The Final Showdown And Motsunabe - Behind The Scenes

“I see, so the incident has come to an end.”

“Yes, Princess.”

“Very well, Shuri is there. While we are at it, it would be fine to enjoy his cooking after such a long time.”

“What about the official letter?”

“Let’s see. If they do not mention it, fine. If they do, we need only say, ‘If it has been confirmed that the facts render him innocent, then as long as we can confirm that, it is well’. It was originally a scheme where obtaining Shuri was the main goal, and success would be a bonus anyway.”

I spoke thus to the spy who had returned, and leaned back against the seat of the carriage to think.

Visiting as Tebis Niewbist. I have lost most of the purpose for it.

Although I said that to the spy, even if I visit like this now, it will probably turn out to be nothing more than a good spectacle.

A few days ago, I learned through information from my spy that Shuri was being held captive in Sunity. It was content that made me doubt my ears, but there was no way the spy unit I trusted would tell a lie. When I knew it was a fact, I thought this was an opportunity.

First, inquire about the reason for capturing a cook with whom I am on close terms. This can be used as an official reason for visiting, allowing me to visit Sunity while maintaining my position as Princess. Normally, I could only use my authority as an ‘envoy’, but if it is as an ‘investigation into the reason for an unjust capture’, I can use my authority as a ‘Princess’ representing the country. Even if it is somewhat unreasonable, there are parts that are forgiven if it’s a ‘Princess’.

Next, the pursuit of the incident in which the cook was involved. Since someone I am on close terms with was involved in an incident and locked up in jail. It is only natural to want to confirm that. Well, whatever the reason may be, I thought it would be fine if I could pursue it as the responsibility of the other side, draw out a trade review and an apology, and if luck turned out well, even turn Sunity into a vassal state.

And the most important thing was the ‘handover of the cook for the purpose of fact-checking’.

To put it plainly, I had laid out a double gain with this.

One was that if they handed him over quietly, Sunity’s position could be made lower than Niewbist’s. Allowing a criminal to be handed over to another country to be punished means either there is a legitimate reason to hand him over because he is a person of that country, or they are cowards who entrust the judgment of criminals to another country. Judging a crime that occurred in one’s own territory within that territory is originally only natural. Handing him over is to prove legitimacy toward that country.

And the second was one of the legitimate reasons I mentioned earlier: ‘being a person of that country’. In other words, the moment the handover was established, I aimed to brandish this legitimate reason and ‘pull Shuri in as a Niewbist person’.

If this were established, I intended to immediately employ Shuri at the castle as a person of my own country and sever his connection with the Gungrave Mercenary Band.

If Shuri refused, it would also be an option to hire the entire mercenary band. If the handover were established, ‘Shuri is a person of Niewbist’, and it would not be strange to give land to the Gungrave Mercenary Band, which has ties to Shuri, and ‘appoint them as a Knights Templar’.

Obtain Shuri, and if luck turns out well, obtain the Gungrave Mercenary Band.

However, well, Shuri overturned everything, though…

“Goodness… Even though I say I want to meet Shuri, I can hardly meet him.”

Even thinking back now, as expected, when I first met him, I should have pulled him in even by force.

After captivating me as much as captivating with Mapo Tofu, Mapo Bowl, and Curry Rice, to not meet.

Goodness, what a heartless cook.

“Not being able to eat decent food on this journey alone is painful enough, yet to come all this way and not be able to get Shuri.”

Truly, a person who does not go as one wishes.

On top of that, he is walking around making delicious food wherever he goes.

Just tracking that down, how difficult is it.

To reproduce that food, he doesn’t realize how much the castle’s royal court chefs are wanting to cry.

“Well, fine. Set course for Sunity as we are. Shall we not meet Shuri after such a long time?”

“Understood.”

When I informed the coachman so, the carriage began to move again.

What I had accompanying this visit was a carriage, three supply carts, and about three medium companies of the Knights Templar. Since I wanted to prioritize speed, I am marching with this minimum number of people.

And a spy unit of twenty people. Twenty people I trust.

I straightened my back again, and tried to close my eyes to surrender my body to the swaying of the carriage.

“Princess.”

“Hmm?”

“From ahead, one carriage is coming toward us.”

What the escort knight approached my carriage to report was such a thing.

What is it? Trying to approach me?

The carriage stopped, and the escort knights surrounded the carriage as if to protect it.

Seeing several people move, I also looked ahead a little from the window of the carriage.

It is a fairly good carriage. Six escorts, two coachmen.

What could it be? Is it a merchant’s carriage?

Losing interest, when I returned my body inside the carriage, the escort knight approached again.

“Princess. The opponent is Lenha Sunity. She is the lawful wife of the Lord of Sunity.”

