Chapter 99

We are allies, yet he gives off an aura as if he’s about to attack, staring intensely in our direction.

Well, to be precise, he can’t actually see us...

The child at the back is tightly hugging the younger sister. From this angle, we look like complete villains. I hope they don’t come slashing at us the moment the door opens, right?

While thinking this, we reach the front of the hut. After a while, the leader of the Rymion people knocks on the door three times and mutters, "We are of Rymion..."

Then, a maid inside replies, "Glory to..."

Ah, so they had a password after all.

The door slowly opens from inside, and only the maid comes out. We stand back and wait to see what happens.

The maid glances sharply at us and demands, "You all, please step back a bit more."

A mark of anger appears on Shalune’s forehead.

Oh no!

I thought, but Captain Rand immediately calls out, "Understood. Everyone! Step back a bit."

Nice follow-up, as expected of Captain Rand. He’s considerate. Shalune, being a noble, understands this and silently complies, even with the anger mark on her forehead.

Then, she points at me and says, "You, take off your hood."

"Huh... What?"

What? Me?

Well, I guess... yeah, it does look suspicious. A 110 cm tall figure with a deep hood and a mask. It’s pretty suspicious. In this world, it’s not easy to determine if it’s a child. I understand that, but...

I need Father’s permission to take this off. I can’t just show my face to anyone.

Captain Rand also understands this and refuses, saying, "That’s not possible."

The maid then asserts, "In that case, I cannot guide you to the princess."

What am I supposed to do with that...

Even if she doesn’t guide us, I’m already staring at the princess. What should we do? Captain Rand and Lisa exchange glances.

However, Shalune’s patience unfortunately ran out.

"Hey, you! Isn’t that a bit rude?

We’ve sent soldiers to help you. What about your attitude? Where are your words of gratitude?"

In response, the maid, not to be outdone, retorts, "You’re helping us for your own country’s benefit!

Shouldn’t you find it presumptuous to expect gratitude for that?"

Ouch, that’s a sore spot.

It hurts. Indeed, we are here for our own country’s benefit. There’s nothing we can say to that.

But Shalune, unfazed, retorts, "So what?"

There it is—the strongest words.

"So what?"

This is harsh.

As expected, the maid is speechless, gasping in silence. Shalune, excited by the maid’s reaction, presses on.

"How do you plan to survive without our help?

Can you two protect the princesses on your own?

Whether we are suspicious or not is irrelevant.

Don’t you understand that?

If you don’t, then that’s why you are..."

No, Shalune! Don’t go any further!

Just as I was about to speak,

"Shalune!!"

Captain Rand shouts in a voice I’ve never heard before, stopping Shalune.

Regaining her composure, Shalune apologizes to Captain Rand, "I’m sorry."

To which Captain Rand advises, "Apologize to the people of Rymion, not to me."

"Proud people of Rymion.

I withdraw my previous statement and apologize for my rudeness," she says, bowing gracefully, far more elegantly than before.

As expected of a noble. Even her apologies are elegant.

Seeing this, Captain Rand says, "I apologize for Shalune’s rudeness. However, the hooded boy is our utmost secret.

We cannot show his face without General Orion’s permission.

But his identity is clear.

I hope for your understanding."

A humble apology.

The maid also bows and apologizes, "I apologize as well."

"But we cannot allow someone whose face we cannot see to approach the princess."

She maintains her firm stance.

However, I have something to say about that.

"Is seeing the face really that important?"

I can’t help but ask.