episode_0127

Episode 127

“Welcome, Princess Sera and your knights. From here on, I, Tina Laurencia, will be your escort.”

As soon as I passed the gate into Laurencia’s territory, Tina Laurencia came out to greet me.

There is a sense of malice in the way he deliberately ignores William Roberts, who is in his group. Tina’s bright smile was never directed at William.

“Okay, the carriage is ready. Please come this way.”

Tina approached me and naturally folded her arms. She was smiling brightly and was simply happy about my visit.

The troops she brought with her were not many. Even that seemed closer to a ceremonial procession rather than an actual battle. I looked at Philgret and nodded.

The carriage Tina prepared was very luxurious. The moment I was about to get on there, Tina stopped William who was trying to follow me.

“What are you trying to ride with? This carriage is just for me and the princess. Whether you walk or crawl is up to you.”

Compared to the voice he used when he clung to me, his voice was as cold as thin ice. This is what you say to someone of low rank.

William said, looking at Tina crookedly.

“Excuse me, but I am also a member of the princess’s party who was officially invited. Treating me poorly means tarnishing the princess’s face. Laurencia’s daughter education seems to be a mess.”

“What, what…! This, my wife, this lowly thing…”

“Is it vulgar? To make another mistake, although you may be the son of a duke, I officially hold the title of Baron. According to the kingdom’s hierarchy of ranks, I must be the highest, right?”

“Lord, I will kill you…! How dare you… to me, a Laurentian…!”

“Did you hear, princess? They say they’re going to kill me. As the Laurentian region is adjacent to the western border, it appears to have been tainted by the barbaric customs of the empire.”

The argument is getting heated. But to be honest, Tina’s hitting was so good that I couldn’t help but watch.

The people on Laurentia’s side did not particularly intervene and just watched the situation. Maybe Tina’s usual behavior is like this, so she feels secretly cool about it.

“Why don’t you shut up? William!”

“Please call me Baron, right? As I just said, I have an official title bestowed upon me by His Majesty the King.”

“, profit…!”

Tina seemed extremely angry, her whole body shaking and she looked at me and shouted.

“Wow, princess, please say something too! This fake noble… said these harsh words to me…!”

Harsh words… If you think about it, it’s Tina who is saying harsh words. It’s mean, it’s killing me.

However, Tina seemed to completely consider herself a victim. It seems Laurencia raised him too spoiled.

I couldn’t help but say.

“Yes? Ah, William. Please apologize.”

“Haha, sorry. Because I’m still a student, I’m a bit clumsy at pleasing the mood of a shy lady.”

“Ugh, ah…!”

Seeing William smirking once more, Tina stood up and was on the verge of fainting. William passed Tina, got into the carriage, and politely extended his hand to me.

“Let’s get on, princess.”

“Thank you.”

I held William’s hand and got into the carriage. Tina, who was staring blankly at the scene, immediately jumped into the carriage.

“Da, you…! William…! I will never forgive you…!”

“Of course.”

“Keu…!”

Even though it wasn’t a particularly sarcastic remark, Tina seemed to be annoyed by William’s every move. It’s only natural since I scratched it like that earlier.

Despite the slightest commotion, Laurencia’s coachman quietly carried out his duties. The luxurious carriage carrying me, William, and Tina slowly began to move forward.

* * *

Even though we had gone for a while, the atmosphere inside the carriage was grim. Tina was next to me, staring at William, who was sitting across from me. William didn’t seem to really care, though.

Outside the window, a wide field runs toward the back. It is the golden field of Laurentia, the most fertile land in the Lustier Kingdom.

As I was looking at it, I suddenly asked.

“Tina, are we heading to Senain Castle?”

“Yes, that’s right. Mother is waiting there, preparing a big dinner! You can look forward to it, princess!”

“Hehe, I’m really looking forward to that.”

Senain Castle is the base of Luna Laurencia.

It’s a big dinner… I hope it’s not poisoned.

