Momentarily awkward, Reibella rolled her eyes and smiled again as if trying to break the awkwardness. Then she continued the conversation casually.

“Did you sleep well last night?”

“What about you.”

“Me? I slept well. Thank you for giving me such a nice room.”

“It doesn’t seem so.”

……What does he mean it doesn’t seem so?

Reibella put her hands to her cheeks and tilted her head as if not understanding why. At this, he let out a small sigh and continued.

“If you need anything, just tell me.”

“Yes! Thank you for your concern.”

As their brief conversation ended, the carriage started moving. Duke Vicheravali immediately picked up one of the documents piled like a tower on one side of the carriage seat. His quick focus made him look very skilled at paperwork. It was impossible to think he had been on the battlefield until recently.

‘Well, they say he managed the territory even from the battlefield.’

The undefeated knight who’s also perfect as a head of household.

‘Why does the Emperor keep trying to bring down such a perfect person?’

Does he have some illness where he can’t leave anyone who’s better than himself alone?

He was clearly not in his right mind. Yet ironically, the world beyond the window ruled by that madman looked incredibly peaceful.

‘They say the total amount of misfortune and happiness one experiences in life is constant.’

It was incomprehensible how in this world, happy people stayed happy while unhappy people kept being unhappy.

‘I just need to escape this Empire.’

If she could just exit the stage where the protagonists play, couldn’t she live at least like ordinary people?

Two months.

Repeating the remaining time, Reibella closed her eyes.

Clip-clop, the sound of hooves came pleasantly.

It was truly a welcome sound of moving away from the novel’s stage. 

 * * *

 “……la.”

“……Reibella.”

Opening her eyes to the voice calling her, beautiful purple eyes were right in front of her.

What’s this?

Blink, blink. Slowly opening and closing her eyes while gradually waking up, Reibella belatedly widened her eyes and asked. Seeing there was no rattling movement, the carriage had stopped.

“……Duke?”

“Are you alright?”

……Am I alright?

When she just stared blankly at the incomprehensible question, Duke Vicheravali reached out and covered Reibella’s forehead. Then he said in a worried voice.

“You seem to have a slight fever.”

……Fever?

As his hand moved away, Reibella raised her own hand to her forehead. Her forehead, where sweat had formed and dried, was cooler than her palm.

“I think I’m fine……”

Rather, Duke Vicheravali’s hand was warmer than her forehead.

But Duke Vicheravali seemed to think differently. His quietly muttering voice was quite serious.

“They say daughters are more fragile than glass, and it’s true.”

“……Pardon?”

“We should go to a nearby village and have a doctor look at you.”

Huh?

“I-I’m fine!”

“You’re not fine.”

No, I’m telling you I’m fine!

Although she had taken the antidote for the poison given by the Emperor, since it was a poison that couldn’t be completely cured, there was a chance it could be discovered.

Reibella immediately made an excuse.

“I, I recently ate poison that was in Her Highness the Princess’s food.”

“……Poison?”

“Yes. So I’m still taking antidote now. That’s why I’ll be fine.”

“Is that true?”

“Yes. It’s true.”

When Reibella nodded emphatically, he let out a small sigh.

“……We’d better get to Louvindisi quickly.”

His intention to have the castle’s chief physician examine her as soon as they arrived in Louvindisi was evident.

How do I avoid that too?

“My lord.”

Just then, a voice calling Duke Vicheravali came from outside the carriage. When he acknowledged, the door opened and a knight holding food appeared.

“Miss’s meal.”

When the Duke nodded, the knight climbed into the carriage and approached Reibella. On the plate he held out was steaming soup.

“Please eat, Miss.”

Although she had no appetite, she couldn’t refuse. She knew that warm food during travel took more effort than expected to prepare.

Reibella thanked him and received the spoon. Slurp. As she swallowed one mouthful, the warm soup flowed down her throat and pooled in her empty stomach.

She raised her eyes to give the customary compliment about the taste, but the knight had an inexplicably pleased expression.

That wasn’t all. Behind him, the knights outside the carriage were peering inside, showing interest in Reibella. The glimpses of their expressions were overflowing with positive curiosity.

Also, right beside her, Duke Vicheravali kept glancing at her eating with worried eyes.

Why?

Since Felicity’s extermination, this was the first time people had shown such interest from their first meeting.

“……How is it? Does it suit your taste?”

When Reibella just stared blankly at the soup, the anxious knight asked carefully.

Only then did Reibella nod. As if he had been waiting for that response, the knight clenched his fist tightly. He seemed truly happy with that answer.

“Please eat quickly. It will get cold.”

Following the knight’s gentle urging, the knights outside the carriage added their words one by one.

“Please eat. That will make you healthy.”

“She’ll eat it because it’s delicious.”

“You need to eat more when you’re young.”

“Oh, you tactless fool. Don’t ruin the mood. Who’s Felicity! She’s Vicheravali now!”

“Get out of here, Cleo! You too, Tony!”

While listening to their bickering, Reibella pushed more soup into her mouth.

It was truly strange.

Unlike before, the soup wasn’t uncomfortable.

So Reibella couldn’t raise her head anymore. Because that change wasn’t welcome.

These were people she wouldn’t see for long.

She planned to leave in two months, after all.

The more warmly these people treated her, the more uncomfortable she would feel about leaving them behind. 

 * * *

 The journey expected to take a month ended in exactly one week.

This was because the Emperor permitted the use of the warp gate that only the imperial family could use.

However, even though it was a week, it wasn’t entirely an easy journey. There were attacks from unknown individuals, encounters with bandits, and run-ins with demonic beasts.

But if asked whether anyone was in danger, the answer would be a definite no. The skills of the Vicheravali family’s knights were beyond human level.

Especially Duke Vicheravali’s swordsmanship, it was truly overwhelming — when he swung his sword once, demonic beasts fell in succession. As for human bandits, they would wet themselves and collapse just from him drawing his sword, intimidated by his presence.

Thanks to this, Reibella, who had unintentionally stuck close to Duke Vicheravali, couldn’t help but be extremely safe.

Not just safe. It was comfortable too.

This was because both the Duke and knights took very good care of her.

After discovering she had a slight fever, they were incredibly attentive. Ensuring she took medicine and changing her meals to lighter foods was basic; they would quickly notice any discomfort and try to resolve it somehow.

Thanks to this, even while camping outdoors her bed was comfortable, and she could always fill her stomach with warm food. 

 Of course, Reibella had refused. Having lived as a subordinate, she knew how much effort and trouble went into providing these things that they offered as if natural.

However, their kindness didn’t change. Rather, they were anxious about not being able to be more attentive.

Thanks to their overflowing kindness, the journey was smooth, and by the time they arrived at Duke Vicheravali’s castle, she had become healthier than usual.

Unfortunately, others didn’t seem to think so.

“Bring a doctor immediately.”

As soon as they got out of the carriage upon arriving at the castle, Duke Vicheravali shouted loudly.

Since he shouted with such a serious face as if transporting a critically ill patient, bewilderment crossed the faces of the many vassals and servants gathered to welcome him.

“Wh-what’s the matter?”

“The child is sick.”

“The child?”

“I brought my daughter, so examine her quickly.”

……Daughter?

At these words spoken so naturally, many people’s eyes widened. Simultaneously, everyone stared at the tiny child in the Duke’s arms.

Reibella, who was in his arms, was equally surprised.

Daughter? He said daughter?

Meanwhile, Duke Vicheravali, who had surprised everyone, couldn’t have been more indifferent.

He spoke again to everyone.

“Right now, bring a doctor before my eyes……”

“Excuse me!”

But before his words could finish, Reibella raised her hand high.