Ch.118118. The Secret Excursion of Imperial Princess Seraphina

“Now, disciple. How do I look? Is it truly convincing?”

Seraphina twirled in place, making her skirt and long hair flutter gracefully.

She was currently disguised for her covert outing.

Her once golden blonde hair had been changed to a dull brown using dyeing magic, and instead of her usual princess dress, she wore one commonly favored by ordinary civilian women.

Her face had also been subtly altered through disguise magic, and with the application of a mild perception-hindering spell, even someone who knew her would fail to recognize her as Princess Seraphina if they merely passed by her.

In contrast, Gilbert had simply removed his academy uniform without any additional disguise.

From the beginning, thanks to his somewhat thuggish appearance, once he took off his uniform, it was difficult to recognize him as Gilbert Lion Heart, who was currently rising to prominence in the Empire.

So his fierce appearance proves useful at times like this.

It was somewhat lamentable, but considering the purpose of going incognito, it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

“Your Highness. While I don’t doubt Lord Gilbert, shouldn’t I, as your knight guard, accompany you as well? My duty is to protect Your Highness’s safety.”

“Yanik. Did I not tell you? This covert outing is my time granted entirely to Gilbert. If you were to come along, would it not defeat the purpose of the reward?”

“But Your Highness.”

“I will hear no objections. And Yanik, how many times have I told you not to address me as ‘Your Highness’ while inside the academy?”

“Lady Seraphina, please reconsider.”

“Enough. I shall hear no more of this.”

Yanik sighed deeply as he looked at the stubborn Seraphina. Sighing like this before royalty would normally constitute blasphemy, but Yanik, having served as her knight guard for many years, was an exception.

Seraphina, not being one to fixate on such matters, simply ignored it.

Above all, wasn’t this the covert outing with her disciple that she had so desperately wanted?

She was willing to overlook minor issues.

“Then let us depart. I shall place my trust in my disciple alone.”

“Understood.”

Gilbert had also tried to persuade her several times along with Yanik, but realizing that their persuasion was completely ineffective, he gave up. The Seraphina he knew was not one to easily change her mind once it was made up.

Thus, Gilbert and Seraphina, with their identities concealed, boarded a carriage and headed toward a city that was a bit further from the Demeia territory, the closest to Demeia Academy. It was about half a day’s journey away, but since Seraphina had chosen that destination, he followed without complaint.

Seraphina was naturally excited by the scenery outside the window.

Even the weather was splendid, as if foretelling her bright path ahead, which further improved her mood.

Seraphina was in the best mood she had been in for quite some time.

Perhaps it was because it had been a long while since her last covert outing?

Or maybe it was because she was thoroughly pleased with her companion.

Seraphina spent her time leisurely, gazing at the passing scenery outside the carriage.

The carriage moved swiftly and arrived at the city in less than half a day as planned. There were soldiers conducting inspections, but seeing the Demeia Academy emblem on the carriage, they processed their passage with a careful attitude instead of searching it.

Upon arriving in the city, Seraphina pointed out the window.

“Disciple. Let’s go there.”

Gilbert looked at where the princess was pointing. From its flashy exterior, it appeared to be a place frequented by wealthy patrons.

Of course, money was not an issue for either of them.

One was the Empire’s princess, and the other was the eldest son of one of the three baronial families supporting the Empire.

Far from lacking money, they had it in abundance.

After getting off the carriage, Gilbert escorted the princess toward the entrance. As expected of a place catering to the wealthy, even the staff guarding the entrance were dressed in fine, elegant clothes.

“May I ask you to wait a moment?”

Gilbert and Seraphina, who were about to enter ignoring him, stopped at his intervention. Judging by the twitching eyebrow of the staff member, it seemed they wouldn’t be able to enter easily.

“This establishment is only for guests with reservations. May I have your names?”

“Do we need a reservation to enter?”

Gilbert asked instead of giving his name. He couldn’t reveal his real name while undercover.

“We strictly operate on a reservation basis, so it’s not possible.”

“I see, understood.”

Gilbert nodded, choosing not to create a disturbance.

Even though he was accompanying the princess, they were undercover, weren’t they?

It was right to withdraw quietly.

The staff member’s polite attitude also played a part in this decision.

Though they were turned away at the door, Seraphina didn’t mind at all. She merely regretted not being able to enter that restaurant.

“This was unexpected. In my haste to disguise myself, I failed to consider our apparent status.”

“At least we could confirm that they don’t intimidate ordinary civilians.”

“Indeed, a most astute observation. As expected of a city under Marquis Lucas’s influence.”

Seraphina nodded with satisfaction. It was an unusual sight for a princess, but this was the true character of Seraphina as a person.

Unbiased, fair, and righteous.

After the current Emperor, Seraphina was most suited for the throne.

They set out to find a suitable restaurant considering their disguised identities. Fortunately, they found an appropriate place not long after. It wasn’t comparable to the one they had seen earlier, but it was the cleanest among the places they had observed.

As they opened the door and entered, the smell of everyday life greeted them warmly. The sound of busy waiters taking orders and the chatter of people filled the establishment.

Gilbert and Seraphina found a relatively secluded spot and ordered food.

“Disciple, there is something I’m curious about.”

“What is it? We are close, so speak freely.”

