chapter 41
Rianna wasn’t the type to silently watch a suddenly decided mother-daughter trip.
“I should go too.”
“You’re coming too, Mother?”
Ashbel, who held a title, might have been an exception, but there was no need to inconvenience Rianna by bringing her along.
“Isn’t it obvious? How could I trust leaving him alone?”
Rianna glared at Ashbel, clearly thinking he’d probably try to sneak something again if given the chance.
“W-What are you saying like that?!”
“Why so defensive? If you’re confident, you can come along, right? Or… do you feel guilty about something?”
“Guilty? No, not at all!”
“Really? Then it’s settled—we’ll go together.”
Having made her decision arbitrarily, Rianna turned her head sharply and gulped down her juice.
Serena’s opinion had no weight in this situation. Even if she refused, they seemed determined to follow her anyway.
I misjudged the situation.
Even if she abandoned her father in Rosegold, her mother and sisters would be waiting at home.
Rather than thinking about leaving someone behind, staying alone in Rosegold was the better option.
Of course, with the whole family gearing up to go along, that plan was long gone. She let out a sigh.
“…Do as you like.”
“What about me? Am I coming too?”
“Of course. How could I leave you behind?”
Younger Serena didn’t care when wandering alone, yet now Rianna had to lecture Daisy on common sense and take her along.
She had long since stopped feeling upset about the unequal treatment. Turning her gaze away while drinking her juice, Serena heard Ashbel speak.
“These don’t seem like ordinary pieces of furniture. Just how much inheritance did you get?”
“Yeah, at this point, shouldn’t you just say it? It seems like a large sum. How long do you plan to keep it a secret? How do you expect to manage this alone?”
“Well… I suppose you’ve bought some nice furniture, but a child can’t just throw around so much money. Be honest about it and leave it with your father, even now.”
“That’s not happening. What nonsense is that? You planning to gamble it away again?”
“I won’t! I said I won’t!”
“Yeah, right, you won’t!”
And it started again. Sophia, bringing food, exchanged glances nervously, and Daisy rolled her eyes.
In the middle of it all, Serena clutched her head in frustration.
It didn’t matter whether the land was barren or not. She just hoped there would be somewhere to hide quietly in Rosegold.
After breakfast, Serena told Sophia that she needed to go to Rosegold.
Having overheard the conversation in the kitchen, Sophia was already well aware of the situation.
As if anticipating this, she recommended a reliable carriage driver who could assist on the trip.
“He’s a diligent friend who earns his living renting carriages and horses, and he also handles long-distance trips.”
“Really? That’s perfect. If Sophia vouches for him as diligent, he must be trustworthy. Can you see if he’s available? Preferably for tomorrow.”
“Yes! I’ll go immediately.”
Once given permission, Sophia hurried out. They needed someone who regularly traveled the city by carriage, so finding him might take time.
It was still early, so Serena suggested they go to his home first—and by sheer luck, they encountered him just as he was about to leave.
“Silas!”
“…Sophia?”
Silas’s eyes widened at the sudden appearance of Sophia at his doorstep.
Almost a year had passed since they last met, yet his short brown hair, matching brown eyes, and neat features were unchanged, as if she had seen him just yesterday.
Noticing the surprise in his expression, Sophia smiled brightly and asked about his schedule.
“Are you busy? Were you about to go out? Any long-distance trips?”
Despite the unexpected question, Silas answered honestly.
“No long trips. Why do you ask?”
“If not, I’d like to request one. We need to go to Rosegold.”
“Rosegold?”
Being a carriage driver, Silas knew the area. After hearing Sophia’s explanation, he readily agreed to accompany them.
“If you want to leave tomorrow, it’s best we meet now. We need to decide on the type of carriage, departure time, and schedule. If you have time, I’d like to see you now. Are you busy?”
Sophia hesitated briefly.
“Now? Um, can you wait a bit? I need to handle something in the market first. I’ll be quick.”
Since this was a sudden arrangement, Sophia had something to take care of. It wasn’t urgent, so Silas nodded.
“Alright. I’ll get things ready before departure. Take your time.”
“Okay! I’ll be quick!”
Even though he said “take your time,” Sophia quickly disappeared toward the market, clearly something important was waiting for her.
Watching her youthful figure leave, Silas couldn’t help but smile.
“My name is Silas Brown. It’s an honor to meet you.”
Silas greeted Serena politely. Unlike the typical image of a carriage driver, he was a young, tidy man.
“I’m Serena Rosegold. Pleased to meet you.”
“Please, speak comfortably.”
Silas bowed again with proper courtesy.
As expected of Sophia’s friend, he made a good impression. Serena liked the young man with brown hair and brown eyes immediately.
“I heard you plan to depart for Rosegold tomorrow. May I offer a suggestion on travel arrangements?”
“You’ve already thought it through? Yes, please.”
With permission, Silas pulled out the plan he had prepared while waiting for Sophia.
“The distance isn’t too far; two days should suffice. I understand you won’t have any escort, but even for two days, we cannot risk exposure. Here’s what I suggest.”
Silas’s plan was simple: move along with a traveling trade caravan, which regularly traverses the empire.
Hiring private guards had limits, so his suggestion was practical. Many people already used this method.
“I’ve built connections through my work, so I often get help on long-distance trips. There’s a fee, but it’s cheaper and safer than hiring personal guards. Additionally, traveling with a caravan lets us stop at other cities without extra waiting or formalities.”
Despite being young, he was smart and experienced.
“Sounds good. Let’s do that.”
“Do you have a preferred type of carriage?”
“There will be five of us, including Sophia, so it should be large and comfortable. It would be ideal if everyone could sit far apart.”
Silas nodded, understanding Serena’s desire for distance from others.
“In that case, we’ll prepare a large long-distance travel carriage. Larger size increases the cost—is that acceptable?”
Serena shrugged, curious but not overly concerned about the price.
“The rental period is one day, one week, or one month. Considering your stay in Rosegold, one month is likely best. The deposit is quite expensive, covering loss, damage, or death of the horses.”
After visiting the company and selecting the carriage and horses, they’d confirm the exact amount, but the minimum deposit would be around 20,000 gold.
“…20,000 gold?! That’s expensive.”
It wasn’t a joke. If she hadn’t bought furniture cheaply, she’d have needed to withdraw more from the bank.
Paying such a hefty deposit every time, she thought, buying her own carriage and horses might be simpler.
“The amount is refundable if returned without issues. I’ve never caused a problem in the past.”
Silas’s pride in his work was evident, which Serena appreciated. It was more reassuring than worrying over the high deposit.
“Alright, I’ll trust you. But it looks like there’s a lot to do. Can you finish it all today?”
“Yes, no problem. I’ll check the carriage and horses immediately and prepare to depart early tomorrow with the caravan.”
Though he said it casually, there was an underlying sense of urgency to start preparations.
With the plan settled, Serena had no reason to detain him further. Silas bowed respectfully and quickly went off to start his preparations.
