Chapter 77

"What are you thinking about?"

My brother, standing beside me, asked in a soft voice, his expression still gentle.

"Prince Serius!"

But as the first prince, he doesn’t forget to respond to the people’s calls. He raises his hand and smiles.

"Big brother, just following the schedule for the inspection won’t create any impact, will it?"

As the first princess, I can’t neglect my appeal to the crowd either. I decided to wave the 'black fan.' I was encouraged by that girl earlier!

"... Impact?"

"Yes."

I thought about it while checking my notes. Creating an opportunity for troublemakers to strike might also be part of my role as an excellent decoy.

To my allies, this princess, who is doing something extremely difficult, must seem like she’s asking for death! But today, during this inspection, it might be effective.

"There are two ways to think about it. One is to assume that the troublemakers know the inspection schedule. They will act according to the schedule. For example, the person who was supposed to put a hair ornament on me might be one of them. ... If so, we can provoke them. They might be forced to act outside the schedule."

"---For example, your knight?"

Hehehe. I mustn’t be provoked. I mustn’t! Phew.

I shifted my gaze slightly to look for Clifford. Seeing Clifford, who was standing guard near us today, with his deep blue eyes, calmed me down.

Calm, composed, this is important! I have a role model in Clifford!

"Please listen to the second point. This is the idea of giving the troublemakers many opportunities. If I create an opportunity where I can be easily approached, they might change their tactics."

In other words...!

"I want to do my utmost as a decoy, Big Brother."

I repeated what I said in the carriage.

Whether the troublemakers follow one pattern or the other, creating an impact is effective!

But I lean more towards the latter. I will create a hole in the tight security!

"Didn’t you say you would protect me no matter what?"

To be precise, he didn’t say it exactly like that. But when I asked in the carriage, his answer was, "Of course."!

The key phrase is "no matter what." That’s the crux of the matter.

It’s as if he’s giving me permission for my actions.

However, if I say it plainly, it might be rejected. So, I need to phrase it carefully.

"Or, will the security break down just because I change the schedule a little?"

"It won’t."

"Then, can I continue to create impacts during the inspection?"

"You..."

He muttered, sounding exasperated.

I glanced at my brother’s face. His expression remained the same as the one he showed to the crowd.

"Do you understand that this will put you in even greater danger? Even if you don’t get physically hurt, you might be exposed to unnecessary fear. At the very least, the possibility will increase dramatically."

"..."

... Ah. I realized it when he pointed it out.

At the same time, I understood that he must be very concerned about Sir’s mental well-being.

Fear... mental damage, pressure.

Even if everything turns out fine in the end, you can’t escape the fear that arises during the process. If a troublemaker appears and attacks me with a sword— even if it doesn’t reach me, they might get close enough to be terrifying.

If that happens... yeah. It would be scary.

But.

"I trust my knight."

If I’m confident that the worst won’t happen, I can endure it.

And the source of my confidence is Clifford!

I can’t see him from here, but he’s standing behind us, behind my brother.

My brother turned his head to look at me.

"... I don’t understand."

After a moment of monologue, he answered.

"Do as you please."

Yay.

"---However,"

Huh?

"I will also perform my own 'impact.' Is that alright?"

My brother’s 'impact'? But the important thing right now is that he seems to be giving his approval. I need to agree!

Not just a simple "yes," but an enthusiastic one!

"Of course. Thank you."

Thus, a new element was added to my inspection concept.

I’ll call it the "Duck Carrying Leeks" plan—Princess Kamonegi!

I’ll act as the perfect decoy!

I’ll challenge actions I would never normally do, but only during the inspection!

---Well, we’ve settled this, and it’s about time to see the results of the seeds I’ve sown.

I looked around the scene below.

"......?"

In the crowd, a small circle had formed. Something was happening there. Hue was already waiting by my side, but Guy and Erel were in the circle.

"It seems to be decided."

My brother muttered, looking at the crowd.

---Who has the winning flower?

I left the choice of which flower to use to Hue, or rather, the selection of the mobile flower vendor I saw from the carriage. It could serve as a substitute for the canceled flower festival and also create an impact, a two-for-one deal.

I only specified the color 'red.' It seemed like a simple choice, and the result was apparently a rose. Roses exist in this world, just like in my previous life. They bloom in the same season and have the same name. Some flowers, like Reishuran and Karlam, don’t exist here.

... The person holding the rose is one person, but five people approached us. Two of them are Guy and Erel.

