Rose Vicander's reputation in high society, as detailed in the report, was downright abysmal.
Things like relentlessly bullying her stepsister, spilling tea at tea parties and humiliating others, indulging in extravagance unbecoming of her family's status... that sort of nonsense.
'Utter slander.'
Of course, I knew full well that these rumors had been spread by Rose's stepmother, Viscountess Vicander. It was all to paint Rose as a villainess and bury her in society.
'Bill has no idea.'
Which was why this ridiculous farce had unfolded.
It was the combined result of my vague orders and Bill's overzealous interpretation—beating the drum and blowing the flute all on his own.
"Once more,"
I was about to tell them to prepare again and let these people in at once when—
Puuu—
The horn signaling visitors from outside blared from the outer castle.
"...We'll talk later. Good work."
I gave Bill a brief nod of approval and silently stared straight ahead.
It was too late now to send these people away and tidy up. All I could do was make the best of it.
'Sure, this is how our family welcomes its brides.'
Rose had never experienced anything like this before, so she wouldn't know the truth. She'd have no choice but to take my word for it.
With that in mind, it suddenly didn't seem like such a bad welcoming ceremony after all.
...Probably. At least the grandeur was impressive.
Amid the gleaming armor, the guards and knights radiating murderous intent, and the impeccably aligned servants,
I waited for the carriage of the woman who would change my life—not a dragon, my wife.
And then, it hit me.
'How many times has Rose regressed to reach this point?'
The thought popped into my head out of nowhere.
I'd only lived through Rose's life from the novel twice. I had no idea if this world was pre-regression or post-regression from her perspective.
If she was still in her first life, cooperating on future events would be tricky.
'Can't be helped.'
My ability to handle the future remained unchanged. The methods might differ slightly, that's all.
A dust cloud from the approaching carriage became visible in the distance.
"Everyone, attention!"
As it drew close enough, the guard captain bellowed.
Clop, clop.
The carriage passed between the guards lined along both sides of the road. Even as clouds of dirt billowed up, they didn't flinch.
As if ready to defend the castle to the death against any threat.
······The fact that there was absolutely no threat was a minor issue.
Clop, clop.
Soon, the carriage passed the guards and neared the knight order mounted on warhorses.
"Draw swords!"
Knight Captain Matthias shouted.
Shring!
The knights drew their blades in unison. They looked ready to slaughter the carriage on the spot.
······Let's not speak of it.
Flash!
The well-honed edges gleamed coldly under the winter sun. The carriage raced along that path of icy light and—
Screech—
came to a smooth stop before the castle gates.
'The coachman put in quite the effort.'
With the lord and all his retainers waiting, who wouldn't be tense?
Shh.
At my glance, Bill stepped forward and grasped the door handle.
Creeeak—
The shabby carriage door swung open, revealing the woman inside.
A worn and crude dress, lackluster red hair peeking from under an oversized hat. For a new bride, she looked utterly destitute.
Pfft.
A chuckle escaped me.
'The extravagant villainess.'
To think they'd expect me to buy those rumors after seeing this. The Vicander Family's incompetence never ceased to amaze.
'Next... right, the escort.'
I hadn't escorted anyone in ages. Yet habit was a fearsome thing—my body moved flawlessly, without a single flaw.
"Madam."
I extended my hand toward the carriage interior, and—
"!"
The woman startled, snapping her head up.
Rose-petal red hair, emerald eyes like leaves nestled in its midst.
Was this what a rose made human would look like?
'An all too honest name.'
Cruel in a way, too. Rose's appearance was far from the flashy image most associated with roses. That's why she always berated herself, deeming her looks inadequate.
But to me, she just seemed like a delicate girl, without any real rough edges.
'A bit small, though.'
Were all girls her age this tiny?
As that thought crossed my mind—
"Your Grace?"
Rose, having registered me, parted her lips slightly. Her eyes darted wildly over my face.
'Why is he here?'
Her expression screamed it. This wasn't surprise at a stranger or someone unfamiliar.
It was the reaction of encountering someone known in an unexpected place. Meaning the Rose here was likely post-regression.
'Good.'
A faint clue, but it eased my mind. Time to advance to the next step.
"Madam, my arm hurts."
Pure exaggeration, of course. Holding it out like this wouldn't actually hurt.
But it was enough to snap the dazed Rose, who had been staring at me, into motion.
"Ah. S-Sorry."
