Chapter 81
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81.
"Wow, you really are heartless, sir."
I remarked as I descended from the carriage with Cassian Artez's escort, and Count Theodima laughed heartily at my words.
"I thought it was the best way to welcome Roselita?"
"That was just your idea alone, wasn't it? The Countess opposed it, didn't she?"
"How did you know?"
As Count Theodima's eyes widened in surprise, Countess Theodima laughed brightly as if to say she told him so.
And beside her, the Theodima Family's useful servant—or rather, their wayward son—let out an awkward cough.
"You've picked up quite the witchy demeanor since going to the Capital City, Roselita."
"I believe I mentioned that I don't curse people so harshly, Young Master."
At my form of address, Count Theodima Youngshik—Paul—visibly shuddered.
"It's been so long, so why are you like this? Do you want to see me wither away and die?"
"No, Mother said today I shouldn't make you cry."
At my words, Paul looked at our mother with resentment.
"Mother! This is her tormenting me! Roselita is speaking to me formally and calling me Young Master for no reason!"
"Oh my, oh my. But her words are so polite, aren't they?"
At Mother's words, Paul shook his head firmly with a tearful expression.
"What good is polite speech when the intent behind it isn't kind!"
"I see, Roselita. Do as Paul wishes."
At Mother's words, I nodded and spoke as I normally would.
"How is it that two years have passed and you haven't grown any taller? And sir brought ledgers, but where are yours?"
"Hey, just a moment ago you said Father's weren't great! And you didn't grow much taller either!"
Despite his grumbling, he called a servant and had them place the ledgers he'd prepared long ago on top of the ones Count Theodima was holding.
"I grew at least a little, and you didn't grow at all. That's the difference."
"But I grew much more than you did!"
At my words, Paul made some meaningless retort as if genuinely annoyed, but it hardly landed.
Meanwhile, Cassian, who had been listening to our exchange, was gradually becoming displeased.
I couldn't fathom why he envied a conversation where we were merely bickering with each other.
Knowing full well how petty my superior could be, I hastened to introduce him.
"As you can tell from his appearance as a knight, he is my superior, Cassian Artez, the Second Imperial Prince."
"He is also my fiancé."
Cassian made the additional explanation and greeted everyone in turn.
Particularly when shaking hands with Paul, he even displayed the pettiness of showing off his grip strength.
"I mean, Ian. That one dislikes exercise, so if you squeeze too hard, he might not be able to hold a pen tomorrow. He didn't grow because he doesn't exercise."
"I can hear you, Roselita."
Of course, Paul made another meaningless protest.
"I was telling you because your mother is so worried that you're not building muscle, only work and fat."
At my words, Paul opened his eyes in a triangular shape toward Countess Theodima, like a worthless son.
"Mother, please stop sending me strange letters about Roselita. She uses them to scold me every day."
"But Paul, you listen to Roselita's sound advice far better than you listen to my nagging. I believe that friends of the same age should have these kinds of conversations—it's how you grow strong and upright, even if your pride gets a little hurt."
Faced with the Countess's reasonable point, Paul exclaimed that he had no allies in this house, yet he didn't forget to bow respectfully to Cassian before entering the Grand Hall first.
Quite diligent, really.
"There are other invited guests at the Ball, so we should attend to them as well. Your Majesty and the Marquis would like to speak with Roselita."
He even explained his reasoning.
Though the boy was a bit slow, I was grateful he hadn't grown up to be wicked.
After Paul excused himself, Count Theodima handed the ledger copy to an attendant, saying it was just a copy and could be taken, then guided us into the Grand Hall.
"I apologize for the commotion, Your Majesty."
"Not at all. I expected a Ball hosted by a Count's family to feel somewhat different."
Count Theodima laughed heartily at Cassian's words.
"You mean the atmosphere where people try to divide themselves by rank, I presume? Well, my parents' generation apparently treated nearby baronies and viscounties as if they were servants."
"And now?"
"Being far from the Capital City, aid arrives late whenever difficulties arise. Ah, but I'm certainly not blaming the Imperial Family. The physical distance is simply unavoidable."
"So everyone learned to cooperate instead?"
"When Roselita was about seven years old, there was a severe famine in this region."
Count Theodima winked at me once, then began to speak of the famine incident that had changed the atmosphere of this area.
Years ago, there had been a time when one wrong move would have sent commoners' young children away as servants to distant provinces, or else they would have faced starvation together.
At that time, I planted emergency crops, saying it was better than starving, to first satisfy their hunger, and I had them eat seaweed that this region had never eaten before.
Assuring them it wouldn't kill them.
Here too, much like what I'd learned through history in my past life, emergency crops were thought to be the devil's crops, and people were far too selective about which seafood they ate.
