Chapter 213
"I must decline."
With that, Mia turned down my offer.
The setting was our usual inn.
It was only natural. She had come all the way to the Empire in pursuit of the Demon Lord's Order. That matter was winding down for now. From here, everything depended on Leo.
So Mia had no reason to remain in the Empire, much less any reason to cooperate with me.
"Is that a no?"
"If the Demon Lord's Order isn't involved, I have no reason to get involved. Besides, if I serve as a guard inside the castle, I'd have to conceal my identity. If I'm found out, I'll be in trouble."
"A righteous thief is still a thief, after all. It is dangerous, certainly... but as long as you remain in the Imperial capital, that danger will follow you, won't it?"
"I'm leaving tomorrow."
Mia said that and showed me her small amount of luggage.
But Mia didn't understand.
"How are you planning to get back to the Principality?"
"What? I'll just take a carriage home."
"Travel carriages will certainly be barred from leaving. There's trouble in the north right now. Do you really think they'll let you leave the Imperial capital?"
"T-Then I'll run home!"
"A criminal organization that abducted the Saint is within the Empire. Checks at the borders and every checkpoint will become much stricter. How are you planning to get past them?"
"Th-Then... if the prince could write me some sort of letter..."
"I have no reason to go that far for you. Getting involved with thieves is dangerous, after all."
I threw her own argument right back at her.
Mia immediately began to panic.
"Y-You threw my own words back at me..."
"I won't stop you from remaining in the Imperial capital, but I won't shield you if you're discovered."
"The human world is merciless..."
I gave a wry smile as I watched Mia's shoulders slump.
In the end, Mia had no choice but to cooperate with me. The circumstances left her no alternative.
"Now, let me ask you again... Are you willing to serve as a guard at the castle?"
"...I must decline. The struggle for the throne is the Empire's problem. It is something the people of the Empire should deal with using all their strength."
"That's a fair argument. But what if the Principality is involved?"
"I don't understand what you mean."
"I'm asking you to serve as a guard because, in the worst case, a rebellion might break out—one coordinated with another country."
"Could a rebellion coordinated with another country really happen?"
"It is a real possibility. The Saint's abduction was a diversion, and it has considerably weakened the Imperial capital's defenses. The capital could be seized while the other countries breached the borders. That is entirely possible. This is no longer just the Empire's problem."
"...Civil war and foreign invasion. In the worst case, the Empire could collapse."
"Exactly. I want your help to prevent that. I'm not asking you to do it for free. I'll pay you."
With that, I placed a coin on the table.
Mia frowned.
"I resent you thinking I can be bought with money. I'm a righteous thief! Money won't—Whaaaaa!? A Rainbow Coin!?"
Mia picked up the Rainbow Coin from the table, looking astonished.
The Rainbow Coin, the Empire's highest-grade currency, was a rare coin used only by the Empire's highest-ranking classes. Imperial currency was highly trusted throughout the continent, so its value barely changed in other countries as well.
Mia had stolen money and valuables from corrupt nobles in the Principality as a righteous thief, but apparently she had never even laid eyes on a Rainbow Coin before.
"I want you to guard Fiene von Kleynelt. Unfortunately, we're short on manpower. We need someone capable of protecting her if a rebellion breaks out."
"The Azure Gull Princess... You want me to guard the most beautiful woman in the Empire?"
"As the Emperor's favorite, she could be used as a hostage. Of course, if nothing happens, all you have to do is remain at her side until the festival ends. If no one makes a move during the festival, they probably won't make one for a while. What do you think? Since you have no choice but to remain in the Imperial capital anyway, earning some money wouldn't be a bad idea, would it?"
"B-But... a Rainbow Coin... With just this one, I could buy anything for the children at the orphanage..."
"If you accept this job, I'll secure your route back to the Principality. Of course, if a rebellion breaks out, it won't be that simple. Still, I think it will be far more certain than attempting the journey on your own."
If Gordon were to start a rebellion, he would do so only with a very good chance of success. Considering everything that had happened so far, the Kingdom and the United Kingdom would make a move. If that happened, the Principality would act as well.
There was no doubt that the borders would be thrown into chaos.
Even Mia would have difficulty breaking through them on her own.
"A safe route home, an exceptional reward, and protection for your identity. I think those are good terms. If you insist that, as the Vermilion Knight, you absolutely cannot get involved in the struggle for the throne, I won't force you. But I think cooperating with me here will surely benefit the people of the Principality as well."
