Something Suspicious
The suspicious bandits' help kept coming.
"You said there wouldn't be anyone targeting our carriage."
"...There were."
At my words, Lucy scratched her cheek, looking embarrassed, while Clue let out a small sigh.
"Something feels a bit off, doesn't it."
"Off?"
"For starters, Princess Lily or Princess Rabir wouldn't try to kill you, Master."
"I hope not."
If they were being so nice to my face but plotting to kill me behind my back, even I might start losing faith in humanity.
"Those two princesses wouldn't harm Prince Theodor. They might harm each other, though."
Lucy nodded in agreement with Clue's words.
"It's the same at social gatherings, too."
"Huh?"
"Basically, every faction has its rivalries."
Lucy raised a finger, her golden hair swaying.
"Princess Lily doesn't get along with Princess Rabir's faction... and vice versa, Princess Rabir's faction doesn't get along with Princess Lily's."
"I see."
Well, that's what faction wars are all about.
"But we're different."
"Different how?"
"Well..."
Lucy trailed off.
"If I had to put it into words, the other sides don't mess with us much either."
"Hm."
Like kimchi side dishes—harmless and ignored.
"Isn't that a good thing?"
"It's convenient, but it hurts our pride."
I got what she meant. I nodded at Lucy's troubled expression.
"You have your own strengths, but it feels like you're being overlooked?"
"Pretty much."
"Got it."
"Besides, you're not exactly the type to aggressively build a faction..."
"Me?"
I thought I'd been working pretty hard at it.
"Compared to the princesses, you're a bit lacking in the finer details."
"...Master, take the advisor's words with a grain of salt. Don't let it get to you."
Clue tapped the back of my hand, and Lucy, seeing that, hurriedly continued.
"Of course, thanks to Your Highness's generous heart and, ours is the largest in sheer size...!"
Lucy glared at Clue, who crossed her arms and met her gaze. The two exchanged looks for a moment before Lucy turned back to me.
"Of course, with me by your side providing excellent support..."
Lucy cleared her throat with a cough and looked at me.
"No need to worry—I'm handling everything just fine."
"...Just be careful not to get bitten by the dog you're raising."
Clue responded calmly to Lucy, who shot her a glance—but then a thud echoed from up ahead.
"Bandits again?"
"It stopped too smoothly for that."
Lucy opened the window, and after a knight chatted with her, she turned to me.
"They say escorts from the Cassius Kingdom have arrived."
Ah, so that's what it was.
"If we didn't arrive safely, that would be a problem in its own right."
"More than a problem, I'd say."
Mother would throw a fit. Leaning back comfortably with that thought.
At least now, nothing else should happen.
Whether thanks to the Cassius Kingdom's escorts or not, no more interference came after that.
"...The attacks stopped the moment the kingdom's troops showed up."
Clue muttered with a groan. I knew what she was getting at.
"Don't be too suspicious for now."
"Suspicion is my job."
Clue smiled softly, and as the three of us chatted idly again, someone knocked on the carriage door.
"We've arrived, Your Highness."
Took quite a while. Thinking that, I stepped out the door, and the kingdom's scenery unfolded before my eyes.
In this world, there was only one place I knew: the empire.
And it drove home once more just how narrow my world had been.
"The scenery is different."
Honestly, it wasn't on the empire's grand scale. But it was different. The atmosphere, the clothes, the people—everything.
Strange? Surprising? Something like that.
"I've rarely seen Master make that face except when learning new magic or swordsmanship."
Clue gave a wry smile, while
"..."
Lucy just stared at me blankly.
I didn't know why she was looking like that, but anyway.
"It's fascinating."
My murmur drew chuckles from the others.
"It is fascinating, right?"
Clue smiled.
"...As long as Your Highness likes it."
And Lucy smiled softly, following Clue's lead.
Soon, someone appeared before us. A middle-aged man.
