Chapter 19

The wooden chair was hard. My bottom hurt.

Moreover, sitting on a chair placed outdoors seemed rather peculiar.

However, the moment Sophie sat down, all the tension drained from her exhausted body. She must have been more tired than she thought.

Unladylike, she leaned back a little, and found it surprisingly comfortable. Indeed, backrests were meant to be leaned on. This was Sophie's new discovery.

"You and that guy are quite a pair, aren't you?"

Looking up at the face that smiled softly, Weiss was looking at Renetta with a gentle expression. The frown between his brows was his default.

"Renetta, is it?"

"You and I can call each other by our first names. It feels unnatural otherwise. I don't like formalities."

"...I'll handle it."

Weiss folded his arms and laughed. His long hair swayed in the wind.

"At last night's ball, Renetta was quite taken care of."

"Huh?"

Taken care of.

Sophie tilted her head, wondering what he meant, and Weiss laughed again. His face was intimidating, but he was surprisingly a man who laughed often.

"My fiancée has almost no experience with the outside world, let alone a ball. She was quite hesitant about this trip. She seemed happy that you were kind to her."

For a long time, Valois Elsart Askilos had neither a fiancée nor a wife.

After all, before he was called the "Usurper King," he was known as the "Foolish Prince."

At that time, Sophiea was still a child, so she hadn't seen or heard much about him, only reading accounts of him.

The young Valois was rarely seen in the castle, often playing and trading in the lower town. He often caused fights and always had new wounds.

The reasons for Valois killing his father and taking the throne were variously told.

For the sake of the people suffering under the king's tyranny.

Because the lawless were greedy.

Because he was provoked by his father's insults.

Valois never denied any of these, always smirking.

The women who volunteered to marry a man who laughed as if blood was dripping from his mouth were either incredibly brave, eccentric, or greedy. The king, who could easily dispel greedy schemes, was somewhat famous as an unmarried king.

He was still single, apparently. Or so it seemed.

One day, the bachelor king Valois announced his engagement, causing a huge uproar from north to south. It was probably so shocking that the ground split open. Not really, but it was a big, big news. A super big news. By the end of the year, it was the most talked-about topic.

Because the person he brought was the second princess of the "Land of Mages," a witch.

The age difference, 14 years.

Additionally, the way they looked, like a kidnapper and a young girl, also became a topic.

Moreover.

"...Is it related to the fact that I've never heard of a second princess in that country?"

Indeed, no one, no one knew of the existence of the second princess, Lunatietta Diabres.

While stories of the famous first princess were as common as ants under a stone, no one knew when the second princess was born.

"Still as sharp as ever."

Weiss frowned and smiled unpleasantly.

"I don't intend to talk about her past. I won't go into details, but that's the gist of it."

The gist of it.

What does that mean? Well, it's a rather unpleasant story.

A princess no one knew existed, who had no knowledge of the outside world. Such a ridiculous story. "Huh? No way," and that would be the end of it. Saying "Actually, I'm a ghost!" would probably liven up the atmosphere more.

But Sophie didn't laugh. She couldn't.

Sophiea knew that parents don't always love their children. People who say "That's impossible" are those who have been raised properly and live in a healthy world where parents loving their children is the norm.

But, oh, what a terrifying and hateful story.

Parents can kill their children, and children can kill their parents.

Right? Otherwise, Sophie wouldn't be sitting on an uncomfortable chair talking to the king of a neighboring country, and Valois wouldn't be called the Usurper King and fight on the battlefield.

"...Renetta is very happy."

"Huh?"

Where Sophie's gaze fell, Renetta had deployed a defensive magic.

Avoiding the bird monster, Kikufitcher, a huge barrier covered people and buildings.

Then, Renetta cast a spell on Livio's greatsword. Her black hair, which glowed red each time she used magic, was beautiful.

The red light sprinkled white light on Livio's sword.

That was probably a purification spell. Livio swung the greatsword, which was now enchanted to cleanse and purify, with great force.

A gust of wind rose, and the charred feathers of the Kikufitcher flew.

The feathers, now almost ash, were blown away by the strong wind, but thanks to Renetta's defensive magic, they had no effect on the surrounding houses or people. Renetta herself watched the Kikufitcher with a calm expression. The ash that rose up disappeared as if it were transparent.

"I enjoy being with Livio. Now, I want to know and see many things, and try different foods."

As the wind settled, the Kikufitcher was pitiful. It was completely naked. A giant roasted bird appeared, its black surface now clean and fragrant.

Renetta clapped her hands expressionlessly.

"I know how happy it is to be able to think this way, and how miraculous it is to meet someone who makes me think this way."

Renetta took out a knife and stabbed the Kikufitcher.

She probably tried to disassemble it. The knife got stuck, and she looked dejected, shoulders drooping.

"I am happy too."

Sophie smiled and watched as Livio said something to Renetta, and Renetta nodded.

Then, with a hop, Livio leaped.

It was quite different from the jumps Sophie knew. How high! Higher than a two-story house. Livio jumped so high it was almost flying. As he fell, he swung his greatsword.

His sword was so fast that Sophie couldn't see it clearly.

"...If you say so, then it must be true."

Weiss laughed and said, "Still as reckless as ever."

