episode_0010

After quite some time, Iris arrived at the backyard of a butcher shop that was so old that it could almost be called shabby.

However, it was an unusual place, with scarecrows placed in the backyard of an ordinary butcher shop and wooden weapons that seemed to be used for training.

“Isn’t this a regular butcher shop?”

“The butcher shop owner is said to have been a successful prosecutor when he was young. He said that he occasionally teaches talented people as a hobby.”

Seo Jin-hee, who thought Iris would be curious, had already finished investigating Duncan, who was running the only butcher shop in the Derr County.

“Really? You quit and still use your talent to raise people. You are a true citizen of the empire.”

“Yes, he is a person that Your Majesty would like. But unfortunately, it is said that he has no plans to return.”

“What a pity. Anyway, are you teaching someone and calling the saint for that disciple? ”

“That’s right. We haven’t confirmed yet what kind of connection there is with the saintess… But we’ll let you know as soon as we confirm it.”

Finding common ground between Duncan and the saint Estelle was more difficult than I thought.

It seemed like something was hidden, or maybe it was intentionally hidden, so there was a high probability that it wasn’t a normal camaraderie.

“I don’t think he’s a bad person, so I don’t think it was a strange relationship.”

“Same. Anyway, it seems like the saint isn’t here right now.”

Iris said as she looked at the dark, empty training grounds.

It had already been a long time since I had done it, and even the butcher shop was closed at that time, making it difficult to be in the training ground.

The fact that the traffic was slower than expected was a big reason why I couldn’t meet Estelle.

“How about staying nearby today and seeing the saint tomorrow?”

Seo Jin-hee had already searched for a hotel where Iris could stay and reserved a room.

Of course, it was a shabby place for her, the second highest ranking person in the empire, to stay, but Iris didn’t really care about such things that much.

“You still haven’t found out where it’s headed?”

“Ah, that’s it… I found it, but… ”

“Did you find it?”

“Yes, but it was confirmed that it was not nearby, but rather quite far away.”

At Seo Jin-hee’s words, Iris began to think about the Derr Viscounty.

The county of Der was truly the countryside of the countryside. If you went nearby, there were no hotels or motels, just vast fields with the occasional farmhouse.

But the saintess was heading to a place quite far away?

“Did you move to downtown?”

So the only option Iris could think of was for Estelle to head downtown.

“No. They say they are staying at a farm.”

But that turned out to be a pretty wrong answer.

Estelle was headed to Theo’s house, not downtown, but one of those rare farmhouses.

“Staying at a farm? A saint?”

When I think back to the first time I met Estelle, I don’t remember her feeling arrogant, but I remember thinking that she was quite a sophisticated person.

He didn’t have the image of a commoner who would stay at a farm or anything, but he suddenly entered the empire illegally and ended up staying at a farm.

“… Let’s go there right now.”

“It’s an ordinary farmhouse. If His Majesty were to visit at such a late hour, they would be completely unprepared and would be shocked.”

Seo Jin-hee was able to give advice as she was Iris’s long-time maid.

If it were normal, Iris would have done as she said, but visiting a farm that was not properly prepared and could not even provide hospitality at this late hour was like committing a great sin from the farmer’s perspective.

“Ah… I see. Okay, then send someone there in advance to tell them so that they can visit tomorrow.”

If it were anyone else, she might have wondered what it had to do with her, but Iris was a crown princess who cared deeply for the people of the empire.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that she cared for the people of the empire more than the emperor, so she would not do anything that could cause problems for the people of the empire.

However, due to the saint’s strange behavior, he almost made the wrong choice, but he was able to avoid it because he had a loyal subject by his side who could stop him.

“Let’s go and rest. You guys need to rest too.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. The room is already ready, so I will show you to it.”

Watching Seo Jin-hee guide them as if nothing had happened, Iris thought it was good that she had her by her side.

***

“Wow, this is really so delicious!”

She suddenly asked me to call her Estelle, and she controlled her magic so well that she didn’t have to exert herself even once on the way back. Now, she was admiring each and every one of her mother’s dishes.

