chapter 31
Even though it was clear from the light that a considerable amount of mana was being poured, Dorian looked completely at ease.
His eyebrows weren’t furrowed, and his lips weren’t tightly pressed together.
In that moment, the light outside became so intense that it was impossible to distinguish anything beyond the carriage. The light gradually seeped inside, making my eyes ache.
Without thinking, I squinted, and Dorian raised his hand to cover my eyes.
“Even if it’s strange, please bear with it for a little while.”
The sight of his angular jaw and broad shoulders was briefly visible beneath his hand before my vision was fully blocked.
‘What’s going on? How long is he going to do this?’
Once my vision was blocked, my nerves went taut. Dorian’s hand rested on my eyes like a feather.
From his sleeve, I could smell the perfume the servants had applied earlier—a white musk, with hints of some flowers, though I couldn’t identify them clearly.
“Soon…”
As if sensing my unease, he spoke gently, and his soft, low voice fell on me like droplets of water. I took a deep breath.
I could feel the mana inside me stirring. It was as if some force was playfully nudging it, like a cat batting at a ball of yarn. It wasn’t unpleasant.
In fact, the ticklish feeling made me laugh, as if children were teasing me.
Soon, I felt his hand, which had been touching my forehead and nose, lift away. Instinctively, I opened my closed eyes. The light that had filled my vision was gone.
“…?”
“It’s done.”
Dorian said this and pointed toward the window with the hand that had covered my eyes. Naturally, I followed his hand and looked outside.
It seemed as though nothing had changed, yet the sloping foothills I had seen earlier were gone. Instead, there was the straight expanse of land and dense trees.
Soon, the carriage began moving smoothly again.
I had braced myself for the usual nausea or disorientation that appears in fantasy novels, but since nothing happened, I relaxed. When I opened the window and leaned out, I saw two carriages following behind. Between the flattened grass and soil, rocks protruded here and there.
“We should arrive in about three hours. Can’t you smell the sea yet?”
“I’m not sure… we’re still in the forest.”
I said this while opening the window to inhale deeply, trying to catch a hint of the sea.
But all I could smell was the fresh scent of the forest, mixed with the soft, deep fragrance of Dorian.
The clouds, touched by the gentle sunlight filtering through the trees, were a color reminiscent of wild roses.
“This forest stretches inland along the coast. It’s a protective forest that blocks the salt-laden winds and sand from the sea.”
From what I had read in geography books, the Hübener Marquisate was shaped as if someone had folded a baguette in half and placed it southward.
Originally, the family had defended the southern seas, so their territory had a peculiar shape to allow full focus on protecting the empire’s lands—a layout that remained even after the threat disappeared.
“I read that the current Marquis of Hübener created this windbreak forest.”
“Yes. When the settlements suffered damage from sea winds, he made the decision. It’s still well-maintained today. He cares deeply for the well-being of his people.”
Anyone who cared about their people would likely judge a successor by the same measure: “Do they care for their subjects?”
Perhaps that’s why the Marquis chose Lewin. Most of a person’s values are shaped by childhood education.
In a society so rigidly class-based, the Marquis must have faced many concerns. For this world’s nobles, the basic belief was that subjects exist for their lord.
Of course, for someone like me, a commoner who had experienced a democratic society, these conditions felt perfect—but would he really trust me?
A lord must not only love their people but also be capable of solving the problems they face.
It was a complicated task. My mind kept wandering into thoughts I couldn’t solve, so I stopped thinking and tried to imagine the sea beyond the forest.
What color would it be? Emerald? Or deep blue?
I hoped it would be a deep blue, more familiar to me than emerald.
“As we approach the castle, the forest narrows. Soon, you’ll be able to see the sea through the trees.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
Thinking of the blue sea and golden sands, I blinked. The wind on my face was both damp and refreshing.
“I hope the Marquis likes me.”
I couldn’t help but say it aloud. When I had set up the training hall, I felt like I had full control over my life, but life seemed to refuse to fit into a glass jar—it kept overflowing and carrying me along.
