Chapter 50: The Road to Berg

“Time to depart!”

Finally, the carriage carrying Xavier and me set off after completing our travel preparations.

Centered around our carriage, there were quite a few vehicles — knights’ carriages in front, servants’ carriages and luggage carts behind. Five carriages for the Duke and Duchess moved simultaneously.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine.”

I was wearing a comfortable chemise dress. Xavier, in his black uniform, was gleaming as usual today.

The style is nice, but it must be quite hot in summer.

“Aren’t you hot?”

“I am.”

“Why don’t you change into a comfortable shirt instead of the uniform?”

“Are you worried about me, wife?”

“Ugh! Stop calling me ‘wife’!”

“Why? I’m going to keep calling you that, wife.”

Xavier smiled and moved to sit next to me.

“W-why?”

“Because you look even prettier this morning.”

“You held me last night too.”

“Thanks to that, I slept well. No pain at all.”

“People are watching!”

“Let them watch. But speaking of which, shouldn’t we revise our contract?”

He interlocked his fingers with mine and swayed our hands.

“How so?”

“We’ve already done more than kissing.”

Then he brushed his lips against the back of my hand.

“We could do even more.”

“You’re crazy!”

I slapped his broad back with my palm. Xavier squinted his eyes and burst out laughing.

“Don’t laugh! I won’t do it!”

The carriage continued on for several hours.

There was some rustling beside me as Xavier showed me a thermos with a small magic stone embedded in it.

“Coffee?”

Since we left in the morning without eating anything, I was just feeling a bit peckish.

“Yes, please.”

Xavier, his eyes full of life, picked up a rectangular wooden case that had been sitting quietly in a corner of the carriage. It was a large leather case like something you’d see in an antique shop.

Click.

When Xavier opened the lock, the contents of the box were revealed. The top lid had spaces for cutlery sets and plates, with fine teacups stacked neatly above and below, a pot in the middle, and a tin drawer on the right.

When Xavier opened the drawer, coffee ingredients, scones for snacking, and colorful macarons peeked out.

“I was wondering what that was… it’s a picnic case?”

Xavier smiled slightly and skillfully brewed the coffee. The subtle aroma of the blended coffee spread throughout the carriage.

He placed scones and macarons on a medium-sized tea plate on a tray and set it on my lap, then handed me a double-handled teacup decorated with climbing roses.

“You really know how to brew coffee.”

Despite the swaying carriage, the swordmaster with his excellent sense of balance sat down with his own tray and replied.

“You learn to do it when you’re on the battlefield for a long time. I like it.”

“I like it too.”

“Is that so.”

At that moment, our eyes met. His handsome eyes curved gently. Suddenly, my heart fluttered and my throat felt dry.

“…The coffee.”

I lowered my gaze and sipped the coffee.

“It’s delicious.”

He too sat properly and brought the cup to his lips while quietly watching me.

“I’m glad.”

Then he slightly pushed the plate with scones and macarons toward me.

“How did you…”

“I asked your maid.”

His gaze wasn’t directed at me.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Only the sounds of drinking coffee and munching on scones and macarons could be heard in the carriage. The rich flavor of the coffee was wonderful. The crispy scones and chewy macarons made the stuffy carriage journey enjoyable.

That was all, but somehow my heart felt warm and I wished this moment would last longer.

We spent a peaceful, leisurely time sipping coffee.

As the sun neared its zenith, the scenery outside the carriage window changed. Where there had only been flatland, mountain ranges now stretched out like a tiger. The terrain became increasingly rugged until peaks that seemed to pierce the sky appeared.

Among the mountain peaks clothed in verdant greenery, one particularly white peak stood out.

Xavier pointed to it with his long index finger and explained.

“Can you see that mountain?”

“Wow, it’s a snow-capped mountain.”

“It’s a perpetually snow-covered mountain famous for its rare medicinal herbs.”

“The thick fog makes it seem that way. How fascinating.”

A distant peak covered in snow. A place shrouded in thick fog that seemed to refuse entry to anyone.

I couldn’t take my eyes off the mysterious snow-capped mountain, and kept its white peak in my heart for a long time.

*

The carriage finally stopped after half a day of travel. It was time for a late lunch. Surprisingly, there was a large campsite in the densely wooded forest.

The servants who accompanied us set up tents and lit bonfires, while the maids began preparing meals with the chef.

“My lady, here’s your blanket.”

Rosetta handed me a soft blanket. She and Maya were also holding the same ones — gifts I had given them in return for the macarons and bracelets they had given me earlier. Rosetta in particular had been overjoyed, saying it was even better than what she had seen in the imperial lounge.

Crack, crackle.

The sound of the bonfire, the murmuring of servants and maids, and the movement of horses all blended together to create a camping atmosphere.

With the blanket over my knees, I spotted Xavier directing the campsite from afar while watching people.

“Wow, how handsome. My husband.”

Yes, I chose well in terms of looks at least. I should enjoy looking at him while our contract lasts. Hehe.

“Mmm, something smells good!”

“It does. My lady, I smell meat!”

At Rosetta and Maya’s words as they stood attending to me, I too sniffed the air searching for the smell of meat.

“Ah, they must be grilling samgyeopsal!”

