In response to Marquess Lognos’s inquiry, Frizziore glanced at Rei before speaking.
“According to the report from Rei, who scouted the path ahead for us, there is a military force waiting further down the road.”
“Ho.”
Muttering a single word, Marquess Lognos turned his gaze toward Rei with a small smile still playing on his lips, then addressed Frizziore once more.
“May I hear the details?”
“Yes. I was just about to ask for them myself. Rei, if you would.”
“All right.”
Rei gave a short nod in response to Frizziore’s request.
Yet even upon hearing that informal response, Marquess Lognos did not direct a reproachful look at the adventurer. Rei had fully expected to be decried for his lack of manners, but while he was somewhat surprised by the lack of hostility, he described the scene he and Seto had witnessed.
“The ambush isn’t that far from here. For Seto, it’s a distance he’d consider right next door.”
“I have heard that a gryphon’s travel speed far exceeds even that of a dragon knight. Based on the speed of this march, how far would you say it is?”
Marquess Lognos questioned Rei, and the man’s polite tone surprised Rei once again. This was Marquess Lognos, a man with significant influence even within the First Princess Faction. Rei naturally assumed the Marquess would have various opinions about him, yet here he was, asking questions with such civil language.
However, Marquess Lognos had been informed by Frizziore in advance that Rei had this sort of personality... and more importantly, he had heard that Vihera harbored feelings for him.
Marquess Lognos himself had quite a long history with Vihera. Upon hearing that Rei had been recognized and was cared for by her, he naturally adopted this respectful demeanor.
For the Marquess, who had been dragged around by Vihera’s whims countless times, he actually felt a sense of respect toward Rei for being able to associate with her—not necessarily in a romantic sense, but simply for being able to handle her. Given Vihera’s nature as a battle maniac, it was easy to imagine just how much of a burden Rei must deal with.
Hence, this polite demeanor. It was extraordinary for a noble of the Bestia Empire, but he was extremely well-disposed toward Rei. Of course, had he judged Rei as someone unworthy of Vihera, there was every possibility he would have moved to eliminate him instead.
“Let’s see. Probably... about two hours, I think.”
“Hmm, I see. Then, Her Highness Frizziore, regarding those following us from behind...”
“There is no doubt they are related to the units waiting in ambush ahead,” Frizziore finished.
Everyone listening to her words nodded. Given the situation, it was only natural to assume so. However, Marquess Lognos still wore a suspicious expression.
“Is something wrong?”
Prompted by Frizziore, Marquess Lognos spoke while looking like something didn't quite sit right with him.
“No, I understand that those following us have some connection to the ambush force. But I wonder about the specific nature of that connection.”
“Is it not... simply a force meant to catch us in a pincer attack?” Videre suggested, as if there were no other possibility, but Marquess Lognos shook his head.
“Though our numbers are few, our forces are comprised of elites. Even if they intended a pincer attack to deal with us, the strength of the force at our rear is too small.”
“For the record, it’s not just a pincer attack,” Rei added. “I saw soldiers hidden in the woods along the highway as well. They were using various types of camouflage.”
“...If that’s the case, then even more so. It’s almost impossible, but if we were to be attacked from the front, back, and sides and were forced to flee, we would naturally escape toward the rear where their strength is weakest. That is to say, back toward the Imperial Capital. Do you think His Highness Cabajid or His Highness Schuls would make such a blunder?”
At Marquess Lognos’s words, Rei thought for a moment and shook his head. The Cabajid he had encountered near the castle was not the type of opponent to allow such a glaring opening.
“Then... wouldn't it be better to just defeat the ones following us now? Frizziore might not find it pleasant, but the priority right now should be moving in a way that minimizes our casualties.”
Since he had been sent as a guard, Rei could not allow this army to be exposed to pointless danger. Frizziore’s opinion was important, but her safety was the paramount concern.
“...No, before that. Videre. Can you go and ask them? Ask why they are following us and if they have some business with us.”
“Understood. May I take my subordinates?”
“Yes, please.”
Watching Videre bow and depart immediately, Rei cast a glance at Frizziore in the carriage.
“Is that wise? If things go south, Videre might be killed by them.”
“There’s no need to worry about that. Videre’s skills are among the best even within the White Rose Knight Order. Besides, she isn't alone.”
Frizziore spoke with utter confidence, and Rei, knowing Videre’s abilities, could only nod. Indeed, considering Videre’s strength, it would be difficult for any ordinary opponent to land a scratch on her.
“So, how shall we handle the ones stationed up ahead?”
Since the rear was left to Videre, they now had to consider the units waiting in front of them. When Rei said this, Frizziore thought for a moment before looking at both Rei and Angela Luxinowa.
“Angela and Rei, when the distance between us and the waiting units closes, I will go to tell them to let me through. Can the two of you accompany me as guards?”
“That is too dangerous!” Angela immediately rejected the idea, and Rei nodded in agreement.
“Sorry, but I’m of the same opinion. No matter how you look at it, the enemy’s goal is definitely us... or more accurately, Frizziore. It would be far too dangerous to purposefully expose yourself before such an enemy.”
“Indeed, I agree with these two,” Marquess Lognos added. “Her Highness Frizziore is our symbol. If that symbol were to be captured first... or, though I dread to think of it, slain, we would live the rest of our lives in regret.”
