Chapter 70: Instruction (1)

The sunlight coming through the window reached only as far as the dining table. It was a pleasant warmth.

The light reflecting on the floor made the princess's blonde hair shimmer.

The princess looked a bit tired above the steaming teacup. It was because she had met the emperor immediately after returning.

Her teal eyes held Kallin. After the maid who had set the tea left the room, the princess spoke.

"Was what just happened alright?"

It was because of what she had said in front of the emperor. Revealing her intentions in front of others was something they hadn't discussed.

"Yes, you did well."

Kallin thought she had handled the situation well in a short time. Moreover, she had even given a hint to the first prince.

"What should we do from now on?"

The princess continued without giving time for a response.

"What kind of appearance should Yu take in your plan? I mean, in front of your father or other nobles, like when you spoke to the soldiers."

"Do as you feel."

"Is that really okay?"

"Of course. Your Highness doesn't need to be someone else. We will adapt to you. You don't even have to follow the occasional advice I give."

The princess blinked her clear eyes a few times.

"I am grateful just for walking a path that you don't like."

"I understand. It's a satisfying statement."

Kallin slightly bowed his head. The princess should remain the princess. There was no need to show a different side.

The princess lifted her teacup with a graceful gesture.

"How do you feel about it?"

Kallin waited for the rest of her words. The princess often threw out random comments and then explained them herself.

"Everything went according to your plan. Even when I think about it again, it was quite impressive. We caught Tootun too."

The death of someone evaluated as a Sword Master candidate was a great shock to everyone, including the princess.

Rushing into a horde of monsters was impressive, but it couldn't compare to Tootun's death.

"I am satisfied."

"Plain and simple."

The princess tilted her head.

"Is that how the intelligence agency usually is?"

"What do you mean...?"

"I'm saying it because you don't show any emotional changes. Even Emmit isn't that way, but I haven't seen you worry or show any signs of joy."

Is that so? Kallin recalled. He hadn't expected such a question.

Now that he thought about it, he had laughed heartily in front of Emmit, but never in front of the princess.

"I didn't worry because I had considered the possibility of predictions going wrong. As for joy... I think Your Highness is right to some extent."

"To some extent?"

"Intelligence agency agents are trained not to show their emotions easily. However, I think it's too early to celebrate since this is just the beginning."

"I see."

The princess turned her gaze to the window.

"Just the beginning. You're not wrong."

The white city, Chenarus.

The city viewed from the imperial palace was dazzlingly beautiful with its reflected light. It was a time for natural reflection.

'Fake knight.'

In fact, the princess didn't believe the possibility of a fake knight coming from Haisen.

She thought it was a statement to boost her will, as she had received orders from Haisen.

Even her support in front of the empress could be seen in a similar context.

However, if events like this mission continue, it might really become a possibility.

The praise for her being impressive was genuine.

When she had prevented her mother's poisoning, she was grateful but didn't feel a great emotional impact. It seemed plausible.

Being part of the intelligence agency, she could quickly identify suspicious glances.

However, what the fake knight did during this hunt was not a matter of luck.

She had predicted the future almost immediately after hearing the story from her father and defended the unit alone. She had even killed a Sword Master candidate.

'I wonder what you're thinking.'

The princess hadn't felt this frustrated in a long time, unable to read someone's mind.

She couldn't even understand the reason, making it even more frustrating. She couldn't ask directly either.

The princess broke free from her deep thoughts.

"I have thought about it, Yu."

"Please speak."

"Meeting like this might look strange to others. It might be fine now, but if it becomes frequent, people will start to look at us with suspicion."

Kallin agreed. Emmit had also looked at them with a strange expression earlier.

"Let's have regular sword training."

"Sword training?"

"Your performance in this hunt has been the talk of the soldiers and knights all day."

His near-miraculous movements were impressive, but his back view as he charged alone against the monsters left a deep impression on people.

The soldiers in the front lines exaggerated the story even more than what they had seen.

The knights were similar.

There were over a thousand witnesses. It was clear that the news would soon spread throughout the imperial palace.

"If you agree to train me in swordsmanship, there won't be any problems, right?"

Kallin thought there wouldn't be much difference, but he couldn't delay important conversations until training time.

However, it was better than doing nothing.

"Yes, I will do that."

Moreover, improving the princess's combat skills would be beneficial for them.

Kallin remembered that the princess in the game was quite skilled with a sword.

"Is tomorrow a rest day?"

"Yes."

"Then let's start from tomorrow. You may go now."

Kallin bowed and left. As soon as he stepped out of the room, Emmit glared at him.

His narrowed eyes were fierce.

"What did you talk about?"

"The princess praised my performance in this hunt and asked me to train her in swordsmanship."

"Swordsmanship? Well, it's about time the princess picked up a sword again."

The royal children all receive various types of training from a young age. The princess was no exception.

