Chapter 254
Chapter 254
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Southern Journey (2)
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Thus began our dispatch to the south.
Our group of twenty knights from the Radiant Order proceeded smoothly down the well-paved road toward the southern front.
"..."
Lea remained silent the entire way south.
Mounted on her beautiful white steed, she fixed the road ahead with a cold gaze.
'She's the type who focuses solely on the task at hand during missions, huh.'
That was part of the First Imperial Princess's charm.
I gazed fondly at Lea as she inspected the escort unit with a dignified expression.
I'd figured both other princesses would tag along and complain on the way down.
But Irina was handling the second round of diplomatic talks with Bakal.
And Lydia had been away visiting the Samad Kingdom, something she'd put off for too long.
From what I'd heard, her family still treated her like their precious youngest daughter.
Senior Miya was in the same boat.
As an outstanding knight from the upper and lower semester evaluations, she was gearing up for her final assessment.
Which was why Captain Camilla, who thought highly of her skills, had pulled Miya into special training to appoint her as vice-captain of the Imperial Knights.
'Miyaaaaah...'
I could almost hear her wailing from here.
Anyway, for these reasons, all the princesses and Senior Miya were absent.
Everything had conveniently aligned on the same day.
"..."
A strange feeling crept over me as we rode. I glanced back over my shoulder.
Still mounted on her white horse, she was reading the southern front report the crown prince had given her.
"No way..."
Was it because my body was now attuned to sensing Grand Auras so well?
Our eyes met as she sensed my gaze.
'She didn't orchestrate this just to travel alone with me... did she?'
The empire's eldest daughter smirked.
She imperiously gestured with her finger for me to watch the front.
'Yeah, it's probably just my imagination...'
His Majesty the Emperor must have divided the duties equally among his daughters to ensure balanced achievements.
There was no reason for Lea to hand over diplomacy that would boost her standing to Irina.
With that thought, I stretched languidly.
Then, as per Lea's orders, I spurred my horse to leisurely circle the diplomatic convoy and check for any issues.
First, I approached the luxurious central carriage.
Lize and her disciples were inside, and they weren't bound in any way.
The obedience spells binding them made any resistance impossible anyway.
――――――.
I knocked on the window with the back of my hand.
A small, soft hand opened it from within.
"It's you, Veil! You startled me!"
Mago patted her chest, visibly tense.
She was riding with the elves, tasked with surveillance as a fellow sorceress.
"Sorry. Everything okay inside?"
I flashed a friendly smile at my childhood friend.
Mago beamed back, scratching her soft cheek.
"Yeah, it's super comfy. First time in an imperial carriage for me..."
The grand witch looked thrilled, like a little girl.
Finding it adorable, I ruffled the top of her head, where her witch's hat had flattened her black hair.
"You'll be riding in them more often from now on."
Mago flinched at the shadow my hand cast over her face.
She whipped her head away and muttered softly.
"Th-this is an official occasion, isn't it?"
"So what? It's all familiar faces."
I glanced back at the familiar Radiant Knights.
Over time, I'd gotten acquainted with most of the imperial knights.
"And I'm not a kid anymore, you know?"
Mago grabbed the hand I'd been using to pet her.
She wrapped both her hands around it snugly.
"I told you before. See me differently..."
Her hands had warmed up inside the carriage.
Sticky sweat clung between her knuckles, sticking to me.
"..."
Lize, the half-elf who'd lived over a century, watched us silently with a pitiful look.
She seemed to wonder what these much younger folks were up to.
"Alright, alright. I'll just fix your flattened hair."
I gave her head a final few firm pats to loosen the pressed strands.
Mago resisted at first but pursed her lips primly, clearly not hating it.
It was like a cat cracking open the door to her heart.
"Rest easy, all of you. We'll repatriate you safely soon enough."
"Thank you, Sir Veil. How can we ever repay this grace..."
With Lize glowering sullenly, her devoted disciple Baal bowed instead.
Even though his master was at least sixty years older, he gave off more of a fatherly vibe.
"It's only natural. You're valuable bargaining chips for us."
