I smiled at Silk, who was sitting across from me in the swaying carriage.
I had lived in the royal castle since I was born. Thanks to being the third princess, I was hardly ever allowed to go shopping in the city.
Everything I did was completed within the castle walls, and my life was limited to looking at the cityscape from the castle windows.
Since Silk, the second daughter of Duke Eric, was the same age as me, we were introduced and often played together in the castle since we were three years old.
Silk's family lived in the Marbeque territory, a few days' journey from the capital, so I felt sad that we couldn't play every day.
After celebrating my fifth birthday, I asked my father and was allowed to visit Silk's family. Of course, I was accompanied by maids and royal guards.
My heart leaped as I gazed at the cityscape from the carriage window, and I was moved by the golden fields stretching beyond the city.
As I chatted with Silk, who was heading to her territory with me, we arrived at the Marbeque territory and spent a few days there.
Although I was sad to return to the capital, Silk was also heading to the capital for a debut party, and we continued our journey in the carriage, chatting happily.
Three days before reaching the capital, the outside of the carriage became noisy.
"A group of orcs is coming from three directions! Protect the princess!"
I heard angry voices from outside.
"Princess Theresia, Miss Silk, please hide."
That's what Marta, the maid in the carriage, said to me.
"Huh, huh, what's happening?"
I was surprised by the maid's panicked voice.
"It seems to be a monster attack. The knights will take care of it, so please stay hidden and stay calm."
Her words made me feel a little better, but I was so scared that I held hands with Silk, and we trembled together.
From outside, I could hear angry voices and the noise of the group running.
Then, I couldn't help but see it. Through the gap in the window, I saw the group of orcs coming towards us.
Silk, who was sitting next to me, was also staring intently, despite her fear.
"Absolutely don't let them get close to the carriage! Form a circle around it!"
"There are more than ten orcs coming from three directions. With this number of people..."
"Fight with all your might! We are the Royal Guard! How can we not protect the princess?!"
Voices were flying outside the carriage.
"AAAAAAH!!"
"Terrot! Are you okay?!"
"..."
The captain swung his sword, cutting into the orcs while covering the fallen knight.
"Ugh"
I heard another knight fall behind me.
Looking around, I saw that several people had already fallen, and some knights were struggling on the ground. Only three knights were left to protect the carriage.
The group of orcs, which had been around fifty, had been reduced to about thirty, but it was already the limit.
"Is this the end... Damn it..."
At that moment, a small child appeared, holding a sword in one hand.
"I'll help!"
Those were the words the child said. The child had jumped into the group of orcs.
"A child shouldn't be here! Run away!"
That was all I could say.
The child turned to me with a smile and said one word.
"Watch me. I'll be fine."
After that, I was captivated by the child's actions.
The child cast magic repeatedly and used sword skills so fast they were invisible, defeating the orcs.
"What is this child...?"
I could only watch.
"That's the end!"
By the time I realized it, the orcs had been completely eliminated.
The child walked towards us. Upon closer inspection, the child was wearing noble clothing.
However, anyone could see that the child was not ordinary, given the magic and sword skills. We couldn't possibly win, but we had a duty to protect the princess and the duke's daughter, so we raised our swords against the child.
"Don't come near the carriage, stop there!"
The child, after wiping the blood from the sword, sheathed it and stood up straight.
"I apologize for the delay. My name is Cain von Silford, the third son of Garm von Silford."
As he said this, more knights on horseback arrived from behind.
"I am a knight of the Margrave Garm von Silford. I have come to assist. Wait, why is Master Cain here?"
The knights who had arrived looked surprised and looked around.
"Moreover, they've all been defeated."
The boy, who seemed to be the son of the Margrave Silford, approached.
"More importantly, please allow me to treat the injured knights. I can use healing magic."
Realizing this, I looked around. Some knights had already fallen, but a few were still breathing.
I approached the fallen knights.
"Area Heal"
The boy, Cain, cast the spell.
The injuries of the fallen knights healed rapidly. I realized that the pain in my own body had also disappeared. Area Heal is an advanced healing magic. For a child to use it...
Just then, a carriage protected by several knights arrived. The emblem on the carriage was unmistakably that of the Margrave Silford.
The knights who had come to assist were all lined up.
Then, a familiar figure descended from the carriage. It was the Margrave Silford.
"I am Garm von Silford. The emblem on this carriage belongs to the Santana Duke's family. Are you all safe?"
His words made me realize that we had survived.
The captain of the Royal Guard called out to the carriage.
"Princess, is Miss Silk safe? The monsters have been defeated. Please be at ease."
Silk and I were captivated.
We watched as the knights fell and the boy who suddenly appeared used magic and a sword to defeat the orcs.
Silk's hand, which was clasped with mine, tightened.
What beautiful sword skills. Despite being around my age, the boy moved fluidly, defeating the orcs. I couldn't take my eyes off him.
