As the new year began, I set out for the Kolts territory when I advanced to the 4th grade.
I was worried about a lot of things, but as someone who “loves humans,” I’m also excited to see how much malice might be waiting for me.
I have a feeling this journey is going to be amazing!
How did it come to this?
Rumble, Rumble, Rumble–
” ” ” ………… ” ” “
I am currently in a carriage on my way to the Kolts territory, sitting side-by-side with three others.
First of all, I am accompanied by many attendants, as usual, since I am traveling there at the request of Duke Capel’s family and the Grand Bishop of the Kolts region.
The four retainers who always accompany me.
Also, the ten knight escorts, Bri and Sarah, who always guard me.
The maids and maid-servants from the Ducal household, led by Vio, whom my mother assigned,
As a Ducal family, there are thirty people comprising knights, soldiers, coachmen, and other helpers.
And Rick, who offered to come along, also has his own entourage –
fifteen palace maids, valets, and senior maids attending to him.
From the Holy Knights, who are the royal guard, there are only three. Seventeen knights and thirty soldiers.
Ten civil officials, attendants, coachmen, and laborers.
And the thirty-five mercenaries that my father assigned…
A total of one hundred sixty-nine people! Wow, that’s a lot!
But with Prince Rick, who is also royalty, and two people with rights to the throne, it may not be that excessive, even though my sense of scale is a bit dulled.
And that infamous, uh, baru something-or-other person turned out to be a mr bear!
Wasn’t that shocking!? Why isn’t anyone else surprised!?
Why aren’t Bri and Sarah making an “Eh?” kind of face?
That mr bear was forcibly given a title just for the purpose of being my escort, and while he had a troubled expression, he saw me apologetically and laughed heartily, “Ah, well, can’t be helped.”
As an apology, I gave him a large bag of dried seaweed, but he was crunching on it as a snack, and apparently ended up clutching his swollen belly in pain in the middle of the night.
How unfortunate!
Tragedy seems to repeat itself…
But anyway (how terrible), when I travel by carriage, I usually ride in the Ducal family’s high-speed magical carriage, with me and the retainers.
But this time, with all the people gathered, I apologized and had the retainers ride in other carriages, while Vio, who can take care of me, sits across from me.
……Rumble.
” ” ” ………… ” ” “
The silence is unbearable!
The cause is the two young men sitting on either side of me. It’s not my fault.
On my right is 12-year-old Rick, and on my left is 11-year-old Noel. Both are silent, with Rick gripping my right wrist and Noel holding my left hand.
How did this happen?!
I can’t even move!
///
scene transition
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“(Vio!)”
I plead with my eyes for help from Vio, but for some reason, she looks at the troubled me with a loving gaze and–
[It’s alright, Lady Euru. I understand the situation well.]
–keeps nodding at me affectionately, as if everything is fine.
No, that’s not it.
I want you to do something about this situation!
How did it come to this…?
It started at the face-to-face meeting in the royal castle before our departure.
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“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Prince Ludrick. I am Noel.”
When the nervous Noel properly greeted the prince for the first time, the experienced Rick smiled wryly but nodded.
“We’ll be traveling together from now on. Relax. I’ve heard the martial prowess of Baron Barnabas is said to rival even my uncle’s. Noel, since you’ve been trained by the famed Count, are you strong?”
“I’m still in training, but I’ve been honing my skills in the mercenary company’s real battles.”
“I see. Then let’s spar during the journey, shall we? We’re around the same age, so it’ll be good practice for me as well.”
“Really?! I’ve heard your swordsmanship is already equal to a knight’s. I’d be honored to request a match!”
The two laughed and shook hands.
Since they didn’t have peers of the same age to compete with, they seem to have become good friends. The camaraderie between boys has such a refreshing feel to it.
…Bri, why are you having a nosebleed? I sense some sinister thoughts. And our maids are making such a ruckus. How free-spirited you all are.
But I wonder why Noel, even though he’s close in age, ended up greeting and chatting with Prince Rick, who is royalty. It seems Mr. Bear has adopted Noel as his son!
Becoming a noble is good, but Mr. Bear was apparently still single. Since he’s older than my father, getting married again would just be troublesome with things like family status and such. But as a noble, Mr. Bear needed a successor, so he decided to make the capable Noel his son.