I truly couldn't understand why they wouldn't eat something so delicious.
Because of that, an idiot like Paul had even given me the harsh nickname of "witch."
As the number of victims in Salice Barony decreased, other regions became interested, and by exchanging what they had in surplus, they all endured that difficult period.
"After that, we decided not to waste energy on pointless rivalry. This Ball itself was held because it was time to hold one, rather than because Your Majesty was coming."
Count Theodima added an unnecessary excuse to me, insisting once more that it wasn't wasteful.
'If we didn't hold a banquet with the Royal Family present, some narrow-minded nobles other than Your Majesty might unnecessarily accuse us of lèse-majesté.'
Even if it was an unnecessary expense, if it could ward off false charges that way, it was far better.
Count Theodima had a tendency to view me as overly stingy.
"In any case, it may not compare to the Capital City's Balls, so it might seem lacking to Your Majesty, but I hope you'll feel at ease during your stay."
With that, Count Theodima returned Cassian to me.
As Cassian stepped into the Grand Hall, he gazed with curiosity at the people naturally dispersing and greeting one another.
"It seems rare to find people anywhere in the Empire who care so little about rank."
"Perhaps so. They've all become pragmatists quite earnestly."
In the Capital City, the older the noble family, the more they tended to concern themselves with such things and avoid mingling with merchants or newly ennobled nobles.
It was a problem that would need to be addressed gradually.
"But Roselita."
"Yes?"
"May I hold back a little?"
"Are you planning to turn the Ball into a combat tournament?"
All the nobles here despise exercise, so they're the ones I've forced into three sessions a week of cardio and strength training—people with the poor fitness of modern-day sedentary folk.
And you want to unleash killing intent upon such physically fragile people.
At my response, Cassian Artez's lips curved into a crooked smile.
"I'm grateful you didn't refuse that option entirely."
"That option?"
Cassian then proceeded to kiss delicately along my fingertips and the back of my hand.
I thought he seemed more persistent than usual, but since it was a familiar gesture, I simply allowed him to continue without resistance.
"...I-I beg your pardon!"
Paul, who had been bringing wine for both Cassian Artez and me, was startled by the sight and hurriedly disappeared, his face flushed crimson.
"...Please understand, Your Majesty. He's never had a girlfriend, so that's why he reacted that way."
At my words, Cassian Artez's expression brightened considerably as he kissed my cheek as well.
Paul's reaction was rather amusing to witness, so I understood his embarrassment.
Cassian, however—
"That's not something Roselita should be saying."
He teased me with an unnecessary truth.
"...Didn't Your Majesty also lack a girlfriend?"
This isn't the time for you to be teasing me.
You entered into a contractual engagement because you had none, after all.
"I'm truly grateful that you understand so well."
Yet Cassian Artez's expression remained unbothered, and he seemed even more pleased.
*
Before I knew it, the day had come to depart from Salice Barony.
Since the ball had continued late into the night, I decided to rest sufficiently, take a late breakfast, and then depart for the station.
Of course, habit being what it is, I woke at my usual time and spent the morning writing down things my father should avoid doing.
I also didn't forget to check the ledgers I'd received yesterday and send them to the Theodima Family.
Finally, I took a walk around the village with Cassian and exchanged farewells.
"It's not much, but take this with you, Miss Roselita."
"If you have the means to give this away—"
"I know, I know! Miss Roselita really does nag me every time she sees me."
"That's why I've told you so many times that we should just run a bakery instead. I have no talent for selecting land either."
Baker's thoughtful son lent weight to my argument.
"Anyway, we're looking into hiring professionals. Be careful on your way, Miss Roselita. And Your Majesty, do be careful not to get scolded by Miss Roselita."
Baker had actually said something kind for once.
"I think I'd actually feel disappointed if I didn't get scolded."
Cassian said something strange, and only I received a look of astonishment.
Seeing Salice Barony, which hadn't changed much from two years ago, put my mind at ease.
And knowing that the debts at home would soon be completely cleared made me feel even lighter.
On the way back, instead of a carriage for hire, I rode in our family carriage with my parents.
"Take care of your health, and think of what's good for you before what's good for others. You understand, don't you, Roselita?"
"If things become difficult, come home anytime. Your mother and I are content as long as you're happy."
With what were perhaps conventional parting words, my parents made no effort to hide their reluctance.
"You both must stay healthy too. I'll write back to your letters without fail."
"Of course. Letters from you are always our joy."
With those words as our farewell, we barely made it through the ticket check and boarded the train.
As evening fell and the sunset painted the station platform, my parents saw me off with tears and proud smiles.
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