Early in the morning, after packing my things and leaving the house, I headed toward the south gate of the Fortress City of Lamoor, where the carriages were parked.
Standing before several luxurious carriages was a group of twenty to thirty men and women. Among them, a goddess-like woman with pink hair and a pure white dress lifted the hem of her skirt with a smile.
"You must be Kai Heinemann. I am Rosemary, and I will be accompanying you on your journey to the royal capital. Please, call me Rose."
She gave me a polite nod. Still, Rosemary, huh? That was the same name as the Saint. Well, it was common enough across the kingdom, so it was probably just a coincidence.
"Oh, nice to meet you."
I returned her nod with a slight bow of my own, but—
"How dare an incompetent wretch take such a disrespectful tone?!"
A red-haired woman standing behind her, clad in extravagant white armor, flared up in fury and seized me by the collar.
"Anna! Stop that at once! In the first place, traveling together was my own request. Your behavior brings shame upon both the Sword Saint and myself!"
"F-Forgive me, my lady!"
Lashed by a reprimand far fiercer than one would ever expect from Rose's delicate frame, Anna panicked, let go of me, sprang backward, and snapped to attention.
By "Sword Saint," she meant my grandfather. It was also Grandfather who had arranged my carriage to the capital today. I couldn't read his intentions, but that man would never do anything to harm me. Traveling with them shouldn't be an issue... probably.
"Lady Rose, Anna acted purely out of loyalty to you. Please, grant her your forgiveness."
Beside Rose, a bearded gentleman dressed in a black suit with a stark white jabot stepped forward, pressed a hand over his heart, and offered his counsel.
"I am well aware!"
After snapping back, she slapped both cheeks with her palms and forced her original smile back into place.
Somehow, I got the feeling her sensibilities were actually quite close to us commoners. High nobility had its own suffocating restrictions, and the friction between her and those around her was clearly taking a toll. Not that I'd ever have a death wish strong enough to say that out loud in a situation like this.
"Well then, let us depart at once."
Rose took me firmly by the right hand and dragged me into the carriage. Naturally, glared at by everyone around us as if I had murdered their parents, I could do nothing but let out a deep, resigned sigh.