Chapter 145
Chapter 145
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 144. Escort of the Diplomatic Corps (2)
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Crown Prince Uros had already returned to Bakal ahead of schedule for matters of state.
Thanks to that, Lea and I were left to escort Princess Tina and the elders, who had departed late.
“Haah….”
I let out a deep sigh.
I’d thought I’d be resting comfortably at home by now.
Instead, here I was, riding an uncomfortable mount through a dense forest. It was utterly depressing.
‘A whole week of vacation I finally managed to snag….’
Far from vacation, the thought of trudging through this forest for the next ten days drained all my energy.
“…”
Lea, riding her white horse alongside me, glanced my way.
The white uniform that strained to contain her beautiful figure.
The white mink cloak draped over her shoulders.
Seeing her like that amid the forest, she looked nobly radiant.
‘…’
Still, I didn’t offer the princess so much as a smile.
I just rode along with my lips pursed in a pout.
“Veil.”
Lea adjusted her monocle.
Then, with another glance my way, she asked,
“Are you sulking, by any chance?”
To her question, I replied in a listless drawl.
“No, Your Highness—.”
As I stared rigidly ahead, she smirked, lifting the corner of her mouth.
“I’m sorry for cutting your vacation short like this, unintentionally.”
“It’s fine. It’s an honor to take on such an important duty—.”
Still wearing my sullen expression as I spoke, Lea covered her mouth with her fist and chuckled quietly.
“Once this is over, I’ll grant you bonus vacation leave. Cheer up.”
Only then did I sneak a glance at her.
With a gleam in my eye like I’d just tallied the gains, I asked,
“Mind if I ask how much?”
Lea rested her hand on her chin.
Then, recalling the hefty military code like it was an encyclopedia, she replied,
“Hmm—. Under my authority, I can give you up to three weeks.”
‘Three, three weeks…!!’
My sullen eyes widened in round surprise at the generous offer.
‘Tack that onto my existing leave, and that’s a massive reward—up to four weeks!’
“Really?”
As I asked with sparkling black eyes, Lea chuckled.
And in a merciful tone, she promised,
“Yes, paid leave, so you can rest easy.”
Hearing I’d get full pay on top, I cleared my throat.
Then, sharpening my gaze like a cool-headed knight once more, I replied,
“Understood, ahem….”
The empire’s First Imperial Princess narrowed her eyes at my relaxed expression.
She looked like she wanted to tease me, seeing how serious I was about my fun.
“Is vacation that wonderful a thing?”
To her question, I put on a grave face like a patriot ready for sacrifice.
Then, pounding my fist to my chest, I declared firmly,
“No. I was just excited about taking on this grave duty.”
I tugged the reins.
“Then, like a proper knight, I’ll focus on the escort again.”
Three weeks of paid leave had my lips twitching upward on their own.
To hide it, I spurred ahead of Lea.
“Crafty fox.”
Watching from a distance, Lea’s lips curved into a faint smile.
Her eyes sparkled as if she were looking at an excited wild animal.
‘Let’s see…’
I rode ahead of the procession, checking for any issues with the escort detail.
There were six elders in total.
Three of them, supporters of the crown prince, rode in separate carriages.
Princess Tina didn’t join them.
She rode alone on her black horse, gracefully enjoying the fresh forest air.
“Your Highness, are you sure you don’t wish to ride in the carriage?”
I asked in a sturdy, responsible tone, like a dutiful knight.
Tina shook her head with a smile in her eyes.
“It’s fine. Carriages feel so stuffy.”
By now, she was addressing me casually, like an old friend.
‘Riding every day must be tough, though.’
Fortunately, we only had to escort them for five days, up to Bakal’s border.
The princess, however, would ride all ten days to reach Bakal’s palace.
“Aren’t you tired, Veil? You looked miserable earlier.”
“Of course not. How could serving Your Highness be tiring?”
Thinking of my vacation, I flashed a wide grin.
Princess Tina giggled and said,
“Oh? In that case, why not come all the way to Bakal with us?”
“I’d love to, if I could.”
We bantered lightly as we rode side by side.
“We could soak in the hot springs there and feel refreshed—.”
“The hot springs do sound tempting, honestly. I hear they’re even better developed than in Leon.”
I kept up light conversation to put the protectee at ease.
Just as our faces drew close while chatting.
“…!”
I sensed a sudden killing intent at the back of my neck.
‘What…? Bandits?’
I whipped my head toward the source.
But the only one there was Lea.
“…”
As I looked her way, she calmly studied the map.
As if nothing had happened.
‘Did I imagine it…?’
“What’s wrong, Veil?”
As Tina asked, I slowly shook my head.
“Nothing, Your Highness. Must be fatigue lately….”
