The day has come for the Duke and Duchess of Nilesteria, Minerva, to set out on her journey of prayer.
　With a large group of nearly 200 people, including her church companions and bodyguards, she was able to leave the royal capital as planned, despite a few conflicts at the time of her departure.

　The private army of the duke's family is protecting the carriage the duchess is riding in, while the outside of the carriage is protected by more mercenaries.
　The carriages of the church's priests and monks rode in were linked back and forth between the Duchess's carriage and the duke's carriage, with mercenaries guarding that one as well.

　Unlike the other mercenaries, Aldis was not like the other mercenaries, but he joined the duke's private army and stood guard right beside the duchess.
　It was the best proof that Aldis had the trust of the Duke and the Duchess herself.

　The carriage in which the Duchess rides is especially lavishly decorated compared to other carriages.
　The fact that the carriage of a person of high rank is recognizable at first glance is not desirable from the point of view of security, but it is inevitable from the point of view of publicizing her intention to go to a prayer meeting.

　What is important is not whether she actually performed a purifying prayer, but to make the world know that the Duchess of Nilesteria performed it.
　She must stand out.

　In such an extravagant carriage, two figures were sitting facing each other.

　One, of course, is the daughter of a duke.
　Normally, the carriage would be accompanied by a woman who would be in charge of the daughter's care.
　However, the person sitting opposite the daughter was not from the duke's family.

　Solte, dressed in monastic clothes, tilted her head in her mind, careful not to show her confusion.
　Inside the carriage were a duchess and a candidate for sainthood, two people with whom she had had no contact until now, and sandwiched between them was a golden-haired beast huddled at her feet.

''Kuah.''

　The beast yawned widely.
　The duchess was the first to open her mouth in the flowing silence.

''I'm sorry to bother you, Sister Sorte. Those girls still scare me. ......'

'Oh, no ....... Don't worry about it.

　It all started when the duchess invited this beast into her carriage.
　No matter how many mercenaries are taming it, an ordinary woman would not be at ease with the sight of a carnivorous beast that looks more than a meter in length.
　Even an adult male would surely be reluctant to get so close to her, much less come close enough to touch her body.

　For some reason, the duchess is stroking the body of the beast without seeming to be afraid, but the side servants around her seem to have developed a very common emotion - fear - and as it happens, she is unable to sit up and stand up! .
　But that doesn't mean the duchess can't be left alone in the carriage, and in the end Solte, who was the only one in the group who wasn't afraid of the beast, was appointed as a passenger.

　For Solte, the beast is not something to be feared.
　Because the beast is also the person who once saved him from his own danger and the partner of the mercenary he is close to.

'But it was good. Sister is with me.

　She is a young lady of good blood.
　Normally, a mere sister would never ride in a carriage.
　It is precisely because Solte is a well-known candidate for sainthood that the members of the duke's family do not openly complain.

　Nevertheless, it is certain that their status is too different.
　They are not the kind of people you can treat casually.

''But please don't take it too far.

　Solte replied to the daughter's words, which showed concern, with a slight pause.

'...... It's okay. We won't be overwhelmed.

　Once again, the conversation is interrupted and silence falls on the carriage.
　As Sorte feels slightly uncomfortable, though not so much awkwardly, the duchess suddenly remembers and takes something from the basket on the seat and shows it to the beast.

'The head chef let me bring you a snack. Which would you prefer, baked goods or pastries?

　It seems that this young lady is even feeding the beast.
　Just when Sorte was feeling that the beast was being treated very well, a human being's words came out of its mouth.

I want baked goods. Do you want to join me?

What?

What?

　Sorte and the duchess's eyes rolled up simultaneously.
　Next, they asked the same question to Rona, repeating each other's different words.

'Rona, are you sure you're okay to talk?'

Master Rona, may I speak with you?

What?

What?

　Once again, Solte and the duchess make short, confused noises.
　This time while looking at each other.

　Sandwiched between the two of them, Rona let out a laugh that she couldn't stifle.





'If you knew, you should have told me.

　The duchess, who sweltered against Rona, showed an expression appropriate for her age, unlike the one she wore earlier when she wore her external mask.
　The glimpse of the daughter's true face made Sorte feel the strength in her shoulders slipping away a little.

'I didn't think Sister Sorte knew about Rona.

