– Clack, clack……

“Hut!”

We passed about four portals.

The reason we started in the cold early morning was because we needed to travel south for over a day even after getting through the last portal in order to arrive at the Bellang Barony. The territory was at the farthest corner of the Empire and the road was not very smooth. Benjamin nicely commented that it would have taken at least a week if I didn’t have Julite’s headdress.

“I’ve never been in a carriage like this before. This is so amazing.” Christelle gasped in admiration while looking around. I agreed with her while putting the divine beasts down.

I rode in one of the Imperial family’s carriages with temperature maintaining magic during the heatwave when they lugged me out to Yvelines. It was much larger than the regular carriages and this premium air-conditioned vehicle even had beds and couches inside.

Our vehicle of choice for this trip was the winter version of that carriage. It was a luxury item Empress Frédérique happily lent us to use.

“It’s my first time as well, Dame Sarnez. The Vatican is quite cheap in order to cut costs.”

“They are cheap in every aspect it seems. Cheap with money, cheap with how they treat people.” Christelle grumbled. Sir Johann quietly chuckled.

Anyway, this warmth preservation magic was amazing. There were two beds and two couches inside, making it large enough for everybody to travel without any issues. It was nice that the novel had fantasy elements, allowing us such benefits.

‘Marquis Duhem might invent a fan or heater if I ask? Then it might be easier throughout the year next year?’

……Yes, I was considering life here next year.

“Your highness, we will now prepare the meal.”

“Sounds great. Thank you very much.”

Benjamin and Ganael opened a large basket and started pulling out what felt like an endless amount of dishes for us to eat. The Imperial Crown Prince didn’t seem fazed but his attendant, David, was clearly surprised.

“There seems to be more than usual.”

“Our Chef, Laurence, is on vacation starting today. She made a bunch of food for us before she left. We are so thankful for her.” I did not miss the timing to show off one of my people.

Ganael quickly added on. “Laurence’s daughter is getting married, so his highness gave her a wedding gift as well as the funds to travel through portals round trip. Ah, he also paid for half of all of the wedding expenses!”

“Ganael.” I quickly stopped him.

The young boy seemed extremely proud as his lips were twitching as he laid down the table cloth and set it up with beautiful plates and silverware. My neck felt hot as I felt like the others might think I brought up Laurence on purpose so that I could show off what I did.

‘It wasn’t anything much.’

– Kiiiiiiiiiii, kiiiiiiiiii!

“Yeah, Demy, have some fruit. Apparently these fruits are specialties of the south.”

It felt as if all of the gazes were focusing on me, so I quickly peeled an orange for Demy. Christelle and Tithé started laughing.

Our group heading toward the Bellang Barony was pretty small. It would have been even better if everybody could come with us, but it was difficult as they had their own reasons.

One such person was Vice Captain Élisabeth. She had to prepare for the opening of the Garrison Officer Candidate School on the 19th while Captain Duhem stayed in the Imperial Palace to protect the Empress. It was because crown prince Cédric would be attending as the representative of the Imperial family. She had to figure out the route, dispatch personnel, and fine-tune many things with the school, which did not allow her to come with us. Instead, a couple of the Imperial Guard’s strongest knights were with us.

‘What is really going to happen when we have three Holy Knights with us……’

“Eva is very busy these days, but I’m disappointed that priest Sand was not able to come with us. He said it was because the issues with his naturalization have not been resolved.”

Christelle cut a large piece of Pain d’épices as she said that. I was having the same thought.

“Sir Johann, will the priest-nim be okay?” I placed a piece of the bread, which smelled like sweet honey and ginger, on each person’s plate. Benjamin and David prepared warm drinks as I did that.

Sir Johann answered while setting up the pear confit and cheese platter. “Please don’t worry, your highness. His family is famous for being strange, but they will soon give up.”

“Mm. I smell something amazing hidden under the surface.”

The main character squinted. We had the same thought once again. She looked back and forth at her teacher and the crown prince.

“Your Royal Highness, teacher, you guys know something about it, don’t you?”

“I have no reason to answer you.”

The crown prince instantly shut it down. Christelle pouted while taking a bite of the bread. Technically, he was right, so I just laughed and brushed it aside.

