Flowers in Both Hands
"For that reason, Tavi and I are heading to the merchant caravan."
I spoke again to the kids(?) staring at me like so what?
"In other words, both Tavi and I will be away from the territory."
Now they finally looked flustered.
Jenis was the first to speak up after a moment of hesitation.
"The gate surge is right around the corner. Is it really okay to leave?"
"Don't worry. The raid will proceed as planned. Just you all and the knight order members Vice-Captain Hanson picked."
"Then what about you, my lord...?"
"Of course I'll sit this one out. This raid is for your growth, after all."
It was to check the results of their training and give them gate experience.
No need for me to tag along.
My instincts are telling me you can handle it just fine.
Seeing it with my own eyes would be ideal, but the caravan issue took priority right now.
"You've trained hard, right? You can do this."
"Don't worry. We'll clear it spectacularly, even without you."
Iana grabbed Jenis's shoulder and replied. She must have felt her improved skills—her face brimmed with confidence.
"You can trust Hanson with this, right?"
"Leading the knight order is the vice-captain's duty. Nothing would make me happier than your trust. However—"
Hanson added with a worried look.
"It concerns me that both of you, who have been leading the territory, will be absent at the same time."
"It won't even take a few days. With you all here, it should be fine for a bit."
I'd smashed the crime syndicates just in case. The knights were loyal to me, and Iana was there too—no issues for the time being.
"I wanted to at least leave Tavi behind, but she's the one who handled most of the caravan talks."
"You two handle such vital territory duties."
"I might've had to go alone otherwise."
Fortunately, Tavi's direct subordinates were competent and squeaky clean. Since she'd led them herself, I could trust them.
"But is it safe with just you and Advisor Tavi, my lord? We know your strength well, but safety is still a concern."
"I'm bringing one escort anyway. One of the adventurers we just recruited."
"An adventurer...? As strong as Lady Iana?"
"No way."
There was no adventurer as young and strong as Iana. She was the protagonist of this romance fantasy, after all.
"Just testing her out this time. It's a trial run."
"If you and Advisor Tavi chose her yourselves, she must be reliable enough."
"We'll see about that."
I nodded with a wry smile.
"Anyway, that's the plan. Handle the gate raid well. I know you can do it, so no worries."
I emphasized it to Iana in particular.
"Especially you—you know you're the strongest here, right? Cover for them if needed."
"Uh, yeah? Hmph! Of course. That's my role."
Iana was why I could leave with peace of mind. Her skills could handle any variable.
"Look at that~ Iana. The cold lord's putting all his faith in you."
"...Shut up."
"What's with the blushing, you cutie!"
"S-stop it!"
I dismissed them after watching Luna poke Iana's cheeks.
Those staying at the manor would handle the territory's gate. We were off to resolve the caravan's gate crisis.
Either way, we were all tackling gates.
"Welcome, my lord."
"Yoo-hoo~ Thanks for calling me along today, my lord!"
As I finished preparing and stepped out, Tavi and Lur were already waiting.
"I had no idea you liked me that much, my lord~ I went extra bold with the maid concept today. What do you think?"
Lur leaned forward in a provocative pose. Tavi's eyes shook violently at her skimpy outfit.
"L-Lur! What are you doing, acting so cheap at your age! And what's with that outfit to begin with!"
"Why~? It's the trend among adventurers these days. Exposure equals defense, or so they say?"
"What kind of nonsense logic is that!"
"You're too uptight, Tavi. I bet the lord prefers this sort of thing. I mean, why else bring two beauties like flowers in both hands on a trip~?"
"It's not a trip—it's work. And our lord isn't like that..."
Tavi glanced at me with a just in case look as she trailed off.
Why? What? What's my usual image even like for that reaction?
"...Anyway, thanks for making time. It won't be long, but let's make it smooth."
With little time to spare, we headed straight for the caravan.
The carriage made travel easy enough.
It bumps a lot, though. I hear cities already have mana stone cars in use.
Not great ones, but better than walking.
Tavi took the driver's seat for now.
"You can drive a carriage?"
"The late lord taught me, saying I'd need it someday. Now it's just a memory."
Tavi smiled bitterly, tinged with longing.
Her bond with the late lord was surely deeper than mine. Unlike me, who'd just possessed this body and barely seen his face, Tavi saw him as her benefactor in the story.
