Compensation θ ~ I might be late for reincarnation, but since I was born as the talented eldest son of a prestigious noble, I might be on the winning side.

I celebrated my 7th birthday.

Finally, the day has come. The day I am released from the long confinement. I can finally leave the mansion now.

In this world, the age of 7 holds great significance.

The destination is the capital, Glassbridge. The purpose is to undergo the [Rite of Manifestation] at the Temple of the Occupational Deity.

As for whether I can move freely there… I wonder how it will be? Since it’s an unfamiliar place, I won’t know until I go.

“Please be careful with your step, as it might sway.”

“The wind is a bit strong. The waves are also rough.”

When I stepped outside, a large number of small spirits gathered. It was a bit noisier than usual. Please, I hope they won’t play any pranks. It would be troublesome if someone fell into the lake.

Whether they heard my request or not, the wind and waves visibly calmed down.

After crossing the lake on a small boat from the mansion’s dock, I arrived at the opposite shore, which I had only been able to admire from a distance. As I entered the barracks on the lakeside, a large stable came into view.

The horses had already been brought out, and large carriage wagons and baggage carts were neatly lined up.

With them lined up like this, it feels like a train. Yeah, it’s kind of exciting, like the first time I rode a Shinkansen on my middle school field trip.

I stepped onto the boarding step, boarded a large four-wheeled carriage with big wheels.

“Your seat, Lord Lyon. Please sit here”

“It’s much more spacious than I expected. It doesn’t feel like the inside of a carriage at all.”

The inside of the carriage looked comfortable. It resembled a scaled-down version of a luxury hotel lounge.

The interior, including the door, the walls, and even the luxurious sofa, was all quilted. Paintings adorned the white ceiling, and it even has lighting.

This turned out differently than I expected, in a good way.

The sofa had a gently sloping backrest. That was my seat. Both the back and seat had a moderate elasticity, and soft cushions were generously placed. It looked as comfortable as what I had in my room.

“I want to see the scenery.”

“Of course. I will open the curtains.”

The windows of the carriage were large, and the view that I got from a higher perspective than usual filled me with excitement. I couldn’t help but softly laugh, feeling like a child going on a field trip.

“Now, we will depart. We’ll gradually increase the speed. If you feel unwell or experience any discomfort, please inform us immediately.”

“Understood. Since it’s my first time in a carriage, I’ll let you know if anything feels off.”

Earlier, it was a small boat, and now it’s a carriage. Everything is a first in this world.

I felt a bit nervous when boarding the small boat due to the unsteadiness at my feet. On the other hand, the carriage, perhaps due to its large wheels, felt stable.

Carriages were an experience new to both my past and present lives. In novels featuring isekai elements, it was a common trope for carriages to shake violently, causing discomfort, but there was none of that here.

“It’s not shaking much.”

“The road to Glassbridge is well-maintained. Additionally, the carriage has mechanisms to absorb vibrations, so the shaking is somewhat mitigated.”

After asking about it, it became apparent that this carriage was not the standard for the Ducal family. It was the latest model, a custom-made carriage for Lyon. It even had a sleeping compartment, and medical equipment was installed.

There were four passengers in total: Moriss-jii, two nannies, and a doctor. The head nanny, Mrs. Evans, had already entered the main residence as part of the advance team, preparing for our arrival.

This time, a large number of people accompanied us on the journey from the lakeside mansion. They were mainly attendants taking care of daily needs and guards responsible for security. Since they have been with me since birth, I know their faces and dispositions well, making me feel very safe.

Even my father, whom I occasionally meet, makes me quite nervous when I see him. Moreover, in the main residence, there will be many unfamiliar faces.

By the way, my father plans to come to the main residence for the rites. However, I still haven’t met my mother and younger siblings.

I have no memories of meeting my mother since birth. The reason is unknown to me.

As far as I know, she has always lived in the royal capital. My brother, who lives with my mother, should be five years old, and my sister should be three. I want to meet my family, but honestly, I don’t have confidence that I will be fitting in well.

In this life, is it better to give up on the bond with the family? In my previous life, I was blessed with a loving family. In this life, I am a noble governing vast territories as a Duke. The difference is substantial.

