On that day, cries of astonishment echoed through the streets of the Bestia Empire's Imperial Capital.
Some were left speechless, unable to comprehend the sight before them, while others wore expressions of grim understanding, as if they had seen this coming.
"Well, it's about time. First was Second Prince Schuls, then came First Prince Cabajid. It only follows that the next subjugation army would be led by First Princess Frizion."
"But aren't there too few of them? Setting aside the first one, the last army had massive numbers... but as far as I can see, there aren't even a thousand men here. Maybe five hundred at most."
"Maybe it's a small elite unit? I mean, look. Right there near Her Highness Frizion and the White Rose Knight Order... look at the man in the robe."
"That guy? He’s pretty short, but I guess... Wait. Hold on a second. That great scythe he’s carrying... I recognize it."
"Me too. We saw more than enough of it during the fighting tournament."
"Is that Crimson?! But why? I heard he ditched the award ceremony and vanished from the capital."
"Really? I heard a rumor that he was working with the rebel army."
"Nonsense. If that were true, why would he be right here in the Imperial Capital, marching alongside Her Highness Frizion?"
"...Good point. I guess the rumors I heard were just junk."
"Don't you get it? This subjugation army is so small precisely because Crimson is with them. And since the higher-ups are still fuming about him skipping the ceremony, there's no fanfare this time."
As the members of the First Princess Faction marched through the city, they listened to the idle gossip with complicated emotions, though they kept their faces neutral. The supply unit had already joined the procession. Frizion rode in a carriage, while the White Rose Knight Order followed on horseback. Behind them, the other nobles and knights were also mounted. The only ones on foot were the soldiers, the adventurers, and Rei.
Despite the lack of an official ceremony, the sight of the group marching in perfect, disciplined order gave the onlookers a sense of theatrical weight.
"At this rate, it looks like we'll be able to clear the capital without any trouble," Rei muttered as he watched Frizion's carriage and the mounted knights.
Since he was technically serving as a guard, Rei was not in a carriage. He usually rode Seto and wasn't particularly used to horses, but that wasn't the real problem. The issue was that any horse Rei tried to mount would be paralyzed with terror, unable to move a muscle. He assumed it was because of Seto’s lingering scent, though the logic baffled him.
When Videre and the others had ridden from the rebel army's position to meet him, their horses had been frightened of Seto, yet they had been able to function as long as they kept a reasonable distance. Why, then, could he not ride a horse now even when Seto wasn't around? Was there a fundamental difference between a horse in direct proximity to the griffon versus one merely sensing a lingering aura? Rei didn't have the expertise to say for sure.
Frizion’s force was intentionally small. Consequently, the number of available horses was limited. In the end, Rei simply chose to walk until they cleared the city gates.
(Whatever. I’ll be able to ride Seto as soon as we’re outside. No point dwelling on it.)
The knights of the White Rose Knight Order walking near him watched him with mixed gazes. While they had once been split between those who liked him and those who didn't, the pro-Rei sentiment had become the overwhelming majority. The knights who had returned from the rebel camp had regaled their comrades with tales of Rei’s staggering strength and his delicious cooking. Others had gone to see the cottage where he had stayed near the palace, witnessing his training sessions where he wielded Death Scythe in what looked like a graceful dance performance, further spreading his reputation.
Perhaps the most significant factor, however, was that the higher-ups of the order—Videre and Angela Luxinowa—were clearly fond of him, and their lord, Frizion, treated him with the affection of a younger brother.
...Of course, there were still a few who disliked him. Some took issue with his blunt way of speaking to Frizion, while others viewed his failure to make a move on Vihera, despite her obvious feelings for him, as a mark against his character.
"Lord Rei, have you noticed?" Videre asked, maneuvering her horse alongside him.
"Yeah. They're watching us."
"Indeed. No doubt they will wait until we leave the capital..."
"Probably."
It was a short exchange. A nearby knight of the White Rose Knight Order tilted her head in confusion. She assumed they were just referring to the intense attention they were receiving from the citizens.
(Still naive, I see.)
Videre felt like covering her eyes at her subordinate's lack of awareness. When they said they were being watched, they weren't talking about the curious gazes of the residents. They were referring to observers with specific, hostile intent—those radiating murderous intent or fighting spirit. In other words, agents of the First Prince Faction and the Second Prince Faction.
A quick glance at her other subordinates suggested that about seventy to eighty percent of them had picked up on the hidden eyes.
(At least most of them know.)
Videre turned her gaze back to the knight who still hadn't grasped the situation, silently deciding that more training was in order.
Steeped in these hostile stares, the group continued through the city until they reached the most critical hurdle to leaving the Imperial Capital: the Main Gate. It was the largest gate connecting the capital to the outside world. The crowd at the Main Gate was slightly thinner than usual. Most of those who had come for the fighting tournament had already returned home, and those looking for excitement had fled at the onset of the civil strife. Even the initial wave of residents fleeing after the news of the subjugation army's defeat had largely subsided.
In the end, the number of people passing through the gate was only slightly lower than average. Despite the war and the military setbacks, merchants continued to flow into the city—such was their nature. Of course, some of those merchants were also the ones procuring supplies in the capital to sell back at the rebel army's position.
"Are we going through here? Looks like we'll be waiting a while," Rei said.
"No. Since Her Highness Frizion is passing, we will use the Gate for Nobles. You used it when you first arrived at the capital, didn't you, Lord Rei?"
"Oh, right. I came through there with you all."
"That was only a few days ago..."