"...Father must've had high hopes for you, Tavi."
"More kindness than I deserved. He raised a mere commoner girl who caught his eye."
"Nah. I think you rose because of your talent."
"R-Really?"
"Just look at everything you handle for the territory now."
Without Tavi, territory management would've been three times the nightmare. Would it even function? From paperwork to minutiae—her team handled an uncountable load.
"You're more suited to be lord than I am."
"...That again? As I've said repeatedly, you're the only one to lead this territory."
"Does it have to be me? Once we have the funds, you could run it yourself."
"I lack legitimacy. The nobles and officials would rebel."
"I'll handle that on my way out. A bit of trash behavior, and they'll tremble on their own..."
I was midway through plotting to put Tavi in the lord's seat when—
"Ahem! Ahem! How long are you two gonna chat? I'm bored."
Lur complained from the back.
"My lord, here's your chance for some alone time with a cute adventurer in the carriage. Gonna waste it on talk? Play nice, and we could have some steamy fun~?"
Tavi's face flushed beet red at Lur's words.
"W-What are you saying! We're working!"
"So what~? How long you gonna play coy, Tavi? Stuck to the lord 24/7, stuff's bound to happen, right?"
"N-No! Nothing like that would happen even if the sky split!"
As they bickered, I raised a hand.
"Quiet down."
They both shut up at my low tone.
"Grrrrr!"
Two wolves burst from the bushes.
"How did you sense them before they appeared, my lord...?"
"Felt their presence from afar."
Cultivating inner power had boosted my overall physical senses.
I eyed the wolves casually.
"Strays from the gate that scattered before?"
Or natives. In a fantasy world, beasts and monsters on the road were common.
I could've taken them blindfolded, but...
"Lur, mind showing me your skills?"
"Hehe! Leave it to me. That's why you hired me, right?"
Lur stepped forward confidently, drawing a dagger.
"Let's go!"
She hurled the dagger first. The wolves counterattacked, but a seasoned adventurer was too much.
"Yelp!"
"Kiiing!"
The stabbed wolves crumpled. Lur retrieved her dagger and looked at me expectantly.
"How's that? Not bad compared to that black-haired knight, right?"
"...Sure, let's say so."
Lacking compared to Iana, but decent. Top-tier among our territory's adventurers, at least.
"You carry a lot of daggers."
"Gotta fight up close otherwise, and blood's gross."
...Makes sense.
That setup handled local trash mobs easily. Our carriage pressed on smoothly.
...Was bringing Lur the right call?
Tavi worried, despite being her friend. Lur wasn't slacking—mostly idle, but fulfilling her escort role.
The issue was her constant flirting with the lord! Even bold sexual innuendos, face unflushed.
How does she do that? Adventurer thing?
A twinge of envy at her frankness. And anxiety—what if, just if, the lord took interest!
Contrary to her fears, the trip passed uneventfully. At nightfall, we camped.
The campfire crackled.
Lur insisted on cooking.
"Tavi's really bad at it."
Tavi blushed at her friend's words but had no retort. No interest in cooking, no knack for it.
Food's just fuel, right?
Lur's wasn't great, but fair for forest camping.
As we rested before sleep—
"Tavi, let's pick flowers."
"Huh? Suddenly?"
"It's night—dangerous alone. Better with me. Come on~"
Lur half-dragged her. Not unusual for friends, so Tavi sighed and followed.
"I didn't wanna come."
"Mm, good enough distance now."
"...You think this might embarrass me? Did we need to go this far?"
"Ugh, zero tact."
Tavi side-eyed Lur.
Who's lacking tact here?
"Didn't notice I called you alone?"
"Alone? Why?"
"...What do you think of the lord?"
"What? He's leading the territory brilliantly."
"Not that."
Lur shook her head.
"As a man."
"W-What?"
Tavi's face burned red even in the dark.
"No way you have zero thoughts with a hunk like that beside you."
"I don't... think much."
"Really? No feelings at all?"
"......"
Of course, denying any feelings would be a lie. He was handsome, respectable.
But romance? How dare she entertain such insolence toward the lord.
"I've never had impure thoughts about him."
"Really, really? Swear it?"
"Yes, I swear to the heavens."
Tavi eyed Lur.
"Why ask anyway?"
"Just~"
Lur grinned.
"Then it's fine if I confess to him first?"