…The girls among my guard knights are getting to be of marriageable age too, you know?
Anyway, good job Mr. Bear. Even as an adopted son, Noel is the noble’s heir, so now I and Rick can talk to him without getting scolded.
But!
Somehow, the atmosphere changed just because “I” showed my face.
“–Lucia!”
As I peeked out to observe, Noel, with a very pleased expression, came rushing over to me.
This is probably also not a good thing, but since he’s the noble’s heir, it should be alright? At least, that’s the voice in my heart, though Noel suddenly had a startled look.
“S-Sorry, Lucia… -sama”
“Noel, it’s been a while. Have you grown taller again?”
“Lucia-sama… has become even more beautiful.”
“Ah, thank you very much.”
Noel just casually says things like that. But he still won’t let go of my hand…
The maids started fussing over Noel again, now grown into an adorably handsome young man.
Still, unlike the world of light I saw in my dream, this boy here compliments girls without shyness. I almost ended up misunderstanding.
“…Eurushia.”
There, Rick, who had been standing dazed for a moment, suddenly strode over to us and grabbed my arm. Huh? I had been restraining myself recently, so what’s wrong?
“We’re going.”
“Huh? Eh? Where?”
Still confused, Rick starts walking while gripping my right arm.
“Wait, please!”
As I’m being dragged, Noel grips my left hand and holds me back.
“Your Highness… Lucia-sama is in pain.”
Gripping my left hand tightly, Noel gives the royal Rick a stern gaze.
“Then let go of her.”
“That’s not the issue here.”
“Then what is the issue?”
Rick and Noel remain locked in a staredown.
Eh~? But they were being so friendly just a moment ago!
I won’t make the self-important mistake of thinking the two boys are fighting over me, but still, Rick is supposed to see me like a little sister, and Noel has always idolized the saint, so… Is their protective instinct just too strong?
If I were a mistaken young lady, I’d love to say something like “Don’t fight over me,” the kind of line you dream of using just once in your life. But the only ones who would be happy about that would be the maids or the guard knight girls.
Bri is crouched down, a pool of blood forming at her feet, as Sara frantically keeps chopping the back of her head, seeming to be possessed by something evil…
And that’s how we ended up in the current situation.
You see, afterwards, Mr. Bear considerately crammed the three of us into the same carriage.
No, that’s not it. He’s not considering the two boys, he should be considering me!
” ” ” ………… ” ” “
No good… I can’t say anything. I can’t even say the words “Let go of me!”
Their protective instincts must be going out of control, but… I’m too scared to ask what caused this.
I wonder when the next restroom break will be?
From the royal capital to the Kolts territory, it took several days… and the situation never improved, it stayed like this the whole time.
Still, the two of them were diligent, or you could say they kept their promise, as they apparently had some intense sparring sessions at night.
Me? Of course I was sleeping!
For my health!
And finally! Finally, we arrived at the Kolts territory!
It felt so long… the journey from the Tull territory to the royal capital was about the same length, or maybe a bit longer, but this felt multiple times as long. Despite everyone around me worrying about this trip to the Kolts territory, I’ve never anticipated an arrival so eagerly.
My stomach truly hurt…
The joy of being freed from that soul-crushing special space was tremendous, and to give you a sense of just how much…it’s something like this.
“Why, welcome, Prince Ludrick. And Lady Eurushia, welcome.”
“It’s been a while, Lord Ludrick!”
As we entered the first town of the Kolts territory, we were greeted by a noble lady in an elegant dress – the Duchess Capel and her daughter.
“Thank you for the welcome, Duchess Isabella. And Cordelia, it’s been a while.”
Ah, so the Capel Duke has a daughter as well, not just a son. The young lady, a bit older than me, gave me a strained smile as she quickly bowed her head, her gaze fixed on Rick and Noel.
Lady Isabella greeted me… and then Rick cheerfully, and then started talking about the plan.
“Today, you will be staying at our vacation home in this town, and tomorrow we will hold a dinner party at our castle.”
“Hmm. But is tomorrow too soon? I’m fine, but Eurushia–“
“No! The plan is good as it is,” I suddenly interrupted.
Everyone turned to look at me in surprise.
“Y-Eurushia?”
Probably Rick thought I should rest a day after my long journey, but I wouldn’t have it!
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