The Drifting Ship Incident (9): Rururia's Disposition

"My name is Rays=Stein. Princess Rururia=Fezaris=Bardusa, I am honored to have this opportunity to meet you. I sincerely apologize for having to keep you in a place like this. I ask for your understanding of our country's circumstances, and humbly beg your forgiveness."

"I am Rururia=Fezaris=Bardusa. I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak with Rays=Stein-sama, whose name is renowned even on my continent. I am also deeply grateful that you rescued our drifting ship and treated us with such hospitality. I promise to report all of this to my father, Mars=Fezaris=Bardusa."

"You are too kind. Is there anything troubling you? I will do whatever I can to accommodate you, so please do not hesitate to ask."

"Thank you. Thanks to Roa-sama, Wickhart-sama, and Rufa-sama, whom you arranged to assist me, I have enjoyed my stay even in this unfamiliar place. I am truly grateful."

"I'm glad to hear it."

At last, the exchange of greetings, which was beginning to give me heartburn, came to an end, and the rest of us listening nearby finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Rays-sama and Rururia were meeting in an annex of the lord's mansion—in other words, the mansion where we'd been staying these past few days.

Three people had entered: Rays-sama, Rapilia-sama, and Glantz-sama. Outside, though, with the Third Knight Order's guards included, things must have become quite imposing.

After the perfunctory greetings, Rururia got straight to the point.

"This is merely a request, but since I've gone to the trouble of setting foot on the Northern Continent, would you please let me take a walk around this city before I am forcibly repatriated?"

At that, Rays-sama looked slightly troubled.

"I fully understand how you feel, Rururia-sama, but if anything were to happen to you here, I would have no face to show your father. I must ask you to bear with us until you reach the Greedle Empire."

Huh? I couldn't have been the only one who found Rays-sama's words strange. Rururia looked puzzled too. So I hadn't misheard him, then?

"Excuse me... Did I hear you incorrectly? Rather than being sent back to Fezaris, am I going to the Greedle Empire?"

"Yes. That is what I said. While you were waiting, we were negotiating with the Empire over this incident. As a result, it has been decided that our country will take responsibility for sending everyone aboard this ship—including Princess Rururia—to the Empire."

"I was told that your country and the Greedle Empire are at war?"

"Yes. But even countries at war have diplomatic channels, as you well know. Especially in this case, the Empire did not expect this to happen. Considering our relationship with the countries of the Southern Continent, it would be more convenient for both sides to resolve the matter between our two nations."

I see. If we sent Rururia back from here, what would the countries of the Southern Continent, Fezaris foremost among them, think? At worst, it could damage Ludeck's reputation. In that case, Ludeck also wanted to show its generosity. That said, since this wasn't a concession to the Empire made for nothing, it must be why the negotiations took so long.

"I see... So that's how it is. I understand. If anything, that only makes me want to see this city even more."

"Princess Rururia... that..." Rays-sama's gaze shifted to one reserved for a troublesome person. It was a subtle change that only someone accustomed to dealing with him would notice.

"I don't know what shape the relationship between your country and the Greedle Empire will take, but if we remain enemies, I will likely never have another opportunity to visit this city. So I would like to walk through it just once. Wouldn't it be wise to earn my favor while you can? I might become a new diplomatic channel someday."

Rays-sama remained silent, so perhaps thinking that one more push might do it, Rururia continued.

"This port is safe enough that many people from the Southern Continent visit it, is it not? Then there is no need to worry. Even if something dangerous were to happen to me, I swear I will never hold your country responsible. If you wish, I can even provide a written pledge."

"You'd go that far...? Very well. Then I'll have you put it in writing. After that, I'll arrange an escort for you."

"The three who have accompanied me this far, along with that person called Ryuzel-sama, I believe? If he joins us too, that will be enough."

"I hate to say it myself, but I'm more the sort who needs protecting, wouldn't you say? And Rufa, too..." When I finally spoke up, Rururia broke into peals of laughter.

"I'm not expecting Roa-sama to protect me, either. I'm saying I want to go out with people I feel comfortable around," she said.

"You seem to have taken quite a liking to the three of them."

"Yes... What do you call it again? Ah, right—we've shared meals from the same pot, after all."

Rays-sama's gaze pierced me. He was probably telling me to explain later what she meant.

Incidentally, by the time several days had passed since we started the cooking lessons, Rururia had begun using a knife to cut vegetables as well, so I might get scolded over this. Well, it couldn't be helped.

After a brief silence, Rays-sama, unusually for him, let out a small sigh.

"Very well. However, I will have another escort stationed at a distance."

"That is acceptable. Thank you for your consideration."

And so Rururia turned to us with a look that seemed to say, "I did it!" But all we could do was smile wryly.