Cohn dan Matthew berada di kursi kusir, sementara Yang Mulia Willy, Rodrigo, Luca, dan Ryo berada di dalam kereta.
Di belakang kereta, empat <Wagon> mengikuti dengan peti es di atasnya.
Rombongan itu menuju Stonelake, dengan pengawalan Yang Mulia Willy, para petualang, dan penjaga berkuda yang berjaga di depan serta belakang mereka.
“Terima kasih, Ryo-san. Aku akhirnya mengatakan mereka adalah pelayan pribadiku ...”
“Pangeran, jangan khawatir soal itu. Kami menyelamatkan mereka karena sadar akan bahayanya. Apakah Anda merasa kasihan pada Cohn dan para petualang karena menyerahkan mereka begitu saja?”
Yang Mulia Willy meminta maaf atas ucapannya yang tanpa pikir panjang, tetapi Ryo memahami perasaannya.
“Aku benar-benar minta maaf atas ketidaknyamanan yang menimpa kalian semua.”
Namun, Luca justru membungkuk meminta maaf.
“Tapi Luca seharusnya adalah orang penting juga ... sampai dikejar oleh Persatuan Handal dan diincar oleh adik laki-laki Raja.”
Rodrigo berkomentar.
Dia memberi isyarat bahwa sudah waktunya untuk mengungkapkan identitas dan situasinya.
Luca mengangguk beberapa kali dan mulai bercerita.
“Aku adalah adik laki-laki Fuka, Menteri Keuangan Kerajaan Knightley.”
(Manajer Keuangan Fuka! Nama yang sungguh malang ...)
Yang terlintas di benak Ryo tentu saja adalah karya Alexandre Dumas, 『The D’Artagnan』.
Menteri Keuangan Fouquet. Menteri Keuangan tragis yang berencana menguasai Prancis tetapi digagalkan oleh Sir d’Herblay, yang juga dikenal sebagai Aramis, salah satu dari tiga musketeer.
Tentu saja, dia adalah orang sungguhan.
Penjelasan Luca berlanjut sementara Ryo memikirkan hal-hal yang tidak sopan di dalam hatinya.
“Yang Mulia Raymond membuat perjanjian rahasia dengan Konsul Lord Aubrey dari Persatuan Handal. Aku kebetulan tidak sengaja mendengarnya ... dan untuk menarik saudaraku, sang Menteri Keuangan, ke kubunya, aku ditawan di Persatuan Handal.”
(Jika ada Menteri Keuangan Fuka, mungkin ada juga Inspektur Keuangan Colbert ... Bicara soal Colbert, dia muncul di buku teks sejarah dunia SMA sebagai pendukung kebijakan merkantilisme...)
Ryo tenggelam dalam dunianya sendiri, tetapi mulutnya tetap tertutup.
Dua orang lainnya juga mendengarkan cerita Luca dengan tenang.
“Matthew dan rekan-rekannya, bawahan langsung saudaraku, menyelamatkanku, tapi tidak disangka Yang Mulia Raymond bahkan mencoba membunuhku ...”
“Aku pernah mendengar bahwa Yang Mulia Raja Stafford IV dan Yang Mulia Raymond tidak terlalu akur satu sama lain. Mungkin mereka berpikir akan mungkin untuk mengangkat masalah ke Istana Kerajaan melalui saudaramu sang Menteri Keuangan?”
Yang Mulia Willy mengusulkan kepada Luca.
“Memang benar Yang Mulia Raja dan Yang Mulia Raymond tidak berhubungan baik. Tapi ... istana kerajaan sedang kacau dalam berbagai aspek ...”
Luca menggelengkan kepala dan menjawab.
“Hmm ...”
Yang Mulia Willy juga memikirkannya.
Ketika Willy tiba-tiba menatap lurus ke depan, dia melihat Ryo mengangguk beberapa kali sambil berpikir.
“Apakah kamu menemukan sesuatu, Ryo-san?”
“Eh?”
Ryo tidak mengungkapkan bahwa dia sedang mengingat bagaimana D’Artagnan menangkap Fouquet, sang Menteri Keuangan dalam cerita itu.
“Oh, kenapa Anda tidak membicarakan hal itu dengan Arthur Verasis?”
