It was a letter that held no emotion—only the main point, stated plainly and neatly.
So neat, in fact, that it didn’t even say who had written it…
Letier let out a small sigh.
It was so lacking in sincerity that, had it not been for their conversation in the carriage, she could’ve easily ignored it altogether.
If only that conversation hadn’t happened…
“If he’s at the southern border in three days… we’ll need to move quickly.”
“Isn’t that cutting it a little close?”
Lucy and Ephron spoke almost in unison.
At their question, Letier slowly nodded.
“It took longer than expected to convince my father.”
“His Grace must be really upset…”
“I can understand why. That’s why I don’t feel at ease about it.”
“Still… do you really have to go? You’ve only just returned.”
Lucy asked again.
“Wouldn’t it be fine to go a little later, as long as it’s within the permit’s validity?”
Letier quietly turned over the question in her mind.
This proposal didn’t come from the emperor or empress—it wasn’t a royal order.
It was simply a request. A personal suggestion from a prince she’d grown just a little closer to.
One she could’ve declined—saying it was too hard, that it wasn’t possible, that she was sorry.
“The prince…”
Letier began to speak slowly.
“…asked me to go with him.”
“You could always go separately later! I really don’t get why you have to travel with the prince.”
Lucy muttered, resuming the task she’d paused.
“So do I, Lucy.”
Letier replied with a gentle smile.
****
The group departing was small.
Unlike the long journey to the palace, which had required six full carriages, this time it was just Letier, Lucy, and Ephron.
They were to naturally join the prince’s party at the southern border, so bringing more people wasn’t an option.
Standing in front of the Lenever family’s carriage, the duke looked at Letier as she prepared to leave and spoke.
“Letier, take care of yourself.”
“Yes, Father. I’ll be back soon!”
Duke Lenever appeared surprisingly calm as he saw his daughter off.
Letier deliberately used a bright, cheerful voice as she hugged her father.
Of course, she knew he was trying hard to hide his sorrow.
“Go see and experience everything you want to, then come home.”
“Yes!”
Letier gave a firm nod, held her father’s gaze for a quiet moment, and then slowly turned around.
She stepped into the small carriage and immediately leaned her face out the window.
The duke looked at her round face and forced the corners of his lips into a smile.
“You look excited.”
“I am! I’m looking forward to a lot of things.”
“Good. Seeing you happy puts my heart at ease.”
“Please stay healthy, Father!”
“You too, Letier. Stay safe.”
Once Lucy had finished her final checks and climbed aboard, the coachman took the reins and gave them a strong shake.
“We’re off!”
“Goodbye!”
“Travel safely!”
Letier watched her father and Gilbert grow smaller in the distance, then slowly pulled herself away from the window.
“……”
Parting with her only family was always bittersweet.
Sitting across from her, Lucy glanced at her watch hanging from her wrist and spoke.
“My lady, at this pace, we should reach the Videros Hotel before the evening two days from now. If we rest there for the night, we’ll be right on time to join the prince’s party the next day.”
“Okay. Got it.”
Letier nodded, shifting her body to find the most comfortable position.
With a mix of longing, anticipation, tension, and worry, she leaned her head against the seatback.
As Lucy had predicted, the carriage rode nonstop for two days, and by the time darkness began to fall on the third day, they had arrived at the hotel.
Looking out the carriage window, Letier spotted the sign for the Videros Hotel.
It looked like something the owner had painted by hand and nailed to a tree—so weathered that most of the letters were barely legible.
“It’s more run-down than I thought.”
“Well, it is near the border, far from the capital.”
Lucy shrugged.
Unlike the glittering capital, the borderlands seemed much less developed.
“My lady! We’ve arrived!”
At the same time that Ephron, seated next to the coachman, called out, their carriage came to a full stop.
The area in front of the Videros Hotel was already filled with several other carriages.
“They have the royal emblem on them. This must be the place!”
Lucy called out while peering carefully out the window.
Letier recognized the eagle insignia—she’d seen enough of it during her stay at the palace. It was engraved on every one of the carriages parked out front.
