Chapter 74
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74.
The whistle announcing our departure was just as deafening as it had been two years ago when I first arrived in the Capital City.
As I blocked one ear and jotted notes in my notebook, Cassian Artez let out a soft laugh.
"Roselita, you really never do anything halfway, do you?"
"Your Highness examined every corner of this place when you boarded as well."
"If something's worth doing, it shouldn't be done twice."
On the third day of the new year, Cassian Artez and I boarded a train from the Capital City bound for the Salice Barony.
Officially, our mission was to inspect the railway operations that had now been running for a decade.
'Originally, this was First Prince Charlie's responsibility.'
When I said I didn't have time to visit my hometown, he went to the Summer Palace and swapped duties with me entirely.
The First Empress was absolutely delighted by this news.
She had been uneasy about First Prince Charlie having to travel all the way to the remote regions, and she disliked the idea of him being away from the Capital City for at least two weeks.
The fact that the task offered little benefit to his reputation compared to the effort required certainly played a role as well.
Meanwhile, the duties we had taken on—trade negotiations with Snowland—seemed to satisfy her greatly.
'The Winter Palace staff, on the other hand, were practically overjoyed.'
This assignment had arisen after discussions following the recent dragon subjugation to further expand trade networks with Snowland.
The dragon subjugation had allowed the Empire to negotiate favorable terms, which was fortunate, but the problem was that the Snowland King was a contrary man....
'I could already foresee a future of revising documents again and again and again.'
Moreover, with the Emperor's unnecessary pride getting involved in the negotiations, when Cassian Artez announced he had swapped the duties, happiness bloomed on everyone's faces.
Even Francis Ashwood, who rarely showed displeasure about his work, allowed himself a subtle smile.
"It will be much more peaceful working like this. For us and for the Winter Palace too."
"Yes, and your brother needs to take on some proper duties. And...."
Cassian Artez traced a gentle curve along his soft lips.
"I'm also very happy to be able to go to the Salice Barony with Roselita."
That smile and tone seemed even more excited than my own, and it made me feel oddly ticklish inside.
*
The Salice Barony lay quite far from the Capital City, so even with frequent carriage changes, one needed to budget at least ten days for the journey.
Still, about five years ago, a hub train station was established not far from the estate, making it possible to travel there and back in roughly two days.
That meant a solid twenty hours by train.
Then another four hours by carriage.
Looking at it purely in terms of time, it seemed manageable enough for a casual holiday trip, but....
'The train running to the station nearest the Salice Barony departs from the Capital City only once every four days....'
I considered taking multiple transfers, but even a slight schedule mishap would waste an entire day awkwardly, so I abandoned the idea.
The lodging costs during the wait were also not negligible.
When I went to Ilium with Wilhelmina Lopez, the timing had been feasible, but....
'The vacation came so suddenly that by the time I checked, train tickets weren't available until five days later.'
The journey alone would have consumed my entire holiday.
So despite traveling home on official business, my heart felt lighter than usual.
I would finally see my parents in person after two years of exchanging only letters.
Five days after departing from the Capital City, we arrived at the final train station in the Eastern Empire.
Naturally, since we'd come on official business, I had to inspect the intermediate stations and attend briefings on other rail lines.
I did the same, but Cassian Artez made every effort to compress our work schedule.
He even borrowed the station's duty room at night when trains weren't running, handling paperwork while catching brief snatches of sleep—the station masters looked so exhausted by it all.
Of course, some diligent staff members took note and became more vigilant themselves.
As a result, naturally, every day aboard the train was consumed entirely by work.
We rode in first class, second class, and third class indiscriminately, and I felt somewhat apologetic for alarming the crew members we met later.
'But that's the only way to conduct a proper investigation.'
Thanks to such diligent work, we managed to cut our originally planned ten-day one-way schedule in half.
"I'm so glad Your Majesty is my superior."
"I'm equally happy to have you by my side."
Thus we headed toward the exit of Terodima, the final train station in the Eastern Empire direction, located nearest to the Salice Barony.
"...Are all the people working in the Capital City like monsters?"
We left behind the weary murmurs of the Terodima station staff.
*
We traveled to the Salice Barony by hiring a shared carriage.
