Chapter 7: The Journey Begins.
Chapter 7: The Journey Begins.
Several days passed in the blink of an eye.
No matter how much Osborne wished otherwise, the day he had been dreading eventually arrived, because just as Guinevere had promised before departing from House Bismarck, the emissary returned precisely one week later to escort him to the Roosevelt Marche, leaving him with little choice but to accept that there was no longer any turning back.
What Osborne still couldn’t understand, however, was why Lady Roseline had accepted his condition without so much as asking a single question.
Not only had she agreed...She had agreed immediately.
The more he thought about it, the more unsettled he became.
"...Why?" He quietly muttered to himself while standing outside the manor.
"Wasn’t that supposed to be an impossible request? It wouldn’t be strange if she at least thought it over for awhile..."
Nothing about it made sense. If anything...It only made him even more nervous.
Perhaps...She was planning something.
Perhaps she’d simply agreed so she could reject it later in person.
Or perhaps...His imagination stopped there.
’...No.’ He slowly shook his head. ’I shouldn’t think about it.’ He said to himself.
Unfortunately...He immediately began thinking about it again when he stared out his window.
******
Waiting outside the estate stood a luxurious silver carriage far grander than the one that had arrived a week earlier, its polished exterior reflecting the morning sunlight while the silver dragon crest of House Roosevelt proudly decorated both carriage doors, making its owner unmistakable to anyone who happened to pass by.
Standing around it were four knights clad in gleaming silver armor, each sitting silently atop magnificent horses while keeping watch over their surroundings with disciplined expressions that never once shifted.
Nearby, Guinevere stood patiently beside the carriage.
The moment Osborne stepped outside with Anny following behind him, she offered him a polite bow.
"Young Master Osborne." She said with her signature nonchalant look. "If you would be so kind."
She extended one hand toward the carriage.
"...Please." she said.
Osborne stared at it for several seconds before releasing a long sigh.
"...Right." He slowly turned away.
Instead of approaching the carriage, he walked toward his mother first.
The gentle woman smiled sadly the moment he stopped before her.
"My son..." She gently held both of his hands.
"...Please don’t worry too much." She said, Her voice was soft, though the sadness behind it was impossible to hide.
"Everything will be alright." She added.
Osborne smiled reassuringly.
"I’m not worried mother." While he’d only known her for a short week, she’d already taken a place in his heart.
She looked at him quietly, smiling a bit. " I’m your mother Osborne, I can very well tell when you’re lying.
Hearing her, he chuckled. "...Maybe a little."
His mother gently reached up before fixing the collar of his shirt just as she had done countless times while he was growing up, or at least that was how naturally the gesture came to her.
"...Remember to eat properly." She said.
"I will." He replied.
"And don’t skip your meals under any circumstances." She added.
"I won’t." He said with a light smile.
"And if anyone mistreats you..." She struggled to continue. "...Just..."
Osborne gently hugged her.
"...I’ll be fine, mother." He reassured her, His voice as calm as ever. "I promise."
She quietly nodded against his shoulder.
" And don’t forget to write to us whenever you’re free, alright dear." She said.
"I will." He replied.
After a few more moments, Osborne reluctantly stepped away before making his way toward Gustav.
The Baron remained silent until Osborne stood directly before him.
Without saying anything, Gustav firmly placed one hand upon his son’s shoulder.
"...You’ve grown my boy." He said.
"...I have?" Osborne smiled awkwardly.
"Hm." Gustav nodded.
A faint smile appeared on his usually stern face.
"It feels like only yesterday you were running around this estate causing trouble but now look at you, all grown and about to create a family of your own." Gustav said.
"I don’t remember any of that." Osborne laughed softly.
Gustav chuckled a bit, before the smile on his face quickly faded.
His expression became serious once again.
"I won’t pretend to know what awaits you within House Roosevelt." He said, his grip tightening slightly.
"But remember this." He looked directly into Osborne’s eyes.
"You are still my son."
"No matter what happens..." He spoke, His voice growing firmer.
"...Do not be afraid to tell me."
"If anyone wrongs you."
"If anyone threatens you."
"If anyone makes your life difficult..."
"Tell me." He said, a stern light in his eyes.
"I may no longer possess the strength I once had..." He smiled bitterly.
"...But I’ll still stand before you." He ended.
Osborne quietly nodded.
"...I know, Father."
" Your son has never once lost faith in what his father is capable of." Osborne said with a smirk.
Seeing this, his father’s expression brightened.
Gustav gave his shoulder one final pat before stepping aside.
"...Go."
Osborne slowly turned around. For one last moment...
He looked back at the manor, The old stone walls, The modest gardens, The fields stretching beyond the estate, His parents, Sir Roland, The servants standing nearby.
Even the cows he had spent every day milking.
Seeing them all for one last time, a warm smile appeared on his face.
