Chapter 98: Things You Want to Say but Can’t (3)
Nothing happened.
Truly, nothing at all.
The serene, uneventful days continued, with snow-covered peaks visible through the carriage window, signaling that they were drawing close to Miterien territory.
As they approached the border, the sound of the wind whipping outside the carriage grew more intense.
Occasionally, the wind carried snowflakes that clung to the window, and Astrid’s thoughts grew increasingly tangled.
【What should we tackle first?】
‘I suppose… we should start by hearing about the tower?’
【The tower... Hmm. Honestly, I haven’t really paid much attention to it until now. After all, it was just an excuse to go to the north.】
Well, maybe the tower could be something significant.
The real Astrid hadn’t heard of or known anything about such a tower either. Her initial approach had been simple: If all else fails, we can just smash it! So she hadn’t worried much about it.
Similarly, Astrid herself, viewing this world as something akin to a novel, had dismissed the idea as just one more fantastical element.
And so, things had come to this point.
But the closer they got to the Miterien estate, the more uncomfortable Astrid felt.
She couldn’t find a comfortable position in the carriage—whether sitting, lying down, or even shifting around, everything felt off.
【Something feels strange…】
‘You think so too?’
The discomfort only intensified as they approached the northern territory.
This inexplicable unease seemed to gnaw at Astrid.
“Astrid, is something wrong? You seem terribly restless,” Baizik asked, giving her a curious look.
It was unusual to see Astrid, usually so composed, acting so uneasy—like a restless puppy, unable to settle.
“No, it’s… actually, yes, something feels off.”
At times like this, honesty was the best policy, Astrid thought.
Perhaps this strange feeling was a sign of something, and ignoring signs like this usually led to disaster—at least in movies.
Better to prevent it while she could.
“As we get closer to the estate… something feels uncomfortable.”
“Uncomfortable, you say…”
Baizik stroked his beard thoughtfully.
As a renowned mage, often called the Archmage of Spells, Baizik was attuned to the resonance of mana. If there was a disturbance in the magical flow, he would have sensed it immediately.
Yet, he felt nothing unusual.
The mana flowed normally, and there were no discernible omens.
If Astrid was feeling something odd, one would expect Baizik—or even Ashray—to feel it too.
However, Ashray was currently snoring in the back of the carriage, showing no signs of discomfort, and Baizik himself felt fine.
“How exactly does it feel uncomfortable?”
“I’m not sure. It’s just… I feel unsettled, and I can’t find a comfortable way to sit.”
Astrid scratched her cheek awkwardly.
“…Is it your time of the month?”
“N-No! Absolutely not!”
That had already passed!
Thanks to her healthy constitution, her cycle was always regular, so Astrid was absolutely certain it wasn’t that.
It had already ended before their departure.
But there was no way she could explain that outright—it was too embarrassing.
“Is that so… Then I wonder what it could be. May I take a look?”
“My face? You’re already looking at it.”
“…I mean your wrist.”
‘Fine, whatever,’ Astrid muttered internally as she extended her wrist.
When Baizik indicated the other one, she obediently extended her right wrist instead.
“Let me see… Hah, such a slender wrist. And yet you wield that massive greatsword so effortlessly—it’s quite the sight. But that’s beside the point. Let’s proceed.”
Baizik lightly grasped Astrid’s wrist with his left hand while his right hand traced gentle circles in the air.
Strangely, as his fingers moved, thin threads of silver appeared in the air, forming the shape of a star.
“Now, let it settle in.”
The star of silver thread descended onto Astrid’s palm.
It melted like snow, the silver threads sinking into her skin.
“Oh…”
A refreshing sensation coursed through her body.
The cool energy began in her palm and rippled through her entire body like a wave.
It was soothing, invigorating.
By the time Astrid’s eyes widened in amazement, the refreshing sensation had subsided.
“How do you feel? Any better?”
“Yes… much better.”
The discomfort she had felt earlier—the sensation of sitting on something uneven, the restless anxiety in her chest—had all but vanished.
“I feel much better now.”
“It’s only temporary. If the discomfort persists after the effect fades, I’ll treat you again.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Astrid felt significantly better.
Relieved, she leaned back in her seat, planning to take a quick nap.
“Looks like we’re almost there,” someone announced two days later.
The road had narrowed significantly, and the wind howling outside the carriage was relentless.
If not for the heater diligently warming the interior, the freezing cold would have overtaken them long ago.
“Seriously, how do people even live in a place like this?”
Indeed.
Astrid silently agreed.
When she first woke up here and saw the endless snowfields outside the window, she had been utterly baffled.
No matter how much snow was shoveled, it always returned—an endless nightmare.
Fortunately, she no longer had to do the shoveling herself.
“Well, you get used to it after a while. There are fireplaces and heaters, after all.”
“Or you could just live somewhere warm.”
That would make more sense, wouldn’t it?
Regardless, the carriage pressed on.
It moved forward even as the road disappeared beneath a thick blanket of snow, a feat possible only because of the skilled coachman.
“How much farther?”
Astrid opened the small divider between the carriage compartments and asked.
“We should arrive within a day, my lady,” came the coachman’s prompt reply.
It had taken slightly longer than expected—closer to eight days than a week—but they were nearly there.
She’d been restless in the carriage, but now that they were nearing their destination, she felt relieved.
“When we arrive, we should start by discussing the tower, shouldn’t we?”
“Yes, that seems wise. Any threat from the north would be troublesome.”
【Before that, I need to check something in my room.】
‘Check?’
【Yes. Don’t forget that while the tower is one goal, we have other objectives as well.】
‘I know, but what are you checking?’
【The battle journal Ashray mentioned—written by that shaman.】
‘He keeps a journal?’
That was surprising.
Astrid had imagined Ashray as the type to avoid such things, so learning he had recorded details in a journal was unexpected.
【Is it that strange for a soldier to keep a battle journal?】
‘Not strange, just unexpected coming from you.’
【Are you picking a fight!?】
‘I’m just saying…’
【Really, you’re only good at charming men. I suppose that’s something to be thankful for, at least.】
That was harsh.
Especially considering Astrid used to be a man herself.
Hearing she was only good at charming men felt like an insult—but it wasn’t entirely untrue.
‘Leopold is just… too exceptional.’
【I suppose that’s true. His Highness is the problem—he’s too perfect. But why are you so quick to admit it this time?】
‘Because it’s the truth. He’s handsome, from a great family, wealthy, powerful, and even has honor. Objectively, he’s impressive.’
【…Wait, are you aware of what you’re saying right now?】
‘What? Am I wrong?’
Astrid stopped mid-sentence.
Now that she thought about it, it was odd.
She’d never had a good impression of Leopold before.
She’d never thought of him as someone worth praising.
Yet now, she found herself admitting how exceptional he was without hesitation.
【Well, His Highness Leopold is just too exceptional. Even as a fellow man, you have to admit it, don’t you?】
There was no response.
The real Astrid waited a long time, but Astrid didn’t answer.
【What are you doing? Was I wrong?】
But Astrid wasn’t in a position to respond.
Leopold. Leopold.
It was strange.
For some reason, just thinking about Leopold made her throat feel tight, her emotions inexplicably unsettled.
It was truly odd.
Something about this—about simply going back home as they were—felt completely wrong.
She couldn’t allow it.
If they returned like this, she felt as though…
…she might never see Leopold again.
It was an overwhelming—
—a powerful feeling.