"Time feels stagnant when you're cooped up in that cottage. My sense of it is off. The trouble we had in front of the Main Gate feels like it happened ages ago."
"I envy that composure, considering you were face-to-face with His Highness Cabajid. I was quite anxious, wondering when they would discover the truth about you..."
Rei understood exactly what Videre meant.
(Well, Cabajid saw through it in the end anyway.)
Reflecting on his encounter with the prince near the palace, Rei was now certain that his true identity had been laid bare at that moment. And because of that, there was no doubt that something was about to happen.
(The only question is how big of a mess it's going to be.)
As he pondered the potential chaos, the Gate for Nobles came into view. A guard immediately stepped forward, his expression hardening as he realized he was facing a group of five hundred people.
When Frizion leaned out of the lead carriage, the guard’s composure broke into one of sheer surprise.
"Her Highness Frizion... By what business do you require passage?"
The fact that his voice didn't waver more showed that he was a capable man worthy of his post.
"I wish to head outside for a moment. You don't mind, do you?"
"Outside? But... these people behind you..."
"They are my guards."
"Beg pardon? ...Guards, you say?"
"Yes."
The guard looked dazed for a moment. It stood to reason that if a royal like Frizion was leaving the capital, she would need protection, as she had virtually no combat ability beyond basic self-defense techniques. However, he couldn't wrap his head around this number. It wasn't ten or twenty, nor was it a hundred or two hundred. Furthermore, it was standard procedure to receive prior notification for royal travel. There had been no such message, and the group contained far more soldiers than a simple guard detail, along with what appeared to be a full supply unit.
Most importantly, even the guard knew exactly who the person standing near the carriage was. He hadn't been on duty when Rei first entered through this gate, but he had heard the stories from his colleagues. More than anything, he had seen the youth at the fighting tournament.
(Why is Crimson here...? I thought he'd already left the city.)
Frizion tilted her head at the confused guard, her expression one of innocent curiosity, as if asking if something was wrong.
"..."
While the guard remained paralyzed with indecision, Angela Luxinowa, mounted beside Frizion's carriage, spoke up.
"Enough. How long do you intend to keep Her Highness Frizion waiting?"
The sharp edge in Angela’s voice snapped the guard back to reality. He suddenly realized that he wasn't just being glared at by Angela, but by the entire group.
He was a capable guard, but he wasn't so extraordinary that he could find a way through this deadlock on his own. To make matters worse, he was currently alone. Under normal circumstances, there would be several guards, but the twin annihilations of the subjugation armies had left the city’s defenses stretched thin. Assuming that there wouldn't be much noble traffic, he had been left to man the Gate for Nobles solo.
"U-Um, please wait a moment. I must send word to the palace—"
"I said, that's enough!"
From a purely professional standpoint, the guard was doing exactly what he was supposed to. However, if a report reached the palace, it would spell disaster for Frizion. Information was likely already spreading within the castle walls, but they wanted to keep their movements hidden from the First and Second Prince factions for as long as possible.
"Do you truly intend to keep Her Highness Frizion waiting here for no reason?"
"Angela Luxinowa," Frizion called out softly.
The male guard exhaled a breath of relief at her intervention, but it didn't change the reality of the situation.
"I understand that you are simply trying to fulfill your duties," Frizion said. "However, I cannot afford to waste time. Therefore, I will be passing through here by force. You tried to stop us, but you were unable to. ...That won't be a problem, will it?"
"That's... but..."
The guard started to protest, but Frizion shook her head gently.
"Listen to me. I am telling you that we are passing by force. I am not asking for your permission."
With those words, the guard realized that Frizion would not be deterred.
"...I understand. I shall head to the palace to report this immediately."
"You! What do you think you're doing, disregarding Her Highness Frizion's words like that?!"
One of the knights of the White Rose Knight Order barked, her hand flying to the longsword at her waist. But—
"Stop!"
Just as the blade was about to clear the scabbard, a sharp command cut through the air. Realizing it was Angela Luxinowa—the very same woman who had been berating the guard—the knight froze. She turned a questioning look toward her captain, who let out a weary sigh.
"He hasn't done anything wrong. The fault lies with us for failing to handle the prior notification. Under these circumstances, verbal sparring is one thing, but drawing steel is forbidden. After all, he is a resident of the Bestia Empire whom Her Highness Frizion is sworn to protect."
"...Yes. My apologies."
The knight realized how shameful her impulse had been, her cheeks flushing red. Normally, she was never this hot-headed. But today was different. The thrill of following Frizion to end the civil strife was warring with the deep-seated anxiety of whether the White Rose Knight Order should be joining the rebels at all. That volatile mix of emotions had sparked her short temper.
The guard shook his head at the knight, signaling that there were no hard feelings.
"Think nothing of it. I'll be on my way to the palace now to report. ...Ah, but then there won't be anyone left to watch the gate. How troublesome. I hope no one decides to pass through while I'm gone."
"!?"
The knight finally understood the guard’s intent. Her eyes widened.
"...Thank you."
After a few seconds of silence, she offered her gratitude. The guard simply nodded with a small smile.
"Then, if you'll excuse me."
The guard bowed to Frizion and began to walk toward the palace. He walked very, very slowly.
Watching his retreating back, Frizion whispered her thanks, and Angela Luxinowa bowed her head in respect. Thus, the First Princess Faction passed through the gate and left the Imperial Capital behind.
As a side note, that guard and the hot-headed knight would go on to marry after the civil strife came to an end.