The Final Task of the Forsaken Saint: A Command to Marry the Barbarian Count - Chapter 10

After changing into the traditional Rostock attire, Sarina began to guide me around the castle, and I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to follow her. Despite the many hills and steep paths, Sarina walked without breaking a sweat. She made sure to take longer detours so I could see the castle from all angles, pausing every now and then to ensure I understood everything she explained. I was so grateful.

There was another reason I was in a good mood—besides the fact that Sarina was so thorough in her explanations. As I happily skipped along, Sarina finally spoke up.

“…Is your outfit comfortable?”

“It’s incredibly comfortable! The traditional Rostock clothing is so practical!” I replied with enthusiasm.

The clothing was, indeed, remarkably comfortable. It consisted of a white blouse layered with a knee-length dress, a vest with colorful embroidery, and a belt to cinch everything in. But the most surprising thing was that it included pants underneath. The dress had a slit that made it easy to move, and even if the hem flipped up, the pants kept everything in place.

“I’ve heard that noblewomen from the royal capital dislike wearing trousers,” Sarina said thoughtfully.

“Well, I’d feel unprotected just wearing a skirt. If I’m working, I need protection for my legs, so I’m thinking I might wear pants under the Saintess’ ceremonial attire next time,” I said casually.

“Under your ceremonial attire?!” Sarina blinked in surprise.

I wasn’t joking! The ceremonial attire was cumbersome with all the fabric, and when I was told to wear it on the battlefield, it was a real pain. Especially when it came to dealing with the chaos caused by Emilian.

Ceremonial attire was designed to make the Saintess stand out from a distance, which also made her a target for enemies. If I’d had trousers under that dress back then, it would have made things a bit easier.

As I thought back to that moment, my frustration flared up again, and I mentally gave Emilian a punch in the face.

Realizing I was getting a little too worked up, I cleared my throat and turned back to Sarina.

“Traditional clothing is a form of official attire, right? So I think it would be okay to wear trousers under the Saintess’ ceremonial clothes.”

I’d already decided I’d get some trousers made, so I could wear them with my Saintess’ clothes when needed.

Sarina stared at me with an odd expression.

“…I thought you’d complain about the short skirt or refuse to wear trousers! But you’re actually happy about it!”

“Is something wrong, Sarina?”

“No, no, nothing. Let’s just head to the next place.”

Sarina’s slight frustration didn’t seem to hinder her as she led me to the next part of the tour—a lively area of the castle with bustling trade and commerce. People from all over, including Lymieste and other foreign lands, were busy carrying goods, giving the area an energy that reminded me of an adventurers’ guild.

I was struck by how much life there was in the air. Sarina noticed my surprise and explained.

“Rostock isn’t blessed with fertile land, but our main source of income is trade. Since Lord Teodoric’s time, we’ve specialized in the study of magical beasts, and now we’re known for having the best-quality magical beast materials.”

“So, Lord Dirck is leading the trade?” I asked.

Most nobles in Lymieste despised dealing with trade, as it was considered a merchant’s task, but I never really understood why. I had no problem investing in businesses, but I still hadn’t figured out the difference.

Apparently, Lord Dirck wasn’t bothered by such things and took the lead himself.

“Is there a problem with that?” Sarina asked, her tone flat.

I hastily shook my head. “No, it’s impressive! I’m just not used to this kind of active business environment. I haven’t seen anything like it in a long time.”

Sarina’s expression remained neutral, though I sensed a hint of something else. “Well, I’m sure you won’t be too impressed with all this. A noblewoman from the royal capital would never last in Rostock. We’ll send you back before you even get used to it.”
I blinked, unsure of how to respond. But Sarina swiftly continued.

“Let’s move on to the next place.”

We arrived at a detached building near the castle’s main entrance, which appeared to be a warehouse. Sarina opened a large door, and a peculiar, somewhat unpleasant smell hit me as we entered. Inside was a designated area for disassembling magical beasts.

I immediately recognized the wyvern’s head and body in the center of the room. It was the same wyvern I’d hunted. They had already processed the body?

“Wow, that was fast!” I remarked, surprised.

Nearby workers were preparing to skin the wyvern. Sarina, though clearly uneasy, started explaining.

“Neige Castle was built to protect the people from the magical beasts of the Deadwood Forest. That’s why we have a fully equipped dissection area here. Our skilled craftsmen can even handle large magical beasts like wyverns. I’m sure this kind of work is unfamiliar to a royal Saintess.”

I grinned. “Actually, I’ve never seen a wyvern before! Can I watch the dissection? I want to learn more for next time!”
“Excuse me?” Sarina’s voice was tense, but I was already heading toward the workers, eager to see the process firsthand.
One of the workers, a muscular man with a warrior-like build, grunted as I approached.

“Who are you, and how did you get in here?”

“I was brought by Sarina! I want to learn about the dissection for when I hunt next time!” I responded cheerfully.

I wasn’t fazed by his gruff demeanor. After all, loud voices were a part of daily life in the military. But when the man heard my words, his expression shifted.

“Next time…?” He narrowed his eyes, then his expression changed to one of realization. “Wait a second… you’re the Saintess who hunted this wyvern, right?”

“Yep! I couldn’t use magic well, so I just beat it up and took off its head. By the way, did I miss any high-value parts that are still intact?”

The man blinked, then broke into a big smile.

“I heard from the troublesome messenger that you’d knocked out that idiot prince. I wasn’t sure what kind of woman you were, but you’re just a little thing! And you want to hunt wyverns? Now that’s something!”

“Ah, sorry for the trouble the messenger caused,” I said, a little embarrassed.

“I dealt with that rude messenger and sent him back properly. As for you, though, you’re something else! We take on anyone who challenges us here in Rostock!”

I couldn’t help but smile at the way the workers and Sarina seemed so relaxed around me. It was clear that Lord Dirck and his people had little patience for the royal palace’s nonsense.

As I learned more about the work they did here, I felt a growing appreciation for Rostock’s resilience and strength. And as the workers began showing me the process, I couldn’t help but feel more at home in this wild, unyielding land.