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The Tale of the Wizrain Kingdom

A New Encounter?

Translated by: S3

Treat me to a Ko-Fi to give me more motivation!!!

*****

「Now, this way! Let’s go!」

Rigoberto watched with a scowl as Elna pointed the way with cheerful enthusiasm.

「Does your country truly allow its future Queen to parade around in a maid’s uniform? What a peculiar nation...」

「I’m not the Queen yet, only the fiancée. And please just accept that I have no other change of clothes.」

Rigoberto was still in his sodden attire. Elna had offered him the "incredibly thin and compact yet warm lap blanket" that Kakami had given her before the trip, but he had flatly refused. The pouch contained various other useful items as well. Truly, she felt a profound wave of gratitude toward Kyle that she could never fully repay.

The path they walked was a mere game trail, untouched by human hands. No matter how much mining occurred on the Vidrast Mountains, the routes through the forest were likely limited. Aside from them, surely no one else would be mad enough to plunge off a cliff, survive a waterfall, and then try to hike out through the woods.

Though autumn was nearing its harvest, the forest was still thick with vibrant green leaves, pulsing with life. The canopy overhead acted like a grand roof, providing enough shade to make their progress comfortable. Each step on the fallen leaves produced a crisp, satisfying crunch, like someone biting into an apple.

Perhaps because of the proximity to the water, fire spirits were scarce, but the other spirits tumbled about playfully, laughing as they guided Elna.

「...Thank you.」

She whispered her thanks, just loud enough for herself to hear. She couldn't afford to make Rigoberto suspicious.

Elna glanced back at Rigoberto frequently to check on him. His sheer sturdiness made it easy to forget, but his dominant arm was injured. No matter how tightly he bound it with cloth, it would only worsen without proper treatment.

(Men who excel at stoicism, just like Cross, are such a pain at times like this...)

They ought to just say "it hurts" when it does, yet they stay silent when it matters most. After sighing and looking ahead, Elna gradually slowed her pace.

(But even in that state, he fell while trying to shield me...)

She really should thank him properly, but the lingering chaos had caused it to slip her mind entirely. She couldn't fathom why this man had tried to save her life. She had worried he might suspect her of being the dragon, but that didn't seem to be the case.

「............」

Images of Rigoberto treating human life like vermin flickered through her mind—how he executed subordinates for his own blunders and swung his sword at enemies without a hint of hesitation.

The mere thought was horrifying enough to make her skin crawl. Just being near him made her stomach churn with a mix of dread and irritation; she wanted to punch him into next week. ...However, that was no excuse to withhold a proper thank you.

「Don't tell me you’ve lost the trail already?」

Rigoberto’s voice was suspicious as she came to an abrupt halt. She could sense him resting his hand on the hilt of his sword.

「...Emperor Rigoberto Jean Albarul.」

「What? Why so formal?」

「I wish to thank you for saving my life. Despite that, I have been quite disrespectful toward Your Majesty, and for that, I am truly ashamed. I intend to turn over a new leaf and do better from here on out.」

Even if she had fallen alone, she likely wouldn't have died. Elna had the protection of the spirits. But that wasn't a certainty, and there was no way Rigoberto could have known that. He had risked his life to save a "helpless" girl.

Elna bowed her head quietly. The hamster spirit perched on her head scrambled to stay balanced. Her long, slightly damp hair spilled over her shoulders and fell forward.

Some time passed. The rustling of trees and the distant cries of animals were the only sounds in the air.

「Raise your head.」

The voice was flat, and the eyes looking back at her were dark and cold, as if he had left his emotions somewhere behind. However, his hand was no longer on his sword. For a moment, Elna and Rigoberto simply stared at each other—and then...

「Changing your attitude so suddenly... you’re a revolting creature.」

「............」

Rigoberto’s face was twisted in utter disgust. Being called revolting or creepy didn't bother her much—she was used to it from her sister-in-law, Laura—but since it came right after her sincere apology, Elna could only meet it with a blank expression.

She cleared her throat to cover the awkwardness.

「So, moving forward...」

「Don't bother. Go back to how you were. I’ve found you unsettling for a while now. You’re giving me goosebumps.」

He actually said she gave him goosebumps. If he didn't want her to be polite, it certainly made things easier, but she couldn't help but feel a bit miffed.

「Well, fine. If that’s what you want...」

Since it was just the two (plus one) of them, if he was fine with it, she would drop the act. In a crisis, it was better to keep moving than to waste time on roundabout etiquette anyway.

Deciding on her priorities, Elna turned away with a huff and continued down the path. ...Still, she made sure to hide her puffed-out cheeks, thinking he could have at least been a *little* nicer. Rigoberto couldn't see her face.

——At the same time, Elna failed to notice Rigoberto’s state.

His left hand, which had been constantly tensed and ready to draw his sword, now rested against tree trunks for support as he walked. He followed behind her, treading slowly, one step at a time. The hard, stony mask of his face softened slightly, and he let out a chuckle. It was a laugh so soft Elna couldn't hear it.

Though every time Elna turned around, he made sure his brow was furrowed in its usual display of displeasure.

