Sana is going to the western country tomorrow, just thinking about it made me nauseated.
Since that irritation wouldn't stop, I went to the garden in the middle of the night to swing my sword, and was attacked from behind.
When I came to, I was laying down on my bed.
Huh? What does it mean?
Having no recollection of yesterday, I moved to the dining room while rubbing my aching head.
I was thinking of having fun spending time with Sana.
However, such a modest wish of mine was blown to smithereens.
"Haah? What do you mean she has already left, mother!"
Mother said like it's a bother.
"As I said, Lillina's group departed before dawn. Come, get ready to go and report to the Royal Capital. Please also deliver the letter properly."
"No, why before dawn… I mean, I haven't heard anything!"
"Because it was kept a secret."
That's too much.
I couldn't say goodbye to Sana.
What kind of malice is that.
I'm depressed, heartbroken.
Smack!
"Ouch~~."
"You're always being hesitant and effeminate. Sana hates those types. She hates weak people. If that's what you're going to be like, I'll tell Sana when she comes. If you have free time to fret, polish yourself instead. Sana is wasted on a man who can't fulfill his role."
… I can't argue.
From the start, she isn't an opponent you can beat with words or strength.
However, I don't want to be a kind of man Sana would laugh at!
Then, I will do what I can.
"I understand, mother. I will go to the Royal Capital. I will also pa.s.s the letter along to the queen."
"Yes, that's right. Take my and Prince Leon's letters, I will keep Princess Sumire's letter just in case."
It's a smart idea to not let Princess Sumire's letter see the light of day.
It made me draw back.
"Do you have anything else to tell me?"
"Let's see~… Ah, that's right. Tell her that I am looking forward to the wedding ceremony. I will be glad to partic.i.p.ate. Then Ricardo, please emphasize that the ninja were useful."
"Ninja… is it?"
"Yes, that's right. If you emphasize the ninja Princess Sumire sent were useful, her reputation will certainly go up. That will surely strengthen her engagement. The new prince's fiancée sending her escorts to a.s.sist in demon subjugation, isn't that a moving tale?"
Mother was cornering the opponent.
She's br.i.m.m.i.n.g with the feeling of severing her connection with Prince Leon.
Prince Leon might find it disagreeable, but it'd be troublesome if he didn't marry Princess Sumire.
"Understood. I will report everything."
"Please do. Even so, don't say anything unnecessary."
Anything unnecessary?
… Ah, Princess Sumire's letter.
Without Sana, I took members of the Chivalric Order and returned to the Royal Capital within a day.
Of course we went there directly without taking a break.
The members, who would be completely exhausted before, could now keep up.
When I arrived to the Royal Capital I applied for a meeting with the king.
My wish was granted immediately, and I faced the king on an audience.
In this place there were also the queen and the prime minister, my father.
"… The demon threat is gone. Miraculously there were no victims either."
"I see, well done. Consequently, for the time being there won't be another ma.s.s emergence of demons."
The king sighed in relief.
Oh, that's right.
I have to deliver the letter from mother.
"Queen, I've been entrusted this letter by my mother."
I handed the letter to the queen.
Father asked me 'What's written there'.
However I also don't know its content.
The queen is looking at the letters in silence.
It seems she finished both Prince Leon's and mother's letters.
She has worn-out expression.
The queen asked me a question.
"Hey, Ricardo. Has Leon's letter been read only by Liza?"
"No, it hasn't. Naturally Lillina has read it, as it was addressed to her, everyone who was around her also knows what he'd wrote."
The queen paled upon hearing my words.
"How, how many people were there, I wonder?"
"Umm, my grandparents, moreover Chris-sama with his attendants… There were more than ten people."
The queen is dejected.
The king and father who haven't read the letters are curious.
The queen handed the letters to such king and father.
The complexions of the two changed as they were reading it.
The king is pale, and father is emitting a black aura.
"Wha, what on earth is this…"
Eventually the king began grasping his head.
"My king, let's put him under house arrest and hasten the marriage as Liza suggested in her letter!"
What? Is that what's written in mother's letter?
Just in case, I wouldn't recommend putting a prince of our country under house arrest.
"Haa~~, I have to give up on Lillina. The risk is too high now."
The queen is muttering something regretfully.
Rather, you're giving up too late.
Oh, that's right.
I've forgot to support Princess Sumire.
"Come to think of it, Princess Sumire has secretly sent her escorts, the ninja, as a reinforcement. They were a great help."
"I see, Princess Sumire…"
Great, I was able to appeal properly.
It appears the queen is thinking.
It seems she settled on an idea.
"I will explain to Leon how much he has bothered Lillina until now. Probably he will want to beat himself out of the self-inflicted misery. Prime minister! Please prepare the records of the meeting about Leon aggravating the situation with Lillina. Let's explain it clearly to make him give up."
Woah~~, aren't there a lot~ of records from that meeting?
Explaining to Prince Leon who doesn't have memories… What a devil.
But he won't give up if they don't do this.
But I think it's impossible to give up on your favorite person.
I mean, Sana…
Sana?
Why am I so fixated on Sana?
Aah~~ what's with this hazy feeling!
All right! Let's go to the training area and rampage!
I headed for the training area while the others were making noise.
ーーTraining area
"""Today we will defeat the commander!"""
My men cheerfully motivated themselves to charge at me.
Ah, that's good.
I will be your opponent to the bitter end.
I knocked them out with a blow each.
"Woahー! The captain is serious!"
"Riskyー, you are insaneーー!"
"Hey, why are they blown so far away? Impossible."
For the first time in a long while I'm knocking people down without holding back.
Especially those who I can sometimes hear spouting 'For Sansama~' carelessly.