Chapter 93

Camping becomes familiar by the third time, though.

I can't afford to oversleep, so I might as well get up.

Actually, I woke up because the half-finished tent was flapping in the morning breeze.

"Good morning, Wearrel."

"This is Lady Asha. You're up early. Is there something wrong?"

"No, I just woke up early. I'll get dressed myself, so you can take it easy, Wearrel."

I called out to Wearrel, who was keeping watch outside the tent.

Then I washed my face and changed clothes inside the tent.

Normally, I would call Nomalior or a maid, but they must be tired from the unfamiliar journey, even if we're traveling by carriage.

Looking outside, the sun had just started to rise, and it would be rude to wake them up.

(Sephirah, are you there?)

(I just returned.)

(Where were you today? Did you see anyone wandering around at night?)

Sephirah doesn't sleep, so she goes out during the night to pass the time.

This has been the case since the palace days, but now that we're out of the palace, there are many things she hasn't touched before, and she seems to be enjoying the natural world.

I've also been entertained by listening to her stories during the journey.

Separately, when we camp, people tend to appear to spy on the defenseless tent.

Of course, I'm on guard against assassins, so there are simple tripwires set up inside the tent, and the tireless Sephirah has also cast magical protections.

However, I think it's probably just reconnaissance.

After all, their goal is to keep me away, so there's no real need to obstruct my path.

If they were to seriously target my life, it would be after we've left the capital or on the way back.

(Nearby forest scanned. Found wild goldroot within walking distance.)

(What, wild species? The one that can only be grown in the palace during good weather?)

It seems Sephirah has found a rare herb.

It's a yellow root that looks unassuming but is called "gold" because it can treat most internal ailments.

The wild species is more effective, and it's only a ten-minute round trip away.

However, if I go to get it, Wearrel will probably come with me.

It would be unfair to him, and I'd need to wake up the others to have someone stay behind.

(It's completely light outside now. If I use optical camouflage to go and come back, it might not be noticed in ten minutes.)

(Acknowledged.)

Just thinking about it, Sephirah agreed and activated the optical camouflage.

Well, since I decided to do it, I should hurry and get it over with...

"I panicked and messed up."

I sat down in the forest and muttered to myself.

Everything was fine until I dug up the goldroot, but I got careless on the way back and ran into two guards who were walking in the forest.

Sephirah didn't warn me, so I was caught off guard and slipped.

"......Oh."

"What's going on, oh."

The two guards looked at me as I slid down.

They didn't see me when I fell due to the optical camouflage, but they heard the sound and peeked in.

We made eye contact as I lay at the bottom of the slope.

The optical camouflage had failed when I fell, and the guards, seeing me, tried to leave with a look of disgust.

"Did you hear something? Is someone there? Oh, could it be... Are you alright?"

A woman's voice called out, and the sound of someone sliding down the slope followed.

A female knight-like figure appeared from a position where the guards couldn't see, at the same low level as me.

She had black hair in a ponytail and orange eyes that showed a strong will.

She was an elf with pointed ears, wearing a military uniform.

"Is this the First Prince? Are you injured?"

"No, I just slipped while walking. I think I landed well. The only damage is to my shoes."

I was just dirty from the leaf litter.

Oh, and my socks too.

Looking up, the two guards were still there.

However, when our eyes met with the black-haired elf, they left without a word.

"Huh? Hey! Aren't you going to help the Prince!?"

"Oh, it's fine. They probably think they were demoted by the Emperor for some reason."

"Huh?"

"I recognize one of them. A long time ago, when I was about three, they tried to make me kneel during a meeting with the Emperor and were scolded. I think they feel they were demoted for that."

Now, I only travel with the bob-cut, but in the past, there were others and people in various uniforms.

The number decreased because they weren't as subtle as the bob-cut.

There used to be someone in charge of opening and closing the door in front of my room, but the others were left at the boundary with the main building.

They were noisy and obstructive, so my father distanced himself from everyone except the bob-cut.

"Well, if they were to put their hand on the hilt of their sword in front of me, it wouldn't just be a demotion."

I looked at the two guards hiding in the trees, pretending to have left.

The black-haired elf had already noticed something and was looking in that direction.

According to Sephirah, one of them had their hand on the hilt.

The guard who had been demoted by the Emperor.

"......They seem to have really left this time. Are they really guards?"

"They are real."

The black-haired elf helped me up.

I could see anger in her face.

When she noticed my gaze, she showed a concerned expression, indicating she was angry on my behalf.

"There are precedents of guards who put their hand on the hilt in front of me being dismissed, so I think their colleagues will stop them from overreacting to avoid getting involved."

I said this as a warning.

According to Sephirah, the one who didn't grab the sword stopped and dragged the other away.

The guards who were told to protect me by the Emperor resent being demoted because of me.

It's troublesome when they fawn like military officers, but their resistance is also problematic.

This unpleasant personnel decision was probably made by one of the dukes.

The carefully chosen people are deliberately difficult to work with.

"So, what's your name? I want to know your name to thank you."

"I just did what was expected. But if you insist, I will answer. I am Selinuntia Rikten Sarvill, the commander of the headquarters' attached squad management platoon."

"Thank you, Commander Sarvill. Can you escort me back to the tent?"

"Of course."

She's serious.

And she doesn't seem to be from a noble family.

Her name doesn't sound like an imperial baptismal name, so she might not be from the empire.

Is it strange that someone who doesn't value respect for the emperor treats me as a prince?

"You seem to have wandered quite far from the tent. Did you get separated from your companions?"

"Oh, it's just over there. I saw something rare and went to get it quietly."

I showed her the goldroot I had dug up, and Commander Sarvill was surprised.

"Was this growing wild? And you could recognize it. You have excellent knowledge."

I was unexpectedly praised wholeheartedly.

I think Commander Sarvill, who knows about the rare goldroot, is also impressive.

"Oh, look. Over there...... It seems we've been found out."

"Is it so close? Did I walk that far?"

Commander Sarvill looked around suspiciously.

I was more focused on the silent pressure from Icto at the edge of the forest.

Then, Wearrel couldn't help but run over to me.

"Lady Asha, you should have called out......!"

"Sorry, I intended to return quickly, but I fell. Commander Sarvill helped me get back."

"Thank you."

"No, you must be in a difficult position. The First Prince is knowledgeable and quick to seize opportunities, but he should take better care of himself."

Commander Sarvill warned me about going out alone, but she didn't seem to have a bad impression of me.

"......Is this what Wald was talking about?"

Commander Sarvill left, so I couldn't confirm, but it was a name I recognized.

Before I could think about it, I had to tell my close aides what happened in the forest.

"Rikten? That's the clan name of Duke Wald, isn't it? She must be an elf from the same clan."

Wearrel, who is half-elf, immediately answered.

I remember their hair and eye colors are the same, but I hadn't paid much attention to the genetics of physical traits in this world.

Of course, after that, I was scolded by Helcof, who arrived late, as well.

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