Chapter 40

"As for those three, they are the last. All the intruders from outside have been apprehended."

A cool and handsome man bowed to me, who was sitting on a bench in the pavilion. ... Even in a bow, one's personality shows. His was sharp and straightforward.

... Why? Why was I receiving a status report from the on-site supervisor of the garden for this operation? I was even thought to have attended the quasi-ball as part of the plan...!

But thanks to this, I got a rough idea of what the plan was about.

Armed intruders from outside, and those mixed in with the guests.

There were two types of troublemakers. The ones who had infiltrated as guests beforehand cleverly misled the security, making them believe that the prepared entry route was the garden of 'Paradise in the Sky.'

First, the troublemakers from outside would arm themselves and enter. Then, they would join forces with their comrades inside. That was the enemy's plan.

But they wouldn't get to join forces. They were all taken care of in the garden.

What remained were the troublemakers who had infiltrated as guests. They would become suspicious when nothing happened and would eventually reveal something...

That's what it seemed.

The on-site supervisor—a man in his late thirties with a military air, wearing a security uniform—was waiting for me to speak.

... Hmm? This person...

"Are you the Duke of Nightfellow...?"

I asked him through the fan, and the man's face softened slightly.

"Yes, I serve His Excellency."

"Indeed, that's what I thought."

Oh! I hit the mark! Among the security gathered in the garden, there were faces I had seen a few times...? I wasn't wrong! The uniform was from the venue, but if the private soldiers of the Duke of Nightfellow were involved, it made sense.

And, it's been a while since I heard someone called 'His Excellency'... The old man is well-respected by his subordinates!

—Then, the sound of metal scraping echoed, and I looked at the source.

"... Is it from Kangina?"

"Look closely, the blade has a distinctive feature. ... This is from Tahren."

"Tahren? Only one? Is it genuine?"

The three men who were defeated by Clifford were restrained by the security who arrived one after another. They were groaning on the ground, and I had already explained the situation to this man.

Now, before moving the troublemakers, their possessions were being inspected.

"Have you forgotten you are in the presence of the Princess? Refrain from private conversations!"

The man sharply reprimanded the subordinate who was inspecting the weapons the troublemakers had.

"Yes! I apologize!"

"I apologize!"

The two young men, who had been reprimanded, stood up and saluted, then resumed their work in silence.

—Tahren here...

While watching the various hidden weapons being sorted, I thought.

The equipment showed that the enemy had done a lot of preparation. Moreover, they had weapons from Tahren?

Could it be related to the fact that 'Servants' lived there? Tahren was once known for producing high-quality weapons. But the technology declined, and while the industry still exists, 'Tahren weapons' now mainly refer to those made in the past. They have spread throughout Esphera and even to foreign countries. They are said to be different in quality, and experts would pay a lot for them.

Clifford easily defeated them, so they seemed weak, but maybe the three troublemakers were actually quite strong? They did manage to escape to the pavilion...

And, Tahren brings to mind the Tahren arc from the original story. In the midst of the suspicious events surrounding Sir Sil, Tahren's name appeared multiple times, and the stage eventually moved to Tahren.

"Your Highness, I apologize for putting you in danger due to our negligence."

My thoughts were interrupted. The man was bowing deeply.

I was startled. No, the plan was to create a security gap and deliberately let the troublemakers into the garden, so they wouldn't think the princess was in the garden!

"Please raise your head. It's not your fault. I encountered the troublemakers because I acted on my own. —I hope I didn't interfere with the plan."

That's what I'm really worried about!

"Interference... His Excellency and Lord Rendleton have instructed us to ensure that your actions are not hindered."

So, that's how it was...

I was already left out of the loop! I couldn't say that in this atmosphere...

I was inwardly sweating profusely.

The man's voice lowered.

"However, in cases where there is a high possibility of danger to your person, we are also instructed to make an exception. ... Isn't that the case, sir?"

His stern gaze was directed at Rust, who had remained a spectator when the troublemakers arrived and after they were defeated.

