Journey And Arrival

Coral and Hammar had decided to stay behind instead of going to the capital. A part of Hiroto was disappointed, but he understood their reasons, so he didn't press the issue. Sofia didn't seem to mind, which meant it would just be the two of them on the journey. He had no idea how long he'd even be staying in the capital.

Hiroto had spent the last week continuing his magic studies with Jamery. The man was shocked when Hiroto told him he could finally sense mana. Jamery was under the impression it had taken him three whole months. The truth was that it only took seventeen days, but Hiroto never bothered to correct the misunderstanding. 

Now, his next task was to find that 'hook' Jamery was always talking about—just another puzzle to solve. He had tried to figure it out before they left, but a week wasn't enough. And just like that, the day of their departure was here.

Sofia and Hiroto stood outside the mansion. The patriarch, his wife, and Luna were all there to see them off. It was the first time Hiroto had seen the first wife publicly appear since the incident with Carl. She had apparently locked herself in her room, but he supposed even she couldn't escape her duties when a princess was involved.

He knew perfectly well that they wouldn't have bothered to show up if it were him leaving. But with Princess Sofia departing, everyone had to be present as a formality.

Luna was there, too, looking as if she'd been forced to attend. If he remembered correctly, she was about to go shopping, which probably explained the angry pout on her face. He didn't want to cause a scene, so he just ignored her.

While Sofia and Fred talked briefly, Hiroto stood there quietly. They discussed things like the territory, taxes, and future plans—all of it was way over his head. Thankfully, they couldn't stand there and talk all day. The conversation eventually wrapped up.

"I hope you have a safe journey, Princess," Fred said with a polite bow.

Sofia smiled and boarded the carriage—the same grand one she'd arrived in. Now that Hiroto was looking at it properly, it seemed way too big for one person. It was no wonder he'd assumed a whole squad of knights was inside when he first ran into her on the road.

He moved to climb in after her, but Fred's voice stopped him.

"Hemal."

Hiroto paused and looked back at him. 

"This is your first time going out into the world. Try not to cause any trouble."

Hiroto wondered if Fred thought he was a five-year-old. Still, he just nodded and got into the carriage. The doors closed, and with a lurch, they were on their way.

He'd avoided looking at the first wife and Luna the whole time. He had no idea what they were thinking, but one thing was for sure: with Carl out of the picture, he was now the unofficial successor to the Rodrick family. That probably didn't put him in the first wife's good books, even though he hadn't done anything wrong. He let out a sigh.

"What's wrong?"

A clear voice asked from across from him. It was Sofia. 

"It's nothing," Hiroto replied, shaking his head. 

"Just thinking about some things."

Sofia nodded and didn't press him for more. They weren't close, but they weren't exactly strangers either. After reading that letter, however, Hiroto couldn't help but wonder if her kindness was just an act—a duty she had to fulfill because of a promise made by the royal family.

The thought left him a little disappointed. When he thought about the real connections he had made after coming to this world, only two names came to mind: Coral and Hammar. He had thought Sofia might be the third. The idea that all their conversations were prompted by a single letter felt hollow.

But there was nothing he could do about it now. Kicking the useless thoughts from his mind, he settled in for the long journey.

It would take them a whole month to reach the capital. Their routine was simple: travel during the day, rest at an inn at night. With royal guards on duty 24/7, they never had to worry about their safety, but the journey itself was incredibly dull. Just sitting in a carriage for hours on end, doing nothing.

If this world has magic, why aren't there teleportation portals like in all the fantasy stories? 

It was probably just wistful thinking. While magic existed, not everyone could use it; even those who could weren't very proficient. Because of that, Hiroto guessed the progress in magical research was painfully slow. At least, that was his theory.

To pass the time, Sofia would occasionally talk with her spirits. Sometimes she and Hiroto would share stories, but they would sit in comfortable silence other times. Still, on the most boring days, Hiroto wondered if he should have requested a separate carriage.

They refilled their travel rations in every town they passed through. The roads were well-paved, connecting the capital to the various noble estates. Hiroto learned from Sofia that the journey would have taken much longer for any other noble. But because she was royalty, their carriage could skip the lengthy verification processes at each checkpoint, saving them much time.

After a month that felt both long and uneventful, they finally reached the capital city of the Rangar Kingdom. This nation had come into existence after the Demon Lord was defeated thousands of years ago. Hiroto braced himself for some welcome party, but thankfully, there was nothing like that. After their identities were verified, they were quietly brought into the castle.

That suited him just fine. He really didn't want to attend another formal gathering. Every time he did, something disastrous happened. He sighed in relief as he looked around the room he had been assigned.

"Big, as expected."

The room was huge, easily the size of a commoner's house. In the center stood a massive bed with a white sheet beautifully embroidered with cream-colored threads. It was obviously expensive. The rest of the room was just as lavishly decorated, with a matching table, chair set, and a basket of fresh fruit waiting.

A balcony faced east, perfect for watching the sunrise. The walls were decorated with a few elegant paintings, and a soft, light-blue carpet covered the floor. If a guest room was this extravagant, Hiroto could only imagine what the royal family's personal chambers looked like.

Thinking of royalty brought his mind back to the king. What could the ruler of this kingdom possibly want from him?

He shook his head. That was a problem for another time. Pushing aside a growing sense of unease about what awaited him in this castle, he opened the door. For now, his only goal was to find Sofia.