Chapter 56

After parting with Reni, Carries left the city of Leoriga and was inside a carriage.

Three maids were riding with her, always accompanying her in her actions.

"Princess Carries, this is ready!"

After the carriage had settled, one of the maids said, presenting a jewelry box to Carries. Carries took it and gently opened the lid. Then, she put on what was inside—

"How do I look?"

"It suits you perfectly!"

"It's wonderful, Your Highness!"

"This must be the proof of your friendship with Lady Reni…!"

The contents of the jewelry box were a bracelet made from the [Bell of Detection] that Reni had given her. Reni had given it to her because she thought Carries was in danger. Reni had worn it strapped to her waist, but as a princess, Carries found it difficult to do the same. Therefore, she had it modified so she could wear it constantly. She had been introduced to a precious metal shop by Thomas, the mayor of Leoriga, and had it made in a hurry. As a princess, Carries usually dealt with more expensive stores, but to her, this bracelet was the most beautiful accessory she had ever seen. She couldn't help but smile.

"Oh… Your Highness looks so happy…"

"I'm glad, I'm so glad…"

"We will definitely meet again!"

The three maids, seeing their happy mistress, spoke with enthusiasm. Although they had parted with Reni, they had made a promise to meet again. Once they settled in the capital, they could meet Reni again.

"Reni is… amazing. A genius. …And, well, she always makes me happy."

Carries blushed and smiled. The three maids nodded in agreement.

"Your Highness, what about this?"

The three maids showed her something they had received from Reni at the start of their journey. As a princess, Carries had to be mindful of her appearance, so she couldn't carry the items in a bag.

"We will carry the healing potions and amulets. What about this?"

"I want to keep this."

Carries pointed to the [Flash Stone] and [Firework Stone]. They were small enough to fit in her palm, and she could easily hide them in her pocket. Although it wasn't ladylike to stuff her pockets, she chose to keep them herself.

"…I also want to keep this doll as much as possible. It might be difficult during official events."

She hugged the [Substitute Doll] tightly. The design was a bit unusual for a young child, and carrying it around might lead to rumors among the nobles. However, Carries had no intention of letting it go.

"I don't care what they say. It's from Reni."

She pointed to those who mocked her and those who smiled and worried about her. Carries valued the latter far more.

"Yes! If anyone says anything, we won't allow it!"

"That's right!"

"We'll make sure the healing potions and amulets are easily accessible, so just let us know."

The three maids supported Carries' decision. The carriage continued on, with a few stops along the way. The Earl of Gairal, who had left earlier, was far ahead, and they didn't meet during the breaks. The carriage headed for the next town, and before they knew it, it was evening and then night. They were supposed to stop for the night at the next resting place. With increased guards, Carries' party had no worries, and the day's journey was coming to an end. Just as Carries sighed in relief, it happened.

—Chirin, chirin

The sound of a bell.

"…!! Everyone, is everything alright!?"

"Your Highness, what's wrong?"

"There's nothing unusual…"

"The bell, the bell is ringing!"

The bell sound was heard for the first time. Only Carries, who wore the [Bell of Detection], could hear it. However, the three maids, who had heard about it from Reni, immediately took action.

"We'll inform Sir Pio right away!"

They instructed the driver to stop the carriage and told Pio, who was riding alongside, to be on high alert. Soon, the carriage stopped, and the guards surrounded it. Then, there was a knock on the carriage window. One of the maids opened the curtain, and there was Pio. The small window for communication was opened.

"Your Highness, thank you for the warning. …Please do not leave the carriage."

"Pio, what's happening?"

"…Thanks to you, we were able to prevent a surprise attack. We had time to prepare. But… there are too many of them."

"Too many…?"

"The monsters from the tea party."

"Those armored…?"

"Your Highness, please do not leave the carriage."

Pio bowed and moved away from the carriage. Through the open curtain, Carries could see—

"This is…"

—A large number of [Crawling Armors] blending into the night.

There must have been more than twenty of them.

"Your Highness, this way."

A maid quickly pulled the curtain, blocking the view. Then, they switched seats to ensure Carries was in the safest position. For a while, the sound of intense sword clashes and the voices of the guards could be heard. But then, the sounds faded away. The only sound left was the creaking of metal—

"!?"

"This is…!?"

"Your Highness!!"

Suddenly, Carries and the three maids felt a floating sensation. The carriage had been lifted and then slammed to the ground.

"Ah!"

"Kyaa…!"

"Ah!"

The three maids immediately gathered around Carries to protect her.

"Everyone…?"

The broken carriage. The scene Carries saw, barely conscious, was—

"Such…"

All the maids had fainted. Outside the carriage, the guards lay on the ground. The only ones standing were the [Crawling Armors]. Despair filled Carries' eyes.

"…Why don't they come?"

