The carriage rattled along steadily and arrived at the royal capital of Univance early in the morning, right on schedule.
Last night, the final night of the journey, they had camped inside the carriage.
They had been nervous the whole time, worried they might be attacked by dragons, but they managed to spend the night safely at one of the shelters built along the highway.
Normally there would have been no need to push themselves like that, but the two VIPs inside the carriage had insisted.
It seemed they were extremely eager to return to the capital after five long years.
The coachman and escort knights, thinking of those two, had risked their lives to complete the mission.
When they finally reached the royal capital, the area in front of the gate was quiet due to the early hour.
They were able to complete the entry procedures without any waiting.
One of the escorts announced the reason for their visit to the gate guards and showed the crest engraved with their family emblem.
The guards’ attitude did not change at all, they continued the procedures calmly and efficiently.
The people inside the carriage smiled gently at the soldiers who carried out their duty without yielding to power.
「Pal. The royal capital really is wonderful. The soldiers don’t get excited even when they see our carriage.」
「Yes. But don’t forget, Mil. There are people here who are far more noble than us.」
「That’s right.」
The girl smiled softly and looked out of the carriage.
Her conversation partner followed her gaze.
Both of them still had a touch of youthfulness about them. They looked around thirteen or fourteen years old.
The girl in the dress had golden hair and blue eyes. Her features gave off an air of refinement.
Wherever she went, her appearance would surely draw confessions from the opposite sex.
Then, a small female knight on horseback rushed past right in front of her, shouting something.
It sounded like she said 『I’ll curse you～』 or something ominous, but it was probably just their imagination.
The other person, her conversation partner, looked like a dignified young knight in Western-style clothing.
He also had golden hair and blue eyes, with his hair tied back at the nape of his neck and flowing down his back.
His features were so well-formed that any woman who saw him would likely turn her eyes into heart marks.
Then, another female knight with a large chest rushed past, clinging tightly to her horse.
Seeing her greet the guards with 「Thank you for the snacks～」, she seemed to be on good terms with the gate soldiers.
「The royal capital really is a nice place.」
「It is.」
The two gazed outside the carriage with nostalgic eyes.
A figure in pure white appeared soundlessly with a smooth glide.
The woman with a face as perfect as a finely crafted doll showed no change in expression. She took one step forward and then vanished completely.
The two who could not understand what had just happened pressed their faces against the window and looked outside.
The woman who had been standing there moments ago was definitely gone.
「……Was the royal capital always this scary of a place?」
「……Who knows? Maybe it changed while we were not paying attention.」
A cold sweat ran down their backs and they unconsciously rubbed their arms to warm themselves.
-0-
「Argusta-sama?」
「Mmm～」
「Please get motivated.」
「I am motivated～」
Lying face down on the desk and enjoying the cool sensation did not mean I lacked motivation.
It was just that the spot next to me…… the person who was always there was gone and I felt a little lonely.
Above all it was hot. I desperately wanted air conditioning.
「Just because Noie-sama is not here does not mean you can slack off.」
I looked at the girl standing in front of me…… Krea who had her shoulders raised in exasperation.
「I do miss Noie but it is really just that I am not good with the heat.」
Krea shrugged her shoulders with a look that said good grief.
How rude. I had grown up in a small town deep in the mountains after all.
I could endure the cold better than the heat.
More importantly I had completely forgotten about it.
What comes after the rainy season ends?
The thing that attacked me because I had not thought about it…… summer had arrived.
The humidity was not too high but it was simply hot.
I had changed into light short-sleeved clothes but was this the kind of thing you were supposed to endure with cool biz spirit?
Krea who was now wearing a short-sleeved dress also had a slightly looser fit around her neckline.
However, as I looked at her, I thought.
「How should I put it.」
「What is it?」
I decided to tell the truth to the girl who tilted her head curiously.
「Normally when a girl’s clothes become this loose it should make a guy’s heart flutter or something…… Is it my fault that I feel nothing when I look at Krea?」
「You shitty boss!」
She instantly boiled over and exploded in anger.
「I am a girl at the right age too! I put in a lot of effort every morning!」
「For example?」
「Listen! Today I did my hair up like this.」
「So that is why there is a bird’s nest on your head.」
「Mukiii!」
The back of the neck attack from Noie is something I’ve experienced many times and am already used to!
At the very least, bring destructive power on the level of my wife before you start lecturing me!
Noie’s white nape is truly terrifying in its madness, though.
「Inel-kun, as a fellow male, why don’t you teach that little girl the reality of things?」
「M-Me?!」
Suddenly nominated, the boy panicked, turning bright red and looking down.
「……I think… she looks mature and… nice.」
「「……」」
Everyone except Inel-kun froze at the straightforward opinion.
I wasn’t expecting such a direct fastball, and Krea probably thought she’d get teased with a curveball, so she took the hit head-on.
「Ah… thank you.」
「No… it’s nothing…」
Both of them turned bright red and looked down.
What is this sweet and sour youth romantic comedy atmosphere? Did a shojo manga flag just get raised?
「Arg～」
An idiot barged in and destroyed the mood.
At the sudden visitor, the two who had been looking down raised their heads. Krea returned to her seat. However, since it was next to Inel-kun… she tilted her body slightly as if trying to put even a little distance between them. It was kind of pretty.
Ahaha. She’s started recognizing her colleague as the opposite sex, hasn’t she?
Maybe I can tease her along these lines from now on.
「So, what is it?」
「Yeah.」
The Muscle Prince standing at the office entrance scratched his head casually. It seemed to be a habit rather than actual itchiness.
「Starting today, two new people will be assigned to the royal guard’s clerical staff.」
That’s good news. The royal guard’s workload will… wait, is he going to make me teach them?
「And?」
「Ah. Those two are really fond of me.」
Did he just say something weird?
「That’s probably a mental illness. You should take them to a doctor.」
Or they’re definitely mentally unstable. Being fond of this shitty prince? They must be crazy.
「Ah～. That’s the thing.」
「Yes?」
「It’s your attitude.」
The idiot grinned with a nasty smile.
「They’ve apparently heard that 『Former Prince Argusta is looking down on me』… and they’re fired up to change your thinking, including through physical means.」
「Huh?」
Physical means? Meaning…?
The fool’s smirking face is seriously infuriating. I can already see where this is going!
「They’ll probably pick a fight right after arriving… or maybe even attack you. Well, good luck.」
「I refuse with all my might!」
The fool nodded with an annoyingly relaxed expression.
「Then go tell them yourself.」
「What?」
A bad premonition…
「They’re greeting Father right now, so they’ll be here soon.」
I want to leave work early with full power today.
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