The Unintended Travel Companion
"Why. What."
"Ha..." I had clearly planned to go with Vera.
"Do you hate going with me?"
"...No, it's not that."
"Then what's with that hesitation!"
"When did I ever?"
The one who had joined me on the journey was not Vera, but Winnie.
"No."
"Pardon?"
"...What is with that stupid formal tone?"
"Should I stop using it?"
"You are my husband now. Don't use such spineless language. A husband should act like a husband."
"I was just worried you might be offended..."
"Do I look like a narrow-minded woman who would get offended by something so trivial?"
She looked incredibly offended even now. In my memories, Monica was definitely not broad-minded. Though, that was a future that hadn't happened yet. Perhaps because of those memories, even when she told me to speak casually, the words wouldn't easily leave my lips.
"As long as you don't infringe upon or ignore my authority as the lord, it's fine."
"Hmm, so what's the reason for saying no?"
"Are you questioning my decision right now?"
Monica's beautiful face twisted into a scowl. She glared at me once, then softened her expression and explained the reason.
"...Because my mother finds that sort of thing tiring. That's why it's a no."
...I was pretty sure Vera had been the one to suggest it.
"But your mother said she wanted to go..."
"Oh, seriously, why do you like my mother so much? I heard you've been bothering her for hours every day lately, asking her to teach you how to read?"
'Is that what she thinks...'
Monica spoke in a slightly lowered voice, as if spitting out the words. It was a tone just on the verge of irritation.
"Or perhaps... are you harboring some strange, dark desires for my mother?"
"No, I prefer beauties younger than me, just like the Countess."
Calling her a beauty wasn't a lie. That appearance, which looked like a carbon copy of her mother, carried an aura similar to a slightly sharper Vera. I could have believed it if someone told me that was what Vera looked like fifteen years ago. Except for the chest size, perhaps.
"...I told you not to use formal language."
I saw the corners of Monica's mouth twitch slightly. Her voice seemed a bit softer than before.
"Anyway, my mother is out of the question. Did you say the destination was Retinel? Winnie... Viscountess Melbourne mentioned she had business that way, so why don't you go with her?"
Winnie instead of Vera... A substitute is better than nothing. Still, it was better than going alone. I felt that if I insisted on traveling with Vera any further, I would truly be suspected.
"I'll tell my mother, so you don't need to say anything. And even if she is a Viscountess, don't you dare do anything strange. She is, for all intents and purposes, of a higher rank than you."
"I underst... I got it."
Speaking casually to Monica—my tongue felt like it was going to cramp.
And so, due to Monica's interference, the trip alone with Vera was thwarted. It had been a rare opportunity to enjoy Vera's company outdoors without having to worry about prying eyes. What a waste. Well, in exchange, I had made sure to give her enough to last the ten days we’d be apart last night.
I could see the back of our 'chicken'—no, our 'puppy'—who had joined the journey in her stead. For some reason, Winnie, with a slightly sulky face, kept a distance of about five paces while glancing back at me as she rode her horse. Her posture in the saddle was stable, suggesting she was quite accustomed to riding. The way her waist moved smoothly, swaying back and forth to the rhythm of the horse's gait, was extraordinary.
...Should I try having her do it from above next time?
Let's think positively. Since I was maintaining a good enough atmosphere with Vera, I should take this chance to make Winnie a bit more honest. After all, Winnie was just as guilty of hiding our relationship as I was.
I urged my horse to slide up beside Winnie. Perhaps because I had dressed lightly to avoid any hassle, the horse moved as if it were flying, even though it wasn't my prized steed.
"Winnie!"
"..."
She glanced at me once, then turned her head back to the front. Hmm, could she be sulking? Over what?
'Is it because of that thing the day before yesterday?'
Did she hate being called a puppy that much? I hadn't been able to check yesterday because I was busy soothing Vera, who was disappointed all day long. The fact that she kept pretending not to hear me despite me calling her name repeatedly meant she was definitely sulking. Yet, she didn't urge her horse to widen the distance.
"Winnie."
"..."
"Puppy."
"...Don't call me that."
"Female puppy."
"..."
