BOAD 07

Chapter 7. Honeymoon

“Oh my, miss—no, Your Highness. Why did you come back so early?”

As I gathered the contract and returned to my room, Betty, who was bustling around organizing luggage, approached me with a surprised look.

At that, the maids who had been moving in perfect coordination all stopped and bowed their heads to me.

I gave a slight nod in return as a greeting.

It was important to know about the maids who would serve me from now on, but at this moment, I wanted to talk just with Betty.

“Let’s save formal introductions for later. Betty, I want to take you aside for a moment.”

“Eh? Milady—no, Your Highness. The luggage still needs to be unpacked…”

“Just a moment, Betty.”

Instead of being startled, Betty jumped slightly at my words.

But I lightly ignored her and passed through the maids who had started moving again, taking her to a corner of the room.

“Oh dear, Your Highness, I’m the only maid who came from the family estate, so I need to hurry back.”

“I understand. Once you finish organizing, send this to Haley at the guild. It needs notarization.”

“Notarization? What is this?”

When I showed the neatly folded contract, Betty’s eyes widened in surprise.

It made sense, since I had asked her to contact Haley, who wasn’t often involved unless it was important.

Moreover, it was strange for someone to come back from their wedding night suddenly waving a contract.

But I just shook my head and slipped the folded contract into Betty’s pocket.

“Make sure no one else sees this. Tell them to keep it in my office for now.”

“No, Your Highness, you were supposed to have had a romantic night, so why are you suddenly talking business?”

“Romantic or not, it’s a secret from others, understood?”

“I understand. Sigh, alright then, now you should prepare to leave for your honeymoon, Your Highness.”

“Alright. Keep the attendants to a minimum, please.”

“Of course, of course. I’ve already informed the head maid of Your Highness’s residence, so don’t worry.”

Betty nodded as she pushed the contract deeper into her pocket.

Then she abruptly turned around and pointed at a few busy maids.

“Marie, Tilda. Your Highness wants to bathe, is the bathtub and hot water ready?”

The maids called Marie and Tilda nodded and hurried to the bathroom.

They were maids who served me even in my previous life, but now, the three of us should be complete strangers.

What on earth did they do overnight to become so close in just one night?

When I looked at Betty with a questioning expression, she shrugged with her usual “What’s the problem?” face.

That face felt so familiar and nostalgic that I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

“Amelia.”

“……”

“Ria.”

“……”

“Amelia Reinhardt.”

“Oh, yes, Your Highness? Did you call me?”

I had been staring absentmindedly out the window but snapped back, startled.

I was probably too tired from last night, or maybe the bathwater was too warm, making my whole body feel heavy.

Almost falling asleep while bathing, I finished getting dressed and boarded the carriage for the honeymoon, feeling slightly drowsy.

I was so out of it that, while the maids helped pack my things, I climbed into the carriage on my own without waiting for Leofric, who was supposed to escort me.

When he arrived later, his face showed displeasure, but I discreetly looked away.

I kept staring out the window without asking where we were going or saying anything else.

Leofric seemed annoyed by the silence; when I looked at him dully, his face was somewhat sulky.

“Is the outside so interesting?”

“…Huh?”

“I’m saying this because since we left, you haven’t once met my eyes. What’s so captivating outside that you can’t look away?”

“Well, it’s just…”

It’s not that I couldn’t look away; I just didn’t think to.

But I couldn’t just say “I’m tired” to him, who seemed to sulk.

I forced a smile and shook my head.

“It’s not very interesting. I guess I’m just curious since I rarely leave the capital.”

“You’ve never left the capital?”

Leofric’s eyes went wide at my casual reply.

He looked very surprised, but I was the one shocked.

“Is it that surprising I’ve never left the capital? Most noble ladies probably haven’t either.”

“But don’t you run the guild?”

“You don’t need to personally visit each region to run the guild effectively if you have competent aides and can gather information.”

If you’re not smart, your body suffers.

Having been taught by my father early on, I handled social matters in the capital, dispatching trustworthy agents to other regions for reports.

