Episode 27: To the Empire
"I'm off then."
"Yeah. Be careful."
A sunny morning on the day of the expedition to the Empire.
In front of my parents' mansion. I put on my armor, greeted my father, and galloped up on my horse.
"Elfie, Armes. Take care of this fool."
"Ha!"
"Yes!"
My father continued to call out to them. I've been on the border recently, so I don't need to worry about that.
By the way, my father is not participating this time. Originally, my family was not going to participate, but due to a slight dispute with Prince Lim in the Royal Capital, we suddenly decided to attend. Moreover, I, not my father, was directly nominated by the government to participate. Therefore, my father will not be participating in this expedition.
The three of us, myself, Armes, and Elfie, along with Lady Ritia and her maid, Glass, will be taking part in this expedition. My father stood in front of the mansion to see us off, as well as most of the people in the house, including the servants.
"......"
"......"
And then there was Mashiro behind my father.
Yesterday, we were finally able to connect, and we fucked until the very last minute. After all, we couldn't go any further because everyone would wake up.
It's embarrassing just to think back on it, and we didn't know what to say to each other now, so we kept glancing at each other at breakfast but quickly looked away.
But when she noticed my gaze, she waved her hands in front of her body in a reserved manner, and with a really small movement of her mouth.
"(Be careful.)"
She muttered.
That was somewhat itchy and embarrassing. I quickly turned my head to avoid showing the edge of my mouth, which naturally rose. I vowed to myself that when I returned home, I would continue where we left off last night. If I could, I would hug Mashiro right now.
I'm tugged back with regret, but I endure it and turn my back to the mansion. Below me is the army of 500 men that I will be leading this time. The soldiers standing in a row are all dressed in armor, and their appearance is somewhat heroic.
The flag occasionally sways in the wind blowing from the hills, and when the number of soldiers reaches 500, it makes a magnificent sound.
Elfie and Armes, who have been asked by my father to babysit me, stand side by side. Elfie looks the same as usual, with a moderately tense expression on her face, while Armes is somewhat listless.
"All right, let's go."
"Ha."
As Elfie urged the entire army to march, the bells and drums were sounded grandly.
The 500-strong army, moving slowly, first parades through a town near the family home.
The aim was to show the people who had come to watch and see us off that we were about to go to war with the empire, thereby increasing their control over the city. It is also a way of communicating that this army is protecting the lives and safety of the people.
As we pushed through the streets, we saw wives stopping their chores on the roadside to watch the procession, and children with bright, sparkling eyes who had come out of their houses to watch it. The streets were filled with street vendors who had stopped doing their business.
"......Aren't there more people here than at the last parade?"
"The people's interest is probably high because we are fighting a full-scale battle with the empire. Besides......"
Elfie replied to my monologue with a disciplined tone. She is said to be retiring soon, but I am impressed that she is still active, not missing even the slightest whisper.
Certainly, the public's interest is high. As of yesterday, it is known that this is the largest operation. I would have liked to go in by surprise and kick out the troops who were on the border of the empire, but I was told that the spirit of the nobility of the kingdom is such and such, so I was rejected.
"I think that's what they're most interested in."
Elfie said, and then turned her attention to the carriage that was at the end of the line.
The carriage, which was not designed for battle, was decorated with glittering ornaments and seemed to be under pressure to convey their authority to all who saw them.
And the person riding in the carriage was also dressed in a different outfit.
"Why didn't she at least show her face from the carriage, that Ojousama......"
Ordinary noble daughters would wave and smile through the window at times like this, but as one would expect from the daughter of a great noble. She was holed up in her carriage, ignoring the assembled crowd. Moreover, the windows were closed with curtains.
Well, it was just like Lady Ritia. It was just like her to slap me on the face when we met each other, even though we were just greeting each other in the morning before we departed......Did I do something wrong, did I?
"...Young master, please look forward."
"Okay."
When I looked at the carriage with resentful eyes, Elfie immediately got angry with me.
I straightened my posture and smiled at the children who raised their voices. I am a nobleman of a branch of the branch family, but to a commoner, such details are irrelevant, and even I am a full-fledged nobleman. When I responded in a reasonable manner. The crowd cheered.
The crowd's cheers grew louder as the first group of knights left the town and gradually faded as we, the last group, left the town.
When we were out of sight of everyone in the town, the crowd's cheers gradually faded away. I slowed my horse from where I was now and moved so that I am running alongside the carriage.
"It's over now."
I tap lightly on the window, which is closed with curtains, and say so to the young lady inside.
A moment later, the curtains are opened and it was not Lady Ritia who peeked out, but her maid, Glass.
"What is it?"
"No, I just called because it's over."
Glass still had a dark expression on her face. Naturally, I feel that her words sting a bit.
"So, where's Ojousama?"
"…………What?"
At the sound of my voice, the young lady peeked out from the edge of the window, and instead of the red dress she usually wears, this time she was wearing a dress that resembled a white ruffled one-piece.
And not only that, her long blonde hair, which is always silky and smooth, is slightly curled at the ends and she wears a discreet earring in her ear.
......I think it's a good idea to dress a little more naturally than usual. What can I say, it's also the first time I've seen a young lady in a white dress, but she's also changed her hair slightly, and most of all, The red dress gave her a strong impression, but I think that's a good thing. I think so. I think if she dressed like that on a regular basis, she'd be even more popular than she was now.
However, as yesterday, the young lady's face is still somewhat red. I wonder if she caught a cold? I can't help but think, "She's probably just in a bad mood. Because she even slapped me when we faced each other......".
But she will be spending a lot of time with me. It's time for her to get back in a good mood, or I will be in trouble.
"Um, I apologize if I did something, so please fix your mood."
"I'm not in a bad mood..."