The man and Rust, as the on-site supervisor of the garden and one of the captors, seemed to know each other. It seemed that Rust's claim of being an informant for Lord Rendleton was true.

However, the man was on the old man's side, and Rust was on Lady Rosa's side.

"I accompanied you at your request, Your Highness. It's a difference in perspective. I judged that there would be no danger to you."

Rust, with his legs crossed and leaning back in his chair, spoke without hesitation.

"Despite being on the side that should protect you, only the knights fought. How do you explain not fighting when the enemy approached?"

The man, after looking at Clifford standing behind me, questioned Rust.

"Unarmed, I was. To blend in as a complete guest, I was defenseless. It was best to leave the fighting to the professionals with weapons."

"—Why were you unarmed? I wonder."

Rust could have carried a weapon as a precaution. He was supposed to be... an ally? —Psychologically, I resist, but Lady Rosa would have allowed it.

His amber eyes, similar to those of the young man, met mine.

"Officially, I am a guest at the quasi-ball, Your Highness. Even though I am working on this side, few know the full extent. If I were found with a weapon before anything happened, it would cause a commotion. —There are people in the world who can see through hidden weapons just by looking."

See through... Like when Clifford saw through Derek's weapon! Speaking of which, did Derek know about the plan from the old man?

"Of course, I thought I would have a weapon when the troublemakers appeared."

"... But you seemed quite calm, didn't you?"

"Because the knights were there to protect you. It was easy. However, now that the situation has occurred and the fear of discovery has passed, I feel unarmed. Duke of Nightfellow's subordinate. Could you lend me a weapon?"

The man shook his head at Rust's request.

"I cannot comply. Lord Rendleton deliberately assigned you the role of an unarmed guest. We cannot disrupt that."

"... I understand. I will stick to my role."

Rust didn't seem particularly disappointed as he stepped back. One of the security, perhaps timing it, whispered to the man. It seemed the inspection of the troublemakers' possessions was complete, and the three were being carried away like luggage.

"Your Highness."

The man, nodding to his subordinate, called out to me.

"I am heading to the hall—His Excellency's location. What will you do, Your Highness?"

Huh? The old man? I could see my eyes sparkling.

"I am..."

Of course, I want to see the old man!

—But, the plan came to mind. I toned it down.

Where should I be?

Should I go to the hall as a decoy to draw out the hidden enemies and help the old man?

Or should I stay in a safe place, considering the failure in the garden?

When in doubt, ask the people actually involved!

"I intend to act to make things easier for the Duke of Nightfellow and Lord Rendleton. As someone entrusted with this site, please tell me what you want me to do."

My hope is to help the old man! Help the old man!

"That is—Although you were put in danger, the garden is now secure. It would be most fortunate if you could stay here until the situation is resolved."

Standby... I see... But, I couldn't help but argue.

"Considering the plan, wouldn't it be correct for me to return to the hall and act as a decoy?"

"The risk of harm to you is high as the informants among the guests are cornered. Even if it is correct for the plan, it would be unwise for you to take unnecessary risks..."

It's true that the risk is high now, not when nothing had happened yet. I wanted to confirm things with my own eyes, but it couldn't be helped.

"Your advice seems better. In return—"

I decided to make a small request.

The sun had set, and the night sky was lit with the moon and stars.

The arrangement of the stars was different from what I saw on Earth, and although the names were the same, it wasn't the same moon. The moon in this world was always round.

The garden was well-lit by lanterns, and even in the darkness, visibility was not an issue. There were no traces of the battle between Clifford and the troublemakers, and the night breeze made the flowers sway, their fragrance reaching the pavilion.

It was a scene of peace. At a distance, a few of the man's subordinates stood in a line, looking rather imposing.

The situation was the same as before the troublemakers attacked.

Clifford was standing behind me to the left, and Rust was in front of me, across the table.

I decided to stay in the garden and asked the man to do something for me.

... Just in case. I wanted to be reassured that everything was fine.

The security who took on the task returned with a lackluster expression and whispered a report in my ear.

"—Please convey this to Sir Derek. Immediately."

"Yes!"

