Chapter 67

<066. The Sisters of Treason and Revolution>

Aila Trista.

This walking bomb of treason so casually threw the bomb and disappeared.

Trista Estate. Eden.

The stronghold of the family boasting the strongest mining industry in the Roengrin Empire.

I only know this by setting.

A bit west of the imperial capital.

The Trista family rules that land, filled with deserts and mountain ranges.

Hmm. I have to go there.

From now on...

“Wolfram von Roengrin. Are you here?”

“Not here. If you’re not a guest, leave.”

“Full set of drinks and snacks. One bag of candy.”

“Please come in, guest. Do you need anything else?”

Aila Trista, my bloodline subordinate and registry mate, suddenly entered the convenience store.

But, I thought it was Eve, and it turned out to be a guest.

Eve, but a guest. Between the relationship of a honey night bloodline mate and a guest, I chose the guest.

“Once you’re done, please leave quickly.”

“Do you treat guests like that...?”

“Once you’re done, you’re not a guest anymore.”

“...Yeah?”

“Two times might make me sick. Tsk. What kind of thanks is that?”

“Wouldn’t it be better if I killed you here and now, so you wouldn’t hear it even once?”

Oh dear.

No bad deeds.

“So, is that all?”

“No, no. There’s more to say. Have you decided where to go for this field trip?”

“Why do you ask?”

“It’s about your whereabouts.”

“...?”

“You really don’t know. Hmm. Listen carefully. This potion set sale will definitely have an impact beyond Jefrin. The world will be watching your every move.”

And Eve’s explanation continued.

The subtle differences between the Trista and Siella families. The perception brought by the items I put out. The potential conflict that could arise as a result.

“So, if you haven’t decided where to go for this field trip, go to the royal palace. How about reporting to your father what Wolfram von Roengrin is doing there?”

“Hmm. You want me to report to my father.”

“Yes.”

In formal settings, we call him His Majesty, but in the family, they call him Father. Good to know.

Still, listening to Eve, it seems there will be more going on than I expected, and it will be tiring. Her suggestion to return to the royal palace might be a good one, but...

“I’ve already decided where to go for this field trip.”

“Where? At least you didn’t do something stupid, right? Right?”

“...The Eden Estate of the Trista family.”

“You idiot...!”

Oh my, look at her aiming a holy light beam at her brother.

She’s going to hit him, isn’t she?

“Hmm... Should I kill you to ensure the lasting peace of the Roengrin Empire?”

“Nonsense.”

“I know. Tsk... Anyway, Wolfram von Roengrin.”

Eve waved her hand and the window disappeared, then she glared at me.

“What?”

“Take care of yourself and come back safely. It would be a big problem if you got hurt or went missing.”

“...?”

Did she eat something wrong? Is she worried about me?

“If you die... I’ll be the first to be suspected. The suspicion that I tried to get rid of you! Do you know how much that will block my path?”

“Ah, I see.”

That makes sense.

It was a pointless worry.

“...So, come back safely.”

“Hmm. I will.”

***

The day of the field trip arrived.

Eden, where Aila Trista and Wolfram von Roengrin are heading, is located in the western part of the continent, and of course, it’s connected by a warp portal.

A characteristic of the field trip is that the warp portal cost is covered by Jefrin, so we can go without any burden.

Therefore, this field trip becomes a stage for ‘faction confirmation,’ ‘profit,’ ‘espionage,’ and ‘betrayal.’

Students don’t go for a simple ‘field trip’ but as ‘messengers’ to deliver ‘orders from their parents.’

When you want to secretly pass information to someone in the same faction, it’s more convenient to use your child who goes to Jefrin than to use a courier or a magic crystal.

So, it’s standard to expect significant political effects from this field trip...

“Ahaha, Wolfram. Aila. It’s been a while!”

“Rudica. It’s been a while.”

“Ahaha. I’m glad you included Rudica!

“...I never heard that Rudica would be in our group.”

“Oh, didn’t I say?”

“...No, you didn’t.”

“I see. Rudica will be joining us.”

“Wolfram! Please take care of her!”

Aila.

Shouldn’t you explain this beforehand?

“Does Wolfram dislike Rudica?”

“No, I don’t. But, I do have some questions. Why the west?”

“Actually, there was talk of going to the south this time.”

“Hmm. So?”

“It gets quite troublesome when you return home. The number of assassination targets increases, among other things. You’re not going to increase your workload on a field trip, are you?”

“Hmm. I see.”

I nodded in agreement.

If the field trip were to his own home, it would indeed be quite troublesome.

“Is that so? I’m glad to finally be going home after a long time! Aila is a good girl! Haha!”

“...”

Except for Aila.

“Rudica wants to rest a little and have a peaceful mind. That’s her true intention.”

“I understand. Well, I’ll take care of her. Rudica.”

“Ahaha. Okay!”

Rudica, with an unusually bright demeanor, extended her hand for a handshake.

I lightly shook her hand and soon heard a call from the other side.

“Next group. The warp portal is ready.”

“Let’s go, Wolfram. You can let go of my hand now, right?”

“...Hmm? Oh, right.”

“Ahaha. Wolfram’s hands are so big!”

Aila, looking slightly puffed up, and Rudica, smiling as if she’s in a good mood.

Me, Rudica, Aila, and Parteas.

Three people and one creature, completely unrelated to politics.

Ah, it’s going to be a truly peaceful journey.

