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IT took a week by carriage to reach the port city of Solalitika, and we stayed overnight in a few towns along the way. Because our kingdom’s aristocrats would host high society gatherings in the capital’s townhouses until the summer, there were many stagecoaches and freight carriages on the road. I didn’t see many aristocratic carriages like the one I rode in, and a floral, fragrant scent filled my nose whenever a flower-selling carriage passed by. The ride was comfortable. I didn’t feel at all tired while I was seated. The carriages of the Karelia household were old, and I felt a little apologetic if I even compared the two.
We were blessed with good weather on the first day of our trip, and I glanced at Kiki, who was seated by me. At first, she was against riding in the same carriage as me, but I requested to spend at least half of every day together. We were going to spend time together for many years to come, and I wanted her to get used to me.
I kept my distance at first and didn’t force conversation. I simply wanted her to be near me. The next day, she looked a little tired, so I told her that she was free to sleep.
“Oh no, I mustn’t sleep in front of you, Lady Iris,” she said.
“I don’t mind at all. Be at ease and do as you like. We’ve a long trip ahead of us, and if you get tired, I’d have no one to take care of me. That would be very troubling indeed, so please relax.”
“But…”
She refused at first, fighting off her drowsiness, but her anxiety exhausted her, and sleep won in the end. She clutched her knees and dozed off. When we arrived at an inn, she was about to cry as the color drained from her face.
“E-Excuse me, Lady Iris…!” she stammered.
“Excellent timing. I was nodding off a little myself,” I replied.
Not reassured, she fell silent with a troubled expression. I stroked the cushioned seats and kept a smile on my face.
“This carriage is very comfortable. Is this the first time you’ve been on this one, Kiki?” I asked.
She nodded. “If we don’t count the test ride for this carriage, it has never been used before.”
“Did you fall asleep during your ride to the royal capital?”
“Heavens, no!” She turned beet red and sheepishly admitted, “Actually, I did fall asleep here and there. I got so nervous that I couldn’t sleep at night.”
She explained that she suffered from mild insomnia.
“I have trouble sleeping in dark places…” she murmured. She didn’t go into detail, but her frightened eyes told me that she may have experienced something terrifying in the dark. Did the Stock household have something to do with this?
“B-But since I got hired by Lord Lucas, I’m able to sleep more! I think I’ll get better— I mean, I know I’ll get better, so I hope you understand…” she added hastily, dispelling any negative thoughts I had about my future husband’s household.
“Does the manor provide a good working environment?” I asked.
“Yes!” she responded energetically with a smile. “Lord Lucas is wonderful, and the other servants are also extremely kind to me. I…used to serve in the royal capital under an aristocrat, but I had a horrible experience. I became afraid of people…”
She fiddled with her hands on top of her knees before she gripped her apron tightly.
“But Lord Lucas picked me up and saved me. He said that I was a valuable asset because I knew the mannerisms of the royal capital.”
“He knew your true value,” I said with a soft smile.
“I’m not much, but he still agreed to hire me with a wonderful wage!”
“He must be your savior.”
“Yes. I love Lord Lucas.” The moment the words left her lips, her face went pale, and she vigorously shook her head. “No, I mean, I’m not in love with him or anything! I don’t view him in that way! Um…”
She truly respected her master. I smiled when she desperately denied her intentions.
“I understand. If you don’t mind, would you tell me more about Lord Lucas?”