We left the station around one o'clock in the afternoon, and the driver cheerfully laughed, saying it would work out perfectly if he picked up workers after their shift ended.
Thus, over four hours, we spent the time organizing everything we'd investigated during the journey.
It was something Cassian Artez had suggested when we departed from the Capital City.
'You'll want to rest properly once we reach the barony, won't you?'
'If only that were possible.'
'I was thinking we might do it this way.'
He mentioned wanting to rest thoroughly in the Salice Barony as well, and suggested they complete all necessary tasks during the journey before arrival.
That didn't mean he'd been careless about it, though.
Since he intended to shorten the travel time and spend several days in the Salice Barony, he'd put in even more effort than usual to avoid any gossip.
'He'd even made extra effort to arrive by the weekend, just in case.'
On the return journey, a train inspection was scheduled to go directly to the Capital City, so considering the departure date of that train, he could spend about four and a half days with his parents.
He was relieved he could return to the Capital City before two weeks had passed.
"I'm glad everything has gone according to plan so far, truly."
Just before the carriage arrived at the Salice Barony, Cassian Artez spoke to me while finishing his document organization.
With perfect timing, I was also writing the final sentence, so I carefully completed it without smudging, then satisfyingly rustled the papers to dry the ink before nodding.
"Truly, my parents will be surprised, won't they? According to the original schedule, we would have arrived five days later, and could have spent only about a day together."
"Probably, and I think they'll be very pleased."
Cassian said this while taking the document I'd been drying the ink on, organizing it himself and placing it in the file folder.
Not long after, the horse whinnied softly as the coachman announced our arrival.
As I hurried to stand, Cassian gently stopped me with a soft touch and stepped out first.
"We didn't come here as just superior and subordinate, did we?"
"You speak as though you've ever let me exit first."
Not once since I started working had he done such a thing, yet he'd always put my fragile heart through such trials.
"I wish you'd understand the reason why."
The reason?
I hesitated for a moment, then stepped down and looked at Cassian Artez extending his hand, and his lips curved up gently.
His face was so beautiful as he looked at me that my heart seemed ready to race.
"Your hurry was so precarious it looked like you might hit your head on the carriage ceiling at any moment—I had no choice."
Cassian Artez was indeed Cassian Artez.
I sharply refused his hand and descended from the carriage alone, but he chuckled softly and caught my hand, placing it on his arm.
"You're forgiving me because I can stay in the Salice Barony for over four days, aren't you?"
Instead of pulling my hand away, I deliberately said something spiteful,
"That's quite an honor."
He answered so happily that my mood became strangely complicated.
*
"Miss!"
"You said you wouldn't arrive for another five days!"
The moment we stepped through the front door, the Butler and Head Maid greeted us with startled exclamations.
Mother was equally shocked.
"Roselita, my daughter!"
At the commotion, she hurried down from the first floor and pulled me into her embrace.
"You always surprise us so wonderfully, and always in the most delightful way."
Her jade-green eyes sparkled with joy.
When tears suddenly welled up and spilled down her cheeks, I gasped in alarm, prompting Mother to hastily wipe her eyes and laugh.
"Mother was just so startled, so don't make that worried face, dear."
She released me and bowed apologetically to Cassian Artez.
"It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness Cassian Artez. Please forgive my late greeting—I was so overjoyed to see my daughter again after so long."
"Not at all, Baroness."
Cassian Artez quickly asked Mother to raise her head, his expression sheepish.
"Rather, I am the one whose courtesy has been remiss. Your daughter has been of considerable assistance to me."
His tone was remarkably formal and respectful.
To be honest, I was astounded—Cassian Artez had never spoken with such impeccable propriety and gentleness even before the Emperor himself.
"We understand how occupied both Roselita and Your Highness have been; we have read of it in the newspapers."
"I am deeply grateful for your understanding, Baroness."
Though the year had only just begun, I was certain nothing would surprise me more than Cassian Artez's excessively formal manner of speech.
"Ro-Ro-Rozi has come?!"
But that certainty shattered in an instant.
"Roziiii! My daughter...! Waaaahhh!"
Father, who was always so dignified, came rushing down in disheveled attire and burst into uncontrollable tears the moment he saw me.
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