It was the third day after we left the baronial estate.
　The carriage carrying Martha and me was going smoothly on the road.
　It took about four days from the barony to the royal capital by carriage.
　Tomorrow, we should be able to see the royal capital.

''It would have been fine if we had used a riding carriage.
'That's not going to happen. Yuki-boy.

　The soldier who played the role of the guru said.
　He was an old soldier, over 50 years old, and his name was Bergen. He worked as a patrolman for the territory.

The boy is to be the guardian knight of His Highness. To be given the great role of escorting a person of that caliber to the royal capital, there is no greater honor than this.
Don't get all teary-eyed. And I don't want you to be a little boy.
'I don't think you need to worry about it. Yuki-boy.
Stop, Martha.
"Hmm.

　Martha smiled happily as she sat down on the anti-vibration blanket.

'I didn't expect Martha to go to King's Landing,'
I'm sorry to keep you company.
"Martha is Yuki's partner.
To survive in this world, you know.
'I learned that this is not a people-friendly world when Martha's own father died, so...
You can rest assured that I won't die.
"I trust you. Yuki-sama.
Thank you. But still ... is the carriage slowing down?

　I looked out the carriage window.
　The view had barely moved since earlier.

"Excuse me, little man, Martha.
'Please don't do that, Martha,'
I don't think you have to worry about it. Martha,
Mmmm.
What's going on?　Mr. Bergen.
No, the carriage in front of me isn't going very far...

　Then Mr. Bergen, in the gyoza seat, bowed to me and Martha.

"Dick. Are you here?
''Yes. The Five Peoples'

　Dick the bat, who had been hiding among the luggage, made a face.

'I'm sorry, but I need you to check on the road. Maybe something's happened.
"Yes, sir.

　Dick moved his black wings and went out of the carriage window.

'Now that's my messenger, Dick. There are others, Gale and Neil.
Yuki-sama has a lot of friends.
I thought it was going to be a frightening experience.
It's no surprise that Yuki-sama is amazing to Martha.
I'd like to surprise Martha for once.
No, Martha stopped being surprised because Yuki-sama surprised her too much when she was little.
I'm sorry.
No, it was good training for Martha to become Yuki-sama's personal maid.
"Martha is awesome.
I'll give you the exact same line.

　While we were talking about it, Dick came back.

'The road is empty, but the carriage in front of us is going loosely. It's a big procession with soldiers.'
A big line?
"Here you go. "Three boxcars. I've got a lot of guards.
'It's a really big line. Do you know which carriage it's from?
"I've got the mark of the wyvern...
It's the sign of the wyvern. Martha, you know what it is?
In that case.........the Marquis, no, the Duke's.......?
The Wyvern is the coat of arms of the Duke of Surrey. Boy, Martha.

　At the governor's table, Mr. Bergen said.

''It's a historic nobleman's house. I wouldn't want to overtake the procession.
No, I think we've stopped.
Well yes.

　I looked out the window and saw the duke's carriage parked.
　Mr. Bergen pulled up the reins and stopped the carriage.

"Martha, do you remember what your father said to you on your way out?
Do the best you can, sir.
I told him that there were a lot of noblemen's sons who were going to King's Landing around the same time after that.
'I remember, sir. You told the noblemen of other families about Yuki-sama, didn't you?
Father, I wonder what they talked about.
I'm sure Yuki would be proud of you.

　Me and Martha looked at each other.
　I had a bad feeling about it.

Young man. There's someone coming down from the front carriage.
I'll handle it. Martha, just get my clothes ready.
Yes, sir.

　I turned my back to Martha.
　Martha pulls an off-the-rack jacket out of her luggage and drapes it over my shoulders.
　She turns her face to the side as I loosen my belt and holds out her ironed trousers. While I'm wearing them, he pulls a comb from the chest of my maid's uniform and fixes my hair. Then she beats the wrinkles out of her jacket and trims the collar, and it's done.


You're my partner.
Martha has sworn her allegiance to Yuki.

　I got out of the carriage, leaving Martha and Miss Bergen behind.
　There were three people getting out of the Duke of Surrey's carriage.
　One was a girl about my age. The other two seemed to be my guards.

''It appears to be the Duke of Surrey's family, sir.

　I bowed my head as was the nobleman's formality.

'This is Yuki-Grossaria, second son of Baron Grossaria. Since you have parked your carriage, do you need something from me?
This is Lady Odette Slay, daughter of the Duke of Slay.

　The two guards answered.

Fearfully, Odette says that she has a word for the bastard son of a baronet. We are so fortunate that a lowly nobleman could never be so fortunate.

　If I wasn't a duke's guard, I'd hit him.

　.......................or maybe it's because I'm a human novice.
　Maybe I'm just amazingly lucky in general.
　If so, we'll deal with it accordingly.

''I'm afraid I'm going to have to refrain from saying a word to you.

　I said.

''This is the bastard son of a country nobleman. If you receive a word from the duke's family, you will have exhausted a lifetime's worth of good fortune. I may die tomorrow. I have a life from my father, and I cannot die before I fulfill it.''
No, wait a minute.
'First of all, I would like to write to my father to see if it is safe for him to receive a word from the dukes. After all, it's an unbelievable fortune for a lowly nobleman.
..........
Now, if you'll excuse me.

　I bowed and stepped back.
　When dealing with a high ranking noble, the theory is to just wait for them to walk away.
　It's a pain in the ass, human.

"I apologize for my bodyguard's disrespect.

