Chapter 42

#042 Escape from the Imperial Palace Number One (2)

*rumble*...

Once everyone who was going to use the portal entered the room, the heavy door closed again.

Prince Sedric and I were standing at the front of the group, facing Cristel.

“...”

The prince, despite his expressionless face, seemed oddly displeased when he saw Cristel.

It seemed she had known she would be coming through the portal, given her lack of surprise.

Again, I was the only one who didn’t know.

“Lady Sarnez. How did you...”

But such a question was meaningless now.

How many times had I reminded myself that it’s natural for the protagonist and the main male lead to be entangled in a story?

Cristel had said she would participate in the 'Great Beast Purge,' so her reason for coming through the portal was obvious.

In any case, the two were bound to meet somehow.

I adjusted my sentence while soothing Demi, who was sulking in my arms.

“What’s that whip for?”

The smooth, blue leather was unsettling.

“Oh, I bought it upstairs.”

Cristel shook the whip in her hand and answered cheerfully.

I wondered if it was okay to show that I understood the term 'bought' when the person standing next to me chimed in.

“It’s been a while, Lady Cristel. Are you planning to use the whip as a weapon?”

It was Sir Elisabeth, who had joined us on our journey.

She approached Cristel with a twinkle in her gray eyes.

The two had met before at an outdoor training ground, but the meeting was cut short, so they didn’t have a proper conversation.

“Hello, Sir Elisabeth.”

“If it’s not too much trouble, may I examine your whip?”

“Of course. I’ve never used muscles in my life, so wielding a sword or spear was difficult. I asked the knights of the duchy to find something suitable for someone like me, and they recommended a whip.”

“It’s not a bad choice if you take good care of your arms. This is a fine piece.”

“Thank you. Fortunately, my wrist snap is pretty good.”

Cristel took back the whip with a bright smile.

She seemed quite pleased with her new conversation partner.

Sir Elisabeth also nodded with a smile.

They seemed like they would get along well, and watching them, I thought they could become good friends.

“Let’s stop chatting and get going.”

The one to dampen the friendly atmosphere was the prince.

I looked up at him with a slightly regretful gaze.

He had said he had no friends other than Sir Elisabeth, and now I understood why.

You should try talking to Cristel, not just argue with her.

“Forgive me, Your Highness. Everyone, pay attention! Half of the guards will stay here and move last. The other half will come this way...”

Sir Elisabeth quickly composed herself, respectfully addressed the prince, and began directing the guards.

The servants and attendants who accompanied us also lined up in their designated spots.

Cristel, looking a bit disappointed, sent off the guard captain and then stood next to me.

Standing between the two protagonists made me feel a bit stifled.

I gently stroked Demi’s back, who was still asleep, as part of my animal therapy.

Soon, the vanguard disappeared through the portal to the southern capital.

Watching the portal, which emitted a red metallic light, swallow people and then vanish like dust, I felt a mix of fear and awe.

When it was our turn, I was slightly tense, but it was more about mental fortitude than mana sensitivity.

“Did you hear the story? Did you take the motion sickness medicine?”

Cristel spoke to me with concern.

“Oh, yes.”

“Then you should be fine.”

“I guess so. I’ve tested it clinically.”

She laughed and encouraged me after my response.

Sir Elisabeth, Ganel, Bézam, and the prince’s attendant, David, also added their reassurances.

It made me feel a bit better.

“The mage isn’t necessary.”

As I smiled slightly, a cold, deep voice rang out.

I turned my head to see what was happening.

The dedicated portal mage, Legot, looked troubled, while the prince was setting up a barrier.

“What’s the matter?”

“Exactly what I said. I’ll use my own mana, so no other mage is needed.”

His orange eyes were filled with wariness, as if he disliked the idea of someone else’s mana touching him.

I sighed, thinking he was more like a 24-month-old toddler than a 24-year-old, despite his tall stature.

With no Cardinal Boutier to smooth things over, it seemed I was the only one who could handle the situation.

“...Let’s do it that way. I apologize, Mage. Think of it as conserving your mana.”

The prince’s frown softened slightly at my apology.

The portal mage bowed and quickly stepped back. I then instructed the prince.

“But you need to be as polite as the mage. Count to three and infuse the mana.”

“Now.”

*whirr*!

Without warning, the prince scattered red mana over the portal.

It seemed the teaser he showed in the imperial palace’s basement was just the beginning, as his mana engulfed the portal like a gushing lava flow.

Cristel laughed in disbelief, and Sir Elisabeth shook her head.

*rumble*!

“I...”

The portal activated before I could utter a curse.

Demi, who had just woken up, started to whine.

I glared at the prince, who disappeared into the crimson mana like a bolt of lightning, while holding the red panda tightly.

Then, I felt the ground beneath me give way, and his mana grabbed me by the collar.

Looking down, I saw my fingertips, toes, and the tip of Demi’s tail disintegrating like dust.

Mage, I’m not feeling well...

*

Fortunately, my stomach was fine. The motion sickness medicine from Duke Dume was incredibly effective!

I arrived in the southern capital without any dizziness and maintained good condition even after getting back into the carriage.

However, there was one downside to this portal journey.

*chirp*!

“Hey, you’re surprised. Are you upset?”

*chirp*!

“Hey, big brother didn’t wake you up before using the portal, so you’re mad.”

*rumble*!

“Hey, big brother really messed up. Good Demi, just look at me once. You’re a divine beast, and I’m just a human.”