“Dia adalah otoritas politik yang datang dari ibu kota kerajaan. Menurutku itu ide yang bagus.”
Yang Mulia Willy mengangguk.
(Aku berhasil menipunya.)
Ryo merasa lega.
“Apakah Ryo benar-benar mengenal Penasihat Verasis? Itu bukan kebohongan yang dibuat-buat, kan?”
Luca mengajukan pertanyaan yang tajam.
“Tentu saja aku mengenalnya. Bisa dibilang, kami seperti rekan seperjuangan dalam pertempuran.”
“Ooo.”
Yang Mulia Willy menanggapi kata-kata Ryo.
“Ryo memiliki pengalaman yang begitu kaya!”
Entah mengapa, Yang Mulia Willy tampak bersemangat.
“Jika aku berlatih lebih keras, apakah aku akan mendapatkan lebih banyak pengalaman ...”
“Yah, mungkin saja ...”
“Mulai hari ini, penginapan akan dilindungi oleh para penjaga sampai Sir Verasis itu tiba. Itu berarti kita tidak perlu khawatir tentang serangan, jadi tidak apa-apa untuk berlatih sihir sampai menit terakhir, kan?”
“Ya-yah, mungkin saja ...”
Murid penyihir Water-Attribute-nya sangat antusias untuk berlatih ...
Pagi hari setelah dua hari menginap di penginapan dengan pengawalan penjaga, kapten penjaga mengumumkan sebuah kunjungan.
Kemudian, Arthur Verasis, Penasihat Kelompok Sihir Istana, memasuki kamar Yang Mulia Willy bersama Kapten Penjaga.
Pertama, dia menyapa Yang Mulia Willy, lalu Penasihat Arthur merayakan pertemuannya kembali dengan Ryo.
Seorang penyihir stereotip dengan janggut putih panjang, jubah abu-abu penyihir, dan tongkat besar.
“Ryo, sudah lama sekali. Jarang sekali menerima permintaan dukungan darimu. Aku bergegas datang dan meninggalkan segalanya.”
“Terima kasih, Verasis-sama.”
Penasihat Arthur berkata dengan suasana hati yang baik, dan Ryo tersenyum serta berterima kasih padanya.
“Aku sudah mengatakannya sebelumnya juga, memanggilku Arthur saja tidak masalah.”
Kemudian, tiba-tiba, Penasihat Arthur melihat sekeliling.
“Ngomong-ngomong, aku mendengar di jalan bahwa ini mengenai orang-orang yang terkait dengan kediaman Duke ... kurasa orang-orang ini bukanlah yang dimaksud.”
“Ya. Sebenarnya, cukup sulit untuk membawa mereka ke sini, jadi mereka ada di halaman ...”
“Sulit?”
Kapten Penjaga menjelaskan dan Penasihat Arthur memiringkan kepalanya.
Kemudian dia mendekati jendela yang menghadap ke halaman dan melihat ke bawah ke arah halaman dari sana.
“Oh ... itu patung-patung es yang luar biasa ... pastinya karya Ryo.”
Arthur menyeringai dan menatap ke arah Ryo.
“Mereka adalah penyerang, jadi untuk mencegah mereka melarikan diri ...”
“Tangan dan kaki diikat dan dibungkus es ... saat masih hidup ... aku benar-benar tidak ingin mengalami berada di dalam sana.”
Bagian kedua adalah gumaman yang sangat pelan.
Penjelasan tentang apa yang terjadi dan sudut pandang mereka disampaikan kepada Arthur.
Hanya satu dari individu yang membeku itu yang dicairkan dan dibawa ke ruangan.
Namanya Badaa.
“Hmm, aku punya gambaran kasarnya.”
Setelah mendengarkan ceritanya, Penasihat Arthur meminta teh lagi.
Dia tetap diam sampai isi ulang dituangkan.
Setelah menyesap teh yang diisi ulang, Penasihat Arthur membuka mulutnya.
“Pertama, Matthew dan Luca, sebagai pelayan Pangeran Willy, pergilah ke ibu kota kerajaan. Jika ini terhambat, itu pasti akan menjadi masalah diplomatik. Para penyerang ... Badaa, kan? Katakan itu hanya kepada majikanmu. Tapi kelompokmu harus menebus kejahatanmu terlebih dahulu. Yah, meskipun serangan itu dicoba, itu adalah upaya yang gagal, jadi 20 hari penjara sudah pantas. Kalian akan ditahan di Stonelake. Beritahu gubernur setempat mengenai hal ini.”
