.
In the distance she could see a castle with a great river running beside it. A wide river, open plains—the scenery of our territory was like something out of a fairy tale.
“It’s beautiful.”
Amelia murmured, perched on the edge of the cargo space. Was it refreshing because it was her first time seeing it?
“Thank you for the kind words.”
“I mean it. I heard Meyer Territory suffered damage during the Species War as well… I didn’t expect it to be this vibrant.”
Usually the word “vibrant” carried a positive connotation. Hearing it used that way felt fresh. It wasn’t wrong, but the phrasing was different.
“Welcome!”
The soldiers guarding the gate stood at perfect attention and saluted. It resembled a Korean-style salute. Strangely, they seemed unusually rigid today. Was a division commander visiting?
“Right. Is something going on? You’re all standing awfully straight.”
“No, sir.”
The soldier answered with a tense face. He seemed more nervous about the person beside me than about me. It was probably because I had sent word the night before departure that I was bringing a guest.
“Doesn’t look like nothing to me. Anyway, thank you for your hard work.”
“Thank you, sir.”
The carriage passed the disciplined soldiers and entered the castle. The eyes of the people watching the procession felt strangely excited, and the noise made fatigue pile on heavily.
Clap, clap! The onlookers began applauding as soon as they saw us. It was loud enough to make my ears ring.
“What? Why the sudden applause? Is this some kind of victory parade?”
I muttered without thinking. This was a bit much. Had my father ordered them to do this in advance?
“Exactly. Everyone likes you, young master, but this seems excessive, doesn’t it?”
The coachman shouted back, sounding just as bewildered. The applause was so loud he had to raise his voice to be heard.
Amelia’s eyes widened in surprise as well, like someone caught off guard.
Anyway. Thanks to the unexpected welcome that left my ears ringing, we reached the inner castle.
“…It’s big.”
It was. We had taken the chance to expand while repairing the half-destroyed sections.
“It was half-destroyed, so we took the opportunity to renovate. Let’s head inside.”
I got down from the cargo space first, then approached Amelia and offered my hand. Proper escort etiquette. She had been half-baggage on the way here, but from now on she was an honored guest. She deserved proper treatment.
Amelia stared at my offered hand for a moment before slowly extending her own. Very shyly. Like someone holding a man’s hand for the first time.
Now that I think about it, this might be my first time too.
The only women whose hands I had ever held were my mother at most, or the maids who worked in the house. It was because I had never had a debutante—the common romance-fantasy trope that marked a young noble’s entrance into high society.
Anyway. The hand of the first woman I had ever held was surprisingly firm.
Ah… So that’s why.
Only then did I understand why Amelia had hesitated. Her hand was rough and hard. It wasn’t the soft, beautiful hand prized in noble society.
“Um…?”
“It is an honor to hold such a wonderful hand. Shall we go?”
So I gripped it firmly. Firmly enough to make Amelia’s pupils tremble.