「Hey. Since we’re on the subject—that attack? They were clearly after you. Do you have any idea who it was?」

「I have too many leads to count. There are people who want me dead inside and outside my borders, as numerous as the stars. I can hardly keep track of them all.」

「...Haha.」

Elna let out a dry laugh. (Right, of course...) she thought.

「...Hey. How much further must we walk?」

「It's hard to be specific, but I think it’ll take a day on foot. It’s still midday now... so we’ll probably arrive tomorrow.」

「What a leisurely schedule.」

He snorted, but even Elna had the sense to swallow the retort: *I’m pacing ourselves for your sake!* She couldn't push an injured person too hard. She could easily predict that if she said it out loud, the man behind her would immediately start overexerting himself out of spite.

(…Yeah. But once we get near the mine, maybe I’ll run ahead alone... I should probably make sure he doesn't use up all his strength.)

Elna would have been miserable in her soaking-wet dress, but in her maid outfit, she was full of energy. She figured she should probably scavenge for food somewhere, too.

『Gonsu!?』

「Whoa!」

She must have been distracted by her rambling thoughts. Suddenly, the top of her head felt slightly heavier. She already had the hamster spirit up there, so it was a subtle difference, but enough to feel "off." Moreover, the hamster spirit was thrashing around.

Wondering if a nut or a branch had fallen on her, she reached up to brush it off, but it wouldn't budge. In fact...

It was definitely moving.

「Woman, you...」

Just as Rigoberto spoke up suspiciously, raising an eyebrow...

「...Huh?」

A long tail dangled right in front of Elna’s eyes. It was white, slender, and fluffy—unmistakably the tail of an animal.

「............Huh?」

---

After Elna and Rigoberto fell from the cliff, the attackers vanished like baby spiders scattering.

While it was clear Rigoberto was the target, the Emperor’s brother, Lancielo, was in a state of utter despair. He wailed his brother’s name toward the abyss over and over, until finally, he had to be dragged back to the carriage by his attendants. Cross watched the scene with cold, detached eyes.

「...Good grief.」

「Y-Your Majesty... Lady Elna! I mean, Elna is...!」

Noma broke away from the guard knights and ran to Cross with a look of pure desperation. She must have seen everything from inside the carriage. Cross understood that Noma was Elna’s friend—but right now, time was of the essence. He held up a hand to quiet her while the other hand checked the dragon scale hidden beneath his clothes.

「...I see.」

Elna was alive. He hadn't been worried about that to begin with—but...

「She's moving... is she being carried by the river...?」

「Your Majesty?」

「We're returning to Crushment. Tell the coachman. ...They will likely do the same.」

「Yes, Sire!」

The knight reacted instantly and turned on his heel. Noma looked around frantically, letting out a small shriek when she noticed the corpses scattered like discarded objects, before quickly muffling her own cry with her hands. The Imperial carriages Cross had referred to were also hurrying back the way they came. It was the only logical move. ——Cross would have done the same.

「It would be ideal if we could extract information from the bodies... but that's likely impossible.」

「Your Majesty, Elna is...!」

「Noma.」

Noma flinched, her shoulders trembling. She seemed to remember she was standing before her King. She looked up at Cross, clasping her hands as if terrified.

「Elna is safe. Do you understand? ...Now, you must do what is yours to do.」

His voice, though low, was strangely calm despite his usual tone. Noma’s eyes went wide. She sucked in a short breath. That was all the time they had.

「...Yes, Your Majesty!」

No sooner had she replied than she whipped her skirts around and dashed back to the carriage. Because of the attack, part of the carriage was damaged. Furthermore, they needed to clear the road of bodies. They needed every hand they could get. Noma called out to the coachman, checking to see what she could do to help. She threw herself into whatever tasks a woman’s hands could manage, moving with frantic determination.

Cross took a deep breath.

「Anyone who is injured must report it! No matter how small the scratch! The attackers may have coated their blades in poison!」

Acknowledging the chorus of replies, Cross intensified his watch of the surroundings. The target might have appeared to be Rigoberto, but there was a chance of a follow-up attack. It paid to remain vigilant.

Fortunately, thanks to Elna going on a rampage, the strikes against their side had been shallow; there were almost no casualties.

(——What a mess this has become.)

He kept that thought to himself. From the moment they were summoned to Marls, he had anticipated being dragged into some sort of incident.

「...Elna.」

He knew she was alive. However, at this distance, he could only sense her vague state. If she was with Rigoberto, there was a chance of further ambush. The warmth he had felt from Elna only moments ago seemed almost like a dream.

「——Don't you dare break your promise.」

He hoped the words he had spoken—*return safely*—carried weight. Words are power. When spoken, they hold strength and eventually become reality.

「...Do not break your promise.」

Cross’s voice, released like a soft breath, was carried away by the wind blowing down the cliff——and slowly faded into nothingness.

---

Meanwhile, Elna had washed down the river, plummeted over a waterfall, and woken up on the bank. After bickering with the King of the Empire, she was now trekking through the Forest of Confusion. She had just discovered a mysterious white tail on her head when...

「DOSS-EYYYYY!!!!」

With all her might, she slammed a rock down into the stream. With a loud *clack*, she threw herself into "stone-strike fishing"—which was less about actual fishing and more about smashing rocks to stun the fish.