Chapter 14

I will submit the 14th episode.

"Understood, please proceed."

Somehow, it's incredible, I've really arrived at an incredible place.

It's so big and tall that you can't see the edges... a pure white castle. So this is the White Knight.

When I was in the carriage, the windows were closed, so I couldn't really understand the external situation.

I peeked out of the window that the guards couldn't see, and what I saw was this White Knight, the castle of Ishtalika.

Now, Chris is having a conversation to enter the city. I thought the royal carriage would just go in, but it's not that simple.

I could hear a bit of the conversation: "Deputy Commander Christina Varnstein of the Royal Guard. I have completed my escort duty and have returned. I will continue to enter the city." ...I see.

She's the deputy commander of the Royal Guard, quite an elite.

"Mom, Chris is quite a capable person, isn't she?"

"She was strong from a young age, but it seems she's been promoted a lot. She was such a klutz... I mean, sorry, she was clumsy, but to rise to deputy commander is amazing."

Klutz...?

Such a capable and beautiful lady...?

I don't dislike her.

Maybe she's better now, I vow to peel off her mask eventually.

"Alright, let's get off now, Ain. Have you forgotten anything?"

"Mother, I don't really have any luggage."

"Oh, that's right, I was being careless... hehe."

That makes sense, considering we came straight here without returning home after the divorce scandal in the Roundheart territory.

If I had any luggage, it would be a small wallet with my status card and documents proving my identity, but I feel like this identity is already meaningless.

"Then, Lady Olivia... I mean, Princess. Please be careful as you step down."

Princess? Ah, there must be other people around.

I've always been called Lady Olivia, so it feels a bit strange to suddenly be called Princess.

She's been guarding me since I was young, so we must be close. It seems she's being formal in official settings.

"Yes, thank you... It's been a while, it really feels like I'm back home."

"...It's amazing."

The canals are adorned with patterns, and the lawns are beautifully maintained. The main material seems to be stone.

There's soil only under the lawns.

The beautiful scenery stretches far and wide, and the size of the castle up close is so massive it makes your neck tired.

The road leading to the inner part of the castle, where I got off the carriage, was such a sight.

"Isn't it beautiful, Ain? You'll see a lot... as much as you want. So let's go to your room first."

"Y-Yes, I understand. I'll follow you."

"Princess, shall we go straight to your room?"

"Yes, it's fine. It's my home, after all. Is there a problem?"

"There isn't. However, many people will be surprised."

"I won't mind such things. Is there anything else?"

Olivia seems eager to get to her room, urging Chris more than usual.

"Yes, I apologize for the wait. However, I will continue to guard you."

"I've always said that the castle is safe, haven't I?"

"Then let me say this. I've always told you... it's too late if something happens."

"Yes, yes, I remember... Let's go together then."

"I will accompany you."

*

"Deputy Commander Chris, from where...?"

A knight asked Chris, but then noticed the woman next to her and his face changed from recognition to surprise.

"Is it a guard duty? Is there any problem?"

"N-No, there isn't, but... about the person you're guarding."

"It's me."

"Y-Yes, Lady Olivia!? When did you return...!?"

"This morning. By the way, can I ask a favor?"

"Of course, please tell me what you need."

The knight, who was standing near the castle gate, was surprised and sent a confused look to Chris, wondering what to do.

Chris quietly looked down, and the knight tried to focus on the royal family.

"I was wondering who to ask. Please call Martha and have her come to my room."

"Understood, should I do it urgently?"

"Yes, the sooner the better. Please do it for me."

The knight, who answered, went to call Martha, his steps showing a bit of urgency.

"Let's go, Ain."

"Many people will be surprised, won't they?"

"I can't help it, I came back suddenly."

The princess, who had married into another country, returned unexpectedly.

It's no wonder they were surprised.

"The people of Ishtalika know that the princess married into Heim. However, nothing more has been announced to the knights in the castle. They only know it's for the sake of Ishtalika."

"Then I'm relieved... It seems there won't be any problems."

Ain understood.

And he learned something new.

"So, Mother, the people in the castle don't know the reason you married into Heim, right?"

"That's right."

"Lord Ain. Only a handful of people in Ishtalika know the reason, perhaps as few as the fingers on one hand."

"(It was such a secret, I wonder what kind of secret agreement they made to do something like that.)"

"I'll talk to Father this evening. So I'll have to keep you waiting a bit more... Can you wait a little longer?"

"It's fine, Mother. Let's relax in the room first."

"Ain is such a good boy... Yes, I feel like I want to settle down here."

