Chapter 23 : Sleep together

A carriage isn’t a vehicle that travels ‘whoosh’ in an instant.

Only teleportation magic circles engraved with coordinates can leap across space in a single moment.

Such specialized magical mediums are generally very expensive.

But it doesn’t really matter even if it’s a cheaply rented carriage.

The weather is sunny spring, neither hot nor cold, and if you open the window, a gentle breeze blows in.

It’s a comfortable journey where all you have to do is sit still inside the carriage until you arrive.

“Ughhhhm.”

[Are you okay?]

No. Not at all.

I wanted to say I wasn’t okay, but even saying that was difficult.

The encounter between a carriage, far bumpier than an old-fashioned car, and an unpaved road.

Thanks to that, the carriage shook as if there were an earthquake, and just sitting still made my stomach ache.

My expression was stiff and pale, like I’d eaten spoiled food.

Teperi, who had been sitting across from me, moved to sit beside me.

A scent of grass wafted from her.

[Should I massage your hand?]

“…No, this much is bearable.”

It hurts a bit, but it’s not enough to kill me.

For some reason, Teperi looked disappointed.

Does she enjoy seeing me in pain? Why look disappointed about that?

Once the conversation died down, an awkward silence flowed for a moment.

In the stifling atmosphere, only the clattering sound of the carriage wheels could be heard.

It made me appreciate anew what amazing things tires and asphalt roads were.

Damn wheels.

This was a pain I never thought would happen to me before.

What man in the world would think he’d be groaning from period pain?

While I was frowning, Teperi spoke to me.

“Huh?”

She rummaged through her pocket and handed me something.

It was a luxurious quill pen with a black feather attached.

My name was engraved in cursive on the end of the quill.

“Ah…”

‘So she knew.’

I remembered breaking her pen before and giving her mine.

My name must have been written on the pen I gave her then.

“You didn’t have to give it back.”

I really gave it to her without any thought of getting it back.

Feeling awkward, the back of my head felt needlessly itchy.

I tried to refuse, but Teperi forcibly placed the pen in my hand.

How very thankful of her.

‘She didn’t misunderstand me, right?’

Fortunately, this seemed enough to lower my status from ‘villainess trying to torment me’ to ‘just a kid with a bad personality’.

Have all the misunderstandings between us been cleared now?

Except for calling her mute. That part is true, after all.

The carriage rattled just as much as before, but the atmosphere inside had lightened considerably.

Actually, this moment, passing idly by, was a rare opportunity to chat with Teperi and build rapport.

How often would I even run into her within the academy?

But what should I talk about?

I haven’t really talked much with girls my age, so I don’t know.

Bringing up the practical training here would seem foolish.

For friends of the same age, is it usually about romance?

Come to think of it, I wonder if they met properly.

“Is there anyone you like?”

[Uh, huh?]

Did I ask too suddenly?

Well, abruptly asking if someone likes anyone does seem a bit rude.

“Ah, you don’t have to say if you don’t want to.”

‘Because I actually know.’

Although she’s the female lead, there was romance in this novel too.

It was someone among the first-year male students, let’s see.

Quite some time has passed, so surely they must have met at least once by now?

The heir of the ducal family from the North, Pontego Trivago.

One of only four ducal families in this world, remaining in the North, literally the ‘Northern Grand Duke’.

Pontego Trivago is a genius of swordsmanship.

He also drew the golden dagger during the entrance ceremony.

Come to think of it, the girl driving the carriage up front drew it too.

I don’t know how she drew it when she didn’t even use a sword.

Do fingernails count as swordsmanship?

In the original story, Trea and Teperi fight over this man.

It’s less that they fight over him because they both like him, and more that Trea clings to the man due to engagement and political standing

issues.

Ultimately, Trea loses that confrontation, and as a result, Teperi grows a bit closer to Pontego.

Pontego was taciturn and found everything bothersome.

Just when he was getting bored because there was no opponent who could measure up to him, Teperi appeared before him.

Teperi captures his heart with her talent and her unique, beaming smile.

Even if they weren’t dating, anyone could see they liked each other.

‘This is a good thing.’

It means I absolutely, definitely don’t have to fight with Teperi over a guy like that.

Fight Teperi over a man? Just take him. I wouldn’t take him even if offered.

