Translator: Blushy
Editor: Sam
How many times have I cried while saying that would be the last time I do? After that incident, I felt bad, but decided not to make any excuses for crying, and just cried as much as I wanted because Iâm still a child. If I hold back, then Iâll end up crying a lot.
I heard that Ange didnât answer anything during her investigation, and it was concluded that what she had said to me was simply malice and couldnât be used as evidence for my kidnapping. Iâm still not satisfied that they treated it as something else she did wrong since it wasnât a big crime compared to her making Kingdomâs barrier sway, but even so, her punishment wonât get any heavier, so I donât care about that anymore.
I knew that would be the conclusion and wasnât as disappointed as Otou-sama. He was probably disappointed that I had been kidnapped and that he couldnât see through Angeâs real character. But Iâm not going to sympathise with him on that. Otou-samaâs a bit useless, so I hope that he will judge people a little better in the future.
I was finally allowed to go to town towards the end of my summer holiday, and at night-time too. Otou-sama reluctantly gave me permission to go because Alistair and everyone else will be leaving soon. But there were too many of us to go incognito.
âNico, why are you here?â
If the Prince is here, then security will be tight.
âHmm. Father finally went back to his old self.â
I thought that it was annoying that someone with too much curiosity had returned. Maybe Iâm a bit cold.
âThe royals will seem snobbish if they donât go out in public, so when I heard that you were going into town, I asked Father if I can come along too!â
âNico, youâre greath.â
I donât think Lambert-ojisama would be able to refuse since he asked to go out now. And it seems that Nicoâs opinion of his father has slightly gone down.
There were a lot of guards with us since Nico came along, which made us stand out more than I had thought it would since Alistair, Bart and everyone else looked like commoners. And there were two young infants wearing hoods on a summer night, so it was no wonder that we attracted attention.
âItâs not the number of guards thatâs the problem, the amount of people in town also make it difficult to move around.â
âYouâre sho shmarth Hansh.â
The naggy guard finally returned. When he returned, he was so exhausted that he didnât even talk a lot, so the fact that he complained like this meant that he had recovered considerably.
âYou canâth shay thhath even if ithâsh thhe thruthh.â
âYouâre so strict, Lei.â
Bart laughed. Hans greeted Bart with interest, âYouâre Bart? Iâve heard about you. Iâm Hans, Leila-samaâs guard.â
âIâm a hunter, so Iâm not very good at protecting people, but itâs nice to meet you.â
âYou say that, but the way you carry yourself, and the way you keep an eye out is much better than the royal guards...â
âTsk. Thathâsh enough.â
As the boss, I have to stop my guards from slipping up. I crossed my arms and puffed out my chest.
âAh, Lei-sama, if you throw your chest out that much then youâll fall over.â
âI wonâth.â
Geez, heâs talking too much.
And so, our suspicious group was waiting for evening to come.
The faint light of day seemed to fade into darkness, but the townâs streetlights were being turned on one by one by the shopkeepers, driving out the darkness of the night. There was hardly anyone out at this time of the night in Wester, and the people who were out at night rushed around as if they were being pursued.
âThe number of people isnât decreasing, theyâre increasing instead. See, look at that corner over there. Theyâre opening up their stores right now. I canât help the chills that run down my spin no matter how many times I see it.â Bartâs expression was frighteningly serious. Unlike me, who was looking around town as if I was watching a movie, Bart, Mill, Kyaro, Clyde and Alistair were all looking around town seriously.
âBut look at their faces. Just like in our town, some look relieved to be done with their work while others look like theyâre enjoying themselves and are about to have a get together.â
Unlike me, who had never been to town before, Bart and everyone else seemed to go out to town a lot like Bart had said. Itâs really rare for Frontier people to come to the capital. I was a little jealous, but I also hoped that they would make the most out of this opportunity.
âWeâve walked quite a bit. Weâre hanging out with Lei today, so just tell me where you want to go,â Bart said, and I thought hard.
âYou donât have to think hard about it, weâll just visit all the food stores first.â
âYou know what youâre talking about!â Bart laughed heartedly while slapping Nico on the back, which caused the guards to get noisy for a moment, but Hans and I can only shake our head in disgust.
âDishquawified.â
âWhy, Leila-sama!?â
âFirshth. Ithâsh awready thoo wathe tho mawe a fushsh afther heâsh been hith on thhe bacw.â (First. Itâs already too late to make a fuss after heâs been hit on the back)
âNuh-uh.â
âSecond. Weâre incognitho, sho thhey shhouwdnâth caushe a fushsh. Weâre shthanding outh.â (Second. Weâre incognito, so they shouldnât cause a fuss. Weâre standing out) The guards straightened up at my words.
âHah! Youâre right! Weâll do our best!â
âAi.â
ââBuffo.ââ
Since when did I become an advisor to those who are protecting Nico? Yes, you over there, donât laugh. Iâm troubled that there are two people laughing now. Nico looked like he was ready to go.
âThen, letâs go to that delicious smelling store first. Thereâs smoke coming out from there, so are they cooking on open fire?â
Good timing. He must be remembering that time when we grilled fish at Mils Lake. Outdoor learning is important after all. I nodded to myself and twitched my nose.
âJudging from thhe shmeww, ithâsh meath. Lethâsh thry ith!â (Judging from the smell, itâs meat. Letâs try it)
âOkay! Letâs go!â
Nico and I ran off, hand in hand, and our hoods flew off as we ran.
âOh my, itâs the Prince.â
âAnd heâs accompanied by violet eyes!â
The Princeâs identity was immediately revealed, and he was popular, even though people were looking at him from a distance.
âAh, what should we do now that Lei isnât tottering around anymore?â
âIt means that she would take less time to get to places, and we can do more things together with her. Mill is really a disappointing guy.â Bart and the others were saying something behind me, but I didnât care.
âSee! Ith ish meath!â
A small piece of meat was sizzling on top of the iron plate. But we couldnât see it the closer we got, and only the smell attracted us.
âOh! But how do we eat it?â
âWhat? Bocchan, jou-chan, do you want to eat a meat roll?!â The owner called out to us from downstairs as he peered over the grill.
âHmm. Father gave me spending money. Give me two of these.â
Nico nodded with a big smile, then he carefully searched his pants pocket, and stood tall with a large, shiny coin in his palm.
âA gold coin...â
This is the kind of thing Lam-ojisama would do.