Chapter 50
"I can't tell you how many times I've dreamed of cutting you clean in half with my own hands!!"
The person saying something so menacing with a smile was General Gafor, and the one on the receiving end was Rays-sama. The handover of Rururia and the other crew members from the drifting ship had concluded safely, and the Tenth Knight Order was now enjoying the hospitality of the Imperial Knight Order.
General Gafor had drunk enough to turn red-faced and was pestering Rays-sama, but apparently this was simply how he normally spoke; one of his aides was desperately explaining as much.
This was the first time either army had protected and handed over the other side's citizens, so the considerable tension surrounding the event had probably been eased by the alcohol. General Gafor was not the only one; here and there, soldiers from the enemy nations could be seen exchanging cups.
Of course, if they wanted to, the Imperial soldiers could easily slit the relaxed Tenth Knight Order's throats in their sleep. However, if they did such a thing to Ludeck after it had shown them such humanitarian goodwill, the Empire would lose the trust of every nation from then on.
Thus, although Imperial territory was an extremely dangerous place for the Tenth Knight Order, at this particular moment it could be considered a very safe one.
I remained at the banquet for a while, then rose when the time seemed right. When Wickhart tried to rise with me, I told him I was tired and would turn in first, leaving him there.
Then I went to Prince Tsetsedra and Rururia, exchanged brief greetings, and asked Rururia about the letter concerning the tar.
"I'll have it ready before we leave," Rururia said. Prince Tsetsedra asked what she meant, and she explained what tar was.
Tar itself wasn't something used for warfare, so Prince Tsetsedra probably wouldn't make an issue of it. I had brought it up with Rururia at this particular time so that Prince Tsetsedra would know what the letter contained.
Prince Tsetsedra would not be pleased to have his wife hand a letter to someone from an enemy nation. It was better to inform him beforehand.
I then told Rururia, "As a thank-you, I'll have a letter containing recipes for Poge and other dishes ready by tomorrow." This was the real point. I wanted to make it possible for me to hand Rururia a letter as well without it seeming strange.
It was Prince Tsetsedra who took an interest in my words, rather than Rururia.
"Does Rururia cook?"
"Yes. During my stay in Ludeck, I passed the time cooking with Roa-sama here, Wickhart-sama over there, and a girl named Rufa, although she did not accompany us here. I would love for you to try my cooking as well, Tsetsedra-sama."
"I see. I look forward to it," Prince Tsetsedra said, his eyes softening. My objective was accomplished for the moment, so when Rururia began explaining what dishes she had made, I took that as my cue to withdraw to my tent.
Even if they called it hospitality, they could hardly bring soldiers from an enemy nation into the fortress. Thus, numerous tents prepared by the Empire for lodging had been set up around the area.
Once I slipped into the tent assigned to me, I used a suitable box as a desk, pulled out some paper and a pen, and began composing a letter while racking my brains.
---
"Then, everyone, thank you so much for everything. I pray for your safe journey home."
The next morning, we set out for home. In front of the Imperial knights, who were lined up just as they had been the day before, Rururia exchanged brief farewells with each of the Tenth Knight Order's senior officers.
I was last. Saying, "As promised," Rururia handed me a letter. Prince Tsetsedra, who had heard about it beforehand, silently watched her.
"Two letters?"
There were, in fact, two.
"Yes. One is for the tar trade. The other is a letter for Rufa. Could you give it to her?" The address was written in the language of the Southern Continent.
"Understood. Rufa will be happy, too."
"Please do. You have truly been very kind to me, Roa-sama."
"Then, I have these for you as well."
"Two letters?" Rururia reacted exactly as I had.
"One is a recipe. As for the other... well, when you're alone with Prince Tsetsedra, please read it together."
"When we're alone? It would be all right for Tsetsedra-sama to read it, too?"
"Of course. It's just a little good-luck charm, of sorts. If, after reading it, you decide you don't need it, you can throw it away."
"A charm...?" Though she looked suspicious, Rururia accepted both letters.
That was all I could do.
I wrote something along these lines: The Second Prince and a minister are plotting. I heard an unsettling rumor from merchants who came and went through Gederland. The two of them are secretly stockpiling weapons. Something bad may happen soon. It's only a rumor, but the source of the information is reliable. How you two choose to handle this information is up to you as husband and wife.
That was the gist of what I wrote.
The Third Knight Order was in charge of Gederland's port, so there was no way such information could have reached me. Besides, it had been a long time since I had even visited Gederland's port.
But Rururia only knew that I came from the area around the port. If I implied that I was familiar with the information circulating through the port, she would readily believe me.
I had no idea what decision Prince Tsetsedra would make after Rururia read the letter.
From this point on, it was their story.
At the very least, I hoped a happy outcome awaited them.
As I gazed at the Imperial sky receding behind us, I secretly held that hope.