Carriage Ambush
“Where on earth have you been all this time?”
Sisilia returned after about a week. They’d searched high and low without finding so much as a single strand of her silver hair, and then she popped up again just as abruptly as she’d vanished.
Edward glared at Sisilia from his seat in the carriage’s luggage compartment.
“Fine, whatever. But why’d you braid your hair into twin tails?”
Sisilia had been exercising her right to silence with a face full of dissatisfaction. Today’s hairstyle—courtesy of Beatrice’s expert interpretation of Sisilia’s mood-based hair signals—was what she called the “pippi style.”
“It means her dissatisfaction has doubled. When she’s like this, you really shouldn’t poke at her.”
“...So I asked why she gets to act like a cat in heat, wandering off on her own, and then come back pissed off at me.”
Sisilia bit her lower lip slightly and shot Edward a sharp glare.
“...”
Edward quietly shut his mouth. That piercing gaze of hers was no joke.
“Probably because it’s the last day,” Beatrice said.
“...Last day?”
“Ahem, you know, that magic that visits women once a month. Sisilia’s mood is at its absolute worst on the last day of the cycle.”
Sisilia whipped her head away and stared out the carriage window.
My perfect clone self would never make such a vulgar choice.
She could talk a big game, but in the end, it boiled down to betrayal—of humanity, of the newbies. Sisilia couldn’t accept it, but...
Whatever. It doesn’t change anything, so no point getting mad.
She wasn’t holding it deep in her heart or anything. The only one who’d pick a pint-sized girl like that was a lolicon like Edpie. There was zero chance she’d lose a popularity poll among the newbies. No reason to get upset at all.
But Sisilia didn’t undo her braids. She just thought they looked cute today.
“...Her already foul temper gets even worse? Hard to believe.”
Sisilia stood up in the rattling carriage and whacked Edpie square on the crown of his head before plopping back down.
A splitting headache hit Edward like a thunderbolt, and he couldn’t contain his rage.
“How dare you strike the crown prince and knight captain on the head. Get over here.”
Edward had no intention of letting it slide. He was cocking his fist for payback when—
Sniffle, sniffle.
Sisilia’s eyes welled up with tears, pure puppy-dog mode. Edward’s fist trembled as he lowered it and slunk back to his seat.
The moment he sat, Sisilia reverted to her signature cool expression and gazed out at the scenery.
“Edward. It’s not gentlemanly to hit a girl on the head.”
“...”
He was already fuming enough without Seraphina’s clueless nagging.
...Still, her mood seems a bit better now. Wonder what happened.
Edward crossed his legs and stared out the window too.
“At least we got lucky. We hitched a ride on a carriage heading straight to the Eisenberg Duchy.”
The carriage carrying Sisilia’s group belonged to magic stone merchants. It was bound for the Eisenberg Duchy—one of the frontlines, a hotbed of skirmishes. Nearby lay their destination: Lumina Castle.
That’s right. Sisilia had decided not to wait for the hero party and head straight to the final goal.
No one appreciated her selfless resolve, of course...
“The Eisenberg Duchy—that’s Lady Bianca’s homeland, right?”
“Yeah.”
“I see. Your one and only friend. Got some connections, huh.”
Edward’s mind raced with schemes on how to pull the grand duke into his faction. Classic prince complex.
Seraphina unwittingly read his thoughts and stared at him in blank disbelief.
“...Impressive.”
Even his own subordinate couldn’t trust him, so he schemed to build his power base. Tough sell to a former saintess.
“What? Got a problem?”
Edward shot Seraphina a glare.
“Huh?”
“Oops.”
“...”
And at that moment, the three Windsor Knights all turned their heads toward the same spot.
The carriage was passing through a ravine when presences stirred up ahead in the lead convoy.
“Someone’s hiding.”
“Ambush.”
Smells like trouble!
Just as the sulky Sisilcat was about to leap from the moving carriage—
Edward murmured low.
“Beatrice. Execute anti-Sisilia Formation B.”
“Yes, sir!”
“...Huh?”
Sisilia went blurble as Beatrice scooped her up in a hug.
“What’s this?!”
Edward flashed a triumphant grin.
“What else? Countermeasure I cooked up while you were gone.”
...Shouldn’t you prioritize countermeasures for Four Heavenly Kings Lumia first? Why target innocent me?
But Beatrice’s hold was flawless. One twitch, and those boobs would be all up in her face. If only she were this perfect against demons, Sisilia thought.
The carriage ground to a halt. Murmurs rose outside, and Edward nodded.
“Sisilia. Can’t hear ’em.”