“There’s a lot to do in the capital, so I can’t travel everywhere.”

Of course, I knew that to issue proper instructions, you need to understand local situations well.

But because my father worried about me getting too absorbed in guild work at a young age, we agreed that before marriage, my aides would handle affairs outside the capital.

“I see. I thought you’d traveled to many places and would know more about good spots than I do.”

“I understand. Most people think so.”

I shrugged lightly.

Leofric wasn’t the only one.

Many people assumed that since I ran the guild, I had seen and heard more than others.

Unfortunately, I was just a frog in a well, not meeting my father’s standards.

Well, that was what most people said.

So I didn’t want to care too much, but his next words quickly wiped away my remaining drowsiness.

“That’s why I thought Waynes, with more sights, would be better than nearby Hameln.”

“…Wasn’t our honeymoon decided to be in nearby Hameln?”

Waynes? Why suddenly Waynes?

The honeymoon destination had been decided before the wedding by his aide, who was covering for his busy schedule.

Since he was busy but wanted to keep appearances, Leofric suggested going to a nearby city.

I didn’t want to spend much time with him then, so I silently nodded.

The aide said he’d like it too, and I thought it wouldn’t be bad — that was the end of the matter.

But now, suddenly?

“There’s only a few days difference between Hameln and Waynes.”

I blinked in surprise, and he awkwardly smiled, finally meeting my eyes.

“Hameln is just fields with nothing to see, so I thought Waynes, a port trade city, would be better for you.”

“But Your Highness, this trip was prepared before the wedding. Surely the lord of Hameln is waiting for us.”

“I’ve already sent Arnold to him. Arnold will explain everything.”

Wait, he changed the destination by sending his aide?

Waynes is at least three days farther from Hameln.

The total travel time from the capital to Waynes is four days.

Four days going, four days returning, leaving little time to stay.

Though it’s a honeymoon, he’s the crown prince who must be in the capital.

Before marriage, he insisted he couldn’t go anywhere more than a day away from the capital because of his busy schedule, so what’s with this sudden whim?

…Or maybe there’s some inspection he has to do in Waynes?

I pondered the sudden change and came to my own conclusion.

There must be some political reason he can’t or hasn’t told me yet.

Otherwise, there’s no reason to change the destination so urgently.

I accepted that with a small sigh.

“I wish you’d told me earlier. I don’t think I packed enough.”

“I already told your maids. Don’t worry too much.”

And if anything’s needed, we can buy it in Waynes.

Leofric smiled slightly, tilting his head.

It made me laugh because it felt like he was saying, “I have plenty of money.”

Do all men want to flaunt that?

I chuckled softly, recalling an unknown nobleman from a ball once boasting about his wealth.

“If you told Betty beforehand, it’s fine. I’m sure she prepared everything.”

“But what if you find something you like there?”

He smiled again.

The sunlight streaming through the carriage window reflected off his blond hair and crimson eyes, softly curved toward me.

It felt like a deliberate temptation, so I shook my head.

“I’m not the impulsive type when it comes to shopping. And we probably won’t have time to stroll around leisurely anyway.”

“Buying something that suits you isn’t impulsive. And it is a trip, so why wouldn’t you have time to relax?”

His voice grew calmer.

Or rather, lower.

It reminded me of his voice last night when he tried to tempt me with impossible promises, giving me chills.

“That’s obvious, isn’t it, Your Highness? You are the crown prince.”

Trying to sound casual, I replied, and for the first time, a look of embarrassment crossed Leofric’s face.

“Are you saying nobles will come to Waynes to see me because I’m the crown prince?”

“Yes. I think once we arrive, many families will send party invitations and meal invites.”

That always happens.

Wherever someone higher ranked arrives, people never fail to come and visit.

Though I don’t know the situation in the capital well, nobles who want influence will surely be waiting in Waynes already.

Even in my previous life, from the moment he became crown prince, there were always people around him.

So why did he suddenly look so surprised?

Moreover, he changed the destination for some political reason without telling me.

When I looked confused, he let out a small “hmph.”