Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: The Neglected Roads to Rose
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Around the capital, the heart of the Solchemia Empire, there were three count's territories.
The three count's territories, including Rose, were basically tasked with defending the capital and fulfilling such predictable roles.
Compared to long ago, those duties had been scaled back considerably, but the count's territories still served as sturdy guardians of the capital.
It had been quite some time since Rose had properly fulfilled that role.
Even before Rozalin or I were born, the family had failed time and again in various ways, causing its power to wane significantly. Things had gotten so bad that they had to rely on barons and viscounts below the rank of count.
Of course, it wasn't quite that dire anymore, but it was still a family that had endured a truly severe slump.
"Hmm..."
The reason I'm bringing this up is simple.
The path Rozalin and I were currently taking by carriage led straight to that family.
"The road is more... nature-friendly than I expected... right...?"
"It's lovely. The grass and trees are so lush and natural, giving off a refreshing vibe instead of feeling artificial."
"Y-Yeah..."
Other families, at the very least...
Even the Niesista Barony had properly maintained the roads leading to their territory.
Yet here we were, rattling along roads to the Rose Family's territory—a count's family—that hadn't been maintained at all. The difference was painfully obvious.
The horses didn't even need mana fed to them; they stopped on their own midway to munch on the tall grass growing in the path.
"...Ha."
Despite it being a long-overdue return trip, Rozalin could only let out sighs laced with bitter laughs.
She probably hadn't anticipated this.
"Lize, are the carriages behind us keeping up alright?"
"There are four in total, and they're all following well."
"That's a relief, then."
Truth be told, a single carriage might have been manageable, but we had five in our convoy.
The one Rozalin and I were riding in, plus the rest carrying gifts for the Rose Family and servants and knights from our mansion.
We were heading to the Rose Family with all five carriages, but... the road was miserable.
Truly.
These were top-of-the-line carriages, but the state of the road made their luxury irrelevant as they jolted endlessly.
My hips and back ached terribly because of it.
I had to keep holding back sighs, especially with Rozalin shooting me apologetic glances nonstop.
This wasn't her fault to begin with.
"...This won't do."
After enduring the jolting for what felt like too long, I finally gave in.
"Let's stop at the next decent inn."
"Huh?"
"...We don't need to arrive right away anyway. We've already spent days cooped up in carriages, so let's just rest early today."
The Rose Family mansion wasn't far off now, so stopping here seemed like the best call.
Though honestly, my own discomfort was the biggest factor.
"...Yeah, let's do that. I am pretty tired..."
"I'm sorry. I wanted to get there sooner too, but... the people in the carriages behind must be worn out."
"No helping it. I never imagined it'd be like this..."
With no other choice, we decided to stop at the next suitable inn and rest.
Pushing on from here would be too grueling.
It was especially tough for me, but the servants and knights in the trailing carriages probably weren't faring much better.
Better to take it easy today.
*
"...Lize."
"Yes, Young Lady."
After renting rooms at a suitable inn and letting the knights and servants rest, I was alone in a room with Lize.
It seemed best to give Rozalin a room to herself, and sharing with Lize wasn't an issue anyway.
"We're heading to Madam's family this time, right?"
No need to mention it to the others, but it felt right to tell Lize.
I had some concerns, but I could trust her, and she wasn't one to let secrets slip.
"The Rose Family... basically dislikes our family."
"...Pardon?"
"I mean, they dislike us in pretty much the same way other families do."
"...Madam's family does...?"
"Yeah."
It must sound absurd.
I wasn't privy to the exact details of the agreements, but people in the Leonhardt Family had a rough idea.
It was a bit odd that Rose disliked us so unconditionally when other families didn't.
"But even if they show some animosity toward us—and hopefully they won't—don't react directly. Got it?"
"...Understood."
"You're accepting this awfully easily."
"It's an order from you, Young Lady."
"True."
It was a very Lize-like response.
She was less likely to question me now than before.
She used to push back a little sometimes... but not anymore.
"Anyway, they won't be outright hostile, but they probably won't like us much. Just keep that in mind."
"Yes. But how did you come to know this, Young Lady?"
"Just some information that came my way."
"I see. Should we inform the other servants and knights as well...?"
"Let's hold off on that. Don't say anything yet—wait until we arrive and see how they react. They might treat us normally, after all."
I'd originally planned to stir things up from the start, but causing trouble without cause would just burden Rozalin.
Both I and the other servants should observe first before deciding.
The odds were high they'd act normally anyway.
"That said, this inn isn't exactly top-notch."
"They say it's because there's not much traffic around here."
"Fair enough... It's not that far from here to the Rose Family anyway, so most people wouldn't bother stopping."
The inn was decent quality-wise, but it was small, which was a drawback.
That meant not enough rooms, forcing Lize and me to share.
I'd wanted to give her a room alone, but there was no choice.
The servants and knights must have it worse.
"Still, it's better than that unmanaged, bumpy road."
"...Agreed."
"The locals don't seem to maintain it much either, so maybe they don't use the road... But why on earth does Rose let it stay like this?"
I couldn't wrap my head around it.
No matter how you sliced it, this was the direct route to their own territory. Leaving it neglected like this defied common sense.
It wasn't recent neglect either—the state screamed long-term abandonment.
The roads we'd traveled by carriage before today were actually better.
"Hasn't the Rose Family been doing better lately?"
"That's what I've heard."
"Exactly. They've supposedly reentered central politics and regained some authority."
That made it even more baffling.
This wasn't some backwater village—it was a count's territory.
I'd never dreamed the road there could be this trashed.
Niesista's roads were far superior— incomparably so.
"It's... worrying."
Seeing this already was planting increasingly negative expectations about the Rose Family.
I'd never been to their territory, but sights like this couldn't help but build a poor image.
"...Please rest easy for now. I'll check on the servants."
"Would you?"
"Yes."
Lize left to look after the other servants, leaving me alone in the room.
I'd been riding in carriages nonstop for days to reach Rose Earldom, so I was exhausted.
With Lize out, I decided to lie on the bed and rest.
My back and hips were killing me.
"Huuuuh..."
*
After resting at the inn and having a simple dinner, I returned to the room with Lize.
I'd planned to chat with Rozalin about tomorrow's plans and other things, but she seemed preoccupied with today's events, so we didn't talk much and just ate quietly.
"Yaaawn..."
"Young Lady, I'll prepare your bedding."
"Yeah, thanks."
Once back in the room, I watched Lize set up for bed while I brushed my teeth.
...I'm sharing a room with Lize.
I hadn't thought much of it earlier, but now it felt a bit odd.
We'd lain on the same bed before, but spending the whole night like this was a first.
"...Lize. Don't lay out bedding on the floor."
"...Understood."
She was seriously about to make her bed on the floor without complaint.
I had to stop her.
Maid or not, I had no intention of letting Lize sleep uncomfortably on the floor from the start.
It might feel awkward, but sharing a bed with her wasn't entirely new.
Just sleep—that was that.
"We need to sleep soon and get up early tomorrow too, right?"
"...Yes."
Lize finished her preparations, and so did I.
It was early, but I was tired, and we'd set off in the morning anyway.
"So, time to hit the hay?"
"...Understood."
She seemed a bit hesitant—maybe embarrassed—but she knew resistance was futile.
Having grown accustomed to me, Lize obediently slipped under the covers at my words.
The road and days of carriage travel had worn me out, but lying here with the lovely Lize wasn't half bad.
She really has matured even more lately... definitely.
"........"
Facing her, her slightly more grown-up figure was unmistakably...
Feeling like I was up to no good, I rolled over and went to sleep.