27. Why Is He…
The next day, our departure happened sooner than expected.
Contrary to yesterday’s plan of leaving after lunch, we had to pack our bags in the morning and head straight for the capital.
And this time, it wasn’t because of him—it was because of me.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. We could’ve left at a more leisurely pace…”
“Not at all. I was the one who suggested moving the schedule up in the first place. Leaving a few hours earlier won’t cause any major issues.”
Because of an unexpected situation, we decided to take a carriage from Waynes to the halfway point, then switch to horses for the rest of the journey to the capital.
Had it not been for the urgent message Betty brought this morning, there would have been no reason to rush like this.
“There’s been an issue with the merchant group. The distance is quite far—will that be okay?”
“I’ve already contacted the Waynes branch, so they’ll send a direct message to the capital. The branches have a solid communication network, so we should get in touch quicker than expected.”
“That’s a relief. The Jennet Company has branches in every city in the Empire, so you’ll be able to receive updates wherever you go.”
“Yes. It’d be best if I could get there quickly, but since that’s difficult, I’ll try to stay in contact as much as possible.”
I nodded at Leofric’s words, recalling the message I received that morning.
It was from Hayley, the head of the capital branch.
Hastily scribbled, it said there was a financial issue with the company and urged me to come to the capital immediately.
Neither Betty nor I had any idea what sort of issue could arise in Jennet Company—one of the largest in the Empire.
There were no such problems before I returned in time.
Around this time in my previous life, the merchant group had run smoothly under Hayley’s leadership. All I had to do was approve documents she sent.
But Hayley had never contacted me this urgently before, so I asked Leofric to hasten our departure.
I also asked Betty to reach out to the Waynes branch.
After all, using the company’s network would allow me to safely and quickly receive any updates from Hayley, no matter where I was.
Everything moved swiftly, and we left Waynes right after breakfast.
Of course, that meant Leofric’s plan to visit a famous restaurant for lunch was dashed.
“For now, let’s travel as far as we can today and try to shorten tomorrow’s journey as well. No matter how urgent the matter, we shouldn’t overexert ourselves.”
“Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Your Highness.”
“It’s only natural. There’s no need to thank me.”
But he acted as though such things were no big deal.
He simply did everything in his power to adjust the schedule as I requested.
He coordinated with the knights to find the fastest route to the capital, contacted Waynes Castle to summon the remaining knights, prepared our luggage, retrieved the carriage from maintenance, and even purchased a few extra horses so we could travel faster.
While I packed with Betty and got ready, he handled all of that, ensuring I could travel with ease.
No matter how much I was wary of him, I couldn’t deny I was grateful.
I spent most of the carriage ride expressing my thanks.
Each time, he said it was nothing—that it was only natural.
I didn’t understand how such dedication could be considered “natural,” but he truly looked like he didn’t care about any of it.
“I’ll continue to help with anything you need from now on. We’re married, after all, and such care is only natural between spouses.”
“But not every married couple shows such kindness, Your Highness.”
“Then I’ll just say I’m doing it because I want to.”
Our conversations always went like that.
I’d question how he could say it was normal and insist that I should at least thank him.
He’d say there was no need to, that he simply wanted to do it.
His attitude sparked another sense of déjà vu.
Something about my life since returning was… off.
Most things were going as I remembered, but anything involving him felt misaligned—like the gears weren’t quite fitting.
The man I remembered would never have been this kind.
In my previous life, he didn’t show me this much interest, which is why I could so easily help Lloyd without second thoughts.
“Your Highness. May we stop the carriage for a moment?”
“Hmm? Is it lunchtime already?”
“Yes. The horses seem a bit tired, so I thought we could take a short break.”
It was Sir Cedric, riding alongside the carriage, who spoke.
At his suggestion, Leofric glanced at me for confirmation, and I nodded.
“Alright. Let’s rest for a bit.”
Talking with him any longer would only cloud my thoughts with repeated questions.
I welcomed the chance to clear my head.
“Lady B, we’re taking a short break.”