Keinginan Pangeran Willy hampir semuanya terpenuhi.
Yah, itulah mengapa mereka meminta kenalan Ryo, Penasihat Arthur, untuk datang berkunjung.
Pengadilan yang sudah diatur, hore.
“Mereka akan dicairkan saat kita pergi besok.”
Ryo berjanji kepada Kapten Penjaga dan Penasihat Arthur.
Ngomong-ngomong, Badaa yang dibebaskan dibungkus es lagi dan berdiri sekali lagi di halaman ....
“Oh ya, aku tiba sedikit lebih awal, tetapi anggota Kelompok Sihir Istana kami akan tiba di Stonelake hari ini. Sepertinya mereka ingin mengawal Pangeran Willy dan Ryo ke ibu kota kerajaan.”
“Ha?”
Ryo mengeluarkan suara histeris mendengar kata-kata tiba-tiba dari Penasihat Arthur.
“Sepertinya itu tindakan untuk mengungkapkan rasa terima kasih mereka karena telah menyelamatkan mereka di Rune. Yang Mulia, apakah Anda mengizinkan Kelompok Sihir Istana untuk mengawal Anda?”
“Ya! Tentu saja. Itu akan sangat disambut baik!”
(Yah, memasuki ibu kota kerajaan sebagai pangeran asing ... Hanya satu kereta jadi akan menyenangkan untuk menunjukkan pertunjukan memiliki pengawalan besar ...)
Dengan pemikiran itu, Ryo meyakinkan dirinya sendiri.
Keesokan paginya, Ryo, yang telah mencairkan keempatnya seperti yang dijanjikan, pergi ke kereta yang diparkir di depan penginapan.
Ada sekelompok penyihir berbaris dalam satu barisan ...
“Bu-bukankah jumlahnya terlalu banyak?”
Ryo bertanya kepada Penasihat Arthur, yang berada tepat di sebelahnya, dengan berbisik.
“Sepertinya ada lima puluh orang ...”
Mungkin jumlahnya lebih besar dari yang diharapkan, suara Penasihat Arthur sedikit tegang.
“Aku pikir hanya akan ada sekitar lima atau enam orang ...”
Lima puluh penyihir mengawal kereta dengan berjalan kaki.
Itu cukup spektakuler.
“Ryo ... kamu menyelamatkan cukup banyak orang ...”
Cohn yang duduk di kursi kusir berbisik kepada Ryo dengan suara pelan.
“Ah, ya ... sepertinya begitu ...”
Tak perlu dikatakan bahwa rombongan yang tiba di Crystal Palace, ibu kota kerajaan, dua hari kemudian menjadi buah bibir di ibu kota kerajaan.
Cohn and Matthew were at the coachman’s seat, His Highness Willy, Rodrigo, Luca, and Ryo were in the carriage.
Behind the carriage followed four <Carts> with ice coffins on them.
The party headed for Stonelake, with His Highness Willy’s escort, adventurers, and horseback guards guarding in front and behind them.
“Thank you, Ryo-san. I ended up saying they are my attendants ...”
“Prince, don’t worry about it. We rescued them while being aware of the danger. Did you feel sorry for Cohn and the adventurers to hand them over like that?”
His Highness Willy apologized for the remarks he made without deep thought but Ryo understood his feelings.
“I’m truly sorry for the inconvenience caused to everyone.”
However, Luca bowed in apology instead.
“But Luca should be an important individual too ... to be chased by the Handal Union and targeted by the King’s younger brother.”
Rodrigo commented.
He hinted that it was time to reveal his identity and circumstances.
Luca nodded a few times and started talking.
“I’m the younger brother of Fuka, Finance Minister of the Kingdom of Knightley.”
(Finance Manager Fuka! What an unfortunate name ...)
What came to Ryo’s mind was, of course, Alexandre Dumas’s work 『The D’Artagnan』.
Finance Minister Fouquet. The tragic Finance Minister who plotted to rule France but was foiled by Sir d’Herblay, also known as Aramis, one of the three musketeers.
Naturally, he was a real person.
