Night Flight and Reunion

 
 
 ☆
 
 
 The notice was sent to me via magic communications by Otou-sama in the royal capital, while I was still in the capital town of Cocomel.
 
 “Your presence is requested at the royal castle. Return to the royal capital urgently — Father.”
 
 From Cocomel to the royal capital, the shortest route via carriage would take 5 days.
 
 By saying 『urgently』, he probably wants me to come to the royal capital in the fastest way, using any means.
 
 
 
 “… and so for that reason, I’ll be on my way to the royal capital for a bit. Please take care of things while I’m away.”
 
 I had called Anna and Sofia to my room and told them this.
 
 “Understood.”
 
 Sofia replied immediately.
 
 On the other hand, Anna ———
 
 “Ojou-sama. Are you not going to take me with you?!”
 
 “Sorry, Anna. Since it seems I’ll need to hurry this time, I’ll be flying out.”
 
 When I said this to Anna, she grumbled 『Urgh…』 with a dejected expression.
 
 When I said 『flying out』, I meant it literally, as in flying through the sky using flying boots.
 
 I’ll depart at dusk to avoid being seen, moving at high speeds at a high altitude.
 
 However, when flying at higher altitudes, the atmosphere gets thin and the temperature gets low.
 As expected, it’d be too much for the body to handle.
 
 For this reason, I inserted a circuit board into Coco and Mel, whose spells were to apply a layer of air to my surroundings, and to maintain the temperature.
 
 That’s why it wouldn’t be a problem if I were flying alone.
 
 However, having Anna follow me flying would naturally be tricky.
 
 “Then, I’ll follow you on a horse…”
 
 I walked over to Anna, whose shoulders were slumped dejectedly, and took her hand in mine.
 
 “Got it. I’ll be waiting ahead for you at the royal capital… I’ll think of a solution so that we can fly together next time.”
 
 “Really?”
 
 “Yes, really. Have I ever broken a promise?”
 
 “——— no.”
 
 “So, you see. Don’t give me that look.”
 
 “Ojou-samaaa.”
 
 Anna suddenly hugged me tightly.
 
 I lightly patted Anna’s back in return.
 
 
 ☆
 
 
 That evening.
 
 We were currently in the backyard behind the mansion leading to the workshop.
 
 “Well then, I’ll be off.”
 
 As I looked back, Sofia gave a standing bow.
 
 “Leave everything over here to me.”
 
 “I’ll also be there soon!”
 
 Hearing Anna’s nervous voice, I nodded back with a smile on my face.
 
 And then———
 
 “『Air Layer Generation 《Dia Flamma》』!”
 
 The moment I shouted, both of Coco’s hands glowed as he floated beside me, and a faintly shining air layer materialised around me.
 
 “『Temperature Preservation 《Kipto Temprees》』!”
 
 This time, both of Mel’s hands glowed, and the chilly air instantly warmed up.
 
 I turned to face Anna and Sofia.
 
 “Then, I’ll be going now!”
 
 “Have a safe trip, Ojou-sama!!”
 
 “Take care.”
 
 Nodding at the two of them, I took off into the setting evening sky.
 
 
 
 I soared high into the sky in one go, and continued on my way with the setting sun at my back for a while.
 
 And then once I had gone away enough that it seemed those in the town of Cocomel wouldn’t see me, I came to a standstill and took out a compass from my pocket.
 
 “The royal capital is… that way.”
 
 Facing the royal capital in the east, I charged my flying boots with magic power.
 
 WIth a booming sound, I accelerated.
 
 (I don’t have a speedometer, so I have no clue how fast I’m going… Even just having a navigation system would’ve been useful.)
 
 I’ve tried flying at this altitude within the Ainsworth territory many times as a test.
 
 However, flying outside the territory on a long-distance flight is a first for me, and that’s also half because it’s a night flight.
 
 (If something like this happens again, it might be necessary to get some simple navigation equipment)^[1]
 
 While thinking about things like that, I chased after the setting sky.
 
 
 ☆
 
 
 ——— what should I do if I get lost?
 