Yes, the Glass region ruled by the Kilyam Duke’s family is actually vast.

According to the map that I made, the Crescent Lake, where the mansion is located, is surrounded by the “Spirit Forest” all around.

If you proceed to the west, there is a treacherous mountainous area covered with perpetual snow, the towering Sleeping Dragon Mountain Range.

In the remaining three directions, there are mixed forests, hills, and plains. If you proceed from the wide plains to the southeast, you will see the capital.

Furthermore, south of the plains is a vast fertile marsh.

Finally, I can go to the capital that I could only observe from a distance. Even just looking at it from afar, I could tell it’s a big city. Once inside, I wonder how lively it will be. The view from above and the view from the carriage are different impressions of the same place, especially with the sense of speed. Even now, outside the window, the scenery is rapidly flowing backward.

Is this going at over 20 kilometers per hour?

I thought so because my crossbike in my previous life, which I frequently used, could reach about 20 kilometers per hour when accelerating. Probably faster.

Are carriages usually this fast? Or are the horses in this world is just that incredible?

The window of the carriage is filled with transparent boards, but it felt different in texture from the window glass used in the mansion. It gives an unusually clear field of view to the outside.

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

“Is this glass?”

“No, it’s processed Labyrinth Crystal.”

“Labyrinth-produced material, huh? Is that labyrinth located in the Glass region?”

“Yes, that is correct. The Labyrinth Crystal produced in our territory is processed into various products, not just crystal plates, and is famous as a specialty of the Glass region.”

Yeah, that’s right. In this world, there are labyrinths. Quite a few of them. I had heard that there was one in our territory, but I didn’t know it had become a specialty of the region.

This specially processed crystal plate has high transparency and no bubbles. It’s said to have high defense against physical, chemical, and magical attacks (it doesn’t break, melt, or bounce back).

Furthermore, it has excellent visibility from the inside, but from the outside, it has a magic mirror function that prevents peeping.

It seems to be a special (and expensive) material for high-ranking individuals. Yes, even though it’s a specialty product, it doesn’t seem to be a common item.

The protection for Lyon is outstanding. Even around the carriage, knights on horseback are running alongside the carriage, providing extra security.

I can’t help but look. The figure of a knight in armor riding a horse is so cool in a fantasy world.

“Is it difficult to ride an armored horse?”

“Of course. It’s not easy. Armored horses are large and strong. Their temperament is somewhat fierce, so they need to be trained over time.”

Is it difficult?

A horse ridden by a knight is called an armored horse. It’s a military horse, and although its form is similar to the one in my previous life, it looks even more robust.

The body is more than a size larger than a regular horse, and the neck and back to have a scale-like structure. In other words, it’s a creature that you can’t quite figure out if it’s a mammal or a reptile.

Armored horses are perfect for the battlefield. They have high endurance, are robust, and have a long lifespan, so they are treated as a knight’s treasure.

However, in the Kilyam Duke’s family, these armored horses also pull carriages. This luxurious practice is possible because there are famous breeding and training grounds in the territory, in the northern part of the Glass region.

I really wanted to see such a fantastic creature up close. But it’s dangerous, so I can’t.

For children’s riding training, they use smaller and more gentle creatures that resemble horses. I’ll start doing that when I’ve grown a bit more.

In my previous life, I only had the experience of riding a horse with someone leading it, just a simple horse-riding experience. So, I’m actually looking forward to it quite a bit.

The carriage smoothly advances on the private road in the forest. After asking a bit, they opened a window for air circulation, and a gust of wind rushed in.

I was curious. There’s a mischievous little spirit that has been following me from Valenfield. The gust of wind soon turned into a gentle breeze, and just as it seemed to flutter my hair, it clung to my left cheek as if stroking.

—Where are you going?

Just a little outing.

—You won’t be gone for long?

No, I’ll come back.

—Can I come with you?

Will you come with me? If you want to, you’re welcome.

It seems that a curious spirit is going to accompany me. Spirits are capricious, but there are also cute ones like this that are friendly. It’s nice to be able to communicate with them.

Due to my trait, I’m quite well liked by the spirits. Thus, ever since I heard the voices of the spirits for the first time, I’ve interacted with them and become good friends.