I rested my arms on the window frame and laid my face on them, ignoring the discomfort.
From behind, I heard Dorian’s voice.
“If it’s you, I’m sure he’ll like you. You resemble him, and your values seem similar.”
I appreciated his effort to encourage me and turned my head to look at him.
“Do you think so?”
“Yes. Even just seeing the love you show the children at the training hall would convince the Marquis. Just talking about that alone would make him welcome you.”
The shadow of the trees outside flickered across his face as I looked at him, highlighting his hair and eyes.
Eventually, warm sunlight bathed his face, turning his eyes a gentle reddish-orange. Dorian smiled.
“The sea is visible now.”
I looked out the window again. Just as he said, the vast, open sea sparkled in brilliant silver, crimson, and blue.
“It’s so beautiful.”
Even in a different world, the sea and sand were the same. And the slanting rays of the setting sun too. I turned toward Dorian, overwhelmed, wanting to say something.
At that moment, the carriage hit a slope, and I leaned forward.
“Ah!”
Before I knew it, the carriage jolted. Though we were slightly airborne and nothing could snag us, Dorian stood and wrapped his arms around me.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes…”
The musk scent wafted around me. Dazed, I looked at his chest, then slowly lifted my gaze to his face.
He was close enough that I could feel his breath when he exhaled.
“Hmm…”
From beyond, Lewin’s whimpering reached us. Dorian and I exchanged glances, then simultaneously stood and switched places.
“I should have considered this earlier. I’m sorry.”
“No, I insisted on sitting here myself.”
The front of the carriage was heavily decorated, so sitting backward allowed a clear view of the scenery. I sat down, trying to hide my embarrassment, and gently held the still-sleeping Lewin. Stroking his back slowly, his annoyed voice gradually softened.
“The Marquis said the castle is on a cliff, right?”
A castle on a cliff by the sea—something straight out of an English novel.
“I can’t wait to see it.”
The carriage soon leveled out.
Not that the hill had become gentler—it was actually worse. The path zigzagged like a ski slope, and it only felt smooth because we were inside the carriage.
I became used to seeing the same scenery from different angles. According to Dorian, if the road had been straight, we would have arrived much sooner.
“How rough was it?”
“Before the road was carved, families of the lord—excluding the heir—sometimes starved because supplies couldn’t reach them.”
“That’s… harsh.”
“Of course, that was during wartime. Neither enemy nor ally could pass.”
So this truly was the last stronghold. While the thought made me doubt if I could live here, Dorian had repeatedly reassured me that it wasn’t the case now, which eased my worries.
And finally, we arrived at the Marquis’s castle…
“It’s… quite…”
I swallowed the word “intimidating.” By then, the sun had set, and everything was cloaked in darkness.
The fortress walls were extremely tall, with the castle’s pointed spires visible beyond them.
“I’m sure you’ll like this place.”
Could I? The gates opened, and we safely entered the garden. Contrary to my worries, it was very well-kept.
Towards the cliff, there were no walls, and the sea was visible beyond the garden and castle.
“Wow!”
I exclaimed and clung to the window. The carriage’s decorations blocked some of the view, but I could still see the star-filled sky.
The sea, visible beyond the horizon, shimmered silver in the moonlight.
“It must be even more beautiful in daylight…”
While I silently gazed outside, Dorian spoke hurriedly. I nodded along.
The castle was already beautiful.
The lit windows looked like hanging lanterns. As we approached, we could see people waiting to greet us, holding staffs embedded with glowing stones. The person in front was the same.
When the carriage stopped, Dorian stepped down first and extended his hand. I accepted his escort and finally set foot on solid ground after several hours.
Lewin, still half-asleep, was carried out of the carriage into the arms of a seemingly servant-like attendant.
“Welcome to the Marquis of Hübener’s residence, Duke Bercht.”
As we all stepped out, the man at the front holding the glowing staff spoke. He was a man in his fifties with pleasant, creased features.
Faded blonde hair, turquoise eyes reminiscent of the summer sea. His attire was simple but elegant, clearly marking his status.