"...I’ll be back." He said.
’ I promise.’
Then, without allowing himself another moment to hesitate, Osborne turned and walked toward the waiting carriage.
Anny silently followed close behind him.
Their luggage had already been packed long before this morning, leaving only themselves to board before the journey could finally begin.
Once both of them stepped inside, the carriage doors closed with a gentle click.
Outside, Guinevere gracefully mounted her horse before raising one hand.
"Move out."
At her command, the procession slowly began moving.
The carriage rolled forward.
Behind it, Gustav and his wife continued waving until the very last moment, refusing to lower their hands even after the procession had disappeared beyond the winding road leading away from House Bismarck.
******
The journey toward the Roosevelt Marche lasted three full days.
Although the escorting knights rarely spoke beyond exchanging brief reports with one another, they remained surprisingly attentive throughout the journey, promptly stopping whenever Osborne requested a short rest, ensuring warm meals were always prepared before sunset, and even checking several times each day whether either he or Anny required anything else.
It wasn’t exactly a lively journey.
But...
It was far more comfortable than Osborne had expected.
By the morning of the third day...
The carriage gradually slowed.
"We’ve arrived." Guinevere’s calm voice reached them from outside.
Osborne immediately pulled back the small curtain covering the carriage window.
"...Wow." His eyes slowly widened.
The Roosevelt Marche stretched endlessly before him.
Compared to the quiet and humble lands governed by House Bismarck, this place looked almost like an entirely different world, because wide stone roads stretched throughout the city while beautiful buildings lined both sides of every street, colorful banners decorated nearly every corner, and countless merchants loudly advertised their goods as people busily moved from one destination to another, creating an atmosphere filled with life and prosperity.
Everywhere he looked there were people.
Children laughed while chasing one another through the streets.
Blacksmiths worked tirelessly outside their workshops.
Fresh bread filled the air with its pleasant aroma.
Musicians played cheerful melodies in the town square.
Everything felt...Alive.
"...So this is a Marquess’ territory."
The difference in prosperity between a Barony and a Marquess was far greater than Osborne had imagined.
As the carriage continued forward, the bustling streets gradually grew quieter.
Not because the city had emptied.
Rather...
Because everyone stepped aside the moment they recognized the silver dragon crest decorating the carriage.
Merchants respectfully lowered their heads.
Soldiers saluted.
Even ordinary citizens quietly moved aside without a single complaint.
It wasn’t fear.
If anything...
It looked closer to admiration.
The people genuinely respected House Roosevelt.
Eventually, the bustling city gave way to an enormous estate surrounded by magnificent stone walls and beautifully maintained gardens that stretched farther than Osborne could comfortably see.
The mansion itself towered proudly at its centre.
"...You’re kidding." He muttered in disbelief.
It was easily the grandest residence Osborne had ever laid eyes upon.
Compared to House Bismarck...
Calling this place a mansion almost felt like an insult.
It was practically a palace.
The carriage slowly came to a halt.
One of the knights stepped forward before opening the carriage door.
Osborne climbed down first.
Anny followed shortly after.
Almost immediately, several neatly dressed servants hurried forward before respectfully bowing.
"Welcome home, Lady Guinevere." They all said.
Guinevere nodded.
"Please carry Young Master Osborne’s belongings to the prepared guest quarters." She requested.
"At once."
The servants immediately collected their luggage before disappearing into the estate.
Guinevere turned toward Osborne.
"If you would please follow me." She said to him.
She then looked toward Anny.
"As for you..." She smiled politely.
"Someone will arrive shortly to show you around the estate."
Anny’s cheerful expression noticeably dimmed.
"...I understand." She quietly lowered her head.
Seeing this, something shifted within Osborne, who remained where he stood.
Guinevere noticed immediately.
"...Young Master Osborne?"
He calmly met her gaze.
"I’d like her to come with me." He said.
Guinevere hesitated.
"...I’m afraid that may not be appropriate." She looked visibly uncomfortable. "Our household generally—"
Osborne gently raised one hand.
"I’m sorry for interrupting." He said.
Guinevere fell silent.
" But Anny isn’t merely one of our servants." He smiled calmly.
"She’s my personal attendant." He revealed.
"As such..." He glanced toward Anny before looking back at Guinevere.
"...She remains by my side at all times."
Standing behind him, Anny looked down to hide the grateful smile slowly spreading across her face.
’ Don’t go looking at me like that, I need someone having my back when I meet that scary woman...’ Osborne thought to himself.
Guinevere remained silent for several moments.
Eventually...She released a quiet sigh.
"...Very well." She gave a small nod.
"If that is your wish." She said.
Turning gracefully, she began walking toward the mansion’s entrance.
"This way if you’d please."
Osborne smiled.
"...Thank you for understanding."
Without another word, he and Anny followed behind her as the enormous doors of House Roosevelt slowly opened before them.