Chapter 33: Farewell and Coming Out
ㅤChristina-sama’s would-be assassins have been identified. Some assassins are the type to immediately take their own lives if captured, so this time we apprehended them while they were still conscious. Moreover, Christina-sama used illegal magic without any hesitation, so the enemy’s identity was easily revealed.
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ㅤThanks to the brainwashing magic, the assassins readily revealed the name of the mastermind. Their stories indicated that the enemy was not from within the country but from abroad.
ㅤLady Feria Ledra of the Adneria Empire is a well-known woman, famous as the favored concubine of the next emperor, Victor-sama, who is Christina-sama’s fiancé. Because she was born a commoner, the current emperor and empress did not approve of their marriage. That’s why Christina-sama, a princess of our distinguished country, was chosen. Well, it’s understandable that Lady Feria wouldn’t be happy about that.
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ㅤ’But even so, sending assassins is outrageous.’
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ㅤThe fact that the Adneria Empire restricted the number of male guards assigned to Christina-sama may also be related to Lady Feria. I’ve heard that their empire has a long-standing culture where women are not supposed to participate in combat. Even if a woman is talented, she is relegated to support roles. Perhaps she thought that if this perception was strong, she could easily eliminate a woman’s guards.
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ㅤ’If she had studied our country’s culture, she wouldn’t have thought that…… I’ve heard rumors that Lady Feria isn’t very good at diplomacy.’
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ㅤAside from her strong-willed personality, Christina-sama is beautiful and excels in her studies. She is the pride of our country. Even if she uses illegal magic!
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ㅤ”Wow~ I didn’t know that about the neighboring country. Tempest, you’re well-studied.”
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ㅤAfter the commotion ended, Edra and I were given a short break. However, perhaps due to the adrenaline, I wasn’t in the mood to relax, so we ended up borrowing the dining area of the inn and drinking warm tea.
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ㅤ”Just to kill time.”
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ㅤMy family, the Witwish Marquis House, had a policy of encouraging active learning for girls, so I was never scolded for absorbing knowledge. Even if it was knowledge that could lead to becoming an adventurer.
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ㅤ”Just to kill time, huh? You were always sparring.”
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ㅤEdra muttered as if remembering something. Apparently, her entire family lived as mercenaries.
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ㅤ”I’d rather decide how to use my own life than throw it away on someone else’s orders, so I continue to be an adventurer.”
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ㅤUnfortunately, her mercenary corps was devastated during a subjugation of a certain giant monster, and she couldn’t bring herself to join another one, so she started as an adventurer. Like Milia, she receives many escort requests from women and seems to be making a decent living.
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ㅤ”I never thought I’d end up escorting royalty though…… But still, I wonder if Christina-sama is alright…… She seemed quite frightened…… And on top of that, she’s going to marry into the country where that enemy lives?”
ㅤ”She’ll be fine. I think she’s quite strong, in her own way.”
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ㅤWith that forbidden magic and her mental fortitude, she won’t be easily defeated.
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ㅤ”Well, she’s kind and was brave…… but only because that black-haired maid was standing in front of her.”
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ㅤAh, so Edra noticed it too. That overwhelming personality that can’t be hidden. She’s been close to Christina-sama longer than I have, so she must have sensed something.
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ㅤ”……I hate to say it, but…… that maid seemed much more like royalty, didn’t she?”
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ㅤSee, even after Tempest helped her, she didn’t even glance back and just went straight for the enemy, right?
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ㅤ”……”
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ㅤI slurped my tea to drown out Edra’s softly whispered words.
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ㅤAs for me, I finally had the chance to stand before Christina-sama for the third time! I was expecting a grand “Ta-da!” moment, but…… she didn’t even look at me and quickly moved to a newly prepared room instead of the one where the black-hooded figures rampaged. I was disappointed, but at the same time, I found it amusing.
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ㅤ’No thanks for saving her! It’s just my job, right!? Ah! This is the Christina-sama I know!’
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ㅤInstead of being angry, I was overjoyed to see her behave exactly as I expected. If it were the me from a while ago,
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ㅤ’That b*tch! How dare she ignore me!’
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ㅤI would have been in full-blown rage mode. I was deeply relieved that she hadn’t changed. Because she’s going to confront a woman who sends assassins after a future empress!
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ㅤ”I did it to protect my own life! What’s wrong with that!”
ㅤ”No…… well……”
ㅤ”Someone noticed!?”
ㅤ”N-no……”
ㅤ”The enemy was right in front of me! What were you all doing!”
