It didn't really matter anymore, did it.
Even if I stayed this close to Daniela like this.
The aide had long since slipped outside the carriage.
After realizing that we were holding hands and whispering to each other,
he had been stealing glances at us before finally volunteering to step out.
"Your Grace, the coachman is driving the horses rather roughly — allow me to keep a close eye from beside him."
"Is that really necessary?"
"Your Grace, I shall ensure the utmost safety of your journey!"
And so the aide had taken his seat next to the coachman, and we were on our way to the Northeast.
I had originally brought him along to discuss work matters during the ride.
Come to think of it, he too had that quality — an excess of eager loyalty, if nothing else.
*These days, the young officials seem even worse about it than the senior ministers.*
"He does have a decent sense of timing, at least," Daniela said.
"He does," I agreed. "Daniela."
He really did have good instincts.
Any other official would have been trying to make himself indispensable, angling for attention.
Now it was just the two of us left inside the carriage.
Whatever sounds drifted out from in here — everyone would know, and yet no one would know.
No one would dare speak of it carelessly.
"What were you like at the academy?"
"At the academy?"
"Yes. You were there for quite a while, weren't you?"
"Not that long, really. About a year, maybe?"
"Did you enjoy it?"
"Hmm... I don't think I'd go that far."
"I was a little envious, is all. I've never been to a place like an academy."
I was hardly the right age to attend one now, either.
Going as a professor would be another matter — though that might be even more out of place for my age.
Of course, there were young professors too, and people far more accomplished than me who held those positions.
Still. I was a little envious.
The truth was, how many people my own age did I have — friends, or anyone I could speak openly with?
None, really.
"Well, it doesn't matter now. Most of the ones who ignored me when things got bad for me — they were all like that."
"...I'm sorry."
"Hehe, no, it's fine. It was a long time ago. I don't even care what they're doing now."
"I see."
An attempt to ease the awkward atmosphere — and yet, somehow, it only made things more awkward.
I was holding Daniela's hand, but my gaze had drifted to the window outside.
*This is... a little strange. This whole thing.*
*Should I be more forward about it?*
*Like in those popular novels.*
"Um, Daniela?"
The moment I turned my head toward her —
perhaps because the carriage jolted —
it was Daniela who leaned in first.
*Wait, aren't the roles supposed to be reversed here?*
An undignified sound escaped me.
*Mmmph —!*
"Haa... hah... Grand Duke?"
"Ah — yes."
"That was a strange sound."
"W-well, you did that so suddenly. And, uh — doesn't the carriage seem to be jolting quite a lot? It's rather uncomfortable..."
In truth, the carriage was moving without so much as a single tremor.
It was the smoothest ride I could ever recall taking.
Perhaps it was obvious that I was trying to change the subject.
Daniela simply looked at me, saying nothing.
An expression that seemed to be asking for something.
*What could I possibly give her.*
"Um, Daniela?"
*Mmmph —!*
There was no stopping the kiss that began again.
Another undignified sound. Though it was unmistakably different from before.
Tongues tangling together, continuing until one of us finally gave in.
*Honestly, I don't know when to stop.*
*There's that feeling, you know.*
*Where you feel like you're running out of breath,*
*and yet you don't want it to end.*
"Haa... that was satisfying."
"S-satisfying? W-well, I'm glad."
"Aren't you, Grand Duke?"
"Me? I mean... it's always good, I suppose."
*Satisfying. I don't know the meaning of the word.*
*Look at the North. If I'd known satisfaction, I would have stopped long before it ever came to this.*
*I am Theodor von Wintergard. A man who does not know satisfaction.*
"I enjoyed it very much."
The words came out before I meant them.
I had no idea what I was saying. My palms were damp with sweat, and I wanted to hide it — but if I pulled my hand away now, Daniela would be disappointed, so I couldn't.
"I'll save the rest for later."
"Y-you seem quite different today."
"We're not at Winter Castle, are we? It's a holiday."
"That's true."
"Now that we're on holiday, you're not the Grand Duke — you're just..."
Daniela didn't finish the sentence,
but I thought I understood what she meant.
With Daniela's cheerful chatter resuming beside me, the carriage continued on toward the Northeast.
It had been a long time since I'd traveled this road,
but it felt different from before.
"Is this your homeland, Grand Duke?"
"Less my homeland, more the homeland of the Wintergards."
Was there a reason the Wintergards had come to rule the North?
