If You Take the Enemy Prince as Your Knight Chapter 137

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The carriage journey continued uneventfully and monotonously. We traveled by carriage from morning until evening, then stayed at whatever lodging was nearby, repeating the same routine every day. Seeing the accommodations grow rougher and more modest with each passing day made it clear that we were moving farther from the capital and closer to the border.

 

“Are you not uncomfortable, Your Highness?”

 

“How about staying here for a day and resting?”

 

The members of the party, especially Dominic and the imperial knights under his command, kept watching my reactions. But I made no decision that would delay our journey.

 

“If you are tired, you may rest before continuing.”

 

“No.”

 

While riding in the carriage, my maid, who resembled a camellia flower, Sione, asked seriously. “Your Highness, are you really okay traveling without taking any breaks?”

 

“The roads are well maintained, so carriage travel is not very uncomfortable.”

 

“Now that I think about it, there really isn’t any road a carriage can’t travel on. Even though this place is fairly remote, the roads are perfectly paved.”

 

“Yes. They built them to create routes for extracting goods. We are currently traveling along roads paved with other people’s blood and sweat.”

 

“I didn’t know that. Thank you for telling me.” Sione listened without prejudice, even when the daughter of a tyrant shamelessly said such things.

 

I looked out the window. The vast plains stretching into the distance and the ridgelines of angular rocky mountains obscuring the horizon entered my sight. It meant the border wasn’t far away.

 

Since I had left under the pretext of a trip, I needed a nominal destination. I decided to visit a small estate within Lohengrin territory and informed the relevant parties. For the lord there who must have felt as though a bolt from the blue had struck when he suddenly learned he would have to host the tyrant’s daughter, I didn’t feel particularly sorry. After all, everyone prospering in Lohengrin these days was one of Emilio’s lackeys.

 

“We’re almost there…”

 

I was gazing at the scenery through the window and muttering to myself when a welcome face entered my field of view.

 

“Your Highness.”

 

“Regen.”

 

Feeling a smile naturally rise to my lips, I leaned closer to the window. Regen guided his horse nearer to the carriage as well.

 

“I have good news and bad news. Which would you like to hear first?”

 

“You choose, Regen. I’ll try to guess.”

 

Regen seemed slightly surprised by the unexpected answer, then smiled with curved eyes. “I’ll choose the good news first.”

 

“The border is getting close.”

 

“Correct. Then what do you think the bad news is?”

 

“We’ll be camping tonight, won’t we?”

 

“That is also correct.”

 

We smiled at each other without a sound. I almost tried to demand a reward for guessing everything correctly, but stopped myself. His smile was rewarded enough.

 

“What are you doing?” A voice full of dissatisfaction interrupted us.

 

Dominic skillfully maneuvered his horse, pushing Regen away from my carriage window and taking his place. Then, as if making sure I could hear, he said to Regen, “Sir Regen, go ahead and scout the area. Shouldn’t you check whether there are any dangerous enemies or obstacles ahead of Her Highness’s path?” He was obviously trying to separate Regen from me.

 

Naturally, I had no intention of simply watching. “That is overstepping your authority. I am the only person who can issue orders to Sir Regen.”

 

“My apologies, Your Highness. Please remember that His Majesty entrusted me with overall responsibility for your protection. During this journey, even a personal knight can’t refuse the orders of the person in charge.”

 

“But I would simply issue the opposite order. Do you wish to compete with me in authority?”

 

“If Your Highness wishes to give your personal knight grounds to be accused of insubordination, then by all means.”

 

For some reason, Dominic seemed especially stubborn today. Judging by how shamelessly he insisted, it appeared he truly wanted to get Regen out of his sight by any means possible.

 

Rather than getting angry, I smiled brightly. “Of course I can’t put my knight in a difficult position. Have it your way and send Sir Regen to scout ahead.”

 

“…Now that you’re actually telling me to do it, this feels strange. What are you plotting?”