ㅤ”We apologize!”
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ㅤThe captain of the guard, who had returned to the inn, and the still-furious black-haired maid’s voices leaked from outside the door. From this conversation alone, the people around us wouldn’t understand what was going on. Except for me.
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ㅤ’The captain of the guard knows about the brainwashing magic.’
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ㅤHe might have reprimanded her for using that magic in front of others. It’s not good for royalty to openly commit illegal acts.
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ㅤThe guards outside the room, hearing this leaked conversation, seemed to believe that the maid was blaming them for letting a noble lady experience such a frightening ordeal. They had solemn expressions on their faces. Of course, they pretended not to hear.
ㅤEdra and I thought it would be better not to let them hear this unnecessary conversation. We were still on high alert, preparing for a possible counterattack, even though we were given a break. Well, this was also because the brainwashing magic had revealed that the black-hooded figures’ accomplices wouldn’t be coming.
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ㅤLooking only at the results, Christina-sama is safe, and we only have a few minor injuries. Moreover, we captured the culprits alive.
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ㅤ’But I realized that’s not enough to get a perfect score as a guard.’
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ㅤThe standards expected of a noble lady are high.
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ㅤOf course, the owner of the messed-up inn received an apology from the fake Christina-sama and ample compensation for the repairs.
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ㅤ’The inn owner seemed excited to keep the battle damage.’
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ㅤIt’s likely to become a hot topic that Christina-sama stayed there and the room was targeted by assassins! It might even gain historical value later on. This makes me even more excited about Christina-sama’s future endeavors.
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ㅤThe day after the assassination attempt, Christina-sama and we left the inn as if nothing had happened.
ㅤOf course, the guard unit was even more vigilant, as Lady Feria might not be the only one targeting Christina-sama. However, after that, we approached the empire with surprising ease.
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ㅤ’But something’s going to happen, right~?’
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ㅤNo, I know it’s good that nothing happened…… but as an adventurer, I couldn’t help but expect a chance to shine.
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ㅤ’Because I wanted to be praised more for my performance the other day!’
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ㅤMy desire for recognition is tingling! My performance the other day wasn’t bad, right!? Of course, I received praise from the guards, but I still want to be praised by the princess, don’t I? This might be my last chance.
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ㅤ”You’re saying things like a knight.”
ㅤ”Really!? But it’s not that I want to serve someone specific, I just want to have a cool resume.”
ㅤ”You’re very honest with yourself!”
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ㅤInstead of being exasperated, Edra simply looked surprised.
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ㅤOn the tenth day of our escort duty, we finally reached Flores Territory, a border town. Here, Edra and I would part ways with the bridal procession.
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ㅤ’We caught the assassins, so it’s a good result, right!?’
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ㅤI know that a considerable amount of recognition is required to raise my adventurer rank to A. Escorting a princess should bring a certain level of expectation. I have even more to look forward to when I return to Blood Territory.
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ㅤ’I couldn’t get any praise or come out, but oh well!’
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ㅤI was able to fulfill my lifelong dream of escorting a princess. It would be greedy to ask for anything more.
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ㅤBut that chance came unexpectedly.
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ㅤA grand party was being held at the lord’s mansion in Flores Territory. Due to the presence of other royalty, the place was swarming with guards protecting guards protecting guards.
ㅤWe weren’t allowed to enter the venue, so this effectively marked the end of our duty. It was time to say goodbye to the captain and soldiers of the guard unit with whom we had shared joys and sorrows for the past ten days. They were tasked with escorting Christina-sama to the imperial capital.
ㅤWe said our final farewells at the carriage stop near the mansion, which was filled with lively music, the aroma of delicious food, and a flurry of flower petals.
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ㅤ”I’m so glad I asked you to do this.”
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ㅤI had taken off my guard uniform, and Edra had changed out of her maid outfit. We were both back in our familiar adventurer gear.
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ㅤ”Thank you very much for the opportunity!”
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ㅤWe weren’t treated poorly just because we were adventurers. I heard from fellow adventurers that even when hired as additional forces for an army, they were sometimes not given proper breaks, received vague instructions, and were blamed for any mistakes. I was told that a blacklist of such employers existed among adventurers.
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ㅤ’We didn’t have to worry about that with the royal guard unit.’
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ㅤIt’s rare, but it’s worth sharing a list of good employers. I’ll share it with my fellow adventurers when I get back, along with bragging rights.
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ㅤ”If you ever want to enlist, please contact me. I’ll do everything I can for you.”
