SS #36 Regina Bayer (3)

One week before their arrival in the royal capital.

Regina, fully prepared for the journey, placed her hands on her hips and took a deep, excited breath.

It feels like we’re moving house.

Of course, for the entire Bayer County to truly relocate would require not dozens, but hundreds of carriages. Still, the scale of their procession was grand enough to warrant the thought.

With the Bayer and Chase families traveling together, the number of family members heading to the capital was large, and since they planned to stay for nearly a month, they had a mountain of luggage.

And there are so many knights and maids coming with us, too.

They were practically a swarm.

A decade ago, when the Bayer and Chase families had traveled to the capital, their party had consisted of just the Grand Bayer Count, the Young Bayer Count, the Grand Chase Count, and the Young Chase Count—four men, accompanied by only three or four knights and maids. The group itself hadn’t been very large.

Naturally, three carriages had been more than enough.

But not anymore.

The Young Bayer Count and his wife.

Their children, Amber and Aiden.

The Grand Chase Count.

The Young Chase Count and his wife.

Their only daughter, Bella.

And me.

The number of family members alone was already nine. And unlike the all-male group from a decade ago, this time there were five women.

Typically, when nobles traveled, the women’s luggage far outweighed the men’s. The reason was simple: they required far more things, and those things were much larger.

Their dresses were ridiculously big.

And the sheer variety of cosmetics was staggering.

Given their month-long stay, it was no surprise that the luggage of the two count families alone filled three carriages.

But in truth, that was still only three carriages.

Even considering everything, a procession of ten carriages should have been more than enough. The reason it had swelled to dozens was due to the decision of one man.

—I will not tolerate the slightest danger or discomfort.

Arthur Chase.

The Grand Chase Count.

With the Grand Bayer Count away on a romantic journey with his wife, Arthur was the highest authority in Bailun and the respected elder of both families. His decision was as good as a decree from the heavens.

The moment his order was given, dozens of maids were assigned to accompany them. For their safety, the Chase Knights were practically mobilized in their entirety. The party’s number exploded from nine to over seventy in an instant.

Naturally, the amount of luggage and the number of carriages required skyrocketed as well.

“Hmph, if you experience any discomfort, speak up immediately,” he declared to his grandchildren and his beloved daughter-in-law, Sylvia, as he surveyed the lined-up carriages. He then entered the lead carriage alone. Regina thought to herself that he was always such a fun and cool uncle.

And then—

Sylvia-unni is cool, too.

The wife of the Young Chase Count, and also Count Crossbell. The Golden Lady who held the kingdom’s financial industry in the palm of her hand, extending her influence beyond the North.

With her long, sky-blue hair, she wore a violet traveling dress. Even to young Regina’s eyes, she was truly beautiful and elegant.

Yes, elegant.

To be fair, it was no exaggeration to say she was surrounded by beautiful people, but Sylvia possessed a unique elegance all her own.

It was the feeling of a true noble.

Of course, that doesn’t mean Adelia-unni doesn’t seem like a noble.

But Adelia had originally been a ‘soldier,’ so her elegance was of a different kind than Sylvia’s—

No, wait. Is Adelia-unni’s quality solemnity, not elegance?

In any case, the elegant Sylvia.

And holding her hand was little Bella.

The nine-year-old only daughter of the Young Chase Count and his wife. A girl with sky-blue hair who was the spitting image of her mother, Count Crossbell, rather than her father. She was so small and cute that she looked like a doll.

Her personality was incredibly gentle, too.

It was then that Sylvia, perhaps sensing Regina’s gaze, turned her head. A graceful smile bloomed on her face as she spoke.

“Regina, if you need anything, just let me know. Alright?”

“Yes, Sylvia-unni.”

As Regina replied, an unconscious blush rising to her cheeks, Sylvia chuckled softly. Bella, too, offered a graceful smile.

And so, their journey to the capital began.

In a word, it was fun.

There were times when being cooped up in the carriage felt stuffy, but the act of going somewhere together was, in itself, enjoyable. It was like the special taste of a packed lunch eaten outdoors.

“By the way, Regina. Did you know?”

“Know what?”

As Regina asked, Amber, who was holding Bella like a doll, chuckled and continued.

“They say that a decade ago, people didn’t do the ‘elopement of love.’”

“Huh? Really?”

“Yes, really.”

The elopement of love.

A romantic ritual where a newly engaged or married couple would leave behind a letter professing their love for each other and embark on a journey, just the two of them.

