Chapter 22

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 22

Chapter Title: Road to Saint Anthrar

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Clop, clop—

The carriage slowly crossed the main avenue before picking up real speed once it passed through the capital's outer walls.

Vast fields, farms, and pastures stretched out, dotted here and there with villages.

These were settlements of commoners who tilled the nearby soil or raised livestock for a living.

Peddlers and merchants occasionally stopped there, so they had inns and places to stay the night.

One of those villages would likely be their shelter for the evening.

After stopping only briefly for lunch, the procession had traveled nonstop for half a day when they reached a fairly large village just before sunset.

The village chief was waiting out front, having received word from the advance scouts via messenger pigeon.

"Welcome, my lord. Upon hearing you'd be staying in our village, we've prepared the inn and several homes suitable for lodging."

"Good. Where's the inn?"

"This way. Allow me to guide you."

The sound of a knight conversing quietly with the chief drifted in from outside. Soon the carriage moved again, followed by a sharp knock, knock.

"My lord. Madam. We've arrived at the inn."

It was Vice-Captain Huber. With Enoch's assistance, Agatha stepped down from the carriage and looked up at the building before her.

It was a slightly worn but ordinary two-story mid-tier inn.

A faint tension hung in the air around them. Enoch whispered softly.

"Shall we prepare sleeping quarters in the carriage instead?"

"It's fine. I'm quite used to long-distance travel, you know."

During estate tours or when she had to marry abroad.

It would have been nice to always stay in fine inns or noble mansions, but in unavoidable situations, Agatha had lodged in places like this or even camped outdoors.

What she'd learned then was that a building was better than sleeping rough—and when it came to safety, a guest room was preferable.

"It'll be easier for the knights to stand guard if I'm in a room. Where's my chamber?"

"Ah, allow me to show you, madam. This way."

Huber's face relaxed a bit as he led the way into the inn. A clear jingle rang out from the bell.

The first floor served as both dining hall and inn reception, while the second floor was entirely guest rooms.

The stairs creaked faintly underfoot, and Enoch gently took Agatha's arm.

The room Huber showed them to was at the far left end from the center hallway.

"They say this is the best room. And as you specified, madam, for security, a spot with a narrow approach seemed ideal, so we've prepared this one."

"Thank you for your efforts. Jessie?"

"Yes, madam. Please give us a moment."

The close attendant maids, including those from House Noblesse, sprang into action. They gave the room another thorough cleaning and swapped out the furnishings.

They laid down a soft carpet on the floor.

Hung curtains by the window and even changed the bed linens to Agatha's preferred ones, filling the room with a cozy atmosphere.

"We can have dinner while we wait. Where's my husband's room?"

"Ah, er, his lordship's room is at the other end."

Huber pointed to the opposite end with a bewildered expression. Agatha's attendant maid, Jessie, quickly bowed her head.

"We'll inspect the marquis's room thoroughly as well."

"Yes, Jessie. Thank you."

Agatha took Enoch's arm and turned around. They'd had a simple sandwich from the mansion for lunch while sitting in a field, so she wanted a proper dinner.

"I'd like roast for dinner tonight. What about you?"

The man, who had been gazing down at her with a slightly unfamiliar look, slowly nodded.

"......I'll have the same as you."

"Then I'll let the cook know."

That evening's meal featured mushroom soup packed with fresh ingredients, salad with mashed greens, roast chicken and white bread, followed by fruit and a glass of wine for dessert.

She sensed an oddly awkward vibe from the Aratus retainers seated around them, but Agatha ignored it.

'It's a common issue when a new lady of the house arrives.'

Once they grew accustomed to the changed atmosphere over time, they'd accept her presence as if it had always been that way.

Proof of that was the man sitting beside her, who said nothing out of the ordinary.

"Delicious. Tell the cook we enjoyed it."

"Yes, madam."

After dinner and cleanup, back in her tidied room, Agatha bid Enoch goodnight at the door.

It would take about ten days to reach the harbor from here.