‘It’s Sand’s personal issues so we should wait until he is willing to tell us himself.’

– Clack, clack……

Anyway, that was the reason we had a small crew for this trip to the south. Christelle, the crown prince, me, Sir Johann, Benjamin, Ganael, David, Percy, and the little troublemakers. We had as little other staff with us as possible but a larger number of Imperial Guard members. We chatted away and enjoyed our road trip. The punk of a crown prince didn’t say much, but he seemed as if he was listening.

“Your highness, as you already know, his Royal Highness will be heading back first on the morning of the 18th. You and the others are scheduled to come back together on the 19th. His Royal Highness has said that he will leave most of the Imperial Guard with you.”

David elegantly placed a teacup down as he said that. My eyes opened wide.

“Shouldn’t his Royal Highness take at least half with him?”

“Who is the one bringing trouble wherever they go?” The crown prince bastard stared at me with a dignified gaze. I felt extremely upset.

‘Hey, you are talking about you and your future wife. I’m just a pushover so I easily get swept up in your issues……’

It was sad to accept that about myself.

– Peep, peep.

“Hmm, I guess there is a friend over there, Percy. That one looks like it would be as big as Eva if it extends its wings out.” In the end, I just played with the chimney bird that was pecking at the window and avoided the issue.

The view outside the window got greener as time passed. The wide leaves made me truly feel like we were traveling south. The sun continued long into the evening and we also saw some rabbits or deer along the way. The little troublemakers were sleeping away on a bed. They were the prettiest when they slept. Demy, who had looked so cute while eating hard boiled eggs and drinking sparkling water, was the only one with a big belly.

– Neeeeeeigh!

“Woaaah!”

We were inside until the sun went down……

We took breaks every so often and even took some walks in the warming breeze, but most of the time was spent traveling. It felt like getting on the bus to head to my grandma’s house for the holidays. Only the three attendants and I took short naps on the bed.

I thought Christelle tried to lay down as well, but Sir Johann said, ‘I’m okay. Cardinals do not need long periods of rest,’ and she jumped right off. The crown prince glared at Sir Johann as well. This couple did some things I didn’t understand every so often.

Well, it was nice for them to have things that only the two of them agreed on, so I just let them be.

During the trip, our conversation led to some… Amazing results. For example……

‘Gabag.’

‘Excuse me?’

‘A bag Ganael made for you, so it is a Gabag.’

My bag ended up being named by Christelle, and…

‘Oh right, your highness. I heard that you used your special move at that time!’

‘Excuse me?’

The fact that I answered like an idiot again was just extra.

‘When you were almost abducted by Madame Victoire. Sir Johann said that he saw it from a distance. He said a dolphin shot up from your Holy Land, your highness.’

‘Ah, yes. I came up with it after seeing ether shooting up from her Eminence’s Holy Ground. It cannot attack, but I thought it could cause chaos as long as it had form since the golden light is bright.’

‘I want to see it as well. Oh, we need to name that move as well.’

‘…….’

‘Light-plop. Light-tempura.’

Her naming sense was truly shocking.

I somehow managed to push back the naming of the skill, and the naming show ended with Sir Johann naming my white horse as Armgard. It was a cool Venetiaan-style name. As long as she liked it, I’d call her Arm for short.

“Oh no, I forgot to pack the spicy choucroute. I wonder if it would be okay to make it when we get there?” Christelle mumbled as if she suddenly thought of it. She borrowed the name of a similar French food whenever she was talking about kimchi Only I knew that she was talking about kimchi.

I filled my cheeks with some bichon au citron so I could not respond. It wasn’t like I had much to say anyway. The Christelle-brand sun halo weed kimchi was so good last time that I wanted to ask her how she made it, but……

Learning that ‘Freeze! Get into push-up position!’ had left such a strong imprint on her made it hard for me to ask her about it. I felt like asking about anything Korean might cause some unnecessary suspicions.

‘I even heard her real name last time. Mm…… But I do want some kimchi. Some roasted kimchi buckwheat pancakes and kimchi stew with pork belly…’

“Ah! Were the divine beasts able to grow sun halo weed, your highness?” Christelle suddenly asked.

