Chapter 4

Having deceived the pure grape maiden, I got into the carriage and headed for the town of Gerk.

By evening, we arrived at Gerk, and I got off in front of the inn.

"Thank you very much. Please return to the capital. But, please keep this matter strictly confidential."

Maria said this and shook the driver's hand.

"I understand. Well, I'll be on my way."

The driver climbed onto the back of the carriage and guided the horses away.

"Even such a pure country girl has started using bribes."

Reisha, who had been watching Maria and the driver, nodded in admiration.

Maria had shaken the driver's hand to slip him a gold coin.

"The countryside is even more corrupt. Otherwise, someone like me couldn't attend the capital's noble school."

Come to think of it, it's strange for a baron's daughter to be at the prestigious capital's noble school.

"Everywhere is corrupt."

"That's how it is. Even the wine I distributed to everyone was a bribe."

So that was her intention...

But, indeed, it might have helped her fit in.

Maria, nicknamed the grape maiden, was laughed at but well-liked, and she wasn't discriminated against based on her status or position.

"You've had a tough time."

"Not at all. Thanks to that, I was able to enter the church. Although I couldn't marry into a good family."

Well, Baron Flandre probably wanted her to marry well and sent her to the capital's noble school.

"That's one way to live. As for me... but I shouldn't complain in front of my husband."

I've already said everything.

"Anyway, you must be tired. Please come inside. It might be modest for you two, but it's said to be the best inn in town."

Maria, sensing the uneasy atmosphere, invited us into the inn.

We followed her suggestion and entered the inn.

After Maria checked us in, we were led to our room and went inside.

"Please don't go out. I'll be sleeping in the next room, so if anything happens, feel free to wake me."

She really is a good girl.

"I'm sorry."

"Not at all. You can have your meals in the room, so I'll bring them later. I'm going to the airport to buy tickets."

"Maria, I'm sorry, but..."

Reisha looked at Maria hesitantly.

"I understand! Leave it to me! I'll buy tickets for all of you!"

She really is a convenient... good girl.

"Thank you."

"Thanks."

"Sure thing!"

Maria replied cheerfully and left the room.

"Well, things have gone smoothly so far."

After Maria left, Reisha smiled darkly.

"Yeah."

"What do we do now? If we continue like this, we'll end up in the Holy Kingdom."

"That would be bad. If we're not careful, our information might get out, and we could be forcibly returned."

The church has a presence in countries around the world, so our arson and escape could easily be discovered.

"Then, let's hijack the airship as planned. Once we're on board, we'll take control and go somewhere else."

"Sounds good."

I'm glad Maria is here to help.

"But, it's not fair to Maria... She was supposed to have a bright future in the Holy Kingdom."

Apparently, even Reisha feels some guilt towards her friend.

"It's not that bad."

"Huh? Why? Isn't she an elite?"

Reisha looked surprised.

"This is something I heard from my late mother. There are two types of training for the Holy Kingdom."

My mother's family is close to the Holy Kingdom, so information is easier to come by.

"Two types?"

"One is the true elite, meaning a candidate for a high-ranking position. The other is disposable."

"Disposable?"

"Exactly. They are used and worked to the bone."

When it comes to training, people are happy to work hard.

Especially those with dreams...

"Really?"

"Apparently. The rest... well, you don't need to know."

It's not something to tell a woman.

"I get it."

Well, they're just young monks.

"What do you think about the daughter of a poor baron from a distant country?"

"A disposable slave."

Not exactly a slave, but something similar.

"Didn't you find it strange?"

"I only realized after you told me. It's odd that Maria, who was supposed to have a bright future, only had one driver as a guard."

True, there are fewer bandits and monsters around the capital, but it's not impossible for them to appear.

Yet, she only had one guard, and a man at that.

Usually, a noble lady would have female guards.

"That's not right."

Clearly, the church doesn't value Maria.

"Yeah... Why didn't you tell her?"

"I couldn't."

"That's true... Her bright eyes were scary."

Innocent children are scary.

"Maria is a noble, even if she's the daughter of a poor baron. I can't just hand her over to the church as trash."

If it were a real promotion, I would have been happy to send her and bless her.

But not as a slave.

"Then, should we take Maria with us?"

"That's what we'll do... Once we reach Walter, we can ask my uncle for help."

If she wants to return to her country, we can let her. If she wishes, she can serve in Walter.

With her healing magic skills, she can do anything.

"Got it. It's not fair to Maria, but I'll ask her to come along."

"Right, but let's focus on the hijacking plan."

As I said this, Reisha leaned in.

"Right. What's the plan?"

"The surest way is to use my sleep magic to put the crew and passengers to sleep once we're on board, then I'll take control."

"Do you have enough magic power?"

"I'm fine."

"Then, let's do it."

After that, Reisha and I refined the hijacking plan.

While we were doing this, Maria returned with the food.

We stopped talking when Maria brought the food and decided to have dinner.

After finishing our meal, we chatted about old times and decided to go to bed early.

"Um, Your Highness, Lady Reisha, the walls here are thin, so please be careful."

Maria blushed and said this before quickly returning to her room.

"What did she mean?"

Reisha asked.

"Hit that wall."

Reisha tilted her head and hit the wall, and Maria's voice, "Ouch," came from the other side.

"Oh... I see. She's still into that kind of thing."

Reisha finally understood.

"I need to recover my magic power, so I'm going to sleep."

I said this and got into my bed.

"My feet hurt too."

Reisha also got into her bed.

"Cheesy bed, isn't it?"

"Really."

Despite our complaints, we were tired and decided to go to sleep.

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