“Are you saying our young master left his horse here and went away?”

It was a completely incomprehensible situation. Why would someone who should be at the naval headquarters come to the train station? The young master Dominic he knew wasn’t that kind of person.

“I’m not sure about that either, but it’s confirmed he boarded a train. Please take this horse away soon as it’s obstructing traffic and there’s risk of theft.”

“Train? Young Master Dominic took a train? But there was no mention of a business trip…”

Moreover, if he had to go on a business trip for official reasons, he would naturally take a carriage, not ride a horse himself. At those words, the security guard shrugged. The station attendant standing beside the guard answered instead.

“I’m not sure about such details. We only confirm that he took a train heading north.”

“North? That’s a mountainous region with no connection to the navy.”

The butler’s expression became more troubled at the unexpected destination. The north? What could be there?

“Well… Alright. I’ll return to the mansion and check again.”

The butler nodded with a disgruntled face.

* * *

The scenery outside the train window began to change gradually. Even though summer was approaching, the distant mountain peaks were still covered with unmelted perpetual snow.

“Haah.”

A sigh escaped at his own incredulity.

Going north when it wasn’t in his cards. And to catch a woman who he’d decided to marry, at that.

The veins in Dominic’s hand bulged as he pressed hard between his eyebrows.

‘Does she hate the idea of marrying me that much?’

He had never thought of himself as someone who falls behind anyone. It was quite a shock that Karina, who even went on dates with men who were mere lieutenants, would run away in such disgust at his proposal of marriage. His pride wasn’t just hurt, it was painful.

Only now did he remember that he had come suddenly without telling anyone in the capital. After abandoning his horse on the street and boarding the north-bound train without thinking things through, he finally regained his senses.

There must be chaos in the capital by now. Dominic closed his eyes, trusting that Lucas would handle things well. Fatigue washed over him. He buried himself in the plush chair cushion.

What should he say first when he meets Karina?

Unlike her appearance, she had a timid personality, so he would need to coax her back carefully. He had failed last time they met, but this time he needed to somehow persuade and comfort her to keep her from leaving his side.

“Damn it.”

Why did she have to be so beautiful? Even at this moment, he felt urgent thinking that men in the north might be hovering around Karina. There wasn’t a trace of composure to be found on his face.

They said a luxurious hotel was being built, so it must have been quite the talk in the north where there wasn’t much entertainment. So sons from prominent families might have visited during that time.

He wanted to tell them to increase the train’s speed if possible. The thought from just moments ago about needing to carefully persuade and comfort her had already completely vanished from Dominic’s mind.

He couldn’t tell how much time had passed.

As soon as they arrived at their destination, Sakhatsk, Dominic jumped off the train.

A boy wearing suspender pants chased after him.

“Sir. Do you not have any separate luggage? I’ll carry it for cheap.”

He was a child who helped carry passengers’ luggage. Dominic was about to say he didn’t need help, but gave the boy a coin and asked.

“A noble lady should have come here a few days ago.”

The boy’s eyes lit up brightly. While rubbing the coin with his sleeve, he said to Dominic.

“Hmm… I’m not sure when you put it that way. If you could tell me what she looked like or how she was dressed, I might remember.”

“A woman with blonde hair and blue eyes. Have you seen her?”

“Ah? Could it be the very beautiful lady?”

The boy brightened and quickly nodded.

“Yes! I carried her luggage. The person holding a really wide hat, right?”

“You carried that woman’s luggage?”

“Yes! She said she was going to the newly built hotel. I remember clearly.”

“Hotel. I suspected as much, so it was there after all.”

“Sir. Are you alright? You look very angry.”

The boy cautiously asked Dominic. The expression of the man in the stylish uniform was truly terrifying. He looked thoroughly angry.

“Making me go through hell while she’s leisurely spending time at a hotel.”

Dominic’s reason finally snapped at hearing that Karina, who had run away from his proposal, was enjoying a vacation.

* * *

The manager headed to the hotel lobby with quick steps. He was in such a hurry that he was almost running rather than walking. That’s how important the guest who had come to the hotel was.

Arriving at the lobby while catching his breath, the manager confirmed the guest and swallowed hard.

It really was Dominic Winchester.

“My goodness. To think Brigadier General Winchester would visit our hotel. Could there be anything more joyous?”

The manager hurriedly approached him with his naturally flowing business greeting.

“It is truly an honor to meet you. I am Rupert, the hotel manager.”

“My companion should have arrived ahead of me to stay, but it seems you haven’t heard about me.”

“…Pardon?”

Caught off guard by Dominic’s words, the manager couldn’t help but ask back.

Companion? What companion?

“Ah… Brigadier General, there seems to be some misunderstanding, our hotel hasn’t officially started operations yet…”

Before the manager could finish speaking, Dominic threatened him with a cold face.

“You said people could spend private time without worrying about others’ attention, but it seems that was quite exaggerated. Think carefully and answer again.”

It was what the boy who guided the carriage had told him. Saying it was a hotel he could never visit himself. At his words, the manager’s eyes widened in disbelief as his lips trembled.

“Th-then… the companion you speak of…”

There was only one guest staying at this hotel now. Karina Crawford.

Was Dominic Winchester saying he was her companion?

“Do I really need to say the name?”

“Ah, no! I truly apologize! I hadn’t heard the Lady had a companion, no, I must have made some mistake.”

Surely on the day Karina came here, he had promoted the place asking her to stay with companions next time. To that, Karina had clearly said,

―Yes. Next time I’ll definitely visit with someone else.

Didn’t that mean she came alone this time?

Moreover, hadn’t Karina only learned after arriving that this place wasn’t open yet? Since coming here, she had been enjoying her rest without leaving her lodgings at all. There hadn’t been any letter deliveries or such things.

There were clearly inconsistencies in Dominic’s words.

However, the manager was too weak a person to scratch at the surface of the Brigadier General’s mood, which seemed angry with an unusual expression.

Between Karina Crawford, who was just a lady though influential in social circles, and Dominic Winchester, the second son of Marquis Winchester and Brigadier General of the Naval Operations Command — it was obvious whose side to take. In the worst case, though unlikely, if Dominic Winchester abused his authority, the hotel could be shut down before it even properly opened for business.

“Hey, manager.”

“Yes, yes! Brigadier General Winchester.”

“Do I really need to say that my companion is the person I’m about to marry before you’ll guide me?”

The manager’s mouth fell open.

It was news he had never heard anywhere.

“Ma-marriage…”

“She insisted on coming north for our honeymoon, which is why we visited this place, but I’d appreciate it if you could sort out your thoughts before I become unpleasant.”

The manager quickly nodded.

Marriage between Dominic Winchester and Karina Crawford… If they really visited here for their honeymoon, the hotel wouldn’t have to worry about going bankrupt for the next ten years.

“Bring me the key.”

The manager quickly ran to the front desk clerk and spoke. The clerk, who had been listening to the conversation from his position, swiftly took out a key and handed it to the manager.

“This way please. I’ll guide you.”

The manager said while leading the way to the lodgings. His face was full of smiles.