As a random aside, Beatrice’s home was also half a day away by foot. Colette’s village and the Bozes County capital (which was a regular-sized town) were both closer to the Yamano County residence than they were to each other.
Beatrice would never make the journey by foot, of course; she traveled in a carriage with her personal guards. Now that the county border was well-kept under Mitsuha’s maintenance, she could get back to the Bozes County mansion in just a few hours.
The personal guards were Count Bozes’s soldiers who escorted Beatrice whenever she visited Yamano County. They stayed at the Yamano County residence until it was time for their young master to head home. In the meanwhile, they spent their time training; coaching Yamano County’s soldiers; visiting local schools to tell the kids about their jobs and adventures, including the hardships and failures from their youth; helping elderly couples with household chores; and offering manual labor in the farming village and the mountain villages. The guards spent their days in Yamano County doing as they pleased. Soon enough, they were admired by the villagers and children, and they got to indulge in the delicious meals at the county residence every day. Once every three days, they were even served alcohol─all for free!
The Bozes County soldiers fought over the right to serve as Beatrice’s guards, and it wasn’t hard to see why.
Beatrice muttered, “Well, I suppose Mitsuha can’t get to the capital and back in just a few days.”
She wasn’t aware of how freely Mitsuha was able to use Traversal, so she had no idea how quickly she─often with Colette and Sabine in tow─zipped around between the county residence, the capital, Japan, and the New World. In fact, she didn’t even know Japan or Vanel existed.
“Hmm…”
The young noble girl began to think. She wanted to spend more time with Mitsuha, just enough to nestle down and have a deep conversation. That would allow her to subtly ask Mitsuha to help her get acquainted with Colette, and eventually become a part of their circle.
How could she accomplish that?
…Oh, I know! Beatrice thought. I can serve as the commander for the second Bozes caravan to the capital! As a Bozes, I’m more than qualified. And if I’m to accompany the caravan, Father will want to ensure I’m perfectly safe.
Under normal circumstances, that would mean he’d never let me go… But what if I got Mitsuha involved? Father already wants me and my brothers to get close with her. And more importantly, in the event of a crisis that not even the guards could tame─like a bandit or monster attack─Mitsuha could use her secret art to flee. It’s the surest safety measure…
I know it’s a forbidden magic that eats away her life force, but the odds of our guards getting overwhelmed by bandits or monsters are less than one in ten thousand. That’s unlikely enough to dismiss it as unthinkable. Besides, no bandits would ever attack a caravan flying the Bozes and Yamano County flags, and you never see more than a stray goblin or kobold on the road between here and the capital. That means Mitsuha won’t have to use her power. She’ll just be a lucky charm that ensures the safety of the trip.
This plan is perfect! I’m sure Father and Mother will approve of it!
And so Beatrice’s plan played out smoothly…