A little past noon the following day, I found myself swaying to the rhythmic motion of a carriage.
"I didn't expect to be granted an audience with the Ducal House the very day after arriving."
"After you left Gimul, Ryoma-sama, Caulm sent me a letter," Serge explained. "He included your schedule and estimated arrival date. When I passed that information along to the mansion, they replied that today would be perfectly fine if it suited us. To be honest, I was a bit surprised myself."
"Normally, it wouldn’t be this easy to clear a schedule on such short notice, just like you’re thinkin', Ryoma," Pioro added.
"I suppose you're right..."
I had promised to meet up with Serge-san "within three days" and had arrived early specifically to avoid being late, but this was remarkably fast.
"I bet they just really wanted to see you, Ryoma."
"I can't imagine any other reason," Serge agreed.
"Haha..."
Knowing how kind they were, that was likely the case. It made me happy to know they still cared about my well-being even after I had struck out on my own.
"By the way, the atmosphere of the town has changed quite a bit."
The carriage had been slowly ascending a slope for some time. As we climbed, the scenery outside the window shifted. The lively city streets filled with clusters of small shops and houses gave way to grander storefronts and upscale restaurants.
"We’re almost at the Noble District. People'll be startin' to thin out soon," Pioro noted.
The Noble District... It was just ahead.
"Indeed," Serge said. "You can think of this town as being built on a single hill surrounded by flat land. As you ascend the hill, the number of luxury residences and high-end boutiques increases. However, there is no need to be so tense. Although it is called the Noble District, quite a few wealthy commoners live here as well, and access isn't strictly restricted."
"Well, it ain't exactly the kind of place you wander around in without a reason, though," Pioro interjected. "We’re headin' straight for the Duke’s place, so there’s naught to worry about. By the way, the Duke's mansion sits at the very summit—the highest point in the entire district."
"That’s easy enough to imagine."
I wondered what the mansion would look like. Given their status, it certainly wouldn't be small. Would it be a soaring castle like the one in a certain land of dreams?
"Don't be in such a rush; we’ll be there soon enough."
"The mansion will be something for you to look forward to until we arrive."
"By the way—"
Both of them spoke at once. Neither had intended to interrupt, and after a brief moment of offering the floor to the other, Serge-san took the lead.
"Ryoma-sama, regarding your attire..."
The clothes!
My outfit for today was a navy blue suit, custom-made at a tailor in Gimul. It had been tailored exactly to my specifications, and personally, I was very satisfied with it. However...
"Is it too plain, after all?"
The clerk at the tailor's and all of my employees had shown a rather subtle, complicated reaction when they saw me in it.
"It’s plain, yeah. Not that it’s disrespectful or nothin', though," Pioro said.
"You really didn't have to hold back quite so much, you know?" Serge added.
From my perspective, their outfits were incredibly flashy.
Pioro-san was wearing a shirt adorned with an excessive amount of ruffled lace, paired with a coat that featured colorful fabric peeking through various decorative slits.
Serge-san’s clothes were made of obviously expensive fabric, though the design was relatively modest. However, he wore a large ruffled collar at his neck, and a beret with a massive feather rested on his lap—likely waiting to be donned once we stepped outside.
It was obvious now. Since the shop clerk had pushed those styles so hard, it meant they were the peak of popular fashion. It wasn't strange at all for the two men in front of me to be dressed that way.
But this was fine for me.
"I liked this design. Besides, it's easy to move in."
"I see. It is good to have your own preferences, especially regarding one’s wardrobe," Serge noted.
"Folks don't usually say you’ve got good sense if you’re just chasin' trends, after all," Pioro agreed.
"Haha... I don't really have much confidence in my fashion sense, though."
"No, no, that refined silhouette is quite striking. The materials are top-notch, and the tailoring is meticulous. I almost want one myself. Which shop did you visit?"
"A shop in the West District of Gimul. It's on the corner of the fifth street from the main road, to the right."
"The fifth street in the West District... Ah, that shop. I heard it was a new establishment. You have a keen eye for quality."
"Caulm-san looked it up for me. Thanks to him, I was able to get everything sorted smoothly."
"Ho. And that tie pin as well?"
He noticed it, as expected.
"The stone is an inheritance from my grandmother. It was crafted by the most trustworthy and skilled artisan among our business associates."
The base of the tie pin featured delicate goldwork where straight and curved lines intertwined like thread and creeping vines. In the center, a golden flower bloomed to embrace a large diamond. It lacked the ostentatious flash of being encrusted with countless smaller jewels, but the craftsman had achieved a perfect, singular harmony.
"That is truly magnificent skill. This level of delicacy... I suspect it was made by a craftsman well-versed in Metal Magic."
"As expected, Serge-san. That's exactly how it was explained to me."
Metal Magic—a colloquial term for the delicate process of shaping metal by simultaneously weaving Earth and Fire magic. Since it required handling two elements at once, the difficulty was naturally high, but applying it to intricate jewelry demanded even finer control. The shop clerk's eyes had practically sparkled as he explained that I was holding a masterpiece of high-level technique. Truly talented Metal Mages were usually scooped up by national institutions like the Mint, making it exceptionally rare to find one working independently.
"Mmm... To think such a craftsman was in Gimul... I would dearly love to meet them..." Serge muttered.
"I was thinkin' of buyin' somethin' for the wife, too," Pioro said.
"Ah, is it for a wedding anniversary or some other celebration? Kurana-san would be delighted."
The conversation proceeded pleasantly, and while we talked, the carriage finally leveled out.
"It seems we’ve reached the top of the slope. Let’s prepare to disembark."
"You can already see the mansion through the window."
