We rode our wagon down the farm road through the wheat fields. Halfway down the road, as we approached a farmhouse, the family, who had been nothing but grief-stricken earlier, were still rejoicing at the sight of their restored fields, and their children were running around with their dogs.

　The middle-aged man, who must be the head of the family, the middle-aged man I spoke to earlier, was holding hands with a woman who looked like his wife, but when he realized we were coming, only the man came over to us.

'Princess, and your party ...... really, I can't thank you enough. What a miracle ...... that you could stop that gray soil.
"That forest is where our royal family once maintained the gardens. Originally, it was our abandonment of the garden's care that led to this situation: ...... But we were unable to do anything about it up to this point, and today is the day we were able to change that.

　The reason I'm not mentioning my name was something I asked His Highness to do beforehand.

　The fact that I'm a plant spirit user, if the farmers know that I'm a plant spirit user, it might indeed be an easy material for them to trust me when they ask the farmers for something in the future. However, the fact that I've signed a contract with the divine tree and have a great deal of influence is a danger when it's widely known.

(Right now, my presence is not yet known to the enemy. But if Zirconia is getting through to this side of the world, ...... it's unlikely that this farmer will betray me, but I don't know where the information will be transmitted to the other side.)

　I cannot force the Lords to maintain secrecy in the same way as a military man. I'm still the only one with a plan to fulfill my duties as a military doctor and solve the fortress' food and medicine shortages--then I'd be grateful if you would follow your highness' policy and not spread my name too much without good reason.

　I think we need to increase the number of people we can trust, not only within the Order, but also outside. I don't have any power right now, so I should move carefully and prudently.

'We could do nothing, even if we knew that something strange was spreading from that forest. It was still thanks to the knights that we didn't have to abandon the land we were used to living in. I didn't expect that the wheat would return to normal once it had dried up ...... I must quickly inform those who left the village earlier. I'm sure they're doing some unfamiliar work by now, so I'll fly back.

　The farmer, who had a pensive look on his face for a long time, spoke with a cheerful smile, as he should have. He seemed to be happy that his farmland was back to normal and that his acquaintances from the same village were able to come back.

　--But his expression suddenly gets stronger. Presha-san puts his hand on his weapon and turns his sharp gaze to a group of riders on horseback, approaching from the east.

...... That seems to be the banner of the Reinfeldt family, which claims to have the whole area under its control.
'Yes, yes ...... they may have been sent out here in response to the large number of demons that are out there. We have been told not to leave the farmland, so what will they say ......?
'I understand. We don't have a good relationship ...... but I'll explain to you that you are still not to blame. Please stay inside the house.
I'm sorry, Your Highness. ......

　The men look frightened and go into the house with their families. His Highness instructs us to go into the carriage - and Mr. Presha is going to escort us in.

'Maybe it's not your father's side, so it's not a flash in the pan. I'm sure his father is bitter because his territory was seized by the knights a long time ago. ......
'Does the father ...... mean that the son of the head of the Reinfeldt family is here?
Yes, that's right. The next head of the family has a son and a younger sister under him, I think: ...... I don't know all the details because I'm hearing it again, too.

　Just as Presha-san had said, the one leading the group of ten or so horsemen was a young man with golden hair. A woman with the same hair color and still old enough to be a girl was following from diagonally behind them. They were probably the sons of the Reinfeldt family.

　They dismounted from their horses, perhaps in a show of courtesy before approaching His Highness. But the cavalry, though not armed, were lined up side by side, radiating an eerie menace.

'My name is Snyder, son of Hartner Reinfeldt. Please allow me to speak to you with my horse in line behind me. General Astina.
'Don't worry about it. Your father will be wary of us Knights.

　The man who called himself Snyder was unable to look directly at His Highness Astina. He wasn't being intimidated, but he couldn't look at her very much - something that could be called 'divinity' that His Highness got from becoming a priestess would make him do so.

'Given your position, you should not be blamed for bringing the troops with you. There will be bandits in this area, where the number of people has dwindled. Instead, speak to me of your requirements.
...... As for the rural areas around here, we have originally claimed autonomy. I have come to ask you to review that matter.
"ugh. ......

　Mr. Plesha puts strength into his hand holding the spear. If the Reinfeldt family went through with their claims, even if the farmland was restored and the people returned, it would no longer help to solve the food situation.

　--but it was different. The 'review' that Snyder was seeking was not about giving the Reinfeldt family rural autonomy.

　Snyder kneels on the ground. The woman who seemed to be his sister followed suit and bowed deeply and profoundly - an act of reverence for the Reinfeldt family's highness.

My sick father has entrusted me with the fate of the House of Reinfeldt. I, Snyder von Reinfeldt, with five hundred men, pledge allegiance to the Royal Guard against Zirconia, which threatens our lands from across the river.

　The soldiers on horseback lined up behind Snyder and the others raised their swords and prayed, which meant that the private army of the Reinfeldt family was under the direction of His Highness.