“Master Edel, I see that you followed me today.”
“Yes. Had a bad feeling.”
Rosemarie poked her head out from behind Edeltraud, whom she’d chosen as a hiding place at the last second. Since she still had the camouflage spell cast upon her, she knew that he didn’t know that she was there, but it still stressed her out regardless.
She locked eyes with Claudio, who looked surprised. Her heart skipped a beat, but Edeltraud stepped in quickly.
“Something wrong? See someone you know?”
“—No, seems that it was just my imagination.” He slightly paused before his response.
(Did we meet eyes? I don’t think that should be possible, but...)
Trying to contain the area around her palpitating heart, Rosemarie was left wondering on the inside.
“Looks like heavy rain is in store. You should get back home,” was all that Claudio said before quickly turning his back to the two and returning to the group of Imperial Guards.
“Let’s go.” Edeltraud started to walk and Rosemarie followed in suit. She clapped a hand over her chest, attempting to calm her heart after slipping past Claudio’s notice.
By the time they made it off the streets, the rainfall had gotten into full swing. Once they loaded themselves into the carriage that Alto had arranged for them, it quickly took off. In the driver’s seat was perched Edeltraud’s white hawk familiar. Rosemarie hadn’t believed it when she heard the familiar would be driving the carriage, so she was in for a perplexing surprise when the vehicle actually started moving.
The sounds of upturned soil and rainwater hitting the carriage reverberated within the cramped enclosure. Edeltraud sat across from Rosemarie with their head leaning on the window, not budging an inch.
“Um, that ruffian from before, was he...”
“That always happens. Claudio has many allies, many enemies. Not a big deal, I assure you.” The specifics were sort of muddled via Edeltraud’s explanation, but the point was probably that he couldn’t keep his guard down.
“Anyway, Claudio, how was he?”
“—He seemed in bad shape.” She couldn’t have been sure without a closer look, but he would give an occasional grimace of pain. Even from a distance, she could tell his complexion was poor, which meant he was likely in bad health.
She knew that wasn’t what Edeltraud was asking, but it was all she was able to give by way of a response. There were too many things for her to think about, and she wasn’t doing a good job at organizing them.
“Just as figured. Claudio hates showing vulnerable side. Doesn’t really like showing his retainers, either.” A sigh spilled out of the sorcerer’s mouth.
(Ah-ha, so that just might be why he has been extra hard on me...)
After all, having someone worry or show care for you meant showing your vulnerabilities.
If she hadn’t traveled outside and checked in on Claudio’s condition, she wouldn’t have known that—she wouldn’t have even known that he was going through all this effort in the first place.
At the same time, trying to get Claudio to understand her, the reclusive scaredy-cat who didn’t speak her mind, seemed like a lost cause. Of course she couldn’t get him to understand her. Claudio hadn’t been around her since childhood like Heidi or her family, after all.
(Once I get back, I need to offer a proper apology. Even if he doesn’t accept it.)
She squeezed her hands tightly in her lap.
“But you are Claudio’s lover. Sure you can make it—”
Suddenly, the carriage shook violently. Edeltraud promptly took Rosemarie into their arms as she almost rolled out of her seat.
The frame of the carriage leaned and went on a slant with a clunk, leading to a noisy crash and eventual silence.
“What just...” Rosemarie got up to find Edeltraud, who had helped shield her from the impact, and saw their arm lying limp on the floor. Maybe they took a blow to the head, but they were completely unconscious.
“Mage Edeltraud!” She knew that she probably shouldn’t be shaking them, but she gave them a light shake anyway and she was met with a low groan. Upon hearing that, she breathed a sigh of relief. As she tried to get up and survey the situation outside through the cracked window, the sorcerer grabbed her by the arm.
“No. Don’t leave.”
“Huh?” The moment she questioned the instruction, the sounds of footsteps on the muddy road could be heard outside the carriage. She gasped audibly, proceeding to slide the still-downed Edeltraud across the floor to hide them.
A person’s face poked through the cracked window. They were backlit, so she couldn’t make out any features, but she could tell it was a large person.
“Ain’t nobody inside. Guess we were off-target. Figured that we’d get a nice haul with a carriage goin’ to the castle, but guess not.”
“If the driver ain’t there, issit a sorcerer’s carriage? Man oh man, whatta waste.”
There was a group of men chatting among each other. Judging from what they were talking about, it was safe to assume they were bandits.
(It’s okay, it’s okay. I’m under that camouflage spell, so they won’t notice me.)
She clasped her shivering hands together and prayed that they wouldn’t find the two of them. It begged the question—why was it that her very first excursion outside ended up being such a huge disaster? It was just as she suspected. If Edeltraud was involved, no good was to follow.
Eventually, it seemed her prayers were answered. After the men wandered around the perimeter of the carriage for a bit, they left the area, taking only the horse.
“—They’re gone. We’re safe now.”
The presences of the men receded. Rosemarie went to give Edeltraud some help as they got back to their feet, but quickly jerked their hand back.
“Oh, um, will your mana be okay? I didn’t steal any when you shielded me from the fall, did I...?”
“It’s fine. Mm-hmm, now I see. —Congratulations.”
“Excuse me?”
After opening and closing their own hand, Edeltraud extended a congratulatory word for some odd reason. Edeltraud’s gloved hand grabbed Rosemarie’s hand, making the girl go instantly pale. Had the sorcerer hit their head that hard?
“Unless skin makes direct contact, mana remains unstolen. Coincidental discovery, but incredible one.” Their face went hidden as usual in spite of them moving around so much, but it was clear that they were in high spirits. She knew what this meant. They were probably the type that couldn’t care less about anything else when spells and magic were the subjects at hand.
“If we knew what circumstances were when you stole from Claudio... Yeah, could work. Then again, that...” Edeltraud murmured to themself as Rosemarie slumped her shoulders. Continuing to wallow in her own crippling fear wasn’t going to get her anywhere.
“Um, Mage Edeltraud?”
“Edel will do. Name too long, too tiring.”
“Okay, Mage... Edel? Are you sure you aren’t injured? Will you be able to make it to the castle on foot?” She wasn’t sure where they actually were, but they passed by the woods on their way from the castle to the town near the castle. If those bandits were hiding anywhere, those woods were the most likely spot. Still, though, it was perplexing as to why bandits would crop up near the castle.
“Back on foot? Why? Claudio will pass here soon. Sure of that. Make any unwise moves and run into lot from earlier, bound for trouble.”
“Yes, but if the prince doesn’t notice us like those people from earlier...” Edeltraud cocked their head in confusion, filling Rosemarie with uneasiness as she started to trail off.
“Don’t worry. Claudio been able to see you. Probably because of you having Claudio’s mana. Reason why no need to worry. He will notice you.”
“...Huh?” Earlier, she had thought they met eyes. Was Edeltraud basically saying that she had been right all along? If that were the case, why didn’t Claudio question her right there on the spot? Nevertheless, that feeling of impatience that those doubts were stirring up made Rosemarie draw closer to Edeltraud.
“That is even more reason for us to get back. He will surely scold me!” If Claudio found out that she took initiative to go out and trail him just to end up getting raided by bandits, it would unquestionably fuel his anger that much more.
But there was no convincing Edeltraud; the sorcerer brushed the whole thing off, saying it would be “okay.” So Rosemarie could do nothing save feel at a loss as she sat inside the slanted, rain-pelted carriage.