Chapter 10

As cherry blossoms danced in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

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"However, if the ruts in the road are deep from so many carriages passing, doesn't that mean the thunderweed has grown so much that it's hard to pass through the road?"

While gazing out the window, Regis spoke, and Alan agreed.

"Maybe. The territory here is governed by the Bertrand Viscount family. Haven't they taken any measures?"

"Perhaps the nobles don't clean up unless they pass through?"

"But it's hard for us to bring up such matters."

"You're right."

Indeed. The thunderweed needs to be cleaned, not exterminated.

While listening to their conversation, which had a subtle political undertone, I sat quietly next to Regis.

Judging that if we were to ride in the cart, we might fall off again in an emergency, the knights, including the guards, unanimously decided to let me ride in Alan's carriage.

...I feel terribly guilty for not being able to sit quietly like a well-behaved child.

Feeling dejected, I eventually became interested in the scenery outside the window.

After all, the landscape I had seen in the game's top-down view and animation backgrounds was now spread out in reality.

While it was indeed a deep forest, it wasn't exactly as beautifully depicted in the drawings. Withered vines hung down, and the ground was covered with fallen leaves.

A squirrel, perhaps, briefly appeared and ran away.

Ah, this is reality... I felt it deeply.

By the way, in this forest, if you choose the right option when you pass by in the game, Alan can receive the assistance of the Princess of Thorns.

Although Alan is not of an age to be desired by the Princess of Thorns, she, who has ties to the royal family, will assist those of royal blood.

...However, there is a requirement to bring a certain item, and you must clear a battle to obtain it.

Moreover, even if the Princess of Thorns does not join your party, the game can still be cleared. If you raise your level a bit, it should be fine.

I've heard that many people clear the game without triggering the Princess of Thorns' event, either by missing the opportunity to go to that event or by clearing the game without it.

I was absentmindedly thinking about the game when a knight next to the carriage turned around, and I casually followed his gaze.

It seemed that someone had arrived.

The carriage stopped, and Regis and the others noticed the unusual situation.

"What is it?"

Alan frowned.

"It seems someone has stopped us."

When I said this, his expression became even more severe.

"Stopped our carriage?"

Then Alan lifted the front seat of the carriage, which seemed to be hollow for storing items, and quickly found the handle and lifted the bottom board. Of course, the ground was visible beyond it.

"There might be an emergency. You and Regis should get out from there and hide in the forest."

"Come and get us later."

Regis said this casually and slipped out of the carriage like a cat.

Not knowing what was happening, but sensing an emergency, I followed suit.

After crouching on the ground, I realized that if I wasn't careful, Regis might see my drawers again.

Regis, who had crouched low under the carriage, was watching the outside and didn't even glance at me.

Relieved, I lined up next to Regis.

The space under the carriage was narrow, and we were almost crawling, but we could see the feet of the knights and horses outside, and we could hear their conversation.

"So, if you have protected the missing young lady..."

"If we had protected her, we would have sent a message home. Since we said she's not here, why do you still want to check? Are you doubting us?"

Wentworth's tone, though restrained, carried a hint of anger, which seemed to make the other person hesitate.

"No, no! I just heard that the son of the Margrave left school on the same day, and I thought you might have noticed something."

"We can't bother Lord Alan. Besides, we came to pick him up. If there was any trouble, we would have noticed."

"But you haven't thoroughly searched the school, have you? She is in a real bind. After all, she is to be the bride of the Viscount Credias, who is related to the Queen. The wedding preparations are already complete."

While being humble, the other person's words carried a clear threat.

If you make the Queen's relative uncomfortable, who knows what might happen to your territory.

"If you say that, our Evrard Margrave family is also related to the King."

Wentworth was not backing down.

That's right. Alan's family, or rather, his mother, the Margrave's wife, is the King's sister, so Alan has a claim to the throne.

While the Evrard family is of higher rank, the other party is the Queen. It would be troublesome if they started competing.