"Then why are you hiding like that?"
"That's because...... I'm weak in the sun."
What kind of vampire are you, you? No, it's true that she is pale and slender, and she certainly looked like a vampire, but her excuses are far too crude. In general, the young lady now has a complexion that is somehow tinged with vermilion, which has nothing to do with paleness. Or rather, her face has been slightly red ever since before our departure, so I became concerned and put my hand on her forehead as a parent might measure a child's fever.
"What!?"
The young lady's jade-green eyes widened in surprise, and she jerked back slightly.
"W-what are you doing!?"
"I just thought you might have a cold or a fever because your face is red."
"I don't have a cold!"
"Yes, and if Ojousama had a cold, I wouldn't have missed it."
"No, I don't know that."
Glass answered so confidently from the side without even asking. But she immediately put her hand over her face, as if she were concerned about Lady Ritia's condition.
"......Well, I noticed Ojousama's face is red, but she have a good appetite, so I don't think there's anything to worry about."
"Did you know that appetite is best before you catch a cold?"
Glass muttered it to herself, but she did not expect to be judged on the basis of the young lady's appetite. I was surprised that the standard of judgment was not based on the usual behavior of a servant who has been by her side for a long time.
"E-enough about me! What more do you want?"
She brushed Glass's hand away and turned to me, somewhat bewildered by the worried looks we both give her.
"I mean, it's not much, but the parade is over, so you don't have to close the curtains anymore......"
"It's really no big deal."
"......That's why I said."
While I was nodding my head, the young lady instructed Glass to open the curtains in the carriage.
"Anyway, when are we going to meet father?"
Lady Ritia asked, squinting her eyes as the sunlight streamed in through the open window.
"No, we won't join him, right?"
"Eh?"
Lady Ritia sounded a bit unconcerned with my answer. Well, it's true that the daughter-loving and idiotic head of the family would probably say that he would escort this carriage with tens of thousands of soldiers. I was surprised to hear that he would not accompany us.
"It's not that we won't see him at all, but to be precise, after all the troops gather today, we'll be waiting there for a couple of days."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, our main purpose is to escort the supplies, so we're just following behind."
Supply units usually leave before or after the main force.
In the first place, supply units rarely operate together with the main force in the war. The reason for that is that the speed of advance is reduced when they are together. The speed at which the troops heading for the frontline and the supply troops advance is about the same as that of a hare and a tortoise.
Therefore, it is common to stagger the time with the main force, and in this case, the one leaving later was chosen.
"Well, if you want to see your father, today is your only chance."
"That's fine. It's not like I want to meet him or anything."
......Did you just say that with a straight face? No, I understand that she certainly doesn't want excessive interference from her parents, but she didn't have to say it with such a straight face. I mean, I think he's a good father, even though he's too much of a parental idiot, I think he's a good father, I do.
"...We're on standby for two days, though, right?"
"Yes, that's right."
"Hehe, I see..."
I just watched in silence as the young lady responded in a somewhat different tone.
I mean, after two days of waiting, every time we had various meetings with other nobles during that time, we would have more drinks together for socializing and other things. If I refused, I'll get into trouble, and even if I do accept, I have to pay attention to the other nobles who will be in charge of the escort team, depending on their family status. It's really a hassle.
"H-hey..."
"What is it?"
As I was despondent at the depressing future, the young lady approached me in a reserved manner.
"What are you going to do for two days?"
"Eh? Of course, there are many things to do, like meeting with other nobles....... Why?"
"I don't really care about that......"
Lady Ritia is a bit hesitant to say anything. Well, the reason for that is probably that she wants to ask when are we going to have sex during the two days we are on standby.
"I have to work during the day, but don't worry, I'll do my best at night. So don't look so anxious."
Being in bed for the entire day is one thing, but this time I think it will be only at night.
Well, it's not hard to see why the young lady might be a little anxious. It's been three months since we met, and I'm sure she's worried that we won't be able to have a baby yet.
"No, it's not that, it's not that!"
"Eh?"
But unlike my thoughts, the young lady shook her head and turns her anxious face to me again.
"What I want to say is, I was wondering if you're going somewhere......"
No, it's not just the anxious looks she gave me. She goes out of her way to stick her tiny hand out of the window and grab the hem of my dress as I rode alongside them.
"...Stay with me."
She muttered with a sweet voice.
"……Eh?"
I, on the other hand, was the one who was surprised, and my heart unexpectedly skipped a beat at being told such a thing not at night or in bed, but in the presence of other people besides us.
My body was so hot and even though we were outside that I almost brushed the young lady's hand away, but I decided that it would be a bad idea to do that to her right now.
"I-I understand, so don't talk like that in public."
I gently let go of her hand and turn to face Lady Ritia.
To someone who doesn't know what's going on, her behavior earlier was completely that of a lover's familiarity, and I could tell without looking that Elfie and Glass were watching us.
"……I'm, sorry."
But the young lady didn't understand, and when she became understandably depressed, she retreated into the carriage. So please don't make that face. It's more of a sheltering look, and I can't help but want to pet her and say, "She's so cute".
"...I'm sorry, Ojousama is a little out of sorts."
"Y-yeah..."
I am flabbergasted when Glass told me that.
I left the carriage, ignored Elfie's painful "pull yourself together" stare, and looked ahead at the line, which was about to arrive at the fort designated as the assembly point for the entire army.
When I told Elfie, who was still staring at me, that I would do it right, with just a glance, she finally removed her sharp, reproachful gaze.
But what is wrong with the young lady that she wanted me to stay with her?
I had never seen the young lady say or do anything like that before, and it remained in the corner of my mind until we arrived at the fort, and my heart was still pounding fast with nervousness even though the war had not started yet.
,,,
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