The Stablemaster and the Princess

Ferda asked William again.

“You mean 3%, not that they deducted 3%?”

-Yes. It is a figure difficult to believe even if I explain it.

Olivia's contribution had been objectively calculated at a whopping 45%.

Even if they forcibly reduced it, 30% was the least she deserved to be credited with.

Ferda asked William how such a miraculous figure had been possible.

Summarized in one sentence, the reason ultimately came down to everything having gone her way.

The problem was that Olivia had only learned the accomplishments expected of a princess; she had never properly learned leadership or tactics.

Thus, the Empire's position was that even if her judgment had been sound, a person untrained in tactics carrying out a tactic could endanger the army, and it was fortunate they were not holding her accountable for that alone.

On top of that, they had added that she endangered the army by ordering the formation of a pursuit battalion through a bold tactic midway through the battle.

That was why, though she had served as chief of staff, they argued that most of the credit should go to those who had actually accomplished it.

Alexander had personally welcomed and praised each of them because of Olivia.

“I gave you some materials, didn't I? Didn't you see how they were used?”

-I did. I used the materials you gave me to argue that she deserved the credit, but they did not carry much weight.

“Why not?”

-The decisive factor was that the Duke of Ruthenia's son kept his mouth shut.

Ruthenia's son had been the second-in-command and chief of staff of the provisional alliance.

His contribution this time had been 15%, the highest after Olivia's.

“What percentage did he receive?”

-30%.

That was enough to make him keep his mouth shut.

He had boldly taken one-third of Olivia's credit.

Naturally, the highest decoration Olivia should have received had gone to him instead.

Ferda could picture how the whole process had unfolded.

They had turned it into a zero-sum game.

They had tempted many noble sons and knights with the idea that the larger one's slice of the pie became, the smaller someone else's slice would be.

To increase their own slices and claim a greater share of the credit, someone had to be sacrificed.

That someone was Olivia, who had accounted for half the credit by herself.

For those whose contributions were too small even to be mentioned by name, it was a good opportunity to claim even 1%, so they had no reason to refuse.

Sacrifice one to make the many happy.

It had been remarkably simple for them to cast aside their duties as nobles and their principles as knights.

The princess was too beautiful.

She was beautiful beyond their station.

So they knew they could never have her.

Rather than curry favor with something beautiful but worthless inside, choosing practical gain was the more long-term and rational choice.

‘Loathsome bastards.’

Even so, Ferda could not stomach how disgusting it was.

They had called her the flower of the Empire and followed at her heels, only to sell her out for the treat right in front of them.

-There were some who gave up, displaying the spirit of a knight, though.

“I hope you were one of them.”

-Of course. Even if I were to receive credit, my own share would be enough, and I could not accept an inflated share….

“So what percentage did they recognize you for?”

“They said 10%.”

Ferda casually flipped through the copy Mori had compiled.

William's was 5%, exactly twice as much.

Since they had tried to poach Vernel right in front of him, Ferda asked William what offer he had received.

-I was offered the position of Guardian Knight of the Imperial Guard.

Guardian Knight.

It was a title belonging to the highest ranks among knights, and one that could be held only by those serving directly under the Imperial family.

Their intention was clearly for him to abandon the Valdrova Archduchy and come here.

“So did you accept it?”

-Only as an honorary title.

In other words, it was a title that looked impressive on paper but involved no actual investiture.

For a knight by birth to put it that way was a tactful refusal, implying that he already had a lord whom he served.

Guardian Knight must have been a position no less prestigious than that of a count.

Seeing him turn down such an offer made Ferda feel inexplicably proud.

“When will you be back?”

-I was planning to leave first thing tomorrow morning, but now I plan to leave immediately. They said they would provide teleportation magic….

“You could take your time.”

-As chief of the constabulary, shouldn't I fulfill my duty?

Diligent fellow.

“Very well. Then come to the castle as soon as you arrive. We will hold the bonus ceremony and banquet as soon as you get here.”

-Yes! I will make my way there as quickly as possible!

* * *

After William returned via teleportation magic, Ferda awarded bonuses to the tactical infantry who had taken part in the battle and supported the festival.

There were already enough supplies for the banquet that had been meant to last two days, so it was not difficult.

Ferda was able to use up the remaining supplies that might otherwise have gone to waste, while the infantrymen experienced noble cuisine for the first time in their lives and were properly treated as war heroes.

Just when it seemed everything would pass without incident, Ferda's communication crystal began blinking blue.

