Chapter 42
After checking dozens of campsite tents, Kenric could finally take a breather and rest.
Normally, this kind of thing is done by the apprentice Guardians, but since it’s their first camping, he deliberately stepped in because he thought it would be better to check it himself to avoid any issues later
‘Where might Rache be.’
Kenric recalled Rache, who had been frowning heavily after meeting Daphne earlier.
‘He was clutching his stomach.’
Probably his chronic stomach cramps have flared up.
‘I should bring him some medicine.’
It was at that moment when Kenric, thinking that, was moving his feet towards the baggage wagon.
“sir Kenric ? You’re here? I’ve been looking for you all along?”
Nike’s coquettish voice was heard. What? Why like this. Creepy.
“What’s the matter?”
“What matter? Are you asking what the matter is?”
“Yes.”
A crack appeared on Nike’s smiling face.
“Those who remember what Kenric said about the princess earlier?”
Nike spun her hand with fingers spread wide and brought it to her ear.
“Me! You said she’s a total scumbag!”
“Me too! You said she’s a crazy kid!”
“Me as well! You said she’s totally rotten!”
I don’t think I said it that harshly……?
Kenric sensed something ominous as he felt the sudden change in atmosphere.
“We believed those words since we heard them like that. Right?”
“That’s right!”
“We believed them!”
The eyes of all the Guardians focused on Kenric. A chill ran down his spine.
Even though Kenric is good at fighting, he can’t handle more than ten Guardians at once.
“I don’t quite understand what’s going on. Please explain.”
So Kenric chose to calm them down.
But,
“Explain? Explaaain? Ah. Explanation is good!”
It seemed to provoke Nike even more.
Nike’s eyes looked half-crazed.
“Guardians are the imperial direct knight order and the capital guards. So we need to make an impression on those close to His Majesty, in other words, heroes like Archduke Akion. You understand up to here, right?”
Kenric backed away without daring to touch Nike, who was striding towards him.
“But Kenric said that the princess is just a wild rascal running loose like a cow off its leash, so we don’t need to worry about her, right?”
I mean, I don’t think I said it quite like that…….
“So we ignored the princess? If Kenric ‘s words are true, the Archduke probably wouldn’t care about the princess either?”
Nike, smiling broadly, grabbed Kenric by the collar and made him look in one direction.
“But what’s that?”
There…… Daphne and the Archduke’s knights, the Pinch Marquis’s knights were surrounding a modest bonfire, sitting on makeshift chairs made by stacking a few pieces of wood.
They had already started boiling stew, not sure when they cooked it, and were even grilling meat skewers, the smell was absolutely amazing. And even wine.
Uh. A harp? Who brought that.
With a quite comfortable seating and delicious food, even soft music.
Only that side seemed to have a good atmosphere.
“Why are not only the Archduke’s knights but also the Pinch Marquis’s knights making such a fuss? Shall we say the reason?”
It’s natural for the Archduke’s knights to hover around Daphne. She’s the princess!
But why the Pinch Marquis’s knights?
“Princess, thanks to you back then, my daughter survived.”
“My son said the princess was very active. I’m just regretful that I couldn’t see that meaningful sight with my own eyes.”
Since Daphne had ‘truly’ saved the Pinch Marquis’s people from the bomb terrorism, all the knights were on Daphne’s side, but to others who didn’t believe the truth, it was just a strange sight.
“Uh…… that.”
Kenric scratched his cheek.
“That’s right. I’m curious too.”
“Hey! Are you kidding!”
“Aack! Nike ! Hold back! Not here!”
Nike momentarily hesitated upon seeing Fiona hugging her waist.
She barely pulled down the corners of her mouth that were about to grin and glared at Kenric.
“If your intention was to feed us false information and make a fool of our Guardians, I’d say you succeeded splendidly.”
“I’m a Guardian too.”
“You must have wanted to die together.”
“No. Really not…….”
Kenric really couldn’t understand this situation.
As Rache’s childhood friend, Kenric knew well how much of a rascal Daphne was
A child for whom even the word scumbag is insufficient. Isn’t she the kid who would suddenly beat people and curse them just for being nearby?
But she’s having normal conversations with other people like that? Without hitting anyone? Without making anyone cry?
“This can’t be……. Is it someone else?”
Kenric, who had instantly guessed the correct answer without realizing it, frowned even more.
“Anyway, that’s not her true appearance.”
He quickly regained his composure.
“Since Rache… isn’t visible, I’ll do it.”
“What?”
“Scratching out her true nature.”
“Ah. Something you’re good at.”
Nike let out a hollow laugh and beckoned with her finger.
“Give it a try. But if something goes wrong, it’s not our responsibility.”
“……Understood.”
Well, if I poke her a few times, she’ll reveal her true nature on her own.
Thinking that, Kenric approached Daphne. As he got closer, the harp sound grew louder, somehow making his heart waver.
