163 Outing





 --The 6th day of the Cloud Moon, 415th year of the Ergland Calendar.
 On this day, a delegation from the Kingdom of Elgrand, the first since the unification of the peninsula, left for the neighboring Stanza Empire across the sea, leaving a mark on the history of posterity in both good and bad ways.

 The head of the delegation was Countess Deanna Crester, the Red Rose, who was the first in line to the throne. Her reputation among the nobility is very poor, but for some reason, the king's love for her is particularly deep, and she is the girl who was whispered to be the favorite princess of King Juke. Her golden hair, blue eyes, slender limbs, and ample breasts meet the requirements of a beautiful woman, but her face shows her ugliness at heart, making her look beautiful but evil. She was accompanied by one lady-in-waiting and six maidservants. In total, there were eight of them, all women, and they were a very simple "group.
 The departure ceremony for the envoys was held in the palace garden, and in addition to the major nobles of the country, the entourage who usually lived in the inner palace were allowed to attend. This was the king's thoughtfulness, as it was only natural that he would want to see off the first of them as the head of the delegation.
 The ceremony proceeded without a hitch, and at the end, the king himself handed the Red Rose a letter of intent addressed to the Emperor of the Empire of Stanza, commanding her to "deliver this to the Emperor of Stanza," and the girls officially became the representatives of the country they had been appointed to. The Red Rose replied, "I humbly accept your order," with such dignity that some were impressed, saying, "As expected of a woman who will eventually become His Majesty's official consort," while others laughed, saying, "As expected of an evil woman with a very thick skin.
 Eventually, the time came for her to board a luxurious carriage for the royal family to leave.

"Dear Red Rose ......, please be careful, please be careful.
"Be sure to return safely.
I am looking forward to the day when I can see you again in good health.

 On behalf of the entourage, the three "famous" men called out to the "red rose". I'm not sure what to say, but I'm sure you'll understand.

"Of course. It's just a short goodbye for a month. --In my absence, please take good care of the palace and the members of my entourage.

 With that, the "Red Rose" got into the carriage.
 In addition to the maidservants who rode with her in the carriage, Waterlily, a lady by name, also spoke to them.

I've asked you. --I'm sure you'll protect Diana-sama.
"...... at the risk of my life.

 The maidservant who received Waterlily's words showed a perfect bow as if she was working for the royal court, and quietly slid into the carriage as if she was protecting the Red Rose. It goes without saying that the beauty of Waterlily's side chambermaid goes without saying, but the maidservant with her ladylike movements was also a girl with impressive fragile beauty.

 Just before the windows were closed and everything was ready to leave. Finally, the king walks up to the carriage.

"......, please, Red Rose.
"Yes, Your Majesty.

 They looked at each other through the window of the carriage and exchanged their hearts, a picture of a perfect couple.

"Ergeland Kingdom Mission, depart!

 I know I'm repeating myself, but the story will be passed down to future generations in both good and bad ways.


 ***************


...... But it was an incredibly grand ceremony, wasn't it?
Really. It's a good thing that you didn't make such a big deal of sending us off, because we were just hostages in reality. This carriage is just a makeshift one that will only be used until this evening, and tomorrow it will be a simpler one. You didn't have to go to the trouble of building a carriage for royalty just to look good.
...... It doesn't work that way. In the event that you've got a lot of money, you'll be able to take advantage of the fact that you'll be able to get a lot more out of it.
"So you went to the trouble of staggering the departure time with the Stanza delegation and prepared a splendid ceremony on your own. I'm crying with gratitude.
"Well, we'll be meeting up with the Stanzas later anyway.
It would have been easier if we could have stayed separate until we got on the ship.
"They say that they can't leave a group of female envoys without guards unprotected for any length of time.
I'm not sure what to make of that. I'm sure you've used the money you saved to pay for the wedding ceremony.
"...... Dear Diana, Rita. I'm not sure what to make of that.

