Chapter 5 Farewell to the Duke

A sobbing voice echoes.

“I can’t bear the idea of young miss leaving this mansion.”

“You’re the one who taught us the joys of bathing.”

“I’m going to protest to the royal family.”

“Hey, hey, stop it.”

Today is the day I leave the dukedom. After negotiating with the royal family, I was able to receive compensation. With that money, it looks like I’ll be able to open the bath cafe.

Right now, my familiar maids are seeing me off as I leave the dukedom.

They continue speaking in tears.

“I can’t bear the idea of young miss leaving! And besides, going to Eudreis territory is far from here…”

“Hmm. But living there was a condition from the king.”

That’s right. When we discussed the compensation, the king gave us two conditions.

 The first was, “Never leave the country.”

The second was, “Live in Eudrais territory.”

I understand what the former means. It’s likely he said it with the intention of preventing my power from being taken by another country if I flee the country.

However, I have no idea what the latter means.

Eudrais territory is located at the northernmost tip of the country. It is a remote area known as the “land of extreme cold” and inhabited by many monsters.

Didn’t they think that if they let me stay in the borderland at the very edge of the country, it would be easier for me to flee the country…?

I wonder if the royal family has some other plan…?

Well, there’s no point in thinking about things we don’t know. I accepted it because I didn’t think it would get in the way of opening the Bath Café.

 “You’re going to a cold place like that, my lady…”

“Don’t worry! Cold is the best spice for a bath!”

“You told me before that it’s dangerous to suddenly pour hot water on a cold day…”

“…”

You mean heat shock. Of course I’m going to be careful about that.

I clapped my hands to change the atmosphere.

“Anyway, I’m going to Eudrais with a positive attitude! Besides, you guys can enjoy your bath time without me.”

“That’s not what I meant…”

The maids crept up on me, saying, “If that’s how it goes, we’ll stop you from going to Eudrais by force.” This is bad. Their eyes are serious.

Just as they were about to attack me, two shadows stood in front of me.

 “You guys, stop, Lady Lydia is troubled.”

“Are you still reluctant to say goodbye? It’s time to go.”

“Lina, Luke!”

In front of me were my personal maid Lina and my personal guardian knight Luke.

They are two years older than me, and have served me since childhood. They are the only servants who will accompany me on this trip to Eudorais.

By the way, the two with beautiful scarlet hair are identical twins.

“Lina and Luke are lucky! They can keep up with the young lady!”

When one of the maids complained, Lina and Luke looked at each other and shrugged.

 “No no. Please understand how we feel, having to put up with Lady Lydia’s bath-crazy behavior from now on.”

“I’m looking forward to the snow in Eudrais, but taking care of Lady Lydia is a bit…”

“Huh?! If you say that then you don’t have to come!”

I puff out my cheeks at her words, which are not respectful at all. Then I turn to the maids.

I thought they would be angry at her disrespectful words, but…

“Well, you can’t deny that the young lady is a bath-crazy person.”

“I don’t like the fact that she always says “bath” every time…”

“I was shocked when I saw her happily heading straight for the bath, even though her engagement had just been broken off.”

“What, I have no allies…?”

That’s weird. These girls were supposed to be sad to say goodbye to me.

 “That’s fine. I’ll go by myself.”

“Oh no. She’s sulking. It’s all Lina’s fault.”

“Isn’t it Luke’s fault?”

“It’s both of your faults. Stop trying to shift the blame onto each other.”

While we were making a fuss, the door to the duke’s mansion opened.

“What are you guys making a fuss about?”

“Father.”

It was my father who came out of the duke’s mansion. He seemed to be seeing me off.

Father looked at us with a dumbfounded look. Of course, since he was the head of the duke’s family, he would stay here. I wouldn’t be able to see my father for a while.

My father narrowed his eyes nostalgically and looked at me.

“Lydia looks a lot like my dead wife… your mother.”

“Really?”

My mother died soon after I was born.

So I only knew her from a portrait. I inherited my blue hair from my mother, but when I saw a portrait of my mother with her droopy eyes and quiet appearance, I never thought that we looked particularly similar.

However, my father nodded with a look of conviction.

“Yes, they really are similar. Especially in the way they are straightforward in the things they love.”

“What did mother like?”

“…She loved smoking. She smoked a pipe every day, and her passion was such that she created a brand for the royal family.”

“I see.”

I was surprised to hear this unexpected story about my mother for the first time.

“…I mean, Lydia definitely has her mother’s blood. Her grandfather was a collector of female portraits and had a love for paintings, and your uncle liked gambling and was always thinking of ways to cheat. And…”

“Father, I really don’t want to be included in that lineup…”

Would you normally include a cute daughter in that lineup?!

I mean, why can’t members of a duke family say a touching farewell?  Are you under that kind of curse?

Well, my engagement was suddenly broken off and I haven’t had a chance to say goodbye to my fiancée, so I guess there’s a curse theory.

As I was thinking about this, my father modestly opened his arms.

“Lydia, can I hug you one last time?”

My eyes widen at my father’s words.

We had never had that kind of interaction before. Father was busy as the head of the duke family, and I was busy with queen studies and bath research.

“Of course, father.”

I smiled and jumped into my father’s arms. My father whispered in my ear.

“I’m rooting for you, Lydia, and I’ll always be on your side. If you get tired, don’t hesitate to come back.”

“Thank you. I wish you good health, father.”

Finally, we patted each other on the back and left.

“Well, I’m off now!”

And with that, I got into the carriage with Lina Luke.

 As the carriage started to move, I could see the duke’s mansion outside the window getting smaller and smaller. I heard a voice from afar saying, “My Lady! Have a nice trip!”

I was heading to the frigid land of Eudrais. It was a closed-off land, overrun with monsters. I didn’t know what the king’s intentions were in offering me this place.

But I wanted to do my best in this new land. I wanted to make the “Bath Cafe” a success.

That’s what I felt strongly about.

I renewed my resolve and said goodbye to the land I was familiar with.

That was supposed to be the case, but…

After arriving in Eudrais territory, I learned the harshness of reality.

“We don’t get any customers at all…!”

Ten days had passed since I opened the Bath Cafe. Zero customers had visited the shop.

I was so enthusiastic, but… I was faced with a sudden, difficult road ahead!