　A girl with golden hair stepped forward.
　She was a little taller than me. Her ample breasts assert their presence in her slender figure. The dress she is wearing is of an expensive look. If I showed it to Rumia, she would be overjoyed. Because the baronial family can't afford it.
　I'm not sure if she is the duke's daughter, Odette Slay.

I got off the wagon at your suggestion. Yuki-Grossaria.

　Odette-Sleigh said.

'It's a story that concerns you as well. It's about Her Royal Highness's knights-in-waiting.

　When he told me, I reflexively looked at Odette-Slay.
　It was probably a predictable reaction.
　Her Odette-Sleigh nodded with satisfaction.

''You know that Your Highness Princess Iris-Lestia will be appointing her own guard knight, don't you?
I know. His Highness told me about it himself.
That there are four candidates for that?
Four?
'Because Your Highness does not get to choose her own knights-in-arms on her own.

　I didn't realize it until you told me.
　To a nobleman, being a royal guard knight is the greatest honor.
　Even if he is the person being escorted, can't he just go through with his wishes?
　Didn't His Highness Iris say that 'His Majesty's permission is required'?
　There must be a balance of power, like rooting among the nobles, right?

''In other words, besides the person Her Highness has designated, there are three other candidates for His Highness's guard knights. And one of them is Odette-Suray-sama?
You're right.
Now you know. The bastard of the barons.

　The soldier looked at me and said.

'As soon as you understand, you will immediately decline to be Her Highness' knight escort. For it is our Lady Odette-Sulay who deserves the honor of being a knight escort!
What do you mean?　You fool!


　Bang.


　Odette-Slay slapped the soldier behind her.

''What would you do without a duke and a dignitary getting a position on merit!　It's not a stupid thing to say!　Correct me!
I'm sorry, too!　Dear Odette!
'Someone!　I will not let this rude man back down. Now!

　She told me that the beaten soldier was being taken beyond the carriage.

'I apologize for any disrespect I may have caused you. My proposal is simple. Join hands with me, Yuki-Grossaria.
A hand?
The other two have already formed an alliance. Don't you think that if you join forces with me, we'll be able to fight as equals?
Of the four candidates, the rest of us are in cahoots?
We have the information, sir. The Marquess and the Countess.
'Only one of you can be my knight escort, right?　Does that mean that after you beat the other two, you're going to make the final with me and Odette?
'You're talking fast. You're right.

　Odette-Sleigh shook her ample chest and smiled.

Of course I will win, but even if I do, I will treat you as an ally. Of course I will win, but even if I do, I will still treat you as an ally. The barons get the privilege of being known by the duke. Isn't this beneficial to you as well?
Let me think about it for a minute.
'Good. There will probably be a test to choose a guard knight, so in the meantime.
No, I'll decide by the time we get to King's Landing.
You're a quick thinker.
Until then, let's call it a provisional partnership, shall we?　We will not be adversaries, but we will cooperate when there are difficulties. That way, we'll know what we're both capable of.
Yeah, yeah. Yeah, that's okay.
Good. Well, nice to meet you.
Wait.

　As I was about to return to the carriage, Odette-Sley stopped me.

''Yuki-Grossaria. Is it true that you single-handedly defeated the gryphon summoned by the teacher Kachel?
Who said that?
It's your father.

　...Father. What are you doing here?

I'm not alone, Your Highness. Her Royal Highness was there and so were the other men. We worked together to defeat them.
Yes, of course. It's a surprise.
I'm sorry. There seems to be a strange rumor going around.
Yes. I was surprised when I heard. Beating a gryphon on your own is not very humanly possible.
'I'm human. The Duchess of Odette-Sleigh.
Of course. I don't want to ally myself with anyone but humans.

　With that, me and Odette-Slay shook hands (acrimony).
　We returned to each other's carriages and began to proceed again.



　In the carriage of the Duke of Surrey's family.


'My lady. How did you find Yuki-Grossalia?
He was a tricky man to deal with.

　In the carriage.
　Odette, the duke's daughter, was talking to her tutor.

'An imposing manner in the presence of a duke. The ability to quickly assess a situation. The ability to make decisions. Most of all, he didn't falter at all even though we had a large number of troops withheld from him. I should have seen it as a way of hiding your abilities.
'It's just a rumor that you took down a gryphon by yourself, isn't it?
No.

　Odette shook her head.

'My father bribed a soldier who reported directly to Her Highness to get the information. It is true that there were other soldiers, but he was the only one who defeated the Gryphon. And yet, Yuki-Grossaria is not proud of it. It's as if he has no interest in becoming a knight of His Highness.
Is there such a thing as a nobleman?
No, he's not.

　Odette bit her nails in frustration.

The princess's guardian knight is a member of her entourage. In the Lindbergh Magic Guild, you and your highness will be taught by the same magician. Perhaps the guild's highest-ranking...
'Yuki-Grossaria must know this. That a trainee's future is determined by which sorcerer they ask to teach them.
And if you investigate Elysium and find new ancient artifacts, your title will be raised. If you want, you can get a new title and territory.

　If you are a baron, you have the right to marry a count.
　If you are a duke, you shall have the right to marry a member of the royal family.
　If you do not intend to succeed to the title, then you must grant yourself another title and territory.

It's a good idea to practice magic in the Lindbergh Magic Guild.

"Let's not make an enemy of that person. For the sake of my purposes and for the sake of Your Highness Iris's peace, let's not make an enemy of her.

　In the carriage, Odette murmured softly.