CH 44

We’re traveling to the town of Floria by horse.

We advance on a well-maintained road with three horses, and time flows slowly.

“Hmm…”

“Hey Yuren, stop sulking already.”

“I’m not sulking.”

“You’re clearly sulking.”

Even Fusaki-kun points it out.

I can tell that Yuren-kun is sulking.

Hisui-san sighs.

“You know, I understand the desire to let Aria ride with you. But you can’t put a servant on the master’s horse, can you?”

“I wasn’t talking about that.”

“Sometimes His Highness says childish things like that~ I know, it’s not something a child like me should say, right? Right, Nee-san?”

“Hahaha.”

What should I say?

There are three horses.

Not because there weren’t enough, but because I have never ridden a horse before, and I have to ride with someone else.

Yuren-kun is a prince, so a servant can’t ride with him.

Fusaki-kun can ride a horse, but two people riding together is dangerous because he’s small.

That’s why I’m currently riding behind Hisui-san.

“I’m sorry, Aria. Our master is just being childish.”

“Who are you calling childish?!”

“You’re reacting, so you must know it’s true~.”

These two are their usual selves.

It’s refreshing to see Yuren-kun sulking, but the pleasant atmosphere is also nice.

It’s also my first time riding a horse, and since my line of sight is higher than usual, the surrounding scenery looks different.

“Well, it’s fine. We’ll be there soon anyway.”

“It’ll take about two hours though?”

“Ugh, don’t say unnecessary things. I had already come to terms with it.”

“Are you still worried after all?”

Yuren-kun, who was teased by Hisui-san and easily played along, moves his eyebrows up and down.

You can easily tell he’s holding back his anger.

I wonder if there’s anyone in the royal castle other than Hisui-san who can say mean things to the prince like that.

Normally, he would be fired on the spot.

After a while, we had the opportunity to pass by a merchant’s carriage.

The people who noticed Yuren-kun stopped their carriage, bowed, and waited for us to pass.

This highway seems to be a passageway for merchants.

“Um, I know this is late to ask, but is it really okay for Yuren-kun to go out so openly?”

“Normally, it’s not allowed. We would have large numbers for security.”

Hisui-san answered lightly.

I also think he’s right, but for now, we are only four people going out.

I can’t fight, and if I didn’t accompany them, Hisui-san would have been alone.

“As I mentioned before, I have sword skills that can fight alone. Fewer people are easier to move with than having too many guards.”

“I’m here too. It’s unlikely they will attack us unless they are very foolish.”

“That’s right. I got permission from my father. I had a hard time getting it the first time.”

“That’s because you were good at sneaking out.”

I can somehow imagine the scene from listening to their conversation.

Yuren-kun seems to have been sneaking out of the castle on his own while he was meeting me in the forest.

His Majesty the King must have been worried.

As someone involved, I also have a bad feeling about it.

We were walking along the road, chatting away.

It was peaceful, to say the least.

The sound of wind blowing and birds chirping could be heard clearly, and it was a tranquil time.

There was no anxiety or anything that threatened us, and in fact, nothing happened at all.

“Hey, Your Highness! Look, smoke is rising from that cart over there!”

“What?”

Fusaki-kun was the first to notice.

A cart was parked at the end of the road we were traveling, and it looked like there was a faint smoke rising from it.

There were several armed men around the carriage.

Clearly, an uneasy atmosphere was in the air.

“Is it a bandit attack?”

“Hisui.”

“Yeah, I know. Let’s hurry.”

Yuren-kun and Hisui-san’s horses accelerated.

Fusaki-kun whipped his horses a little later, and all three horses ran.

“Hey, hurry up and hand over everything!”

“P-Please, stop! Those are our precious goods.”

“Shut up! Do you want to die?”

A bandit pointed his sword at a frightened man.

To this scoundrel with a disgusting grin, Yuren-kun shouted, “That’s enough!”

“Huh?”

Their gazes turn towards us.

Yuren-kun jumps off his horse, followed by Hisui-san.

Hisui-san takes my hand and helps me down.

“Fusaki, protect her.”

“Understood! I’ll provide cover from here.”

“Okay.”

“What do you want?”

The bandits start appearing one after another.

There were eight of them, including those who were hiding behind the carriage.

All of them were armed.

I felt uneasy, but Fusaki-kun stood in front of me and turned around to say in his usual tone.

“Don’t worry. They’ll be fine.”

Even though he said so, my worries did not disappear.

I gulped and watched Yuren-kun and the others.

“I don’t like it when people do things on my own in my country.”

“What? In my country…”

“Hey, isn’t this the infamous third prince?”

“What? Really?”

The atmosphere of the bandits changes.

As soon as they realized Yuren-kun’s true identity, they became hesitant.

“Tch, let’s get out of here.”

Without even fighting, they ran away.

Hisui-san asks.

“Should we pursue them?”

“No, first we need to provide medical treatment to the injured and ensure the safety of the carriage.”

“Understood. Fusaki, help us out.”

“Got it!”

Fusaki-kun and Hisui-san rushed to assist the fallen people.

Yuren-kun, who had sheathed his sword, had a sad expression as he gazed towards the escaping bandits.