Chapter 75

After the meal was over, the knights began to prepare for sleep.

Well, it was just a matter of taking out their sleeping bags and lining them up around the campfire.

Some managed the fire, some sharpened their blades, and some cleaned up, each working efficiently.

“So, what are you going to do now?”

“Now what?”

“It’s already night, so I’ll take you there.”

You can’t go back alone on such a dark path.

Actually, there’s the option of just staying at the winery. But since I met Aila, there’s no need to go all the way to the winery.

“I want to camp out. Let’s sleep under the stars together.”

“N-no, no, no way!”

Eidan panicked, but Aila tilted her head curiously.

“Why not?”

“Why not? Your family will worry, right?”

“I mean, I’m just a guest. I’ve already told them I’ll be out for a while.”

Aila pointed to a horse tied up a little distance away.

The saddle was loaded with luggage.

“I have a place I want to go.”

“Where?”

“Haginoru Lake.”

Eidan, who had been lounging, suddenly sat up straight.

A wave of tension washed over him.

“Did you just say Haginoru Lake? Is there something...?”

Eidan hadn’t expected to hear that name from Aila’s mouth.

There was no reason for Aila to visit the royal territory of Haginoru Lake. It was just a remote village with nothing special.

—Which means Aila must have sensed something.

Eidan looked into Aila’s glass-like eyes. What did she see with these eyes?

Haginoru Lake was quite far from here. This place was in the southeastern part of Fandrag. Haginoru Lake was to the north of Pencilnia. Even if they pushed the horse, it would take at least three days.

“Just a feeling. I think it’s better to go.”

Eidan was overwhelmed by a strong sense of unease at her words.

“Marie is there.”

Eidan couldn’t just sit around.

Just as he was about to stand up—Aila pulled on his shirt.

“It’s okay.”

“Do you know that?”

“Yes, it doesn’t feel urgent. We could even go in the spring.”

Can I trust her? Eidan was hesitant.

But the idea that it was better to go there came from Aila herself. He had no choice but to rely on Aila’s intuition.

“...”

Eidan hesitated and decided to stay seated for now.

“I don’t know what’s there at the lake.”

“Yeah.”

“Should I go with you?”

“Hmm, I don’t know. I just came to see you, thinking I might meet you before going to the lake.”

Does this mean it doesn’t matter either way?

Eidan, who had known Aila for a long time, was somewhat used to it, but Aila didn’t seem to think much of this mysterious intuition. It was just a part of her.

If it were me, I would be so anxious about such a sudden intuitive revelation that I wouldn’t be able to sleep.

But Eidan had been helped many times by Aila’s mysterious ability. Not just during the kidnapping of Marie, but also when they were playing in the city.

“I haven’t been to the temple yet.”

If a commoner shows signs of magic, they should go to the temple.

While it’s rare for commoners to have high magic, those who do can get good jobs.

Most people just get measured once as a keepsake.

“Not really. My mom said it wasn’t necessary. And I don’t really care either.”

Aila intended to take over the Grape Pavilion, so magic wasn’t relevant.

Aila’s mother, probably fearing that Aila’s extraordinary ability might get her involved in something, often said, “If we can live peacefully, that’s all we need.”

If you have magic but don’t use it, there’s no need to reveal it.

If you have magic, you are obligated to be measured and attend the academy to prevent it from getting out of control or causing danger.

High magic can cause spontaneous combustion or tornadoes, but that’s only for those with extremely high levels, like Eidan.

So for commoners, magic measurement is optional, and even if they have it, there’s not much point in going to the academy.

Eidan had once thought it would be nice to go to the academy with Aila, but seeing her happily attending a regular school, he couldn’t say anything.

Eidan thought for a moment and then stood up.

“I’ll go with you. Let me talk to everyone, will you wait for me?”

“Are you all going together?”

“Yeah... it’s a large group, so I’m not sure how it will work out...”

“You can’t just slip away, can you?”

Eidan smiled wryly at Aila’s words.

