In response to Marquis Lognos’ question, Frizione glanced at Rei before speaking.

「According to the report from Rei, who scouted ahead, it seems there’s an army waiting up ahead.」

「I see.」

Marquis Lognos gave a brief response and turned to Rei with a small smile before asking Frizione again.

「May I hear the details?」

「Yes. I was also thinking of hearing the details now. Rei, please.」

「I understand.」

Rei gave a brief response at Frizione’s words.

However, even after hearing Rei’s response, Marquis Lognos didn’t appear to look at Rei with any reproach.

Rei had expected him to make a fuss about being disrespectful, so he was a little surprised by that as he spoke of what he and Set had seen.

「The place they’re lying in wait isn’t far from her. At least it’s close by for Set.」

「I heard that Griffons can fly much faster than Dragon Knights. How far do you think it is at our army’s current pace?」

As Marquis Lognos asked Rei, Rei was once again surprised by his choice of words.

Marquis Lognos held a great deal of influence among the First Princess’ faction. Naturally he had his own thoughts regarding Rei, so Rei was surprised that he would ask so nicely.

In actual fact, Marquis Lognos had heard about Rei from Frizione beforehand about his personality……and above all, that Vihera had feelings for Rei.

Marquis Lognos himself had known Vihera for some time, so when he heard that Vihera had acknowledged Rei and held feelings for him, he decided to speak to Rei in such a manner.

Marquis Lognos, who had been led round in circles by Vihera on countless occasions, even felt a sense of respect for Rei, who had a relationship with Vihera, even if it wasn’t a romantic one.

Considering Vihera’s battle crazy personality, it was easy to guess how much trouble Rei had been through.

That was why he spoke the way he did.

It was very unusual for a noble from the Bestir Empire to be this friendly towards Rei.

Of course, if Rei wasn’t a suitable match for Vihera, he might have made a move to eliminate him.

「That’s right. Probably……about two hours, I think.」

「Hmm. I see. Then, Your Highness Frizione, the people chasing after us……」

「There’s no doubt they’re connected to the ambush force.」

Everyone listening to Frizione nodded in agreement.

In a situation like this, it was only natural.

Amidst them all, Marquis Lognos was the only one to have a suspicious look on his face.

「What’s wrong?」

At Frizione’s prompting, Marquis Lognos spoke with a puzzled expression on his face.

「No, I understand that the people following behind us likely are connected to the army lying in wait. But what kind of connection is it specifically?」

「That is……aren’t they trying to encircle us?」

Widele spoke, as if there was no other possible explanation, but Marquis Lognos shook his head.

「Even though our forces are few in number, we are still elites. Even if they trying to pincer us from the front and back, they have too few forces at the back.」

「By the way, it’s not a pincer attack. I saw soldiers hiding in the forest along the road. They were disguised in various ways.」

「……If that’s the case, then it’s even more unlikely. In the low chance that we were to flee after being attacked from the front, back, and sides, we would naturally flee towards the rear where there are fewer enemies. In other words, towards the Imperial Capital. Do you think Prince Kabajid or Prince Shurus would do something like that?」

Rei thought for a moment at Marquis Lognos’ words before shaking his head.

The Kabajid that he had met near the castle wasn’t the kind of person who would let them off so easily.

「In that case……wouldn’t it better just to kill the people following us right now? I know Frizione wouldn’t be happy about it, but right now, our priority is to reduce our losses.」

Since he had been sent as an escort, Rei couldn’t expose their forces to unnecessary danger.

Frizione’s opinion was important, but safety was the most important.

「……No, before that. Widele. Can you go and ask them? They’re following us, but is there something they want?」

「Understood. Can I take my subordinates with me?」

「Yes, please.」

As Widele gave a bow before leaving, Rei glanced over at Frizione, inside the carriage.

「Are you sure? If we’re not careful, Widele might be killed by them.」

「There’s no need to worry about that. Widele’s skills are among the best in the White Rose Knights. And, she’s not alone.」

As Frizione spoke with confidence, Rei, who knew Widele’s skills, could only nod.

Considering Widele’s strength, it was true that it would be difficult for someone without a certain level of skill to injure her.

「Then, what about the army deployed in front of us?」

Now that the rear had been left to Widele, they had to think about what to do about the troops waiting ahead of them.

After Rei asked, Frizione thought for a moment before turning her gaze to Rei and Angela.

「I will go and ask them to let us through when we’re close. Angela and Rei, could you follow me as an escort?」

「That’s too dangerous!」

Angela immediately rejected the idea and Rei nodded in agreement.

「Sorry, but I have to agree. No matter how you look at it, the enemy’s goal is us……to be exact, Frizione. It would be far too dangerous to purposely expose ourselves to the enemy like this.」

「Yes, I agree. Princess Frizione is our leader. If our leader is captured first……or, I don’t want to even consider it, but killed, we would live with regret for the rest of our lives.」

Even Marquis Lognos was against it and the rest of the White Rose Knights nearby also nodded in agreement.

With everyone around her in opposition, Frizione couldn’t push her request any further.

