CH 3

Village Hercula (1)

「”This is ridiculous! It’s all his fault, so why should you have to self-reflect?!”」

Kyrie smiled at Laura’s letter, which was written down in anger.

‘When I arrive, I have to reply to her.’

At the order of her father, the head of the house, Kyrie headed to the villa of Count Buchanan.

Count Buchanan’s villa, just like any other aristocrat’s villa, was near the beach in the southern part of the continent.

Kyrie wanted to go someplace anyway, hence she went on a journey ignoring the falling snow.

‘The winter sea is not bad either.’

The capital, Sel Arellano, is a splendid city but not very comfortable, due to the reason that at every ball, people compared Kyrie and Rubinia.

‘You’ve been acting like you’re superior, but seeing how you cannot do anything about your fiancé, is Miss Buchanan worth less than what it seems?’

‘I know, what’s the point in doing a good job? You have failed in love…’

‘I understand why the Crown Prince chose Lady Cassner!’

They seemed to find it enjoyable that Kyrie, who had never been in a scandal, was being mixed up in just a great one.

Now that her engagement with the Crown Prince has been annulled, it will make even more gossip.

It would be better if Laura and Maria were around, but she couldn’t be with them forever.

‘Good for you, I’ll come back when it’s quiet. I wish you the two of you could get married in the meantime.’

In fact, at first glance Kyrie thought Rubinia Cassner was better suited to Prince Eden than she was. 

The cute and lively Rubinia was lovely to even Kyrie, but at one point, Kyrie felt uneasy about Rubinia.

It was when Prince Eden said that he would put down the name of OrwenBridge.

At that point, a short moment where Rubinia glared at Prince Eden with a chilling face was revealed.

The inner feeling that had been revealed momentarily, were then replaced by Rubinia’s usual kind and lovely face, but from then onward, Kyrie could no longer see Rubinia in a favourable light.

It was that moment onwards that Kyrie resigned herself from Rubinia as she thought it would be bothersome if she chose to do otherwise.

There were only two reasons why Kyrie was engaged anyway, the reasons were the obsession to be aristocratic, no matter what; as well as a twisted sense of responsibility that everything should be done for the sake of the family.

Ironically, Kyrie felt free from the grasp of both of them with the annulment of the engagement.

‘It’s all over now.’

While Kyrie was staring at the falling snow with a black expression, the carriage came to a stop,

Knock, knock

Someone had knocked on the door of the carriage.

“What happened?”

When Kyrie nodded her head, MaryAnne, who was sitting near the door, opened it.

It was Sir Valdir, a knight of Count Buchanan assigned with the task of escorting Kyrie, who was outside the door.

“My lady, there is an issue.”

“What’s the matter, Sir Valdir?”

“Due to the heavy snow, it would be difficult to move any further, it would be better if we were to find a place to rest.”

Behind Sir Valdir stood the guide who seemed restless. The snow outside was so very thick that it had reached the calves of Sir Valdir and the horsemen.

Kyrie sighed while MaryAnne covered her with a shawl.

“That’s right, it would be better if we were to take a rest in the village we passed by previously.”

Earlier, Kyrie was feeling optimistic.

She was planning to stay in the previously passed village for a few days as she wasn’t feeling good, but when the guide, the so called ‘expert’, said it was not yet time for heavy snow, Kyrie told him to do whatever he wanted.

And… this is how it ended up.

It certainly wasn’t time for heavy snowfall, but the carriage was isolated.

While Valdir looked back at the guide with disapproving eyes, Kyrie moved her seat to one which was closest to the door. 

“Give me a map. Let’s take countermeasures.”

“Yes my lady.”

Kyrie was already shivering due to the cold,

“The closest city is the City of Envinique, Vermont, can we go there?”

“It will be difficult, to get to the city of Envinique, we have to cross the hills and the horses are already tired.”

“How about going back to the previous village?”

“It’s far too dangerous, and there is a bigger risk of an accident as the bottom of the hill is already frozen.”

“That’s quite the issue.”

Kyrie grabbed her forehead, the carriage is enchanted with magic to protect them from the winter cold, but not all her personnel and knights can fit inside it,

The snowfall was getting stronger and soon, the carriage will be forced to stop.

It was clear that if the decision were to be delayed, they might face a dangerous situation.

At that time, the guide, who looked around with a guilty expression, closed his eyes tightly and raised his hand.

“M-May I say something!”