 With such anxiety in my chest, I tried the dusk-nighttime long-distance flight.
 
 About 3 hours after departing.
 
 When I spotted the gentle glow of the royal capital’s lamps in the direction I was travelling, I let out a sigh of relief.
 
 
 
 Flying over the royal capital’s town walls, I headed straight for the Owleyes Royal Capital Mansion.
 
 Fortunately, thanks to my long-term stay before, I had the royal capital’s layout generally in my head.
 
 And since I could see the royal castle lit up by magic lamps from anywhere in the town, I was able to land in front of the mansion without getting lost.
 
 
 
 Soon after I rang the bell.
 
 The butler Brandon opened the door, and the moment he saw me, he shouted with his eyes literally wide open.
 
 “O-, Ojou-sama?!”
 
 Brandon had been serving the Ainsworth’s since Otou-sama was a child.
 
 This might have been the first time I’ve seen him so surprised, when he always went about his work swiftly and silently, never perturbed.
 
 “I’m back, Brandon.”
 
 I smiled cheerfully at him, and he gasped, held his chest and then sighed, saying 『My apologies』 while bowing.
 
 “Please come inside. Welcome home, Ojou-sama… however, I thought Ojou-sama had only just gone back to the County.”
 
 That’s right. I was over there until 17 O’clock. ——— I received a magic message from Otou-sama saying it was 『urgent』, so I flew over.”
 
 Saying so, I pointed at my flying boots.
 
 From the County to the royal capital is approximately 200 kilometres.
 I calculate that would mean I flew in the night sky at about 60 kilometres an hour.
 
 Seeing my boots, the white-haired butler let out an 『Aaaah』 of admiration.
 
 “Oh my. The magic tools that you create, Ojou-sama, always go beyond common sense.”
 
 He shook his head, as if he still couldn’t believe the situation right in front of him, then immediately pulled himself together and turned back to me.
 
 “Well then, what shall you do now, Ojou-sama? The Master hasn’t returned yet, but you could rest in your room, or if you haven’t eaten dinner yet, we will immediately prepare something for you.”
 
 “Otou-sama is working over-time?”
 
 “No, he’s at the welcome party for a foreign country’s delegation.”
 
 “A party? Then, it looks like he’ll be back very late.”
 
 Right now, it’s half past eight.
 Otou-sama will probably return near 12 O’clock.
 
 “I’ll go ahead and rest. Prepare the bath, and I guess bring a light meal to my room.”
 
 “Understood.”
 
 As such, after taking a bath and filling my stomach, the fatigue of the long-distance flight put me at the brink of falling asleep, so I got in bed and in no time at all, I fell asleep.
 
 
 ☆
 
 
 The next morning.
 
 When I headed to the dining room to have breakfast, Otou-sama, who was already seated and waiting for me, shouted 『Letty!』, and rushed over to me with great force.
 
 Then, seeing me looking on, overcome with surprise, he suddenly hugged me with that same force.
 
 “O-, Otou-sama?!”
 
 “Seriously, to think you flew in the sky from the County. That was seriously reckless… You’re not feeling sore anywhere, right?
 
 “Yes. I slept well, so I’m very much fine.”
 
 I see… However, you only just arrived yesterday. I think today… no, I think it’s probably best for you to take it easy for several days.”
 
 Otou-sama began saying some overprotective things like always.
 
 I pushed Otou-sama away with my hand, and smiled as I spoke.
 
 “What are you talking about? The magic message from Otou-sama said 『promptly』, so with great haste, I even especially came flying over.”
 
 “H-, hmm…”
 
 Otou-sama seemed reluctant about something.
 
 “Did His Majesty want to see me?”
 
 “Well, that’s right, but…”
 
 Again, Otou-sama looked grim, averting his gaze and muttering things like 『If this is the case, it would’ve been better to not have put in things like 『urgently』 or whatever』.
 
 “By any chance, did I come too early?”
 
 “No, that’s not true. That’s not true, but…”
 
 “I also treasure my own time. Could you please let them know that I’m able to visit His Majesty?”
 
