Chapter 146 Karin Gaeltheus
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
(Elberhardt’s POV)
After leaving Hiroya’s mansion, I sent the carriage back to the inn for now, and Barbara and I went to the next house.
Gisela appeared at the front door, and when she guided us to the living room, Lady Karin was sitting at the table, giving off a different vibe than before.
”I-I knew you would come… Mr. Elberhardt.”
This time, she wasn’t nervous. She stood up and looked at me confidently, greeting me with graceful beauty.
(Hmm. She’s not pretending to be shy; that’s just how she is…)
”I’m sorry for dropping by unexpectedly. Um, you are Karin Gaeltheus, right?”
”Y-yes. That’s correct. In this village, I go by Karin Fogel…”
Karin Gaeltheus. The first princess of the city-state ‘Gaeltheus,’ which separated from the Empire. She is the daughter of the former Duke Vendel Gaeltheus, who is now the king of Gaeltheus.
”I heard your father… has sadly passed away…”
Barbara and I knelt before Princess Karin to show our condolences.
”P-please, raise your heads! I-I’m just an adventurer here!”
Princess Karin hurriedly crouched down in front of me. I guess it’s better to keep things casual for now.
”But I heard that the first princess died with her father in the castle…”
This was a recent event. The Empire attacked the city-state of Gaeltheus. After a week of fighting, her country disappeared from the map.
”It’s all… my fault…”
According to her, the Emperor of the Welnia Empire, Magnus Fackler IV, had requested her to come to the Empire.
”He probably wanted to keep her as a hostage. Other city-states received similar requests.”
Gisela stood behind Lady Karin with her arms crossed.
”My father… was planning to delay the negotiations for various reasons… to buy time to prepare the military…”
But before they could delay anything, the Empire’s army attacked. She barely escaped with her bodyguard knight, Gisela.
”So… the charred body of the princess found in the castle was…”
”Probably the maid who took her place…”
Gisela looked serious, and Lady Karin was quietly crying.
”To be honest, the Romuna Kingdom cannot protect you due to diplomatic reasons with the Empire… You understand, right?”
”Y-yes…”
Lady Karin looked down, trying to wipe her tears.
”And only I and the village lord, Baron O’Brian, know that you, the princess, are here in this village. Luckily, the King of Romuna doesn’t know.”
One of the reasons I came to this village.
I heard from Shinji, “Recently, a girl named Karin registered as an adventurer in this village, and she seems to be Princess Karin Gaeltheus.”
(Lady Karin and her bodyguard Gisela really don’t know much about the world…)
They need to at least use fake names…
”I have a suggestion. First, about your name. Just using a fake last name won’t be enough to hide your identity.”
”I-I’m so sorry…”
”Next, we need a fake background for you two.”
”Background?”
Gisela uncrossed her arms.
”Oh, I already have something prepared.”
I felt a bit bad for Shinji, but thinking about his reluctant face when he agreed still makes me want to laugh.
”What’s so funny?”
I must have been smiling without realizing it because Gisela looked at me suspiciously.
”Sorry about that… First, Lady Karin. You will be known as the hidden child of Baron O’Brian in the Royal Capital. Your name will be Karina O’Brian.”
”H-Hidden child?”
”Yeah. He’s a former hero party swordsman. If you’re under his protection, your safety is almost guaranteed.”
At first, I didn’t want to tell Megumi about the princess and tried to stick to the story that Shinji had a secret child. But Megumi got so angry that I had to tell her the truth. It was a huge mess right after I arrived. It almost turned into a big fight that could have destroyed the lord’s mansion.
”And Gisela. You’ll be a childhood friend from the Royal Capital. Your name is Gièze Jäger.”
”Gièze Jäger…”
”When hiding, having a fake name is important. Actually, since your first name was the same when registering at the guild, Baron O’Brian found out.”
”I… I’m so whack for that…”
Gisela slumped her shoulders. Well, she was so serious that she probably didn’t think about it much.
”Next, do you want to be protected by the Baron and live quietly as his daughter in the mansion?”
”Th-That is…”
”We can’t cause too much trouble for them. Luckily, we’ve figured out a way to make a living as adventurers. We want to keep living like this.”
”Hmm. What about Lady Karin?”
”Y-Yes. E-even though I’m like this… I’ve always dreamed of being an adventurer since I was little…”
Lady Karin blushed and looked down shyly. Her smile made me feel that her words were true.
”I see… then, you should rely on Hiroya and the others. It’s not strange for siblings to be together, and they have the strength to protect you if needed.”
”Wait! That’s… dangerous!”
Gisela shouted loudly.
”Why?”
”He… Mr. Hiroya is too careless with women. The princess might fall into his trap!”
”Hahaha! No way!”
”Isn’t it true that all the women in the party are his?”
”Yeah. It seems like everyone loves him. I’m a bit jealous.”
Suddenly, I felt a killing intent from behind. When I turned around, Barbara’s red eyes were filled with anger.
”No… I was just joking, Barbara. I don’t need anything as long as I have you.”
I smiled awkwardly to dodge her killing intent and turned back to Gisela.
”But Gisela, Hiroya doesn’t just gather women because of their one-sided feelings, you know?”
I remembered how happy Hiroya and the others looked when we met in the Royal Capital. When we first met, they were playing around completely n*ked.
And today, I felt a stronger ‘bond’ between them than back then.
”Hiroya is ‘sincere’ for better or worse. The relationships they have are a result of accepting the feelings directed at them, and I believe that created a ‘strong bond.’.”
(And that bond…)
I believe that bond is the source of their ‘strength.’
”Anyway, Gisela. You can’t protect Lady Karin by yourself. Even if no one finds out she’s a princess. Monsters, people with bad intentions, and wicked men who want to target Lady Karin… you can’t protect her from all that, and I can’t agree to put her in that situation.”
”Ugh…”
She clenched her fists, looking frustrated, but she probably knows it’s true.
”G-Gisela… I-I don’t think Mr. Hiroya is a bad man at all…”
Lady Karin, with a bright red face, looked at Gisela with strong eyes.
”W-What were you looking at with Ms. Kazumi and the others?”
”──!”
Lady Karin, who seemed quiet, suddenly spoke strongly. I was surprised, but Gisela looked shocked too.
”D-Didn’t you see their… happy smiles?”
Lady Karin asked Gisela sadly.
”I… I can see it. They… they truly love Mr. Hiroya, and… and Mr. Hiroya loves them a lot…”
Looking down, I put my hand on my chest. Lady Karin’s face was very calm and kind.
”I, um… I think I want to rely on Mr. Hiroya and the others. They are… the perfect Adventure Party for me, who has always dreamed of being an adventurer…”
”Okay…”
Gisela, who was looking down, shifted her gaze to me and straightened up to say this.
”I’m really sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused. Thanks to you, I have a plan to hide from the Empire. As for Mr. Hiroya… I think I’ll understand him better through our swords.”
Then, she bowed deeply.
”That’s good. Hiroya is a very important friend to me. I hope your misunderstandings get cleared up.”
(…I’ve managed to secure their protection for now…)
It seems I need to keep in close contact with the fortress city of Mundo and watch the Empire’s movements.
(Alright, I’m counting on you, Hiroya)
I’ve really put a lot on those kids, making them take care of not just conquering dungeons and defeating Azradelius, but also protecting and guarding the princess. I might be a bit of a jerk for that.
…Well, I’m 23 and an adult, so I’m sure they’ll manage somehow.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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