Of course, even if poison was added, there would be no reason to eat it. With my magic vision and Pilgret’s sense of smell, I should be able to avoid most poisons.

In the distance, you can see a large river crossing the plain. The carriage was running toward a large bridge over the river.

It was just before entering there.

“Stop!”

It’s Pilgret’s voice. But the carriage continued to run. Philgret rode to the coachman’s side and shouted again.

“I told him to stop. Stop the carriage immediately!”

“Knight Commander? Is there a problem? To stop the carriage with the princess and the young lady riding…”

“Shut up and stop!”

Pilgret even drew his sword. The coachman must have sensed that something was unusual and gradually reduced the speed of the carriage. I approached the window and asked Philgret.

“What’s going on, Philgret? Suddenly…”

The moment Pilgret was about to say something, a loud roar hit all of our ears.

Quaaang-!

It’s an explosion. A huge explosion occurred in front and behind the bridge. Some of those who were leading were swept away by the explosion.

Dust that smells like coal is sweeping across this side of the field. It was a sight too great to understand the situation at once.

The bridge where the explosion occurred was cut off, leaving the central section isolated. If Philgret hadn’t stopped, our carriage would have been stuck in the middle.

“Princess!”

Philgret roughly opened the carriage door. All the people in the carriage were safe and without any injuries. Even though the horses pulling the carriage were rustling.

“I’m fine. Did you know it by smell?”

“Yes. There is a faint smell of gunpowder… but this won’t be the end.”

Probably so. The plan was to isolate the carriage carrying the most important person and then cook it slowly. If so, now is the time for the chef to appear.

Philgret looked around and shouted loudly.

“Everyone ready for battle!”

The knights adjusted their posture and went on guard. The Laurentian commander also prepared his subordinates in a puzzled voice.

“Tina, how did this happen?”

“I… I don’t know! Why, why is this such a scary thing…”

Tina’s expression looked genuinely embarrassed as she cried. The person I’ve seen so far, Tina Laurencia, is not someone who can hide her true feelings in a situation like this.

If they were going to attack in the first place, there was no need to send Tina to meet them. I don’t know if it’s a ploy to let down one’s guard, but…

Would they really sacrifice the people of Laurentia for that reason? So this attack wasn’t led by Laurentia? But, except for Laurentia, who could do something like this within the Laurentian territory?

Of course, if the invited princess was attacked, the Laurentian family could not avoid responsibility. Still, the fact that they carried out an attack like this shows that they had a lot of confidence.

The confidence to silence everyone involved. Either by death, or by means worse than death.

Wandering through the golden fields, armed assailants appeared on our left and right. His face and body were completely covered with yellow and black clothes.

“Do, thief?”

“No. There is no way a group of thieves could have obtained explosives like that. Moreover, there was no way he knew I would show up at this point. In the current situation, I can’t help but think it was Laurencia’s doing.”

“Oh, no, princess! Laurencia… that couldn’t have been… I didn’t know!”

As I watched Tina crying, I couldn’t stop thinking.

Fighting is the knights’ job, and the only weapons I have are thoughts and decisions.

Considering that it exploded even though the carriage stopped due to Pilgret’s restraint, it must have been a delayed explosive. However, the timing of the explosion is too accurate for that to be true. As if he knew exactly the location and speed of this carriage.

There is also a possibility that someone within the group informed this. Or, it is possible even if someone was watching from a distance.

“It’s a bow!”

At the same time as those words were said, numerous arrows flew towards the carriage and the troops surrounding it. The knights skillfully raised their shields to block, but some sacrifices occurred on the Laurentian side.

“Aaagh!”

Tina Laurencia crouched down on her seat at the sound of an arrow hitting the carriage. He was even calling his mother’s name in a tearful voice.

‘The numbers are not that large. I don’t know how much longer he’ll be hiding…’

Thinking like that, I held the horn in my arms tightly.