Of course, as the leader of the First Princess’ faction, she could technically force her own opinion through if she wanted. But, Frizione understood that there was no point in trying to do that here and quietly withdrew her opinion.

That said……

「With this carriage, ordinary attacks wouldn’t be effective……and I have Rei and Angela as well.」

Frizione murmured from the carriage, sounding a little lonely.

「I’ll negotiate with them, so Princess Frizione, please watch from here.」

Angela spoke to her soothingly and Frizione thought for a moment before speaking.

「……I understand. But, can you go with Angela?」

「Me as well?」

Rei asked, not expecting his name to come up, and Frizione nodded.

「That’s right. I trust Angela’s strength, but if something were to happen, things might get complicated. So if Rei goes as well, you would be a deterrent and they wouldn’t think of doing anything against you. And……」

Frizione was a little vague.

She thought it would be better not to voice her thoughts that Rei would be able to suppress the other party in general.

Rei was a little puzzled by Frizione’s vague words, but he couldn’t immediately agree.

「In the first place, I was sent to guard you.」

「Oh? I thought you were an escort for the First Princess’ faction?」

Rei couldn’t help but groan as Frizione spoke with a smile.

That was because her words were true.

Even Mercurio would want Frizione to join their forces without suffering losses.

If possible, Mercurio wanted to maintain the Frizione’s level of combat strength, so he sent Rei, the strongest member of the rebel army, to escort them.

Mercurio had actually been a little worried about whether to send Vihera or Rei as an escort, but due to the presence of Set and the fact that Vihera was weaker than Rei in terms of pure combat strength, although Vihera would win at commanding soldiers, he decided to send Rei. Mercurio also didn’t want to be separated from his sister, whom he hadn’t seen in several years.

Because of this, Rei couldn’t bring himself to let Frizione’s army suffer any losses……especially Angela, who was Frizione’s close aide.

He eventually sighed softly before nodding.

「Okay, I’ll go with Angela. It’s true that I was sent to escort the First Princess’ faction as a whole.」

「Yes, I’ll leave it in your hands.」

「……I’m sorry, Rei. Your Highness.」

After Frizione smiled, leaving it to Rei, Angela muttered somewhat apologetically.

The exchange between the three of them, including Rei, was one that would only be possible between people who knew each other well.

Of the White Rose Knights around Frizione’s carriage, most of them who could see what was happening were either smiling or entranced by Set.

Of course, there were a few who didn’t like Rei and were frowning instead.

This polarisation of attitudes was actually a source of concern for Angela, as the commander of the White Rose Knights.

At this moment, Widele, who had gone out to the group following behind them, returned.

「It’s no good. They won’t listen to what we have to say at all. They said they’re just walking on the road, so they don’t need to care about whatever we say. Of course, no one drew their weapons.」

Frizione nodded sadly at Widele’s words before turning to speak with Marquis Lognos.

「Marquis Lognos, if we do get into a fight, can I leave those at the back to your troops?」

「Leave it to me. My troops are all strong. Considering our numbers, I think we can compete on equal terms to the people you brought.」

「I was just thinking that you should take command of all the other soldiers, but……」

「It doesn’t matter either way. I’ll use my strength to its fullest.」

With that, Marquis Lognos bowed before leaving.

「Are you sure that’s okay?」

Rei asked, but contrary to his words, he had a slightly worried expression on his face as he watched Marquis Lognos leave.

It was rare for a noble to be so kind to him and Rei himself was quite appreciative of Marquis Lognos’ personality.

However, what he got back was a smile from Frizione.

「Marquis Lognos had achieved many great things on the battlefield. There’s no need to worry. ……Well, most of those achievements came from wars against the Mireana Kingdom.」

Frizione seemed a little uncomfortable saying that.

She was probably a little concerned as Rei was an adventurer from the Mireana Kingdom.

However, Rei shook his head at her words before speaking.

「You don’t need to worry about that. I’m an adventurer from the Mireana Kingdom, but that doesn’t mean I serve the Mireana Kingdom. In the first place, I only became famous because of the war with the Bestir Empire.」

At the mention of the recent war, several members of the White Rose Knights looked displeased.

They probably had friends or relatives who had participated in the war.

Frizione also seemed to sense that and looked sad for a moment……before quickly changing the topic.

「More importantly, what does Set eat? Will he eat raiots?」

Frizione looked out the carriage window at Set.

As she spoke, she held a raiot in her hand and Set’s nose picked up on its sweet scent.

「Guru~? Gururururu~」

Set gave a cry as he looked at Frizione, his eyes shining, as if saying ‘Give it to me, give it to me’.

His cuteness captivated not just those who had initially been friendly to Rei but even those who could be considered anti-Rei.

「Hehe, Rei, can he have it?」

Seeing Rei nod in response to her question, Frizione laughed happily before tossing the raiot over.

Set caught it in his beak and ate it with a crunch.

「……Cute……」

Seeing Set eat the raiot, an anti-Rei knight muttered quietly.

Her eyes betrayed her desire to pet Set, indulge him, and feed him herself.

As for whether Frizione had given Set the raiot with that in mind……was a mystery.

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