A Night Raid on Sancennes
Rika carefully took my big toe into her mouth. Her soft tongue moved, tickling my skin. "Haah... slurrp... haah..." She was, in every sense of the word, a pet dog. Rika obeyed my command without a single shred of resistance.
To think it would work this smoothly... Even with the help of the Hypnotic Incense, the speed of Rika's corruption far exceeded my expectations. Perhaps she had harbored this kind of desire deep within her all along—a perverted craving she hadn't even recognized herself.
I smiled faintly as I watched Rika, who was utterly absorbed in licking my foot with an adorable expression I had never seen on her before.
Carmel believed Rika had been released from the holy city. Naturally, she wouldn't have the slightest inkling of the truth—that her beloved subordinate was currently acting as my dog, devotedly licking my feet.
It wasn't hard to imagine how Carmel would react when she eventually learned the truth. She would tremble with rage, interrogate me in a voice dripping with venom, and ultimately pour out all her hatred toward me.
It was something I had prepared myself for ever since I first confined Rika here. No, "prepared" isn't the right word. I was looking forward to that moment. I wanted to see Carmel drenched in intense emotion, whether it be anger, sorrow, or hatred. Even now, just imagining the tears Carmel shed when I first captured Rika sends a shiver of excitement down my spine.
Yet, my feelings now weren't limited to pure anticipation. When I imagined Carmel condemning me in a sharp, biting voice, a different emotion crept in alongside the thrilling excitement. It was a feeling that could only be described as anxiety.
If I had never possessed her in the first place, I wouldn't have to fear losing her. But now that she had been within my grasp, even once, I dreaded the thought of returning to a state of having lost her.
Of course, I didn't regret it. Rika was a card I absolutely had to secure. Just because my current circumstances had changed didn't mean my past decision was wrong. Besides, there was no turning back now.
"Princess... Sera...?" Seeing my solemn expression, Rika paused her duties as a dog and looked up at me.
Looking down at her, a rather wicked thought crossed my mind. While it was impossible to undo what had been done, it was entirely possible to conceal it. If what I had done to Rika, or even Rika's very existence, threatened to come between Carmel and me... the solution was remarkably simple. Carmel had no idea where Rika was anyway. All Rika had to do was disappear. I could sell her off to a brothel in some far-off city for a pittance, or... in her current state, Rika would accept any command I gave her. Even an order to end her own life.
"You may stop now, Rika." At my command, Rika immediately ceased her licking. She remained in her canine posture, waiting for her next order.
Watching her, I made up my mind. I would not harm Rika. It wasn't out of some sudden burst of sympathy or mercy, nor was it because I found her innocent loyalty endearing. It was because Carmel undoubtedly cherished Rika. If I erased Rika from this world, Carmel would spend the rest of her days searching for her, left with a void that could never be filled. While it was true that I wanted to see all of Carmel's various expressions, I had no desire to see her like that. Therefore, I would make Rika face Carmel once more—along with everything I had done to her. Though, of course, I had absolutely no intention of apologizing.
Of course, not right this moment. I had a mountain of other matters to resolve before adding Rika to the mix.
"Princess...?" Rika looked up at me again in silence, her honorifics still carrying a slightly awkward cadence.
I smiled down at her and spoke.
"It is nothing. Now, shall we continue what we were doing? Come up onto the bed, Rika." As I spoke, I tapped the whip against my palm with a sharp thwack. A cruel, faint smile naturally played upon my lips.
I'm back later than I thought... The moon was already high in the sky. I slipped into the royal palace, pulling my hood down low. Officially, I was supposed to have gone to bed early this evening. To avoid having to make up excuses, I crept back toward my room, doing my best to avoid the maids' eyes.
Just then, a voice spoke from right beside me. "You have returned, Princess." The calm voice belonged to Filgret. Masking my surprise, I replied.
"Y-you startled me. Wait, don't tell me you were standing here waiting for me?"
"No. Since you must pass through this corridor to come up from the gate, I merely timed my arrival."
