Chapter 112
"Milady, that is our manor."
Looking ahead, I saw a small manor come into view.
I had the soldiers make camp in a nearby pasture, then led the principal members of our party to the manor under Sonea-san's guidance.
When we entered the manor, a lady whose face resembled Sonea-san's greeted us with several servants.
"I am Romelia von Graham. Thank you for permitting us to pass through your domain and for providing food."
"Why, Lady Romelia, welcome. My name is Carla, and I manage this domain. Of course we would help you and your soldiers, who fight to protect our people. We have little to offer, but please make yourselves at home."
Carla welcomed us with a gentle smile.
"Thank you. However, the soldiers here belong to the Cashew Garrison. And he is their commander. Is that still acceptable?"
I asked while looking at Hardy. I had sent a letter ahead of time, but would Carla-san really be willing to accept this?
When I looked toward Hardy, he could not hide the discomfort on his face beneath his beard.
The moment Carla saw Hardy's awkward expression, her own expression changed completely.
"Ah, Hardy. You finally came to see us. You used to visit so often, but lately you haven't shown your face at all. If you hadn't stopped by today, I was about to go after you myself. How have you been?"
Carla welcomed Hardy as if speaking to her son.
"Y-yes. I'm sorry for taking so long to come and pay my respects."
Hardy's face finally relaxed. Apparently, he had been thoroughly doted on here.
Though the two houses had been at odds over their territories, their personal relationship seemed to have remained cordial.
I really should tell Carla-san that I have no intention of becoming engaged to Hardy.
"Carla-san. Um..."
Just as I was about to broach the subject, a child's crying interrupted our conversation.
One of the maids lifted an infant from a child's bed and tried to soothe the child, but the crying would not stop.
"Oh my, what's wrong?"
When Carla picked up and soothed the child, the crying stopped and the infant began to fall asleep.
"Is that your child?"
I asked as I looked at an infant who appeared to be about a year old.
"Yes, this is my daughter, Sonnet."
Still holding her, Carla showed us the child's face. She had adorably plump cheeks.
I had heard that Baron Mikara had died in battle a year ago, so this must be his last surviving child. She and Sonea-san, the eldest daughter, were sisters with a considerable age gap.
Even so, I felt it would be tactless to bring that up.
She likely had several other children, but must have lost many of them to miscarriages or early deaths. Even so, she had continued bearing children in the hope of producing a son and heir. This was common in noble houses.
Yet her hopes had gone unfulfilled, and no son had been born. With no male heir, House Mikara would need to take in a husband for one of its daughters.
They could not possibly arrange a political marriage for little Sonnet. Once again, it seemed that Sonea-san's marriage to Hardy was the right answer.
I tried to broach the subject again, but once more I was interrupted by a voice. This time, a deep, booming call came charging in.
"Hey, Carla! Where's Carla? Oh, there you are. I've been looking for you."
An elderly man with graying hair came striding in, his armor creaking loudly.
"Brother, this won't do. You can't come in dressed like that."
Seeing the gentleman dressed in old armor, Carla-san reproached him.
"What are you talking about? We don't know when the enemy might come. I can't go unarmed!"
The Demon Army could indeed attack at any time, and he was not wrong. Still, the man was incredibly loud. Sonnet, who had just fallen asleep, was startled awake by his voice and began crying again.
"Oh, Sonnet, you're awake? How are you? It's your uncle."
He leaned his bearded face close, his voice like thunder, frightening Sonnet and making her cry even harder.
"Brother, please lower your voice."
"No need. Crying is a child's job. Good—she's healthy."
I watched the two talk past each other and waited for them to introduce us properly.
Noticing my gaze, Carla gave a light cough and looked at me.
"Lady Romelia, I'm sorry for the delayed introduction. This is my older brother, Calus Roseman. And this is Lady Romelia, daughter of Count Graham."
"How do you do? I'm Romelia."
Since he was an older man, I greeted him politely, as etiquette required.
"Hm? So you're that famous Lady Romelia. Must be tough, leading soldiers despite being a woman."
Calus made no attempt to mend his rude manner, but I couldn't afford to take offense at every such slight. Ray, who had come with me, frowned, so I held up a hand to stop him where Calus couldn't see.
"No, I am merely visiting the soldiers who fight on the front lines. I would hardly call that leading them."
Technically, Hardy was the commander, so I made a point of giving him the credit.
The instant Calus saw Hardy, he frowned and spat out:
"You bastard! How dare you show your face here? After all we've done for you, you abandoned Sonea and left when you learned you could marry the count's daughter."
"Lord Calus, that's..."
Hardy tried to say something, but he was in no position to argue back. I would do him a favor and step in here.
"Let me make one thing clear: my father proposed my engagement to Hardy on his own. I have not accepted it. More than anything, I choose my own husband. I do not intend to aim too high, but I was once engaged to the prince who defeated the Demon King. Even if I lower my standards, I would need at least a man capable of taking the head of a Demon Army general. Otherwise, marriage is out of the question."
I declared it like a spoiled young noblewoman. A noble title was convenient at times. I could get away with making outrageous demands.
"Hardy, if you want to make me your wife, bring me the head of an enemy general as a betrothal gift."
Even I had to admit it was a ghastly sight. If someone actually did that, I would throw it away, but surely no one would take me up on it.
"Milady!"
"Romelia-sama?"
"You mean it?"
Hardy, Al, and Ray all cried out in shock at my outrageous suggestion.
I thought it was an absurd idea myself, but in a way it was brilliant. It would send any suitor packing. Then again, no man would propose to a woman who demanded such a thing.
"Hmph, the count's daughter says whatever she pleases. But there is no place for you here. This is land our ancestors have protected for generations. We have no need for help from some count who came here later."
Calus was fuming. His imposing armor might have been intended less as protection against the Demon Army than as a precaution against us, who had arrived leading soldiers.
"Not again, Uncle. Don't say things like that. Our forces cannot fight the Demon Army."
Sonea-san tried to stop her troublesome uncle.
"Rest easy, Sonea. I will protect you and Sonnet. Besides, we have powerful backing."
Calus-san thumped his chest with absolute confidence.
"Priest Gillman! Priest Gillman!"
When Calus bellowed like thunder, a tall man emerged from within through the same door Calus had entered. He wore priestly robes of silk embroidered with gold, and a golden holy symbol hung from his neck.
It was immediately obvious that he was a priest of the Church of Salvation.
"This is Priest Gillman, who came all the way from the Central Church."
After Calus introduced him, the priest, whose eyes were narrow and lips thin, touched the holy symbol with his right hand and bowed slightly.
"How do you do? I am Gillman."
Gillman smiled tensely, his nervous-looking face twitching.