“Georg. Actually, I want to change our destination.”

Georg was just spreading out a map, apparently checking the winery’s location and the return route. He must have been preparing in case Eidan decided to go to the winery.

Eidan felt a bit embarrassed, as if it was assumed from the beginning that the trip was for the winery.

“Sure. Where to?”

“Haginoru Lake.”

Georg fell silent, blinking as he stared at Eidan.

Before he could ask for confirmation, Eidan slowly repeated himself.

“Haginoru Lake.”

“—Not the winery?”

“Yes. Marie is at Haginoru Lake.”

“Right... from here, we need to cross two territories. We would need to seek permission from each lord.”

“If we all go, that’s true.”

After all, it’s a battalion of knights, about 30 in total. A sudden battalion of knights passing through would be quite a shock.

While crossing territories is usually announced in advance to avoid any misunderstandings, it’s not a pleasant feeling to have another territory’s knights passing through your own.

“We could go through the mountains without permission...”

“That’s an option.”

The mountains are outside of any territory, unclaimed land.

“However, I’m concerned about the equipment for crossing the mountains. It’s winter, after all.”

“I see.”

The mountains in the distance were snow-covered.

“—Do we need to go now? Can we return to the capital first?”

Crossing the mountains would take about the same time as going through the capital.

Georg looked troubled but didn’t ask why.

The Pencilnia knights, in fact, had sworn loyalty to Eidan. The formal ceremony would be after he came of age, but a simplified version had already been done. It was a bit early considering his age, but Rias had decided so when Eidan’s public appearances increased.

Eidan had wondered what would change, but the most significant change was probably the knights’ attitude. They had gradually shifted from being overly protective to following Eidan’s judgment.

“I actually want to go light.”

In fact, that would be much more relaxing. Just Eidan and Aila, no formalities, and they could reach the lake in three days.

“If we reduce the number of knights to a squad, we can travel without formalities.”

Eidan had been thinking of just two, but Georg’s “light” meant a squad, about five people.

“Yeah... that’s probably the most practical.”

“No, wait. The duke’s orders were for a battalion. Splitting it up...”

Eidan looked at the map. It was detailed, with roads clearly marked.

“Marie should be returning to the capital soon, right?”

“Yeah, she was supposed to be back by the 7th. No, I’m not going to see Marie. I just have some concerns.”

Unlike Marie’s group, they hadn’t set a strict schedule. Instead, they sent daily reports to the capital.

“—What about this road?”

A narrow road continued at the foot of the mountain.

“It’s not well-maintained.”

“I have good relations with the lords along the way. I’ll write a letter saying I’m changing the destination to see my sister and asking them not to worry.”

There would be no checkpoints on the rural roads. The timing of the letter reaching the lords might coincide, but they could slip through the confusion.

“...”

“I’ll also entrust a letter to those who report to the capital, saying we’re heading to Haginoru Lake. If it’s not allowed, we’ll turn back.”

Every morning, messengers from the duke’s residence and the capital exchanged reports. Pencilnia also sent messenger hawks if needed. In emergencies, they could communicate within a day.

“—Understood.”

Georg finally agreed, promising to report to Rias.

Crossing territories wouldn’t be a problem. No one in Fandrag could stop Pencilnia’s knights. If Rias approved, there was no reason to oppose it.

Georg called the squad leaders to re-plan.

“I’m glad you didn’t say you were going alone.”

“I wouldn’t do that.”

Eidan laughed at Georg’s light-hearted comment.

At the age of six, he had promised Cynthia that he would never disappear without a word again. He was determined to keep that promise.

As his education as the heir progressed, Eidan felt his body becoming heavier. He no longer thought he could go anywhere alone and light.

He could accept this because, as a child, he had been allowed to do as he pleased in a small world. He had played in the city among commoners and done many things.

So now, he thought he should act as the prince of Pencilnia should.

Marie might call him boring, but Eidan thought this was just the way it was, and he didn’t feel particularly constrained.