She reflexively raised her hand. But it never settled onto mine.
"······."
Instead, only wary eyes flicked over my palm.
Was it okay to accept this escort? Was it right to? What was his angle? Why was he doing this to her?
Her eyes shook with such turmoil.
'Just as expected.'
I'd figured melting Rose's wariness wouldn't be easy.
Cold-shouldered by Dane her entire previous life, she wouldn't open up just because he started being nice now.
'Squirrel... yeah, just like a wild squirrel.'
Fur bristled in fear, eyeing me warily. She even looked a bit like one.
But I was confident I could tame this little squirrel—no, Rose.
'If I tamed the wild beasts of the Kalmarr Mountains, a person should be easy.'
Time and effort. Simple, tried-and-true methods.
Wait for her to open up, provide tasty food and a warm bed. Show her that human touch isn't so bad.
Then, the creature growling from afar would soon rub against you.
By this method, I'd have to wait for Rose to place her hand on mine herself.
'No time to wait.'
So the method I chose was...
Whoosh.
Reaching out for Rose without warning.
"Gasp!"
My brow twitched at her instinctive shoulder hunch, but—
Thud.
I merely grasped her hand lightly.
"Pardon me."
Then, with a firm pull, I lifted her body.
Swoosh.
Like uprooting a crop from the field, Rose's body came without resistance.
"?"
Her lightness felt off. But I drew in her rigidly stiffened form anyway.
"Ah!"
Wide-eyed, she collapsed into my arms.
"!"
The unease crystallized into stark certainty, furrowing my brow.
'What is this body?'
Too light—far too light. Her waist was slender enough to wrap in one arm.
"Y-Your Grace."
Even the grip of her hands clutching my forearm was pathetically weak.
'Feels like it'd snap if I squeezed.'
I knew she'd been neglected by her family. Forced to eat meager meals alone in her room because family dinners meant constant glares.
The report absurdly framed it as punishment for her excessive misbehavior, forcing solitary meals.
This confirmed it all the more.
'Definitely food and bed strategy.'
Everyone loves those who provide good food and comfort. Logic that applied to beasts and humans alike.
No better way to win Rose's favor.
Yet for some reason,
a bitter taste lingered, an unpleasant aftertaste. I should be glad to find her vulnerability, but it felt wrong.
"Be careful."
Hiding my irritation, I set Rose down.
"Are you alright?"
"Y-Yes? Yes······."
"Can you walk?"
"Uh······ Y-Yes······."
A thoroughly unsatisfactory response.
Her eyes wandered aimlessly as she hastily stepped down to the ground.
"Madam, one more time. Are you sure you can walk?"
As I stepped closer,
"Y-Yes, yes!"
Rose stumbled back two steps.
Blatantly putting distance between us. Her limbs creaked like an unoiled suit of armor.
'Was that brief touch so repulsive?'
I'd resolved not to love her, but did she have to recoil this much?
I barely kept my sullen mood from coloring my words.
"It seems my new bride requires quite a bit of attention."
"Pardon? No, it's Your Grace who······."
Rose started to protest but glanced at my eyes and promptly bowed her head.
"I'm sorry."
No need to apologize that much. It was as if apologizing like this had become habit.
Perhaps from growing up in a home where no one listened, only berated.
"······Let's go."
I wanted to grab her hand and drag her along.
Shh.
But I held back and extended my hand again. No desire to make her shrink further.
"But—"
"Or do you plan to stay here all day?"
"······No, I'm sorry."
Finally, Rose resignedly placed her hand on mine.
"Then."
The moment I spun toward the gates—
"······."
I faced a crowd showing off their jaw-dropping expressions in various ways.
Guards with mouths agape as if unhinged, knights opening and closing theirs repeatedly, servants clamping theirs shut entirely.
Butler Bill and head maid Selma included, with Knight Captain Matthias's eyes nearly bulging.
'What are those faces?'
They looked as if they'd seen something unbelievable—or the sky falling.
Their gazes fixed on my hand touching Rose's. Eyes that couldn't fathom how the hand used only for slaying monsters could escort a woman.
Shh.
I arched one brow, and—
"Ahem, ahem."
"Cough."
"Ahem."
They snapped to attention, sealing their lips.
Some squeezed their eyes shut, others stared at the sky, still others bowed their heads deeply.
"Eh?"
Rose, turning with me, startled and looked around. Only now noticing the crowd gathered at the gates.