The carriage was very comfortable.
The interior was about twice as spacious as a standard carriage, and even soft bedding was provided so that one could rest comfortably and get a good night's sleep at any time.
However, a look of anxiety was clearly visible on Presepe's face.
"Is this really okay...?"
Presepe, muttering to herself, quietly recalled the events of the previous night.
So, what happened after she left the Imperial Palace and returned to the mansion?
"Tell him to give me time to say goodbye. Everything has gone according to His Majesty's will anyway, so he can at least do that much for me."
Dietrich granted Presepe's plea, but throughout the entire journey back to the townhouse, Presepe could not easily bring himself to say a word to Fenrir.
Presepe knew Fenrir's background all too well. After all, she had heard about it constantly. She knew just how hard it had been for him to reach this position.
However, seeing that he had lost the Emperor's trust for no reason because of her and was suddenly about to be banished to the Forbidden Forest where there was nothing to do, it goes without saying how Presepe felt.
Although he did send Siegfried and the Knights together, to be honest, Presepe suspected that this was merely a tactic to keep Fenrir under surveillance. After all, all he had to do was tie Fenrir down and simply call her back.
Fenrir was just as silent. He had been lost in thought the entire way back. Given the circumstances, it was difficult to strike up a conversation first.
It was around the time they arrived at Fenrir's townhouse that Presepe finally managed to squeeze out a word, as if she were forcing it out.
"I'm sorry... Grand Duke."
She meant it. She was sorry for everything. She had decided not to say sorry or thank you anymore. It felt as though that thought was suddenly flashing through her mind, but now was not the time to keep such a promise.
However, Fenrir looked at Presepe as if to ask what she meant and asked back.
"Have you done something to apologize to me in the meantime? Behind my back."
"No, because of me, you ended up going to the Forbidden Forest for no reason. They call it an entry, but it’s no different from being kicked out..."
Presepe buried her head low and muttered to herself.
"Besides, you saw the Emperor's attitude earlier. That crazy bastard Ivan... no, the Archmage must have said something strange."
At those words, Fenrir laughed.
And gave an answer that was difficult to understand.
"But I don't think it's that bad."
What kind of situation would make that person say 'bad'? Does he have to have an arm or two cut off?
Presepe thought to herself.
After returning to the townhouse, Fenrir briefly explained the whole situation to Hannah and began preparing for the match.
It was called preparation for the match, but it wasn't particularly complicated.
Fenrir sent a messenger to his soldiers to stand by, and Hannah, as if it were a familiar task, packed the neatly prepared armor and sword.
Fenrir finished his preparations for the match, which were short, if you will, at a very leisurely pace.
"Now all you have to do is start."
It was nice to see Fenrir stepping out of the townhouse with Hannah.
She wanted to see him off. And she also wanted to tell him.
Thanks to him, she had been so incredibly peaceful over the past few days. Of all the moments she could remember, she had never felt this joyful and at ease.
So she said again that she's so grateful and sorry...
However, just before Presepe could catch Fenrir, a carriage suddenly arrived.
She meant this excessively large carriage she is riding in right now.
"You are looking at the carriage with curious eyes. Do you not like it?"
Does it matter whether she likes this or not? Besides, that wasn't the reason she looked at it in curiosity.
"Ah. That’s not it. If it’s a race, I thought they would usually travel by foot."
"I am riding a horse."
"What? Then why did this carriage come?"
...Ah.
Is this the carriage that will take me to the Imperial Palace?
Grand Duke Fenrir's final act of consideration for her.
She knew they had to part ways now, but when she actually saw the carriage she was going to ride to the Imperial Palace, her spirits sank.
Fenrir reached out his hand in front of Presepe's face, which had darkened in an instant.
"Let’s get on."
"Already...?"
But she hadn't even properly said goodbye yet.
"I know you must be tired, but given the circumstances, what can we do?"
To Presepe, who was biting her lip, Fenrir gave an answer she had never expected.
"You should get on and take a nap. I will ride separately, so please do not worry."
...Together? Does that mean you're going to take me there? However, Dietrich's escort was supposed to come.
"Didn't you say that last time? That you were curious about the outside world."
To Presepe, who did not fully understand his words, Fenrir continued speaking.
"I also mentioned this. That once the situation stabilizes a bit, we might be able to go to a place that pleases you, Lady Presepe—it doesn't necessarily have to be the capital, anywhere. Together with me."
"...Grand Duke?"
"Of course, the situation is not stable, but things can never be perfect."
Presepe stared at Fenrir blankly, and Fenrir chuckled.
"I think I kept promising that I would protect you, Lady Presepe."
"..."
"You said you would trust me, but it seems that was actually all a lie."
Her mind was in turmoil. She hadn't even imagined such a turn of events.
But she wanted to leave together.
It was not solely because she thought there might be clues to find the real male protagonist in the Forbidden Forest. Nor was it simply because she did not want to return to the Imperial Palace.
Dietrich, Ivan, and Siegfried, who always suffocated and tormented her.
She didn't want to be with people like that anymore.
Even if it is not a peaceful and comfortable townhouse, even if there is no Hannah to attend to her, even if life becomes very inconvenient...
If she had to be with someone. If given that choice, the only answer was Fenrir.
In the end, Presepe took Fenrir's large, warm hand that was extended to her.
And, she got on the carriage just like that.
"...Ha."
A heavy sigh escaped from between Presepe's lips as she recalled the events of last night.
"No. Well, I did go ahead and do it, but..."
Is it really okay to do this?
You apologized for the Grand Duke going through this because of me, but didn't I end up dragging him into something even worse?
It has been a long time since morning, so Dietrich must have heard the news. That he went all the way to pick her up, only for her to just run off without a word.
Of course, it was an exceptionally good opportunity for Presepe. After all, he wouldn't even have had a chance to visit the Forbidden Forest at any other time than this.
No, anyway.
It was around the time Presepe was losing her mind, frantically oscillating between 'I’ve come this far, so what am I supposed to do?' and 'But how will we clean up the mess afterward?' that the carriage, which had been speeding along, came to a smooth stop.
"Lady Presepe, are you awake?"
Beyond the window, Fenrir's low voice was heard along with a knocking sound.
"Yes."
"I will open the carriage door."
Not long after the conversation ended, the door opened with a small noise. Fenrir, standing in front of the carriage as if he had dismounted himself, held out his hand to Presepe. It seemed he was telling her to get off.
Presepe, having carefully taken Fenrir's hand and stepped out of the carriage, finally looked around.
“It’s a forest?”
"Since it is a place with beautiful scenery."
Excuse me, but is this the time to be nitpicking about the scenery?
She did have that thought, but it really did look good.
"It takes more than two days to travel from the capital to the Forbidden Forest, even if you run all day. Besides, it will feel like an even longer distance to you, Lady Presepe, so you would do well to get some fresh air like this often along the way."
Strictly speaking, that was also true.
"My soldiers are moving separately, except for a few escorts here, so you may rest easy."
Just as he had been at the mansion, Fenrir was still incredibly ordinary.
He smiled broadly at Presepe, then gestured to the soldiers surrounding the carriage to wait.
"Please take my arm. We haven't gone very deep yet, but since it is a forest, I'm worried you might get hurt."
As she carefully grabbed his arm, Fenrir finally wore a satisfied expression.
He took Presepe along like that and began to walk slowly, matching her pace as if guiding her.
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