“Do you often go on covert outings like this?”

The question was about Seraphina, who seemed accustomed to situations like the previous establishment and this bustling restaurant. Seraphina wasn’t a character whose background was extensively developed in Tactical Combat.

Even if one created contact points with the player character, only fragmentary aspects could be seen, and the developers intentionally withheld much of Seraphina’s background, so Gilbert didn’t know much about her either.

“I try to do so. I find it most pleasing to observe my subjects like this, among them. How can I understand their joys and sorrows if I don’t see their lives with my own eyes?”

Gilbert looked at her as she gazed around the restaurant with benevolent eyes, lost in thought.

He thought that she embodied what it meant to be an excellent ruler.

Depending on the route taken, Seraphina could become the Crown Princess or be purged, but when she became Crown Princess and succeeded the Emperor, the Infractus Empire would enter an unprecedented golden age.

It wasn’t that the current Emperor was incompetent. It was just that Seraphina was exceptionally capable.

While Gilbert and Seraphina were engaged in various conversations, their ordered food arrived. Though modest compared to what they ate at Demeia Academy, it was a neat meal that seemed to contain the chef’s sincerity.

Seraphina took the first bite and smiled with satisfaction.

“This is quite delicious. Were it not for our incognito status, I would have bestowed a reward upon the chef.”

“Isn’t it somewhat inferior compared to the food at the Imperial Palace?”

“What are you saying? The Imperial Palace’s food is not the only excellence. Certainly, as you say, it may fall short compared to the palace cuisine. But that doesn’t mean this food should be disparaged. This too is excellent fare.”

Gilbert felt as though he was seeing another side of Seraphina. While she was uncompromisingly cold when it came to Imperial matters, she seemed quite generous in places like this.

Well, she was human after all.

He speculated that perhaps it was this human aspect that attracted talented individuals to her, despite the saying that rulers have blue blood.

Gilbert and Seraphina began to savor their food slowly. Although they were eating commoner food, their dining etiquette was that of noble households.

“Did you hear? That ruffian Gilbert made quite an impact at the exchange meeting again.”

“Are you crazy? When was he ever a ruffian? Do you think a ruffian could become a fifth-rank knight?”

“Why are you cursing, brother? Once a ruffian, always a ruffian, right?”

“Shut up. You’ll get arrested by the guards if you keep that up.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. They say people even criticize the king behind closed doors.”

“How much have you had to drink that you’re trying to sound educated?”

As Gilbert was eating, he heard talk about himself. It seemed that no matter how far he had come, his previous reputation as a ruffian couldn’t be erased.

“It seems they’re talking about you, disciple.”

“I’m hearing some unflattering things…”

“That too is your karma, is it not?”

“I’m well aware of that.”

Seraphina, cutting a sausage and taking a bite, smiled gently at her disciple’s emotionless response. He was an amusing man, after all.

“So finish your story. What did Lord Gilbert do?”

“Lord Gilbert? Until recently, you were calling him all sorts of names.”

“Want me to split your lip? Just tell the story!”

“What a temper… Anyway, you know that the successors of the Four Seasons Combat Arts participated in the exchange meeting, right?”

“I heard about it. It caused quite a stir.”

“Then this will be quick. They say the successors had a showdown at the exchange meeting.”

“Really?”

Their voices were so clear that Gilbert and Seraphina could hear every word distinctly, likely due to their good projection.

After all, weren’t Gilbert and Seraphina skilled practitioners approaching the realm of transcendence?

It was as if they were listening right next to them.

“And get this, he completely demolished all those successors. They say he has a hobby of smashing things, and now it seems he’s moved on to targeting the successors of the Four Seasons Combat Arts.”

“Hmm… that can’t be an easy feat.”

“Well, it must be at his level. He received a knighthood while still a student. Never thought I’d feel proud because of that guy.”

“You’re right. Suddenly I’m in the mood for a drink. Two beers over here!”

The two men began to talk more enthusiastically, using the exchange meeting story as a conversation piece.

Seraphina, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, looked at Gilbert with admiration.

“You’ve become popular among the commoners as well.”

“That wasn’t my intention…”

“There’s no need to be embarrassed. It means what you’ve accomplished is remarkable.”

Seraphina giggled at Gilbert, whose face had completely stiffened.

“Oh, by the way, brother. You need to keep an eye on your niece.”

“Emily? Why bring her up suddenly?”

“Are you living with your ears closed? You don’t seem to know anything properly.”

“Stop talking nonsense and tell me! Why do I need to watch Emily?”

The man looked around cautiously and lowered his voice slightly, unlike before. It was as if he didn’t want anyone to overhear, so Gilbert and Seraphina perked up their ears.

“It seems slave traders have appeared around here.”

“Slave traders? Are those bastards involved in human trafficking?”

“According to rumors, that seems to be the case. So it would be better to keep Emily from wandering around for a while.”

Slave traders? Is it already that part?

As soon as Gilbert heard what the two men were saying, he recalled one of the main scenarios.

He thought there was still time, but it seemed something had gone awry again.

“Slave traders.”

Gilbert looked at Seraphina upon hearing her voice filled with indignation.

Her eyes were cold yet burning with intensity, as if she had just heard about despicable scum not worthy of association.