Chapter 25

"Shinia, Shii... Would you like some tea?"

"Do your work, Father."

Titi firmly turned away the king, who regularly visited my room.

"—What! Why are you here?!"

This is my room in the palace that I've been using since long ago.

They left it as it was. I brought in Eidan's toys and bed, making it a comfortable space like my own home.

It's been a week since I moved to the palace.

Eidan seems to have adapted well and is playing with the nursemaid and Meia. Meia is also excited about her return to palace duties.

I, on the other hand, am still a bit unaccustomed. I thought to myself that my home is now the Duke of Pencillia's mansion.

Titi stood in front of the king.

"I've finished my work for today. Father, isn't there a meeting about the grain storage in the granary area soon?"

The king's face twisted at Titi's smooth words.

"Damn you. You even know my schedule down to the last detail."

"Out of necessity. Ever since you started coming here, you've been acting on your own. —The prime minister comes to me every night to tell me the next day's schedule."

The king grumbled and left the room.

Titi, the overly responsible 15-year-old.

I couldn't help but hug Titi.

"Ah, Sister...?"

"You've grown so much. Titi... I wish you could be more childlike, more playful."

Titi smiled faintly.

"Sister, it's fine. I seem to be suited to being the crown prince."

Those words stung my heart.

My brother, who was once called the crown prince like this child, used to say the opposite.

—I don't want to be the crown prince. I just want to laze around with Shinia. Don't tell Father.

He would always gently place me on his lap and read books or tell me fun stories.

He had the power of fire but wasn't particularly strong, preferring to read.

He was such a kind brother that he always stayed by Shinia's side, comforting her after Mother's death.

He also disliked the cutthroat political dealings and avoided them. When it came time to lead the army in a war with a neighboring country, he said he didn't want to go until the last moment.

In contrast, Titi doesn't seem to dislike the work of the crown prince.

He carries it out calmly, and it doesn't seem like he's forcing himself.

He might have some similarities to Father.

"—You're spacing out, Sister."

I was startled by his words.

We were drinking tea together, but I had been lost in thought.

"Don't worry, the plan is going smoothly."

"Yes..."

"If everything goes well, we might be able to prevent everything. It should be over in about a week."

Despite being at the palace where I work, Rias seems to be running around everywhere, and I haven't seen him at all for a week.

I can only feel somewhat reassured because Titi tells me these things.

"—You seem restless at home too."

"It's not like that. They've been very kind to me..."

"Sister, you like Rias, don't you?"

"Stop teasing me."

Titi, who doesn't even have a fiancé yet, said such a thing, so I answered curtly.

Time passed without incident.

Still, I couldn't help but worry and would gaze into the distance from the terrace whenever I had a moment.

The Duke of Pencillia's mansion is visible from the castle terrace.

The white roof of the mansion seemed far away.

"Mommy, home?"

"Yes, I was looking at home."

I picked up Eidan, who had come close, and looked at the mansion together.

"Can we go home?"

"Not yet. When Father finishes his work."

"When?"

"I don't know. Even I don't know."

Eidan must want to go home too.

"Mommy, look, smoke."

Eidan pointed, and black smoke was rising in that direction.

"What... No..."

It's the mansion.

Smoke is rising from the Duke of Pencillia's mansion.

My blood ran cold.

I struggled to steady my wobbling legs and called out in the corridor.

"Someone... Anyone!"

"Lady...!?"

The guards rushed over immediately.

"Smoke from the mansion... Anyone who knows the situation!?"

"—We will investigate immediately. Please, Lady, return to your room."

Meia also rushed over and supported me, who was in a panic.

"Meia, what should we do... The mansion is... on fire..."

"Lady, it might just be a fire. Let's wait for news."

The castle became a bit chaotic.

It took about an hour for someone to report the situation.

The number of guards in the room doubled.

"Lady of Pencillia, I apologize for the intrusion."

The person who entered the room after a while was a familiar face.

"You are...?"

"I am Rouban. I currently serve as an intelligence officer for Pencillia."

The one who said this and bowed deeply was Rias's former deputy, who used to shout at me.

I hadn't seen him, so he must have become an intelligence officer.

He's wearing makeup, but I'll let that slide.

"Rouban, what happened?"

"Please, help us...!"

Rouban prostrated himself on the spot.

"Huh... —What?"

"Princess... No, Lady of Pencillia. Please, help our master!!"

"—Rias!?"

"I know how shameless it is to make such a request! But, I must... I must ask for your help."

"Did something happen to Rias?"

"If it's past hatred, please, cut me down. If that will help save the minister, my life is—"

Just listen.

I couldn't help but look up to the sky.

He hasn't changed, this person.

If he came to ask for help, it means Rias can be saved if I go.

Let's go.

"Guide me."

"Lady, it's dangerous."

Meia's face turned serious.

"Tell Father and Titi."

"No, that's not possible!"

Rouban stepped forward in front of the pale Meia.

"Please rest assured. We will use a secret passage. Lady, you will be accompanied by a shadow guard."

Behind Rouban, I saw a familiar face. It was a knight of Pencillia.

"I'll leave Eidan to you."

I headed for the secret passage with Rouban.