The six-horse carriage was opulent on the outside and even more luxurious within.
It was so lavish that the windows were fitted with actual glass.
Of course, since one could see right inside, curtains were drawn, just like in any other carriage.
Amidst the rhythmic sound of six pairs of hooves, Iris parted a curtain and peeked outside.
She had done so countless times since their early morning departure, but the person she sought never came into view.
He was always at the very front of the procession.
…She already knew he wasn’t intentionally avoiding her.
She wasn’t important enough for that.
But she couldn’t help the ache in her heart.
But what could she do?
Throw open the door of the moving carriage, jump out, and run to him?
If she did, she would certainly see him.
And he would say to her, just as he had before:
“I am merely the one tasked with escorting you to Lenat, Miss Quillucsia.”
His words from the previous night had tormented her until dawn.
She hadn’t slept, and her head throbbed.
As she peered out, Millena rode past and gave her a conspiratorial wink, likely assuming she was looking out of boredom.
Iris forced a smile and waved back before letting the curtain fall.
Inside the ridiculously lavish carriage were only Henry, Iris, and her maid.
“I’m so boooored…” Henry whined from the seat across from her.
That is, if you could call the way he was draped over the cushions like a boneless cat, utterly defeated by boredom, ‘sitting.’ “Sister, I’m so, so bored.”
“Why don’t you read a book?”
“It’s too shaky.
It makes me dizzy.” Henry shook his head wildly.
Iris knew it was ill-mannered, but she let it be.
The boy had been on the verge of death not long ago; that he was healthy enough to travel at all was a blessing.
“Sister, can I read a magic book?
I don’t think I’ll get dizzy if I read that.”
“No.”
At her firm refusal, Henry wailed, “Aww, whyyy!” and clung to her knees.
Iris sighed and gently pried his fingers from her lap.
“You heard the warning.
If someone with Mana Sickness carelessly reads a magic book, something terrible could happen.”
The luxurious carriage was not the only thing the Marquess had bestowed upon Iris.
There were beautiful dresses for the journey, fine fabrics, and jewelry.
Most of it she found unwelcome, but there was one thing she cherished: the Marquess’s promise to take responsibility for Henry.
“I heard about the Mana Sickness.
It seems young Henry possesses quite a lot of magic.
Once we arrive at my estate, how would he like to become my disciple?”
Upon his arrival in Quillucsia, the Marquess, though arrogant, had made the offer.
Not only that, but he had immediately solved the issue of Henry’s deathly pallor.
Thanks to him, Henry was now able to run about with rosy cheeks and pester the Holy Knights.
The Marquess had even given Henry several rare magic books.
“Basic magic texts.
I purchased them on the way, just in case.
But do not read them beforehand.
Misusing your magic with premature knowledge could lead to great danger.”
“Great danger…?”
“You could lose your life.”
At those words, Iris had immediately locked the books away in the deepest chest she could find.
Henry, with the boundless curiosity of a boy his age, was desperate to read them, but the threat of death was enough for Iris to stand firm against his pleading.
Fortunately, Henry soon gave up.
He knew that when she was like this, she would never yield.
Instead, he began to dream aloud.
“Sister, I can become the Marquess’s top disciple, right?”
“Of course.
You’ll do wonderfully, Henry.”
“What kind of magic should I learn?
Water magic like the Marquess?
Or maybe something cool, like fire magic?”
Iris simply smiled.
Wielding the magic of major elements like fire or water was an exceptionally rare talent.
She didn’t think her brother possessed such a gift.
She just prayed he would be healthy.
“You’ll find out after you become his disciple, won’t you?”
“Has Young Master Henry decided to become the Marquess’s disciple?” the maid asked, looking up from her knitting.
Henry beamed.
“That’s right.
He said he’d cure my Mana Sickness.”
“Oh, my.” The maid’s voice was thick with envy.
“How wonderful for you.
You’ve achieved something people all over the world wish for but can never have.”
“Hehe, well, I haven’t achieved it yet, but…”
“But your sister’s marriage is set, isn’t it?
Just being a relative of a mage is incredible, but to be his disciple?
It’s truly a wonderful thing.
And on top of that, your sister has become the Emperor’s adopted daughter!”
The maid’s tone held admiration, but it was laced with a sharp edge of jealousy.
That was how much she envied them.
But was it truly a wonderful thing?
Iris couldn’t say.
Everything the Marquess had given her was conditional on her becoming his wife.
Even her adoption by the Emperor was part of the bargain.
When she arrived in Lenat, she would be adopted into the Murenas family, and the wedding would follow immediately.
The maid spoke of these things with envy, but Iris herself could not easily call them good.
“People all over the world are talking about you, my lady.”
“Is that so?”
“Oh, come now, my lady.
I told you to speak casually to me.
If you act like this in Lenat, I’ll be the one getting in trouble.” The maid waved her hand dismissively, but her eyes held a subtle disdain for the shabby girl from a rural fief who couldn’t even speak down to her own servant.
If it were the old Iris… how would she have reacted?
What did it matter?
Cutting off the thought, Iris lowered her gaze.
If it was something the world envied, then it must be a good thing.
“I am the man who will be your husband.
They call me Kazakov.”
The emotion Iris had felt when the Marquess said that, twisting his beard, was certainly not positive.
But at the same time, she knew that the despair she had long foreseen had finally arrived.
Her fate was bound to be trivial and insignificant.
A young lady who couldn’t inherit her father’s title, who was sullied by another’s touch, and who had no dowry to her name.
A laughable creature, unable to make a sound no matter who laid a hand on her…
After that summer, her life had completely changed.
Iris had once been certain she would simply fade away.
Like a plant that had grown in the sun and was suddenly moved to the shade, she thought she would wither and die.
Compared to those times, wasn’t her current situation an improvement?
“Sister?” Henry blinked, looking up at her.
Iris smiled and stroked his hair.
“Yes, I was just thinking.” It wasn’t good to think too much.
“Let’s take a nap.”
She closed her eyes.
It was only the evening of the next day that Ezekiel found himself in a private meeting with the Marquess about the blasted ‘heir’ issue.
“Uh, Commander.
We’ve got a bit of a problem…”
Ezekiel hadn’t met with the Marquess alone at first.
To be precise, Shanka had gone first.
The Marquess had called over Shanka, who was scouting the next village, and made a baffling request.
“There should be an inn there.
Have my room and Miss Quillucsia’s room placed next to each other.”
It wasn’t a decision Shanka could make on his own, especially since the Marquess had tried to slip him money.
In the end, Shanka had come to Ezekiel for help, and now Ezekiel had dismounted and boarded the Marquess’s carriage.
“I apologize, but for security reasons, Miss Quillucsia’s room is typically assigned between those of the Holy Knights.
Is there a particular reason for this request?”
Hearing the question, the Marquess let out a blatant sigh, as if he’d expected it.
“This is why Holy Knights are so clueless.”
At the blunt remark, the Marquess’s servant just rolled his eyes before quickly excusing himself.
“Um, my lord, I have something to ask the coachman…”
Even the servant was wary of Ezekiel, yet the Marquess dispensed with all decorum.
“Sir Ezekiel.
I need an heir, and as soon as possible.”