A week had passed since I woke up as both Carine and Feyt, things were going well for us.

After tons of activities, my simultaneous movements became more refined and fluid, and I was practicing simultaneous speech whenever I was about to sleep, I even got more used to my new lives.

Of course, the grueling work as Feyt and the intense training as Carine still tortured me, but it was getting slightly more bearable each day. Slightly.

It was a warm morning in Carine’s room. I sat upright and did a morning stretch, letting out a silent yawn as I did so.

Damn, that was some good sleep~.

The sun had risen quite a bit; judging from the position, it was around eight in the morning.

Despite waking up this late, I plopped my body back down on the bed. I wanted to rest a bit more, but I knew I didn’t have time to waste or Mother would be furious.

Last night, Father reminded me that I would visit a village with him tomorrow, which meant it was today.

Ugh, I’m gonna miss this bed, but at least it’ll only be a day, right?

I reluctantly got out of bed and as soon as I stepped onto the floor, Leila spoke from outside the door.

“Are you awake, My Lady?”

“A-ah, yes, I’m awake.”

How long has she been there?

“May I enter?”

“You may.”

The door creaked open, revealing Leila in her always impeccable maid uniform, every detail in place. She stepped in with a grace that is expected of a perfect maid. “Good morning, Lady Carine.”

“Good morning, Leila,” I said with my practiced elegant tone.

“Would you have breakfast right away, My Lady?”

My stomach grumbled at the mere mention of it, so I nodded my head.

“Very well, I shall return shortly.” Leila bowed and left the room.

After a while, Leila returned with a tray full of pastries and a cup of tea, again, another sharp contrast to Feyt’s breakfast.

I enjoyed the pastries with my already perfected ladylike mannerisms to my heart’s content and then Leila briefed me on my schedule today.

“Today you are to travel with Lord Kyrat to a remote village near the outskirts of the Sareid Duchy. Are you ready, My Lady?”

Putting down the cup of tea I had just finished, I nodded.

I see this “tradition” as a moment of respite.

“Now then, shall I accompany you to the bath?”

…

After a quick bath with Leila’s help, I ended up in an elegant yet practical dark blue dress. Clearly, it was made for traveling rather than the fancy stuff I’d worn before. My family must have a serious thing for the color blue though.

With all my needs sorted, the only thing left was to comb my hair.

With gentle strokes, Leila tended to my hair as if she were grooming a horse.

In no time, I was ready to go. Just as I was about to make my grand exit, Leila stopped me, thrusting a surprisingly heavy briefcase into my hands.

“What’s this?” I asked, lifting the briefcase like it might contain bricks.

“Your clothes for the visit, My Lady. I’ve selected ones perfect for the climate and conditions of your destination.”

“Got it, thanks, Leila. What would I do without you?”

Leila fidgeted, looking unusually uncomfortable. “Um, about that…”

This was definitely the first time I’d seen Leila so twitchy. Was it an act like before? Just to be sure, I asked.

“What is it, Leila?”

“I… won’t be accompanying you…”

Wait, what?!

Leila took a deep breath and finally blurted out, “It’s Lord Kyrat’s orders, My Lady. I’m not to accompany you on this trip.”

Her eyes glistened, and despite her best efforts, a few tears escaped. She looked like she was saying goodbye for a year, not just a few days. Unlike the crocodile tears she’d shed last week, these were the genuine deal.

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“I must say goodbye, Lady Carine. I truly hope that when you return, everything will be just as you left it.”

The hell? It’s just three days, though?

Leila’s voice wavered as she added, “I’m truly sorry. I wish I could be there with you.”

I gave her a reassuring smile, giving her a pat on the shoulder. “It’s okay, Leila. I’ll manage.”

She nodded, giving one last tearful hug before stepping back. I could tell she was deeply upset, and though I wanted to comfort her, I also had my own doubts about handling this trip solo.

At least Father will be there, right?

As I turned to leave, I looked back at my canopy bed like I would a cherished friend. It was my only sense of comfort in my life as Carine, the fact that I had to leave it for three days… My heart ached a bit.

…

I walked through the garden to the front gate, where Father’s carriage awaited.

Damn, even the walk between the mansion's front door and the front gate felt like an hour.

Leila walked with me up to the front gate, which was already wide open. In front of it stood a carriage that looked like it was made of the finest wood and adorned with golden metal. A bit over-the-top, if you ask me.

Father was holding the door open, his eyes lighting up when he saw me. “Carine, you look as beautiful as ever!” he exclaimed. “Now, get in and let’s get moving. The road to the village will take a while.”

I nodded and climbed up the carriage’s small steps. Even the inside of the carriage was extravagant. Ornate patterns on the corners of the walls, deep red cushions blanketing the seats and walls, and a carpet accented with sheets of gold on the sides.

How rich is my family, again?