“Yes, I heard. Are you hungry?”
“No, I’m fine.”
When I stepped out of the carriage, Betty approached with the lunch basket.
It had been packed by the innkeeper after hearing about our early departure.
I chuckled when I saw Betty’s excited face.
“Any word from the company?”
“Not yet, of course. The message from Waynes probably hasn’t reached the capital yet. Let’s eat first.”
I asked Leofric’s permission and settled down a short distance from him and the knights with Betty.
We had things to discuss—not just about the merchant group, but also our conversation from yesterday.
Once we were far enough, I lowered my voice.
“What about the thing I asked you to look into yesterday?”
“I asked the Waynes branch. Director Jennifer is a kind person. She said she’d look into it discreetly without asking why.”
“Still no update?”
“She said she’d check any leads from Waynes and report back. She’ll also pass it on to the capital for a more thorough investigation.”
“She sounds like a good person.”
“She’s amazing.”
As she answered, Betty began unpacking the basket, and as soon as it was open, she gasped.
“It’s seafood from Waynes, my lady! No wonder the food we had every morning seemed so refined!”
“They really packed a lot. Even a simple sandwich would’ve been enough.”
“This isn’t a lunch box—it’s a noble family’s banquet table!”
Contrary to what I expected—a basket full of simple sandwiches—what we got was luxurious.
Seafood pasta, soup, fruit salad, and even bread and dessert were neatly packed.
Just getting a hearty breakfast before a rushed departure was kind, but this splendid lunch box?
“We must send word to the Waynes branch. We need to give the innkeeper a gift.”
“A small gift, Lady B? Honestly, I’d say we owe them something truly grand.”
We discussed what gift would be appropriate, and also speculated about the financial trouble Hayley mentioned.
Of course, since neither of us were in the capital, we couldn’t reach any conclusions.
“Did you enjoy your meal, Amelia?”
Just as the idle talk grew tiresome, Leofric approached.
Startled, Betty jumped to her feet, and I hurriedly stood as well.
“Oh dear, did I surprise you?”
“No, I just didn’t hear you coming…”
“Apologies. I’m used to moving quietly.”
He nodded politely to me and even apologized to Betty.
A Crown Prince apologizing to a maid?
Both of us were startled, and Betty quickly gathered the baskets and scurried off.
“Did I do something wrong?”
“Well… it’s just that not many people act like that.”
“It’s normal behavior in the palace. I suppose she was surprised.”
Leofric chuckled awkwardly.
So that’s how he acted in places I didn’t know—quietly considerate.
“I suppose we’re departing now?”
“Yes. I came to let you know it’s time to go. The horses have been watered. If we want to reach the village before sunset, we should hurry.”
He glanced at the bright sky, already leaning toward dusk.
Daylight was short during this season, and traveling at night wasn’t ideal.
I nodded and took his outstretched hand.
“Looks like we talked for quite a while.”
“Not at all. Thanks to that, we all finished our preparations without waiting on anyone.”
Leofric smiled with his eyes, as if to say, Don’t worry, everything is fine.
And I smiled back—awkwardly.
His kindness warmed me, yet also made me uneasy.
Do I deserve to be treated this well?
Of course, he didn’t remember what happened. And I swore I’d never repeat it.
But I still remembered it vividly—when I killed him.
The way he took the teacup from my hand without hesitation.
His expression, his voice, his gaze—as he coughed up blood and still asked if I was okay.
It’s all still too vivid.
That’s why, even now, I keep looking for a way to escape him.
So why…
“From here on, we’ll ride without breaks. It’ll be tough, but I’ve arranged for the best lodging when we arrive. Please bear with it, Mela.”
“…I was the one who insisted we hurry.”
“Even so, long journeys must be hard on you.”
Why is he being so gentle, so kind, holding my hand so warmly and looking into my eyes?
Why does he smile at me like someone desperate to win my favor?
I climbed into the carriage, holding his warm, considerate hand—and I wondered:
If we had been like this before I went back in time…
What kind of future might we have shared?
