By February 18th, Fritz and his companions, who had been delayed in Telurus, were finally prepared to cross the Torres River.
It was also meant to be the day they parted ways with Rita.
Since the day after the incident, Cynthia had realized her mistake and begun treating Rita with kindness. Gloria, meanwhile, had revealed a surprisingly nurturing side, looking after the girl like a big sister or a mother.
As for Fritz, he simply continued at his own pace.
"…?"
At some point, a note had been posted on Fritz’s bedroom door.
"What’s this? 'Ownership of Rita has been terminated. She is no longer a slave. Request: Please have her accompany you to the ceremony if possible'?"
On the side table next to his bed sat a deed of manumission and a magic tool designed to remove a collar.
"…When did this happen?"
Naturally, this was the work of Regulus 16 of the Quinta—better known as Tif—but Fritz had no way of knowing that.
"…An agent from back home?"
That seemed the most plausible conclusion.
"Hmm. If so, there must be some political intent behind the request to take Rita along."
Fritz imagined they perhaps intended to expose the darkness of the Celuroa Kingdom in front of the world’s gathered leaders.
"Well, that’s fine."
He couldn't exactly cast her out here anyway. He figured that if he consulted the higher-ups in the empire, things would likely be settled in a favorable way regarding Rita's future.
As for Rita herself, she knew she was supposed to say goodbye to Fritz and the others this morning, and her face was clouded with gloom.
"Rita."
Fritz showed her the deed.
"You’re not a slave anymore. You’re free. You can go wherever you like."
As he spoke, Fritz removed her collar.
Rita froze, unable to process the sudden turn of events. Gloria and Cynthia were equally stunned.
"W-What is the meaning of this, Fritz-dono?"
Fritz gave a brief explanation to Gloria, who finally managed to find her voice.
"I see… So an agent from your country has liberated Rita.…You certainly have talented people."
Though she spoke with a hint of envy, Gloria seemed satisfied with the explanation.
"…So? What do you want to do, Rita?"
Fritz wasn't particularly keen on using her as a political tool, so he intended to respect her wishes.
"Ah… I-I… would like to go… with everyone.…Even if I were turned out now, I have nowhere else to go…"
Rita answered timidly and with reserve. It was a natural response, and it happened to align with the empire's wishes. Fritz nodded with a smile.
"All right. Let’s go together. Let’s see… I’ll designate you as my servant. In that case, we’ll have to get you some proper clothes."
Both Gloria and Cynthia were considerably taller than Rita, so their clothes would not fit her.
"Ah, if that’s the case, let’s go buy some in a hurry after breakfast. Shia, what time was the boat?"
"Yes, Gloria-sama. It departs at ten o'clock."
"I see. That’s plenty of time. Is that acceptable, Fritz-dono?"
"Yeah, that helps. I’ll leave it to you."
Fritz instructed the five Golias units to walk slowly across the riverbed to the opposite bank. He adjusted their pace so they would emerge on the other side after nightfall.
The four humans then boarded the ferry.
It was a large public vessel capable of carrying about twenty people. Among the passengers were merchants, soldiers, and someone who appeared to be a lower noble.
One of them muttered under his breath.
"Hmph, traveling with a slave. The stench is unbearable."
It seemed he had spotted the tattoo on her chest. Rita flinched at his words.
The man who spoke appeared to be an advanced-level soldier of the Celuroa Kingdom—a non-commissioned officer.
"Don't let it get to you. You’re not a slave anymore," Fritz said, patting Rita on the shoulder to comfort her.
"Heh. He seems to look down on slaves, but how foolish to not realize that the very soil of his own kingdom is rotten," Gloria said, speaking the thought aloud just loud enough to be heard.
"What?!"
"Oh, you heard that? You have sharp ears."
"Don't mess with me! You said that specifically for me to hear!"
Fritz stepped in to mediate.
"Gloria-dono, stop it.…And you, sir, since we are all on a boat, I suggest you stop as well."
"Ugh… Fine."
"Hmph."
Gloria reluctantly backed down, and the soldier turned away with a scoff.
The rest of the journey passed without incident, and two hours later, the boat reached the opposite shore.
"Ah, finally here."
Released from the cramped vessel, Fritz stretched his back.
"Hey, you lot!"
"Hmm?"
Fritz turned around to see the advanced-level soldier who had insulted Rita on the boat. He was accompanied by about five followers.
"Do you want something?"
"I cannot tolerate the likes of a slave being in the heart of our kingdom. Get out immediately."
By "heart," he meant the triangular area between the Torres River and the Azul River—the central lands of the old Celuroa Kingdom.
"Unfortunately, we plan to stay in Ritsu today."
"What?"
"And we’ll be in Dali for the duration of the anniversary ceremony. In the first place, we have no reason to take orders from you."
Fritz spoke matter-of-factly, while the soldier grew visibly enraged.
"You… Who do you think I am?!"
"I don't know. We only just met."
While Fritz was dealing with him, Rita and Cynthia had moved some distance away. Gloria stayed nearby, watching the confrontation unfold.
"I am a subordinate of the regional lord, Marquis Urau—"
"Ah, I don't want to hear about who your boss is. We have a saying for that: 'A mouse riding on the back of a dragon.'"
"Y-You! Are you insulting me?!"
"Whether you take it as an insult or a mere explanation is up to you."
"Guh…!"
Just as the soldier reached for the short sword at his waist—
"That is enough."
A voice called out.
The speaker was the man who had appeared to be a lower noble on the boat. He looked a bit older than Fritz, with blond hair and blue eyes—a remarkably handsome man. Two strong-looking aides stood respectfully at his sides.
"What?! Don't interfere!"
But the handsome man maintained a stern expression.
"To think Marquis Urau has such subordinates…"
"W-What?"
The soldier seemed unsettled that this stranger knew his superior's name.
"You had better stand down. This gentleman is His Royal Highness Crown Prince Cesar Valois."
One of the aides announced the shocking fact in a quiet, firm voice.
"Huh?"
The soldier let out a pathetic sound.
"The… Crown… Prince?"
The color drained from the soldier's face.
"Now, now, Kirk. You shouldn't reveal it so easily."
"I-I am terribly sorry, Your Highness."
"M-My deepest apologies!"
The soldier and his followers fell to their knees.
"Fine, that’s enough. I have noted your superior’s name. Now begone."
"Y-Yes, sir…"
Their previous bravado completely gone, the soldiers hung their heads and slunk away. The crown prince watched them go before turning to Fritz and giving a small nod.
"I apologize for the rudeness of our kingdom's soldier."