"Bargaining chips...? That's a bit..."
As Lize started to protest, Mago—who'd allowed my touch—flashed her fierce golden eyes.
The grand witch's potent mana made even the great sage flinch.
She might win in peak condition, but right now, the obedience spell held her back.
"Alright, I'll circle the escort unit and be back."
"Okay, see you."
After checking on Lize and Mago,
As I pulled away from the carriage to inspect the rest,
"Hmm."
My eyes met Lea's from afar.
I'd thought she was just reading her report on her white horse until moments ago.
But she'd been watching me pat Mago's head so familiarly.
"Sir Veil. Come here for a moment."
I turned my horse toward her call.
Approaching Lea, I wore a faint smile.
"What is it, Your Highness?"
"..."
She said nothing for a beat.
She just stared at me intently, then let out a shallow sigh before outlining the plan ahead.
"Once we arrive, I plan to disguise you as an ordinary escort knight. What do you think?"
"No issues on my end, but may I ask why?"
Riding side by side, Lea glanced at me and curled her lips into a sly smile.
"The southern alliance nations don't know you exist. They know a new Grand Master has emerged, but not your face."
Lea pointed at my sharp eyes.
"We'll use that. Once we reach the kingdom, you'll enter the friendly sparring matches."
"...!"
Friendly sparring.
My eyes lit up at the words.
I'd grasped the true intent behind Lea's words.
"So, you'll spread rumors of an ordinary escort knight toppling the south's top knights to instill discipline."
The princess regarded me approvingly, her sharp eyes crinkling in a smile.
"Exactly. 'If a mere escort knight is this strong, imagine the empire's Sword Masters and the Emperor—'"
Lea recited it like a newspaper headline.
It truly showcased her ruler's poise.
"It's a crueler way to flaunt the empire's might to them."
If I revealed myself as a Grand Master outright, the enemy nations would shy away from challenges.
This solved that while humiliating them too.
In this regard, Lea resembled Rozanna's cunning scheming.
"First, Richard lays down the law. Then we send in an ordinary escort knight, and they'll relax."
Lea folded her arms alone as she explained her scheme.
Her full figure was accentuated by them.
"When they let their guard down, you strike—for maximum despair."
The empire's First Imperial Princess elegantly rubbed her red lips with her index finger.
Her lioness-sharp eyes gazed toward the southern horizon.
"Understood. I'll follow your command."
I gazed fondly at the princess, who was such a reliable ally.
As our eyes met, she shot me an enigmatic look.
"Anything else, Your Highness?"
"..."
The empire's First Imperial Princess didn't answer right away.
Instead, she narrowed her eyes, lost in thought.
Her blank expression used to be unreadable.
But after meeting Rozanna, I could guess.
When Lea narrowed her eyes like that, she was plotting something sly.
'If only the Emperor could see that face...!'
"Veil."
"Yes, Your Highness."
As I replied, Lea reached into her jacket's inner pocket.
Then...
"Look at this for a moment?"
She showed me a small, lustrous orb.
"Yes...? What is it?"
I tilted my head, staring at the orb.
Lea whispered in a queenly, sensual voice.
"How does it make you feel?"
How does it make me feel?
It's just beautiful, like gazing at ocean waves.
But suspecting it might be a test, I held my tongue for a moment.
It looked like a new gem I'd acquired.
Why would Lea, who never fussed with accessories, show me this?
"..."
Lea watched my uncharacteristic silence with a meaningful gaze.
She seemed satisfied with my reaction.
"Not sure... It vaguely lifts my mood, I guess."
Lea nodded slowly at my dazed response.
She covered her lips with her index finger and asked cautiously.
Like a girl who'd learned some intriguing psychology test.
"We arrive today, and tomorrow's the friendly matches between our nations. Must be a hassle, right?"
Her sudden sharp question.
I pressed my lips together briefly.
'What's her angle...?'
Normally, I'd play it off: 'Nah, no way—it's an honor as an imperial knight!'
But Lea knew me too well to buy the lie.
