126 Episode 6 Creeping Hands




 Riltana and Cain sat on the sofa facing each other in the reception room they were led to.
 At the end of the room, a maid was preparing tea and tea sweets.
 The items displayed in the corridor coming from the hall to the reception room weren't that different between the kingdom and the empire, they were arranged in a classy manner and were not disgusting.
 Even in the reception room, Cain was satisfied with the comfortable sofa.

''Master Cain, is there something wrong with you for scurrying around so much?''

'Nah, it's nothing. I just wondered if people in different countries have different tastes in the things displayed in different countries. ......

 Riltana chuckled at Cain's words.

'Sorry for the wait. I brewed it with Imperial tea leaves.''

 The maid places the cup in front of them and pours out the tea.
 Cain takes the cup in his hand and brings it up to his mouth and smells something a little different and better than before.
 And when he took a sip, he couldn't help but notice the fruity flavor that made his cheeks relax.
 After confirming Cain's smile, Riltana also brought the cup to her mouth as if she was satisfied.

'This tea is delicious ....... It's the first taste I've ever had.''

'It's the one I brought from the Empire. I like it too, and I've been drinking it since I was little. Niggito always finds all sorts of things for me to drink.

 They were both enjoying their tea when Nigito, who had finished carrying their belongings, came into the room.

'All the goods have been brought in, Your Highness Riltana.

Thank you. Master Cain seemed to like your choice of tea.

"Mr. Nigito, this tea is delicious.

 Nigito smiled with satisfaction at Cain's words, and stood back behind Riltana.

''I'm pleased that the Earl of Silford is pleased with you. If you'd like, would you like to take some of it home as a souvenir? Or, since these tea leaves come from the Empire, you could be betrothed to His Highness Riltana and go to the Empire with her--

NIGITO!!!

 Riltana, who had a bright red face, scolded Nigito for saying something unnecessary.
 Riltana, who was red to her ears at the word 'engagement' from Nigito, stood up and slapped Nigito on the head.

'This is rude ...... words have passed. Earl Silford, please forgive me .......

 Niggito is bowing deeply, but Rilthana slaps him further on the head.

'Lil ...... that's about it. I know you're joking. And His Highness the princess of the empire can't decide to get engaged to a nobleman from another country that easily. I know it's a joke.

 Riltana's face was shattered a bit by Cain's words of laughter and her expectations were shattered a bit, but she opened her mouth so as not to show her expression.

''--That's right ....... I was an imperial princess, even though I was a sixth daughter. It's not that easy .......

 But Rilthana's words, with a slightly dark expression on her face, were finally reduced to a whisper.

'Oh, Lil, and you can call me 'Cain', okay? And I call him 'Lil' too. I call you Your Highness in official places, but in these situations, we're friends at ......, right?

 At Cain's kind words, Riltana, who had a dark expression on her face, nodded even as her cheeks turned red.
 In Riltana's mind, since she had met Cain as a child, she showed her hesitation in calling him 'Cain' in front of her for the first time in several years.
 Unlike when she was still a little girl, even though she was still a girl, Riltana was still a woman.

''Then ...... I'll call you Ka, Ka, Cain!

 Nigito, who was watching Liltana's embarrassment, refrained from laughing behind her back at her usually uncharacteristic attitude.



 They spent half an hour chatting afterwards.



'Well then, I'd better get going. See you at school!''

Yes, Cain. See you tomorrow!

Count Silford, we'll see you now.

 Cain was led to the carriage by Nigito and sent to the mansion.
 Nigito, who was acting as the groom, spoke to Cain through a small window attached to the carriage.

'Master Cain, His Highness Riltana, despite his appearance, can be quite lonely. Please continue to be good friends with him in the future. Also - it seems there's a reason why he transferred to the kingdom. He won't tell you the details, but you can go to ....... I came to the kingdom once when I was very young, before I served. Maybe that's why I came to .......

'Yeah, Lil told me about that. He said he'd been to my family's territory, the city of Ramesta. Maybe he came to this kingdom because he didn't have a bad image of the kingdom.

 Cain also recalled the events of his childhood visit to the city of Ramesta.



 --that ...... training ...... with the knights incessantly, and .......

'That ...... child who was at the stall at that ......, I believe his name was .......

 Cain recalled picking out necklaces for each other at a stall that had been in a small corner of his memory.

'No way. ......'

 The carriage carrying Cain with a smile on his face headed towards the Silfort mansion.



 ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


 At the end of the next day's classes, Riltana climbed into the carriage that had come to pick her up.

'Thank you, Your Highness Riltana, for your hard work.

Yes. ......

 Slightly less energetic, Riltana looked out the window.
 As the carriage advanced, three carriages were slowly advancing in front of her in a single line.
 One carriage was slightly ahead of the others, and the two carriages lined up behind them were slowly advancing as if they were getting in the way of the carriage with Riltana in it.

'The carriage in front is slow: ......

 A grumbling nigito, playing the role of a gosha, muttered as he looked at the carriage moving lazily ahead.

 And far ahead of that carriage, a girl was walking.


 Her classes ended in the morning and she went out on an errand to help the Chamber of Commerce - it was Palma.

 Parma had visited the nobleman's town to contact the nobleman's mansion where she had made an appointment because the glassware consigned by Cain had come in.

''Well ...... next, the Marquis Corzino's residence or ......

 A carriage approaches Palma as she walks through her notes.



 And then--.



 Suddenly, two men appear from behind, blocking Palma's mouth, and then a blow to her stomach.

''Muguugu ......''

 It was powerful enough to disorient Palma, who wasn't working out.
 The men carried Parma up and threw her into the lead carriage. Then they increased their speed at once.
 Nigito, who was the groom of the carriage with Riltana running behind him, couldn't see clearly, but he had caught sight of one of the men carrying him up and throwing him into the carriage.


''? ......

 Nigito wanted to chase after that carriage, but the person in the carriage was the Imperial Princess. Knowing that there was no way he could take such a risk, and also knowing that if he told her about this now, only Riltana, who had a strong sense of justice, would surely tell him to follow her, Nigito silently proceeded with the carriage.
 With the features of that kidnapped carriage burned into his brain, he followed it with his eyes until he could no longer see it. ......


 You're going to have to be able to get your hands on a few of them. It's a good thing that you're not going to be able to get your hands on any of them.


''Why didn't you go after her on the spot!

 After all, as I imagined Nigito, Riltana was furious.

''I'm sorry. With Your Highness Liltana on board, I can't protect Your Highness' safety alone. Since my role is to ensure Your Highness's safety.''

 Riltana stood up, banging on the table as Nigito bowed his head, "I'm going," was all he said, and left the room.

'Yes, right away. So the destination is .......

By the guards' quarters, of course! What else is there?!

'But this is a kingdom. We are the people of the Empire--

This is not the time for that!

Okay. I'll be ready in a minute.

 As an escort, Nigito took the two knights who had accompanied him from the Empire and began advancing the carriage carrying Rilthana toward the guard's filling station.