"(Settle down...? Roots...? Is it a special phrase in Ishtalika, probably meaning to stay? Haha, as much as you want, Mother.)"

Ain, who had started to run wild, suddenly thought, by the way.

"By the way, I haven't met Mother's family yet."

I thought I would see them as soon as I entered the castle, and the news should have spread by now.

I saw people who looked like maids and knights, but they all had shocked expressions.

"Yes, that's right. They must be busy with something."

"Is that so?" and she turned to Chris for an answer.

"His Majesty has no special business, so he is working as usual. Her Majesty is on an inspection in a nearby town."

"Mother isn't here?"

"Yes. However, Princess Katima, the first princess, is working in the castle like His Majesty."

"(So she's my aunt. I wonder if she'll be angry if I call her Aunt? She's probably young like Mother... Ah, I don't know Mother's age.)"

"Big sister, has she noticed yet?"

"I should have said 'work' more clearly. She's in her laboratory, so she probably hasn't noticed the outside."

"(Mother's sister, I need to greet her later.)"

By the way, what does a princess do in a laboratory?

Ain, who was thinking about this, saw Chris come up with an idea.

Then she turned to me and asked.

"By the way, Lord Ain, I apologize for being abrupt, but would you like something to eat?"

Ain, who was suddenly asked about food, was actually hungry.

"(Yes, I haven't eaten much since the water train... I'm growing, so I get hungry.)"

Olivia, who noticed Ain's concern, was in a slightly better mood.

"That's right, Ain. I was thinking of having a light meal when Martha comes, but... let's have a proper meal, shall we?"

Ain was about to answer when Olivia replied to Chris first.

"If it's not a bother, I would like to."

Ain thought, "I can't not eat the castle's food, can I?" and decided to look forward to it.

"Yes, let's do that. I'm getting hungry too. I'm glad Chris noticed."

"It's an honor, Princess. I just noticed."

But Ain was a bit shocked.

Did I look that hungry? He blushed a bit.

"N-No, Lord Ain! Please don't make such a face. You haven't eaten much for a while... I'm sorry for the misunderstanding."

"It's fine, you can make such a face. It's cute."

Yes, I'll eat a lot and grow into a fine adult, he thought, when the knight who went to call Martha came back.

"Excuse me, Princess, may I?"

"Please."

"This is from Lady Martha, first the letter."

The knight handed a small letter to Olivia.

"I am delighted by the Princess's return. It seems there are some inadequacies in welcoming the Princess, such as food and clothing. I apologize for not being able to welcome you sooner."

"Oh... Ain's already been noticed?"

"Ah, I mentioned that you have a companion, and I described his height and other details as a precaution."

"Thank you, that's a relief. I was so used to having this child around that I forgot to mention it earlier."

The knight sighed in relief.

"And Lady Martha has a message. She says the bath is ready. You can go to the bath now, and the ladies-in-waiting will bring your clothes, so there's no problem."

"Martha is really helpful. Chris? Let's go to the bath now."

"Understood. I will continue to guide you... Please hand over your luggage to the servants and have them take it to the Princess's room."

"Ha!... I'm sorry, Princess. Lady Martha also has a question for you."

Chris handed over Olivia and Ain's luggage to the knight.

In the Princess's room, male knights are not allowed to enter.

The knight will hand over the luggage to the servants, who will take it to Olivia's room.

"I want some meat."

"Understood, I will convey that. However, the question is about the person here with you."

"My son, Ain. Hello, Ain."

"Hello. I'm Ain Roundheart... Ah? Mother, should I use Roundheart? Should I not use it anymore?"

This is the first self-introduction since coming to Ishtalika, and he had a question.

"(So, I'm just Ain now. Using another family's name might be punished.)"

"!? Lady Olivia's... son...?!"

"Yes, that's right. I gave birth to him."

The knight, who should be composed, was flustered, and Ain understood why.

The flustered knight turned to Chris.

"...Lord Ain is the legitimate son of Lady Olivia. You can tell Lady Martha that... Princess, is that okay?"

"Yes, it's fine."

Olivia, who was addressed, was in a good mood.

"V-Very sorry! I will convey that immediately!"

"I thought you might have thought I was a servant from Heim."

Although it was a bit hectic, the atmosphere didn't make Ain feel like a troublemaker, and he was relieved.

"(Ah, right. The divorce hasn't been made public yet.)"

With a bit of worry, he headed to the bath, hoping he wouldn't be separated from the men's bath.

I will post [Next] after revising it.

If the work is done, I will post it by night.

Thank you for reading today.