Just as I was wondering what they would do, Alan's face appeared from the carriage. The carriage door opened.

"Hey, Wentworth. What's going on? Why did you stop the carriage?"

"Yes, a subordinate of the Patricheer Earl suspects that we have taken his young lady."

"What is this? If you suspect me, you must have the courage and a good reason."

Alan's condescending tone did not make the Patricheer Earl's subordinate flinch.

"No, I'm not suspecting you. I just thought that you might have taken her without knowing, and I wanted to take a look inside the carriage..."

While listening, Regis kept tugging at my skirt.

When I looked, a knight was beckoning us from the side of the forest, which was opposite to where the Patricheer Earl's subordinate was.

We crawled out carefully and were instructed to go into the forest.

It seemed we were to hide temporarily.

The Patricheer Earl's subordinate was apparently peering into the carriage. Seeing this, Regis and I moved into the forest and hid behind some bushes.

Crouching and relieved to be hidden, I felt a static shock on my fingertips.

"!?"

Looking down at my right hand, I saw a small thunderweed plant trying to pull itself out of the ground.

I instinctively grabbed it and threw it far away as it tried to walk away.

Sorry. Being chased by thunderweed after falling from the carriage had become quite a trauma, and I wanted to get it away from me as quickly as possible.

With wide eyes, Regis watched as the thunderweed drew a beautiful parabola and fell on the other side of the carriage.

Crack, crack, crack.

The fallen thunderweed sparked angrily, and the other thunderweed plants nearby reacted.

The sudden sparks caused the horses to panic again.

Neighs overlapped, and those riding the rearing horses were anxious, causing the carriage to start moving.

"Ahhhhhh!"

A scream came from the carriage, but it wasn't Alan's, so I assumed he was safe.

The carriage, now moving at a wonderful speed, and the knights chasing it, along with the riderless horse of the Patricheer Earl's subordinate, which fled in some direction, left behind only the riderless, frightened horse and Wentworth, who had taken refuge in the forest.

Wentworth quickly rode into the forest and called out in a not-too-loud voice.

"Lord Regis, are you there?"

"I'm here, Wentworth."

Seeing Regis stand up, Wentworth said with relief.

"I'm sorry, but please move to the edge of the forest for a while. I'll leave my sword here and send someone to fetch you after calming the carriage. Please don't leave the forest until then."

"I understand. You're talking to them, and there are few of us, so if I leave, it will raise suspicion. Be careful not to be noticed by the Earl's subordinate."

"Understood."

Wentworth left the sword he had tied to his horse and quickly departed. Regis immediately picked up the sword and secured it to his belt with the metal fittings.

"Why are you staying, Regis?"

I was curious about this.

Everyone, including Alan, cares about Regis. Yet, they were leaving him without a guard.

When Regis returned to me, he smiled and answered.

"Because I'm stronger than you. It wouldn't be right to leave a girl alone, would it?"

"..."

Honestly, I don't think that's a proper answer.

After all, if I were left alone, there shouldn't be any particular problem. It's odd to treat me so carefully when I'm being hired as a commoner, not as a noble lady.

But, he did hide me just now. It might have been to avoid trouble, but it was strange that he let me out of the carriage at that time.

If I had some effect like a love potion or some rare quality, it might make sense, but I can't believe he did it for me.

Then, does Regis have a reason not to be seen by others?

I couldn't help but stare at Regis's face.

At school, I saw him follow Alan. So, he doesn't hide from children. But if he is wary of serving adults in the nobility?

The church school is not mandatory.

Some nobles attend to build connections or to find marriage partners for their children. There are co-ed classes, though only a little.

Nobles who don't need this don't send their children.

Maybe Regis...

"Ah!"

Suddenly, Regis covered my eyes with his hand, and all my thoughts vanished.

"What's wrong? If you stay in one place for too long, animals will come. Let's go?"

Reg