The crown prince, who had been silently observing the darkness outside the window, looked toward me. I felt Sir Johann’s gaze as well. I gulped down some warm soy milk before answering.

“I experimented with it recently, but as expected, it did not work. They were also unable to grow purple tulips.”

The crown prince scowled.

“…They are unable to grow purple tulips?”

“Yes, your Royal Highness.”

‘Is there an issue with that? There’s a ton in your yard anyway.’

I tilted my head and he looked toward the bed. Perry looked into his orange eyes and flicked his tongue.

“You.”

– Screeeech!

The divine beast jumped as soon as the crown prince said that. Perry then hung on his neck and started licking the crown prince’s cheeks, lips, etc. The young man quietly growled. David and I both chuckled at this unfamiliar sight. Christelle mumbled about how disappointing it was that she didn’t have a phone. I agreed.

– Knock knock knock knock

The coachman knocked four times at that moment. That meant that we were arriving soon. We quickly exchanged glances with each other. Rumble!

“Wow, your highness. The houses here are so colorful!”

“They look like dollhouses. I think they will be even prettier during the day.”

“I heard that there are homes by the river as well.”

Ganael, Christelle, and I were all by the window, commenting about what we saw. It felt like the crown prince was sighing behind us.

*

Werner Venetiaan was satisfied. That was why his underlings in the palace were all satisfied as well.

“Good…… Very good.” His voice was as melodious as a pearl on a jade plate.

The man sat with his legs crossed on a luxurious couch, looking through the secret letter that had come from the other side of the continent. A part of his gown that had golden leaves embedded in it fell to a carpet made of a rare demonic beast’s fur. His quiet attendants placed refreshments in his mouth or rubbed his feet every so often.

The Prince Consort had only been staying in his own area ever since he was not invited to that ‘feast’ the Queen held. He didn’t show his face at most Beau Monde events and minimized his interaction with his eldest daughter as well. Nobody had taught him these things but his instincts told him what to do.

You needed to be careful with your body before doing something big.

“She blamed her innocent cat. I like that phrase. I suppose he is planning on putting the blame on an innocent person.”

“That is a wise decision, your Royal Highness.”

“Yes. A family with experience is truly different. The blood of a traitor is definitely more skillful.” The corner of the man’s lips curled up beautifully.

There were no clear results yet, but he liked this spy who was supposedly one of the Empire’s Pair de Riester. He wondered why he did not come up with this idea earlier. He couldn’t kill the prince even when he was in the Holy Kingdom, so it was naturally much harder with him away in the distant Empire. Werner deeply regretted his miscalculations when that lowly Holy Knight and his child managed to get out of his grasp.

That was why this was better. This might be the best time as those fools would have developed some bonds with one another. Rather than getting rid of that disgusting bastard with his own hands……

“This happened on the nineteenth sun of the tenth month.” His beautiful finger extended to go over that last line. This sounded as if it was talking about October, but during ancient times, the month that meant 10 was actually December. The nineteenth sun meant exactly that, the nineteenth day.

December 19th.

“How wonderful. We may hear of his death by Elise’s birthday.”

“……”

Such terrible words came out of such an angelic face. The young attendants did their best not to make a sound as they gulped. Werner turned his head to look at his Chief Attendant.

“Prepare the poison. Something strong enough to mess with the body for a bit is fine.”

“As you command, your Royal Highness. Who will you use it against?” The old man asked as if he was used to this. He sounded so calm that someone who had no idea about what was just said would think he was sending a present or a letter to a friend. However, the attendant’s face that was as firm as an old tree finally cracked after hearing his master’s comment.

“I will be taking it.”

“……”

“I will slowly start taking some starting today, so let Cornelisse’s people know that I am not doing well.”

He couldn’t guarantee the effects if he had them personally inform Elise. However, it would be different with his eight year old daughter.

“Shouldn’t I get prepped up before the curtain goes up as well?” The Prince Consort’s chocolate-colored eyes closed as if two pearls of chocolate melted away.

Nobody believed that this was the man’s true personality.

—
Translator’s Comments

You damn manipulative SOB…

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