The maid opened the door, and with her support, Silk and I were able to get out of the carriage.
When I got out of the carriage, I saw a familiar face from the castle. It was the Margrave Silford.
Garm was surprised to see me in the duke's carriage and immediately knelt, performing the salute of a subject.
The boy who had saved us also bowed.
"Princess Theresia, Miss Silk, I am relieved to see you are safe."
"Margrave Garm, thank you for your assistance. I was in great danger."
Although I felt relieved with Garm's arrival, I was still trembling from the earlier fear.
However, I couldn't help but look at the boy who had saved us.
"Cain, these are the third princess, Theresia Terra Esfort, and the daughter of the Duke Santana, Silk von Santana."
Garm introduced the boy to me. Cain, I will never forget that name.
The boy, after a moment of surprise, stood up and introduced himself.
"I am Cain von Silford, the third son of Garm von Silford. I am relieved to see you are both safe. May I cast a spell on you?"
What? A spell? I was a bit taken aback.
"Calm"
As Cain cast the spell, light enveloped me, Silk, and the maid.
When the light faded, the fear and trembling from earlier were gone, and I felt calm.
"I hope you feel more at ease now."
Cain's smile was captivating. I could feel my cheeks turning red.
"Cain, I am Theresia Terra Esfort. Thank you for saving us. I was very scared. I thought it was the end."
Without thinking, I took Cain's hand. It might have been the first time I held someone's hand other than my family.
"Hey, that's not fair! Cain, let me thank you too. I watched from the carriage window. You were like a whirlwind, casting magic and using such impressive sword skills."
Silk also came out. Oh, she took the hand I was holding.
"Silk and I thought it was the end when the knights protecting us fell. Cain, you are so strong, defeating thirty orcs alone. I was captivated by your magic and sword skills."
After that, I tried not to show it, but I was very excited to be traveling to the capital with Cain.
We were told to wait in the carriage while the fallen knights and monsters were dealt with, so we entered and waited.
"Cain..."
Cain's face from earlier flashed in my mind, and I couldn't help but murmur. Silk reacted to my words.
"Theresia, you're smitten with Cain, aren't you~"
I could feel my face turning red from what Silk said.
After a while, the knights informed us that we were ready to depart.
I wanted to talk to Cain a bit more, so I couldn't help but call out from the carriage.
"Excuse me, I'm a bit nervous, so would you mind joining us in our carriage?"
Garm was a bit perplexed but eventually agreed.
"Alright. Cain, go to their carriage."
"...Understood."
First, I guided Cain to the middle seat in the back, and I sat next to him.
Then, Silk also sat on the other side of Cain!
The seat was wide enough for two adults to sit side by side, so it wasn't cramped with three children.
Cain had a slightly frustrated look on his face.
I found that look charming as well.
"Since we're all sitting together, it might be a bit cramped. Should I sit in the front seat?"
Cain made this suggestion, but I couldn't let him sit in the front.
I instinctively linked my arm with his.
I might have been a bit too forward...
"Theresia, that's not fair. Me too!"
Silk also linked her arm with Cain's other side.
When we stayed at an inn along the way, I insisted on sharing a room with Cain, even though Silk and I usually shared a room. I let him go outside when we changed, but I couldn't help but smile seeing him sleep in the bed next to mine.
By the time we reached the capital, I was having so much fun talking to Cain that I couldn't help but ask him to call me "Theresia." Silk was already calling me that, so it was fine, right?
The time passed quickly, and we arrived at the capital. Cain had to go to the Royal Guard, so we had to part ways there.
Silk and I entered the castle and were led to the reception room where my father was having a meeting.
I had to apologize for causing worry.
"Father, I'm sorry for causing you worry this time."
"It's alright. Theresia, I'm relieved that both of you are safe."
After that, I told him everything that had happened. When I talked about Cain, I got a bit excited and might have exaggerated a bit. But to me, he looked like a prince.
Father and Duke Eric sighed.
"By the way, I heard that both Theresia and Silk were quite attached to the boy who saved you."
Father's words made my face turn red. I could see Silk's face was also red.
"From your expressions, it seems you're not entirely opposed to it."
Prime Minister Magna looked at our faces and said.
"How about we bring Cain into our fold and have one of you become his fiancée?"
Father's words were a shock to me.
To be engaged to Cain, my prince... I couldn't help but raise my hand and answer immediately.
"I want to be his fiancée."
Silk and I said the same thing at the same time.
When we looked at each other, our faces turned even redder.
"Is Cain such a remarkable boy?"
"Eric, is this alright?"
Father and Duke Eric nodded.
After that, Prime Minister Magna and the two of them had a suspicious look on their faces, but I was too happy about the prospect of marrying Cain in the future.
The first king appeared, but I cut him off... I'm sorry...