'That's how I feel too. I was really surprised.

'But if you know Rona, then Sister has met her mentor--not just her master--but Master Ardis as well?

'Yes. I first met Aldis when I was still a student at Marius School. I am embarrassed to say that I took on the challenge of the Caucasus Forest with a group of schoolmates without knowing what I was doing, and he saved me from a close call. That was five years ago, six years ago.

　Thinking back now, Solte really did something reckless at that time.
　It may seem like just a few days ago, but when he thought about it, six years had already passed.
　Hanslick, who was leading his comrades at that time, had already died in the war against the Empire.

　Solte himself is not the same as he was then.
　Thanks to his daily training and service, his healing techniques are much more proficient than they were back then, and with his years of experience, he no longer gets upset when he doesn't know the ins and outs of the rituals.
　She was recognized as an official Sister, not an apprentice, and now she wasn't treated as half a man.
　The only regret was that I hadn't grown that much in stature.

'I wasn't around then, though. Me and Sorte didn't meet for the first time until some months later.

　Rona uttered a supplement, and Solte was brought back to reality from her brief reminiscence.

'I see ....... You've known me a lot longer than I have.

　The duchess looked vaguely envious.

'Since when did you know Miss Ardis?

'I have been doing this for about two years now. Now he regularly teaches me swordsmanship, and I call him my master. I've known Rona since then as well.

　Solte asks, choking on her words at the unexpected story.

''Ke, is it swordplay ......?''

Yes, sir.

　Solte asks again, as a reminder of the answer that came back immediately.

'The young lady, right?'

Yes. It's not like a lady to be a lady, I know, but...

Oh, no, I'm sorry. The fact that your daughter is a swordsman is one thing, but even more than that, the fact that Mr. Aldis is teaching someone else how to use a sword is so unexpected.

　As expected, the flow of the conversation is not good, and Solte corrects the direction of the conversation to cheat.

'Kukku. That's certainly true. I also thought it was impossible for Al to teach a nobleman's daughter how to use a sword. Well, that's how much Al likes Minerva. Oh, I don't mean in a weird way, I just mean as someone worth teaching.

　Rona joins in on the conversation with a joyful voice, whether she knows Sorte's inner thoughts or not.

'I wish that was the case ......'

　Rona says bluntly to the uneasy-looking duchess, "I don't think I'm going to learn anything from someone who doesn't like Al.

"There's no way that Al would teach someone he doesn't like. Even if the person is the daughter of a nobleman, Al probably wouldn't care about it.

'Oh, that's certainly something my master would say: ......

　When the duchess showed a convincing expression, Rona quickly left the previous topic behind.

'Well, that's not the point, let's have a snack. I'm hungry.

Hmmm, you're right. Let's enjoy them before they get hard.

　The baked goods that had been taken out of the basket were handed to Rona's mouth by the duchess.

Ahhh. Mmmm, sweet!

　Rona's tail buzzed and swayed from side to side in the flabby, narrow carriage.
　The tip of her tail slapped back and forth between the two seats, next to Sorte and next to the Duchess.

'Would you like to have one of the sisters, if you don't mind?'

'Eh ....... Oh, I'm sorry, Miss. Thank you for your kindness.

　The duchess smiled softly at Sorte, who still hadn't gotten rid of her hardness.

'You may call me Minerva, Sister, if you wish. I'm sure we'll have a long road trip together in the future. It's just Rona and us here. There is no one to blame.

　Her elegance and refinement made Sorte keenly aware of the differences in her upbringing once again.

　The duchess was fifteen years old, I believe.
　This is the same age Solte was once when she nearly died in the Caucasian forest.
　Thinking about the distance between him, a commoner, and the noblewoman in front of him, Sorte feels a little miserable.

　At the same time, she understands that the duchess's offer is an extreme reduction in the distance and asks with a sense of joy and confusion

'...... is it alright?'

'If anyone other than Master and Rona are present, please continue as you have been doing.

...... Got it.

　As expected, Solte agreed to that statement that he would distinguish between public and private, and Solte agreed accordingly.

"Well then, please take care of me until I return to the royal capital, Minerva-sama. Please call me Sorte.

Yes. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Solte.

　Solte returned the same dear smile to Minerva, who gave her a happy look.