"Who else can use such a huge sword and deliver nearly 30 slashes at that speed? The people in that family are still monsters..."

You're a monster too if you can see and count that, but Sophie couldn't say that. She watched Livio land silently.

His flowing robe was delicate.

"!"

"...Really a monster..."

Then, the Kikufitcher's meat floated in the air like diced steak.

The neatly cut meat fell to the ground, and the splattering blood and rising steam made it clear:

"U, it looks delicious...!"

Someone wiped their drool. Apparently, the meat of that monster was delicious.

"...Is it normal to eat the meat of that monster?"

"Some have toxins, but it's pretty normal for adventurers. In my country, there are even specialized shops."

The world is vast. Sophie had learned something new.

When she turned her gaze back, Renetta was inspecting the Kikufitcher, which was many times her size. She was probably looking for usable organs.

What kind of medicine could be made from it? She wanted to know, but also didn't want to know.

It was a delicious giant chicken steak now, but it was a fierce-looking giant bird just a moment ago. Moreover, it was organs. How would they process them? Thinking about it made her a bit queasy, but she was curious.

With a frown, Sophie heard a low voice say, "So."

"How did you escape?"

"Huh?"

"Did you run away?"

"Uh, well..."

Why did you know? That would be too obvious.

But how should she answer?

Sophie averted her gaze and pondered. She, who had always gracefully dodged any situation, was at a loss.

Her brain was jumping around with "Runaway? Huh, a love story?"

"Something seemed off. So, that scream was a lie?"

"Uh, well..."

Yes, she was at the ball. She had heard Sophiea's full-throated scream.

Embarrassing. Sophie was embarrassed.

It felt like she had been caught dancing naked when she thought no one was around. Not that Sophie, a lady, would do such a thing. She felt so embarrassed she wanted to bury herself in the Kikufitcher.

"That scream... was..."

The scream was real, but not a genuine one. But if it could be a lie, she would prefer it to be.

How should she answer? In front of the king's questioning, Sophie was sweating. Weiss laughed.

"Well, it's fine. You and that prince didn't match anyway. A young man like him might be better for you."

"Huh?"

Surprised, Sophie looked up, and Weiss tilted his head, "What?"

"Um, I, did I do something wrong?"

"Huh?"

Weiss, eyes wide open, and Sophie, gripping her hands on her knees, knew she wasn't suitable to be the prince's fiancée, the future queen. She had always known that.

But it was her role. She lived for that. She was too scared to say she couldn't do it.

So, the evaluations from others were always scary.

If someone ever said to her face, "You're not good enough."

Then,

Sophiea would,

"Stop it."

Sophiea raised her gaze.

Weiss, with a deep frown, glared at Sophie.

"Wrong. That kid doesn't deserve you. I think it's not a bad idea to match you with someone. If you don't have the ambition to control the country through your husband, it would be a sad story."

"...I never thought of it that way..."

"Maybe you were on a path set by that king."

How about that.

Sophie couldn't laugh at the idea because she couldn't imagine the king's thoughts.

King Leonel Fons Albeil Rozest was an enigmatic adult.

He was delighted when Sophiea talked to him with documents in hand.

While other adults laughed, "For a child," "For a girl," Leonel leaned in, "What are you talking about today?" and listened. Few people listened to Sophiea properly, so she probably didn't dislike talking to the king.

Even if it was to use her, it was fine. Because she existed for that.

To Leonel, adults and children were merely pieces in a large box of nobles.

The ruthless and terrifying man was one of the few adults who didn't mock Sophiea.

"When I became king, several countries attacked, taking advantage of our weakness, but the Rozest king never did. Honestly, if the Waurian family had joined, it would have been bad. But when I first met him, he said he dislikes war because it harms the country. It was chilling."

Weiss, who was laughing, had the face of a king.

A face that could tear people and things apart, arrange them, and move them.

"If you have the power that doesn't hurt the people or the economy, you'll go to war whenever it benefits the country. It's better to hear pretty words like 'I dislike war.'"

Weiss, who was laughing, had no words to deny.

Because she thought it was true.

The king, who prioritizes protecting the people and their lives, is not about love or kindness. Anyone close to him knows that.

Because that's how a king should be.

Because he dislikes loss.

That is the unwritten rule that moves King Leonel Fons Albeil Rozest.

"So, if you don't have such intentions, and if you say you're happy now, it's fine. It's not my place to say anything."

When Sophie said this, Weiss tilted his head.

"What do I gain by buying you?"

There is.

If the king really bought Sophiea. Even if not, she knew a lot about the royal family and the country. It wouldn't be strange to send pursuers after her. That's why Livio and Sophie ran through the night forest.

Sophiea's whereabouts would be a card to advance negotiations with this country.

Trembling, Sophiea gripped her hands and looked at Weiss.

"You said I have value."

Weiss looked down at Sophie with sharp eyes.

His deep navy eyes were unfathomable to the young Sophie. She didn't know him well enough to describe him.

If he suddenly started singing, Sophiea would only think, "Oh, that's what he's like," and maybe comment on his singing, but she wouldn't be surprised.

But no matter how handsome he was, this man was a king. A king who ruled and moved the country.

Not by emotion, but by weighing the benefits and losses for the country.

A king.

"You're right."

Now, how should she escape?