I tilted my head, and Tina looked at me with concern.
“What good is a man if he’s this listless?”
The princess reached into the saddlebag.
Then, she pulled out a steaming slice of apple pie and offered it to me.
“Want to try some?”
“Ooh….”
I took the perfectly baked apple pie.
“It smells amazing.”
“I made it myself—.”
Princess Tina placed her hands on her hips and boasted confidently.
“You can cook too? That’s impressive.”
“Of course. I always make desserts by hand.”
I took a bite of the savory pie.
Just as I was about to chomp down big.
“…!”
Once more, a chilling aura emanated from behind.
‘This time it’s definite. Something’s definitely back there…!’
I spun around quickly.
But.
All that was behind me was Lea, holding a water bottle.
She leisurely sipped her tea.
‘Strange….’
Was there some ominous presence in this forest?
I smacked my lips and turned back.
Quietly, I nibbled the apple pie.
Then, with a big bite….
The tart apple and sweet honey danced on my tongue.
“How is it?”
Tina asked with a gentle, motherly smile.
Her white hair fluttered slightly in the breeze, striking an impression.
“Delicious.”
Busy with state affairs by day and cooking by night.
She was a truly diligent woman.
“Bakal women consider cooking a basic skill.”
The princess elegantly swept her bangs aside as she spoke.
Even the dark circles from her tactical studies looked refined.
“The men of Bakal must be happy.”
I subtly praised Bakal to lift her spirits.
Thanks to that, the previously chilly atmosphere among her faction warmed up considerably.
However, I couldn’t join in the upbeat mood.
A certain woman’s cold voice came from behind.
“Veil.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
I bid the princess farewell and turned back.
There, I faced Lea, wearing the expression of a stern sovereign.
“You called for me?”
“Yes. Luncheon is soon. Help prepare.”
Luncheon was the head chef’s and soldiers’ job.
Yet she was assigning me too…?
“Just help with serving.”
Lea set down her water bottle and spoke coolly.
“Yes…. Understood.”
‘Huh. Her gaze feels a bit colder.’
By then, it was nearing noon.
The procession halted in a quiet forest clearing.
Prancing—.
The horses were fed.
The princess and elders dismounted for their meal.
However, their meals were prepared separately by the accompanying chefs.
Thanks to them, an elegant luncheon could be laid out on the simple tablecloth atop the makeshift table.
Lea and Tina were different, though.
Lea, a soldier before an imperial, and Tina, curious about the serving system, lined up with the knights.
“Enjoy your meal—.”
Serving rotated regardless of rank, so even mid-level officer Damian pitched in.
I handled sides; he ladled soup.
“Sir Veil, aren’t you tired?”
The bespectacled, handsome man asked.
For the sake of my bonus leave, I replied with a forced smile.
“No, this is kinda fun, actually.”
“Starting tomorrow, I’ll cover for you. Hang in there today.”
Damian gave me preferential treatment as an acquaintance.
“Thanks.”
His encouragement had us smiling as we began serving.
Damian had mushroom soup.
I had sausages stir-fried in tomato soup.
The nutty sausages and sweet ketchup scent assaulted the nose.
But every knight got only the ‘standard portion.’
That way, supplies would last the five-day march.
Mindful of that, I gave everyone exactly four sausages.
The next in line, a burly knight, looked disappointed as he eyed me.
“Could I maybe have just a bit more?”
Freshly adult, his skin was dotted with fine fuzz.
Having lived off Lea’s generous pay, first-time serving was rough for him.
“Sorry, others need to eat too.”
I gave a polite smile.
He glanced at superior Damian, then left with a pout.
‘Handling tasty sides sure draws scrutiny….’
As I thought that while serving.
Suddenly, I spotted the princess, not in white uniform but a beautiful dress.
“You’re on serving duty, Veil?”
“Yes, it turned out that way.”
I ladled sausages for her with a warm tone.
“…”
But the princess didn’t move on after receiving her portion.
She just stared at the sausages with a slightly bewildered look.
‘Too stingy an amount, huh….’
Well, Tina looked delicate, but she packed a solid figure underneath.
And she could drink anyone under the table….
I scratched my head and scanned around.
The moment everyone’s eyes turned elsewhere.
Plop—!!
Lightning-fast, I slipped an extra sausage into her bowl.
“…”
Only then did Tina’s lips curve up.
She whispered with a grin,
“Thanks, Veil.”
“Enjoy.”
I struck a heroic pose, as if I’d completed a grand mission.
Then, I gazed wistfully at the northern princess as she passed with a touched expression.
‘Yeah, that’s more like it.’
After all, the protectee’s comfort came first.
Pleased, I turned back.
Just as I went to serve the next person.
“…!”