 This is a great way to make sure you are getting the most out of your money. It was a bit of a surprise, simply because the ceremony was unnecessarily extravagant, despite the fact that they had been forced to cut back on the luggage and money they were bringing along.
 Deanna tilted her head and sat back down on the plush seat.

In short, the aristocracy of this country does not spare any money for domestic performances. In terms of the safety of the delegation and the balance of power with Stanza, it would be more constructive to spend money on the appearance of the delegation itself so that it can bluff Stanza's empire, rather than making it look good for the domestic market.
"That, yes, I really, really think so.
It's very rare for Mia-san to get this angry. ......
When I'm angry, I'm angry too. When I'm angry, I'm angry too. Especially in this case, I want to tell the conservatives how shallow they are for thinking only of making Diana's position in the stanza worse.
They probably don't think they're shallow, so it's useless.

 Deanna laughed, stretching lightly. I've been feeling slightly uncomfortable for a while now, perhaps because I've never ridden in such a luxurious carriage before.
 --I don't know.

It's really Asahaka in many ways. No matter how much money the conservatives are reluctant to pay and how much they complain about the items they bring, they can't interfere with what Dee brings in as her "personal belongings," and they can't stop her from bringing in her own money. --I think it's about time you learned that this kind of harassment is pointless to the Cresta family.

 She was dressed as a lady-in-waiting for the royal court of Elgrande, sitting in a ladylike manner, but her words were always "that. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for and what you can do to help. In the event you're not sure what you're looking for, there are a few things you can do. The royal carriages of the Kingdom of Ergeland are not very large.

I'm sure you'll be able to figure out how to get the best out of it.
I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that. ............ Well, for this particular case, it would have been a problem if it was uncomfortable.
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If we leave aside the unreasonableness, ...... really is a monster, isn't it?
I'm wearing makeup to look like a woman. You have to be.

 In the event that you have any kind of questions regarding where and how to use the internet, you can contact us at the web site.

I'm not sure what to do with it, but I'm sure it'll be fine. I don't know how noblewomen can keep up with such long hair.
It's like a symbol of privilege to be able to keep your hair long and beautiful. I sometimes find it disturbing, too. But even if you cut it, it grows back quickly.


That's true.
"If it's not too much trouble to wash my hair, it's easier to keep it a certain length and trim the ends when they start to fall apart. If it's not too much trouble to wash your hair, it's easier to keep a certain length and trim the ends when they fall apart.
...... You cut your own hair? The Cresta's are a joke of an aristocracy.
It's only during the off-season. I'm not sure if you've ever heard of this, but I'm sure you have. It's not enough to have a proper cut to wear the aristocrat's veneer.
"Dear ...... Diana. The Cresta family is a respectable noble family.
You're right. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

 I'm not sure what to do, but I'm sure I'll be able to do it.

I'm just grateful that this disguise worked out thanks to the unorthodox Cresta family. To be honest, even if I had come up with the idea, I thought it would be tough to carry out.

 --If it's too difficult for you to follow me as a secret agent, can't you disguise yourself as a maid and go with me?

 It was the right decision for Kai to ask Ria for advice, as she was the one who paid more attention to beauty than any of the other named ladies. She immediately examined Kai's physical characteristics and gave me accurate information that it was just about possible to do so now. In order for a man to dress as a woman without looking uncomfortable, the body is the most important factor.
 Kai, who is still growing, is still taller than he was last year, and his shoulders and waist are changing more and more into those of a grown man. Eventually, when he wears women's clothes, he will only be seen as a "man dressed as a woman", but now he can be seen as a "real maid of honor". But now I can make her look like a woman.
 In order to do so, he would need some special items, and he himself would have to learn the gestures of a woman, the manners and behavior of a maidservant, but he would not hesitate if learning them would allow him to accompany Diana. In a short period of time, he was able to perfectly recreate the movements of a maidservant, and with the full backing of the Crester family (more precisely, the Nolan Trading Company), Kai's cross-dressing became truly natural and comfortable. Kai's face is naturally soft and beautiful, and with just a little bit of make-up, she can turn into a very graceful woman.
 Or rather...

