Rose glanced at him with a hint of curiosity and said, “Your grace, what made you decide to join me today?”
Julian chuckled softly. “I don’t know, Rose,” he replied. “I just felt like it, no specific reason. Sometimes, it’s nice to break from routine.”
Raphael chuckled and said, “Yes, even nobles need to blend in with commoners every now and then!” Julian and Rose joined in the laughter, their smiles brightening the morning air.
Julian’s expression softened as he looked at Rose. “What happened to your mother?” he asked gently.
Rose’s smile faded as she glanced down for a moment, her voice quiet. “She passed away protecting us,” she replied.
Julian nodded, a solemn look in his eyes. “She must be proud, seeing how hard you work,” he said, his voice filled with genuine admiration. “Your strength is a reflection of her sacrifice.”
As the trio continued to wander through the Easvil Duchy, they made stops at various places, taking in the sights of the bustling town. The market stalls, the laughter of children playing in the streets, and the chatter of locals filled the air.
They eventually found themselves at a game that was being conducted in the town square. Curious, Julian joined in but to his surprise, he lost miserably. Raphael and Rose couldn’t hold back their laughter as they teased him playfully.
“Looks like the young duke isn’t as great at games as he is at… other things,” Raphael joked, nudging Julian with a grin.
Julian was slightly embarrassed but he laughed along. “I’ll have to practice more,” he replied with a grin, clearly taking the teasing.
Afterward, they went to a small restaurant where the common folk gathered for their meals. Even though Julian was accustomed to the lavish meals at the castle, he found himself thoroughly enjoying the food.
It was a new experience for him, one that made him appreciate the everyday life of the common people.
“This food… it’s different,” Julian said as he savored a bite of bread and stew. “But it tastes real. Simple, but satisfying.”
Rose smiled as she watched him. “It’s the kind of food people eat every day. It’s nothing fancy, but it fills you up and keeps you going.”
Raphael nodded. “Sometimes, it’s the simplest things that are the most fulfilling.”
As they continued their journey, they eventually reached the outskirts of the Easvil Duchy. The landscape began to shift, with fields and rolling hills stretching out before them. The walk had been long, and Raphael who was clearly tired, stopped for a moment to catch his breath.
“How far, Rose? I don’t think I can continue much longer,” Raphael asked, his voice laced with exhaustion.
Rose laughed lightly, her eyes sparkling. “It’s just a couple of hours more. You’ve made it this far, you can keep going,” she teased, nudging him playfully.
Julian, enjoying the playful banter, couldn’t resist joining in. “You are my personal knight, Raphael. Act like it,” he teased with a grin.
Raphael straightened up at Julian’s command, a grin crossing his face as he said, “Yes, your grace.” Julian and Rose both chuckled at his response, the light-hearted moment easing the tension of their long journey.
They continued their trek, passing through dense forests and stopping by a clear river to drink and rest for a short while. The sound of the flowing water and the quiet of the surroundings gave them a brief moment of tranquility before they moved on.
As the sun began to set, the trio finally reached their destination—a large and lavish estate that seemed to belong to a count. The gates were grand, and the architecture of the estate itself was impressive, with tall stone walls and expansive gardens.
The place looked both rich and elegant different from the simple village life they had experienced earlier in the day.
“This must be the place,” Julian remarked, his eyes scanning the estate with a mixture of interest and evaluation.
As they followed Rose toward the estate, Julian couldn’t help but notice the change in her demeanor. The closer they got, the more her expression seemed to darken.
Her steps became slower, and her gaze grew distant, as if the sight of the estate brought back memories she preferred to keep buried.
Julian glanced at her and could sense a shift in her energy, something heavier weighing on her that she wasn’t voicing.
“Rose…” he began gently, his tone quieter than before, “Are you alright? You seem… different.”
Raphael who was walking ahead, noticed the shift too and looked back at Rose. Rose’s lips tightened into a thin line, and for a moment, she kept walking without saying anything.
When she finally spoke, her voice was softer than usual. “This place… it holds a lot of memories,” she said, her eyes now fixed ahead. “Not all of them are… pleasant.”
Julian nodded. He had no intention of prying further into her past, but he could feel the weight of the moment.
Sometimes, the places we belong to, might haunt us more than any other thing.
As they entered the county, the villagers and common folk walked around the streets with cheerful atmosphere as they greeted each other with smiles and laughter.
But when their eyes landed on Rose, the expressions quickly shifted. A few people exchanged looks of sympathy, while others offered her quiet, pitying glances.
Julian’s sharp gaze picked up on the change in the crowd immediately. Rose’s posture stiffened slightly as if she could feel the weight of those looks, though she said nothing.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Julian asked softly. He had seen enough to know that the looks weren’t just from casual curiosity but rather they were filled with something deeper.
Rose shook her head, but the faint sadness in her eyes betrayed her words. “It’s nothing,” she murmured. “Just memories. Some things never leave.”
Julian was silent for a moment as he studied the way she held herself, the way her face seemed to carry the weight of unspoken histories. He didn’t push her further, but he knew there was something very painful beneath her mask of toughness.
