Chapter 8: The Summoned One
A few days after the dinner party, we boarded the carriage sent by the Duke of Capel’s family to visit their ancestral castle.
“I thought my sisters would be here to greet us, but it seems that’s not the case,”
“…I see,”
Rick replied cryptically. Hmm, did Rick know my sisters? Well, they were relatives, so it wouldn’t be unusual.
Since my sisters had some sort of incident, there must have been a lot going on.
This carriage was for traveling within the domain, so it was a regular six-person carriage, not the Duke’s high-speed one. Rick and Noel sat across from us, while the maid Vio and Cordelia sat on either side of me.
“Euru’s big sisters? They must be lovely woman,”
Cordelia said, clinging to my arm.
She was trying to protect me from her father, and had started using a nickname for me. But she was starting to remind me of Sherry – I hope she doesn’t become too eccentric. I sincerely hope Cordelia can stay pure and innocent.
“Oh, your sister must be so wonderful and adorable!”
“Oh my, I’m so looking forward to meeting them!”
As Cordelia and I exchanged smiles, Rick let out a strange sigh and frowned slightly.
“You’re awfully carefree…”
The cramped carriage was fine, but I heard that the castle we were heading to was the one Calisto had borrowed from the Capel family. Rick and Noel both seemed a bit tense.
Was it because they were worried about me? Not because I’ve been smiling so much, right?
After all, I get to meet my lovely sisters, and I’ve been thinking about how to punish Calisto. I suppose that’s why I’ve been so cheerful.
Have I been straying too far from being human lately?
Ah, but I’m still okay. (?)
After a while…
“Euru-sama, the castle is in sight,” Vio said.
“Thank you, Vio,”
I replied with a gentle, human-like smile, leaning towards Vio to look out the expensive glass window. The castle was located away from the Capel family’s capital, in a clearing in the forest, with a beautiful lake and a small castle on its shore.
It sounded like a lovely summer retreat, but since even Cordelia was visiting for the first time, it was probably quite difficult to maintain.
The lakeside was surrounded by tall reeds, and the castle was completely overgrown with weeds, giving it more of an abandoned feel than a proper castle.
If they have the money, they should do something about it.
“Lord Ludrick, and Eurushia-sama, welcome,”
greeted Duchess Isabella, accompanied by several maids, as we arrived. Behind her, Calisto, the actual host, opened his mouth like a gasping fish, but couldn’t say anything.
“Mother!”
“My, Cordelia. Were you able to talk a lot with Lord Ludrick?”
“I was with Euru-sama…”
“No, no, you must talk to Lord Ludrick without being shy,”
“Mother …… “
This mother and daughter seemed close, but was Cordelia’s behavior simply a result of brainwashing? She couldn’t even have a normal conversation if she strayed from that.
Rick sighed and stepped forward.
“I recall we’re being summoned by the Archbishop here?”
At Rick’s prompt, Isabella smiled without any guilt.
“This is our family’s castle, and we’re providing the funding. So we’ve had Calisto stand in for us.”
“I see. Do you actually know what’s going to happen?”
“Hohoho, that’s for you to find out. For now, we’ve prepared a light meal, so please come this way,”
“…Understood.”
Honestly, I get the feeling Isabella looks down on me. There seems to be some complicated feelings there…maybe I can poke at it a bit more and let it mature into something delicious.
Here we go…
Just as I was about to follow,
Calisto eagerly stepped forward to guide me.
“Ah, Eurushia-sama, this way, please! Cordelia-sama as well.”
“ …… Yes, sir. “
As I took Cordelia’s hand and started walking, Rick quickly fell into step beside me, while Noel fell back to give instructions to the mercenaries.
Everyone is so serious…
Just as I was casually observing them, something happened…
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“Princess!”
As I was led into the grand hall of the ancient castle, I heard a familiar voice echoing through the room.
Was it the grand hall? The place where social gatherings used to be held was now occupied by people who seemed like mages, preparing a large magic circle.
What could it be? It resembles a summoning circle, but there’s something different about it. From the middle of this group, a young man broke free and ran towards me.
“Oh, my beautiful princess. You have become even more lovely.”
“…It’s been a while, Sir Alfio.”
There he is, Alfio, the self-proclaimed hero of Sigress.
His gaze feels a bit creepy, and I’m a bit reluctant to call him by name, but I can’t just call someone a “hero” if the Sigress royal family doesn’t recognize them as such.
In the Holy Kingdom, the title of “hero” is as important as that of the “holy maiden,” so even Calisto calling him a hero is almost unacceptable.