The sort of thing that might come up in a history lesson —
but to put it simply: when House Wintergard first rose to prominence, the territory recognized by the Empire was the Northeast.
They had been born in the North, lived in the North, and maintained good relations with the South.
That was all so long ago that none of it remained now.
"The Northeast is wonderfully warm, just like Winter Castle."
"You can feel it already? We installed the second and third Central Furnaces here."
"I see. That must be why everyone looks so cheerful."
"That's the Northeast's charm. There are a lot of optimists here."
Of all the North, the Northeast was the most optimistic, the most at ease, and the most blessed with good conditions.
It was no longer governed by a lord in the traditional sense —
administrators had been dispatched to handle the affairs of the Northeast.
"Is this where we'll be staying?"
"Hm? Yes. Probably."
"It's very..."
Modest.
Still, it was larger than most houses, so it was perfectly livable.
Perhaps it was because I'd seen so many southern manors and palaces.
The carriage rolled into the courtyard of the lodgings.
When the horses finally stopped, we were able to step outside.
"That didn't take long."
"I know — when you said the Northeast, I imagined somewhere terribly far away."
"It's only about four hours, really."
Wait — four hours?
*That's how long it took?*
I couldn't even remember how much time had passed.
It hadn't felt like we'd been sitting in that carriage for very long at all.
*We're already in the Northeast?*
"Shall we head inside, Your Grace?"
"Yes, let's."
"The people of the Northeast are very pleased to hear of Your Grace's arrival."
"It's good to be back in the homeland."
Not that I actually remembered any of it.
We would be staying here for a few days, but it was a far cry from Winter Castle, where I had spent so much time.
The facilities here might actually be slightly better —
though the sleeping arrangements and the seating felt a little less comfortable.
"What do you think?"
"It's charming, Grand Duke."
"The North has its own holiday destinations, you know. Though I think this might be my first time here as well."
"Is that so?"
"I really wish there were someone who could handle the Grand Duke's duties in my place. Well — it's my work, so."
We checked the room we'd be staying in
and then all stepped back outside.
The aides kept repeating, "Your Grace, please do not worry. We ministers will handle everything."
Over and over again.
"There's actually somewhere I should go, now that we're in the Northeast."
"It is not far from here, Your Grace."
"Shall we ride?"
"I will have the horses prepared at once."
It was close enough to reach on horseback.
Daniela leaned over and asked me quietly.
With all the aides still present, there was an inevitable awkwardness between us.
"Where are we going?"
"I haven't been in decades, really. I should check in on it."
"Where..."
"Ah — it's something like... the Wintergard family's place of memorial, I suppose you could call it."
Since this had originally been Wintergard territory,
it was more accurate to call it the burial ground of the Wintergard ancestors.
By now it had been properly tended to,
and it was fair to say that nearly all the Wintergards were interred there.
Thinking back to the past —
it had been little more than ruins.
"Shall we go now?"
"Yes."
I mounted my black horse and rode slowly out of the lodgings.
Word of my arrival must have already spread.
The streets were lined with people.
Everyone called out in welcome, and some were waving what looked like large banners.
The Wintergard banner had not been raised in procession,
but it was already flying from the flagpole at the lodgings.
"Is it far?"
"No. It won't take long, I think."
"Really?"
"By the way, Daniela — you ride remarkably well. Even among North folk, riders like you are rare."
"The horses seem to like me."
"It seems everyone in the North likes Daniela."
The horses walked at an easy pace.
My black horse occasionally rolled its eyes,
while the horse Daniela rode kept its gaze steady and followed its rider's guidance perfectly.
"Do you think all the people of the North like me?"
"Of course they do."
"Hehe... all the people of the North like me?"
"Absolutely."
"Then I suppose that means the Grand Duke likes me too."
I had nothing to say to that.
*...She's being rather bold with the flirting today.*
But I didn't mind it.
*So this is why people fall in love.*
I tried to maintain my composure and suppress the smile threatening to surface, but it was no use.
"Grand Duke?"
"Well. That goes without saying."
"Not that kind of answer."
There was truly nowhere to run.
*Should I spur the horse forward?*
*But then things might get out of hand.*
"I think there's something the Grand Duke needs to say to me~"
Now she was teasing me outright.
*Good grief.*
"Is there something I need to say to Daniela~"
I tried to tease back, but even that had already cost me the upper hand.
Really.
*Today — should I just — hm? Should I just go ahead and —!*