 

I was about to show him. “Stop the carriage. I shall ride with Sir Regen on his horse.”

 

“…!”

 

Wouldn’t it be enough if I simply accompanied Regen on his scouting mission myself?

 

Dominic ground his teeth. “Princess Rosasia.”

 

“You called for me. Speak.”

 

“…”

 

“Nothing to say? Then again, while you may have the authority to order Sir Regen around, you don’t have the authority to order me. Stop the carriage.”

 

“…Ha. I admit defeat.” Dominic irritably brushed back his bangs. In the end, one of the six men under his command was sent to scout instead.

 

Sitting properly inside the carriage, which had never slowed down, I feigned disappointment. “What a shame. I was wondering whether I should ride in front and be held, or ride behind and hold on to him.”

 

“…Would you stop?”

 

“Eavesdropping on a conversation with my maid is hardly knightly behavior.”

 

Dominic ground his teeth before letting out a resigned sigh. “No matter what you say, you’re still charming, so I can’t even get angry. I suppose I have no choice but to let you win.”

 

“…”

 

I had no chance to show him my frown. Dominic slowed his horse and disappeared from my sight.

 

After some time, Sione muttered quietly, “I think I understand why all those young ladies go crazy over him.”

 

“I don’t understand at all.”

 

“Would you like me to explain?”

 

“No.”

 

“Yes.”

 

The carriage came to a stop in the early evening. It was an open area suitable for camping. Everyone was busy pitching tents, preparing food, and making arrangements to spend the night before the sun set. At times like this, a princess raised like a greenhouse rose was not particularly useful. Rather than wandering around and making everyone worry, the best thing I could do was stay quietly inside the carriage and remain unnoticed.

 

Sione opened the carriage door and reported the situation. “Your Highness, the tents are all set up, but preparing the meal will take a little longer. Aren’t you tired of staying inside the carriage the whole time?”

 

“A little.”

 

Just then, Regen, having finished his duties, approached. As though he had overheard our conversation, he extended a hand to me from outside the carriage. “The flowers in the field are blooming beautifully. It would be nice if you saw them before the sun sets.”

 

“Hmm, shall I?” When he recommended something, I had no means of refusing. Lifting the light travel dress I was wearing, I stepped out of the carriage. I carefully descended the steps, holding his hand.

 

Not far from the campsite stretched a field where cosmos flowers and red spider lilies grew in clusters. The flowers, bathed in the reddish glow of the setting sun, swayed gently in the breeze. Regen spread a handkerchief over a suitable tree stump and invited me to sit. Perhaps worried that I would be cold, he removed his uniform coat and draped it over my shoulders.

 

“Thank you.”

 

“It’s nothing.”

 

As I gazed at the beautiful flower-filled field, a strange sense of wistfulness came over me. Lost in sentiment, I spoke. “I wonder if the border is covered in flowers like this as well.”

 

“It probably is.”

 

“That would be nice.”

 

“Yes. Beauti—”

 

“There are already enough flowers for the memorial altar, so all that’s left is to offer the traitor’s blood.”

 

“…”

 

Was it my imagination? Regen seemed to flinch. But soon, laughter with a resonance as deep as a cave echoed in my ears.

 

“Yes. Sasha is right. The border will become a beautiful memorial altar.”

 

“Yes.” I was pleased that he agreed with me.

 

“Sir Regen! I’m sorry, but could you come here for a moment and help me?” From a distance, Sione called out to him. It seemed there was some problem with the tent.

 

“Go ahead, Regen.”

 

“I’ll be back shortly.”

 

After sending him off, I sat quietly before the field. I pulled the front of his coat closed, letting his warmth seep into me instead of escaping. Just then, a rough wooden cup emitting wisps of steam was extended toward me. The fragrant scent of tea drifted sharply into my nose.

 

“Thank you.” Naturally assuming it was Regen, I accepted it with both hands and looked up. However, the face before me was not the one I had expected.

 

“You’re very welcome.”