In the midst of this despair, something strange happened. The [Crawling Armors] did not enter the carriage. They approached but stopped just before the entrance, turned around, and returned to their original positions. Many [Crawling Armors] acted the same way.

"Could it be…?"

Her gaze shifted to the unconscious maids. The [Evasion Amulet (Special)] that one of the maids had held had fallen from her limp hand and was hidden by a piece of broken wood. This must have triggered the necessary action for the amulet to work, "burying" it.

"…Reni"

—Protecting her.

Even from a distance, Reni was indeed protecting Carries. Supporting her heart, which was about to break, in the midst of despair.

"Princess, where are you?"

At that moment, a familiar voice echoed.

"It's not like a princess to hide from those who have come to greet her."

"…Gairal"

In the midst of the many [Crawling Armors], a single human stood. Gairim Gairal, the lord of the Gairal territory and a count.

"If you don't come out, there's nothing I can do. …Can you see this?"

Gairal believed Carries was hiding nearby. So, he thought—

"Princess, is it alright if your important knight is hurt?"

"Pio…"

—A hostage.

One of the [Crawling Armors] near Gairal held Pio's wrist and lifted him carelessly. His beautiful red hair was dirty, and his body was battered. He seemed to have fainted, but he looked more severely injured than anyone else.

"This knight rendered three of God's messengers immobile. It's only right that he be punished."

Gairal's gaze shifted to where three [Crawling Armors] were pinned to the ground. Pio had fought valiantly… but he was overwhelmed by the numbers.

"What will you do, Princess?"

As Gairal spoke, the [Crawling Armors] pointed their swords at Pio.

"Pio…"

Pio was Carries' knight. He wouldn't want Carries to reveal herself. Reni was protecting her with the [Evasion Amulet (Special)]. The best course of action would be to ignore Gairal and stay hidden.

"…I am here."

Carries hesitated… but she couldn't abandon Pio. She took only the healing potion from the broken carriage and jumped out. Once she left the carriage, the amulet's effect was gone. Gairal's gaze immediately fixed on her. Finding Carries, Gairal smiled calmly.

"Princess, you were there all along."

"Gairal… Why are you doing this…?"

Carries had trusted Gairal. He had always helped her, even when others called her a plain princess with no power. When she consulted him about not causing trouble during the prince's coronation, he immediately invited her to his territory.

"Why? That's simple."

Gairal said calmly.

"Because you are the child of God."

There was no other reason.

"I have long suspected that you might be the child of God. But I had no proof. Attacking a princess was too risky. So, I waited for the right opportunity. I thought I would take my time once you came to the capital, but—"

His gray eyes gleamed.

"I finally have proof."

He said dreamily.

"The light I saw at the mayor's house. The power that purified the monsters. That must be the power of God. Your knight was about to be attacked, and finally, that power awakened."

"That was…"

Not me.

Carries wanted to say, but she closed her mouth. If she denied it now, what would happen? From Gairal's demeanor, he wouldn't believe her. It would be a waste of time. Furthermore—

"I brought a large number of God's messengers today, hoping to see the power again. Unfortunately, I didn't see it today."

—If the one with the power was not Carries but Reni?

The light that purified the monsters had definitely appeared. Since Gairal had witnessed it, she couldn't say nothing had happened. He didn't seem to suspect Reni now, but her response could change that.

"…I will go with you."

"Yes, a wise decision. As expected of a princess."

While answering Gairal, Carries quietly opened the lid of the healing potion she held in her chest. The healing potion Reni had given her. "Drink it, and you'll feel better," she had said. But if she drank it, Gairal would notice. He wouldn't allow Pio to recover. So, Carries decided to use another method Reni had used.

"…I will say goodbye."

"Yes, that's right. This knight was very loyal. He would want to hear your words."

His calm tone was hard to believe coming from someone who had reduced Pio to this state. Carries bit her lip and moved the healing potion to Pio. She placed his injured hands together in front of his chest and inserted the healing potion between them. Adjusting the angle, she let the contents of the open bottle slowly seep into Pio's clothes.

"Is the farewell complete?"

"Yes."

Carries stood up immediately. If she did the same as Reni, pouring the healing potion directly, Gairal would suspect something. This was the best she could do. She wasn't sure if Pio would recover, but it was better than doing nothing.

—Chirin, chirin

The bell rang. The precious item Reni had given her. The bell on her left wrist, warning her of impending danger.

"Then, please, Princess."

Gairal gestured to the carriage he had been riding in. Carries clenched her right hand and faced forward.

"Yes."

She tried to be as brave as possible. She couldn't show fear to a man like this. If she looked back now, she might notice what would happen to Pio. If that happened, Pio would be hurt again.

"I think your ability to think carefully is a virtue."

Gairal's words made Carries' heart race. But she ignored it and got into the carriage.

—Chirin, chirin

The bell continued to ring.