I stashed my briefcase under my seat and glanced back to see Leila waving goodbye, her usual stoic expression replaced with a genuinely gentle smile.

“Safe travels, My Lord, My Lady.”

I waved back, flashing a small smile back. “See you soon, Leila.”

Father stepped in after me and he too waved goodbye to Leila. “We will return in three days' time, please take it easy while we’re away, Leila.”

“Of course, My Lord.” Leila bowed.

“Thank you, Leila!” Father gave an approving nod.

Father closed the carriage door, and with a loud crack of the whip from the coachman, the horses started moving. We were officially on our way.

The carriage rolled along at a steady pace, passing by a string of other opulent mansions. As we reached the inner part of the city, I looked out at the people on the sidewalks going about their lives.

It still felt surreal that I was living in a fantasy world.

“Carine?”

I turned my head away from the window and faced Father. “Yes, Father?”

“How are you feeling today? Do you feel any motion sickness?”

The carriage does bump a bit here and there, but it was not nausea-inducing.

“Don’t worry, I am fine.”

"Ah, I see... Still being brief with words, huh?" Father let out a faint sigh.

Brief with words? I tried to wrap my head around what Father meant until it hit me: I usually talked in short, concise bursts.

H-Huh? Have I been talking like this the whole time?

I couldn’t help it, it was a habit carried over by the body. Trying to speak any other way and it would’ve felt weird.

But still, Father’s not-so-subtle sigh was enough evidence that he wanted to talk more with his daughter.

I felt my cheek blush a bit as I cleared my throat. “What about you, Father?”

Father raised his eyebrows a bit. “O-oh, I’m fine. Thank you for asking, Carine.”

“That’s… good…?”

An awkward silence followed.

I didn’t know what else to say!! I could talk about the weather, or maybe even sports news, but none of them sounded like things I—Carine—would talk about.

What kind of sports does this world have anyway?

Then, I glanced out at the passing scenery of houses and people and had an idea.

I cleared my throat once again. “Father, could you tell me more about the capital city? Why do we stay here when we have our own territory?”

I asked not only to break the silence but also because I was personally interested. I’d read plenty about Setus’s history in the family library and knew a fair bit, but family matters were a mystery to me.

Father’s ears perked up, “Oho! Good question, Carine!”

I let out a sigh of relief that I had chosen the right topic.

“You know of our prized swordsmanship, right Carine?”

I nodded my head. “Of course.”

It was practically the Sareid Family’s greatest treasure. I was supposed to spar with Mother and Father once a week, but my head injury had put a stop to that.

Father crossed his arms and closed his eyes. “Correct, and you know that other students from different families also participate in those lessons, don’t you?”

“Yes, of course.”

One of those students had been the one who knocked me on the head. Although, after a bit of reflection, I realized it was partly my fault—or rather, past Carine’s fault.

I remembered losing focus during one of Father’s practical demonstrations, and that’s when I got smacked in the face by a student who was equally distracted.

“The reason we stay in the capital instead of our own territory is exactly because of that,” Father explained. “Many families seek our guidance to master our swordsmanship. Our letter of recommendation can elevate a knight’s rank significantly, so there’s a high demand for us to remain here.”

“I see,” I said, nodding attentively.

So, basically, Father and Mother were so renowned in the swordsmanship world that they had become the go-to instructors for anyone serious about learning to wield a blade.

It made sense that everyone wanted their children to study somewhere convenient, and the capital city was perfect for that, being right in the heart of the kingdom.

But there was one thing I wasn’t entirely clear on. I hesitated for a moment before asking, “Father, who’s managing our territory while you’re here?”

I only had a faint recollection of it in my mind, but not the full detail.

Father’s eyes lit up. “Ah, you’re talking about your uncle, Tenard! He’s the regent and keeps things running smoothly. I visit from time to time to offer advice and support, but he’s quite capable on his own.”

“Oh, right,” I said, nodding.

So, there was still a lot I hadn’t seen or learned about my own family. I guess time would eventually fill in the gaps.

“Ah, we’re at the gate already,” Father said.

I looked out the window, and yep, the carriage was stopped by the coachmen as a knight in full armor approached our window holding a clipboard.

Father leaned towards the window and began talking with the knight. “Good morning, I am Kyrat Sareid, I believe I have scheduled my leave for today?”

“Lord Sareid…” The knight mumbled as he flipped through the pages on his clipboard. “Ah, yes, you are on the list.” The knight turned his head to his comrades. “Open the gates!”

The heavy iron gates creaked and groaned as they were slowly lifted by chains. After what felt like an eternity, they finally stopped, leaving just enough room for our carriage to slip through.

“You may pass, Lord Sareid. Safe travels!” the knight called out with a salute.

“Thank you for your service,” Father replied with a nod.

With that, the carriage began to move once more, and we finally made our exit from the capital city.

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image [https://i.imgur.com/RdC5Gde.png]