My stomach reflexively churned.

As I was getting excited about eating meat, Xavier came and sat down beside me.

Wilhelm, Ethan, and Jude sat down in turn, and I accidentally made eye contact with Jude who was sitting far from Xavier. She hesitated for a moment before nodding at me.

‘What’s that about?’

Awkwardly receiving her greeting, I dazedly stared at the bonfire in front.

Soon after, Maya brought over pre-grilled samgyeopsal skewers. They looked delicious with paprika, onions, meat, and mushrooms arranged in order.

The skewers were placed one by one over the large bonfire. The sizzling smell of meat oil filled the air. When the meat was done, Xavier picked up a skewer and gave it to me.

“Try it first.”

“Thank you.”

When I put the whole piece of samgyeopsal in my mouth, the meat juices burst.

“Ah, it’s delicious!”

“That good?”

“Yes, you should eat too, Xavier.”

Then I made eye contact with Jude. She was watching me while eating her skewer.

‘Ugh, why is she staring like that?’

This time Rosetta brought over a basket of herbs and vegetable wraps with plates. Everyone got a plate. Rosetta winked while serving salad onto the plates.

“My lady, you should eat your vegetables.”

“Thanks, but I’ll pass.”

“Yuria.”

Xavier chimed in.

“It won’t work even if you say that. There are mushrooms and paprika on the skewer already.”

I won’t lose. When eating meat, I’ll only eat meat.

“Sigh, alright. Whatever you want, wife.”

Perhaps because of what happened last time, Xavier didn’t push any further.

“Oh, there’s herb seasoning?”

Small seasoning containers were neatly arranged in a basket on the makeshift shelf.

“It tastes really good with this.”

I smiled slightly as I picked up a herb seasoning container and sprinkled it over the meat. Just as I was about to put it in my mouth.

“Hey, could I get another skewer? And the seasoning too.”

“Ah, yes, General.”

At that moment, Jude called Maya who was standing by the seasonings. Maya hurriedly walked toward Jude carrying the plate of skewers and basket of seasonings.

“Oh my!”

But Maya tripped on something and fell, spilling the skewers, seasoning plate, and seasoning containers on the ground. I saw Jude catch her in surprise.

“Maya, are you okay?”

I jumped up startled, still holding my skewer. Maya, slightly leaning against Jude, turned at my words.

“I’m fine, my lady. I just tripped.”

“I apologize. I have a habit of stretching out my legs. Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine, General Jude.”

Maya smiled awkwardly as she moved away from Jude. She must have fallen quite hard as her knee was scraped and bleeding.

“Jude, didn’t I tell you to fix that leg-stretching habit? Quickly take her to the healer.”

Ethan scolded Jude.

“Maya, was it? Since it’s my fault, I’ll escort you to the infirmary.”

“Thank you.”

Jude supported Maya who couldn’t straighten her injured knee well.

Jude’s uncharacteristic kindness looked awkward. Others watching her also had bewildered expressions.

I quickly stood up too.

“I’ll go too.”

“Ahem, go ahead.”

Looking down at the choking sound, I saw Xavier had stuffed his mouth full with my seasoned skewer. Half of my skewer was already gone.

“It looked delicious, the seasoned skewer.”

When did he eat that?

“Ugh, I haven’t even tried the herb seasoning yet.”

“I’ll have them bring more meat and seasoning.”

“That’s mean! You’re trying to make me eat vegetables, aren’t you?”

I glared at him with all my might. But my husband wasn’t one to be intimidated.

“Aren’t you going?”

Xavier avoided my eyes and gestured with his chin toward where Maya and Jude had disappeared. He had already taken the half-eaten seasoned samgyeopsal skewer from my hand.

“Just you wait! You’ll see when you’re done eating!”

Leaving only those words behind, I rushed to the makeshift infirmary where Maya was.

Inside the tent, the ducal residence’s healer was wrapping bandages around Maya’s knee. Jude was holding her hand beside her.

“Is she alright?”

The healer bowed to me and answered.

“The skin is torn but it’s not a deep wound, so it should heal in a week, my lady.”

“Torn, you say? Let me see.”

“My lady, I’m fine.”

“Fine nothing! How much must it hurt?”

The bandages wrapped around Maya’s knee were soaked with blood.

I examined the bandages then whirled around to glare at Jude. I was about to say something but remembered she was someone Xavier cared about and calmed my anger.

I am the Duchess after all.

“General Jude, if you asked for seasoning and meat, shouldn’t you have been more careful? How could you let her trip over your leg?”

I was upset. She was already working hard attending to me.

Knowing she was at fault, Jude unexpectedly bowed her head readily.

“I apologize, my lady.”

“Please be more careful.”

“I’ll be more careful from now on. But… did you enjoy the skewer?”

Jude raised her head and stared intently at me.

Why would she suddenly ask something like that when someone’s hurt?

“Why? Is there seasoning on my face?”

“Ah, no.”

A slight look of embarrassment crossed her face as she avoided my gaze.

A look of embarrassment crossed her face as she avoided my gaze.

I was about to ask again because it seemed strange, when the tent suddenly flew wide open. There stood Rexton, as pale as if he had seen a ghost.

“Viscount Rexton?”

“His Grace has collapsed!”