Ferda placed his hand against it and connected the communication spell.

-Greetings, Regent! My name is Joseph, and I am an Imperial liaison officer!

The fact that the Imperial liaison officer was contacting him this late at night meant that something serious had happened.

-I am contacting you to ask whether Her Highness the Princess has visited Valdrova Castle.

Ferda instinctively frowned.

“Why are you asking me that?”

-I sincerely apologize for asking such an unpleasant question. However, this is a matter that must be concluded quietly and swiftly within the Empire, so I dared to contact you despite my impertinence.

Ferda understood as soon as he heard that.

Olivia had run away from home.

“My answer is that I don't know. What happened to the princess?”

-I cannot tell you about that matter.

Well, look at them.

“You can't tell me everything and then end the conversation by saying you don't know. I have a few theories of my own. What do you think would happen if I spread those theories everywhere? They might no longer be secrets then.”

After Ferda threatened him so openly, Joseph repeatedly let out troubled breaths before answering.

-As you may have guessed, Princess Arken is currently missing. The Imperial Palace, as well as the rest of the Empire, is being searched thoroughly to locate her.

“So now you are investigating even those who have crossed the barrier?”

-That is correct. We are currently comparing the entry records to determine her whereabouts. The chief of the constabulary left this evening, so he was one of the people under investigation.

“I understand. If we receive any news here, I will inform you immediately.”

-Yes, thank you!

Joseph repeatedly begged Ferda to keep it secret before ending the communication.

“Run away from home….”

To be honest, Ferda could understand why she had done it.

Her 45% share of the credit had been reduced to 3%, and her entry into politics had been thwarted.

It was similar to when Ferda had not been recognized as a mage and had become a public enemy.

‘Back then, I hadn't even wanted that hatred.’

But the world had wanted Ferda to hate.

Otherwise, there would have been no reason for such malice to descend upon him.

Even now, thinking about what had happened made his blood boil.

Erdes, that fucking bitch.

After briefly chewing on the name, he returned to the matter at hand.

‘Princess Olivia has disappeared.’

How had she escaped?

She, too, was a Red Circle holder and could wield light magic, but escaping with a spell like teleportation would be impossible.

To get out of such a heavily guarded place, she would have needed an accomplice, and that accomplice would have had to shoulder a risk large enough to cost them their head.

Being a noble would not make an exception.

‘What does she gain from doing that?’

Had it been an ordinary person, Ferda might have dismissed it as an emotional outburst by someone weak.

But Ferda could not shake the thought that Olivia was plotting something.

He could not imagine her rebelling in a childish tantrum.

Through this escape, she would obtain what she wanted.

At the same time, another image rose in his mind.

It was not the present, but a distant future in which she had been consumed by hatred.

She stood atop a balcony railing, having become an enchantress who brought an entire nation to its knees.

For some reason, Ferda thought she resembled him.

They were exactly alike in having suffered because of their families, hated their families, and tried to kill them all.

The difference was that Ferda had accepted hatred for the sake of revenge, while Olivia had worn a mask.

And Ferda had succeeded, while Olivia had failed.

Olivia had cast everything aside and deliberately launched a coup.

The prince and princess had died, but the Emperor remained alive and well.

She was human, after all.

No matter how firmly armed with reason and philosophy, before emotion, a person was nothing more than a wall of salt in the rain.

A human being who could collapse no matter how strongly they held out.

That was why Ferda decided not to remain still.

He had to find her before anyone else did.

* * *

Ferda left the castle and headed into the forest.

As always, the forest was disorderly from lack of management.

More precisely, it was a place just outside the boundary of the Iorga spawns.

It was the middle of the night, with the crescent moon waning.

Beneath the shadows of the leaves, he closed his eyes in the dark forest.

The awareness that he had given up one sense caused the others to sharpen frighteningly.

When even the cries of the night insects had vanished and an unfamiliar sulfurous scent began to spread faintly,

Ferda quietly called a name.

“Sithri.”

Then he felt a sticky sensation clinging to his back.

-Did you call me, big brother?

She appeared behind him, ran her serpentine legs over Ferda's entire body, and came around to the front.

It was a ploy meant to disgust him, but Ferda showed no emotion and spoke curtly.

“Where is she?”

-What are you talking about?

“Olivia. You should know where she is.”

-Hmm? You're being too hasty. Do you think all I do is spy on the princess who lives in the Imperial Palace?

“You, who are so fond of carnal pleasures, couldn't possibly not know.”

Ferda knew.