As Alfio approached me, he knelt down and tried to take my hand, as if to kiss it–
“You there, do not be so familiar with the princess of this country.”
Rick grabbed Alfio’s hand to stop him, towering over the kneeling Alfio with a commanding voice.
“…And you are?”
Interrupted, Alfio looked up with an unhappy expression.
“I am Ludrick of Taliteld. Surely you must have heard of the prince of this country.”
“…Ugh.”
Alfio seemed to recognize the prince’s name, and though he grimaced with displeasure, he gave a half-hearted bow.
“My apologies. You see, I’m not a noble, nor am I from this country.”
Wow, what a rude attitude.
People who are confident in their own power, be it financial, magical, or martial, often tend to be hostile towards authority. This guy is a perfect example.
But in this case, the other party is in the wrong. Adopting such an attitude towards a member of the royal family with a claim to the throne is not just disrespectful, but the insolence of it caused one of the holy knights to place a hand on his sword hilt. However, Rick noticed this and waved him off.
“And your name?”
“…I am called the hero by the people of Sigress, Alfio.”
At Alfio’s self-proclaimed title of “hero,” not only Rick but the knights as well showed clear displeasure on their faces.
“I see. I have not heard anything about you from my aunt, the queen of the Sigress Kingdom, but no matter. You may leave now. Return to your duties.”
Wow, he really cut him down!
After all, Alfio is just a (self-proclaimed) (tentative) hero. At least in this country, you need to be blessed by the spirits or have some kind of awakening to even be considered.
“…Excuse me.”
Alfio left, his face flushed with anger, and the group of heroes who had caught up to him greeted him with worried expressions.
Among them were my elder sisters, and Ataline nee-sama was glaring at me with a terrifying expression, but when I returned her a bright smile, she looked taken aback and backed away.
Ah, geez! Ataline nee-sama is so adorable!
“…Noel.”
“Yes.”
Rick, who had been watching the scene with a stern expression, called out, and Noel, who responded, came forward and took a stance to protect me, with both Rick and Noel by my side.
What was all that about? They’re so in sync now, like true partners.
It’s much better than the stifling atmosphere from before, but they’re already so in tune with each other…
I don’t really understand men.
“Eurushia, do not so easily allow men to approach you.”
Rick suddenly said something fatherly.
“I’m sorry, Brother Ludrick. I’ll be more careful. But, how unusual of you to speak so strongly. It was like something out of a storybook prince, and it was lovely.”
Encouraged by my words, Cordelia also nodded with flushed cheeks.
As I looked up at the grown-up Rick, smiling, he averted his gaze with a frown.
“What exactly do you think of me?”
As I tried to peer into Rick’s face, which he had turned away, he lightly poked my head. His ears look a bit red?
“There’s no need to hit me.”
I puffed out my cheeks a little in dissatisfaction, and then Noel gently patted my head from behind.
“Noel?”
“Ah… Sorry.”
Was he comforting me? I turned back with a puzzled look, and Noel quickly withdrew his hand, his face bright red. Oh my, I do love being spoiled, you know?
Both Rick and Noel are cool, but also kind of cute.
But… still, they’re different from “him.”
That’s fine, but… I heard a sound behind us, like something was about to explode. I wonder if Bri has been possessed by something bad again…
“My apologies, Lord Ludrick. I’m sorry for not coming to greet you.”
Guided by Madame Isabella and Calisto, we were ushered into what seemed to be a dining room, where Duke Capel came to welcome us, apparently having made preparations to receive us.
“I’m very sorry, but since the castle is in such a state, we were unable to prepare a large enough space to accommodate everyone. Therefore, we will need to host your entourage in a separate area. Of course, we have also prepared meals for the soldiers.”
“I see. I appreciate the consideration.”
Rick replied with a slightly suspicious look on his face to the Duke of Capel’s words.
What he said wasn’t particularly strange. It’s common for escorts and soldiers to be served in a different location, as it’s not possible to host everyone together.
But still, that also means the other party trusts them.
Yet…
Why won’t the Duke of Capel make eye contact with me?
He is only speaking to Rick and doesn’t even glance in my direction. Whenever our eyes briefly meet, he instantly looks away. Doesn’t his neck hurt from turning so quickly?
We were chatting so pleasantly the last time!
“Is it… not spacious enough?”
“…No, my apologies. Since this was hastily prepared, the decor may not be complete.”
When I murmured this, the Duke, who seemed to be bothered by it as well, finally responded, wiping the sweat from his brow.
But that’s not the issue here.
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