Chapter Eighteen: The Real Her
Azval
This is starting to annoy me. I got Ferran to deliver a letter to her because I was so busy the other week but I haven't gotten any replies from her.
I decided to go to the Inn last night because I used the banquet as an excuse yet Cecil and the others are also worried about her because she hasn't come back since the day she said she just wants to read her book somewhere else.
"Sir, you're gonna break the table," Ferran said and handed me a cup of tea.
This is no time for tea!
I ignored him and buried myself again in the paperwork. Erend refused to offer their help regarding the matter with the dragon and I should be in a great mood since we will be slaying again, an ancient one at that, but I feel unsettled that I haven't seen Miss Estelle for weeks now.
"I'm tired," I said and banged my head on the table full of papers.
"This is not the time for that, Sir." I looked at him with a grimace.
Yes, he's the reason why I wasn't able to visit Miss Estelle for a while now.
He said that if I held it in for a week and a half, the paperwork would be done, we could focus on training and I could visit Miss Estelle to my heart's content. Last night's banquet escape was just a cheat day but it just brought me a devastating discovery.
Damn, at this rate I won't be able to see her again.
My sulking was cut when the door suddenly opened and Caesar entered the room.
"The Crown Prince is here," he said. I gestured to let him come in and with that, Ferran left the room with Caesar.
"What brings you?" I asked as soon as he entered the room. I faked reading the papers in front of me now while he sat down in the chair in front of my table.
"I still can't get Erend to cooperate with me and they won't even tell me reason the chose to not," he said with an irritated voice and formed a fist on his hand.
"I guess we have no choice but to continue."
"You know better than anyone that an ancient dragon is a different caliber. You won't stand a chance against it," he replied while gritting his teeth. I put down the documents I was faking to read and looked at him.
"Then that's one more reason why we should continue this," I said and stood up. I leaned my face closer to him and looked at him fiercely in the eyes. "That dragon can erase the Empire in the maps. If we can manage to severe it, there's a chance that the Emperor's troop will arrive on that time to finish the dragon."
Since the Grafgue Forest is located at the boundary of the South and is nearing the East, the moment the dragon decides to attack, our land will be its first target. That's according to King Rolvo as what we discussed at the banquet before I left.
The movement of the dragon is heading towards our kingdom. In that case, the East will be destroyed first. There are already knights from the Emperor who are stationed there but it's only limited. Just enough for one or two of them to escape once the attack had already begun and report back to him.
That's why we should be the ones to hold back, together with the knights from the South, until the other knights and warriors from the whole empire arrive, especially the Emperor himself.
"But it won't change the fact that they would send the Princess over as a precautionary if ever the Emperor is still not there and the troops are already weary. Worse, wiped out."
I saw a glint of anger in his eyes. That's why he was so eager to get Erend to cooperate because if not, we would need the sacrifice of the descendants of the Holy Saintess who have the Holy Powers. That guarantees our win.
He doesn't want her to be involved in this war.
"You're belittling your little brother," I said and acted hurt by holding my left chest. He chuckled but it didn't last.
"She already knows about the situation and I'm afraid that she'll involve herself. She might lose her life."
"That's why it's called sacrifice," I replied and gave him a shrug.
"I wonder who is the idiot that told her. I was trying my best to hide that matter as early as now. She should only focus on preparing for our wedding."
His eyes suddenly darkened and I immediately turned my head on the window to avoid his gaze.
I am that idiot!
"She'll learn that eventually," I said while wiping the imaginary sweat on my forehead. Lorcan stood up and he was about to bid me farewell when a thought suddenly came to mind.
"By the way, can mana's properties change?" I asked while following him. He stopped walking and faced me. His eyebrows furrowed.
"Are you even paying attention to our lessons when we were kids? The properties won't change since each of us has a unique one," he boringly replied and grabbed the door's handle. He faced me and gave me a smug look. "Why do you ask? Did your muscles already corrupt your brain?"
I gestured a throwing fist at him and he laughed like a devil while slamming the door so hard.
He needs a refreshment from my fist.
It's not that I don't know that the properties don't change. I just got a suspicion when I encountered the Princess last night. Compared to our first meeting where I cannot sense her at all, it was different from last night's.
Worst, the owner of that mana property is familiar to me. It's Estelle's!
"Impossible," I mumbled to myself as I got back to my seat.