Opposed by even Marquess Lognos, and with the surrounding members of the White Rose Knight Order nodding in agreement, Frizziore found herself surrounded by dissenting voices and could not push her opinion any further. As the leader of the First Princess Faction, she likely could have forced her will if she chose to. However, Frizziore understood that there was no point in doing so here, and she gracefully backed down.
“Even though with this carriage, minor attacks wouldn't have any effect... and I have Rei and Angela with me...” Frizziore muttered somewhat sadly from the carriage window.
“I will go to negotiate with them myself, so please watch from here, Her Highness Frizziore,” Angela said, trying to soothe her.
Frizziore thought for a bit before opening her mouth. “...All right. But Rei, can you go with Angela?”
“Me too?”
Perhaps not expecting his name to come up, Rei reflexively asked back, but Frizziore nodded.
“Yes. I trust Angela’s strength, but it would be troublesome if anything happened. If Rei goes, I doubt the other side would dare try anything against him. You’ll serve as a deterrent. And also...” Frizziore’s words trailed off.
She thought it better not to mention that he would be a deterrent against the other side’s potential for reckless outbursts. While Rei looked slightly puzzled by her hesitation, he couldn't immediately agree.
“I was sent here to be Frizziore’s guard in the first place, though.”
“Oh? You are a guard for the First Princess Faction, aren't you?” Frizziore said with a smile.
Rei groaned at her words, which were the simple truth. Even for Mercurio, he didn't want Frizziore to arrive at his camp after suffering unnecessary losses. If possible, he wanted her forces intact... and with that in mind, Rei, the Rebel Army’s greatest combat asset, had been assigned as her guard.
In truth, Mercurio had been torn between sending Vihera or Rei. However, while Vihera was inferior to Rei in terms of pure individual combat power and lacked a partner like Seto, she was superior when it came to leading troops in battle. More than anything, Mercurio didn't want to be separated from the sister he hadn't seen in years, so Rei had been dispatched.
That being the case, Rei could not allow casualties to befall the Frizziore Army... especially not to Angela, who was a retainer. He let out a small sigh and eventually nodded.
“Fine. I just need to go with Angela, right? Just as Frizziore says, I’m a guard sent to protect the First Princess Faction.”
“Yes, please do.”
“...I’m sorry, Rei. Our Highness is like this,” Angela muttered an apology.
The exchange between the three of them had the closeness of people who knew each other well. Among the White Rose Knight Order surrounding Frizziore’s carriage, most of those who could see Rei wore pleasant smiles, or were enchanted by Seto.
However, the few who did not like Rei furrowed their brows. This polarization of attitudes was, in fact, a source of grief for Angela, who led the White Rose Knight Order.
At that moment, Videre, who had ridden off toward the group following them, returned.
“It’s no use. They won't listen to a word we say. They claim they are simply traveling along the highway and ask why they should be questioned. Though none of them went so far as to draw their weapons.”
Frizziore nodded regretfully at Videre’s report and turned to Marquess Lognos.
“Marquess Lognos, if it comes to a fight, may I leave the opponents at our rear to your unit?”
“Leave it to me. My unit is composed of the bravest men. Even considering our numbers, I believe we can hold our own or better against them.”
“I had intended for you to take command of the other units as well, but...”
“Either way is fine. I shall demonstrate my power to the fullest,” the Marquess declared with a bow before departing.
“Is he really going to be okay?” Rei asked. Despite his informal words, he watched Marquess Lognos’s back with a somewhat worried expression.
It was partly because a noble who viewed Rei favorably was a rarity, but also because Rei himself had taken a liking to Marquess Lognos’s personality. Frizziore responded with a smile.
“Marquess Lognos is a man who has achieved many feats on the battlefield. There’s no need to worry. ...Well, the majority of those feats were during the war with the Kingdom of Mireana, though.”
Frizziore spoke with a bit of hesitation, likely concerned that Rei was an adventurer of the Kingdom of Mireana. However, Rei shook his head.
“There’s no need to worry about that. I may be an adventurer of the Kingdom of Mireana, but I’m not exactly serving them. In the first place, I only became famous during the war with the Bestia Empire.”
At the mention of the war, several members of the White Rose Knight Order wore unpleasant expressions. They were likely people whose relatives or friends had participated in that conflict. Frizziore seemed to sense the atmosphere as well, as a sad expression crossed her face for an instant... but she immediately switched gears.
“More importantly, what does Seto eat? Does he eat Riot?”
Frizziore turned her gaze from the carriage window to Seto, who was walking with Rei on his back. In her hand was indeed a Riot fruit, and Seto’s sense of smell caught its sweet aroma.
“Guruuu? Guruuuu.”
Cooing as he turned his gaze toward her, Seto’s eyes sparkled. That cuteness captivated not only those who were already well-disposed toward Rei, but even those who could be described as the Anti-Rei Faction.
“Fufu, Rei, may I give him some?”
Seeing Rei nod in response, Frizziore laughed happily as she lightly tossed the fruit. Seto caught it in his beak and ate it happily with a crunching sound.
“...So cute...”
The one who muttered that under their breath was an Anti-Rei Faction knight. In their eyes, the desire to pet Seto, to dote on him, and to feed him themselves was plainly visible.
Whether Frizziore had given the Riot fruit to Seto with this intent in mind remained a mystery.