CH 122

[The Royal Capital That is Under Martial Law]

After coming before the city gate, the entrance to the royal capital, the number of people who can’t enter the city has further increased.

It seems that because it has been closed for almost a few days already, I can see people opening stalls by the side of the road trying to sell their cargo before the foodstuffs rot.

“The city gate is really closed. I heard that the main gates of the royal capital had never been closed in the daytime since the Great Invasion, however…” (Noelia)

“Ahh, I had never seen it closed in the daytime too.” (Frick)

An anti-cavalry palisade is built around the closed gate, and many fully armed Royal Guard Knights and guards are moving back and forth inside, glaring at the people approaching the gate in a threatening manner.

“If the city gates are closed, then we have no way to enter the royal capital…” (Noelia)

“Well, since they’re closed, we could only go climbing over the walls” (Frick)

Since we’re in a hurry due to the matter of Linus-shi and the Director and Sensei couple, I decide to use Camouflage magic to climb over the walls surrounding the royal capital to infiltrate it.

“We have no way other than that, aren’t we…” (Noelia)

Noelia is also looking up at the walls before us.

“Diedur, sorry but, please wait for Suzana and the others to come here. Thanks for taking us here.” (Frick)

After I said that and stroked Diedur’s neck, he neighs as though saying, “I’ll definitely catch up to you with Dimol later.”

“You don’t need to, everything’s gonna be fine. If we make too much ruckus, we would end up troubling the Henestrosa family, no?” (Frick)

Having gotten off Diedur, I soothe him.

“We will be back soon, so please wait here obediently, Diedur.” (Noelia)

Noelia also strokes Diedur’s neck, then he sits down and neighs as though saying, “Got it,” perhaps having given up on entering the royal capital.

“Sorry, and thanks. Shall we go, Noelia? I’ll cast us Camouflage magic.” (Frick)

“Eh? Ah, yes?” (Noelia)

After carrying Noelia, I erase our figures with Camouflage, slip by the side of the city gates full of Royal Guard Knights and guards, and start climbing the wall.

[Make sure you hold on tightly, okay?] (Frick)

[Okay, a-am I not heavy?] (Noelia)

[You’re not, in fact, you’re quite light, you know. I can carry you just fine. It’s better than that time when I climbed a cliff where I would’ve definitely died if I were to fall while carrying lots of luggage.] (Frick)

Carrying Noelia on my back, I, who have erased our figures with magic, climb the towering walls.

When we arrive on top of the high wall, we are able to have unbroken view of the royal capital.

There are practically no people outside.

For it to be this deserted, is this really the royal capital?

I can only see fully armed Royal Guard knights, guards, and soldiers of the kingdom’s army in the city.

“There is no one outside. I didn’t think that they are enforcing the martial law so rigorously.” (Noelia)

“Gile is the commander of the Royal Guard Knight Order, who has the highest authority in making military decisions following the king in the royal capital, after all. It seems that he even mobilized the kingdom’s army.” (Frick)

“Their watch seem to be even more strict on the nobles district, don’t you think?” (Noelia)

Noelia’s line of sight is focused on the area before the royal castle, on which located the mansions where the nobles live.

When I also turn my eyes to the nobles district, I can see more soldiers coming and going there than in the downtown area where the Adventurer’s Guild is located.

“There are a great number of soldiers around the mansion of my family.” (Noelia)

“I think Gile stationed many men there in case your family makes a move, the king trusts your family by a great deal after all.” (Frick)

“That should be the case. Since Grandmother has many connections among the nobles, he must have judged that it would be bad if he let her speak up, thus he put that many of his men around there.” (Noelia)

Looking at the number of Royal Guard knights surrounding the frontier count family’s mansion, I sense the impatience of Gile, who is taking a hard-line measure to eliminate Linus.

“It may be better for us to meet Grandmother to get an idea of the current situation of the royal capital for now. We need to collect information about Linus-shishou and many others as well.” (Noelia)

As Noelia says, rather than blindly searching around the royal capital, we better get the help of Cassandra, who has been gathering various kinds of information, to shorten the time.

It pains me to get the frontier count family, who should be able to escape the difficulties if they just keep on watching the situation, involved, however…

I have no choice but to rely on them now.

“I end up troubling Noelia’s family again.” (Frick)

“Not at all, if Linus-shishou is executed as a rebel, I think I, his disciple, would also be treated as one by association, then following that, my family would also be branded as traitors by Gile. This is a problem of my family, so I should be the one apologizing for getting Frick-sama involved.” (Noelia)

When I bow to her, Noelia also bow to me.

I see…the master’s scandal is also the responsibility of the disciple by association.

There is no guarantee that Noelia, who is known as the personal disciple of Linus who has been captured as a rebel, would be safe, huh.

And from Gile’s perspective, her scandal might be viewed as an opportunity to bury her together with her father, Lloyd, in one go.

“I don’t think anyone in this country would believe that Frontier Count-sama is a rebel, though… including King Frederick.” (Frick)

“I am not sure about that. My father isn’t by the king’s side, but Gile is…” (Noelia)

Meaning even the life of the one who has saved the country and is praised as a hero would be in danger if he’s framed, huh.

I increasingly feel like Gile can’t be left unchecked.

“Let’s go see Cassandra-sama right away.” (Frick)

“Yes, I know a secret passage leading to the mansion, so let’s enter from there.” (Noelia)

“Secret passage?” (Frick)

“It’s an escape route in case of emergency. My father strongly insisted that it should be made so that Grandmother could escape safely. The entrance is at the downtown, so I will guide you there.” (Noelia)

“Got it. Let’s get to the mansion from there right away.” (Frick)

I carry Noelia again, before following her instructions and making my way to the entrance to the secret passage.