***
“Slave. The harp note is wrong.”
“Yes, master. I’ll correct it.”
Taty was plucking the harp strings while accepting bites of skewers fed by other knights.
It was Taty who had dashed into the forest and borrowed a harp from the forest elf at Daphne’s single remark, ‘I want to hear music.’
With this much sincerity, she could just let me go, really.
“You’re quite useful. I should keep you by my side forever from now on.”
“Yes. I’m useful…… Yes?!”
Forever? Is she crazy? Taty freaked out and shouted.
“Why. Don’t you like it?”
“…….”
Is there an elf who can say no in front of a dragon?
Bang!
There isn’t.
Taty forced a smile.
“No. I’m so happy that I feel like crying. I’m happy.”
“Alright.”
Daphne smirked and looked around.
She was bothered by the Guardians’ strange stares and Lache, but still, today her mood wasn’t bad.
Perhaps because she was experiencing ‘traveling in a group,’ which she had never done as Selus.
‘Who was it that said dragons like to travel alone.
Traveling alone is lonely.
Some say dragons even enjoy loneliness, but what nonsense. It was really lonely.
‘To not feel rejection even when together with other beings like this.’
It’s truly something to see after living so long.
Daphne felt a slight overwhelming emotion and laughed softly.
It was then.
“Princess.”
A stranger approached them. Judging by the clothes, a Guardian.
“Hello. I’m Guardian, Kenric Dried. I’m also Rache’s friend.”
Daphne nodded her head and lightly waved her hand.
“Alright. Hello.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“Enough, what’s the matter?”
Kenric subtly averted his eyes.
The delicious smell was still there, but such hastily prepared camping food would suit knights like himself, but absolutely not suit the palate of a well-raised princess. Assessing the situation, Kenric decided to target the food first.
“I came because I was worried the meal might not suit your taste. Food available at such a campsite is ultimately unsuitable for the princess, so perhaps we should go to a nearby village……?”
Kenric’s words trailed off. He saw that Daphne’s plate in front was completely empty.
“You finished it all.”
“My stomach feels like it’s going to burst.”
“Ahem!”
Kenric cleared his throat once and averted his eyes again.
This time, it was the sleeping arrangements.
The princess who must have slept on fluffy beds her whole life would surely have complaints this time, he judged.
“Will the sleeping place be alright? You have to sleep with the ground as a blanket and fallen leaves as a pillow, so I’m worried it might strain the princess’s precious body…… Uh?”
In Kenric’s eyes entered a well-made makeshift bed.
It was a bed made by weaving vines and leaves into a frame and then filling it with soil to fix it firmly.
“The princess already made it.”
“She’s faster than us.”
Kenric gaped at Daphne, who was lying on the makeshift bed yawning as if full.
What. Is this her bedroom?
He couldn’t believe it.
That Daphne is enduring everything without any complaints! No, on top of that, even making things to use!
‘Did she secretly go out with people? No. I heard her body is weak?’
Kenric quickly composed himself.
“I understand your health is not good. The night dew is cold, the weather is bad, so I’m worried your body might get worse. Shall we find a nearby village?”
He thought attacking her health might make Daphne give in, and it seemed correct as Daphne’s gaze, which had been glaring at him, softened a bit.
“There will be a warm bed and more delicious meals.”
Seizing the opportunity, Kenric added.
The reason for saying this was to create a scene where Daphne jumps out saying ‘I hate this place!’
Because only then could he quickly get rid of Daphne and move as originally planned.
He thought that…….
“Whew.”
Daphne, who had sat up at some point, approached Kenric closely.
“I know you guys hate me.”
“……Yes?”
Daphne continued as if talking about someone else.
“Hating me is familiar. I’m not telling you to like me now.”
“…….”
In an instant, everyone around became quiet.
The Guardians who had been whispering, the Archduke’s and Marquis’s knights who were gathered, all held their breath and listened to Daphne’s words.
“If I make a fuss and leave here as you intend, you could use that to tarnish my reputation.”
“No, princess. I didn’t mean that…….”
“Is that the end of it?”
Swoosh- A cold wind passed between them.
“Was your true purpose just to disgrace a young girl?”
Kenric’s face, the hesitating Guardians’ faces, the Rose Knights’ faces who were still talking about appearances began to turn bright red.
“Don’t forget our purpose is to subjugate the black mages.”
Tsk tsk.
Daphne clicked her tongue and lay back on the bed.
“Wasting energy on trivial things. You’ll collapse like that.”
“…….”
“You’ll regret it when you’re stabbed and really about to die. Ah, why did I waste energy bullying a frail young child. I should have swung my sword one more time in that time.”
“…….”
“But regretting it would be too late. You’ll just die.”
For quite a long time, the sounds of conversation disappeared.
It was then that Rache appeared.
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By Anna 💓
