Chapter 58
──In Noza, a town near the border with the Demon Lord's Territory──
Princess Sofia woke up on a hard bed.
Looking around, she remembered that this was not the Imperial capital.
"...I arrived in this town yesterday, didn't I?"
Sofia let out a long sigh.
The journey from the Imperial capital to the border had been far too taxing for her.
She had reached her limit after getting out of the carriage upon entering the town and making it to her room at the inn.
She remembered refusing the maids' assistance and changing into her nightclothes.
Her memories after that were unclear.
She had apparently managed to get into bed, at least.
"The Empire should improve the roads a little more, shouldn't it? Even though this is a border region, people and soldiers travel back and forth. At the very least, they should do something about how much the carriages shake..."
Either the roads needed to be improved, or they needed to build new carriages that shook less.
──Thinking this, Sofia shrugged.
"How foolish. What good would it do for me, having been sent away to the north, to think about things like that?"
Sofia got out of bed.
She was in a set of two adjoining rooms: one bedroom and one parlor.
It was smaller than the rooms in the detached palace, but there was no particular problem with it.
This was the mayor's residence in the town of Noza.
The unit from the Imperial capital was using it as its base.
Until a little over ten days ago, Liana and Zagran's unit had been stationed in this town. Sofia's group had arrived to replace them.
That was why they were using the same residence.
Of course, Sofia would be staying here far longer than they had.
As she thought about this, Sofia opened the window.
A gentle breeze blew inside.
It smelled of greenery. There must be a forest nearby.
"...What a pleasant breeze. The air feels clearer than it does in the Imperial capital."
A tall wall was visible through the window.
This town had been built with the possibility of an attack from the Demon Lord's Territory in mind.
That was why the walls were so high and why there were facilities for housing soldiers.
Even in times of peace, the Empire had not forgotten to prepare for the north.
"I am curious about what this land has to offer... but..."
Sofia exerted herself to close the ill-fitting window.
That alone left her breathing heavily, and she sat down on the bed.
"But I have to return to the Imperial capital as soon as possible. It wouldn't be good for Liana to remain under Zagran's influence..."
However, she had no idea how to make that happen.
If she exhausted her magic power during the military training, would they send her back to the Imperial capital?
Sofia had come here to use 'Light-Attribute Attack Magic.'
If her magic ran out and she became unable to move──if she became useless──perhaps they would let her return.
"...I only hope Zagran would allow that."
"Princess Sofia. Are you awake?"
Suddenly, Adjutant Mariela's voice came from outside the door.
"──I am awake. Good morning, Mariela."
"How are you feeling, Your Highness?"
"I seem to be feeling better than yesterday."
"That is good to hear. Then may I ask you for a favor?"
"A favor?"
"I would like you to say a few words to the mayor of this town and the representative of the commercial district."
Adjutant Mariela said this from the other side of the door.
"The townspeople seem unsettled by the arrival of so many soldiers. If Your Highness would show yourself and say a few words to them, I believe they would calm down."
"I understand."
Sofia replied.
She felt that she could understand why the townspeople were unsettled.
Many soldiers had also been stationed in this town during the 'Gargalossa Magical Beast Subjugation Battle.'
If another unit arrived so soon afterward, some people would wonder, 'Are we going to war with the Demon Lord's Territory?'
Their anxiety was only natural.
"I shall reassure the people. That is one of the duties of the Imperial family, after all."
"Thank you. Then I shall come to escort you as soon as the preparations are complete."
Mariela said this.
"Please rest until then, Your Highness. We shall arrange everything ourselves──"
From beyond the door, Sofia heard Mariela's footsteps receding.
The maids soon arrived with a change of clothes.
When they offered to help her change, Sofia refused to let them enter the room.
Every maid who had accompanied her on the journey was one of Zagran's subordinates.
If she kept them at her side, her words, behavior, and even her physical condition would all be reported.