This is what Aina was seriously worried about, but Kai's appearance as a maid of honor is surprisingly beautiful. I'm sure you'll be able to get a lot more out of it.
I'm sure she's an eye-catching beauty for a lady-in-waiting. ...... Royal court lady-in-waiting must be related to a nobleman. I'm not sure what to make of it.
I'm sure you'll be able to understand why I'm so excited about this.
I'm sure that the Chief Magistrate Magnum will be able to cover it up. In the event that you have any questions concerning where and how to use the internet, you can call us at the web site.

I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that. In the event that you have any questions concerning where and how to use the internet, you can contact us at the web site. This level of manipulation is no problem when the supreme authority is on your side.
 Aside from that, is there any problem in terms of Kai that a man can fall in love with a man? It's not that I don't want to get into it, but as far as I can tell, he doesn't seem to mind, so it's probably not worth getting into. I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that," he said, smiling at Deanna, who nodded vaguely.

I'm sure the Cresta family is amazing. It's not that they don't care at all when I tell them I'm going to accompany Stanza disguised as a maid. What do you need? In addition, the conservatives have been prepared from the start to interfere with Dee, and they have made all the necessary preparations to bluff their way into the national mission.
I'm not sure what to do with it.
If we gathered up all the money we could seriously spend, it would amount to the annual budget of the royal palace, I believe.
I can't do it permanently, but if it's only temporary, it'll be enough.
Harassing the daughter of such a family financially is really pointless, isn't it ......?

 Mrs. Magnum and the three named men were also angry at the conservatives' harassment, but they were not seriously concerned about Diana. The Cresta family would never send their beloved daughter to a country where she was not safe at all, and they would not let her take any precaution. As a result, the preparations of the delegation were finally able to bluff to the fullest, despite the harassment of the conservatives. As for Deanna, she didn't care whether the bluffing worked or not, but if her father and brother decided that it would be better to have it work and prepared it, there was no reason for her to refuse. I took it gratefully.

 --As we talked and talked, the carriage continued down the main street of King's Landing. Judging from the signs around me, it seemed that quite a few people were seeing the carriage off.
 Kai, who also seemed to have read the signs outside, suddenly smiled.

"...... Yeah, I'm following you.
"Riku?
Yes. I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but I think it's a good idea. Even Riku won't be able to detect my presence across the ocean.

 Kai is the only one accompanying me to the stanza this time. Some of the younger members of the Darkness are small and feminine, but they were not prepared in time.
 And no matter how good Kai is, there's a limit to how much he can guard Diana on his own while pretending to be a maid. And no matter how good Kai is, there is a limit to how much he can protect Diana while pretending to be a maidservant.

I had no idea that Kai had a brother who was an ex-bird.
"Well, we're usually pretty free spirited. Riku is special among them, and he's not so weak that he needs to be called out and fed every time he starves to death. I only call him when I need him and ask him to transport something.

 Exbirds are used as messenger birds because of their strong attachment to their parents and their ability to return home. However, it seems that there are exceptions to this rule. Riku, the Ex-bird, who was picked up and raised by the lion and his son, Sora and Kai, remembers not only Sora and Kai, but also other workers who are close to them.
 Riku is able to remember the faces of all of the country's envoys. It is true that the Aeschylus bird is a bird that specializes in memory, but he has a bird-like memory, intelligence to make use of it, and above all, human-like emotions.

(......, just like the children of Crester.)

 The "life" nurtured in the forests of Cresta is more intelligent than in other places, and many of them are somewhat "human-like". This is true of the animals and plants as well. I had thought that this was a tendency unique to Cresta, but it seems that it is just a bias in the ratio, and that it is common in other lands as well. Not only is Riku intelligent, but he is also bigger and stronger than the average Ex-bird, and he doesn't seem to get tired even after a long flight. When Kai says, "I want you to follow me to Stanza," Riku says, "Across the sea? I want you to follow me to Stanza," to which Kai replied in a matter-of-fact manner, "Oh dear, you're such a troublesome brother.

