"Anna!……it's about time to go wake Ojou-sama up."

At Enaline's call, I gasped and checked the time.

"Ahh, you're right! Thanks, Enaline!"

I endured my desire to run and headed towards my Master, Mellice-sama's room as always to wake her up.

A n.o.ble's mansion really was inconvenient.

I don't get why it is forbidden to run even though I'm in a rush.

……to begin with, Mellice-sama is quite an early riser, so by the time I reach her room she'll likely already be awake. Thus, there was absolutely no point in the act of going to wake her up itself.

In reality, today as well, by the time I reached her room, Mellice-sama was already awake and had started doing some light preparations.

"Good morning, Mellice-sama."

"Morning, Anna."

Even though she wasn't wearing any make-up, as usual she was beautiful…….I looked at her in fascination as such thoughts faintly emerged in the corner of my mind.

"I deeply apologize for making you wait. I shall help you prepare."

I helped her prepare, and once that ended we headed towards the dining hall.

As I followed behind Mellice-sama, I carefully observed her.

…….honestly, I was bad with this Master of ours.

Her beautiful appearance without a hint of impurity appeared to glitter, as though she was showered with all of the happiness in this world.

That appearance of hers that did not know of pain or sadness made it feel like she was a person that lived in an entirely different world from my own.

Ever since I first met her, that impression only got stronger.

At the same time, a single doubt emerged.

……why had Mellice-sama accepted us?

And why, when we had first met, did she test us by questioning us so?

[……have the two of you been tempering yourselves for that purpose?]

Even now that question rung in my ears.

[The desire to protect someone is a splendid intention. However, unless one trains properly for that purpose, then it is simply an empty dream.]

…….every time I recalled those words emerging from her mouth, feelings of irritation smouldered deep within my chest.

Even though she was someone who only knew of happiness……just because her Father is a hero, perhaps she has mistaken herself as one as well.

It was to the point where I even had such thoughts.

……of course, I did not expose that on the surface.

Like Enaline said, the environment of this Anderson Marquis House was arranged so that we could become stronger.

The members of the Guard Corps were so strong, and yet the contents of their training was so incredibly strict, that it forced us to recognize our lack of strength.

That is precisely why, I could not entertain such a fleeting emotion……pointing my irritation towards the Master who accepted us here, is what I thought.

"……oh, so today is the departure? Are the preparations complete?"

"Yes, I had Anna and Enaline a.s.sist me. Right, Anna?"

I returned to my senses at Mellice-sama's question and corrected my sitting posture in the spot where I was on stand-by at the edge of the dining hall.

In front of my eyes sat my Master, Mellice-sama, and my much admired General Gazelle.

"Ah, y-……yes. The arrangements have been completed so that you may depart at any time."

Smiling and giving a nod at my words, Mellice-sama turned back towards General Gazelle.

"On that note, let us head off today. Aurelisama recommended it in order to broaden my knowledge, and it is a good opportunity for a change of pace."

"That's true…….I've gone to the Rubel region for military matters before, but I didn't know that it was a popular summer resort area."

"Yes. For popular locations, it is good to try going there once. As expected, it does make it easier as a topic of conversation."

"I see. Well, go and enjoy it."

"I will. Thank you very much, Father."

Just around then, Mellice-sama finished eating and stood up, exiting the dining hall.

Similar to when she came to the dining hall, I followed after her.

After that, Enaline and I carried Mellice-sama's and our luggage onto the carriage and boarded it.

Our destination was the Rubel region…….a popular summer resort amongst n.o.bles that was situated northeast of the Capital.

Once Mellice-sama had boarded the carriage, it slowly started to move.

"……Mellice-sama."

Enaline called out to Mellice, who was sitting directly across from her.

"Is something the matter? Enaline."

"……this may be a little late, but are there not too few guards?"

Enaline's words were certainly true, I nodded internally.

Accompanying us right now were two members of the Guard Corps.

For n.o.bles, and for the lady of a distinguished house like the Anderson Marquis House at that, such a number was far too few.

"There will not be any problems with this number."

"However, just in case……."

"It's alright."

Her decisive manner that revealed her complete confidence caused the irritation that had been smouldering in my heart from this morning to reveal itself slightly on my face once more.

"Why can you be so confident in saying that?"

Enaline next to me asked further.

Perhaps Enaline was also feeling a similar irritation as I was, as he tone of voice was a bit more stern than usual.

"Why……you ask."

At her question, Mellice-sama made a troubled laugh.

"I do not have any basis for it, but I thought that it would be fine. Even if it's just two of them, with the ability of the Guard Corps, it will be enough."

"Is that…….so."

Like Mellice-sama said, the ability of the Guard Corps were top tier in this country.

It was precisely because I had understood that with my body that I could not question her decision any further.

After that, we continued to ride on the carriage, and while pa.s.sing by some towns on the way……three days pa.s.sed before we arrived at our destination of Rubel.

As the Rubel region was a summer resort that served n.o.bles and was a purveyor to the Royal Family, though it was a town far from the Capital, the roads were paved and the beautiful streets were spread all around.

When Mellice-sama arrived at the town, it was as if she did not feel any of the fatigue from travel, as she immediately set out to explore the town.

Enaline went together with the Guard Corps to accompany Mellice-sama, while I unpacked our luggage at the inn we had reserved.

Gazing at the room as I worked, I gently let out a breath.

…….it was a world that was completely unrelated to me up until now.

This inn, the very act of going to a summer resort, the things that I was holding right now - all of it.

On top of that, the situation that I was currently in didn't feel real.

…….I closed my eyes and recalled everything that had happened up until now.

That gruesome scene of war.

That was probably why being here gave me an even greater feeling of discomfort.

I disinterestedly completed my duties, and blankly sat down in a chair in order to put my emotions into order.

"Anna, thanks for unpacking the luggage. We've just returned."

At that moment, Mellice-sama returned.

"P-Please excuse me. That was quite fast……"

I held my tongue, stopping myself in mid-sentence.

Even though it had been morning when I started unpacking, before I knew it the light of the setting sun was coming in through the window.

"As expected, time pa.s.ses in the blink of an eye……..I'll likely be hungry soon. I plan on eating at this inn, so how about the two of you go out somewhere with everyone to eat?"

As expected of an inn that provided lodgings for a large number of n.o.bles, it had quite a fine dining area. In addition, the inn's employees were trained so that patrons could safely be waited upon.

"That is so…….then, I shall take you up on that generous offer."

After finis.h.i.+ng with Mellice-sama's preparations, as agreed, I went out with Enaline and the members of the Guard Corps to town.