“...I’m not a high-end speaker.”
But Sisilia could tweak the wind to amplify voices.
—Halt the carriage! We’re knights of the Eisenberg Grand Duke!
—Unless you want to see the blades of the Eisenritter, everyone out of the carriages!
“They said get out...?”
“We’re not.”
“Got it.”
“Seraphina. And you—work on doubting people’s words a bit.”
Edward grabbed the back of Seraphina’s neck as she moved to obey, listening intently with a calm gaze.
—What’s the meaning of this? We’re just merchants heading to the duchy to sell magic stones!
—Our knights are out there fighting the demon army tooth and nail—
You want money?
—The magic stones belong to Eisenberg! Kill anyone who resists!
—This is outrageous! I’ll report you to the imperial court!
—Against the northern grand duke?
—Th-that...
“Bandits.”
“They’re bandits.”
Beatrice and Sisilia chimed in perfect unison.
“Betty. If you don’t let go right now, you’re gonna be a ravine fairy.”
“...Don’t wanna be a fairy.”
Beatrice released her. But Edward said firmly,
“We’re not getting involved.”
Just as Sisilia ignored him and moved to jump out—
“That’s an order, Sisilia.”
She paused at his words.
“I’ll bet my entire salary that those aren’t Eisenberg knights.”
“Why my salary...?”
Beatrice pouted, but Edward droned on flatly.
“Even if they aren’t, it’s not the Windsor Knights’ place to step in. Remember—we’re the knight order that slays demons. Mediating noble squabbles is the royal guard’s job.”
—F-fine, just put away those swords.
—Don’t like your eyes. You a demon spy?
—H-how dare you say such a terrifying thing! N-no, I mean no! I’m not! Sp-spare me...
—Stab!
The sickening sound of a blade piercing flesh echoed clearly. Sisilia’s silver-blue eyes flickered.
“Sisilia. Last warning. I gave you an order.”
Edward crossed his arms and glared.
Sisilia propped her foot on the carriage step.
“I’ll take the punishment.”
Edward sighed, reading her intent loud and clear.
“It won’t be light.”
**
“Sp-spare us, and we’ll do anything!”
The merchants knelt and begged as one. Whether these were real Eisenberg men didn’t matter. Their guards were all dead in a surprise attack, and steel trumped law up close.
“Now you’re talking sense.”
The masked “knights” preparing to rob them froze at the chill voice, turning sharply.
“You know impersonating a knight is punishable by death, right?”
White blouse, black skirt—the Windsor Knight uniform. But without the cape, Sisilia just looked like a cute girl with an oversized sword. To the merchants’ eyes, and the knights’ too.
“Well, well. Never dreamed a refined lady like you would slum it in a rickety old carriage.”
The masked knights sneered, circling her.
Sisilia was petite. No knight here was that fragile-looking, and who under 160cm learned the sword? Plus that brazen stance in front of drawn blades—
Pure naive noble lady, oblivious to the danger. Their leader, Giselle, licked his lips.
Nice bonus haul. Could have some fun first.
Haughty ladies made prime slaves. Demand was always high.
“But hey, something’s off. We’re legit Eisenberg knights on payroll.”
“Show ID papers or unit badges. Otherwise, we’ll open fire.”
“Kuhahaha!”
The knights roared with laughter at her bold words. Her slight lisp made it even funnier.
Giselle loved toying with prey. He pulled documents from his pocket and flashed them.
“Even a clueless lady like you can tell these can’t be faked, right?”
“...”
To Sisilia’s eyes, at least, they looked genuine—no signs of tampering.
She blinked slowly, then snatched and shredded them to bits.
She raised her sword again, voice clear as day.
“Show ID papers or unit badges. Otherwise, we’ll open fire.”
“...?”
The knights blinked in stunned disbelief. Giselle’s mood soured.
“Tone it down, brat.”
“Yes, sir!”
Giselle turned away. One step later—
Whoosh!
The air tore with wind. Giselle whipped back around.
“Guhk...!”
Eight or so underlings targeting Sisilia crumpled, bloodied.
Giselle’s mind blanked. The last thing he’d seen turning away: one subordinate approaching her, ligaments severed, collapsing like a ragdoll.
The others too—all arms and legs perfectly crippled. No margin for error.
“...Huh?”
Giselle gawked at the single drop of blood on her faintly glowing blue blade.
How had he missed it? That sword, too big for her frame, wielded one-handed like a toy.
“Identity unverified. Deeming you villains. Executing all of you now.”
Sisilia beamed.
Giselle no longer found her smile cute.