CH:39
The Next Day.
Eugenia began putting on a black dress with a resolute expression.
“Ugh, this is hard!”
Noble dresses were originally designed to be worn with the help of maids, so doing it alone was a bit much.
Although Eugenia struggled a little, she borrowed the small hands of Selmia.
“Phew, finally done.”
Beads of sweat had formed on Eugenia’s forehead.
“I never thought I’d wear something like this in my life. Sherry, thanks for your help.”
But Selmia, standing beside her, kept grumbling.
“This dress is too black! You still look pretty, really, really pretty! But… I still think blue suits you better!”
With her lips sticking out, she looked like a little duckling—adorably cute.
Eugenia smiled faintly before putting on her hat, then knelt down to Selmia’s height.
She gently placed a hand on the girl’s shoulder and looked her in the eyes as she spoke softly.
“Sherry, what did I say you should call me from now on?”
“Mom! Mother!”
“You remembered correctly? Good girl.”
Selmia smiled even more brightly, clearly delighted by Eugenia’s hand stroking her head.
“Once we step out that door, start calling me that, okay? Think you can do it?”
“Of course!”
Eugenia hugged Selmia tightly, then stood up again.
She met Joshua’s gaze briefly but didn’t go through the same confirmation process as with Selmia.
‘Joshua’s such a smart kid.’
There was no need to worry.
‘I just have to do well. Just me.’
Eugenia took deep breaths now and then, trying to calm her trembling heart.
“Eugenia. It’s about time.”
“Okay, just a moment.”
She gave herself a final once-over and checked on the children.
Gone were the raggedy clothes she had dressed them in. Now, wearing new ones Enrique had bought through the merchant group, the children immediately looked noble again.
It made her feel both proud and oddly distant, as if the closeness she had once felt had vanished.
‘Right. The clothes they wore with me weren’t meant for them in the first place.’
Eugenia steeled her heart and put on her hat.
As the black veil covered her face, her clear vision darkened slightly—but not enough to hinder walking.
She looked in the mirror and took a deep breath, then pinned a brooch with a faux jewel over her left breast.
Her chest felt strangely heavy.
…Protect them.
Thinking it was just a passing thought, Eugenia casually answered herself.
Of course.
She exhaled slowly, trying to relieve her tension, and finally opened her mouth.
“Shall we go?”
“Yes!”
She took the children’s hands and stepped out of the room.
The luggage she had packed earlier had already been taken downstairs by Albury, who had stopped by in the morning.
Afterward, Albury had left the inn to fetch the carriage and those accompanying them.
When Eugenia and the children came down to the first floor, the innkeeper, with his arm still bandaged, was waiting with a furrowed brow.
He seemed quite saddened by their departure.
“Aw, leaving in such a hurry makes me a bit sad.”
“We were able to rest comfortably thanks to your kindness.”
“Oh, come now. I didn’t do much, especially with my arm like this.”
Chuckling awkwardly, the innkeeper pointed outside.
“Your husband’s already out there.”
“Ah…”
“So take care on your journey.”
So they had pretended to be married to the innkeeper, too.
Eugenia gave him an awkward smile and nodded her head.
She gave a brief bow and stepped outside.
There stood Enrique, dressed sharply for once.
Not in flamboyant noble attire, but even so, his natural presence made anything he wore look impeccable.
Eugenia approached him with the children and stood nearby.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Mm.”
With a short hum, Enrique responded in lieu of a proper greeting.
Thankfully, he didn’t seem intent on bringing up what had happened the night before.
Around his neck hung the pendant that matched the faux jewel brooch.
Eugenia bit her lip and let out a small cough.
‘Why does it feel so weird?’
She glanced at Enrique again, trying to gauge his mood, then turned her gaze straight ahead.
‘Good thing this veil is attached to my hat.’
Otherwise, her messy expression would have been fully visible.
Right on cue, Albury arrived at the front of the inn with a carriage and two saddled horses.
“I hurried as fast as I could. Hope I didn’t keep you waiting.”
“No.”
Enrique gave a short reply and walked over to stroke the horse’s head, checking its condition.
Apparently expecting Eugenia to be surprised, he turned back and explained,
“Albury and I will be riding on horseback.”
“Wow…”
Joshua, standing beside Eugenia, let out an involuntary gasp.
Looking down, she saw his eyes sparkle with admiration as he looked back and forth between the horses and Enrique.