***

After passing through the warp portal, the scenery before my eyes changed.

It’s a skill I often used in the game, but experiencing it like this feels oddly unique.

Perhaps it’s the concept of entering a floating oval light and emerging in a different place.

“...This is...”

“The eastern part of Eden. Hmm... It’s about a 20-minute walk to the mansion.”

“Hmm. I see. 20 minutes...”

It was a bit dizzying.

The west is quite hot, and walking for 20 minutes in this state might be fatal.

But, Parteas is here, and if it gets too difficult, I can ride him.

“Hmm. No. I said we’d be here soon. Ah... There they are.”

Aila smiled and looked to the distance. When Rudica and I followed her gaze, we saw a carriage approaching with a clatter.

The carriage soon stopped in front of us, and an old butler in full livery bowed and greeted Aila.

“Welcome, Miss.”

“Yes. It’s been a while, Mr. Butler.”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you, Prince Wolfram von Roengrin.”

“Hmm.”

“By the way, how should I address the person beside you? May I have an introduction?”

“This is Rudica Hotsan Shadow, who will be joining us for the field trip.”

“Hotsan Shadow... Oh. The secret of the south. The Shadow family...”

“I’m Rudica. Nice to meet you.”

“Yes, nice to meet you. Now, please get in the carriage.”

The three of us got into the carriage, and as we leaned back in our seats, it slowly moved forward.

Parteas followed at a leisurely pace, keeping up with the carriage.

“...”

“...Hmm.”

He seems to be looking at me as if to say, ‘Why don’t you let me in?’

But I pretended not to notice.

I can’t help it. If... you get in, it will be a bit cramped and you’ll smell like an unwashed dog...

So, you need to understand, okay?

“...”

“Ahem.”

***

After passing through the enormous and grand mansion, and being greeted by countless servants, the carriage entered the estate.

The overwhelming welcome and the sparkling mansion. Thanks to the 1-tier skill [Royal Bloodline], which forces me to maintain appropriate royal conduct in any situation, I managed to endure it.

But...

“It’s been a while, Prince Wolfram von Roengrin.”

“Yes, it has been a while.”

“We’re practically family, aren’t we? Let’s stop with the formal greetings.”

“Yes?”

“Haha. You can call me Father-in-law.”

“...That is... Hmm...”

“Dad!”

“Why are you doing that! Haha! Isn’t it good? Honey, look at Aila blushing. I never imagined this!”

Aila’s father’s cheerful greeting... It’s really, incredibly... stressful.

No, really.

This is no joke.

After roughly unpacking our bags and learning that the field trip would start tomorrow, we were scheduled to have dinner with the Trista family’s hosts, Aila Trista’s parents.

By the way, Rudica ran away. She insisted on wandering around this area on her own.

What a coward, choosing a quick run for her peace of mind.

But I couldn’t do that.

So, in terms of Wolfram’s relationships...

It’s about meeting his future father-in-law and mother-in-law.

... ...

I’m not even dating Aila, and yet I’m meeting her father and mother first.

This world is definitely bugged.

“Does the food not suit your taste?”

“No, it’s fine. Don’t worry.”

“Yes, yes!”

And there’s Mini Aila, Aila’s younger sister, Spica Trista, smiling and looking at me intently.

“Hmm. Prince Wolfram seems a bit awkward. You should be more relaxed.”

“Yes, I will. So, Aila, can you tell me what happened in Jefrin after Prince Wolfram stepped down as president?”

“Yes?”

“I haven’t heard any information since then. ...I’d like to hear it in more detail.”

“Yes. Hmm. I’ll tell you. First, how we made that detestable Regina Siella eat her words!”

“Oh my. Is that true?”

“Oh. So you’re talking about the eldest daughter of the Siella family?”

“...Ahaha. Haha...”

Really.

Really, it’s making me feel sick.

***

After that, Aila’s one-woman show of Wolfram’s exploits lasted about thirty minutes.

“Hmm. That’s how it happened! Truly treasonous!”

Why is she even attending the academy? She could fill an opera hall in the capital just like this.

“Truly revolutionary!”

“Right? Spica, you think so too! Truly treasonous?”

“Yes! Truly revolutionary!”

“Treason!”

“Revolution!”

... ...

Yeah. That’s the kind of kid she is.

Spica Trista.

Aila’s younger sister, who entered the academy when Keltes was in his second year.

If Aila is the lady of treason, then this one is the girl of revolution.

The sisters of treason and revolution started holding hands and giggling.

...Is this hell on earth?

“Hmm. I see. The magical suite and reform. Taking steps outward... Prince, you’ve truly started walking the path of reform for the Roengrin Empire.”

“...Hmm? Oh, hmm.”

“Hmm. I understand.”

What do you understand, really?

Father is for reform, eldest daughter is for treason, and the second daughter is for revolution.

It’s truly an impressive family.

“And that wolf resting outside... It doesn’t seem to be an ordinary wolf.”

“Ah. A direct subordinate of the fairy queen. In other words, a fairy.”

“Really? Oh. I see. So, that level of magic power... from a fairy queen who disappeared hundreds of years ago...”

“Right.”

Aila’s father, Count Glass Trista, fell into deep thought.

After that, the dinner table was filled with laughter and was truly comfortable, and I finally felt a bit more relaxed.

As the meal was about to end...

Count Glass Trista finally spoke.

“So, when do you plan to serve the meal?”

“...What?”

What?