Free Web NovelChapter 34: Chapter 33: Toward the Imperial Capital – Parte 1
I left the marquis’s bedroom with a steady gait.
At my waist, my mother’s sword rested with a strange weight, comforting and solemn at the same time.
We exchanged no further words.
They were not necessary.
I walked down the corridors, feeling the curious glances of the servants on my shoulders.
They peeked around each corner surreptitiously, but I could sense their intentions. Still, I didn’t pay any attention to them; today would be the last day anyway.
My only goal was to get to my room and pack my bags.
The marquis had already arranged everything else: a mansion awaited me in the capital, where I would spend the next few days before entering the academy. At that very moment, Sebastian must have been preparing the carriage and the escorts. frёewebnoѵēl.com
I packed calmly, checking and rechecking, but there was nothing I was particularly attached to.
The really important thing was already hanging from my waist: my mother’s sword.
It was then that the knocking on the door interrupted my thoughts.
—"Young master..." —Alice’s voice sounded faint from the other side.
—"Come in," —I replied.
The door opened slowly, letting a gentle breeze from the hallway flow in.
The sound of her heels echoed on the marble floor in a restrained, careful rhythm, almost hesitant, until it stopped somewhere behind me.
I turned calmly.
There she was.
Alice kept her hands clutched tightly to the hem of her dress, her shoulders slightly tense, almost as if she feared that letting go would cause the words to slip away.
Her eyes wavered between meeting mine and dropping to the floor, caught between speaking or running out immediately.
The silence between us stretched for a few seconds, so dense that I could almost hear the restrained beating of her heart.
At last, she let out a soft sigh of surrender and finally opened her mouth with hesitation.
—"Young master... I..." —she murmured, her voice soft and trembling, as if she were afraid to break the quiet air of the room.
I watched her for a few moments more. Her cheeks had a faint blush, and the tremor in her hands was impossible to hide.
—"Do you want to come with me?" —I asked suddenly, cutting through her hesitation, but in a natural, almost distracted tone, as if the answer were already obvious to me.
Alice blinked, startled.
—"Eh...? C-Can I...?"
I tilted my head slightly, raising one eyebrow.
—"Of course. You’re my personal maid, aren’t you? If you don’t come... who else would?"
For a brief moment, Alice stood in silence, processing my words.
Her doubtful expression broke into a spark of happiness, and her eyes shone with genuine relief.
A soft blush spread from her cheeks to her whole face, and although she tried to contain it...
—"Hehe..." —a small smile finally escaped her lips.
—"T-Then...!" —she said, nodding enthusiastically as she stepped back—. "I... I’ll go prepare my luggage, young master!"
She spun around quickly, at first with clumsy movements, but they grew faster and more nimble as she reached the door.
Her bluish hair swayed in the air with a gentle shimmer of the sunlight from the window, and the skirt of her dress fluttered as she hurried out of my room.
Before the door closed, I caught a glimpse of her radiant expression:
A mix of shyness, relief, and a happiness so pure that, for an instant, it lit up my face as well.
***
The mansion’s main garden was lit by the morning sun, reflecting glints on the dew that still covered the lawn. Between the perfectly trimmed hedges and silent fountains, an ostentatious-looking carriage waited in front of the main entrance.
Its wheels were reinforced, the horses stood a head taller, and even their dark coats conveyed the highest purity.
I descended the marble steps calmly, feeling the fresh air hit my face.
At my side, Alice carried part of our luggage, carefully trying to keep her balance without losing her composure.
Her blue hair bounced with each step, and her curious eyes darted subtly toward the servants watching us from a distance—some with respect, others with a hint of disappointment.
At the base of the staircase, Sebastian, always impeccable in his uniform, awaited me with a straight posture.
His gloved hands rested behind his back, and as my footsteps echoed on the marble, he lifted his face with his usual serenity.
—"Young master," —he greeted me with a slight bow, his deep and firm voice resonating in the crisp morning air—. "I am pleased to see you ready."
I stopped in front of him, feeling the soft breeze moving through the gardens, lightly lifting the edges of my coat.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the horses snorting quietly and the escorts standing in perfect formation by the carriage, ready to depart at a single command.
In the distance, the servants whispered to each other, but as I paused before Sebastian, the murmurs gradually faded.
—"Everything is prepared for your departure," —Sebastian continued in his formal tone—. "Now, allow me to introduce the person who will be in charge of your safety during the journey."
He raised his hand elegantly and gestured toward the side of the carriage.
I followed the direction of his hand and saw him.
A tall man, broad-shouldered and athletic, waited with his hands clasped behind his back.
His black uniform with fine silver trims seemed freshly pressed, each fold perfectly in place, a silent reflection of the man’s character.
His dark hair, cut slightly short, barely stirred in the breeze, and a faint shadow of a beard framed his square jaw.
But what drew attention most were his eyes.
Sharp, piercing, like those of a predator.
They swept over me from head to toe in a single glance, not even bothering to hide the judgment behind them.
There was no respect in his gaze.
He was evaluating me... and worst of all, I could feel the clear disdain in his eyes.
