Chapter 83

“Your Highness! You must not overlook this! We must investigate every noble in the vicinity…!”

 

“How am I supposed to investigate so many people? Fortunately, I wasn’t hurt. Let’s just pass it off as an incident.”

 

The knight pounded his chest in frustration. It was only natural for him to be in such an uproar, given that his life had been threatened during a sudden outing. But arresting and investigating everyone? I wanted to avoid such a tedious ordeal.

 

“Fran, let’s go. I need to leave this place.”

 

Fran’s face brightened, and I quickened my pace. However, just as I was about to turn away, my eyes met Fedeshar’s.

 

‘Huh? Is Fedeshar getting…?’

 

I thought he was coming closer to me, and he really was.

 

“Lady Lepina, it’s been a long time. Has it been since the Academy?”

 

The onlookers stole glances at us. I gave an awkward smile and replied.

 

“……It seems so, Your Highness.”

 

“Perhaps it’s because I see you so often in the newspapers, but it doesn’t feel like it’s been that long. You certainly have a way of trailing rumors around you, My Lady.”

 

Fedeshar curled the corners of his mouth into a smile. He didn’t look like a man who had just had a brush with death. By the way, why talk to me so suddenly? Isn’t it dangerous?

 

Whatever he made of my expression, he looked back at the carriage behind him and brushed it off as if it were nothing.

 

“It happens all the time.”

 

The sight of Fedeshar murmuring bitterly with a mournful expression was enough to evoke pity. I shifted my eyes around nervously. Unlike Bastien, who had spirit arts, Fedeshar lacked the power to protect himself, which is why he always mobilized so many Imperial Knights. At the Academy, the Emperor had even assigned his own personal shadows to him instead.

 

“……Where were you headed, Your Highness?”

 

“I was on my way to a banquet after receiving an invitation, but it’s been ruined.”

 

Fedeshar shrugged, as if saying it couldn’t be helped.

 

“I apologize to everyone as well. We will settle this quickly and clear the way for you.”

 

Because of him, many carriages were backed up behind us, so Fedeshar personally bowed his head. The crowd went into a frenzy, waving their hands and insisting he shouldn’t apologize.

 

“Shouldn’t catching the assassin who threatened Your Highness’s life be the priority?!”

 

“That’s right!”

 

Meanwhile, behind them, the nobles whispered in small voices.

 

“The Empress is truly terrifying in that regard…….”

 

“I know, right?…….”

 

Leaving the chattering nobles behind, I quietly took a step back. It was to escape this place. My head was already spinning from being involved with the Empress and Bastien; I didn’t want to get tangled up with Fedeshar as well. I felt sorry for him, but still.

 

“This worked out well.”

 

“……Pardon?”

 

“I’ve been wanting to speak with Lady Lepina anyway. As it happens, I’ve been assigned to accompany you to the Delta Territory. In that sense, I wanted to discuss various things. I haven’t been briefed on anything yet…….”

 

To think he would bring that up here. I blinked slowly.

 

Ah, I should have just listened to the coachman and waited inside. It was too late for regrets now.

 

Ultimately, the Imperial Knights split into two groups: one to manage the carriage and the other to pursue the assassin. Furthermore, since it would take time to procure a new carriage and request reinforcements from the Imperial Guard, I ended up spending time with him.

 

Because of the recent assassination attempt, I found myself squeezed between the Imperial Knights, who were guarding with heightened vigilance. Fran stood firmly behind me, looking awkward.

 

“You don’t need to be so tense.”

 

“I-I see.”

 

Fortunately, perhaps because I had a history of saving Fedeshar before, the Imperial Knights weren’t hostile toward me. Were they all the Emperor’s people?

 

“Lady Lepina, I heard you were personally briefed by the Empress regarding the Delta family matter.”

 

“It just happened to turn out that way. You’re accompanying us as well, Your Highness?”

 

“My father was quite adamant about it. It’s troublesome for me as well. I would think my older brother is enough to be loved by the people.”

 

I carefully observed him as he responded with a self-deprecating smile. I couldn’t tell if he truly had low self-esteem or if he was simply being realistic.

 

“Your Highness, saying such things in a place like this is……”

 

Moreover, we weren’t in a private place; it was a café-like atmosphere frequented by other nobles. However, Fedeshar said plainly that it was simply the truth.

 

Looking at his beaming expression—so unlike the gloomy knights surrounding him—I didn’t know what to say.

 

“This time, too, he unilaterally informed me that since my brother is going, I must go as well. He tells me to resolve the issue, but he only mentions things like the suffering caused by the drought, so I don’t know anything for certain.”

 

“……Knowing that much is enough. By the way, the reason you are telling me this is……”

 

You and I are classmates. Nothing more, nothing less!

