Volume 2 - Ch 11
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It seems that the nobles supporting uncle are starting to move It looks like Im being targeted.
His Highness suddenly informed me as such.
Information about the two great factions in this nation also mostly reach my ears. So the Royal Prince Faction have finally begun to move for real?
Lately, the conflict between the Kings Faction and the Royal Prince Faction has begun to soften on the surface. Their sons, His Highness and Raiga-sama didnt have such a dangerous relationship after all. It wasnt as though the two of them were very close to each other, but they hadnt openly come into conflict even once, and each one of them just lived as they wanted. Their subordinates also behaved as their lords did. In response, one section of the Royal Prince Faction nobles had grown tired of waiting, and finally began to take action.
On the other hand though, the neighbouring country also has a power thats beginning to become turbulent Information that that power is aiming for me has also reached me.
What purpose they have, we still dont know. Is this hostility towards Garnet Nation, or has the Royal Prince Faction even reached their hands into the neighbouring country? Its a complicated issue, but there are nobles of the Royal Prince Faction who have wedded their daughters into the neighbouring country.
It isnt as though were sure that the nobles of the Royal Prince Faction and the power of one section of the neighbouring nation have joined hands, is it?
Mmn. Thats why I was thinking of wringing them out I havent been able to really catch them after all.
Your Highness.
Im having a bad feeling about this. Recently, His Highness has become a little reckless. He was already a person with a strong sense of curiosity, but it seems that thats been heading in a no good direction. Doing things with half-baked ability is just dangerous.
Ill have you and Camille cooperate with me as well.
His Highness plan is as follows. Hell go out to have fun in a mountain thats on campus There, hell watch the movements of the Royal Prince Faction and determine which power it is.
For the sake of that, Ill be having a student born in the neighbouring nation help me.
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Even though theyll be going through something dangerous, is there really a student willing to help you with this?
Its fine! Shes strong, after all. I mean, shes the guard of the neighbouring nations prince after all.
I get the feeling that these kind of rash ideas are completely the fault of Camilles influence.
And, shes willing to help you?
Nope? All I said was that wed be having a picnic together.
You really are the worst, huh.
His Higness smiled sweetly An affirmative. I dont want to admit it, but this side of him seems to be because of my influence. I wouldnt do something so sleazy though.
Now, now, dont get so mad. I dont think itll be necessary, but if it comes down to it, Ill protect her after all.
Certainly, His Highness has become strong. Unnecessarily so. Im not sure how or why, but recently His Highness has been playing at being a spy, and his information gathering skills have grown to a considerable level. Even though spy skills are completely unnecessary for a prince.
However
It looks like you arent getting on board, huh, even though I even came up with a great plan where I could have a date whilst exposing the criminals.
Just now, what was that?
Eh? A date I said, a date.
With who?
Like I said, with the girl whos the guard of the neighbouring nations prince.
Who would?
Me Achille, why are you sighing? Even though this is a great plan that even kills two birds with one stone.
His Highness is also of that age. Without me realising, it seems that at some point His Highness has fallen for that student from the neighbouring nation. But, if she found out that she was being used for this kind of plan Why doesnt he realise that shed grow to hate him? Hes developing emotionally in a slightly warped direction, which worries me.
Her strength is famous in the neighbouring nation, you know. The martial pride tournament held by the nation came out with her as the victor as much as six times, and an evil organisation that tried to touch Tria was completely destroyed by her alone. If even knowing that, they attack in disdain, then theyre people of our nation. If they attack whilst looking wary of that, then the chance that theyre from the neighbouring nation is high.
You really are the worst, huh.
Dont condemn me so much. Ah, keep silent about this from Camille?
Certainly if Camille found out about this, shed be incredibly shaken, huh. And shes stupidly honest, so its inevitable that her movements will become stiff.
Mn, so lets have say its a normal picnic. So that the number of guards decrease, and Ill get targeted while were having the picnic, Ill have you two move away from me.
But if anything happens to Your Highness
Do you think something will? You and Camille are coming along As for whether or not the Royal Prince Faction and the neighbouring nation have any connection, well wring that out of the people we catch. Well be carrying it out next break, so keep your schedule free, okay?
His Highness unilaterally told me as such. If its his order, then even if I have something I want to say about it, theres no way I can go against him.
Hahh Understood. You really are the worst, huh.
Youve said that three times, you know?
His Highness was beginning to smile gloomily, so I decided to immediately leave. Honestly, who does this guy take after?
On the day of the picnic, His Highness introduced me to a crossdressing schoolgirl. Shes the daughter of a count in the neighbouring nation, Topageria. Her jet black hair was tied up with a simple string of a design unique to Topageria. Hanging from her waist was a largish sword.
After hearing about Miss Beatrix from His Highness, Ive been researching her up until today, but Miss Beatrix doesnt hold any malice towards His Highness, and shes on good terms with Camille as well. I cant say that we can completely trust her, but for now it should be okay to travel together. For a while now, His Highness has been stuck to Miss Beatrix. That Camille didnt bat an eyelid at His Highness suddenly courting someone left me a little surprised.
Once wed reached the lake, His Highness and I immediately decided to set the plan into action. The lake was smaller than Id thought, and was a size that wed immediately be able to walk a lap around, but I got permission to use a abnormality detection magic on His Highness so that Id know immediately if anything happened, just in case.
With good timing, aftering eating lunch Camille started talking about how she wanted to go on a stroll and have a look around the lake. Camille was planning on having me stay with His Highness, but that would mess up the plan, so I immediately stood up as well. I cut off Miss Beatrix before she could say that she wanted to go as well, and then began to lead Camille away. At first, Camille was looked at me in protest, but it looks like she sensed something from my face. After that, His Highnesss words backed me up, and led by my hand, she obediently began to walk. Even while making a face that said that she didnt agree.
While we were on the path around the lake, I turned to look in His Highness direction, and found that he was smiling very happily. It looks like hes satisfied with being left alone with Miss Beatrix. Without knowing my feelings at all, hes enjoying himself. If His Highness is going to be like that, then for a little while, Ill enjoy my stroll with Camille as well. Camilles small right hand was faintly warm, soft and pleasant to the touch. The sunlight was warm as well. Even though were it not for the fact that todays excursion was wrapped up in His Highness plan, Id be enjoying this even more It feels like a bit of a shame.
Roughly halfway around the lake, a strong wind suddenly blew. The fallen leaves and litter was whirled up by it, so I immediately covered Camille.
Are you okay?
I-, Im fine Thanks.
Aahh, she became shaken with great timing. Lately, somehow or other Camilles been led around the nose by my every action. Up until now, shes taken no notice of things in that manner whatsoever, so Im happy about this change.
Camille who was being nervous had flower petals stuck in her hair. They were flower petals of a slightly deeper pink than the pink of her hair. When I reached my hand out towards the petals, Camille stirred a little. Today, her hair is curled inwards. Hair that always looks silky and beautiful.
Umm, Achille?
Camilles lost voice suddenly woke me up. It seems that I was unconsciously playing with her hair.
There were petals stuck to your hair, you know?
I showed her the petals that were my original goal.
What, so it was because of flower petals? I was surprised.
Camille acting plainly suspiciously was adorable, so I accidentally said something teasing.
Just what did you think it was?
Nothing really.
She was feigning calm, and her reply was blunt, but her ears were bright red so it was pointless. That too was lovely, so I wrapped my left arm around her right.
Authors Note: Next time, I have a battle-scene-ish story planned.