As the Royal Knight approached them, Widele felt the urge to click her tongue again but did her best not to show her feelings on her face.

Needless to say, the Royal Knights were the ultimate line of defense for protecting the emperor.

In other words, they had the authority to prevent anyone suspicious from entering the castle.

……For example, it would be impossible for them to overlook an adventurer who had caused the defeat of the Bestir Empire’s army in the Spring War and had recently decimated an entire punitive force.

Naturally, the Royal Knights were selected from those with great skill so, even for the White Rose Knights, they weren’t people they could careless confront.

Skill aside, there was also the problem that they were under the direct control of the Emperor.

However……in their current situation, Dune was the one who was more irritated by the approaching Royal Knight, rather than Widele.

That was only natural. As Rei had seen before, Dune had done many bad things in the past.

In particular, punishment for the collection of tolls before the start of the fighting tournament, barely disguised robbery, had only been temporarily suspended due to the ongoing civil war and someone’s protection……if he were caught causing a commotion immediately after the end of his suspension, things would become very bad.

If it had been an ordinary guard, it wouldn’t have been difficult to cover it up by using his position as a subordinate of Shurus.

However, it was a different story when it came to Royal Knights. Even if he was a subordinate of Shurus, Royal Knights had the authority and ability to condemn him mercilessly.

For that reason, Dune wanted to avoid conflict with a Royal Knight at all costs.

If he wasn’t careful, he could end up being interrogated and all his evil deeds revealed.

Dune saw Widele, who had a strong sense of justice, as an unpleasant opponent. If given the chance, he wanted to her humiliated and crying face.

But, he didn’t want to fight a Royal Knight.

At least, not right now.

(Damn it, this is a bother. Why would a Royal Knight, who is usually holed up in the depths of the castle, come out to a place like this?)

Hiding his inner irritation, Dune got off his horse as he greeted the approaching Royal Knight with a smile.

Dune’s subordinates, the White Rose Knights, Widele, and Rei also got off their horses as they waited for the approaching knight.

The Royal Knight, who appeared to be in his thirties, looked at everyone as he spoke.

「What’s this fuss about? Are you trying to cause trouble near the castle? If so, I have to take appropriate action as a Royal Knight.」

「No, it’s nothing. I just saw someone familiar, so I stopped to say hello.」

Isn’t that right? Dune turned to Widele.

「……Yes. He is right.」

Widele was unwilling to be manipulated by Dune, but Rei was with her right now. It wasn’t hard to imagine what would happen if the Royal Knight found out who he was.

Reluctantly, she went along with Dune’s story.

The other White Rose Knights understood what Widele was thinking so they kept quiet.

If anything, it was Dune, who had started all this to begin with, who looked surprised at Widele’s response.

The Widele he knew would never have tried to go alone with his story.

That was why his eyes widened in surprise, causing the Royal Knight to notice it.

「Are you guys hiding something?」

As he spoke to Dune and Widele, he turned his gaze to all present.

The Royal Knight finally noticed Rei, who could be considered the one outsider in the situation.

If Rei had been with Dune, he wouldn’t have paid much attention to his inappropriate attire.

After all, Dune’s subordinates all dressed as they pleased and didn’t have standardised equipment.

But……Rei was standing behind Widele. In other words, he was with the White Rose Knights.

Among the beautiful white metal armour that was unique to the White Rose Knights, he was the only one wearing a robe.

The only silver lining was that Rei’s small stature and childlike or feminine face, the Royal Knight assumed he was a woman rather than a man.

Still, being the only robed person among the White Rose Knights was a bit too suspicious.

The Royal Knight spoke to Rei.

「You there, in the robe. Lower your hood and show your face.」

「……」

Rei was silent at the Royal Knight’s words as he racked his brains over what to do.

(Should I go on a rampage here? That’s out of the question. That would ruin the whole point of me coming here in the first place. Should I quietly show my face then? It seems that Dune doesn’t remember me right now, but if he sees my face, he might, so that’s a bit tricky. Should I run away? That would also be suspicious.)

Rei turned to Widele as the gears turned in his mind, but Widele couldn’t do anything either as she looked back at him.

In that sense, she was much more anxious than Rei.

If it became known that she had come here with Rei, it would undoubtedly become a major issue.

Should she call for Angela, her superior and leader of the White Rose Knights? Or Princess Frizione……

With her thoughts running wild, she was about to speak up to try and trick the Royal Knight when……

「What’s wrong? What all the fuss about?」

A voice rang out?

It was basically the same words as when the Royal Knight had arrived earlier, but the voice was cool, in stark contrast to the Royal Knight’s intimidating voice.

Everyone turned to see who the voice had come from……and their eyes widened with surprise.

Because it was Kabajid.

「Your Highness Kabajid!?」

Widele knelt in a panic.

Everyone else knelt as well, including Rei, who didn’t want to stand out right now.

「It’s fine. I am here on a kind of incognito trip, so please don’t make a big fuss.」

Everyone stood back up at Kabajid’s words.

Fortunately for Rei at this time, it wasn’t Bratta or Rhodes who was guarding Kabajid, but Pelfiel.

Otherwise there would definitely have been a big commotion.