"Prince Theodor, thank you for visiting the Cassius Kingdom."
The man bowed slightly to me and continued.
"I am Leon Cassius. And this is..."
A girl stood beside him. Fiery red hair.
But her impression was different from his. If Rabir had a lively, fierce vibe and Lily a quiet, gentle one, this girl seemed to have both.
And I understood why everyone rated her the same way.
She's pretty.
Even I, who'd seen countless beauties, thought so.
Not leagues above my sisters, Clue, Isfil, or even Lucy—but if asked if others were prettier than her, I'd say no.
That was the extent of it. Not enough to leave me staring.
I casually shifted my gaze back to Leon Cassius, meeting his eyes as he looked at me.
"This is my daughter, Tina."
"Tina Cassius."
The girl called Tina bowed slightly in greeting, and I returned the nod while looking at her.
"Yes, Theodor Adelio Castina."
"...You must be tired from the journey. Rest well."
Cough. Leon cleared his throat and looked at me, and
"..."
only then did I realize everyone else was watching me.
Right. Here, I'm the leader.
"Thank you for your warm hospitality."
I nodded, and only then did the others move as if on cue. The carriages loaded with gifts and luggage headed elsewhere, and our escorts returned to their duties. Knights tethered horses, servants handled baggage.
"..."
I need to stay sharp.
Without Mother or my sisters here, my words represent the empire.
My stomach suddenly ached from the pressure. I'd have to watch my words and actions even more carefully.
By the time I pulled myself together, we were at the palace entrance.
"...Tina will guide you from here."
At the king's words, Tina nodded and met my eyes.
"Your Highness, I'll show you the way."
Does the princess personally show rooms to guests here? Or because I'm from the empire?
I glanced questioningly at Lucy and Clue, but since they said nothing, it must be normal.
With that, I followed Tina.
As we walked the quiet corridor,
"As expected of Prince Theodor."
"Pardon?"
What was that about? I looked at her in confusion, and she smiled, meeting my eyes.
"Your self-control, your ability to lead others—everything feels like something I should learn from."
"Uh, um. Thank you."
"Feel free to speak casually."
"No, I..."
We're not close enough for that. I shook my head, and she gave a subtle expression.
Why's she like that? I'm tired.
"I hear you're talented in both martial arts and magic..."
"No talent there."
"And so humble..."
"No, really, no talent."
"..."
In my mind, the benchmark for talent was Lily and Rabir. If I wasn't better than them, I couldn't call it talent.
I had no confidence in surpassing them, so I said I had none.
"And even the title of saint..."
Cough. Tina cleared her throat and kept praising me,
"Ah, no."
I was sweating bullets, desperately deflecting her compliments.
How long did this back-and-forth last?
"...This is your room."
Our eyes met again as Tina looked at me oddly in front of the door.
"Rest here."
"Ah... yes, thank you."
"..."
"..."
"...You can go now."
"...Yes, thank you."
Tina bowed slightly to me and left.
As the door clicked shut, I let out a sigh of relief.
"Master, you're really... an iron wall."
"Huh?"
"I don't need to worry about Your Highness after all."
"Wh-what do you mean."
Bombarded by praise from Clue and Lucy, I could only stand there dazed.
Princess Tina Cassius of the Cassius Kingdom gritted her teeth as she walked away.
"..."
She'd thought her looks could hold their own.
No. She'd never seen anyone prettier than herself—so how could he not spare her a single glance?
She squeezed her eyes shut.
No. She had to do better. She must do better...
Only then could she save her country.
"..."
Tina gritted her teeth and crossed the corridor.
And a middle-aged man, who had been hanging from the ceiling watching her, slowly descended.
"The kingdom's security is lax."
"We're just that good."
"But we got wrecked by one kid."
"That wasn't human."
The man removed his mask as he listened to his muttering comrades.
"Keep a close eye. That princess is suspicious."
Something was stirring again, unbeknownst to Theodor.