Luca’s explanation went on while Ryo had rude thoughts in his heart.
“His Highness Raymond made a secret agreement with Consul Lord Aubrey of the Handal Union. I happened to stumbled upon it ... and to draw my brother, the Finance Minister, into his camp, I was held captive in the Handal Union.”
(If there is Finance Minister Fuka, maybe there is also Finance Inspector Colbert ... Speaking of Colbert, he appears in high school world history textbooks as a proponent of mercantilist policy...)
Ryo was in his own world but his mouth remained closed.
The other two also quietly listened to Luca’s story.
“Matthew and his colleagues, direct subordinates of my brother, rescued me, but to think even His Royal Highness Raymond tried to kill me ...”
“I’ve heard that His Majesty King Stafford IV and His Royal Highness Raymond aren’t very close with each other. Perhaps they think it would be possible to raise issues to the Royal Palace through your brother the Finance Minister?”
His Highness Willy proposed to Luca.
“It’s true that His Majesty the King and His Royal Highness Raymond are not on good terms. But ... the royal palace is in a mess in various aspects ...”
Luca shook his head and replied.
“Hmm ...”
His Royal Highness Willy also thought about it.
When Willy suddenly looked straight ahead, he saw Ryo nodding a few times and thinking.
“Did you come up with something, Ryo-san?”
“Eh?”
Ryo didn’t express that he was recalling how D’Artagnan had arrested Fouquet, the Finance Minister in the story.
“Oh, why don’t you talk to Arthur Verasis about that?”
“He’s a political authority coming from the royal capital. I think that’s a good idea.”
His Highness Willy nodded.
(I managed to deceive him.)
Ryo was relieved.
“Does Ryo really know Advisor Verasis? It wasn’t a lie on the spot?”
Luca asked a shrewd question.
“I certainly do. To put it exaggeratedly, we are like comrades for a battle.”
“Ooo.”
His Highness Willy responded to Ryo’s words.
“Ryo has such a wealth of experiences!”
For some reason, His Highness Willy was excited.
“If I train more, will I gain more experiences ...”
“Well, possibly ...”
“From today, the inn will be protected by the guards until that Sir Verasis arrives. That means we won’t have to worry about an attack, so it’s okay to practice magic until the last minute, right?”
“We-well, maybe ...”
His Water-Attribute Magician disciple was very enthusiastic about practicing ...
In the morning after two days of staying at the inn with the guard’s escort, the captain of the guard announced a visit.
Then, Arthur Verasis, Advisor to the Court Magician Group, entered His Highness Willy’s room with the Guard Captain.
First, he greeted His Highness Willy, and then Advisor Arthur celebrated his reunion with Ryo.
A stereotypical Magician with a long white beard, a magician’s gray robe, and a large staff.
“Ryo, it’s been a long time. It’s rare to receive a request for support from you. I rushed over dropping everything else.”
“Thank you, Verasis-sama.”
Advisor Arthur said in a good mood, and Ryo smiled and thanked him.
“I said it previously too, addressing me as Arthur is fine.”
Then, suddenly, Advisor Arthur looked around.
“By the way, I heard on the way that this is regarding people associated with the Duke’s house ... I don’t think these people are the ones in question.”
“Yes. Actually, it was quite difficult to get them in here, so they are in the courtyard ...”
“Difficult?”
The Guard Captain explained and Advisor Arthur tilted his head.
Then he approached the window facing the courtyard and looked down at the courtyard from there.
“Oh ... those are wonderful ice statues ... definitely Ryo’s work.”
Arthur grinned and looked towards Ryo.
“They were assailants, so to prevent them from running away ...”
“Hands and feet tied up and encased in ice ... while still alive ... I definitely don’t want to experience being inside that.”
The second half was a very soft mutter.
An explanation of what happened and their point of view was conveyed to Arthur.
Only one of the frozen individuals was thawed and brought to the room.
His name was Badaa.
“Hmm, I have a rough understanding.”
After listening to the story, Advisor Arthur requested for more tea.
He remained silent until the refill was poured.
After taking a sip of the refilled tea, Advisor Arthur opened his mouth.