“Oh my, I’m so glad it suits your taste, Saintess!”

“Hey, just call me Estelle! I’m not here as a saint!”

“Hoho, then shall we do that? Estelle, please make yourself at home.”

Although Mom was surprised to find out that her long-awaited guest was a saint, perhaps because she had the experience of dealing with people for a long time, she did as Estelle asked and made her feel comfortable.

“Sorry, Mom. I should have conveyed the message properly.”

“It’s okay, son. Why can’t you eat today? Hurry up and eat. Saintess, oh my. I can’t help but stop. Hmm, go spend some time with Estelle.”

“If it’s uncomfortable, you can just call me a saint.”

“Oh my, that can’t be right? Estelle gave me the best advice to make it comfortable?”

Anyway, I told you that you should know about our mother’s wit.

I feel like I’ll get hit if I say anything, so I just think about it and then eat.

Well, my mom’s cooking skills were already good, but somehow it feels like she’s getting better day by day.

Every time I come back from training like this, I can eat the food my mom prepared for me, wash up, and sleep in a slightly worn but cozy bed.

Hehe~ Yes, this is the happiness I was hoping for, that’s what I’m saying!

“Mr. Theo, these eggplant fritters are really good! I think I understand why Mr. Theo praised them so much!”

Looking at Estelle, who looks like she’s going to eat all the eggplant tempura by herself with her eyes sparkling, I sometimes find it a little cute.

With such a pretty face and such a cute appearance, I honestly don’t think there’s anyone who wouldn’t be captivated by it.

No matter how many people say that Estelle’s magic tricks are useless, I think I understand why men and women alike are smitten by her magic skill.

“I have it? It’s definitely eggplant. How can it be this delicious?”

I burst out laughing at his behavior of looking through the branches as if he were trying to find some hidden secret.

“It’s food, so what do you see when you look at it like that?”

“Hmm, I see eggplant. Eggplant inside the batter.”

At that time, I felt that her character, who sometimes behaved strangely, felt like a real person, and I found it both fascinating and cute.

dripping-

“Are you there?”

A sudden visitor appears on this deserted country road late at night… ? Is this some kind of crazy event… ?

No, no. But we still have the saint Estelle on our side.

Besides, this guy’s ability to use magical power seems to be top-notch.

Also, since he really liked our mom’s cooking, there’s a high chance that he’ll step in and save us if we try to hurt him.

“Who are you?”

So, if you believe those things and respond accordingly.

“Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess has sent you. Could you please open the door for a moment?”

Hearing the name ‘Princess’, which he thought he would only see at the academy, he made a bewildered expression.

“Oh, yes, okay. Just a moment.”

If you peek through the hole in the door, you can see three very ordinary men standing there.

Of course, it’s possible that the killers and inspectors are just pretending to be normal, but they don’t seem threatening at all, so I open the door anyway.

“I apologize for visiting you so late at night. I have come to you with an urgent message from Her Highness the Crown Princess.”

What urgent message would the Crown Princess have to convey to a rural farmhouse like this?

Oh, did you happen to notice the saint’s entrance?

Well, it didn’t seem like that guy went through the normal immigration process.

“The Holy Lady knows that you are here, so Her Highness the Crown Princess is currently staying at a hotel in the center of the Deir County for a meeting. She is scheduled to come here tomorrow, so please refrain from going out.”

The second highest ranking person in the empire has arrived, um.

If you want to be picky, you have to be picky. Yeah, I was going to meet the Crown Princess someday anyway.

Rather, it turned out well. I nod my head, thinking that this would be a pretty good way to see how the two of them are getting along.

“Yes, I understand. I will tell the saint.”

“Thank you. That’s all for now.”

The men slowly disappeared into the darkness of the road, as if they had only come to convey a message.

“Estelle, I heard Her Highness the Crown Princess is coming tomorrow?”

I went straight into the house and told Estelle what I had heard.

“Oh. Looks like you got caught entering the country illegally. I wonder if Her Highness the Crown Princess will be in trouble?”