He knew who I was.

 Riku knew Krester well, which was not surprising since he had traveled all over the kingdom with the lion and his son. I've heard rumors about the princess. When he greeted me, I was more amused than surprised, so I replied, "It's my pleasure, too," and later had a hard time fooling Kai. Kai and Riku have a vague understanding of each other, but it seems that they don't understand each other's thoughts and feelings beyond the boundaries of their species.
 --But that's beside the point.



"Hey, Kai. I'm very grateful and relieved that Riku is coming with us, but... But will Sora-sama be okay without Riku's support?
It seems like he's planning to open up his forbidden hand and go toe to toe with the enemy, so it shouldn't be a problem. If you ask me, my father's ability is honestly like a parade of cheats. I'm not sure what to make of that.
...... So, is there no problem with the Inner Palace?
I'm sure you'll be happy to know that I'm not the only one. If there are any problems, we can contact each other with this.

 Kai took out a wooden letter from his chest, on which a mysterious and beautiful pattern was drawn. It's a spell that Sora made for Distant Talk.
 I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that.

I didn't know you were a pattern maker, Sora-sama.
"That's one of the best magicians of our time. --That's why I'm not going to use my skills and pride to set up a camp to eat people.

 Kai, sitting next to her, gently shakes Diana's hand.

I know it's understandable that Dee would remember the four of them when she saw the distant story. I'm not sure what to make of this. ...... But, Dee. I'm not sure what to make of it. It's up to us to decide how to use it and what to do with it. If someone misuses the power and causes misfortune, the power itself is not to blame.
"...... Yeah. I know.
I'm sure you're not the only one. I'm sure you're not the only one. A spell that gives new power to a spellcaster should never be able to eat a person. --Now that you're in the palace, there's no way the spellbook can eat people again.

 A spellcaster's ability to use spellcraft is determined by the "core" of his or her body. Exceptions to this rule are those who possess a core that produces a spiritual power (spira) called "transformation. I'm not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing, but it's a good thing. It is said to be able to temporarily "transform" the spiritual power (spira) of a spirited person (spiria) so that they can handle spirited arts (spirie).
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 ...... So, it's a pleasure. I'm grateful to Sora and Kai, but Kai's right, it's not right to be heartbroken about the existence of the spell. And thanks to Sora, Diana doesn't have to worry about her palace being in danger from enemy spirits, even though she's far away.

So, yeah. ...... really, Kai is right. I'm sorry, I know it's hard for you to understand.
"You don't have to. You don't have to. Some things can be saved by having someone to continue to mourn the dead like that. Just know that my father's spell isn't dangerous, and I'll be happy.
I don't need you to tell me that.
...... Yeah, thanks.

 I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but I think it's a good idea. Rita and Mia, sitting in front of you, look at each other.

It's a very strange picture. ......
I'm afraid that if you told me it was a scene from a heartwarming exchange between a lady's wife and her maidservant, I'd agree. If this continues, I'll get used to it over the next month, and when I return to the royal palace in Ergeland, I'll feel uncomfortable with the original Kai-dono.
"That seems to be the case. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what's going on in your life.
I don't want to be a dress-up doll for those two. I'm not going to be a dresser for them.

 I laughed a little at Kai's mutterings, and then I heard Riku's cries from above. I see Stanza's carriage," he tells me.
 As expected, Kai's expression changed in an instant.

...... Looks like we're almost at the rendezvous point with Stanza's group.
"Are we that far along?
"We're right on schedule.

 I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do it, but I'm going to try.

The battle is about to begin, but I have no intention of losing. --I'm not going to lose. Let's all make it back alive.
"Yes, sir.
Yes, sir.
That goes without saying.

 She nodded to her trusty companions and put on the mask of the Red Rose.