‘He can’t take his eyes off them.’
Eugenia pressed her lips together to stifle a laugh.
‘Once we get to the Aesa Empire, you can learn all you want—just a little longer.’
Then, she overheard Albury whispering something to Enrique.
“There’s talk that the city gate briefly opened just before the morning star faded.”
“Really?”
But the conversation ended there—because the man driving the carriage had stepped down.
He looked to be in his mid to late 30s, with a rather grim expression and unhealthy complexion.
Eugenia pressed her lips into a tight line.
She was certain this was the man who had forged her identification.
‘His face just screams unpleasant.’
If not for this situation, she would have never wanted to get involved with someone like that.
“Let’s go greet him.”
“…Yes.”
Albury brought him over to Eugenia and Enrique.
“This is the man who’ll be driving us outside the city.”
The man glanced at Eugenia and, when their eyes met, looked away in a blatantly obvious manner.
He even cleared his throat awkwardly.
‘What’s his problem?’
Eugenia frowned.
What was she, some kind of contagion? His reaction was more than a little offensive.
Still, she forced herself to swallow her irritation and opened her mouth.
“I heard you’ll be driving the carriage. I look forward to your assistance.”
“…Yes.”
The man didn’t meet her gaze and didn’t even give his name.
Eugenia didn’t press the matter.
It would only be a few hours—they didn’t need to know more about each other.
Thankfully, the awkward silence didn’t last long.
Enrique quickly broke it.
“Albury and I will walk beside the carriage. If you need anything, just open the window.”
“Yes, understood.”
Though it seemed like he was speaking to Eugenia, his real message was for the forger—a warning not to try anything foolish.
“Well then, let’s get on. The sun’s going to set soon.”
“Yes.”
Enrique held out his arm to Eugenia.
Thinking he meant to escort her, she lightly placed her hand on his.
But in that moment, she felt his arm tighten with unusual firmness.
‘Feels like stone.’
Amused by the random thought, Eugenia walked toward the carriage.
“Careful on the steps.”
She stepped up slowly and took a seat, followed quickly by Selmia and Joshua.
Enrique closed the door and turned to the driver.
“We’ve held up our end of the deal. I’d appreciate it if you now gave us what you promised.”
Eugenia, seated close to the wall of the carriage, secretly listened to their conversation.
Enrique was clearly referring to the forged marriage certificate.
“Here it is.”
The sound of rustling followed.
Unable to contain her curiosity, Eugenia peeked through the curtain.
She caught a glimpse of Enrique examining the document with his back to the carriage.
“Hmm.”
Apparently satisfied, he tucked the paper inside his coat without further comment.
At the same time, Eugenia let the curtain fall back into place.
She then heard the clatter of hooves and Enrique and Albury speaking softly to their horses.
Moments later, the carriage began rolling forward at a steady pace.
The carriage eventually began to slow down.
“We must be there.”
Eugenia nodded grimly.
The curtain remained down, but the commotion outside was loud.
Even without looking, she could tell there were many people.
Worried they might get held up here, Eugenia was relieved when the carriage, albeit slowly, continued to move forward.
Eventually, it came to a stop, and a voice barked irritably,
“No one is allowed to pass at this time! Turn back!”
But Eugenia’s carriage did not retreat.
Instead, Enrique’s voice rang out.
“We are nobles of the Aesa Empire. We must return to our homeland. Open the gate.”
At the mention of the Aesa Empire, the guard seemed to flinch.
“You’re from Aesa?”
There was clear surprise in his voice.
The Aesa royal family’s devotion to their citizens was well known throughout the continent.
And nobles, no less!
Realizing he couldn’t treat them lightly, the guard quickly dropped the irritation from his tone.
“Please wait a moment.”
Apparently sensing this was beyond his authority, he called for his superior.
It seemed to be the captain of the guard.
“This is my identification as a noble of Aesa. Please verify it and open the gate.”
At Enrique’s words, the captain examined his badge carefully.
“Baron Enrique Tricen, I see.”
“That’s right.”
“What brings you to the Duchy of Harland?”
“I came to retrieve my wife and children, who were staying with her family.”
“I see.”
The captain proceeded to check the identities of Enrique, Albury, and the driver.
Finding no issues, he quickly concluded the inspection.
“Then the lady and the children in the carriage must be the baroness and your heirs.”
“That’s correct.”
“In that case, we’ll need to take a look inside the carriage.