"And how did you know I would be arriving just now?"
"By your scent, of course."
"...My scent..." This man possessed such bizarre, superhuman abilities. Come to think of it, it was rather chilling. With a sense of smell that keen, wouldn't he be able to guess exactly where I had been and what I had been doing?
"A-anyway... what is the matter? I assume you didn't stop me just to offer your evening greetings?"
"Indeed. A request for aid has arrived from Baron Roberts. The details are here." He handed me a slip of torn paper folded several times. On it, written in a handwriting far more rushed and frantic than last time, was a single sentence.
Please help me!!
"This is...?"
"The man who delivered this was a commoner living near Sancennes Academy. He said a boy with a frantic expression threw it from a window of Sancennes Academy, begging him to deliver it to the Knight Order. The commoner likely had no idea the boy was Baron William Roberts."
"Have you assessed the situation?"
"Upon inquiring at his estate, it appears he did not return home even after all his classes had ended. The coachman assigned to pick him up waited in front of the school gates all day, but he never showed himself."
William had sent his plea for help from inside the academy. That meant his disappearance must have occurred within its walls as well. "A kidnapping... Whoever is behind this is using rather direct methods. Even if his family was demoted, he is still a titled noble... This must be the work of someone with enough status to cover up such a crime."
Carmel was the first person who came to mind, but... she had no real reason to target William. Yet, this wasn't something any random thug could pull off either. Sancennes Academy was a prestigious institution where only the children of the kingdom's highest nobility could attend. It was impossible for ordinary kidnappers to abduct someone from within its grounds. In all likelihood, the Noble Council was involved.
"Yes. What are your orders?"
"This is actually a perfect opportunity. They must have known that I, Sera Rustier, am William Roberts's official guardian, yet they dared to commit such an outrage. I must ensure they pay dearly for insulting the royal family."
At my response, a faint smile touched Filgret's lips. "I figured you would say as much. In that case, I shall prepare the men so we can set out first thing tomorrow morning—"
"Tomorrow morning? No, we are going right now."
"At this hour, Princess?"
"Yes. Even at this very moment, they are likely attempting to 'persuade' William Roberts. The longer we delay, the less likely it is that a mere boy like him will be able to hold out."
For now, William Roberts's life was likely not in immediate danger. If their goal was to force him to hand over the management of his family's assets, they needed him alive. However, this world possessed all kinds of methods to test a human's willpower, including magic. For instance, something like the Hypnotic Incense. No matter how extraordinary his mind might be, he was still just a young boy. Even without magic, there was a high probability he might break under threats or light torture. That was the reason for my haste.
"Understood. I shall wake the men immediately." Filgret nodded firmly in response.
"I have heard the news as well—that young William has not returned home. But what of it?" Marchioness Juliana Sancennes, the Chairwoman of Sancennes Academy, wore an expression of utter annoyance. She made no effort to hide her irritation, even in the presence of the princess.
"You are surely aware that I, Sera Rustier, am his official guardian. Since it is highly likely his disappearance occurred within the academy, it is only natural that we search the campus first."
"Sigh..." Even in the face of the lined-up knights, Juliana did not seem particularly intimidated. Draped in a luxurious fur coat that still retained most of its original shape, she sighed with an insolent attitude.
"You may search as you please, Princess Sera. Though I assure you, it will be entirely pointless. Furthermore, this is a sacred place of education with a long history and tradition. To bring armed soldiers here in the middle of the night and cause such a commotion... I am sure His Majesty the King would be deeply proud of you."
A crooked smirk played on Juliana's lips. She was strangely confident. Did that mean William was already no longer inside the academy? In contrast to her sneer, I offered a gentle smile and spoke.
"Of course. Father is always proud of me. And if, by some unfortunate chance, it is revealed that an unsavory incident has occurred within this sacred place of education, I am afraid you, Marchioness, will find it difficult to escape responsibility."
"Hmph..." Ignoring Juliana's rude snort, I ordered the knights I had brought with me to thoroughly search every corner of the academy.