Chapter 53
The Herace territory was located in the northern region of the Aisa Empire.
The border village of Milbiu, where the children and Eugenia had departed from, was situated to the southeast, so it took a full three days by train to reach the territory.
The Aisa Empire’s lands are vast… incomparable to the duchy.
But the journey was more comfortable than any she had ever experienced.
Eugenia and the children dozed off peacefully in their steady compartment, enjoyed delicious meals, and even stepped off at the occasional station to explore the towns along the way.
Each time, the one who enjoyed it most was Joshua.
He would press himself right up against the train window, unable to tear his eyes away from the passing scenery, murmuring as if to himself:
“Someday, I want to travel all over this country. Do you think I can?”
His voice brimmed with barely contained excitement and longing.
A dream, huh? That’s good.
It felt like Joshua was finally starting to regain the spark of youth he had been missing.
Eugenia, her heart warm, nodded and ruffled the boy’s hair.
“Of course. You’ll definitely be able to.”
Encouraged by her reassurance, Joshua became even more animated, chattering away in a way unlike his usual self.
“There’s so much I need to learn before then! I’ll have to learn horseback riding, and swordsmanship! Ah! And study math hard too—so I won’t get swindled later.”
“You can do all that. You just have to be smart about it.”
Her praise seemed to delight him, for he wiped his nose with a smug little gesture and puffed out his chest.
“Of course! Who do you think I am?”
They were peaceful days.
Time flew by as swiftly as the speeding train.
Eugenia must have dozed off on the sofa in the lounge car.
Half-asleep, she vaguely heard the rhythmic chime of a handbell and the courteous voice of a train attendant.
“—Attention, passengers.”
Slowly, Eugenia lifted her eyelids.
She blinked several times before finally straightening from where she had been reclining.
The attendant’s voice continued.
“This train will soon arrive at its final destination, the Herace Duchy. We hope you enjoyed your journey and look forward to serving you again on Jo Train. Thank you.”
Eugenia glanced out the window.
For a long while it had been nothing but mountains, fields, and lakes, but now there were scattered houses coming into view.
The train had noticeably slowed as well.
She rose to her feet and moved toward the table by the window, where the twins were slumped over, fast asleep.
The two had spent nearly the entire trip stationed by the window, declaring they wouldn’t miss a single changing view.
Eugenia gently gripped their small shoulders and shook them lightly.
“Come on, wake up. We’re getting off soon.”
“Mmm… are we there?”
“Is this the Herace territory?”
“Yes, as soon as the train stops completely.”
She glanced back over her shoulder.
Two bags were sitting there, already packed right after breakfast that morning.
“All right, both of you, go wash your faces one more time and fix your clothes before we leave.”
“Okay.”
“Got it, sis.”
Thirty minutes later, the train’s speed had slowed to the point where Eugenia thought a person walking outside could overtake it. Then came the metallic clunk of something latching into place.
A moment later, the train came to a complete stop.
“Is it time to get off now?”
Eugenia had just picked up the two bags, one in each hand, when—
Knock knock. A rap sounded on the door from the corridor.
It was the attendant.
“Ma’am, I’ll assist you with your disembarkation.”
Eugenia handed over the bags.
“Let’s go, kids.”
Holding their hands firmly, one on each side, she stepped out into the corridor. Through the window, she caught sight of station workers bustling about, carrying various items.
Eugenia’s gaze lingered on the scene, and the attendant, noticing, offered an explanation.
“They’re replacing the spent magic stones with fresh ones. This train runs on magic stones, and if we leave the depleted ones in place, there’s a high risk of fire.”
The closer to the engine room, the stronger the influence of the magic stones—hence the smoother ride at the front of the train.
That was why the special and first-class compartments were located toward the front: for the comfort and safety of VIPs.
The staff’s meticulous handling of the magic stones made perfect sense.
Eugenia nodded in understanding.
“I see. Thanks for explaining.”
“My pleasure.”
As they walked on, she noticed that all the other compartment doors were open.
First-class passengers disembarked first, followed by second-class, then third-class.
Feeling guilty for possibly holding things up, Eugenia murmured apologetically:
“Looks like we’re the last ones off.”