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ㅤThe captain of the guard seemed quite serious about wanting to recruit us. I’ll take it as a compliment that we were evaluated so highly.
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ㅤ”Ah! Good! You’re still here!”
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ㅤWe saw a soldier rushing towards us from the mansion.
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ㅤ”You’re the adventurers hired for the escort this time, right? Christina-sama requests your presence.”
ㅤ”Huh!?”
ㅤ”Apparently, she wasn’t able to offer even a word of thanks during the journey.”
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ㅤUrged to hurry, Edra and I followed the soldier with surprised expressions.
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ㅤ”But Christina-sama is in the middle of the party, right? Is it alright for us to go in like this?”
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ㅤEven Edra knew that it would be a breach of etiquette to enter the glamorous venue in our adventurer attire.
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ㅤ”Yes. That’s why a maid will attend to you in a separate room.”
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ㅤBut even being shown such consideration by Christina-sama is an honor! The soldier walking ahead of us said this with pride for some reason.
◇◇◇
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ㅤThe two of us were led to a luxurious room filled with gold furnishings, more like a guest room than a waiting room. It was a room where you could hold a small concert.
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ㅤ’The soldier outside the door seems to know who the black-haired maid is.’
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ㅤI felt that kind of tension. There were no other guards in the room. I could hear whispered rumors that she found the guards who constantly shadowed her annoying.
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ㅤ”She will be here shortly.”
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ㅤWe were informed from outside the door, so I quickly knelt down and lowered my head. Edra was momentarily bewildered but imitated my posture.
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ㅤ’Oh, right. We didn’t have to go this far because it’s supposed to be a different person than Christina-sama, right?…… No, but she’s still acting as Christina-sama.’
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ㅤ–Click
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ㅤWhile I was hesitating, the door opened with a small click.
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ㅤ”I’ll be quick.”
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ㅤShe spoke to her attendant who was about to enter with her, and then I sensed the black-haired maid entering the room.
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ㅤ”Sorry to keep you waiting.”
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ㅤThe click-clack of heels approached.
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ㅤ”I…… Christina-sama is very grateful for your work. Thanks to you, she was unharmed. You were also able to expose those fools…… It’s a great achievement.”
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ㅤHer tone of voice made it clear how pleased she was that we had captured the black-cloaked figures. Perhaps they had managed to extract more information.
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ㅤ”Raise your heads. Christina-sama entrusted me with a dagger made from an Earth Dragon’s fang for the swordsman, and a magic stone ring for the magician……”
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ㅤI raised my head and our eyes met.
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ㅤ”……!?”
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ㅤAh! That face, that face! It’s kind of addictive.
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ㅤ”……?”
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ㅤEdra had a puzzled expression on her face, as if asking, “What’s going on?” Christina-sama was deep in thought. Various thoughts were swirling in her head. And finally, they exploded.
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ㅤ”You!!! What are you doing here!!!? What are you doing!?”
ㅤ”We are Christina-sama’s escorts.”
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ㅤI told her the truth with a smile. I didn’t lie about anything. But for some reason, the corners of my mouth kept lifting.
ㅤShe seemed to have realized that I knew the black-haired maid was Christina-sama. She had an indescribable expression on her face – regretful, hateful, and yet somewhat amused.
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ㅤ”It’s a shame we can’t greet Christina-sama in the venue, but please convey our deepest gratitude for her thoughtfulness.”
ㅤ”I know that’s not what we’re talking about!”
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ㅤThe black-haired maid shouted, and the door burst open, letting the soldiers rush in.
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ㅤ”……It’s alright. Stand down.”
ㅤ”But……”
ㅤ”Stand down!!!”
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ㅤWith a single word, the soldiers returned to their positions outside the door.
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ㅤ”You were the one who named that giant snake after me…… Christina-sama!?”
ㅤ”I hear that the lord is making great efforts to rebuild that town. Surely, he named it with the utmost gratitude?”
ㅤ”Ugh……”
ㅤThe black-haired maid looked like she had a lot to say, her face contorted in frustration. But in the end, she let out a big sigh and said,
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ㅤ”I’ll leave it to you.”
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ㅤShe was smiling a little sadly, but very beautifully. I knew this “I’ll leave it to you” was probably referring to Danna-sama, but I decided to interpret it as me being entrusted with this country as an adventurer.
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ㅤ’Because I can’t answer with “I don’t know that!” right now.’
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ㅤSo, I relaxed my shoulders a little,
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ㅤ”I’ll take care of it.”
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ㅤThat’s how I responded.
