Chapter 112.1: Princess and Knight

The Sigwell Kingdom, located on the western continent, was a country replete with books that it was called the land of books.

The royal family owned a printing press, so the people were accustomed to reading books. Above all, the royal family all loved books.

Four years after Rishe began serving in the Sigwell Kingdom, the royal family received sad news.

“…His Highness Curtis has been bedridden for days.”

One of her fellow hunters said with a somber expression.

“No wonder. At any rate, Harriet-sama was executed just like that…Her marriage changed her.”

“No way, I never expected that she would be so extravagant to the point where she crushed the national treasury, causing the people to suffer and drive them into poverty.”

Whispers echoed in their assigned room.

Feeling uncomfortable, Rishe called out to a fellow hunter who was nearby.

“Hey, Harriet-sama is…”

“Ah. Before Rishe-sama came to this country four years ago, Harriet-sama had left for Fabrania for her bride training.”

After Rishe nodded, the hunter informed her.

“Harriet-sama married for political reasons. Her marriage was necessary for this country to maintain its power among its allies.”

“And yet, she was convicted of a great crime at the place of her marriage and was executed.”

“Yeah. This country will be forced to pay reparations for Harriet’s crimes, and will also be forced to secede from the alliance.”

This situation definitely invited dark clouds.

While Rishe was meditating, she felt someone resting his arm on top of the hood of her robe.

“Hya.”

“Yo, I’m back, Rishe, guys.”

“Chief!”

Everyone buzzed at the return of the person they had been waiting for.

“Chief, how’s the preliminary hunting ground inspection?”

“Hmm? Well, all I can think of is I’m tired. The situation in Fabrania is terrible.”

“Well, then…”

“Yeah, the people in the provinces are starving. Wealth is concentrated in the royal capital, but even in the capital, the gap between the rich and the poor is obvious!”

The huntsmen’s expressions sank as they heard the man’s deliberately cheerful voice.

“I heard merchants talking that it was no doubt due to Harriet-sama buying up jewelry and dresses and spending money like hot water. I’ll be damned, haha!”

Rishe wanted to look back at the man, but his arm was over her head and she couldn’t move.

She struggled to get out of the way and was about to turn around.

“Hey, Ra-”

“――This country will join the war against Garkhain.”

The hunters gasped at the revelation.

“Is that true, Chief? But His Majesty once said that he has no intention of fighting with Garkhain…”

“Fabrania offered this as a condition for the settlement other than paying reparations. As long as this country participates in the war and assists Fabrania, there is no need to secede from the alliance.”

The man’s voice was deprived of the light-hearted tone he had just moments ago.

The expression on his face was also not his usual aloof smile, but one of mockery.

“Queen Harriet is a great sinner ―― The other party is asking this country to ‘take responsibility’ for marrying off such a princess.”

***

Queen Harriet neglected her ailing husband for several years and depleted the national treasury after marrying Fabrania.

Within that period, the people were starving; forged money was rampant; and the country was drained, but she did not care.

Eventually, when the king recovered thanks to a certain doctor’s treatment, it was said that he executed his wife out of despair over her actions.

That was what Rishe knew about Princess Harriet.

But…

Inside the small castle, rising above the cliffs, Rishe looked down at the woman.

“Hee-hee-huh…”

The woman crying here was the princess herself, Harriet.

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No matter how you look at it, she doesn’t look like the evil queen who left her starving people to die while she indulged herself in luxury.

One shouldn’t judge people by their appearance. Nevertheless, values and ethics appeared in the details of their behavior.

Harriet was sitting in a chair, crying with her long golden hair.

Her waist-length hair, though well-groomed, looked disheveled. Rather than being the length she wanted it to be, she gave the impression that it had been neglected and ended up this length.

In addition, her bangs were so long that they covered her eyes.

It was like a shield to escape the gaze of others.

“Harriet-sama, please calm down.”

“Hee, h, o-okay…”

Sitting in the chair across from her, Rishe organized the information he had gleaned from her crying.

“Let me summarize what you have said so far…First of all, Harriet-sama, you came to Garkhain from Fabrania, where you are having your bride training, is that right?”

“Uh-huh, hiccup.”

“Meanwhile, your brother, Prince Curtis, has departed on a different ship from your home country of Sigwell.”

“T-That’s right.”

“And on Harriet-sama’s ship, you had female knights escorting you, but all suffered from food poisoning…”

Rishe couldn’t help but lower her gaze, feeling deeply sorry for the knight guards.

They must have been very sick after being rocked on the ship for days in a vomit-inducing sickness. Harriet, who was the only one who had eaten a royal meal, seemed to have survived without getting sick.

In fact, my brother’s ship also has our country’s female knights for such occasions…h…B-But, hoo-hoo…”

“Due to your separate routes, your brother’s ship got delayed, and only Harriet-sama arrived in Garkhain first…”

“Yeah.”