episode_0020

Episode 20.

While I was in front of the mirror choosing what to wear today, an older maid asked me.

“Me, princess. Are you going to the queen’s room today as well?”

“Yes, what? How did you know?”

“The queen has a very good expression on the day she meets her. I’m glad you seem to have a good relationship with your new mother.”

My maids think so. Perhaps Carmel’s maids feel the opposite. Until now, whenever I came and went, Carmel must have been very uncomfortable.

I smiled lightly and answered.

“Hehe, sure. You don’t know how happy I am to have such a beautiful and wonderful mother.”

It really is. When I think of Carmel, my heart feels like it will explode like a ripe fruit. It could be said that this is unmistakable love.

I chose a lovely dress that suited Sarah’s beauty. And then we headed straight to Carmel’s room.

Well, it’s not just because I want to see Carmel’s face. This time, there was something I had to confirm with Carmel.

Elites of the Carcass tribe. Are they within Lustier’s territory?

“Queen, Princess Sera has come to visit.”

“Please come in.”

Carmel welcomed me into the room without any particular emotion. Somehow, the objects in the room seemed to have been replaced with ones made of stronger materials than before.

“What happened again? The princess’s daily life seems quite leisurely, unlike the queen.”

There’s no way I’m free.

It is a workload reminiscent of the days of the black company, including the various training required as the king’s successor, managing one’s appearance, understanding public sentiment, and performing some of the king’s duties on his behalf.

Of course, unlike back then, it doesn’t feel like it’s so hard that it suits my aptitude and hobbies.

The only moments when we can visit Carmel like this are when our schedules are free. It was a very special moment for me and Carmel.

“If only my mother stayed calm, I would have a little more free time, hehe.”

“Hmph, even if I tell you to be quiet… I’m not doing anything in particular right now? As you know, I thought it would be much more beneficial to obtain the grimoire than to join hands with stupid nobles.”

An incredibly calm attitude. With a leisurely movement, Carmel picked up a grape from the fruit plate on the table and brought it to her mouth.

“Is that true, Mother?”

“Okay.”

“Then what is this group of barbarians that the northern garrison captured this time?”

“Ha?”

Carmel raised her eyes as if she didn’t really know what he was talking about.

“What do I know about that? What does the northern defense have to do with me? There are degrees of catching a pod.”

“I heard that the leader of the captured barbarian group was a woman. Is your name Rika?”

The moment she heard that name, Carmel’s expression suddenly changed. With a face full of hostility and anxiety.

Rika.

That is the name of the head of the Carcass tribe brought in by Carmel in the novel. Even though the scale had been reduced, it was assumed that the leader would be the person Carmel trusted the most.

Rika was not just a subordinate to Carmel, but she was like a younger sister. It would be natural to feel embarrassed since such a name suddenly appeared.

But Carmel quickly changed her expression and spoke.

“So? What does the name of the barbarian leader have to do with me?”

Carmel was asking in a voice of boredom, as if asking when she had become agitated. Does this mean that I am no longer shaken to this degree? Quite a bit.

In that case, we need to go out stronger.

“Hehe, your eyes are shaking, mother. Actually, it was by my order that they were captured. Do you remember? I said I could read my mother’s mind. Thanks to this, I was able to capture him easily.”

Carmel’s eyes changed. From an attitude of knowing nothing to showing clear hostility.

“…you…”

“Now they are just waiting for my orders. Should they be executed immediately, or should their lives be spared? Their lives will depend on their mother’s attitude. You know what I mean, right?”

A hostage situation without hostages. It was an impromptu idea, but if done well, it could bring another humiliation to Carmel.

Carmel said, furrowing her brows.

“You want me to be humiliated again for the lives of a few barbarians?”

It’s nice that you speak quickly. My hands on the table are shaking, making the fruit plate clatter.

“Well, if you don’t like it, all you have to do is kill it. I will just follow whatever my mother chooses.”

Anguish is evident in Carmel’s eyes. Without realizing it, he was taking a defensive stance by holding the arm on the table with one hand. It was probably an unconscious move with humiliation in mind.

But soon Carmel raised her head and asked me.

