Side Story 44: The Third Prince Is Toyed With (2)

In the carriage bound for Rudek, I, Rocabill, struck up a conversation with Salisha-sama.

"So, what exactly are Father and Roa meeting about?"

"It's nothing major. Apparently, Father was only going to show Roa the district plan he had drawn up."

As she said this, she pointed to the large sheet of parchment rolled up and propped in a corner of the carriage.

Last year, Father, Drak, made a lightning visit to Rudek's royal capital, saying he was going to celebrate the victory. He apparently inspected the planned site of the future city he and Roa were working on.

He had probably drawn up the district plan based on that on-site inspection.

Normally, it would be quicker for Roa and Father to deal with each other directly, but this meeting was probably simple enough for Salisha-sama to handle.

After all, when the Imperial Capital was built, Salisha-sama worked alongside Father at the center of the planning and managed the entire project.

Besides, even though this was not a commemorative occasion like last year's victory celebration, it would hardly sit well with Rudek, the other party, if the emperor casually went off to another country whenever he pleased. From the standpoint of someone like me, working behind the scenes, it would be a considerable burden.

All things considered, Salisha-sama's proposal this time was not a bad one for either country.

As I was thinking this, Luluria, who had been happily gazing outside by herself, exclaimed, "Ah, we're almost at the former Riflerea territory! It's North Rudek now. I wonder what kind of scenery we'll see!"

Incidentally, we had summoned Tsetsedra to accompany us as planned, but Father had pleaded, "At least help me! Otherwise, I'll die doing the work of three people!" As a result, Tsetsedra ended up staying in the Imperial Capital to help Father.

"With Rocabill-ani-sama and Salisha-sama together, there's nothing to worry about. Please take care of Luluria."

With those words, he had volunteered to help Father with his administrative duties. What a capable younger brother.

Tsetsedra would manage without difficulty. I'd heard he'd gotten the hang of running his territory, too. Even I, Rocabill, could relax a little about the work I'd left behind.

"Is this your first time in northern Rudek too, Rocabill-gikei-sama?"

At Luluria's question, I shook my head.

"Of course, this is my first time here for sightseeing, but during Riflerea's time, I was invited to the Holy Capital several times."

Riflerea had fallen. Setting foot in North Rudek made that sink in all over again. To me, Riflerea had been little more than a business partner, but even so, a faint melancholy at the fall of a country I had known passed through my heart.

Then again, Gridol had grown by devouring country after country. To be blunt, it was a familiar story to me, so I wasn't all that shaken.

As the carriage rolled slowly onward and we enjoyed the scenery, several mounted riders approached from ahead, kicking up dust.

The guards tensed briefly, but when they saw a familiar Gridol flag among the Rudek flags, their tension quickly eased.

"It seems Rivote has come to meet us."

That seemed to be the case.

During our stay in Rudek, Rivote, who knew the country's internal affairs well, would be handling things for us. The carriage stopped, and we waited for Rivote and the others to arrive.

A sizable number of soldiers rode up smartly, then halted in perfect formation. I'd heard Rudek's soldiers were elite, and I felt I had just glimpsed one example of that for myself.

Rivote, who was at the head of the unit, quickly dismounted and approached us.

"Salisha-sama, Prince Rocabill-sama, Empress Luluria-sama. It has been some time."

As Rivote bowed politely, Salisha-sama immediately threw him a mischievous grin and a teasing remark.

"You seem to be enjoying yourself quite a bit, Rivote. Your complexion seems a little better, too, doesn't it?"

"What? No, nothing like that at all..."

As Rivote grew flustered, Salisha-sama smiled with satisfaction.

"It was a joke. Thank you for all your hard work, as always. And thank you for coming to meet us this time, too."

"...Please stop teasing me. You look as energetic as ever..."

Rivote answered with a wry smile. I'd often seen exchanges like this when he was in the Imperial Capital. For some reason, Salisha-sama was always looking for an opening to tease him.

I used to wonder how she managed to tease such a stiff man without starting a quarrel.

But whatever change of heart he had experienced in Rudek, at the welcome party held when he returned to the Imperial Capital with Roa and the others, he showed a side of himself that left us taken aback.

Perhaps Salisha-sama had seen that side of Rivote from the very beginning.

"Excuse me. May we offer our greetings as well?"

The person who spoke up after Rivote and Salisha-sama had finished their greetings was the commander leading the Rudek soldiers.

"I am Ryuzel, of the Tenth Knight Order. We guarantee your safety all the way to the royal capital."

"Ryuzel-sama. I have heard of your renown. You are one of Roa-sama's close aides, are you not? I am grateful that someone of your standing went to the trouble of welcoming us. I am Salisha=Delassa, wife of Emperor Drak."

"Salisha-sama, I have heard that you are the person His Majesty relies on most. It is an honor to meet you. And you must be Prince Rocabill. Pleased to meet you."

"Yes. I am Rocabill=Delassa. I ask that you take good care of us on this trip."

"I hear Prince Rocabill-sama is here on vacation. Please feel free to ask us for anything."

Once Salisha-sama and I had finished exchanging greetings with him, Ryuzel turned his gaze to Luluria.

"Ryuzel-sama, it's been a long time! You're quite the celebrity now!"

At Luluria's friendly greeting, even Ryuzel, whose expression had been somewhat stiff, gave a wry smile.

"You as well, Luluria-sama. As one of the central figures in Dragen's development, your name has even reached Rudek."

"Oh, really? I wonder how everyone else is doing?"

"Lufa, for one, is eagerly awaiting your reunion. Please be sure to go see them."

Hearing the two of them chat so casually, Salisha-sama tilted her head slightly.

"I had heard that Luluria was close to people from the Tenth Knight Order, but you're close to this gentleman as well?"

"Yes. When the ship I was on was set adrift and I ended up staying in Gadeland, Ryuzel-sama was one of the people who looked after me along with Roa-sama."

"Oh, is that so? Come to think of it, I never properly heard what happened then. Since we have the opportunity, would you tell me about it? Ryuzel-sama, please join us in the carriage, too."

"What? No, I'm here to provide security... Besides, even then I was only a guard..."

"With the soldiers we brought from Gridol and everyone from the Tenth Knight Order, there's nothing to worry about. Rivote, I'll leave the security outside to you."

"Oh—uh, yes."

With everything proceeding at Salisha-sama's pace, Ryuzel was forcibly ushered into the carriage, and the group once again set out toward Rudektrad.