51. The Princess's Journey

“I can’t believe it came to this.”

Platoon Leader Ursu looked at Reet and Larg with an expression of disbelief.

The news spread throughout the royal capital in an instant.

The Eastern Knight Order Commander had been arrested along with several of his subordinates for interfering with Reet. Overwhelming evidence left no room for denial.

And when the commander blamed the true mastermind—Duke Welzley—claiming he had merely followed orders, the Duke was summoned to the royal palace for interrogation by the Military Police.

However, Duke Welzley flatly denied all accusations.

And while there was abundant evidence of the Eastern Knight Order Commander’s involvement in framing Reet, there was not a single piece of evidence demonstrating the Duke’s involvement.

As a result, the Duke was cleared of all charges.

In other words, the Eastern Knight Order Commander alone bore the full weight of condemnation.

Of course, during interrogation it also came to light that he had committed numerous misdeeds in his pursuit of advancement all these years.

He deserved no sympathy whatsoever.

†

“I hereby pronounce judgment upon Eastern Knight Order Commander Oscar Landolben.”

One month had passed since the commander’s arrest.

His guilt had already been determined, and today the sentence would finally be handed down.

“You are stripped of your rank and nobility. You are sentenced to ten years of labor in the Crand mines.”

The Crand mines were known as the harshest quarry on the continent.

Countless criminals had been sent there.

In that place, any person with combat-type Skills had those abilities sealed away.

When that happened, he would be nothing but an aging man.

He likely would not survive the labor.

The Eastern Knight Order Commander had lost everything.

†

“Never thought I’d become a Company Commander like this.”

With the fall of the knight commander and his associates, a sweeping personnel reorganization was hastily conducted across the knight order divisions.

Elite officers from the Palace Guard were dispatched to restore the Eastern Knight Order.

Among them was Ursu’s former superior—the royal family’s First Escort Company Commander.

As a result, Ursu was promoted directly to Company Commander.

Now he oversaw both the First Escort Unit—composed of knights—and the First Security Unit—comprised of non-knight guards.

However, since there were no qualified subordinates of Fifth Rank or above to lead the First Escort Unit, he would temporarily serve as both Company Commander and Unit Leader.

“For me, all it means is more documents to sign. But for you two, nothing really changes,” Ursu said with an easy laugh.

“We’re in turbulent times. There are rumors flying about. But work is work. Besides, a major operation awaits us for the first time in a while.”

“A major operation?” Larg asked.

“That’s right. Princess Iris is to depart for the Crand border territory.”

The Crand border territory was located on the outer edge of the Lorence Kingdom.

“The previous border earl has passed away, and a new one has assumed the position. This visit is to celebrate that succession.”

It would be Reet’s first escort mission for Iris.

Even within the kingdom, being away from the royal palace was a different matter entirely.

There was a chance of encounters with monsters or bandits.

It would be a mission requiring utmost care—nothing could happen to Iris under any circumstances.

“Ideally, palace guard knights don’t face much actual work. But once we leave the palace, absolute safety is impossible. Still, we cannot allow even the slightest incident. Approach this with full resolve.”

“Yes, sir.”

†

A month passed, and today they finally set out on the journey to the Crand border territory.

The entire First Escort Company would participate in the journey.

That meant three knights of the First Escort Unit and thirty guards of the First Security Unit—a sizable force of thirty-three personnel heading three hundred kilometers toward the border territory.

Five days travel there, fifteen days of stay, five days return—a total of twenty-five days on the road.

And when departing, naturally Reet had to leave Aira with the Dragon Tamer.

Aira had grown considerably since birth, her body slowly becoming larger.

As her body matured, her personality had gradually become more “adult,” and she had become far less clingy than before.

…She still flapped her wings whenever I spoke with girls though.

“Aira, sorry about this. I won’t be back for twenty-five days starting today.”

Reet stroked Aira’s head as he spoke.

Then Aira cried out loudly—“Kuuuu!!”—and began circling Reet frantically.

This was not a situation where he could easily leave her.

Recently, even when he brought her to the Dragon Tamer, she hadn’t acted up like this, so Reet was somewhat surprised.

Did she truly miss him that much after nearly a month apart?

“Knight, it’s not that Aira is lonely,” the elderly Dragon Tamer woman said.

“Is that so?”

“Aye. She’s saying she can fight now. That’s what she’s telling you.”

“Fight?”

“I can tell, but she’s been getting a fierce look about her lately. The time when she can ‘transform’ is drawing near.”

“…Is that true, Aira?”

When he asked, Aira placed her front legs at her sides and puffed out her chest proudly.

“Ryu!”

…It seemed the Dragon Tamer was right.

“Why don’t you take her along this time? She might manage to ‘transform’ during the month-long mission.”

“…There are no croissants sold in the border territory. You’ll be without them for a while—is that alright?”

When Reet asked Aira:

She drooped.

Her little head fell with a visible slump.

“…Are you okay?” Reet asked with concern.

But after a moment, Aira shook her head vigorously and looked straight at Reet.

“Ryu!”

“Alright then. Let’s go together.”

“Ryuuuu!!”

Even though we’re leaving the palace, these are peaceful times.

It will surely end as nothing more than a simple journey.

So there’s no danger. There shouldn’t be any problem at all—