The Privilege Of A Prince

“Is there not anyone here who knows about this?”

As I stood there at a loss, one of the knights brought over two married knights. One of them said, “My wife has it lightly,” while the other frowned.

“Would not today be impossible? My wife is bedridden for three days.”

So that was how it was, was it. I gave the order to all assembled.

“We set up camp here. We spend the night outdoors today. Block off the road. That is a prince’s command.”

For the first time in my life, I used what one might call the privilege of a prince. I had not been able to use it at that shop. If I was not going to use it here, then where would I?

“Tents!”

“Prepare the camp!”

The knights started shouting here and there.

Yes. They were certainly lively. A world of difference from when we were all asking, “What exactly is this monthly thing?”

“Raul! Send someone ahead to the lord of tonight’s lodging place. Tell him the princess is too unwell to move, and ask that he spare us several guards.”

“Understood.”

Raul immediately went to arrange it.

Honestly, that man was competent. I really wished some woman would come along and marry him already.

I returned to the carriage once more.

When I opened the door and bent my large frame to enter, Eaton was sitting beside Lady Shitoen, rubbing around her lower back. Lady Shitoen herself had cold sweat on her brow. Poor thing. It had to hurt terribly. Her pink lips were drawn tight and trembling faintly.

“We will camp here. The tent will be up shortly, so we will move you there…”

I spoke to Lady Shitoen in a low voice.

“Camp!? You mean sleeping outdoors!?”

But it was Eaton who reacted, letting out a shrill cry.

“Well, put plainly, yes…”

“You cannot possibly mean to make milady stay in such a place!”

“But tonight’s lodging is far, and the inns there have poor security.”

I had called them inns, but they were probably the sort used by street prostitutes. There was no way I could bring a princess to such a place.

“Camp, you say…”

Eaton was persistent. The large sounds of tents being assembled overlapped with the end of her words.

“In winter, we spend almost all our time outside. There is no problem with setting up tents, and all the equipment is ready. Security will not be neglected either.”

My tone inevitably grew brusque.

“But it is still outdoors, is it not!?”

“She is not going to sleep out in an open field.”

I did not know what kind of scene she was imagining, but Eaton was being strangely stubborn about it.

“To put milady in such dreadful conditions…”

“What exactly is dreadful about it?”

My words came out sharper than intended.

“Eaton, stop.”

Lady Shitoen cut in, sounding as though she had to force the words out.

“Thank you for your kindness.”

Lady Shitoen’s attempt to smile through sheer effort was pitiable.

Her slender shoulders trembled suddenly, and I nearly jumped.

“Are you cold!?”

The season was warm enough that it felt slightly hot, but I had heard that anemia could make a person feel cold.

I did not really know much about it, but this monthly thing involved blood leaving the body, did it not?

If so, then would it not chill the body just like anemia?

“Hey, bring some cloth! And prepare heated stones inside the tent!”

The moment I shouted that as I jumped out of the carriage, one of the knights brought over some kind of cloth I did not recognize.

“What is this?”

“It seems to be something like a ground cloth, I think.”

Apparently even the knight himself did not really know what it was.

We had not planned to camp this time, but one never knew what might happen. Apparently they had brought it along thinking it was better to be prepared.

Because we were traveling with a lady, they had apparently also brought extra gear and tableware, as well as decorative cloths and even cute little hanging ornaments.

I had no idea. My subordinates had been thinking of Lady Shitoen’s comfort…

“Then I will borrow this.”

When I spread it out with both hands, it was large enough to wrap her up completely.

“Yes. Please do.”

The knight simply returned to his post.

The main tent itself seemed as though it would be finished any moment now. From all around came the sounds of ropes being hammered into place. They were used to it, and fast, very fast. Once the side curtains were drawn and carpets and such were laid inside, even Eaton ought to be satisfied.

I hurried back to the carriage.

“The tent will be ready any moment now. You can lie down and rest there.”

“Already!?”

Eaton’s eyes widened.

“Still, surely somewhere so simple and barbaric is no place for—”

She pressed herself against the window, desperately trying to confirm it, so I took advantage of the opening and draped the cloth over Lady Shitoen, wrapping her in it. Inside the carriage, the seats faced each other with a narrow passage between them.

With my build, I could not straighten my back and stand upright.

So, remaining on both knees in the passage, I gathered Lady Shitoen into my arms sideways. As I backed toward the door still on my knees—

“Ah, um…”

Lady Shitoen spoke in a voice so faint it was almost lost.

“Yes?”

I lowered my gaze, wondering what it was, and looked at her in my arms. She had turned bright red and was pressing her face against my chest.

“I-I am sorry. I stained it… Um, you might get stained too, Prince…”

Ashamed, she said that, and at first I did not understand what she meant.

What? I looked around, then realized.

Ah. I see.

The seat of the carriage. There was a red stain on it.

Her monthly flow must have leaked through her clothes.

“In just a little while, I think I will be able to move on my own. Um… if you get stained too, Prince—”

“More importantly than that, I am worried about you.”

With a heave, I stepped out of the carriage and finally had enough room to adjust the way I carried her.

“If I wrap you like this in the cloth, no one else will be able to tell.”

I said it as casually as I could, and still bright red, she nodded.

“In any case, you should lie down somewhere spacious and rest properly as soon as possible.”

After saying that, I began to walk.

“Can I bring her into the tent?”

“Yes, no problem here. We have made up a bed, so please come in.”

One of the knights raised a hand.

The outside structure was already perfectly complete.

“My! Such a large… building? Wait, this is a tent…?”

Behind me, Eaton raised her voice in astonishment.

“Eaton! Bring Lady Shitoen’s things and hurry over!”

The moment I ordered it, she rushed in a panic to the rear of the carriage and grabbed at the leather bag fastened there.