Published: August 10, 2026
The carriage from Granado Castle was sturdy and beautiful.
Its exterior was made mainly of black iron, decorated lavishly with gold, silver, and mother-of-pearl. The inside was so spacious it felt wasteful for just the two of us, Lord Cyrus and me.
The horses were beautiful too. The black horse cared for with great devotion by the stableman Adam was large and muscular, yet its coat shone brilliantly, and though strong, it had a very gentle temperament.
We spent nearly an hour relaxing in that superbly comfortable carriage ride.
Led by the coachman, who announced that we had arrived, we stepped down onto the ground.
"...Ah, it's really been so long since I came to this city..."
When I murmured that, Lord Cyrus narrowed his eyes and nodded.
It was a very lively place. Along the main road, several carriages were parked besides ours. Large buildings that seemed to be department stores, banks, hotels, and restaurants lined the street, and narrow side streets branched off at every corner. At the end of those alleys was a market for commoners. That was our destination.
"Well then, let's leave the carriage first."
"And change clothes too, right?"
When I said that, Lord Cyrus smiled happily.
Right now, we were dressed as usual in the splendid clothes we wore at Granado Castle. Walking through a market in outfits like these would only invite overcharging and make us a target for pickpockets, so it would lead to nothing good. That was why, when I visited Anastasia, I had the carriage brought right up to the storefront, but when Lord Cyrus walked through the market, he apparently hid his่บซไปฝ, wore civilian clothes, and deliberately went without guards.
"To be honest, it's also just my hobby. Ever since my student days, I'd often come here to blow off steam. It was suffocating to always be treated as 'the duke granado's son.'"
As we had before, we stopped by the familiar carriage-keeping service. The man at the reception straightened up when he saw Lord Cyrus.
"Well, well, if it isn't Count Granado! Or rather, Your Grace, welcome!"
"Yeah, as always. Please take care of the carriage, and my usual outfit too."
"Right away! And then, madam, this way please."
Where he led us was a changing room. Of course, it was divided for men and women. Since this was my second time, I changed without hesitation into the clothes prepared there. When I returned after changing, the receptionist who had been waiting let out an admiring cry.
"Oh, my, that suits you wonderfully! Such pure and lovely charm, you'd never guess you were a married woman!"
"R-Really? If so, then I'm glad..."
Blushing, I stood in front of the mirror and looked at my full reflection.
It was the clothing of an ordinary royal capital commoner, a town girl. A simple blouse with delicate lace, and a long skirt made with plenty of fabric. The colors and silhouette were simple, but the skirt swayed and flared beautifully as I walked, which made it adorable. Wool socks and soft goatskin shoes made it feel very gentle against the skin.
The castle dresses are lovely too, but I love outfits like this as well. They're easy to move in, light, and somehow make me feel like walking all over the place.
But maybe it's a little too cute? In a girlish outfit like this, even if I am married as the receptionist said, wouldn't people think it was improper?
As I glared at the mirror in unease, all of a sudden a hair ornament was slipped into place from behind.
It was Lord Cyrus.
His neat face, a head taller than mine, looked down at me.
"It suits you well, Marie. You're very cute."
"Th-thank you... Lord Cyrus, you look amazing too."
When I said that, he smiled and puffed out his chest as if to say, "Of course."
Hehe. Lord Cyrus really never does modesty in situations like this. Not that he needs to. In truth, he really is a wonderful person.
Lord Cyrus was dressed in fitted black from top to bottom, with long cowhide boots and a loose white jacket over it. The simple silhouette highlighted his tall frame and excellent build. His lustrous black hair was loosely tied near the nape of his neck, making him look completely casual.