Chapter 183 - Step one
Rosa shielded her eyes from the sun’s rays as it descended towards the western horizon, painting the sky in a radiant display of colors. The mid-December chill accompanied their journey as the wagon trundled along the dusty road, and she wrapped herself in a warm cloak to stave off some of the cold.
If she didn’t mind wasting her mana, she could have kept up a charm or two to provide some warmth to the wagon’s occupants, but it was probably for the best that she conserved her energy for this trip.
Seated across from her was Father Abraham, still dressed in his pristine white robes, the man’s long blond hair flowing over his shoulders. He didn’t seem to mind the cold much, though Rosa wouldn’t be surprised if it turned out those clothes were enchanted. The priest clearly wasn’t just a simple wandering priest, despite his claims.
The man turned his eyes westward, gazing over the rolling hills towards the sun-drenched horizon. “Ah, the splendor of a day bidding adieu and a night’s approaching embrace,” he mused. “Always a spectacle to behold, isn’t it, Miss Hale?”
“It’s decent enough,” Rosa replied. “Prefer the sunrise, where you don’t have to worry about getting stranded in the middle of the countryside unable to see past your own nose. But there’s a certain charm to the sunset as well. A lot more intimate and romantic, for one.”
A soft chuckle escaped the priest’s lips. “That it is. I count myself fortunate that I get to spend it with a lady as enchanting as yourself.” Father Abraham turned to look at the only other passenger in the wagon’s rear, an elderly man with weather-beaten skin and a hawk-like nose. “And you as well, of course, good sir.”
Rosa smiled, her fingers absently fiddling with the pegs of her klert to keep warm. “I’d save shooting your shot for now, mister. While I won’t shy away from dancing a dance or two, the last fellow who tried wooing me quickly realized he was in for more than he’d bargained for. Last lady, as well.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t dare. Doubly so now after having heard that. Moreover, I couldn’t bear to inflict such cruelty upon the fine citizens of this empire by altering my bachelor status.”
“Now that’s something I can get behind,” Rosa said, then paused, tilting her head to the side. “Funny. I feel like I’ve uttered almost those very words before, or if I haven’t, I should have.” She plucked at one of the strings on her instrument, producing a short, muted note. “Though my audience at the time likely wouldn’t have been as appreciative of the accuracy of that statement as I am now.”
“Would this audience perhaps have included a certain baroness?” Father Abraham asked.
Rosa nodded. “Got it in one.”
The man smiled. “You two appear to share a rather unique bond. It is not often one sees something of the sort between a noblewoman and her retainer.”