[Vol. 7] Chapter 224: An Unexpected Visitor
Inside the main arena, the girl with two-colored eyes was walking quickly down the hallway toward the rest area. Along the way, everyone who noticed this famous [Empire’s Two-Colored Lotus] was shocked and hurried to bow and greet the noble princess. But Carinvega only nodded slightly out of habit, she wasn’t in the mood to respond to each person.
For some reason, she had been feeling uneasy lately.
Even though the current events had already gone far beyond what she knew about the main story of [Starlight Concerto], the sharp instincts she's developed over the past four years of resolving major incidents remains.
How should she put it… It was kind of like a woman’s intuition. Carinvega had a vague feeling that she was now standing at an important turning point in a huge event. The choices she made next might lead to two completely different outcomes… one good, one bad.
She didn’t think of herself as someone super smart or clever, but she wasn’t slow either. Whether it was Orluk, Rosie, or Noelle, the strange behavior of the people around her lately seemed to be quietly sending a warning. Changes in the main characters usually meant big changes in the story. If not handled properly, things could go really wrong.
But even if she realized this, without any guidance from the game’s storyline, Carinvega had no idea where to even begin. And just when she was already overwhelmed, her older brother, the prince who rarely did anything useful, who had gotten into a fight with Miss Violet at the banquet, and who had been hiding away ever since the tournament started, suddenly came looking for her out of nowhere…
“Ughhh, seriously, so annoying!” she thought. “Couldn’t that god who dragged me into this world have waited until I finished the story of part four of the game first?!”
Of course, no matter how many times she cursed that mysterious god in her heart, her years of pretending to be a proper princess still helped her stay calm on the outside. Even her closest guard, Gladys, who had legendary-level strength, probably couldn’t see any sign of worry on her face. Gladys just led the way ahead and glanced back, quietly asking a question as if casually checking in.
“By the way, Your Highness… Lately, the military activity in the western part of the Empire seems a little strange. I heard that several army groups have started moving toward the border under the excuse of military drills. Also, the number of magic mirrors and [Graeme] being made by the supplies department has gone up a lot… Do you know anything about this?”
“Hm? Oh… Yes, Lord Shutak did mention it to me. He said it’s because two large Holy Knight groups from the Holy Empire recently started moving east toward the border and even entered the land of a smaller buffer country. So Father made adjustments to our troops to keep them in check.”
Hearing the princess give that explanation in a somewhat casual tone, Gladys slightly frowned without showing much expression. Though it was subtle, Carinvega, who knew her personality well, noticed it. As a princess, she was also quite aware of the current state of the world, and soon came to a bit of a realization.
“So… you think the excuse of ‘holding them back’ is fake? And the Empire is actually using it as a reason to move the army for some other purpose?”
After carefully looking around to make sure no one was eavesdropping, Gladys gently shook her head.
“I hope I’m just overthinking things. But the Holy Empire is different from our Austre Empire. Some of their Holy Knight groups often go to smaller allied countries to help with religious missions. Normally, the Empire wouldn’t react so strongly. But this time…”
“Also, have you noticed? The direction those army groups are heading might look like normal military positioning on the surface, but the paths they’re taking are all connected to Sainz, and the distance between them is definitely getting shorter.”
“Your Highness knows that the Academy City has a special role and position within our borders. The success of this tournament also had strong support from the Empire. So, if something unexpected happens in Sainz, then you and Prince Xiluo, being the only two direct royal family members present, might…”
“……”
In a public place like this, Gladys couldn’t be too blunt. But Carinvega was smart enough to understand what her loyal guardian knight was trying to say.
“You think that’s why my brother came to see me in person?”
Not wanting to sound too certain, the knight, who used to be a mercenary, shook her head slightly.
“I don’t have the kind of wisdom Your Highness does. Maybe what I just said sounds a bit simple or silly to you. But at the very least, I believe that, knowing Prince Xiluo’s personality, he wouldn’t come here without a serious reason. Especially after you publicly hurt his pride not long ago. So…”
So for someone like that prince, proud and arrogant, to set aside his pride and still come, it must be about something extremely important.
That was probably the part Gladys didn’t say out loud. Given her status, strength, and personality, what she had already said was quite polite. She was most likely being careful because Xiluo was her master’s brother, not just an Imperial prince.
“Eh? So my brother has been avoiding me all this time because of that? But come on, he was the one who made a big scene in public! I was just trying to help him…”
“Hm? What did you just say, Your Highness?”
"Ahem, it's nothing, really! Anyway, once we see him, we’ll understand why he came. Let’s hurry!"
Realizing a bit late what might really be going on, Princess Carinvega coughed awkwardly a few times. But because she trusted her, Gladys didn’t push the matter and simply continued forward with her. They soon reached a rest room with a sign that said “In Use.” Gladys knocked on the door.
“Who is it?”
A deep male voice answered from inside, one Carinvega knew very well. There was no doubt it was her older brother, Prince Xiluo Frederick. However, his voice sounded different than usual. It no longer had that sharp, proud tone, it actually sounded tired.
For some reason, the princess felt her heart sink. That uneasy feeling she had been having suddenly grew stronger. But Gladys, who seemed to have already met with him earlier, didn’t find this strange. She simply lowered her voice and replied,
“Prince Xiluo, the person you wanted to meet is here.”
“......”
There was a short silence from inside. Soon after, the door opened from within. But the person inside didn’t immediately look at the princess and her knight. Instead, he only revealed half his face and glanced outside carefully, as if checking for something or someone.
“Just you two came, right?”
“Yes, it’s just us… Brother, what’s going on with you…?”
“…Come in. Let’s talk inside.”
The door opened wider. Since it was her older brother, Carinvega didn’t suspect anything and got ready to enter the room with Gladys. But just then, Xiluo reached out to stop them.
“Only you and I, let your knight wait outside.”
Both girls were a bit surprised. Before the princess could say anything, Gladys immediately frowned and spoke up in disagreement.
“Prince Xiluo, I don’t think that’s appropriate. Her Highness is not skilled in combat. If anything unexpected happens in there, who will take responsibility?”
“Ah, it’s okay, Gladys. I…”
“Please. I swear on the name of the Lion and the Frederick family, I will not do anything harsh to her. I just want to have an open and honest talk with my little sister. Is that okay?”
Seeing the red-haired prince lower his head and speak with such sincerity, something they had never seen from him before, both girls were caught off guard. The words they were about to say got stuck in their throats. They looked at each other in surprise, leaving only a stunned whisper between them.
“Eh?!”