"Eh?"
I looked out the right window as Pioro pointed, but what I saw was a moat and a towering stone wall... or rather, a castle wall.
"Serge-san, Pioro-san. Instead of a 'mansion,' shouldn't we call this a 'castle'?"
I shifted my angle to get a better look, but what stood there was undeniably a castle. It wasn't a beautiful, white fairy-tale castle, but a grim fortress with high walls where city guards were stationed. Towers shaped like chess pieces rose from within the perimeter.
No matter how I looked at it, the place was a fortress.
Even as I processed this, the carriage didn't slow down, turning toward the castle gate where soldiers stood in formation.
"Chairman of the Morgan Company, Serge Morgan, and two others. The coachman and the two in the back seat are attendants. Our cargo consists of a small gift for His Grace the Duke. We request passage."
"We have been informed. Please proceed directly to the mansion. Dedicated staff will guide you from there."
I had expected much tighter security, but the check was over in an instant, and the carriage rolled forward again.
"?"
What was that...?
"Is something the matter?"
"I felt something strange just now..."
"That was probably the barrier," Pioro explained. "They use Space Magic to keep intruders from sneakin' in as they please."
"A barrier... I see."
"Those sensitive to mana often feel a sense of discomfort when passing through them," Serge added. "The Ducal House’s estate is protected by multiple layers of barriers maintained by magic tools and dedicated barrier mages."
It was a sensation I had never felt while using my own Barrier Magic, but it made sense.
"Regardless, we really have arrived at the mansion now."
I snapped out of my thoughts. I did a final check of my clothes and braced myself.
"Thank you for the ride."
I gave a slight nod to Serge-san's subordinate who had served as our coachman and stepped out of the carriage.
The first thing I saw was a line of servants waiting to welcome us—twenty people in total. They stood in two rows, men on one side and women on the other, bowing their heads to create a path for us.
I remembered seeing scenes like this in manga all the time, but back then, I never dreamed I would be the one receiving such a greeting.
What was even more surprising was the building beyond them. It was a magnificent Western-style mansion, completely different from the fortress-like impression it gave from the outside. While the outer walls and towers felt like a stronghold, the interior mansion looked like a grand state guest house. It was built of gray stone that looked quite old, but it was so well-maintained that it didn't look dirty at all. Instead, it radiated history and dignity.
"Welcome. We have been expecting you."
A single butler stepped forward to greet us. He was likely the head of the household staff.
He informed us that we, as the primary guests, would be taken to a waiting room. The three attendants, including Fei-san, would wait in a separate room. The gifts were handed over to the staff to be checked for safety; once cleared, they would be brought to the waiting room before our formal audience.
"Now, please come this way."
I followed behind the maid acting as our guide, trying to look as though this were a regular occurrence.
"Please wait here for a short while."
"!"
In the waiting room we were led into, two familiar faces were already standing by.
"Arone-san? And Lilian-san too!"
"It has been a long time, Ryoma-sama."
"We have been waiting for you. It is good to see you looking so well."
The maid who had guided us looked at the two with a questioning expression.
"Pardon me," I said. "These two were a great help to me in the past."
"I see. Then I shall take my leave. If you require anything, please do not hesitate to ask them."
The guiding maid departed, and I finally felt like I could breathe again.
"Would you like something to drink?"
"We have water, black tea, fruit water, and even light alcohol, if you prefer."
"I think I’ll have the fruit water," Serge said.
"I'll take some black tea," Pioro added.
"Water for me, please."
As expected, the two merchants were perfectly at home in this environment, remaining natural and relaxed.
"Here you are."
"Thank you... Phew."
The water was cold, and the sensation as it slid down my throat was incredibly refreshing.
"What's wrong? You look nervous," Pioro teased.
"Well, of course I am."
I realized it was a bit strange, but I wasn't actually worried about meeting the Jamil family themselves. I was just nervous about the sheer gravity of visiting a noble’s estate. I had to act with a certain amount of dignity as the head of my own business—not that I wanted to act high and mighty, but I had to be respectable.
That said... in my previous life, I had never been more than a regular salaryman. As a novice leader, I was still struggling to feel comfortable in my own skin.
I had to be dignified. But if I went too far, I’d come across as arrogant. It was difficult because the criteria for these things were so subjective. Unlike the angle of a bow or the specific seat you were assigned, social grace depended on the atmosphere, the other person's personality, and their individual perceptions.
What was it with people like that? They'd tell you to have more confidence, but the moment you did, they’d label you as cheeky or claim you lacked humility. They’d ask if you were getting ahead of yourself or if you'd become arrogant. Yet, if you tried to be careful, they’d call you groveling or say your humility had turned into sarcasm. Honestly, what did it take to satisfy some people?
"Ryoma-sama? Are you all right?"
Oops, some of my old-world resentment had started to leak out. Maybe it was the suit triggering the memories.
"Yes, I was just a little nervous."
"Really? Your eyes looked dead for a second there," Pioro noted.
"As long as you aren't feeling unwell, it's fine," Serge said reassuringly. "But you really don't need to be so tense. Pioro or I will step in if anything goes wrong, though I haven't seen anything today that makes me think that will be necessary."
Arone-san and Lilian-san also offered some encouragement, telling me I "looked perfectly composed" and that they had seen "guests who were much more restless."
I was grateful for their kindness. I really would have to do my best.
After that, we settled into easy conversation. Perhaps sensing my nerves, the two maids actively joined in to keep me distracted.
In fact, they became the center of the talk. We spent the remainder of our wait catching up on how we had first met, what I had been doing since we last spoke, and even local gossip, like one of their colleagues getting married.