Why would she be even here? Unless she dyed her hair and changed the color of her eyes, she can act as the Princess.
Lorcan didn't say anything when I opened up about that topic so I am now doubting if I was just mistaken last night. Surely, if something is strange going on with Princess Sina, the first thing that would know is Lorcan.
I let out a deep sigh. I'll just visit the Inn. Maybe Cecil and the others are just making up that Estelle was not there because she's angry with me and didn't want to see me. I wonder if a bunch of flowers would let me see her.
"Ferran!" I called and he immediately went inside.
"Yes, sir?"
"Order me the finest flowers in the kingdom. A bouquet," I said while already starting my paperwork. Ferran's eye widened.
"Pardon, sir?" I raised my left eyebrow on him. I didn't say a word but I looked meaningfully at him and the papers in front of me.
"Y-Yes, sir. Right away! Just be sure to finish that," he said in panic and urgently left to do my request. I let out a chuckle and did my job.
I can't wait to visit her!
"I'm really sorry, Mr. Mercenary but she's really not in here."
My shoulders dropped so did the flowers that I was holding but before they reached the ground, the woman in front of me caught it.
"Is that Azval?" I heard Cecil's voice approaching us at the entrance of this Inn. "Go serve the basket there Edith, I'll handle this."
The woman in front of me excused herself and gave back the bouquet to me. She then rushed to do her job. Cecil on the other hand guided me to a vacant table since I was too disheartened to even move.
When I already managed to sit down, Cecil got me a beer and a basket of bread I would always order.
"She will be back," Cecil spoke to me and sat down in front. "Her belongings are still here and the only thing that she has is her pouch with some rias, her book and I think the necklace that you gave her."
"It's been two nights," I murmured while I took a bite from the bread and a sip from the beer to lessen my anxiety. "Does she know anyone from here? Someone that befriends her maybe?"
"Not that I know of. I am trying to be positive at least. You see, we have changed her appearance." Cecil started to fidget with her fingers. "This is just between us because I know you mean well to Estelle.'
"What is it?" I asked.
"You see, we dyed her hair and changed her eye color to fit the norms in this place as her natural appearance would create attraction. She might be mistaken as a witch. But, she somehow resembled the Princess of the West." Cecil looked at me with worried eyes, "she is someone a lot of nobles would kill for. What if... what if..."
I grabbed Cecil's shoulders and let out a chuckle.
"Hah, I can't believe this."
"W-Why?"
"Don't worry. I think I know where she is right now," I said while gritting my teeth. I just have a hunch since earlier but who would've thought that it wasn't just a hunch? I am not wrong about the mana after all. That girl...
I assured Cecil that everything would be okay and Estelle should be safe. Much safer than she thought. She's just in the Palace grounds after all.
After finishing my meal, I already bid goodbye to her but the moment I stepped out of the Inn, someone appeared in front of me. He removed his hood.
"M-Master Hagas?"
"Keep her safe. She must stay alive."
Those are just the words he said then walked away. I tried to run after him but it was no use. Just like before, he would just disappear out of nowhere. Mages...
"Keep her safe? Does he mean Miss Estelle?"
"You told me that you met Princess Sina last time on the market right?" I asked Ferran and he was taken aback by my question. It was so random after all.
"Yes sir," he said as he continued to spar with me. "Good thing that I managed to bring her back to the palace. I was just wondering why she would even be there with such strange clothing."
As I successfully pointed out my sword at his throat, I let out a chuckle. I put down my sword and told everyone to take a break.
Of course, this redhead is the one who bought Estelle here.
The question now is why is she acting as the Princess?
"Is something that bothers you, sir?" he asked while following me. I stopped and faced him.
"I don't know if I should praise you or kill you," I said and acted like I was about to throw a punch. He acted like dodging it, also.
"When's the next banquet?" I asked and for the second time, he was taken aback. I just raised my eyebrows at him and waited for his answer.
"Five days from now sir. It's your brother's birthday from Lady Isabella," he answered while handing me a drink. "Will you plan to escape again?"
"No, I actually plan to stay the whole night," I said and drank the water while wiping my sweat.
"Are you for real?! Good heavens, something must have knocked your head."
I can see Ferran's eyes widen. He kept on going on and on until I decided to not listen to what he was saying at all. After all, I have something in mind that I think is more worthy of my attention.
I wonder if the REAL Princess Sina would attend or if she will.
Even the thought alone excites me.
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