Even if it was unavoidable──she did not want to be watched from the very first day she arrived in town.
As Sofia changed into a simple dress, she checked how she was feeling.
She felt much better than she had during the journey.
She still tired easily, but that could not be helped.
More importantly, why did her body feel heavier whenever she put on clothes? It had always puzzled her. It was not as though the fabric was particularly heavy.
"...In the Hero's words, I am 'a hopeless wreck,' after all."
Sofia said this and sat down on the bed again.
After a while, Adjutant Mariela knocked on the door.
Sofia was then led by her to the hall where the townspeople were waiting.
"I am deeply grateful to have been granted an audience with Her Highness, Princess Sofia Dolgaria!"
"There is no greater joy. Thank you, Your Highness!"
In the hall, the mayor and the representative of the commercial district were prostrating themselves.
Sofia could not see the two of them very clearly.
Her face was hidden behind a thin veil.
Mariela had put it on her before they entered the hall.
The reason given was that a princess should not show her face to commoners, but there was no such rule anywhere. It was probably Zagran's order.
Guards were lined up in front of Sofia.
Looking at the mayor and the representative through the gaps between them, Sofia paid her respects with the decorum expected of a princess.
"I have come by order of His Imperial Majesty. I am Princess Sofia Dolgaria."
She was still tired from the journey, but she was capable of holding a conversation.
As a princess, she had to ease the people's anxiety──thinking this, Sofia continued speaking.
"The successive arrival of soldiers may have made you all uneasy. However, there is no need for concern. This training is not for war, but──"
"──As long as the threat of the Demon Lord's Territory exists, it is only natural that we strengthen our defenses along the border."
Unit Commander Isaac interrupted Sofia.
"The soldiers of our Dolgaria Empire train every day, aspiring to become Heroes. This military training is part of that effort. You should see the strength of our soldiers for yourselves. Then your anxiety will surely vanish."
"──Wait, Isaac Myura!"
"Her Highness addressed you despite being exhausted. Do not forget the favor she has done you. Cooperating with my unit is precisely what Her Highness desires of you."
Saying this, Isaac waved his hand and urged the mayor and the representative to leave.
(No. The people aren't anxious because they doubt the soldiers' strength. They are worried because──)
"Your Highness, this way."
Mariela, who had been standing beside her, took Sofia's hand.
She led Sofia, who had been about to return to the hall, into the corridor.
"A greeting is all that is necessary, Your Highness. There is no need for you to speak with the common people."
Adjutant Mariela glared at Sofia.
"Your Highness's duty is to use 'Light-Attribute Attack Magic' during the military training. That is the very reason you are here. Do not forget it."
"But if the people are worried, shouldn't we do something to reassure them...?"
Sofia continued speaking haltingly.
"The people may think that we intend to go to war with the Demon Lord's Territory. This is a town near the border. Their views of demons and demi-humans are probably different from those of us in the Imperial capital. In that case... we should tell them that we have no intention of fighting..."
"You do seem to be tired after all."
Saying this, Mariela clapped her hands and called for the maids.
After ordering them to prepare a meal, she guided Sofia upstairs.
"Please rest. I shall have some hot soup prepared immediately. Once you have warmed yourself and calmed down, you will no longer think about unnecessary things."
"Mariela! I should be thinking about the people──"
"That has nothing to do with Your Highness."
Mariela dismissed Sofia's words.
Then she lowered her voice and said,
"I shall handle all discussions and negotiations with the townspeople. Everything will be carried out exactly as planned, with nothing lacking or excessive. I shall ensure that the military training proceeds according to the wishes of Minister of Military Affairs Zagran-sama. There is no need for Princess Sofia to trouble herself over it."
"...But..."
"Yes, I understand. You are concerned about the people, aren't you? Then I shall arrange an opportunity for Your Highness to tour the town. If you travel around it by carriage, you will be able to see how the people are doing. Will that satisfy you, Your Highness?"