 

Suddenly, Bastien’s behavior at the lakeside last time flashed through my mind. It was an uncomfortable situation, like swallowing a mouthful of sand.

 

‘He isn’t like that too, is he?’

 

One might think I was being arrogant, but after that major ordeal, I couldn’t help but be suspicious.

 

“I simply wanted to chat about this and that. And for that matter, I’d like us to become close enough to share our inner thoughts.”

 

I mean, what is the reason for that? Why do you want to be friends who share secrets?

 

“Lady Lepina, don’t you know well enough? That I have no interest in the throne. I even got an earful from Lord Weiss. He asked me if I was uninterested anyway.”

 

Though he didn’t say it explicitly, what he meant hit me clearly. My lips quivered. I had sensed it implicitly, but to say it so boldly here?

 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Your Highness. To be honest, you and I were just Academy classmates; it’s not like we had much interaction.”

 

“It makes me quite sad to hear you say that. But you’re not wrong. Even when I tried to interact with you, My Lady, you were always so busy. However, don’t we have something in common?”

 

I snapped my head up. Before me was Fedeshar, resting his chin on his hand with a sly smile. But there was a strange emotion in that smile. It was a pleasant smile, yet there was a trace of anger hidden within it.

 

“Incidents like today’s are on the same line. You must have had experiences similar to mine, My Lady. We could have a very good relationship.”

 

I stood up abruptly. I realized that if I listened to him any further, I would be forced to make another major choice.

 

An incident like today’s. That meant an assassination, and he was asking if I hadn’t also almost been killed by the Empress.

 

I wanted to believe it was my misunderstanding, but Fedeshar had subtly dropped hints like this to me several times before.

 

“Isn’t that obvious? Your Highness is someone who might rule this Empire in the future. If Your Highness says you wish to maintain a good relationship with me, it would be a great honor.”

 

Fedeshar smacked his lips in disappointment.

 

“……My, I’ve been rejected.”

 

“You say the most uncomfortable things.”

 

I didn’t avoid Fedeshar’s gaze as he stared intently at me. From the way he narrowed his eyes and let out a small sigh, I could tell I hadn’t given the reaction he planned for.

 

“Then, as a classmate, let me give you a piece of advice. My brother has changed a bit lately.”

 

“……You mean Prince Bastien?”

 

“Ah, ‘changed’ might be the wrong word. Would it be more accurate to say…… he has begun to reveal his true colors? Everyone is greedy, after all.”

 

‘Greed, while talking about Bastien?’

 

Just as I was trying to gauge what he meant, a knight approached from a distance.

 

“I’m told the carriage is ready. It’s a pity, but let’s continue this conversation slowly next time. There are too many eyes and ears here, after all.”

 

Leaving those words behind, Fedeshar vanished under the escort of his knights. I slumped into my chair. Then, I crossed my arms and started thinking hard.

 

Fedeshar’s story was simple, in a way. He was appealing to me that he had no interest in the throne, and rather, his goal lay elsewhere.

 

And that was the Empress. He was subtly testing me, asking if I wasn’t also being targeted by her.

 

“A proposal, huh……”

 

If it’s a proposal, it would probably be something like becoming allies to take down the Empress.

 

Considering his position, it was natural for him to think that way. Even if Bastien ascended to the throne, the Empress was not the type to leave an unstable obstacle by her side. She would try her hardest to eliminate him. Regardless of Bastien’s opinion.

 

“Honestly, people at the bottom end up dying because of the whims of those at the top.”

 

Just as I was letting out a small sigh, I heard the sound of someone tapping on the table. My head already hurts—who is it now?

 

“E-Evan? How are you here……? No, more importantly, how long have you been here?”

 

Standing before me was Evan, grinning broadly.

 

I instinctively averted my gaze. This was the first time I’d seen him since the banquet. I couldn’t even remember how I got home that night or what Evan had said. It wasn’t my first kiss, but I never expected him to do it there!

 

‘I don’t know if I should even categorize that as a kiss…… Honestly, our lips didn’t even touch.’

 

Without realizing it, I stared intently at Evan’s lips.

 

“……It’s embarrassing when Lep stares like that……”

 

The man who had nonchalantly kissed me was now blushing, covering his lips with his palm because I was staring.

 

Evan naturally took the seat where Fedeshar had been sitting.

 

“But why are you here?”

 

“T-That’s…… I had some business at the merchant guild for a moment.”

 

“It’s been two hours since you left, and you’re still here?”

 

H-how did he know that?

 

“No, on the way, there was an accident up ahead and the road was blocked, and it turned out to be Prince Fedeshar. So we were just talking for a bit. But Evan, how did you get here?”

 

There are so many shops nearby; there was no way he could have found exactly where I was.

 

At that, Evan stared at me for a moment, then let out a small sigh.