The peaceful time flew by like an arrow.

“Ah. I really don’t want to go.”

After postponing and postponing, we had finally reached the date when, if we didn’t depart now, the unfortunate incident of being late to high society would certainly occur.

I had planned to tend to the vegetable garden and maintain the garden this spring.

As I made a sad face, Limpe, who was seeing me off beside me, smiled. It was a clear smile without a trace of worry.

“Haha. Lora, don’t worry about this place, and have a good trip. It would be nice if you could bring back more sponsors.”

“An incredible sponsor is right in front of you.”

“Hahaha. Business is done by-“

“No, it’s not. Yes, yes.”

I cut off his words and looked at Soho, Mia, and Aria. Mia was sniffling while clutching Aria’s skirt. Soho comforted the child with a brave face.

“Mia. If you do that, Lady Lora will be too sad.”

“Waaah.”

“Mia. Should I not go?”

I asked with a pleased expression, watching the scene, and the child nodded her head vigorously. Aria lifted Mia up in her arms and smiled kindly.

“Have a safe trip, Lady Lora.”

“I’ll listen well to Master Limpe!”

“Good. Guard the house well while I’m gone.”

I decided to leave the children and Aria behind. It was Tangerous with magical beasts, and if they were pointed at as slaves and slum children upon arriving at the Grand Duke’s residence, it would be very bad for their education.

As I was finishing my greetings, Sion approached after loading the luggage onto the carriage.

“Everything is loaded, Lady Lora.”

“Say goodbye to them, too.”

Sion approached with a smile and patted Mia and Soho each once. Lionel and Demian simply nodded their heads slightly as a greeting.

“Well then, I’ll be back.”

After leaving a brief greeting, I boarded the carriage.

The wind, which had become quite warm by now, wrapped around my hair.

***

Clatter-

Outside the carriage window, lush trees and unknown grasses sprouting to welcome spring were growing.

Despite the vibrant scenery, I was on the verge of going crazy from boredom.

“This is such a hassle, really.”

As I leaned my head against the window and grumbled, Demian, who was driving the horses outside, explained calmly.

“Since there’s no direct teleport gate to Kalschmitz Grand Duchy, it can’t be helped.”

The reason we were traveling on bumpy forest roads despite the existence of the new technology called teleport gates was all because of that.

There are no teleport gates in Kalschmitz Grand Duchy. The reason given was that if the Grand Duchy collapsed, everything would collapse, so they never built one in the first place.

So typically, people teleport to a territory near Kalschmitz, and from there, travel directly by carriage for three to four days or by horse at full speed for just over a day.

“It’s old-fashioned. What era are we living in? Making such ridiculous excuses.”

As I let out a deep sigh, Irena, who was sitting across from me in the carriage, put a chocolate in my mouth. It was surprising, but as I was chewing because it was delicious, Lionel approached Demian’s side.

His horse-riding skills were very proficient. It was clear that Lionel wasn’t born a slave either.

As I was wondering about his background, he spoke.

“If it’s difficult for enemy forces to enter, it means it’s difficult for allied forces too.”

“That’s right. It also means that Kalschmitz is that confident in its military power.”

Seeing how well they got along, I straightened up from leaning my head against the window.

“But judging by Count Ante and the Knight Commander alone, I’m not so sure.”

“That’s true. They might have skill, but their judgment was a bit questionable.”

Lionel and I joined forces to start slandering them.

“Right. Not building a teleport gate must be to boost the economy of the surrounding territories or something like that.”

“They clearly know one thing but not the other.”

I was excited at this moment.

But Demian, who was looking at us with disdain from atop his horse, closed the carriage window.

Thud-

“What’s that about?”

As I frowned and questioned, I could hear Demian sighing outside the door.

“Evening words are heard by birds, and daytime words are heard by mice.”

“Shouldn’t it be daytime words are heard by birds and evening words by mice?”

When I mimicked Demian’s characteristic expression of disdain at his mistake, I could see Irena barely holding back her laughter.

“Irena, just laugh. It’s okay to laugh freely at something like that.”

“Pfft. No, miss. When have I ever laughed at Butler Demian?”

Irena glanced at the window with a desperate look that seemed to beg me not to say anything.

But stopping here wouldn’t be like me. I cleared my throat and raised my voice loudly.

“Are you afraid that petty Demian will retaliate if he finds out?”

“Miiiss.”

Irena called me in a lowered voice, but it fell on deaf ears as my mischievous side had already been activated.

When there was no reaction from Demian, I raised the decibel level one more notch.

“Come on. No matter how petty Demian is, would he really retaliate for his own ignorant behavior?”

“Miiiiss.”

“……Who are you calling petty? And why am I ignorant?”

Caught him.

I grinned widely as I opened the window fully, revealing an irritated Demian.

He was looking straight ahead, but it was clear that his attention was focused on me.

“Demian.”

“Yes.”

“You’re a butler who doesn’t even know proverbs and lacks the basics.”

Lately, I’d been in the position of being nagged at, so this was a very good opportunity. As I teased him enthusiastically, Demian turned to me, getting worked up.

“Don’t judge a butler’s qualifications by such things.”

I snorted at his intense gaze.

“Oh my? Talking back to your lady? If I say it’s like that, then it is.”

“Miss, you lack the basics of being a good master.”

Clatter-

As we were childishly bickering, the carriage suddenly stopped.

Then Sion, who had been driving from the coachman’s seat, got down from the carriage and drew his sword.

Shing-

Demian and Lionel also drew their swords.

When I looked at them quizzically, Demian opened his mouth while looking ahead. He wore a serious expression with furrowed brows, completely unlike someone who had ever bickered with me.

“There’s a magical beast ahead.”

“A magical beast? Where? But why are you all so calm?”

Having never seen a magical beast before, I stuck my head out of the carriage with an excited heart. Demian sighed and warned me.

“Please stay quietly inside the carriage.”

“It’s a slime. Not a particularly Tangerous magical beast, but its bodily fluids might splash, so it would be better for you to stay inside.”

“That’s right, Lady Lora. It’s Tangerous.”

Sion and Lionel followed with worried expressions and tones. I obediently pulled my head back in while muttering.

“Even saying the same thing, some do it unpleasantly while others do it so nicely.”

Demian turned to me sharply.

“Don’t tell me I’m the unpleasant one?”

“Good to see you have some self-awareness at least.”

I muttered again, almost to myself, and closed the window with a bang.

I giggled to myself at Demian’s angry expression visible through the closing gap, and Irena sighed.

“Miss.”

“It was an insightful intention to make him fight well with the power of anger.”

I received the glass of water Irena handed me and leaned back against the backrest.