I came face-to-face with the empire’s First Imperial Princess, tray in hand.
“The apron suits you. Cute.”
Lea eyed me holding the ladle, her lips curving faintly.
Her ample chest brushed lightly against her tray.
“Yes, it’s been an enjoyable experience, thanks to you.”
“Exactly. I assigned you this for a reason.”
I kept a calm, blank expression as I faced her.
Then, I gruffly ladled her portion.
“Thank you.”
The commander glanced at what I’d served.
But then.
“…?”
Her relaxed face quickly hardened coldly.
Because….
Her bowl brimmed with veggies and broth—no sausage.
“I gave you a ‘special’ helping—.”
The princess slowly raised her head.
Hiding her fluster, she asked,
“Di… did you forget something?”
“Well, I definitely served the ‘standard portion’….”
I flashed her a cheeky grin.
“Ahem….”
As Lea hesitated, eyes turned her way.
She, receiving only standard in front of all her knights.
Even the grumbling subordinates clamped their mouths shut and looked away.
The big complainer from before buried his nose in his bowl, slurping soup.
“Even for Your Highness, the greater good leaves no choice. Please understand….”
I bowed politely in apology.
Then, Lea instinctively realized.
I’d quelled the knights’ serving gripes through her.
“Yes, fairness for all. Well done.”
The she-lion smirked, approving my intent.
In the end, she carried her veggie-packed tray back to the table.
“Hmm….”
As Lea sat, the staff who’d eaten first swallowed hard.
Seeing her bowl with only floating veggies, they cautiously offered,
“Highness, want some of mine?”
“Yes, I’m not that hungry today.”
The princess shook her head firmly.
She just silently scooped veggies with her elegant silverware.
“No, I’m fine. Focus on your own meals.”
The princess crunched into crisp veggies.
Then, like a lion turned herbivore, she sighed deeply.
“Haah….”
She too boasted a voluptuous figure like Tina’s.
Naturally, she ate accordingly.
But what could be done?
At least it quelled the knights’ complaints.
Taking solace in that, the princess plunged her spoon deep into the bowl.
“…?”
Expecting only soup at the bottom, she felt a round texture.
Sensing something odd, Lea tilted her head and lifted the spoon.
That instant.
“This is…”
A plump, juicy sausage emerged.
Lea swallowed hard at the tantalizing meat.
Sweeping back her radiant golden hair, she took an elegant bite.
“…”
The umami made her soles twitch involuntarily.
For her dignity’s sake, the princess held back and dipped her spoon again.
In response, more hidden sausages surfaced from the bottom.
“Ha….”
The she-lion gazed my way, impressed by the trick.
Then, shaking her head at my grinning face, she said,
“You’re incorrigible.”
The princess failed at her poker face and chuckled.
Seeing that, the tense staff finally relaxed.
“Shall we all have dessert?”
In high spirits, the princess unpacked her own kit and offered.
The mid-level officers, who’d tasted her cooking before, nodded eagerly.
“That’d be great.”
“We’d be honored.”
The princess handed out her handmade pies to her subordinates.
Watching them eat with relish, she beamed maternally.
“Aren’t you having any, Highness?”
The deputy commander with the thick mustache asked.
Lea shook her head with a sovereign’s stoic expression.
“I’ll just have one piece.”
The princess reached for the large leftover slice her subordinates had split.
Then, as if remembering something, she glanced my way.
“…”
Her gaze fell on me, done serving.
She silently watched as I scooped extra veggies for those short on sausage.
“Hmm.”
The commander set down the pie she’d been about to eat.
She sliced it gracefully with a knife….
Wrapped it neatly in a handkerchief, and wrote a note.
“Damian.”
“Yes, Highness.”
The staffer who’d finished serving responded to her call.
She handed him the handkerchief-wrapped pie.
“Take it to Veil.”
The bespectacled man approached me, eating alone.
He eyed my grass-filled bowl and smiled.
“Sir Veil? How’s the meal?”
“Yes, veggies aren’t bad.”
I mumbled around some onions.
Damian glanced around and passed me the pie.
“What’s this?”
“From the princess.”
I tilted my head and unwrapped the handkerchief.
A glossy, luxurious pie gleamed before me.
“Ho….”
No less exquisite than Tina’s apple pie from earlier.
My mouth watered instantly.
I grabbed the pie and took a hearty bite.
That moment.
“…!”
Nutty, plain walnuts and sweet honey.
The perfectly baked bread danced on my tongue.
“Wow….”
Amazed inwardly, I picked up the handkerchief.
Then, I spotted a message on the fabric.
「Apple pie or walnut pie. Report which was tastier.」
Reading that.
My eyes blinked blankly.
I realized who’d been behind that menacing aura when I was with Tina earlier.