When the great demon Sithri seduced humans, she transformed into their most alluring form, and Olivia was one of those forms.

Eight times out of ten, she transformed into Olivia Arken to seduce them.

That form worked best, after all.

Even if she was merely a replica created by a demon, hundreds of men had died with the sole desire of embracing the princess.

Olivia, who was so useful, was a highly coveted pet for Sithri.

No, she was probably something more than that.

To obtain such a pet, Sithri would look for an opportunity, and there was no doubt that one of her eyes was fixed on Olivia.

So if Ferda asked where Olivia had gone, Sithri would know better than anyone.

-Suppose I know…. Why do you need that woman, big brother? Weren't you devoted solely to the Grand Duke?

“I merely need that woman.”

-Hmm? No matter how you look at it, you're still a man too… Is that what you're saying?

“You keep saying things a dog would bark in human language.”

Ferda made a look of disgust, but Sithri's gaze did not change.

-Then let's make a deal, big brother. I'll seduce you in this form for three minutes.

Sithri's form stood out clearly even in the darkness.

The demon Sithri's appearance gradually changed, transforming into Olivia's.

Everything from her eyelashes and lips to her fingers resembled Olivia.

Sithri spoke in Olivia's voice.

-If you can hold out for three minutes, I'll tell you. How about it?

She summoned an hourglass in midair.

Such a vulgar trick was exactly like her.

“Do as you please.”

Ferda answered with an indifferent expression.

Sithri flashed a triumphant smile, as though her trap had worked.

-How foolish. No matter how devoted you are, you're still a man, aren't you?

She boldly pressed her body against his.

The curves he had only ever seen with his eyes seemed to lick his body vividly.

She breathed against the nape of Ferda's neck, tickling him without pause.

Ferda did not resist and let her do as she pleased.

A sticky, lascivious sound marked the passing of each second.

He roughly counted out three minutes in his head, but there was still a long way to go before the hourglass emptied.

‘She used a filthy trick.’

It was not a formal contest, and she had never said that the hourglass contained three minutes, so it was only natural.

Her purpose from the start had been nothing more than to shake Ferda and humiliate him.

“It's over.”

-What? Really?

Ferda gestured with his eyes toward the hourglass she had summoned.

Just as he said, all the sand had fallen long ago.

Sithri muttered as though her pride had been wounded.

-Just in case, I switched it with a four-minute one, but I couldn't seduce a man for four minutes?

Then, wearing Olivia's face, she glared at him viciously.

-Big brother, are you impotent?

“No.”

-Then why aren't you reacting at all after seeing a body like this? That makes no sense!

Ferda could answer confidently because he had already confirmed that he was not impotent.

And above all, Ferda knew what the princess actually looked like.

If she acted this vulgar, he would have been turned off before he could become aroused.

“Regardless, I won.”

-Hmm, you never lose even once. How annoying.

She pouted and smiled, letting her disappointment show.

She did not seem to think that was entirely a bad thing.

-There was a story like this long ago.

“Don't play word games—”

-Hear me out, darling. You've heard the story about a princess and a stablemaster escaping the castle together, haven't you?

“……” Yes.

That story was about rising in social status, and even now Ferda could recite its lines reflexively.

-The answer lies in that story.

At the mention of an answer, Ferda closed his eyes and followed the flow of the story.

He realized what she was trying to say.

‘……No way.’

No, that couldn't be it.

Ferda vehemently denied it inwardly, but the more he did so, the deeper Sithri's smile became.

“Sweet dreams, big brother.”

When Ferda opened his eyes again, Sithri had already disappeared.

Ferda stood where he was, repeating the thought in his mind.

‘Did she lie?’

It had not been a formal wager, so she had no obligation to tell him the truth.

But what could she gain from doing that?

Sithri's leash was in Ferda's hands.

If what she had said meant exactly what Ferda thought it meant,

there was only one person the stablemaster could be referring to.

‘William.’

The chief of the constabulary, and a sword for the people.

The answer was obvious, yet Ferda kept wanting to deny it.

William was one of the few knightly exemplars Ferda trusted.

There was no way he could have taken the princess out on his own.

‘But nothing is absolute.’

William had come to this village in the first place to save commoners.

There was no guarantee that someone who had crossed one line would never cross another.

Moreover, it explained why he had returned this evening instead of simply coming back tomorrow.

Ferda had no idea what he should do.

‘If I don't know….’

He had to see it with his own two eyes and find out.

Even if it was an inconvenient truth.