“Your Highness.”

Bézam called out, looking disapproving.

I finally felt a bit embarrassed and placed Demi on my lap.

The red panda, still upset, headbutted my palm.

It was warm and soft.

“I thought Duke Dume said it would be fine, so I didn’t try to keep you awake. But it seems I should have.”

I said.

A few days ago, François Dume, the duke, confidently stated that divine beasts have high mana sensitivity and would have no problem with the portal.

I was skeptical, especially since the divine beasts who left for the duchy first didn’t use the portal out of precaution.

Only then did the duke confess to me.

“Actually, I tried teleporting with the divine beasts in my arms. It worked well, so don’t worry.”

What a crazy person...

“No, Your Highness. Demi was sleeping soundly even in the noisy trading post, so it would have been difficult to wake him up.”

Ganel took my side.

Thinking about it, it made sense, so I smiled and offered Demi three raspberries.

He looked a bit pouty but couldn’t resist the fresh, sweet scent.

*chomp chomp chomp*...

“Good eating.”

Anyway, we had successfully overcome the major hurdle of the portal.

Now, the only thing left was to ensure Demi and I survived the Great Beast Purge.

The protagonists would handle things on their own.

*

“Your Highness, we’ve arrived at the lodging.”

“*lick*...”

I quickly wiped the drool from the corner of my mouth and woke up.

I had eaten about four quiches, filled with dried beef, kouromi, salad, and various fillings, and then dozed off in the carriage.

I vaguely remembered looking out the window, but the scenery of the imperial forest road became increasingly monotonous, much like a highway after five minutes.

When I finally came to, the sun was already setting.

“This place is quite humble compared to the imperial palace, but it’s a place where nobles and the royal family often stay, so the basics will be taken care of.”

Bézam continued to explain. I nodded.

Our lodging for the night was not a noble’s castle but an 'inn.'

It seemed odd to stay at an inn with a prince, but the road to the Dume duchy in the southern empire was quite treacherous.

There were no suitable castles to rest at along the way, and if we wanted to, we would have to detour for a considerable distance.

It would mean losing more time trying to find a five-star hotel.

Thus, we decided to spend our first night in a village called 'Luka.'

*clack, clack, clack*

The carriage slowed down and then came to a complete stop.

I placed the now lively Demi on my shoulder and stepped out of the carriage with the coachman’s escort.

I looked around.

“Wow...”

Amid the bustling servants and attendants from the imperial palace, a clean and tidy lodging building caught my eye.

It was larger than a typical inn, resembling a small hotel in a European countryside.

Magic lights were on everywhere, making it neither dark nor dangerous.

A signboard in front of the lodging read 'Le Chiffre Inn.'

“Your Highness.”

Bézam called out softly. I snapped back to reality and turned around.

“Huh.”

I gasped.

About a thousand villagers of Luka had gathered in front of the inn, kneeling on the ground.

I had seen similar scenes in the capital, but the feeling was entirely different.

While the people in the capital seemed to show affection and respect for the royal family, the villagers here exuded a sense of awe.

Many of their backs were visibly trembling.

“W-welcome, Your Highness... May you shine like the sun...”

A sobbing child’s voice followed.

Turning my head, I saw a young girl, perhaps around ten years old, holding a bouquet of flowers and stepping forward as the village representative to welcome the royal family.

Though the adults who made her do this were the worst, I approached the prince without hesitation, worried he might treat the child harshly.

*rustle*...

The prince simply took the bouquet with a simple gesture.

The girl was startled and knelt, bowing her head.

I blinked in surprise at the unexpected turn of events.

“...Distribute the gifts.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The servants’ movements became even busier at the prince’s command.

I finally understood why he had so much luggage and why he had moved about ten carriages through the portal.

It wasn’t for his own use but for the villagers.

“Form five rows! We will distribute the prince’s gifts.”

“Write your names here, and here...”

“The prince’s, the prince’s kindness is overwhelming...”

...I don’t think he’s the type to hear 'seregi' comments.

I glanced at the villagers bowing repeatedly and followed the prince into the inn with quick steps.

Cristel, who had moved closer, sighed in admiration at the prince’s back.

It was a tone that suggested she had a new perspective on him.

“Welcome, Your Highness.”

“We will serve you to the best of our ability.”

As we entered the inn’s lobby, the neatly dressed staff and the owner bowed in unison.

Being outside the imperial palace made this a bit uncomfortable.

Fortunately, we had rented the entire inn, so we could relax indoors.

*rustle*...

“Huh?”

The prince pushed the bouquet into my arms without a second thought.

He then walked up the stairs, following the innkeeper’s guidance, without looking back. What’s this about?

“I apologize, Prince Yeseo. His Highness doesn’t like handling things that are cumbersome... If you give it to me, I’ll take care of it.”

David, the prince’s attendant, quickly approached and apologized.

In short, he had dumped the bouquet on me.

Hey, that’s why Jeon Eun-seo calls you 'seregi'...

“You’re the type who builds up points and then takes them away. You must have a tough life.”

Cristel fired a fact missile from the side.

David, clearly hearing it, couldn’t bring himself to argue.

I heard Sir Elisabeth laughing and crying at the same time, holding Ganel’s arm.

I sighed involuntarily.

“I’ll put the flowers in my room. It would be a waste to throw them away.”

“I’ll provide the water.”

Cristel responded with a twirl. I couldn’t tell if she was teasing or supporting me.

I just wanted to eat dinner and go to bed.