There were only three castles along the way, and one was the port city itself, so most of the remaining journey would involve camping outdoors.

"Good night, Enoch."

"Sleep well, Agatha."

Worn out from riding in the carriage all day, Agatha washed up quickly and fell asleep.

Morning came early.

Huber Carwen, Second Vice-Captain of the Aratus Knights, was a battle-hardened veteran despite his youth in his twenties, with a full decade on the front lines.

Skilled in horsemanship, he excelled at rapid maneuvers and pursuits, earning Enoch's trust as a key to their victories.

Having faced every imaginable variable and crisis since becoming a knight as a young adult, he now found himself wrapped in an utterly unfamiliar sensation.

It stemmed from their new madam, Agatha Noblesse.

"Vice-Captain. Dinner's here."

"Ah, thanks."

Huber took the food from the knight.

A hefty chunk of meat, vegetable-laden soup, well-cooked sausage, greens, and bread drizzled with spicy sauce.

The knights clustered around Huber muttered among themselves.

"Things are definitely different now that the lady's joined us."

"Yeah."

Huber found himself nodding in agreement without thinking.

It had been six days since leaving the capital.

The fare might seem ordinary at first glance, but they were camping in the middle of nowhere.

Knights used to dry rations or watery stews felt the change deeply.

"At first, I just hoped the madam wouldn't have it too rough."

The knights reacted to Huber's musing as he chewed his meat.

"Yeah, that worry seems unnecessary now."

"Her efficiency is impressive. No issues with water or ingredients the whole way."

"Her stamina management is top-notch too."

"Well, aside from that, she did look worn from the carriage ride."

"But no real problems with the travel itself."

Before long, Agatha Noblesse had become something of a legend among the Aratus knights—an extraordinarily capable madam.

They'd known she was no pushover, but perfection too?

And even their once-stern lord had softened noticeably since her arrival.

His expressions more varied, his demeanor gentler.

"Looks like we've got ourselves an amazing lady."

Huber muttered around another bite of meat. The knights nodded in silent agreement.

Even in Agatha's view, the Aratus retainers and knights had settled into a normal rhythm by then.

On the eighth day since departing the capital, the procession passed through the old border region and entered new territory.

The war had ended only months ago, so the tall remnants of the border walls still carried a restless air.

They bypassed villages still under reconstruction and headed straight for the port city of Saint Anthrar.

Thanks to the emperor prioritizing repairs for East Continent trade and dispatching an interim lord deputy, the Roxbard Empire's easternmost outpost had nearly regained its former glory.

When the Aratus procession arrived at Saint Anthrar,

the interim lord deputy, Baron Solano, awaited them at the outer gate hugging the coastline.

"Welcome, Marquis Aratus, Marchioness Aratus. We greet you to Saint Anthrar."

It was exactly the tenth day since leaving the capital.

Enoch gave a light nod in response to the baron's greeting.

"I understand House Noblesse's ship has arrived here."

"It docked a few days ago. It's moored nearby, ready to depart at any time. Shall we go see it right away?"

"Yes."

"I'll lead the way."

Agatha exchanged a brief glance with the baron before turning back. She naturally took Enoch's hand as he matched her pace and beckoned to her chief aide, Esel Maso.

"You called, madam?"

"Round up some decent merchants on the way. You can coordinate with Baron Solano's retainers."

"Understood. Food supplies, drinking water, and medicinal herbs?"

"Yes. Also, find out who the imperial navy officer assigned to this escort is, and bring the roster of our house's naval forces along with interior ship diagrams."

"Right away."

She gave several more instructions to her attendant maids before boarding the carriage with Enoch's escort.

Esel soon appeared with a thick stack of documents. Vice-Captain Huber, standing by with a cheerful expression, closed the carriage door.

"Then we're off. My lord. Madam."

The procession followed the baron's lead carriage.

The carriage glided smoothly over the well-maintained road, a rarity after so long.

Agatha, looking far more at ease, flipped through the imperial navy documents first. Her expression hardened almost immediately.