However, the princess had announced early on that she had no intention of taking the throne and stopped her training.

Kallin knew that Emmit had been her instructor. The middle-aged knight seemed disappointed.

Perhaps he was disappointed that he couldn't be the one to train her. Emmit, slightly lowering his head, patted Kallin's shoulder.

"Take care of the princess. She is a talented person."

"Yes, don't worry."

Kallin answered, but Emmit didn't remove his hand.

He seemed to have something to say, hesitating.

"Do you have something to say?"

"Hmm, no."

"It seems like you want to say something."

Emmit cleared his throat.

"No."

The thought of warning Kallin faded a bit when he saw his face.

He was worried that it might be premature to talk about it now. Emmit decided to observe the situation a bit more.

* * *

At night, the headline on the newspaper page illuminated by the corridor lights read:

A royal-friendly knight who reduced casualties and increased achievements.

"It's too exaggerated."

Emmit, who had been watching from the side, grumbled.

Despite the civil war between the first and second princes causing many soldiers to die, there was no mention of it.

"Your name is here too."

Right, there was an article about me below the main headline.

- Sir Kal Shurtaffen, the princess's bodyguard, charged alone with the sword bestowed by His Majesty the Emperor, rushing towards the approaching monsters...

I'm not sure if it's fortunate, but unlike the previous article, it wasn't particularly exaggerated.

"I'm the same."

Hearing my words, Emmit let out a short laugh.

"What can you do? It's hard to believe even when you see it with your own eyes. If they exaggerated, it might have raised suspicions instead."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. Keep reading. My eyes are getting blurry. I don't usually read it anyway."

Emmit, squinting, shook his head as if dizzy.

"Do you like reading newspapers?"

"Isn't it a way to see what's happening in the world? I grew up in a place where it was hard to read newspapers."

"True. They're not common. But don't they publish newspapers in Haisen?"

"Only in the capital. Not where I lived. I didn't have the money, and there weren't many newspaper companies like in the empire."

"I see."

"But after reading today's front page, I'm a bit skeptical about the articles I've read before."

Shrugging, Emmit chuckled.

"That's why I don't read them."

"You don't just dislike reading them, right?"

"That's true too."

As the conversation died down, I continued reading the newspaper. I had been away from the capital for a while, so I needed to read carefully.

Due to the limitations of the code, minor details were often omitted, but it was enough.

'They've been busy.'

Even without the princes, the nobles were actively interacting. Each had their own factions.

I felt both disappointment and relief.

'Lady Rurik is still neutral.'

The owner of a powerful duchy was maintaining her position despite the courtship from the prince factions.

She was one of the nobles I wanted to recruit. I knew the good characters in the game.

Some were already too late, but Lady Rurik was more important than them.

In the game, she mostly remained neutral but occasionally sided with the first or second prince.

Since Erendil had declared his intentions in front of the emperor, it was time for us to move.

I would talk to the princess and get her permission before planning the next steps.

'I've arrived.'

At the agreed location. Phiri was detected by the wind sense. It had been quite a while since I had been away for so long.

Since the deputy commander couldn't always be in the capital, I was glad to see someone else.

-It's been a while.

As I wrote with the wind, I could feel Phiri's lips curling up.

"Are you hurt?"

-I'm fine.

"I was surprised to hear that Tootun died. Did you do it?"

-Yes.

"I was impressed. How did you do it?"

Tootun was a good achievement, but personally, capturing a close aide of the first prince was more satisfying. He was a really annoying character in the game.

I hadn't established enough influence yet, so I wasn't getting much attention.

-It's me.

"Boasting."

-How have you been, Phiri?

There was a slight delay due to the time it took for the wind to convey the message, but communication was smooth.

"I've been fine. It's been a bit harder to get information without you. It was easier when you provided everything."

-Of course. My absence is significant.

"I felt something was missing. It was because your nagging was gone."

I tried not to laugh, looking at Emmit. I could laugh while reading the newspaper, but a conversation would follow.

-But are you still in the capital? I thought the surveillance would decrease and things would change.

"It's a serious matter. If something goes wrong, it could be a big problem. Father wants me to continue handling it."

It was fortunate. Without Phiri, it would be difficult to respond if something happened.

If the captain had done something, Phiri would be the only one to believe my words.

'Hmm. Should I tell her about the captain...?'

The empire's main force is participating in the war in the west. It's a time when demon followers are likely to take action.

Whether they act directly or prepare in advance.

The problem is that there's no basis for telling her to be careful of the captain.

It would be good to find some evidence, but it's not easy for me, who is under surveillance. I quickly made a decision.

'I'll trust Phiri.'

Even if the captain acts, Phiri has a high chance of noticing.

Doubting myself might be better.

I turned to the next page of the newspaper. The sound of the paper rustling caught Emmit's attention for a moment.

Pretending to read the newspaper, I moved the wind.

-Then I will give a detailed report.