episode_0028

“Understood.”

I eventually acquiesced to the princess’s proposal.

And, fiddling with my ceremonial jacket, I let out a deep sigh.

“Did you just sigh?”

Lydia asked with a puzzled expression.

To her, I replied with a forced smile, “No. I sighed in relief as my workload decreased.”

“Indeed? Once you become one of my knights, such privileges will be plentiful.”

Praising me unexpectedly, Lydia straightened her posture proudly.

“She does have some skills.”

I tried to smoothly transition away from patrol duties, but they ended up sending the Eastern Knights to the North.

The scale is certainly different.

“Preparations are complete.”

Locking the office door, I stated.

Upon which Lydia, carrying the baggage, gracefully led the way towards the carriage.

“Well then, let’s head straight to my palace.”

With cheerful steps.

However, she soon halted her steps.

“That might be a bit challenging.”

Because I had thrown a wrench into her plans.

“Also, why? You really never take my words easily!”

Perhaps because everything in her life had always gone her way.

Lydia stared at me with a puzzled expression.

“I can’t just go along with everything.”

It takes almost two hours to travel from the East to the North and considering Lydia’s nature, boasting and dragging people around the palace…

To prevent this, we must finish lunch in my territory.

“We need to report to General Valderian by 5 o’clock, and time will be tight if we go to the East.”

Valderian.

The current Empire’s Grand General and the hero who raised the Sixth Knight Order.

He is known for his strict handling of affairs.

Placing a knight responsible for Northern patrols in front of such a general and taking them away?

It’s absurd.

Valderian, whether noble or royal, sticks to his principles until the end when faced with absurdity.

This is why the upper-class elites have avoided crossing paths with him.

“He’s a bit demanding…”

Referring to the general as ‘grandfather’…

There’s no one else but Lydia who would do that.

With her knuckles pressing against her lips in thought, Lydia fell into contemplation.

Deciding to delve into her complex thoughts directly, I proposed, “How about this?”

My sudden suggestion drew the attention of the secretary and the princess.

Pointing towards the vast Northern city visible from the window, I said, “Let’s have lunch in Norston.”

Having the princess’s lunch in a city full of commoners?

Upon hearing this, the secretary firmly shook his head.

“No, it’s not acceptable to host Her Highness in the unsafe North.”

Peering at me over his monocle, he glared.

“I disagree.”

I looked calmly at the contemplating princess.

She only has two choices here.

Either ask Valderian to join us for lunch and face rejection or at least have a brief meal together in the city.

Lydia’s response was likely already decided.

Even if she might be rejected, she would lean towards requesting Valderian.

Having spent her life enjoying chef’s cuisine in fancy restaurants.

Then she could be cleanly refused, resolving the situation.

But…

The answer that came back from her was completely unexpected.

“Sure, sounds fun.”

A perfect affirmation.

“A market, huh? It should be interesting.”

Her carefree nature oddly manifested itself.

Our faces twisted simultaneously at her response.

“Sigh…”

Especially the middle-aged magician responsible for her security.

As a veteran aide, he wore a complex expression.

“As an Imperial Princess, shouldn’t you also familiarize yourself with the lives of commoners?”

She’s too peculiar in a strange way.

“This is also part of a ruler’s role. I will do my best, as Veil suggested.”

Quoting my words verbatim, she smiled mischievously.

Sitting down, she neatly adjusted the hem of her skirt clinging to her hips.

Confidently, she slipped into the carriage.

“….”

I watched that figure coldly.

Then Lydia peeked her face out from the carriage.

She tilted her head and asked, “What are you doing? Hurry up and get in.”

“How can a knight ride in the same carriage as the princess?”

The chief secretary also gave a firm look as if indicating that he couldn’t allow it here.

However, the Third Princess chuckled and patted the seat next to her.

“Aren’t we going together so you can guide me?”

“Well then, I’ll ask for permission separately.”

I tried to go to the adjacent building to borrow a horse.

But Lydia frowned and nudged me with impatience.

“You don’t have time to spare, why would you try to borrow a horse now? It’s fine, just get in quickly.”

The princess looked at the chief secretary and said firmly.

He eventually clenched his teeth and remained silent.

“….”

I had no choice but to head towards the carriage.

My head almost hit the carriage, which I hadn’t ridden in a long time.

The Third Princess stared at me with red eyes.

“Why is that?”

“Oh… you’re taller than I expected.”

Compared to the average Eastern Knights, you’re on the smaller side.

I sat across from the princess without much ado.

The carriage gradually picked up speed.

Even at such a fast pace, there was no shaking at all.

“How is it? This must be your first experience of such a smooth ride as a commoner, right?”

Lydia proudly remarked.

But my expression remained indifferent.

Seeing this, Lydia pursed her lips and asked, “What… isn’t it surprising to ride in a royal carriage?”

“No, it’s just so exquisite that I got lost in thought for a moment.”

Of course, it was a lie.

I had ridden enough during the days when I escorted Irina.

“Is that so? Such opportunities are rare, so enjoy it to the fullest.”

“Yes… understood.”

Lydia beamed proudly.

She soon rolled her eyes and looked at the scar on my forehead.

Perhaps from working in the fields.