 “Y-, yeah…”
 
 Otou-sama reluctantly approved.
 
 And so, Otou-sama and I visited the royal castle the next day.
 
 
 ☆
 
 
 Afternoon the next day.
 In the audience hall in the royal castle.
 
 “Sorry for calling so suddenly, Lady Ainsworth.”
 
 I bowed to His Majesty, who was seated on the throne.
 
 “That’s alright. SInce I heard my father say it was 『urgent』, I urgently came to visit.”
 
 “Hm. I am told you 『flew』 all the way from the County. Do be sure to tell me about that at the next opportunity.”
 
 “Understood.”
 
 Nodding at my words, His Majesty cut to the main topic.
 
 “Now then. The reason I had you come urgently was none other than this. The fact is, there’s a guest who’s said that they’d 『like to meet the Lady』.”
 
 “A guest, is it?”
 
 That’s right. Actually, a foreign country’s delegation has come visiting our country———”
 
 As His Majesty was about to explain, a side door opened and a soldier appeared, saying 『Excuse me』.
 
 He saluted His Majesty.
 
 “They’ve come?”
 
 “Yes. Those of the delegation have arrived!”
 
 “Send them in.”
 
 At His Majesty’s order, the soldier who had moved beside the door shouted 『Please pass through!』 and saluted.
 
 “Excuse us.”
 
 The one who showed up along with those words was a black-haired boy, outfitted in the military uniform of another country.
 
 
 
 The boy, who appeared roughly the same age as Graham-nii-sama, bowed to His Majesty, bowed to us in greeting, then came this way.
 
 behind him, a similarly black-haired boy followed.
 
 (Hm???)
 
 My gaze met with that boy, whom I had seen somewhere before.
 
 That boy opened his eyes wide, and———
 
 “Letty!”
 
 ——— tried running in a straight line to me.
 
 “Ah, hey!”
 
 The military uniformed boy shouted.
 
 But, the boy didn’t stop.
 
 That’s when it happened.
 
 “Please wait.”
 
 Otou-sama stood in front of me, blocking the boy’s path.
 
 my father spoke bluntly to him.
 
 “Your Highness the Prince. Excuse me, but isn’t it a bit rude to call my daughter by her nickname before you’ve even formally introduced yourself?”
 
 “Ughhh…”
 
 The young boy was flustered.
 
 The military-uniformed boy then came behind him and———
 
 Bang!
 
 “Ouch!!”
 
 ——— hit the boy on the head with his fist.
 
 From my left, I could hear the sound of bursting laughter, and looking over there, I saw His Majesty holding a hand to his face trying desperately not to laugh.
 
 Apparently, this wasn’t going to develop into a diplomatic issue.
 
 
 
 “Marquis Owleyes, Young Lady. My brother was terribly impolite.”
 
 The boy gave a well-mannered apology.
 
 My father then bowed to that boy.
 
 “Much obliged, Your Highness the Crown Prince. Then let me formally introduce you. ——— This is my daughter, Leticia.”
 
 Along with Otou-sama’s introduction, I took a step forward and curtsied.
 
 “I am Leticia Ainsworth, bestowed the rank of Count in the Heielland Kingdom.”
 
 Raising my head, the young boy straightened his back and returned a very deep bow.
 
 “I am Bernardo Yule Elarion, the First Prince of the Elarion Kingdom… Lady Ainsworth, thank you truly for lifting that curse from my younger brother.”
 
 “It’s my honour to have been of use, Your Highness Bernardo.”
 
 Prince Bernardo nodded at my reply, a smile showing on his face.
 
 Then next, he pushed the young boy next to him forward.
 
 “-…”
 
 The black-haired boy who came in front of me was perplexed for a moment, then straightened himself out.
 
 “I am Theobald Yule Elarion, the Third Prince of the Elarion Kingdom… It’s a pleasure to meet you again, Lady Ainsworth.”
 
 Seeing him like that, I ———
 
 “Me too, Theo.”
 
 ——— smiled broadly at him.