Chapter 15: Rekuria from a Week Ago

One Week Ago

“Your Majesty! Urgent news!”

“What is it? Speak.”

The king rested his cheek on his hand, gazing disinterestedly at the flustered guard.

Nearby, the princess assumed it was nothing important and resumed her work.

“The hero… has escaped from prison!”

Yet the guard’s report proved far more serious than anyone had imagined.

The king furrowed his brows and said irritably, “I ordered you to kill the hero. And yet, not only did you fail to do so, you couldn’t even land a single blow. Isn’t that right?”

“Y-Yes, that is correct…!”

“And now you’re telling me you let him escape? Do you wish to be executed for treason?!”

“I-I deeply apologize!!”

The reporting guard pressed his forehead to the floor, desperately pleading for forgiveness.

But the king’s anger remained unabated. He declared firmly, “Enough. What’s done is done. For now, you are sentenced to death. I cannot allow another blunder like this.”

“N-No—! I have dedicated my life to serving this kingdom. Please, have mercy!”

“For the kingdom? How mistaken you are. You guards serve me, your king. You work for me, and you die for me. In turn, that benefits the kingdom. Therefore, die for the kingdom!”

The king’s ruthless words left the guard utterly speechless.

He had not always been like this.

Once, the king had labored tirelessly, even sacrificing sleep for the sake of the kingdom. It was precisely because he loved the realm above all else and acted for its benefit that the previous monarch had named him as his successor. Witnessing such a noble king had inspired the people to work hard for the country as well.

But when did things change?
When did he stop listening to his people’s voices?
When did he begin squandering tax money for his own indulgences?

At his command, the royal castle was overhauled beyond necessity, and he forcibly confiscated paintings, vases, and other artworks from the citizens.
He had once been a devoted husband, yet before anyone realized it, his number of mistresses had soared into double digits—and those mistresses freely squandered tax money as they pleased.

—There is no longer anyone here worthy of my loyalty.

The guard made up his mind.
He would abandon this kingdom.
He would leave and set off on a journey alone.

But first, he had to escape from here.

He scanned his surroundings, planning an escape route.
He needed to act before more guards were summoned—

Before he could make his move, however, the princess spoke.

“Father, if you’re just going to discard this guard, may I have him instead?”

“…I don’t mind. But never let him show his face before me again.”

“Of course, Father. Now, hurry and leave the room, and come to my study later.”

Realizing he had been spared, the guard exhaled deeply in relief.
Not wanting to risk a change of heart from the king or princess, he quickly left the room.

“What do you plan to do with him?”

The king sensed that the princess was scheming something, though he couldn’t yet discern what it might be.

“I think I’ll go after the hero. Since he was summoned at great effort, it would be a waste not to put him to effective use, don’t you agree? Or would it be better to kill him once you’ve found him?”

“…No, do as you please. I have long since lost any interest in the hero. Once he grows up, he’ll become troublesome, but a freshly summoned hero is nothing more than an ordinary person.”

Saying this, the king left the room accompanied by his retinue.

Probably heading to his most cherished mistress, I suppose.

But does the king realize the contradiction in his own words?

An ordinary person—the hero—has managed to escape, and the guards couldn’t even wound him.
Can that truly be called “just an ordinary person”?

The king has not grasped the hero’s true value.
And the princess concluded just that.

“Wait up, hero. I will surely make you mine. And I will be――――”

~~~~~~

Knock, knock

While the princess was busy formulating a plan to find the hero on her own, someone arrived.
The king never knocks, and neither do his brothers.
It was probably a maid or a butler.

“Please, come in~”

“Excuse me. I have urgent news… Oh? Your Majesty wasn’t here?”

Entering was a household retainer.
Apparently, he had received a report for the king, but unfortunately, the king was not present.

Yet the princess, having never seen the retainer in such a fluster before, asked on a whim,
“What on earth happened? Is there a problem?”

“Lady Rozalyana, actually… Lady Liluria is nowhere to be found in the castle.”

Liluria!?
That had never happened before.
Ever since the discovery of that magic, she had remained locked inside the castle.
For at least the past ten years, she should not have stepped outside even once.

It is unimaginable that my little sister—cursed by both fate and magic and utterly disillusioned with life—would suddenly slip out of the castle all on her own.
Besides, wasn’t she the one who always secluded herself in her room… her cell!?

――…Could it be that the hero did something?

Now that I think about it, my little sister had always adored stories of the hero.
If by chance she encountered him in her room, it wouldn’t be surprising if she trailed after him, would it?

“Was there any sort of note left behind?”

“No, not at all. The maid in charge noticed that Lady Liluria hadn’t eaten, and that’s when we discovered the situation.”

…At this moment, there isn’t enough information.
While the possibility that she left with the hero is the most likely, we cannot be certain.
We might need to accelerate the search for the hero.

Even if the hero was merely summoned, Liluria is a black mage.
Who knows what kind of trouble might arise?

“Understood. I will relay this directly to Father. Also, have you told anyone else about Lady Liluria’s disappearance?”

“Yes. I came here immediately as soon as I learned about it.”

“I see. Then do not let this matter leak to anyone from now on. This is an order from the princess. Inform the maid as well.”

“…Understood. Neither I nor the maid will speak of Lady Liluria’s disappearance to anyone.”

“Very well. Then you may go.”

“Yes. Excuse me.”

Ever since the hero summoning ritual took place, the princess’s plans had been gradually falling apart.
It might be the same for the king, but to the princess, it seemed like a portent of something terrible.

But――――――

“…Wait, Lil. Just wait. Onee-chan is coming to find you now.”

At least for now, just for this moment… I want you to worry about me as your onee-chan.
That was what the princess thought.