“You must have had a tiring journey, Lady Letier.”
A moment later, someone approached and opened the carriage door.
The person holding out a hand to help her down was someone unexpected.
Letier reluctantly placed her hand in the cold, impassive knight commander’s hand.
He was the one who had previously treated her with such arrogance.
“Thank you.”
She briefly wondered if he might just drop her—but to her surprise, he escorted her quite politely.
“Um… may I ask your name?”
Now standing on the ground with his help, Letier asked.
But the knight didn’t even glance at her; he simply turned and walked ahead.
“……”
Again…?
Ignored again?
Letier stared at the back of his head, lips slightly parted in disbelief.
Did I somehow offend him?
“…His Highness has already arrived and is resting. If you go up the stairs and turn to the right, you’ll find several open rooms. Please choose whichever you like.”
Standing before the hotel’s worn door, the knight commander pointed stiffly at the staircase inside with an emotionless tone.
Irritated by his behavior, Letier didn’t even respond and instead peered into the building.
Up the stairs… to the right…!
“My lady! We’ll carry the luggage up, so go ahead first!”
“Okay!”
Letier nodded to Lucy and Ephron, who were unloading the bags.
As she entered the building, the creaky wood underfoot groaned loudly with each step.
She passed a narrow reception area—barely enough to be called a lobby—and approached the stairs lined with a faded rug.
“……”
Before heading up, Letier paused and turned back to look directly at the knight commander.
Apparently not expecting this, he furrowed his brow and stepped back half a step.
“You can hear me, right? What’s your name?”
This much, she figured, he couldn’t ignore.
Letier gripped the handrail as if declaring she wouldn’t move another step until she got an answer.
“……”
“……”
“Your name. I’m asking what it is.”
After a short silence, the knight finally opened his mouth.
“…Kyledian Blend.”
“Thank you for telling me, Sir Blend. I just wanted to know since it seems we’ll be seeing each other often—so no need to worry.”
Letier flashed him a bright smile, then turned and walked up the stairs.
She didn’t know what kind of face Kyledian was making behind her.
He was more intimidating than she expected, so she’d been a little scared—but… she did it!
Trying to calm her pounding heart, Letier climbed the stairs without stopping.
“Uh…”
But once she reached the second floor and stood before a sign pointing in two directions, she blinked in confusion.
Maybe because she’d been so focused on demanding the knight’s name, she’d forgotten—did he say right or left?
“…Was it right after the stairs?”
Letier leaned her head to the right and looked down the long hallway.
Open doors… one, two. Just two!
“There are three of us… Would they really give us only two rooms?”
What about the left side?
Open doors… one, two, three.
They were spaced awkwardly apart, but logically, three rooms for three people made more sense.
And if I’m wrong… oh well!
With that thought, Letier headed left and entered the first open room she came to.
“Ahem! Anyone in here…?”
She knocked loudly and called out, but there was no response.
Then this was definitely a vacant room.
“I’m coming in!”
Calling out into the empty air, Letier walked straight toward the bed in the center of the room.
After spending days riding in stiff seats, she was desperate to lie down on something soft.
“Ugh…”
Collapsing onto the bed, she rolled to her side and slowly blinked her eyes.
I should wash up…
Lucy’s going to scold me if I don’t…
The fatigue built up during the carriage ride pressed down heavily on her body.
As the darkness crept in around her vision, Letier quietly closed her eyes.
****
Drip.
Drip.
Letier awoke to the feeling of something dripping lightly onto her forehead.
Huh? Did I doze off?
Drip.
She frowned, her eyelids too heavy to lift.
Rain…? Is this old building leaking?
Letier forced her unmoving arm to lift and cover her forehead.
It wouldn’t help much, but even that small movement felt like a huge effort right now.
Drip.
“Ugh, seriously… what is this…”
Still feeling drops tapping down onto her arm, Letier let out a soft groan and finally opened her eyes.
She was sure the light had been on before she fell asleep, but now the room was dark—had someone turned it off while she slept?
And in front of her eyes… what was that?
“Is it… rain?”
“It’s not rain, Letier.”
