“Eh, me?”
“That’s right. It’s ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) at Lord Amajio’s invitation. In the long run, you’ll have to come back here, but if you’re going to broaden your horizons, the environment over there is better.”
“I’m going, I’m going! Lord Amajio will be there too, right!?”
“Hold on, hold on. Well, yes. For now, two or three months—if there doesn’t seem to be a problem, then you’ll live over there for a few years and study. There isn’t much we can teach you here, and your mom and I both agree. They said the pickup will be here in three days. Sorry it’s so sudden.”
“Got it! I’ll go tell everyone!”
At the words of her father, the Headman, his daughter Saarya burst out with bright energy.
“...Is she going to be okay? She’s never even been to a city...”
“Everything is experience, dear. And besides, even if it’s just as an apprentice, they said she’ll have an attendant with her, so there’s probably not much to worry about.”
“I know, but still... She might climb right up onto somebody’s house because there aren’t any trees. That’s the kind of girl she is.”
“... ...”
“Hey. Say something.”
“It’ll work out.”
A frontier village ruled by Duke Amajio Silverhead.
Known for how well they got along, the Headman and his wife sighed as they thought of their precious only daughter.
◇◇◇◇
“Ooh—ooh! It’s here, it’s here, Father! City carriages really are something else!”
“Yeah, no, uh... Yeah. That’s not just any carriage... It’s one of those motor carriages, isn’t it? The ones that only started showing up recently.”
On the day the pickup was supposed to arrive—Amajio Silverhead had sent word ahead—the Headman’s family waited on the second floor of the village’s carriage station, drinking tea.
When Saarya spotted it through the window, she let out a cheer.
Some villagers had also gathered nearby, and a few stood up and rushed to the windows as well.
“Is that made of iron!? That’s amazing—looks sturdy! And there aren’t even any horses!”
“Yeah. This is my first time seeing one too, but I’ve heard traveling merchants talk about it. They said a big vehicle that runs without horses has been showing up lately. But they also said you only see them around the capital... So it can come all the way out here, huh.”
“Lord Amajio really is something!”
At his daughter’s innocent excitement, her father gave a wry smile.
The motor carriage that arrived was twice the length of a normal carriage.
With a clack, the door opened, and a woman stepped out.
“By order of Duke Silverhead, I have come to pick up Lady Saarya. My name is Linanel.”
“Yeah. The letter... I’ve confirmed it. The Headman and his family are on the second floor—go on up. And as for this motor carriage—”
“The driver is inside. Could you instruct us where to stop? If you designate a location, we can move it there.”
“Understood. Much obliged. ...Hey! Can you hear me?”
At Linanel’s explanation, the station guide hurried over to the motor carriage and called out.
Then the glass window on the right side slowly slid down.
It was tinted so heavily that he hadn’t been able to see inside, but the one sitting there was a beautiful young girl.
“I can hear you. Where should I park?”
“O-oh... Uh, see that marked frame over there? Can you see it?”
“Hm. Understood. The one closest to the front is fine?”
“Yeah...”
While the guide watched with a blank expression, the motor carriage began moving, slowly, with a soft engine whirring sound.
When it backed into the marked frame, the guide whistled.
“Damn, it really can move backward too. Hey—no need to mind any horses, but we’re going to greet the young lady. She should have a seat on the second floor. You—take her up.”
“Y-yes!”
The guide patted the apprentice boy on the shoulder and started walking toward the motor carriage.
◇◇◇◇
Up on the second floor, Linanel found the Headman’s family standing to greet her and approached them.
His daughter was pushed forward in front of Linanel, so Linanel smiled and lifted a hand lightly.
“You’re Saarya?”
“Y-yes!”
Faced with a refined, beautiful woman who had appeared out of nowhere, Saarya froze stiff.
She’d been told someone would come to pick her up, but she’d never imagined someone this beautiful would be the one to arrive.
“Saarya, you’re way too tense.”
The Headman rubbed his daughter’s head firmly, then dipped his head slightly to Linanel.