So why ask such an obvious, pointless question?
There had to be a trick.
"Yes, honestly, it's a hassle."
I twisted it back with blunt honesty.
I'd expected Lea to don her icy mask at my impudence.
"...!"
But no.
The princess's face lit up with unexpected joy upon hearing my answer.
She hid it well, but her wide blue eyes betrayed her.
Like an alchemist triumphant over a successful experiment.
"Really?"
"Yes, sorry. Haha..."
Lea stared at my awkward laugh.
Then she cleared her throat, regaining her composure.
"Well, fair enough. I like the honesty."
Lea casually tucked the orb away, acting unfazed.
But her throat seemed dry; she pulled water from the saddlebag behind her.
Transparent droplets traced her beautiful jawline.
They slid into her deep collarbone, slightly dampening the curves of her ample blouse.
"Now, your thoughts on the succession?"
Succession.
I turned to Lea seriously at those words.
It was the weightiest topic yet.
"On the succession...?"
"Yes. Thanks to you, Leon's position has recovered nicely. But he said he won't claim the throne."
The Emperor's eldest son had renounced his claim.
That left the next in line as the prime candidate...
"If I become the next Emperor."
It was Lea Andalusia herself.
"..."
Approaching noon.
Under the warm sunlight, we rode forth to deal with the empire's final foe.
Her golden hair gleamed radiantly in the sun.
Through her tresses, Lea's blue eyes met mine.
They asked me earnestly.
"Would you still treat me the same?"
Curious as she was about my true feelings, Lea offered a wistful smile I'd never seen before.
The mood turned solemn for me too.
"..."
When we first met, I'd thought of her only as a talented recruiter.
I'd pegged her as cold and calculating.
But the more I learned, the deeper her qualities revealed themselves.
She stood by her subordinates to the end, taking responsibility.
She saw them not as mere pawns, but as partners to grow alongside.
Recalling that, I could smile at her heavy question.
She had every quality to be a wise ruler.
"Of course, Your Highness."
I smiled genuinely at the princess, my narrow eyes curving like crescent moons.
"I'll always serve you with the same heart."
Lea parted her lips at my smile.
She fell silent for a long while, lost in thought.
A cool autumn breeze announced the season.
Her abundant golden locks danced beautifully.
Amid them, Lea's full, vibrant red lips curved into a smile.
"Got it. Mikhail."
Relieved, Lea drew a deep breath.
She gripped the reins firmly and said.
"Let's go. It's a solid four days to the southern front."
"Understood."
We rode side by side.
Midway, Lea's gaze drifted to Mago's carriage.
Remembering something, she asked softly.
"By the way, Veil."
"Yes, speak freely."
Lea, in her uniform cap, stared straight ahead as she asked.
"You were petting that girl Mago's head earlier."
Curious about her intent, I tilted my head.
Lea covered her lips with her fist and cleared her throat.
"No, forget I said anything."
The empire's First Imperial Princess coughed awkwardly and focused on riding.
I stared at Lea, who'd been acting oddly since showing me the orb.
Then I noticed a pine needle on her cap.
Likely from the earlier autumn gust.
"Your Highness, hold still a moment."
I rose slightly in the saddle.
With my palm, I brushed her cap to flick off the needle.
"...!"
The princess froze at my action.
She stared blankly as I gently patted her head, then settled back silently.
"Why the face?"
"Oh, it's nothing..."
Lea coughed repeatedly, startled.
She muttered to herself quietly.
"It works perfectly. Even unspoken commands...?"
"Yes...? Commands?"
At my question, Lea composed herself and shook her head hastily.
"No, nothing."
Flustered, her imperial speech slipped out.
She spurred ahead alone.
"Before deep hypnosis, they said to test it gradually... so I did."
As she distanced herself, Lea pressed a hand to her ample chest.
Calming her racing heart, she swallowed hard.
"If it's this effective in the early stage, I wonder how potent it'll be at night."
Lea bit her lip as her mouth curved into a girlish smile unbidden.
Lately, the sharpness in her eyes had softened, which worried her.