They are leading...

"Guy, that’s mean! You could have helped me!"

"I don’t know you. You must be mistaken."

"Cold!"

Guy and the red-haired person I met at the semi-ball... uh, the name was written in the documents... right! Stein.

Guy is pretending not to know me with a very serious face, but from his casual demeanor, it seems like he knows me?

The other two are a young man and a young woman.

They are dressed in the kind of clothes commonly worn by the capital’s residents... but I know them! They are my friends!

I can tell that they are probably very troubled inside, but their cold, beautiful faces don’t show it. It’s Sissy!

My BL pen pal! ... Well, Sissy isn’t into BL!

The young man next to her is Sissy’s fiancé, Viscount Hewey!

We met at the semi-ball... but it seems they are on a date! Since they are engaged and in love, they should be as affectionate as they want, but in the viscount’s territory, they would stand out... as Sissy wrote in a previous letter! And I received a similar letter from Hewey. When I got a letter of thanks for the outcome of the incident, it included a brief update on their status.

In the capital, where they have few acquaintances, it’s easier to go on dates...!

Reflexively, I sent a jealous glance at Hewey. I wanted to go out with Sissy as friends...!

Hewey, noticing my gaze, straightened up.

"Princess Octavia"

Erel raised his hand and explained the situation.

"I report that this woman and this man both grabbed the flower in the air. However, the woman let go... hey."

Stein, who was called, spoke up.

"Please look at this!"

He held up a bright red rose with a smile. His movements were very respectful, appropriate even in front of royalty. The rose had a red ribbon tied to it. But, but...!

I knew it. Sissy must have been hesitant...

That’s why both of them were brought here. Hewey was worried about Sissy and accompanied her. Also, Hewey doesn’t usually give in, so he might have wanted to assert Sissy’s rights.

"---Erel, Guy. Is it true that this woman and man both grabbed the flower at the same time?"

"Yes!"

"... Yes!"

Erel and Guy confirmed it in turn. I was a bit concerned about the pause in Guy’s response...

"Then"

Just as I was about to speak,

"Please wait."

A third voice suddenly interrupted.

Huh? This voice...

A person dressed in the kind of clothing commonly worn by the capital’s residents, with a hooded cloak, approached.

Approaching royalty with a hood during an inspection is suspicious! Suspicious, but...

Hue was about to move, so I stopped him. Guy and Erel were also on guard, so I gestured to them to hold back. Similarly, my brother was indicating to the surrounding knights that there was no problem.

My brother must understand, right?

In the original story, the person who approaches the protagonists with a hood is Rust, but this person is clearly different.

He walked up and grabbed Stein by the collar.

"---My subordinate has been extremely rude. Please take the right to the flower, miss."

He quickly took the rose from Stein’s hand.

Sissy’s gaze wandered, as if unsure what to do.

Our eyes met, and I smiled and nodded. Sissy hesitated but smiled back and nodded slightly.

"---I will take it."

"Please accept it."

The hooded person handed the rose to Sissy with a graceful gesture.

I could sense a handsome face under the hood. Even though his face wasn’t clearly visible, the overwhelming charm...!

It didn’t seem to affect Sissy, who has Hewey, but a few of the girls near her blushed! However, the ratio of boys and men was low. I realized that homosexuality isn’t as prevalent among commoners as it is among nobles.

"I deeply apologize for the disturbance to the two princes."

The hooded person bowed. Stein beside him followed suit.

Should I say something?

I glanced at my brother. He was silent, his prince smile still in place. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking. ---No choice.

"It’s fine. Please go."

The hooded person... no, clearly Derek, turned and left with Stein.

Yes, that’s definitely Derek!

But if you didn’t know his identity, you wouldn’t think he was a high-ranking noble.

Did my brother ask him to join the inspection incognito...? Or perhaps Derek took it upon himself to provide security...? It’s possible!

I followed their backs with my eyes, trying to find an answer.

Ah! Derek punched Stein! Stein dramatically held his head!

"I picked up the flower too..."

"You should have given it up without being told! This isn’t a game!"

"Uh..."

In my imagination, they might be having a conversation like that.

I felt they were good friends, as I did in the 'Sky Room.'

---Stein, who quickly recovered, waved his hand to someone.

The person he waved to was... two acquaintances? Derek and Stein joined a third person with a hooded cloak. I could only see the back of the third person.

That’s as far as I could see.