“Thank you for coming all this way. Linanel, is that right?”
“Yes, Headman. This is the letter I am holding on behalf of Duke Silverhead.”
“Confirmed. I’ve received it. Thank you. I’ll check it.”
The Headman took the letter. After confirming that the wax seal was indeed Duke Silverhead’s, he opened it.
“I’m Linanel. I don’t have a family name. Lord Amajio asked me to help you. Nice to meet you.”
“Uh... yeah. Yes! N-nice to...!”
At Saarya’s fresh, earnest reaction, Linanel chuckled.
“Don’t be so nervous. I’m older than you, sure, but there isn’t any ‘above’ or ‘below’ between us. And if things go well, we’ll be spending a few years together. Well, I’ll explain the details on the way.”
“S-so that’s how it is...”
As Saarya’s eyes darted around at Linanel’s polished mannerisms, a new figure appeared at the top of the stairs.
“Lady Saffron, this way! Um—your seat is prepared over there!”
“Appreciated.”
At the sight of the girl who had come up, the second-floor cafeteria fell silent.
Black hair, and an oversized coat like a black-based military uniform. It looked like a skirt at first glance, but whether for ease of movement or not, she wore flared half-pants with black tights.
But the strangest thing of all was the pair of beast ears on her head, and the black tail swaying behind her.
Her two beast ears twitched once. She turned her face toward Linanel, who was still chuckling softly.
“Linanel. Departure is in two hours. I was told to wait here.”
“Yes, that seems to be the case. Is the boy next to you the one who’ll guide you?”
“Ah—... Yes, um, this way! Please!”
Guided by the apprentice boy, the cat-eared girl walked over to the seats beside the Headman’s family.
“Hey, Headman—when you’re ready, I’ll call you again. You—go get drinks for the young ladies. Boss! Put it on the usual tab!”
The station guide came up late, nudged the apprentice boy, and sent him running.
At the peaceful scene, the Headman’s family gave wry smiles as well and returned to their seats.
“Saarya, come sit with us over here.”
“O-okay...”
Prompted by Linanel, Saarya was seated at the same table as the cat-eared girl. Saarya hadn’t even confirmed who the motor carriage driver was, so the sudden turn of events had her completely lost.
“I’ll introduce her properly. This is Lady Saffron of <Paraiso>, the owner of that motor carriage. She drove it all the way here from the capital.”
“I’m Saffron, Lady Saarya. I’ve heard about you from Amajio Silverhead. It’ll only be for a short time, but I ask for your cooperation.”
The two of them had just given her an explanation that was hard to process. Saarya’s eyes wandered.
The adorable girl in front of her was the driver? Paraiso? And on top of that, she was calling the Duke by name?
“Haha. You can’t be blamed for being shocked. I’ll explain it properly.”
And for the two hours until departure, the girls continued chatting.
Saarya was given a clipped overview of how the country—no, the capital—had changed dramatically in less than a year, and it left her feeling dizzy.
◇◇◇◇
A journey that felt long, and yet short.
They departed in the morning, and by the time it grew dark, they reached the destination city.
“All right. We’ll part ways here for now, Saarya. Let’s meet again in the capital.”
“Yeah... Thank you, Linanel. And Lady Saffron too—thank you very much.”
“You’re welcome. I go in and out on missions, so we’ll probably meet again.”
Saarya would stay one night at an inn here, then head to the capital, Moar, by rail. Saffron and Linanel would take the motor carriage straight back to Moar.
Saarya could have ridden in the motor carriage as well, but Amajio had instructed her to travel by rail as “social studies.”
After getting out, Saarya waved until the motor carriage disappeared into the distance. Then she let out a short breath and started walking.
“First, I go to the inn. I heard it’s already arranged, so it’ll be fine.”
And so, with nothing in particular happening, Saarya arrived at the inn.
Here, she would meet someone who would dramatically change her future.
“You’re Saarya. I’ve been waiting. I’m Ixia. I look forward to working with you.”
