Chapter 20: So You’re Lucretia
“That’s a letter from the Royal Castle, isn’t it…? Hugh, what on earth have you done?”
“I have no idea… probably.”
Could it be that my «Brainwashing» Skill has been discovered…?
No, but would they really send a letter for something like that?
I need to check the contents. I sat down at my study desk and opened the seal with a letter knife.
The letter inside was written in beautiful script, inviting me to the Royal Castle.
It seemed that the royal family wanted to hear about the incident involving the destruction of the Human Trafficking Organization directly. The letter appeared to have been penned by Roan, the vice-captain of the Knights Order.
It also mentioned that a carriage would arrive to pick me up around nine o’clock tomorrow morning.
“Roan, the vice-captain, wrote this…?”
“Do you know him, Rouge?”
“Ah, yeah. It’s not that I know him personally, but he’s quite famous. The vice-captain of the Knights Order. The strongest knight in the kingdom with the «Sword Master» Skill. He usually seems lazy, but his handwriting is surprisingly neat, so he often gets asked to write letters, especially by Lucas… the Third Prince.”
“Lucas von Reese, the Third Prince… that one?”
Even I, a noble from a rural backwater, have heard of that royal name.
Lucas von Reese, the Third Prince. Brilliant and athletic. A genius well-versed in military strategy and politics.
…And he is also the blind prince who lost his sight due to a congenital illness.
They say that if he had his sight, he would have been a top contender in the Succession War.
“Probably.”
“Why would such a big deal go out of their way to summon someone like me…?”
I glanced sideways and saw Rouge, sitting behind me, gazing intently at the letter as she hugged me from behind.
…No way.
“Hugh, can I hold onto this letter for a bit?”
“I don’t mind, but what are you going to do with it?”
“I just remembered something I need to take care of. Oh, I’m going to stay at my family’s place tonight. I want to see my father and family after such a long time!”
“I see. Living in the Royal Capital allows you to do that, which is enviable.”
“Hugh’s family is in the northeastern region, right…? Is it lonely there?”
“It would be a lie to say it’s not lonely. But I’m already an adult, so it’s about time I became independent.”
“…I see. But someday, I want to visit your hometown, Hugh.”
“There’s nothing but mountains and forests there, you know?”
“That’s exactly why it sounds nice. Living in a peaceful place quietly would be fun if it’s with you, Hugh!”
“R-really…?”
Is that some sort of indirect proposal…? Certainly, if I were with Rouge, my idyllic slow life in my hometown would be filled with color.
“…Then, let’s find a good time to go back together. If you like it, you can move there permanently. I’d welcome you with open arms.”
“Really!? It’s a promise, a promise, Hugh!”
“Yeah, it’s a promise.”
Rouge smiled genuinely and extended her pinky finger.
In this world, there’s a culture of intertwining pinkies when making promises. As I linked my pinky with hers, she cheerfully declared, “May the gods guide this promise!”
The day after Rouge returned to her family, I was waiting in front of the academy’s gate for the carriage to arrive.
“Is it really okay to wear this…?”
Thinking about meeting royalty made me nervous. I was currently dressed in the Royal Academy’s uniform. I had checked the school regulations last night and found that while I was a student, the uniform was considered formal attire. It should be fine to meet the royal family in uniform… I hope.
“If only Rouge were here, I’d feel a bit more at ease…”
We had agreed to meet at the Royal Castle after my audience. I wondered how we could meet there, but I hadn’t asked for details.
Well, I suppose she could enter the castle to help her father with his work or something.
About five minutes before the designated time, I spotted a carriage approaching from a distance. A knight clad in blue armor was driving it.
Just in case, I had switched my Skill to «Ninja» so I could escape at any moment. My enhanced vision allowed me to see clearly from afar.
The young female knight driving the carriage had her purple hair tied to the side, still retaining a youthful innocence in her features. There was another knight inside the carriage.
The carriage stopped right in front of me, and a middle-aged male knight emerged from within. His hair was messy, and he had a scruffy beard, giving off a rather lazy impression.
But my enhanced senses from the «Ninja» Skill were ringing alarm bells.
This man is strong, without a doubt.