“Where were they captured?”

“Hmm?”

“Answer me, Princess Sera. I’m asking where the barbarian group was captured. If everything you say is true, it won’t be difficult to answer, right?”

I answered Carmel’s counterattack with a secret smile.

“Hmm… Sigral Plains?”

“Ha… Yes, it was all a blatant lie. Do you think I would fall for such a childish trick?”

Too bad. I thought I was halfway through this childish trick.

But the intended goal has already been achieved.

Carmel’s reaction was something that could not have been seen unless Rika’s unit had already entered Lustier. If I had caught a person who didn’t exist, I would have just snorted.

They have already infiltrated the kingdom. Moreover, it appears that they are relaying their movements in detail to Carmel. I guess they reacted that way because they had never been to the Sigral Plains.

Carmel’s face looks triumphant, as if she thinks she’s completely seen my trick. It’s an expression that makes you want to eat it.

“Now it looks like you too have fallen for the trick, Princess Sera. Besides, if you really read minds, you could easily answer this question. Hehe, your origins are gradually becoming revealed?”

“Hmm, I see. I was looking forward to seeing my mother naked again today.”

“So vulgar…!”

Carmel’s face crumples at the explicit words. I said with a grin.

“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you don’t get bored soon. I will leave today.”

I got up and left Carmel’s room. The maids waiting in front of the door were relieved that there was no storm today.

* * *

“What, vacation?”

“Yes, father.”

Fehat frowned as he looked at the official document I submitted.

Actually, there is nothing wrong with going on vacation itself. I have performed my duties as a princess so faithfully that no one would object even if I took a little break.

The part where Fehat expressed his displeasure was probably not about the vacation itself but about the escort.

“Only twelve escorts for the princess’s visit? Wouldn’t it be too dangerous, Sarah? I knew something would happen…”

“What could happen in peaceful Lustier? Besides, the outside world won’t even know that I’m going on vacation. It’s hard for me to get a good rest if I’m dragging a bunch of escorts around, Your Majesty.”

“Hmm, no matter how much you say that…”

Fehat stroked his beard as if he was embarrassed. At that time, Carmel, who was listening next to me, intervened.

“I think it’s okay, Your Majesty. Isn’t this something that Princess Sera said after thinking deeply about it? The skills of the royal guard knights are extremely outstanding, so even if the number is small, there will be no gaps.”

“Queen, even you… Hmm, I understand. If so, let me give you permission. Sera, as the queen said, select knights among knights with sufficient skill and experience to form the bodyguard. Do you understand?”

“Yes, father.”

Okay, all according to plan.

Of course, the reason Carmel bothered to listen to me wasn’t for my rest.

This is a gap for me and a huge opportunity for Carmel.

The situation is such that the princess has to go far out of the palace, and at that, with only a very small number of guards. This could be said to be a golden opportunity to assassinate me using Rika’s troops.

In order to catch them, who have infiltrated deep into the kingdom without being noticed by the garrison that is tightly connected from the border, I also have to take a certain amount of risk.

Of course, in order not to fall into the trap you set yourself, it would be necessary to form a bodyguard of one hundred knights per person as the king said. I’m not too worried about that. The royal guard knights are all excellent, and besides…

At that time, a knock was heard outside the door.

“Princess, Captain Philgret has come to visit. What should I do?”

“Huh? Oh, yes, please stop by.”

Even tigers come when I tell them. No, I didn’t even say it out loud.

What business is it more than that?

Philgret entered the room and got down on one knee. And he spoke in a very serious voice.

“Princess, please be sure to select this Philgret as your bodyguard for this vacation.”

Of course, I was planning to use any means necessary to make Philgret a member of the guard.

Since he is the leader, Philgret’s skills are far ahead of other knights.

But I didn’t expect him to come and ask for it in person like this. I couldn’t help but ask why.

“Why? Lord Pilgret, you have a duty to protect this royal capital, right? Why do you want to be my vacation escort?”

Philgret’s answer was a bit unexpected, and even I didn’t expect it at all.

“Princess, I know who caused the poisoning of His Majesty the King last time.”