I had forgotten to cover one side of my bangs.

Thanks to that, the scar on my forehead was slightly exposed.

“Oh, it’s nothing. It’s a wound from a punitive expedition before I became an official knight.”

“Punitive expedition…?”

“Yes, it was a mission to subdue the Torr tribe living in the northern mountainous region.”

The princess’s lips parted as if she knew their name.

“I’ve heard of them. They keep coming down from the mountains and plundering the northern citizens.”

“Yes, it’s a scar from fighting their chieftain and getting hit by shrapnel.”

I told her not to worry and lowered my bangs.

However, the princess stared at the scar, which could be unsettling.

“You’ve been through quite a lot.”

“Well, because I’m a commoner. To compete with nobles, becoming academically excellent was the only way.”

I subtly mentioned memories from the past.

Lydia listened happily but suddenly looked puzzled.

“Really? If you worked so hard to excel academically, why did you refuse to guard the princess?”

‘Ah.’

Perhaps because she had always seen me as a stubborn girl.

I hadn’t imagined Lydia would dig so persistently.

I quickly turned my head.

And the words that came to mind were hastily spoken.

“That’s also thanks to my experience in the punitive expedition.”

“A lesson…?”

Lydia rested her chin on her hand, looking intrigued.

“There are hardly any individuals who threaten the aristocracy even if they enter the imperial family. Our empire’s guards are famous for their strength.”

She praised the royal family and the guards.

And at the same time…

“However, our empire has a vast territory.”

“And I saw many victims in the expedition. Children holding onto their parents’ corpses, grandmothers who lost their sons.”

“I thought the places needing a knight’s help the most are not the palace but ‘this country’ itself.”

A statement expressing a desire to work for the country.

At these words, the princess narrowed her eyes.

“When you become a government knight, you can mobilize the defense forces. Unlike the guard knights, you can directly deploy troops to troubled areas.”

With a satisfied remark, I felt a sense of relief.

Fortunately, the princess dispelled her suspicious gaze and adorned her lips with a smile.

“How amusing,” Lydia crossed her legs.

She then lowered the rising hem of her skirt with her finger and spoke, “Vale, you are definitely different from those mere imitators pretending to be knights.”

The princess soon reached out her hand and gently placed it on my forehead. “I will surely remember your words about living not for oneself but for the country.”

As the princess drew closer, her gentle gaze met mine. The white fuzz stuck to her still pristine face caught my eye.

“And when I become the very essence of this country, I will have you.”

She lowered my bangs to cover the wound, ensuring that other nobles wouldn’t see.

“Cough.”

Perhaps due to our closeness, the chief secretary coughed roughly. “Your Highness, we have arrived in the city.”

“Is that so… Let’s take a look around. Since it was your confident suggestion, the taste must be excellent, naturally,” Lydia pretended to look outside the window.

“Of course.”

The carriage gradually slowed down as it confidently traversed through the bustling Northton market, drawing all the citizens’ attention towards the splendid royal carriage.

It was evident to everyone that nobles were inside the carriage. Citizens collectively stopped their activities and craned their necks.

“It would be better for you to get off here.”

The secretary, who had been listening, firmly nodded at my words. “Are you planning to escort Her Highness into the city without the carriage?”

Of course, the carriage was protected by defensive magic, ensuring safety. However, such a flamboyant appearance tended to attract more danger by drawing attention.

“This conspicuous carriage could make us an easy target; it’s risky.”

I calmly persuaded the secretary. “Since the commoners in the north may not recognize the Third Princess well, it would be safer for them to naturally identify with her.”

Lydia prefers more stylish skirts over regular dresses. This preference would make her appear as a cute young lady sensitive to fashion trends while strolling through the market.

“Hmm…”

However, the secretary was not fully convinced yet. In a nonchalant tone, I delivered the final blow. “Moreover, beside Her Highness, there is a royal mage and a veteran secretary. Isn’t that reassuring even to those who dislike us?”

Even those who dislike us would hesitate against such flexible persuasion. Yielding to this convincing argument, the secretary reluctantly opened the carriage door.

Lydia stepped out of the carriage, swaying her skirt. Carrying her baggage, she tilted her head towards me. “And if any issues arise, our palace guards will take responsibility.”

Her casual remark sent shivers down my spine.

Leaving those words behind, the Third Princess leisurely explored the market, capturing the attention of numerous commoners, perhaps because they had never seen her up close before.

“Everything should be fine; after all, this is my territory.”

After conducting several patrols, no significant incidents had occurred. So, even though she appeared as a wealthy young lady, no one would dare to…

While lost in thought, a sound breaking the silence snapped me back to reality.

“Your Highness, are you alright?”

The secretary fussed over her, diverting everyone’s attention towards us.

I quickly turned my head to locate the source of the sound.

“Oh…”

Lydia, walking leisurely, collided with a girl coming around the corner.

However, it wasn’t just a simple collision. The girl, delivering beverages, accidentally spilled them all over Lydia’s elegant dress.

The Third Princess’s expression turned icy as she gazed down at the girl with lifeless eyes.

“I-I’m sorry… I was rushing because the delivery was late…”

The girl trembled in fear as she looked up at the princess.