Chapter 41

Five days after I asked my parents to let me see the baby, I was finally able to meet her.

"Understand, Luria? Normally, it can't be done this quickly."

Mother said this as I was being helped into my outdoor clothes by the maid.

"Really?"

"Yes. This time, it's a special case because the place we're visiting is a branch of my family... in other words, relatives."

"I see."

"Usually, we would first send a letter, and if the other family is of higher status—"

Mother explained the various rules for visiting. It was educational, but it didn't really sink in.

What mattered was how I would cast the healing magic on Marion during the visit.

I would have to work with Daru and be especially clever.

"Daru, let's get ready."

"Waf!"

Daru puffed out his chest, looking fully prepared.

Today, Daru seemed especially reliable.

"Oh? Daru, you'll be staying here."

"Eh?" "Wafu?"

"Of course. Even if they are relatives, you can't bring a pet when visiting someone's home."

"......So, that's how it is..." "Waf..."

Daru and I were both surprised.

Without Daru, our plan would have to change significantly.

We wouldn't be able to use his mobility for a quick attack.

"Mmm? But the baby must want to see Daru!"

"Sara, right?"

"Yes, Sara."

The baby's name is Sara, as Mother told me yesterday.

"But, Luria, some children are afraid of dogs."

"Such children exist...?"

The world is vast. I never thought there were people who found such a cute dog scary.

Humans are far more frightening than dogs.

"Daru is already quite large. Even children who aren't afraid of dogs might be scared."

"Mmm..." "Waf..."

Daru looked dejected and tried to make himself look smaller.

But no matter how small he tried to make himself, Daru was still big.

"If Sara says she wants to see you, we can have her come to the mansion."

"...I have no choice. It can't be helped."

"Waf!?"

When I gave up, Daru looked shocked.

"Waf, waf~ waf."

Daru started licking my face, telling me not to give up and to negotiate properly.

"Daru, stop. You'll make the young lady smell like a dog before we go out."

"...Waf."

Daru looked dejected after being scolded by the maid.

"Daru..."

I hugged the dejected Daru, wrapping my arms around his neck.

"Leave it to me."

"Waf!"

"Mother, Daru is big, but Caro and Korko are small, so it should be fine."

"Yes... but actually, it's not allowed..."

Mother was hesitant. This was the moment to push.

"Kyu kyu."

Caro had climbed into my clothes, showing only her face at the collar to emphasize her small size.

"Here."

Korko was curled up on Daru's back, making herself look small in contrast to the large Daru.

"Mother! Sara is lonely! Caro and Korko will cheer her up!"

"Hmm. Then... just Caro will be allowed as a special case."

"Kyu kyu" "Ko?"

"Korko is a bit too big."

"Mmm..." "Ko~"

Korko is about twice the size of a regular chicken. There was no helping it.

"Korko, it can't be helped."

"Ko~"

I gently petted Korko to comfort her.

"Caro should stay in my pocket."

"Kyu kyu"

With this, I would have to ask Caro to scout for me.

I needed her to find the path to the cottage where Marion was isolated.

By the time I finished thinking about this, the preparations were complete.

I was dressed in a beautiful light blue dress and a red hooded robe was placed over it.

"You need to hide your hair, so you can't take off the hood until we arrive."

"Understood!"

The red robe was probably to make my hair color less noticeable.

Even if it caught a glimpse, it would be hard to tell if it was the robe or my hair in an instant.

"Snacks!"

"Don't worry, I've prepared snacks for Sara."

"That's good."

Then, holding Mother's hand, I went outside the mansion.

"First time out!"

"Yes. How is it outside?"

"The air smells like the garden!"

"Yes."

Mother looked at me with gentle eyes.

"Is there a birdhouse over there?"

"Yes. But if you go into the birdhouse, you'll get dirty, so wait until we get back."

"Okay!"

Looking up, I saw many birds circling in the sky.

They were watching over me.

"Thank you."

When I thanked them, one of the birds chirped "Piii~" in response.

The guardian birds have good hearing.

Then, we boarded a large carriage pulled by four horses.

A maid accompanied me in the carriage.

Additionally, five footmen, who were apprentices, rode horses around the carriage to protect us.

All the attendants accompanying us today were experts in both magic and martial arts.

My worried father had assigned them as guards.

"Wow~"

It was my first time seeing the outside. I was so excited that I clung to the window to look outside.

Caro stood on my shoulder, looking around vigilantly.

"This is the capital. There are no houses at all!"

Father's mansion was surrounded by a forest.

It was a good forest. It had a relaxing atmosphere, and it seemed like there were many animals.

Taking a nap in this forest would feel great.

"The place where the mansion is located is called the capital, but it's a bit outside the area generally referred to as the capital."

"Is that so?"

"The mansions of influential nobles in the capital are in the suburbs. How should I explain the suburbs? They are built a bit away from the capital."

"Hmm. Why?"

"Because they are large."

"Hmm?"

Perhaps there wasn't enough land in the capital.

That's what I thought, but Mother continued.

"Being large means you can house many soldiers, right?"

"Oh, to prevent rebellion?"

"Exactly. Luria knows difficult words."

In the capital, near the king, they prevent the gathering of soldiers.

In my previous life, my parents were secretly gathering soldiers in the mansion of the king's younger brother, which led to their deaths.

This might be a lesson learned from that.

"There is a mansion in the center of the capital, but it's much, much smaller than the one where Luria lives."

"Really? How small?"

"Hmm, about one-tenth the size, I think."

"Small!"

After a while, many buildings came into view in the distance.

Those must be the buildings generally referred to as the capital.

However, the carriage didn't head into the capital.

"Marion's house is also outside the capital, in the suburbs?"

"Yes, because it's a branch of my family."

"Is it to prevent them from being concentrated in the capital?"

"Yes, you understand well. If the family's houses were concentrated, it would be troublesome."

Mother's family is a powerful marquis family.

There are probably a considerable number of branch noble families.

If many branch families' mansions were used to house soldiers and then suddenly gathered, it would be problematic.

They seem to be wary of this.

"Luria, the area generally called the capital is over there."

Mother pointed to the many buildings in the distance.

Indeed, that must be the capital.

"Wow, so many houses!"

There were also many people. It seemed to be thriving.

It appeared that there was no wall surrounding the capital.

In the far distance, I could see a high wall.

"Is that the royal palace?"

"Yes. It's in the center of the capital, surrounded by a high wall."

"Wow."

After a brief sightseeing tour of the capital from the outside, we arrived at Marion's house.