“First, Matthew and Luca, as Prince Willy’s attendants, go to the royal capital. If this is hindered, it will surely become a diplomatic problem. The assailants ... Badaa, right? Tell only your employer that. But your party must first atone for your crime. Well, although the attack was attempted, it was a failed attempt, so 20 days’ imprisonment would be appropriate. You will be detained in Stonelake. Tell the local governor this.”
Prince Willy’s wishes were almost all fulfilled.
Well, that was why they had Ryo’s acquaintance, Advisor Arthur, come to visit.
Fixed trial, hurray.
“They will be thawed when we leave tomorrow.”
Ryo promised the Guard Captain and Advisor Arthur.
By the way, the released Badaa was encased in the ice again and stood once more in the courtyard ....
“Oh yeah, I arrived a little earlier, but the members of our Court Magic Group will arrive at Stonelake today. It seems that they want to escort Prince Willy and Ryo to the royal capital.”
“Ha?”
Ryo made a hysteric voice at the sudden words from Advisor Arthur.
“It seems to be an act to express their gratitude for saving them in Rune. Your Highness, would you allow the Court Magic Group to escort you?”
“Yes! Of course. That will be very welcomed!”
(Well, entering the royal capital as a foreign prince ... It’s only a single carriage so it would be nice to put on a show of having a large escort ...)
With that in mind, Ryo convinced himself.
The next morning, Ryo, who had thawed the four as promised, went to the carriage parked in front of the inn.
There was a group of Magicians lined up in a row ...
“I-Isn’t there way too many?”
Ryo asked Advisor Arthur, who was right next to him, in a whisper.
“It seems to be fifty people ...”
Perhaps the number was larger than expected, Advisor Arthur’s voice was a little strained.
“I thought it would only be about five or six people ...”
Fifty Magicians escorting a carriage on foot.
It was pretty spectacular.
“Ryo ... you saved quite a lot of people ...”
Cohn sitting on the coachman’s seat whispered to Ryo in a soft voice.
“Ah, yes ... that seems to be the case ...”
It went without saying that the party that arrived at Crystal Palace, the royal capital, two days later was the talk of the royal capital.
He remained silent until the refill was poured.
After taking a sip of the refilled tea, Advisor Arthur opened his mouth.
“First, Matthew and Luca, as Prince Willy’s attendants, go to the royal capital. If this is hindered, it will surely become a diplomatic problem. The assailants ... Badaa, right? Tell only your employer that. But your party must first atone for your crime. Well, although the attack was attempted, it was a failed attempt, so 20 days’ ⊛ ⊛ (Read the full story) imprisonment would be appropriate. You will be detained in Stonelake. Tell the local governor this.”
Prince Willy’s wishes were almost all fulfilled.
Well, that was why they had Ryo’s acquaintance, Advisor Arthur, come to visit.
Fixed trial, hurray.
“They will be thawed when we leave tomorrow.”
Ryo promised the Guard Captain and Advisor Arthur.
By the way, the released Badaa was encased in the ice again and stood once more in the courtyard ....
“Oh yeah, I arrived a little earlier, but the members of our Court Magic Group will arrive at Stonelake today. It seems that they want to escort Prince Willy and Ryo to the royal capital.”
“Ha?”
Ryo made a hysteric voice at the sudden words from Advisor Arthur.
“It seems to be an act to express their gratitude for saving them in Rune. Your Highness, would you allow the Court Magic Group to escort you?”
“Yes! Of course. That will be very welcomed!”
(Well, entering the royal capital as a foreign prince ... It’s only a single carriage so it would be nice to put on a show of having a large escort ...)
With that in mind, Ryo convinced himself.
The next morning, Ryo, who had thawed the four as promised, went to the carriage parked in front of the inn.
There was a group of Magicians lined up in a row ...
“I-Isn’t there way too many?”
Ryo asked Advisor Arthur, who was right next to him, in a whisper.
“It seems to be fifty people ...”
Perhaps the number was larger than expected, Advisor Arthur’s voice was a little strained.
“I thought it would only be about five or six people ...”
Fifty Magicians escorting a carriage on foot.
It was pretty spectacular.
“Ryo ... you saved quite a lot of people ...”
Cohn sitting on the coachman’s seat whispered to Ryo in a soft voice.
“Ah, yes ... that seems to be the case ...”
It went without saying that the party that arrived at Crystal Palace, the royal capital, two days later was the talk of the royal capital.
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