Chapter 10
The next morning, I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my own reflection.
For a moment, I simply stood there, taking in the face that still didn't feel like mine.
"Are you really leaving, my lady?" Martha's voice trembled behind me.
I turned to see her carefully folding the last of the clothes I had decided to take.
"Yes," I answered quietly.
She placed the clothes into the small travel bag beside me.
I wasn't taking much.
Just a few simple dresses and some necessities.
I couldn't bring everything with me when none of it was truly mine.
They belonged to Rishima, after all.
"But... where will you go?" she asked, her voice breaking slightly.
I looked at her.
"I don't know yet."
Her eyes widened.
"You don't know?"
I shook my head. "I'll figure something out."
Martha lowered her gaze, clasping her hands together.
"But, my lady..." she murmured, her voice wavering as tears gathered in her eyes.
"Why do you have to leave?" she asked, her voice heavy with sadness.
I looked at Martha, my chest tightening at the sight of her tearful eyes.
"Don't worry about me," I said. "I'll be fine." I gave her a reassuring smile.
Apparently, the news had already spread throughout the estate.
Everyone already knew that I was leaving the Grimaldi estate.
I guess it's true what they say-walls have ears and doors have eyes.
News traveled frighteningly fast in this place.
Before I could dwell on it any longer, a knock sounded at the door.
I turned toward it.
"Come in," I called.
The door opened, and Yohan stepped inside.
"My lady," he said, giving me a small bow. "Everything is ready."
I glanced toward Martha, who was already reaching for my travel bag.
So this was it.
I was really leaving.
Yohan stepped aside, allowing us to pass.
Martha followed closely beside me.
I took one last look around the room before stepping into the corridor.
I had a feeling I wouldn't be seeing this room again anytime soon.
With that thought lingering in my mind, I followed Yohan toward the entrance hall.
The entrance hall was unusually quiet.
My footsteps echoed against the polished marble floor as I descended the last few steps.
I could already see the front doors ahead.
Beyond them waited the carriage that would take me away from the Grimaldi estate.
I slowed.
For some reason, my feet suddenly felt heavier.
Martha walked beside me, holding my travel bag tightly against her chest. She had barely spoken since we left my room.
Yohan, however, continued ahead without saying a word.
When we reached the entrance, I could see the carriage waiting outside.
It was just Martha and Yohan here to see me off.
No knights.
No servants.
And most importantly, no Duke.
I wasn't surprised.
If anything, I would have been more surprised if he had actually come to see me off.
Yohan stopped beside the carriage and turned toward me.
Martha stepped closer and held out my travel bag.
"Here, my lady," she said.
I accepted it with a small nod.
Before I could step toward the carriage, Yohan spoke.
"My lady, before you leave..." he said, reaching inside his coat.
He pulled out a small leather pouch and held it out to me.
I stared at it.
"What is that?" I asked, glancing between the pouch and him.
"Money," Yohan replied.
I raised an eyebrow.
"Money?" I repeated.
He nodded.
"It's for your expenses along the way," he explained.
I hesitated before taking the pouch from his hand.
It was heavier than I expected.
I opened it slightly and peeked inside.
My eyes widened.
There were several gold coins inside.
I quickly closed it.
"This is too much," I said.
"It's only a small amount, just enough to get you started," Yohan assured me.
Small amount, my foot!
A single gold coin could feed a farmer's family for half a year!
This much money was more than enough for a commoner to live comfortably for the rest of their life.
I glanced around the entrance hall.
"Is he here?" I asked.
Yohan looked away for a moment.
"The Duke is... busy," he answered carefully.
His voice was oddly hesitant.
I almost laughed.
Busy.
Of course.
That was probably the excuse he had given Yohan.
Or perhaps Yohan had come up with it himself to spare me from hearing the truth.
Either way, I understood.
"He doesn't want to see me off," I said quietly.
Yohan's eyes widened slightly.
"My lady, that isn't..." he began, but his voice trailed off.
I gave him a small smile.
"It's fine," I said.
I didn't want to make things awkward for him.
Besides, I wasn't expecting a farewell from the Duke.
If anything, his absence made this easier.
I slipped the pouch into my travel bag.
"Please thank him for the money," I said.
"I will, my lady," Yohan replied with a small bow.
I couldn't help but glance back at the estate.
For a moment, I simply stood there, taking in the familiar sight one last time.
Whatever happened next, I would face it myself.
I took a quiet breath and stepped inside.
"Well..." I murmured, tightening my grip on the bag.
"Time to go."
Before the carriage could set off, I looked toward the coachman.
"Take me to the nearest town," I told him.
"Yes, my lady," he replied.
With that settled, I turned back toward Martha.
Her lips trembled into a small smile.
"Please take care of yourself, my lady," she said.