How could her voice reveal her emotions so clearly? It was a tone that felt slightly disappointed that I wasn't acknowledging her obvious sulking. The more she acted like this, the less I could pretend to know.
"But why are you riding like that? I heard it's bad for a woman's health to ride with her legs spread."
"...That's all made up by people who don't know anything. Because of the side-saddle, it's so uncomfortable to ride with your legs to one side. Logically speaking, isn't it obviously worse for your body to be lopsided than symmetrical?"
Perhaps because it was a topic she knew well, Winnie's mouth, which had been trying to stay silent, moved quickly.
"The only advantage of a side-saddle is that you can protect your virginity. If you ride with your legs spread and move around, your hymen might tear, but if you keep your legs together to one side, you can prevent that."
"Hmm, is that so? So why did you ride with your legs spread?"
"You took my virginity!"
Winnie swung her arm to hit me, but perhaps because we were on horseback, her arm didn't reach. To think I took the virginity of a woman who reacts so amusingly—I felt quite proud.
Perhaps she had given up on maintaining her sulky facade now that she had already let it slip, but Winnie started talking to me. How had she managed to keep quiet until now?
"So, were you trying to go alone instead of with me?"
"No, there was someone else I intended to go with."
"Who?"
"Vera."
"Huh." Winnie let out a dumbfounded sound. If things had gone as planned, it would have been the three of us: Vera, Winnie, and me. That must have been incredibly uncomfortable for Winnie. If she was someone who couldn't hide her emotions like she did, she would have clearly been caught by Vera knowing about my relationship with her.
"Hmm, that's a total affair trip. You're bold, considering you're married to Monica..."
"It doesn't seem all that different even now, does it? Only the woman changed; the rest is the same."
Winnie's face turned beet red. It would take ten days to get there and back, and probably a little over ten days if we included stays along the way. I should make good use of Winnie's mouth during that time.
"B-by the way, what business do you have in Retinel? Wasn't your hometown the Mountbern estate? Is there someone you need to meet?"
"No, someone to meet... I suppose you could call it someone to meet."
"What is that supposed to mean? How can you call it 'someone' or not? If it's a person, it's a person; if not, it's not."
"Hmm... the world isn't neatly divided into two like that, but let's go with that for now."
"Tell me properly!"
I had tried to brush it off vaguely, but she was surprisingly persistent.
"I'll tell you when we arrive, so don't worry."
But she still seemed curious, and her questions didn't stop. When I refused to open my mouth despite her continued questioning, Winnie finally gave up, exhausted. She was incredibly persistent. Was it curiosity? Or a thirst for knowledge? She seemed to have a very strong drive for that.
"Then, tell me this."
"Yeah?"
"Did you tell Vera—aunt, I mean, the Countess—what you're going for?"
Ah. Was that it? It seemed her logic was that if I had told the person I originally planned to accompany, I should tell her too, since she was the one traveling with me now. I could predict exactly what she wanted to talk about.
"No, I didn't."
"...Is that so? Then never mind."
Perhaps because the answer was different from what she expected, Winnie went quiet. I turned the question back on Winnie, who was turning her head away as if embarrassed.
"Then Winnie, what are you going to Retinel for?"
"Me? I have various things to buy, that's why."
"Do the traveling merchants not sell them?"
"That's part of it, and it'll be months before the merchants come... and because someone came suddenly, our consumption rate increased rapidly. The alchemy ingredients aren't a problem, but the herbs are."
Hmm. So she was mainly buying medicinal herbs. But if she bought that many, would she even be able to carry them all?
"If we reduce our food, and you and I carry them together, wouldn't we be able to carry them all?"
"When did I say I'd help you carry them?"
"If not, never mind. I'll just buy a cart."
Was she buying enough to even need a cart?
"I'm joking. It's not that much, and dried herbs don't take up that much volume, so don't worry."
It was funny how she answered on her own just by looking at my expression, even though I hadn't said a word.
"What are herbs usually used for?"
"Well, they're used for making ointments, and also for making medicine... Why. Do you want me to make you something good for your stamina?"
"That would be nice. Not just for me, but for you too."
"Hmph... we'll see how you behave."
Winnie urged her horse and galloped ahead.