Though the scale and length of the journey varied, it was a common practice in the Sailun Kingdom, performed not only by nobles but by commoners as well. It was practically common sense.

But a decade ago, people didn’t do it?

“It wasn’t just that they didn’t do it. The ones who did were treated as strange.”

As Aiden chimed in, Regina blinked. It wasn’t that she didn’t believe them, but she simply couldn’t imagine such a world.

Pleased by Regina’s reaction, Amber giggled again, gently pinching the cheek of the equally surprised Bella.

“They say it was something Aunt Cordelia and Uncle Yuder started.”

“The two of them?”

“Yes, they started it, and you know, right? They’re the couple of the century. So people in the Sailun Kingdom started following their example and going on their own elopements of love, and eventually, it became a tradition.”

“Wow.”

Yuder-oppa and Cordelia-unni are amazing, as always.

I’ll have to go on an elopement of love someday, too.

The question is, who will I go with?

Speaking of which, I wonder how Yuria is doing?

As Regina listened to Amber’s story, her thoughts naturally drifted to her niece’s face.

Yuria August Bayer.

It was a secret from Amber and Aiden, but Yuria was actually Regina’s favorite niece.

The last time she’d seen her was two years ago. She wondered how she was.

I want to see her soon.

Quickly.

Even a day sooner.

“Regina? What are you thinking about?”

“Hmph, probably what to eat for dinner.”

“No, I wasn’t. Besides, what in the world do you think I am, Aiden? Do you think I’m some pig who only ever thinks about food?”

“N-no. That’s not it…”

When Regina shot him a hurt glare, Aiden became flustered. Amber clicked her tongue as if to say it couldn’t be helped, then took Regina’s hand.

“Aiden went and asked the chef about tonight’s menu earlier. He even asked him to make something you like, Regina. That’s why he said that.”

“I-I did not!”

As the even more flustered Aiden shouted, Regina narrowed her eyes.

“He says he didn’t.”

“He’s just embarrassed, so he’s lying. Aiden likes you so much. Right, Bella?”

When Amber asked in a sweet voice, Bella immediately nodded. Regina let out a drawn-out “Hnnnng~” and gave Aiden a teasing look.

Aiden, his face beet red, exercised his right to remain silent.

How much more time passed?

A day, two days, and then a week.

Regina, who had been dozing off in Amber’s arms, suddenly lifted her head. Slipping out of the soundly sleeping Amber’s embrace, she stuck her head out of the carriage window.

“It’s the capital.”

The royal capital.

The largest and most advanced city in the Sailun Kingdom.

“Amber! Aiden! Wake up! It’s the capital! The capital!”

Regina first gently shook Amber awake, then vigorously shook Aiden’s shoulders.

“Did we… arrive… at the capital?”

Amber, who was usually elegant but not so much immediately after waking, mumbled. Regina nodded eagerly and then slapped Aiden’s cheeks back and forth to rouse him as he tried to fall back asleep.

“Hmph, it’s no big deal. It’s not even that much bigger than Bailun.”

Aiden grumbled, both his cheeks flushed red, but Regina paid him no mind. It was just his usual inability to be honest.

“Thank you, Regina. Thanks to you, I got to see the moment we entered the capital.”

At Amber’s thanks, Regina grinned and stuck her head out the window again.

The capital.

The holy land of Pink Bomb.

The city where Yuder-oppa and Cordelia-unni saved the royal family and became heroes.

Regina lightly clutched her chest as if to calm her pounding heart, a bright smile on her face.

*

Among the nobles of the North, only a very small number owned a mansion in the royal capital.

And, quite obviously, the Bayer and Chase families belonged to that small number.

They said this was originally Yuder-oppa and Cordelia-unni’s mansion, right?

A mansion bestowed upon them by the royal family to commend them for their achievements in the capital.

The two had never actually stayed here, having left on their elopement of love, but one way or another, it was the first house they owned and held considerable symbolic meaning.

Yuria will come here too, right? Come to think of it, does that mean Yuder-oppa and Cordelia-unni are coming too?

The thought of the three of them made Regina’s heart pound even faster.

Amber watched Regina with a slightly sulky expression, and Aiden was openly grumbling, but unfortunately, Regina was rather dense in these matters and failed to notice their disappointment.

Another half-day passed.

The unpacking was all finished, and dusk was approaching.

Regina, who had been waiting for the party from the ‘Holy Nation’ while sitting by the fountain at the mansion’s entrance, let out a sigh and stood up.

