Chapter 3
A month aboard the magic ship was harsher than words could express.
On our way there, all we had to do was hide among the slaves being transported, so it had been relatively easy. This time, however, we had to evade the Demon King's army.
There were others who had stowed away in the same manner and were trying to return home, so the Demon King's army was wary of stowaways. Stealing food and gathering drinking water while evading the guards was more difficult than I had imagined.
Fortunately, the Demon King's army was sending large numbers of immigrants to our continent and beginning to turn it into a true part of their territory. Their actions were unpredictable, and there were several moments when our hearts leaped into our throats, but they were also stealing supplies just as we were, so our own thefts went unnoticed.
After weathering several storms, we finally saw the land of our homeland, the Axis Continent.
We had finally returned to our homeland, but it was far from safe here either.
The Demon King's army was recruiting immigrants, building towns, and constructing new defensive facilities in order to establish this land, which they had laid waste to, as one of their territories.
Here too, the people who helped us were those being forced to work as slaves.
They hid us and arranged a way for us to escape.
They even risked their lives to escape and inform the various nations of the Demon King's death, drawing our pursuers away from us.
Thanks to their efforts, we narrowly escaped the territories ruled by the Demon King's army and managed to cross into the borders of our homeland, the Lionell Kingdom.
When we reached a town near the border and the prince informed the mayor of his identity and the defeat of the Demon King, the town erupted into an uproar.
Word that Prince Henri had defeated the Demon King Zergis had already spread as a rumor through people who had escaped, and everyone was astonished to learn that the rumor was true.
A mounted messenger was dispatched immediately, and the kingdom's knights came to escort and protect us.
The mayor asked us to stay at his residence until the knights arrived to receive us, and the prince accepted.
"This is where we part ways."
While the mayor was away, I brought up our farewell with the prince. Our safety was secured, and it was fair to consider our journey over. There was no reason for us to continue acting together.
"Hmm? Oh, yes. That's right. I had forgotten."
Apparently, he had forgotten what he himself had said after we defeated the Demon King.
"I have business in the royal capital as well, so I will be returning with you. However, I will not participate in the triumphal procession and will keep out of sight, so please don't worry. You may take the Demon King's head, crown, staff, rings, and necklace back as spoils of war. May I have everything else?"
Since the prince and the others knew nothing about the signet seal or the other things I had acquired, I intended to put them to good use.
"Oh, yes. That's fine."
"Also, I'm sorry to ask this, but please let me have the remaining travel funds as well. I cannot stay here."
I could hardly accept the mayor's hospitality at his residence alongside the prince and the others. I would stay at an inexpensive inn in town instead. We had little money left, so I would also have to send a messenger to my father and have him send me more.
"R-Romelia..."
As I planned my next steps, the prince spoke to me.
"What is it?"
I thought I had handed everything over. Was there something else left?
"Ah! No, it's nothing!"
For some reason, the prince raised his voice and left. I tilted my head, then turned my back on him and walked away.
That was where we parted ways.
"Well then. Time to get moving."
After parting from the prince, I moved to an inexpensive inn and immediately began putting my plans into action.
There were still many soldiers from the Demon King's army left on this continent. The prince had said he would defeat them himself, but I could not rely on that too much. Of course, it would be best if he succeeded, but considering what would happen if he failed, I should act as well.
Over the past three years, I had experienced many things while traveling with the prince and the others. I had been unable to make much use of what I learned while on the journey, since I had to defer to the prince, but now I was free to do as I pleased.
I had originally intended to do this after becoming queen, but now that my engagement had been broken off, I would have to start from scratch on my own.
"I need to hurry. First, the letter-writing operation."
I began by buying a supply of paper and writing letters to various people.
The first letter I sent was to the royal palace. I would mail the documents and signet seal I had obtained when we defeated the Demon King.
I could have given them to the prince, but he might forget, so I needed to send them to someone who seemed likely to put them to good use.
I also proposed capturing soldiers from the Demon King's army, informing them of the Demon King's death, and having them take these documents and others stamped with this seal back with them.
When we escaped from the Demon Continent, the Demon King's death had not yet been made public. But it could not be kept secret forever. Sooner or later, chaos would erupt on the Demon Continent. When that happened, a struggle to choose a successor would begin, and the regular magic ship service would presumably be suspended.
It would take even longer for the Demon King's army invading this continent to learn of his death. It would take longer still for the news to reach the rank-and-file soldiers. To spread the news of the Demon King's death as quickly as possible, we should capture demonfolk alive and tell them about it.
Of course, the enemy commanders would try to suppress it as false information, so we needed to give them convincing proof and spread word of the Demon King's death among the soldiers.
I had had plenty of time to think during the voyage, so I wrote down every method I could think of, making it seem as though the prince had thought of them himself.
The royal palace might ignore this proposal, so I also sent similar letters to other influential nobles and generals fighting on the front lines.
"That should do it. Is that everything?"
I thought I had done nearly everything I had planned. And yet, I felt as though I had forgotten something. What was it?
After puzzling over it for a while, I remembered that I needed to send a letter home.
"That's right. I need to report that I'm alive and have them send me money. I also need to tell them that my engagement was broken off."
I had forgotten something important. What should I write?
The pen that had been gliding so smoothly until a moment ago came to a stop, and I agonized over the very first line.
After agonizing over how to begin, I settled on a conventional greeting, a short businesslike message, and a formulaic closing.
It was a terrible letter for someone who had not written home in three years, but I hoped they would forgive me.
After sending my letters, I stayed in town for several days to recover from the fatigue of the journey. Then a column of knights arrived in town.
Several thousand elite knights came to welcome the prince, who then set out on a triumphant return to the royal capital.
The prince wore the glittering armor the knights had brought and rode a white horse. He looked exactly like a hero who had stepped out of a picture scroll.
The other three were also given dresses and other outfits, then rode in a magnificent carriage with its roof removed as part of the triumphal procession.
A letter and money arrived from my father, and I used the money to hire the cheapest carriage available. His letter was as short as mine, saying only that he wanted to see me in the royal capital.
The triumphant return of the prince and his companions was celebrated by every citizen. Everywhere they went, the crowds stretched without end, and they were showered with every word of praise imaginable.
I had no intention of accompanying the prince and the others throughout their triumphal procession, so I passed them along the way and continued ahead.
Preparations to welcome them were under way everywhere I went, and I could feel the people's joy at the heroes' return.
I went on ahead along the roads where preparations were under way and eventually reached the royal capital.
I had the carriage stop in front of Count Graham's estate in the royal capital and gazed at the residence towering above me.
Beyond the grand gate stretched a magnificent garden, and at the end of the straight drive stood a symmetrical mansion with its wings spread wide.
This was my home, seen again after three years.