Chapter 7
I knew about the existence of the fortress, but this was my first time visiting.
Given the nature of this frigid land, it was still very cold here despite it being early spring.
I had heard the town built for military personnel was small, but it was larger, livelier, and more developed than I expected.
The inside of the fortress was spacious—not quite a royal castle, but properly divided into sections based on their functions and well-maintained.
"......Ugh!"
As I passed through the gate in the stone wall and looked around while walking behind my grandfather, I suddenly bumped my face into his back when he stopped.
"......I get that it's rare, but you'll trip, you know?"
"Yes. I'm sorry."
"I'm going to brush off the dust. Wait in that room."
He pointed to a door at the top of the stairs, and I entered the room with my guards and maid.
It must have been a guest room—inside, warmed and furnished with luxurious items no different from a noble's home.
The interior, perhaps reflecting my grandfather's taste, was decorated in soft tones, making it hard to believe we were still inside a fortress.
—Knock knock......
As I sat quietly on the sofa waiting, the door was knocked several times, so I responded.
Seeing the person standing beyond the door opened by the maid, my tension melted, and joy welled up inside me.
"Uncle Ruget!"
"It's been a while. Let's have some tea until Father returns."
"Oh my... did you bring this yourself, Uncle?"
"Of course, for my adorable niece. Welcome to Ransheen Fortress. You've grown so much since I last saw you..."
The one who brought the tea and sweets was my father's younger brother, Uncle Ruget.
With practiced hands, Uncle set the table, then sat beside me and gently patted my head with a smile.
"Neither Grandfather nor Uncle ever come to visit."
"It's my job to keep Father from going out of control, so it's hard to leave here. Besides, after living here for so long, the Royal Capital starts to feel scary...!"
Seeing Uncle press both hands to his shoulders and say he was scared looked so cute that I couldn't help but laugh.
Though part of the Count family, both Grandfather and Uncle became soldiers instead of knights, and they seem to take pride in their work and enjoy it.
Internally groaning at the fact that now I had to convince two people, I began thinking about how to talk to them until Grandfather returned.
"Sorry to keep you waiting... Wait, Ruget's here too?"
Before Uncle could complain about the door being opened without a knock, Grandfather, sounding exasperated, dried his wet hair roughly with a towel while grabbing a cookie from the table.
"Father... even if we're family, you're still in front of a lady. At least put on a jacket."
"It's a hassle. Besides, it's hot, right?"
Grandfather sought my agreement, and I nodded with a wry smile.
Even if he just got out of the bath, I didn't think it was hot at all. If anything, I was worried he'd catch a cold from the chill.
"I was in the middle of training when a gatekeeper delivered a message confirming Celestia's identity, so I hadn't washed off the sweat. My bad."
"It's fine."
I shook my head side to side, but Uncle Ruget muttered, "No one wants to see an old man half-naked," and a towel came flying at him from the front. Then a cushion from the sofa was thrown, and a small scuffle broke out between parent and child—or perhaps between superior and subordinate.
Grandfather's body had scars here and there—some so faint you had to squint to see them, others clearly from sword wounds.
Perhaps it came with being a soldier... It seemed like a harsh job, but it didn't scare me much.
Even so, I had to say it before I lost my resolve...
"So, what happened?"
Grandfather, who had thrown the towel back and now rested into the sofa, and Uncle Ruget, whose hair was a bit messy, both looked at me intently.
"Celestia's letter arrived last night. Then by the next day at noon, she was already in town. Either she had prepared in advance or ran away from home..."
"I was surprised too. It's a long way from the Royal Capital, right? I never imagined she'd already be here."
Do they think I ran away from home?
Well, I suppose it's not far from the truth...
"I left right after sending the letter."
"I'm surprised Baldo allowed it..."
"I properly talked to Father. But I think he probably believes I'll only stay for about a month at most..."
"......Wait, the letter said 'for a while,' but how long do you plan to stay?"
"Let's see..."
I raised my right hand and slowly began folding my fingers one by one.
Around the time I folded the fourth finger, Grandfather's face, which had looked somewhat pleased, changed expression, and from beside me I heard Uncle Ruget's "......Huh?"
I gently lowered my hand, looked straight at Grandfather, and opened my mouth.
"Roughly... about seven years?"
"......Huh?"
"......Seven years... what?"
Grandfather looked up at the ceiling, and Uncle Ruget covered his face with both hands.
As the two fell silent, I sipped the fragrant tea.
(Hmm. It's cold.)
Thinking dinner would probably be late, I quietly reached for a cookie to replenish my energy for what was to come.