I watched the security run off, and Rust, who had been watching us with interest, met my eyes.

"Rust Burn. ... Are you involved?"

"If you are referring to the plan to capture the troublemakers, I did my best for Your Highness."

He closed his fan.

"Stop playing dumb. Before the troublemakers arrived, you mentioned someone with a different goal, didn't you?"

"I did."

"—I can't find Sir Sil."

"Did you ask the security to investigate that, Your Highness?"

"I can't move, so I asked them to confirm where Sir Sil is in the venue."

But the security couldn't find Sir Sil.

—The most irregular part of this quasi-ball is Sir Sil.

It's not because I attended or because the anti-royal troublemakers started moving.

The troublemakers with a different goal.

Is their target Sir Sil?

The vague concern became clear with Sir Sil's disappearance. There might already be such people in the venue.

Considering this, Derek would be on alert, and Sir Sil would be doing his best, but it's hard to separate my concerns.

"Did you deliberately mislead me? ... I'll ask again. Are you involved?"

If you say something suggestive like that, I'll have my suspicions too!

"Is it just Your Highness's worry? Perhaps Sir Sil, being more open after escaping the watchful eyes of Prince Serius, secluded himself somewhere, and the security couldn't find him. There have been such cases."

At a quasi-ball, after a big commotion about kidnapping, it turned out the person was actually enjoying themselves in a locked room. But.

"Sir Sil, engaging in frivolous behavior with someone other than his brother?"

I laughed through my nose.

No way!

"Even if he were tempted by someone, Sir Sil wouldn't accept it."

I confidently stated, pointing my closed fan at Rust.

"..."

Rust's amber eyes widened.

That's how Sir Sil was in the original story! And in reality, Sir Sil... Although today was the first time I had a long conversation with him without his brother, I had seen the couples up close!

"Purely out of curiosity."

"What are you curious about?"

"Do you not wish to eliminate Sir Sil Barcs? If he were to disappear quietly, it would resolve the current worries."

Rust spoke from my perspective about the Esphera royal family.

The king marries a man, and the royal siblings produce the next heir—

"... Even if I forcibly eliminated Sir Sil, nothing would fundamentally change. It would only be a temporary solution."

It's a bad way that leaves a lot of resentment. It wouldn't mean anything if only I could avoid it. What if my brother married a woman and I was dismissed, and the next generation ended up in the same situation?

"If there were a conflict, I would face Sir Sil—no, my brother—on the main stage. I don't want Sir Sil to be forced out of the picture. ... Does that answer your question?"

"Yes, I understand Your Highness's thoughts."

"Good."

We exchanged glances.

Suddenly, Rust said,

"—I don't know if you will believe me, but I am not involved."

No! I don't believe you!

Rust continued.

"I only have information on the movements of those targeting Sir Sil Barcs."

"Have you told Lord Rendleton?"

"Why should I? It has nothing to do with the plan to capture the anti-royal troublemakers."

"... You don't have an obligation to help Sir Sil, then?"

"That's the role of Prince Serius, who is in the castle, or your friend, Sir Derek Nightfellow."

"Do you have any idea where Sir Sil is?"

"I do."

Without any hesitation, Rust answered.

"Tell me. It's in your interest too."

Rust provided me with a lead.

"How about it? I was curious. Whether Your Highness would abandon Sir Barcs or not. ... Whether you brought him to the quasi-ball to eliminate him."

What...!

I was speechless.

—Scary! If I had kindly helped Sir Sil into the carriage, knowing about a separate plan to target him? What kind of cruel princess am I! False accusation, false accusation!

Is Rust's thinking not poisoned by evil?

"I didn't expect this. Princess Octavia is different from what I imagined."

"... I've heard enough. Do you intend to tell me where Sir Sil is?"

There was a pause of a few seconds. His gaze, as if observing, pierced me.

"Those targeting Sir Sil Barcs are probably the 'Servants.'"

Instead of the location, Rust revealed who was targeting Sir Sil.

"Even if the enemy is the 'Servants,' do you still want to know where Sir Sil is, Your Highness?"