But……even Pelfiel had seen Rei from afar during the fighting tournament.

The only reason she didn’t realise it was Rei was because the concealment effect of the Dragon Robe made him appear like a normal person in addition to her pre-conceived notion that because Rei was working with the rebel army, he couldn’t possibly be in the Imperial Capital……especially near the castle.

「So, what was happening? This is the center of the Bestir Empire. I don’t want any unnecessary commotion to occur.」

「Yes sir! Actually, it had seemed like those two were about to draw their weapons.」

At the words of the Royal Knight, Kabajid nodded and turned his gaze to the two of them……Widele and Dune.

He also glanced at Rei for a moment, who was not wearing the distinctive white armour of the White Rose Knights despite being with them, but continued without any particular concern regarding that.

「I see. I certainly can’t tolerate such a commotion being caused here. ……I’ll ask again, were you really going to do that? You weren’t, right? You all just got a little too excited about your conversation, correct?」

His words, which seemed to be asking for confirmation, were closer to an order, although spoken gently.

Dune and Widele had no way of defying Kabajid’s words, nor was there a good reason in doing so, so they replied obediently.

「Yes, it is as Prince Kabajid said.」

「I got a little too heated. My apologies.」

Looking at Dune and Widele with satisfaction as they bowed their heads, Kabajid nodded before turning to the Royal Knight.

「It is as they said, is this okay?」

「……But, well. The person in the robes with the White Rose Knights is still suspicious. I think we should confirm their identity just in case.」

「It’s fine. If they’re with Widele, they must be a guest of Frizione or something similar. In that case, there’s no need to worry about such small details. ……Isn’t that so?」

「Yes sir! There’s no doubt that they are a guest of Princess Frizione.」

「Right? A member of the White Rose Knights, who serve Frizione directly, said so. There’s no need to be so nervous about them. You wouldn’t do anything strange in the castle, would you?」

His last words were directed at Rei.

But what surprised Rei the most were Kabajid’s eyes.

They were an incredibly deep colour. His eyes, which seemed to see through everything about the person before him, made Rei wonder if Kabajid had found out who he was.

Did he recognise me? For a moment, Rei thought it would be better to take action now……but he decided that doing so would only worsen the position of Frizione, Mercurio, and above all, Vihera.

「Of course not.」

Because of that, he gave a brief reply.

Kabajid didn’t seem satisfied with Rei’s response, but addressed his guard, Pelfiel.

「Well then, I’m sorry for taking up your time with something like this. What were we discussing next……was it about Rhodes?」

「Yes. He’s become quite strong in this short period of time. He had first rate qualities to begin with, so it’s no surprise.」

「I see. As expected of the son of a high ranking adventurer……don’t you think?」

As he talked to Pelfiel, Kabajid called out to Widele.

However, his gaze was directed towards Rei, who was standing behind Widele.

(Has he noticed after all? But can he see through the concealment effect of the Dragon Robe with Set not around? And, if he has noticed, why would he be talking so nonchalantly like this? No, that can’t be the case. If so……is it just a coincidence?)

Rei was extremely confused internally, but the reality was that Kabajid didn’t seem intent on taking any actions.

Given that, am I just overthinking things? That was what Rei thought, but it was also true that it was very unnatural for Kabajid to bring up Rhodes’ name at this point in time.

(I can’t read him. What is he thinking?)

Contrary to Rei’s thoughts, Widele wasn’t sure how to respond and ended up nodding in agreement.

「That person, Rhodes, participated in the tournament and showed his strength. That being the case, it is only natural that he has matching strength and talent.」

「That’s right. He even held his own against Crimson to some extent. ……Pelfiel, how well can Rhodes do against Crimson?」

「I’ve never seen Crimson fight in earnest, so I can’t say……in the end, the finals was limited to an arena stage.」

「I see, that’s how it is. ……Oh, my bad. This isn’t the time to talk about such things. I may look like this, but I’m actually really busy. I’m sorry, but I’ll have to excuse myself. ……I hope you don’t cause trouble in front of the castle again.」

Without waiting for a reply, Kabajid left with Pelfiel.

Everyone watched them leave in silence and the Royal Knight was the first to come back to their senses.

He glanced at Rei, who was still with the White Rose Knights, but remembering Kabajid’s words, he spoke to Dune and Widele, rather than Rei.

「Listen up, don’t cause trouble in the castle. If I find you causing trouble again, I’ll be taking appropriate action.」

With that, the Royal Knight left as well.

「……Keh.」

Dune was the next to leave.

He clicked his tongue obnoxiously at Widele, giving her an irritated look, before getting on his horse and leaving with his subordinates.

In the end, only Rei and the White Rose Knights remained.

「We made it through, Captain Widele.」

「Yeah. I never though Prince Kabajid would help us.」

「I do hope that’s the case.」

Rei muttered out loud, remembering Kabajid’s gaze, as he listened into Widele’s conversation.

 

 

「Pelfiel, could you keep a stricter watch over Frizione?」

「……Huh? Even more than what we are currently doing?」

「Yes. I am sure there will be movement in the next few days.」

Kabajid spoke to Pelfiel with a smile.

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