She had been waiting ever since hearing from Gale-oppa that they would probably arrive today, but it seemed today wasn’t the day.

Come to think of it, Aiden seemed really sulky.

Usually, he just huffed once, but thinking back, he had huffed three times today. Hmph, hmph, hmph.

She thought Amber might have huffed once, too.

How should I cheer them up?

As Regina took a step, lost in thought, a voice came from behind her.

“Aunt Regina.”

Regina blinked in surprise for a moment, but only for a moment.

No carriage had arrived, but she definitely knew that voice.

“Yuria!”

Regina spun around, shouting, a wide smile spreading across her face.

Yuria was really standing there.

Yuria August Bayer.

Princess of the Holy Nation of Yudelia.

Regina’s own favorite niece.

At eleven years old, she was two years younger than Regina, but it didn’t feel that way.

If anything, she looked more mature than the thirteen-year-old Regina.

She’s gotten taller!

No, it wasn’t just her height.

How could someone change so much in just two years?

Regina blinked, staring at Yuria.

If she had to say, Yuria strongly resembled Yuder-oppa.

A female version of Yuder-oppa, perhaps?

Her fair, neat face was both elegant and possessed an indescribable quality. It was, it was—

A-alluring?

She wasn’t sure if ‘alluring’ was the right word, but it was a strangely captivating feeling.

If Amber had seen her, she might have said, “She’s aloof overall, but her eyes hold a certain sultriness.” But Regina didn’t yet have that kind of expressive power.

In any case, she had an incredibly pretty face that resembled her parents, and blue eyes that gave one a strange feeling.

Her long black hair was long enough to reach her waist, and her slender yet nimble body was also beautiful.

And her clothes.

Instead of a dress, she wore riding clothes, and at her waist hung a single sword.

“A sword? Yuria, are you learning the sword these days?”

“Yes, I am.”

Yuria replied softly with a gentle smile to Regina’s surprised question.

At her answer, Regina was startled again and clutched her chest without realizing it.

M-my heart is pounding.

It was a smile that could bewitch a person.

If Scarlett had been here, she would have called it a thoroughly black-hearted smile, but unfortunately, she was absent.

None of the Bayer family members who might have been reminded of Maia by Yuria’s smile were present either.

“Are you learning from Yuder-oppa?”

“I learn from Father, but… I’m learning from Kamael-nim.”

“Kamael-nim? Uh, you mean the Great Hero of Paragon? The Sword Demon?”

“Yes, I’m learning the Twelve Swords of Snow Flower.”

“Wow! The Twelve Swords of Snow Flower!”

The swordsmanship of the Sword Demon Kamael.

Once again, if Scarlett had been here, she would have mentioned that the reason for the strange allure emanating from the young Yuria was precisely because of the Twelve Swords of Snow Flower—or more accurately, the power of the extreme. But since she was still not here, all Regina could do was say, “Wow, wow.”

“Oh, right. Yuria, did you come alone?”

Snapping back to her senses, Regina looked around and asked. Yuria shook her head gracefully.

“Dahlia-unni and Maia-unni came with me. My parents had a place to stop by, so they’ll be here in a few days.”

Dahlia and Maia.

The Angel of Protection and the Angel of Beauty.

Yuria’s two godmothers.

“Uh, so where are they?”

There was still no sign of a carriage.

At Regina’s question, Yuria gave a slightly shy smile and said:

“I wanted to get here quickly, so I flew the rest of the way.”

“Flew?”

“Yes, I flew.”

As she said this, Yuria gave a slight shrug, and pure white wings of light unfurled from her back.

“Woooow.”

So pretty. Really, really pretty.

Yuria is a real angel.

As Regina jumped up and down in admiration, Yuria, her cheeks slightly flushed, retracted her wings and approached her.

“My sisters will arrive soon. I’d like to go in and greet everyone first. Could you show me the way?”

“Huh? Yes!”

To be honest, I don’t know the mansion well enough to give a tour, but I can just take her to Amber or Aiden.

Regina replied energetically and grabbed Yuria’s hand. Yuria smiled quietly again, making Regina’s cheeks flush.

“Let’s go then, Yuria.”

“Yes, Auntie.”

Yuria replied prettily and began to walk with Regina.

*

“Hmph, still as small and scrawny as ever.”

“Brother, saying that with such a look on your face only makes you look pathetic.”

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Translated By: Meher (RaidenTL)

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