"...I have one condition."
"I'm listening."
"The other countries will invade assuming that the rebellion in the Empire will at least partially succeed. In other words, if the rebellion fails, they could be repelled by the Empire."
"Given the balance of power, that's likely."
"In that case... if the Principality comes under attack, promise me that you will ensure the safety of its people."
"Agreed. I will protect the people of the Principality as far as I can. Do you need me to swear an oath?"
"No. A verbal promise will do. You seem like the type who'd work harder with only a verbal promise."
With that, Mia knelt and held out her bow.
I took the bow, then returned it to Mia.
"Though I am not an official knight, the Vermilion Knight will serve Your Highness. This bow and these skills are at Your Highness's service."
"Yes. With you here, I can rest easy. It will only be for a short while, but I count on you."
At my words, Mia stood up.
Then she began stealing glances at the Rainbow Coin on the table.
"It's an advance payment. Use it however you like."
"Wh-What an enviable thing to say... The prince really is rich..."
"I pay properly for things of value. You're confident in your bow, aren't you? Surely you aren't saying it isn't worth a Rainbow Coin?"
"...An SS-rank adventurer's fee is three Rainbow Coins. I'm not claiming to be worth that much, but I believe my strength is comparable."
"Then that's fine. Not a bad purchase. Now, shall we go?"
"Um... Could I have a little time? I grew up in an orphanage, and there are many children there who are like younger brothers and sisters to me... If a rebellion breaks out, I won't be able to shop in peace! So please let me shop!"
I sighed at her emphatic request.
I wanted her to get to the castle as soon as possible.
Oh, well.
"Have your luggage sent to the castle. If you say it's an errand from Prince Arnold, they'll understand. Also, if you're buying souvenirs for the children, you can't use a Rainbow Coin to shop."
"Whaaaaaaaaa!?"
"No shop can give you change for that. Use this for your shopping."
With that, I handed Mia the pouch hanging from my waist.
Mia held the heavy pouch and cautiously opened it.
Inside was a large quantity of gold coins.
"They're so shiny..."
"Use them however you like. Buy the children something nice."
"...You don't seem very attached to money..."
"Money is only useful in the amount you need, when you need it. Of course, I save for times like that, but being reluctant to spend when the time comes is foolish. If this is enough to keep you happy on the job, it's a small price to pay. That's how valuable your bow is."
"...I am honored."
With that, Mia bowed to me.
With that, Fiene had a bodyguard.
"Oh, right. You'll be a maid at the castle."
"...What?"
"It would be a problem if you looked like an obvious bodyguard."
"I-I understand that, but why a maid!? I want to be a female butler!"
"You can't pass as a butler. It would look too unnatural and arouse suspicion. If I did that, there would have been no point in sending our all-purpose butler outside the Imperial capital."
"Th-That's right! I've been wondering about that! If you expect a rebellion, shouldn't you have left some fighting strength behind?"
"That would defeat the purpose. Everyone around me, Sebas foremost, is watched with suspicion. Just having them around would raise everyone's guard considerably. To make them lower their guard, I had to have them leave the capital once."
"Y-You sent all your bodyguards away just to make them lower their guard...?"
"Not quite. If the Imperial capital is sealed off, we need someone capable of moving covertly at Leo's side. The capital's gates will have to be seized and opened."
Sebas and Sieg will be more useful in that role.
The Imperial Guard knights led by Elna and Nelbe Ritter could crush enemies several times their number in a frontal battle. But if they could not fight, that strength would be meaningless.
That's why I sent my more versatile retainers to Leo.
"Everything really does seem to be in the palm of your hand..."
"I wish that were true, but unfortunately, that's not how the struggle for the throne works. Besides, if my opponents were people I could manipulate as easily as that, there would be no need for me to act. Leo alone would be enough. We are working together because things don't go according to plan. Leo has protected the Empire until now. I have acted to protect the things Leo cannot protect. But this time, it's the other way around. Leo went to protect an individual instead of the nation. So I will protect the nation."
Cooperation did not mean doing the same thing together.
It also meant making up for the areas beyond each other's reach.
That was how we had always worked.
That was our strength, and something none of the other candidates for the throne possessed.
"In other words, the Empire has its Twin Black Princes..."
As I listened to Mia say that, I left the room.