That evening, Katya was invited to a party hosted by Baron Bolograd.

After the party, we were set to leave Aristocrats the next day and travel further north to a town called Ishtert.

There, we were scheduled to meet one of the cardinals for another party. Afterward, we’d head south, return to the kingdom, and conclude our journey.

Katya wasn’t yet an adult, nor had she been entrusted with decision-making authority by the Marquis.

This trip was purely for goodwill—Katya’s sole purpose was to get along with the people of Célie.

The goal was to establish connections with influential individuals and strengthen ties for the future.

Depending on the speed of the carriage, we were told to prepare for another two weeks or so of travel.

Of course, neither Ivy nor I minded in the slightest.

Sleeping on unfamiliar beds and pillows was a bit uncomfortable, but honestly, it felt like a fun adventure.

However, there was one individual who voiced their objections to this journey.

Yes—Sanshita.

【Ugh, I can’t take this anymore…】

“There, there. I’m sorry…”

【It’s way too boring! Please, Brother Bruno, do something about this!】

The moment I entered the stable, Sanshita, who had been sulking alone, burst out with incredible speed.

Judging by his complaints, he must’ve been unbearably bored.

…The truth was, I had been so distracted by the excitement of exploring a new place that I’d completely forgotten to visit him yesterday. I decided to keep that little fact to myself.

【…And there are all these watchful eyes around me. They keep coming in, and I can’t get a proper night’s sleep…】

“…I’m sorry.”

Ever since we arrived in Aristocrats, Sanshita hadn’t been allowed to roam the streets or fly freely in the skies.

Even though he was a familiar, bringing a griffon around town was strictly prohibited.

To make matters worse, several guards were stationed near the stable, clearly on high alert.

They were brawny men who looked every bit like seasoned warriors.

I couldn’t gauge their strength, but having such intimidating figures constantly watching him must’ve made Sanshita uneasy.

It was only natural for him to feel stressed.

I’d forgotten, perhaps because the Marquis of Endlord was such a laid-back person.

Normally, griffons—classified as first-class magical beasts—are considered highly dangerous and must be treated with utmost caution by territorial lords.

It was likely our perspective that had become skewed.

Allowing a griffon to land within city limits, as the Marquis had, was probably the anomaly. The way things were handled here was likely the norm.

I felt genuinely sorry, but there was little I could do to help Sanshita in my position as a mere bodyguard.

“For now, just hang in there until tomorrow. Once we leave, you’ll have more freedom to move around.”

【Please, I beg you! I beg you!】

“—Mii!”

Ivy, who had been silently observing until now, let out a sharp cry.

The sound reverberated through the stable, silencing not only the agitated horses but also Sanshita, who had been wailing moments before.

“Mii-mii!”

Smack!

A magical hand created by Ivy delivered a resounding slap to Sanshita’s cheek.

Holding his reddened face, Sanshita muttered, It hurts… as Ivy glared sharply at him.

【—Ah!】

Sanshita’s eyes widened, and his body began trembling.

It seemed he had experienced some kind of revelation.

【I see now… If I can’t view even this environment as training, I’ll never defeat her!】

“Mii.”

With that, Sanshita nodded in understanding and immediately began meditating.

His earlier outburst felt like a distant memory as he quieted his breathing and immersed himself in concentration.

I wasn’t entirely sure what had just happened, but Ivy’s stern intervention seemed to have resolved the issue.

It appeared she had ignited Sanshita’s sense of rivalry with Rey, motivating him to endure.

As expected of Ivy—she knew exactly how to handle Sanshita.

Leaving the now-composed Sanshita behind, I stepped out of the stable.

There, I found the guards assigned to watch him sprawled on the ground, unconscious.

“Mii.”

Ivy gave a quick wink.

It seemed that during her earlier outburst, she had also “disciplined” the guards a little.

She was right, of course. Just because they were tasked with surveillance didn’t mean they had to stress Sanshita out.

If they’d handled things differently, Sanshita might have been able to sleep peacefully.

Ivy’s actions went beyond merely placating Sanshita—her thoroughness was part of what made her, well, Ivy.

I’m sorry for putting you through this, Sanshita.

Once we leave the city tomorrow, we’ll soar through the skies together again.

For now, though, I needed to prepare formal attire for the upcoming party.

Maybe I’d pick up a souvenir to cheer up Sanshita while I was at it.