"...I see. I understand now."
Sofia felt her energy to continue the conversation fading away.
She could tell that Mariela had no intention of listening to her.
"I shall bring you a letter after your meal. It will notify the Demon Lord's Territory that our unit has arrived. I shall prepare the wording here, so all you need to do is sign it."
Saying this, Adjutant Mariela returned to the hall.
Sofia went to her room with the maids.
Once inside, she sat in a chair and let her shoulders droop.
She knew that she was a failure, a 'hopeless wreck' in the words of the Hero's world.
That was why she had thought she was prepared to be treated carelessly.
But──she had not expected it to be this bad.
Unit Commander Isaac and Adjutant Mariela were not looking at Sofia.
Each of them was trying to seize control, and so neither could see anything but the other.
That was how it seemed to Sofia.
"...Will this continue for three years?"
Sofia sighed and picked up a book from the desk.
It was a book she had brought from the Imperial capital.
It described how the Hero had spoken about his world and how the ancestors of the Empire had felt upon hearing his words──
Whenever Sofia touched a book, she felt strangely calm.
The knowledge in its pages carried her away to places she did not know.
It even taught her about the Heroes who were no longer summoned. That made her happy.
"Come to think of it... The Hero's world had an item that could carry one's voice over long distances. Was it called a 'smartphone,' perhaps? I wish I had an item like that too..."
Sofia opened the window.
She closed her eyes and whispered as if speaking to someone far away──
"Hero, please give me power like a 'smartphone's.' I want to send my words to the people... and to the people of the Demon Lord's Territory. I want them to know that I have no hostile intentions toward the Demon Lord's Territory. That I do not intend to start a war with the Demon Lord's Territory or involve the people in one──"
"──────Sure thing!"
"...Huh?"
At the faintly audible voice, Sofia looked around her.
Looking down, all she saw was a small garden. There was no sign of anyone nearby.
Come to think of it, she thought she had seen a Pixie on the way to this town.
But Pixies were a race that did not show themselves to people.
They would never approach her and speak of their own accord.
"Then... does that mean it truly has an ability equivalent to a 'smartphone'...?"
Just as Sofia murmured this, there was a knock at the door.
Sofia hurriedly closed the window.
She sat in the chair and assumed the pose of someone who had been reading all along.
Only then did she answer, and the maids entered the room.
They finished setting out the meal and moved to a corner of the room.
"Call us when you have finished eating. You may withdraw."
"With respect, we were instructed to remain by Your Highness's side."
The young maid said this and bowed.
She did not seem inclined to leave.
That was why Sofia avoided looking at the window while she ate.
She felt that she should not tell anyone about what had just happened.
(I have heard that the Demon Lord's Territory possesses the power to defeat the 'Gargalossa Magical Beast' and its minions. If they likewise possess some kind of power beyond my understanding... such as the ability to send their voices over long distances...?)
Perhaps they already had information on this side.
In the end, Sofia decided not to tell anyone what had just happened.
Uncertain information would only make those around her anxious.
If the Demon Lord's Territory was using some kind of power to conduct reconnaissance, perhaps it would be better to pretend not to have noticed for now.
That way, she might even be able to feed them false information.
She should also be able to tell them that she had no hostile intentions toward them.
Besides, this military training would be made public to the Demon Lord's Territory.
There was nothing they needed to hide.
(If the Demon Lord's Territory really does have an item like the Hero's 'smartphone'...)
She definitely wanted to see it.
Sofia's body was a 'hopeless wreck' anyway. She would not live long.
If that was the case, she wanted to see an item from the Hero's world before she died.
Afterward, she would tell her younger sister Liana.
'There are things in this world that we cannot even imagine. Strength alone cannot solve everything.'──That was all she could do for Liana as her older sister.
(As her older sister, that's all I can do for Liana...)
Without saying it aloud, Princess Sofia murmured the thought to herself.