But the attendant shook his head.
“Not at all. It hasn’t been long enough to trouble anyone—please don’t worry.”
They soon cleared the ticket gate completely.
The attendant set down Eugenia’s luggage nearby and bowed.
“Thank you for choosing Jo Train. We look forward to serving you again.”
Eugenia nodded and took the bags herself.
“Joshua, hold Selmia’s hand tight and stay right behind me.”
“Don’t worry about us, Eugenia!”
With that, she led the children out of the station.
The air was definitely cooler than in the southern regions—crisp and clean, filling her lungs with every breath.
“Selmia might be a bit cold…”
A glance confirmed her suspicion: Selmia had hunched her shoulders slightly.
Her rosy cheeks looked utterly adorable, but still—health came first.
Eugenia quickly wrapped the scarf she’d kept in hand, not packed away, around Selmia’s neck.
“How’s that? A little better?”
“Mm-hm! Warm! Thanks, sis!”
“Good. Let’s go, then.”
Walking side by side, Eugenia and the children took in their surroundings.
Her first impression of the Herace territory was its neatness.
The streets were spotless, not a single scrap of litter in sight, and the paving was so smooth and well-kept she could confidently say there wasn’t a crack to be found.
Somehow… this place reminds me of him.
Clean, orderly, flawless—just like Enrique.
Honestly, Eugenia. What a thing to think about.
She gave a small, self-mocking smile and kept walking.
The people were friendly too.
Whenever their eyes met, they smiled warmly and greeted her kindly.
“Welcome! Is this your first time in Herace? I hope you make wonderful memories here.”
“Welcome to Herace!”
The town was livelier than any she had passed through so far, and the faces of its people shone with cheer.
“It looks like a great place to live,” she murmured aloud, sincere in her thought.
She was still absorbed in the view around the station when she felt a small tug on her clothes.
It was Joshua.
“Eugenia.”
The boy’s eyes were filled with expectation as he spoke her name.
“Are we going straight to the duke’s manor now?”
Eugenia pressed her lips together and drew out the pause, then let out a soft sigh and shook her head with an apologetic look.
“No. First, we need to get ready.”
“Ready for what?”
“To meet him.”
She drew a short breath, then forced her voice into a bright tone.
“Joshua, I understand how you feel, but can you wait just a little longer? I promise it won’t take too long.”
“…Okay.”
Only after the boy nodded silently did Eugenia resume walking.
She headed for an inn tucked in a side street not far from the main square.
The room was spacious, with its own bath.
The moment they reached the room, she changed into commoner’s clothes and began unpacking, eager to hang the garments so they wouldn’t crease.
“Dresses really do take up so much space…”
In the midst of her brisk movements, her hands suddenly froze.
At the bottom of the bag lay a white handkerchief.
For a long moment she simply stared at it, as though facing an old adversary, before gently picking it up.
“…I never returned this.”
It was freshly laundered, sun-dried, and neatly folded.
Her fingertips brushed its edge as she whispered softly, barely audible even to herself.
There was no emblem on it, no embroidered initials—nothing to mark it as Enrique’s.
He probably wouldn’t even miss it. If it had been truly important, he would have asked for it back during the journey.
Should I bury it along with the Black Card later?
But she had promised to return it after washing it… What meaning would there be in hiding it away in the ground?
Once I give this back, I won’t have a single thing left to remember him by…
A bitter taste rose in her mouth.
It’s a year away! Don’t start feeling down already!
With a deep breath, she shook her head to dispel the thoughts.
Just then, Joshua’s voice rang out.
“Eugenia!”
“Huh? Oh—what is it?”
Hurriedly, she shoved the handkerchief deep into the bag and turned to the children, forcing her breathing back to its usual rhythm.
“What do we do now? It’s too early for dinner.”
“Ah.”
Blinking rapidly, she gave them a slightly awkward smile.
“You two don’t need to do anything. Just rest for a while. I need to step out.”
At that, Selmia’s eyes lit up.
The little girl, already enchanted by the joy of outings, scampered forward, clasped her hands beneath her chin, and looked up at Eugenia with a pleading expression.