"I will," I assured her.
"And don't forget to eat properly," she added, her voice wavering.
I couldn't help but smile.
"Thank you, Martha," I said.
She blinked rapidly as tears gathered in her eyes.
I gave her one last smile before the carriage door closed.
A moment later, the carriage began to move.
I leaned back against the seat and watched the Grimaldi estate slowly disappear from view.
Neither the Duke nor Yohan knew where I was headed.
And that was exactly how I wanted it.
I had already decided on my destination.
A small village in the northern region.
It wasn't particularly important in the novel.
At least, not yet.
It was where a young mercenary named Travis lived—a man around my age who would eventually become a renowned swordmaster and, later, the captain of the Imperial Knights.
For now, though, he was just an ordinary mercenary who makes a living with his sword.
And I intended to find him.
I had no magic, no family to turn to, and no idea how to survive in this world on my own.
So if I couldn't rely on magic, I needed to learn something else.
A sword.
Honestly, learning how to use one sounded pretty cool.
If I was going to start a new life, I might as well learn how to protect myself.
The only problem was getting to Zorad.
It was all the way in the northern region, and I didn't want the coachman to know that was where I was really headed.
I wanted this new life to have nothing to do with the Grimaldi family.
For now, I just wanted to be left alone.
The carriage continued down the road for several hours before the scenery gradually began to change.
The estate grounds were long behind me now, replaced by open fields and small clusters of houses.
Eventually, the carriage began to slow.
"We're here, my lady," the coachman called from the front.
I looked out through the window.
A modest town stretched out before me, with several shops and people moving through the streets.
I nodded and reached for my travel bag as the carriage came to a stop.
I stepped down from the carriage and looked around.
This would do.
I turned toward the coachman.
"Thank you," I said.
"Take care, my lady," he replied with a small bow.
I gave him a polite smile.
Once the carriage disappeared down the road, I adjusted the strap of my travel bag and looked around.
Now, I just needed to figure out how to get to Zorad.
I looked around the busy street, searching for someone who seemed approachable.
After a moment, I spotted a middle-aged man standing outside a small shop.
I walked over to him.
"Excuse me," I said.
He turned toward me.
"Yes?"
"Could you tell me how to get to Zorad?"
He raised his eyebrows slightly.
"Are you planning to travel there?"
I nodded.
"Yes."
He scratched his chin before answering.
"You'll need a teleportation scroll to get there," he said.
"A teleportation scroll?" I asked.
He nodded.
"Zorad is too far to reach by carriage. A teleportation scroll is the easiest way," he explained.
I frowned.
"How much does one cost?" I asked.
The man gave me a sympathetic look.
"They're not cheap," he warned.
His eyes briefly traveled over my clothes before he added, "But you look well-off. I don't think you'll have much trouble affording one."
I glanced down at my dress.
Right.
I was still wearing Rishima's clothes.
I suppose I did look like someone who could afford a teleportation scroll.
I reached for the pouch Yohan had given me and weighed it in my hand.
I had more than enough money to live comfortably for a long time, but apparently, getting to Zorad was going to cost me a good portion of it.
Still, there was no point turning back now.
"Where can I buy one?" I asked.
The man pointed toward a shop farther down the street.
"There's a magic shop over there. They should have one," he said.
I walked toward the magic shop the man had pointed out.
The moment I reached the entrance, the door suddenly slid open on its own.
I froze.
My eyes widened.
For a second, I simply stared at it.
An automatic door?
It was just like the ones from my old world.
I slowly stepped inside, still glancing back at the door.
"Wow..." I muttered.
Magic really could do some incredible things.
"Welcome, dear customer!" a man greeted me from behind the counter.
I turned toward him.
He was a middle-aged man with a warm smile, standing behind a wooden counter covered with various magical items.
"I need a teleportation scroll," I said.
"Of course," he replied. "Where are you headed?"
"Zorad."
He nodded and reached beneath the counter.
"A teleportation scroll to Zorad. That'll be five gold coins."
My eyes widened slightly.
Five?!
I reluctantly reached into my travel bag and pulled out the leather pouch Yohan had given me.
I counted out five gold coins and placed them on the counter.
The shopkeeper collected them before handing me a rolled piece of parchment.
"Here you are, dear customer."
I accepted the scroll carefully.
"How do I use it?" I asked.
The man pointed at the parchment.
"It's simple. Unroll it, place your hand on the seal, and clearly say the name of your destination."
I nodded, committing the instructions to memory.
"And make sure you have a clear destination in mind," he added. "Once activated, the scroll will transport you directly there."
I looked down at the scroll in my hand.
It was hard to believe something this simple could transport me all the way to Zorad.
Magic really was something else.
And now, I was about to use it for the first time.