Rather than stirring up trouble, it’s easier to let things pass smoothly like this without any incident.

[Someone I like.]

“Yeah, is there someone you like?”

[W-Well…]

Teperi fidgeted and squirmed.

It was a reaction very typical of a schoolgirl her age.

Blushing shyly, Teperi was the epitome of femininity that Amiterre and I could never imitate, even if we died trying.

[…I think there is.]

“Oh, who is it? Tell me.”

As the chance to tease someone arose, my face naturally took on the ‘expression of a villainess’.

Teperi shook her head vigorously and hastily moved away.

Of course, that only meant moving to the opposite seat inside the carriage.

She deliberately turned her head away, avoiding my gaze and pretending to be distracted.

Cute. Even though I already know who the male lead is.

It’s a relief that at least this much is proceeding according to the original story.

I can’t change what has already passed, but if possible, not altering the original story is more convenient for using the knowledge I have.

Especially for important things like the love lines.

[What kind of place is the Black Forest?]

Seeing that I continued to chuckle slyly despite her attempts to look away, she seemed intent on changing the subject entirely.

It wasn’t a bad method, but the attempt was too clumsy.

Well, I should stop teasing her after this much.

“The Black Forest, huh.”

But it’s quite something that you’re only asking about it now.

Surely you don’t mean you don’t even know what kind of place you’re going to?

“How much do you know about it?”

[I only heard it’s a forest with lots of monsters. What comes out there? Slimes? Goblins?]

“…Do you think it’s some backwater place like your hometown?”

Slightly stronger words slipped out because I was dumbfounded.

But unfortunately, it’s true.

I have no intention of falling into regional discrimination, but her hometown was a rural village stuck in the countryside.

Teperi didn’t speak again until the carriage stopped.

She seemed sulky because of my words.

The carriage, which hadn’t stopped rattling for a moment, gradually slowed down and stopped.

Amiterre let out a sigh and got down from the driver’s seat, calling us.

No matter how good her stamina was, the stamina used for fighting was different from the stamina needed to drive horses in a cramped seat.

“Looks like we’ll have to stay here for the night.”

It was already dark outside, making further progress impossible.

The place we stopped was a small village near Reinz.

“Is that so.”

I tried my best to endure it, but it seemed impossible.

The carriage journey, stretching on for hours, was so boring that I ended up falling asleep.

“…You were groaning earlier, but you seem to have slept well?”

Normally, it’s polite not to sleep next to the driver if you don’t have a license.

I felt a little sorry but decided to act brazen instead.

“Yep, slept very well.”

She looked at me as if staring at trash.

However, when even Teperi yawned and crawled out of the carriage, Amiterre didn’t say anything more.

The place we stopped was a small village, but thankfully, there was an inn.

It was a two-story building run by an elderly couple.

“I’m tired.”

Amiterre overtly showed her fatigue.

Knowing she had struggled driving the carriage, I decided to get rooms quickly.

“I’m tired.”

“Alright, alright, I get it.”

The old owner, seeing the exhausted Amiterre, readily gave her a room key.

She took it and trudged into the room.

She probably wouldn’t come out until morning.

“Still, it’s better if we each get our own room, right?”

It was Teperi’s trip too, after all, so it’s better to let her have her own room, right?

Privacy is important.

I was about to hand over the money to pay when someone grabbed my wrist.

[It’s okay, let’s save money and sleep in one room.]

“No, we’re not that short on money.”

I tried to shake off her hand and pass the money, but Teperi held onto my sleeve tightly and wouldn’t let go.

Hey, why is she so strong?

She looked delicate, so I didn’t realize, but her grip strength was stronger than expected.

Ah, am I just weak?

[My mom said it’s better to save money when you can.]

“Who did?”

[My mom.]

Ah, mothers are exceptions.

That’s a universal rule that must be respected.

“Then let’s go to the room Amiterre went into.”

[Huh? No, uh, won’t it be cramped with three people in one room? She had a hard time today too, so let’s leave her alone.]

“…Okay, let’s do that.”

Is it just my imagination that I feel somewhat uneasy?

I feel like I’m being tricked somehow.

But thinking about it again, I haven’t been tricked, and her reasoning is sound.

“The double room is upstairs.”

Feeling that ambiguous sensation, I went up to the second floor with Teperi.

What is this, really.