Even with the «Ninja» Skill, I wouldn’t stand a chance in a fight. I couldn’t envision a way to win, whether facing him head-on or using underhanded tactics. The gap in strength and experience was too vast. Could this man be the strongest in the kingdom…?
“I am Roan Ashblade, vice-captain of the Royal Knights Order. You must be Hugh Pnosis?”
“Y-yes. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Vice-Captain Roan.”
“Just call me Roan. If you’re hoping to join the Knights Order, that’s fine by me.”
“…Then please allow me to call you Roan. I plan to take over my family estate.”
“That’s a shame. With your skills, you’d be more than welcome anytime, but let me know if you change your mind. Get in.”
I was prompted by Roan to board the carriage. Just then, the female knight called out from the driver’s seat.
“You must be the young Hugh! I’m Alissa Swift. Nice to meet you!”
“I’m Hugh Pnosis. Nice to meet you too.”
“Oh! You’re surprisingly polite for a young man! I thought you’d be a rough and rowdy giant since you single-handedly took down the Human Trafficking Organization!”
“R-really…?”
“Hey, Alissa! Stop chatting and get the carriage moving!”
“Understood, Master!”
“M-master?”
I had assumed they were just a superior and subordinate, but what kind of relationship did these two have…?
“Don’t mind it, Hugh. She’s always like this…”
Roan placed a hand on his forehead and sighed. Just that gesture made me sense that he had his share of troubles.
Still…
Both Roan and Alissa were formidable warriors. Facing either of them would make it difficult to even escape. If my «Brainwashing» Skill had been discovered, I would already be in deep trouble.
…But for now, they didn’t seem inclined to do anything to me. I remained cautious, ready to flee at any moment. It might be futile against these two, but I had no intention of giving up from the start.
“By the way, who exactly called for me…?”
I suspected it was Prince Lucas, but Roan scratched his scruffy beard and wore a troubled smile.
“Ah, I could have told you yesterday, but it suddenly became classified. Sorry, but I can’t say anything here.”
“It doesn’t seem like something that needs to be hidden…”
“I think so too, but as a knight, I have to obey the orders of the royal family to whom I’ve pledged my loyalty. Well, it’ll be a surprise when we arrive.”
“I see…”
After that, we chatted about trivial matters until the carriage arrived at the Royal Castle. It turned out that Roan had been a classmate of my father at the Royal Academy, that they had drunk together at my mother’s diner until dawn, and even had a fistfight over my mother.
Honestly, I found it much more interesting to hear about my parents from Roan than to meet royalty, but the enjoyable time passed quickly, and we soon arrived at the castle.
“I wanted to hear more about my parents…”
“I’ll share more anytime. Let’s drink until morning on my day off.”
“I’d love that!”
“You two are getting along quite well…”
Alissa chuckled as I followed the two of them into the castle.
Just yesterday, I thought I would never have any connection to this place. I felt overwhelmed by its sacred and tense atmosphere. Perhaps it felt even more so because we were in the midst of the Succession War.
Still, the grandeur of the castle was astonishing. The carpet beneath my feet was plush. The vases, jars, and paintings adorning the hallways were all of the highest quality. If I were to break even one, the House Pnosis would be blown away like a house of straw.
As I walked through the hall, sweating nervously, we climbed several flights of stairs before Roan finally stopped.
“Here we are, Hugh. Your Highness, I have brought Hugh Pnosis!”
“Come in!”
A cheerful voice responded from inside the room, and Roan placed a hand on his forehead and sighed again. Alissa was also smiling wryly.
I was sweating nervously as well. The voice I heard from inside sounded familiar.
Prompted by Roan’s gesture, I stepped into the room. It was a simple space furnished only with a desk, and standing by the window was its owner, gazing intently at me.
Her long, beautiful, and lustrous golden hair flowed down to her waist. With large, round azure eyes that conveyed a sense of youthfulness, she was a petite girl.
“Welcome… no, that’s not right. Nice to meet you, Hugh Pnosis. My name is Lucretia von Reese, the Seventh Princess of this kingdom. It’s a pleasure to meet you!”
Princess Lucretia smiled as she introduced herself.
Though her hair color and style were different, there was no way I could mistake that smile…
This Seventh Princess is definitely Rouge!
I silently screamed in my mind, clutching my head in disbelief.