Ho, the lawful wife of the Lord of Sunity?

This has become a slightly interesting matter.

Enduring the corners of my mouth about to curl up, I spoke to the knight calmly with effort.

“So, what might her business be? Stopping the carriage of royalty, even if only nominally, to speak. There must be a corresponding reason, right?”

“Yes. Apparently, she says she came to welcome Princess Tebis.”

“I see. Then, shall we meet a little?”

Kukuku, how interesting.

Borrowing the hand of a knight to step down from the carriage, I could see a woman stepping down from the carriage parked in front of me.

I approached the woman.

I see, she looks like a strong-willed woman.

Slightly dull silver hair cut straight at the shoulders, and fox-like slanted eyes. She is tall with an overall slender body, wearing clothes that are plain for a Lord’s lawful wife. If I say an easily movable dress for going out, would it be easy to understand?

Such a woman, Lenha Sunity, bowed her head.

“Long time no see, Princess Tebis. I am Lenha Sunity.”

“Umu, it is better than anything that you are in good health.”

Certainly, I met Lenha in the past.

That was when I had just come to my senses, the oldest memory.

I vaguely remember that Lenha came to a banquet at the castle.

“Princess Tebis has also become splendid. Is His Majesty also in good health? I would like to meet him after a long time.”

“His Majesty is also healthy. There is no problem.”

“Is that so, that is better than anything.”

To Lenha, who laughed brightly, I felt like clicking my tongue.

Even if I say we met in the past, we are not in a relationship to speak so familiarly like this.

To the extent of meeting once, and besides, Sunity is the archenemy who captured Shuri.

“So, there wouldn’t be small talk in a place like this. The Lord’s lawful wife came all the way here. There must be something considerable, right?”

Therefore, I have no intention to talk idly for a long time. It is best to end it quickly.

Then Lenha abruptly changed from a smile to a sad face.

“Princess. Approaching our Sunity now is extremely dangerous.”

“What? What do you mean?”

“By now, my son will be starting a coup at the castle.”

A coup, has it come to that?

“A coup is not a peaceful matter. Explain in detail.”

“Understood. Actually, my son excels in military affairs, but regarding internal politics, he is lacking in study. Anxious about the eldest son becoming the successor and taking the military officers and martial officers he raised, he started a coup.”

“I see.”

“By now, the coup has probably ended in failure. Because the Gungrave Mercenary Band, hired by the eldest son, will head to suppress it.”

Liar, even though you locked up the Gungrave Mercenary Band, there is no way the eldest son could hire them.

Certainly, it is a fact that the Gungrave Mercenary Band carried out the suppression of the matter, though.

“Princess. I came to inform you of that. I won’t say bad things. Please run away.”

“What do you intend to do?”

“Even if I were to return now, there is nothing I could do. My son might be killed.”

Ho, she cut him off cleanly, didn’t she?

On top of that, without using the word escape at all, she is trying to buy sympathy as if she came for my sake.

Playing along with this foolish acting should be enough already.

“Lenha. Is that the truth?”

“Of course it is, Princess.”

Shamelessly…

“I see. Knights, capture this person.”

For a moment, neither the knights nor Lenha moved, as if they didn’t understand what was said.

“What are you doing? Capture this high traitor.”

“Y, yes.”

“Princess!?”

The knights surrounded Lenha’s carriage to prevent her from escaping.

Inside, Lenha was looking this way with her eyes wide open.

“Lenha. Did you think of me as a young child? I know everything. That you took advantage of the disturbance caused by the second son to escape and seek help from me.”

“T, that is a misunderstanding! Everything, yes, the eldest son is at fault!”

“What is the eldest son’s fault? In the first place, I have never heard of anyone escaping in such a situation.”

“My husband let me escape! It is the truth!”

“Ho? From what I know, the Lord was imprisoned right after the disturbance, and it shouldn’t have been a situation where he could even talk to you, though. And you couple have been so cold toward each other that there hasn’t even been any conversation since quite a while ago, right.”

At these words, Lenha was at a loss for words.

A follow-up strike.

“Lenha. I know everything. Everything. You understand what it means, right?”

When I emphasized ‘everything’, Lenha finally gave up and collapsed.

“Knights. Seize her escorts, coachmen, and carriage, and push them in. It is a good souvenir. We will take these people and go to Sunity.”

“Ha. However, even if we bring criminals, will something come of it?”

“It will, so it is alright. Now, I will return to the carriage, so as soon as preparations are made, we depart.”

“Understood.”

Good grief. I am tired of playing along with such a malicious woman, such an idiot.

However, with this, a pretext to meet Shuri has been made, so shall I consider it good?

If luck turns out well, if I can obtain even one profit using that criminal, it will be a success.

Now, shall we meet after a long time, Shuri?