Chapter 59
“…!”
The Kaihel Assassination Squad was known not to keep items identifying their clients in places as simple as pockets.
But to think they would actually cut open their own thigh to store it.
I looked uneasily at the ring that had been stored inside the man’s flesh, muscle, and blood just hours ago.
“Ide Mente pretended to search the man’s belongings, then cut open his thigh. It means he knew their identity.”
I could no longer claim that Ide wasn’t suspicious.
Because Kaihel was an assassination squad known only to a select few among the highest-ranking nobles.
An ordinary noble, especially a rural one, shouldn’t be able to know the squad’s characteristics and deliberately cut open a body to find this evidence.
“But if he’s on Mars’ side, why would he have saved me?”
“That’s why I said earlier that it’s half right and half wrong.”
Since he handed over this evidence to me, the possibility of him being Mars’ confidant is low.
Nevertheless, the fact that he was suspicious remained unchanged, and it still felt unsettling.
As this wasn’t a problem I could solve immediately, I carefully stored the ring in a small pouch and asked Theodora:
“Come to think of it, you said Her Majesty the Empress Dowager sent you?”
“Yes.”
“She hopes I’ll be reinstated using this as justification, I suppose.”
“That’s correct.”
Honestly, after being attacked like this, I can no longer live in this territory.
This place can’t protect me and Aslan anymore.
I’ve ended up with no choice but to be reinstated.
The easiest way would be to charge Mars with attempted murder.
But if I did that, it would be impossible for me to win the case and be reinstated.
The ring clearly belongs to Mars, but the seal is the Imperial family’s, and there’s no documented evidence.
Above all, preparing for a trial takes a lot of time.
It would be fortunate if I didn’t receive more death threats from that damned couple in this poor environment during that time, so this method would only work after gathering more evidence later.
“First, I need a safe place…”
As I muttered this unconsciously, Theodora answered as if she had been waiting for it:
“Yes, that’s why His Majesty the Emperor has permitted Your Highness to relocate your residence.”
Right, that’s our Emperor for you.
Although my time with the Emperor was brief, both from Minerva’s memories and my own experience, the Emperor was a very meticulous person.
He would have already thought of a place for me to move to.
But given that they are targeting me, is there really a safe place?
The nobles who supported me would have scattered by now.
Unable to grasp anything, I asked Theodora:
“Where does he want me to go?”
“The Grand Duke Eckhart’s domain.”
“…Huh?”
For a moment, my breath stopped.
The Grand Duke Eckhart’s domain is naturally ruled by Grand Duke Eckhart, the man I had marriage talks with and who adopted Riona in the original story.
My voice trembled with shock.
“W-Why there of all places!”
“The Grand Duke’s domain is the safest, and His Majesty the Emperor has already discussed this with the Grand Duke.”
Damn, when did that happen!
Even if the Emperor asked, Grand Duke Eckhart was completely neutral before my confinement and had never publicly supported me, so why would he suddenly agree to take me in?
What on earth is he thinking!
Ignoring my confusion, Theodora announced:
“Since you’ve fully recovered, let’s depart tomorrow. We will escort you.”
“Hey!”
In the end, I forgot the composure I had been maintaining and shouted.
* * *
While Theodora was preparing to move with the others, I called for Aslan.
“Mom!”
“Yes, yes.”
As if even a brief separation made her anxious, Aslan clung to my side like a magnet.
While stroking Aslan’s head, I pondered how to bring up the topic of moving.
After running several simulations in my head, I carefully asked Aslan:
“Aslan. Shall we move to a safer place?”
Aslan blinked her large, innocent eyes and asked:
“What’s moving?”
“It’s changing houses.”
“To a place safer than here?”
“Yes. There will be more people to protect us too.”
I worried about what to do if Aslan threw a tantrum and refused to go.
She’s such a stubborn child, after all.
If Aslan said no, I was prepared to take her forcibly, even if it meant facing her displeasure.
But Aslan’s reaction was completely different from what I expected.
“Then that’s good.”
“Huh?”
Aslan nodded immediately.
While I was taken aback by this unexpected response, Aslan chattered on:
“I like safe places. It’s a shame to leave here, but. Oh, but we’re taking the tree, right?”
I thought cats were territorial animals, but maybe due to their instinct to detect danger, they don’t have much resistance to changing territory?
This place was no longer a peaceful countryside, after all.
Grateful for Aslan’s easy acceptance, I nodded.
“Of course we’ll take it. We’ll take all our cherished items too.”
“Okay!”
With Aslan’s agreement, we’d overcome a major hurdle.
Next, I needed to inform our neighbors who had helped us.
I went to find Ide, who was still staying at our house, and told him:
“So that’s how it is. It seems we need to leave this place now.”
“I see. It’s reassuring to hear you’re going to a safer place.”
Ide told me with a relieved expression, showing no signs of regret.
I thought it was a bit cold considering our neighborly relationship, but remembering that I realized last night he might not be entirely trustworthy, I just smiled.
“Lord Mente, please be careful for a while too. It might be good to strengthen your security.”
Ide replied with a faint smile, as if such worries were unnecessary:
“Ah, that’s alright. We’ll be moving soon too.”
“You too, Lord Mente?”
It’s one thing for me with my circumstances, but isn’t this too sudden for them?
As if he had prepared for this, Ide spoke smoothly:
“This place is too rural. I thought we should move to a bigger city for Ayla’s sake. And with this incident, I decided we should move to protect Ayla as well.”
Well, if there was almost a mass murder next door, I wouldn’t feel safe raising a child here either.
Thinking that the Mente family was moving because of my identity made me feel sorry.
“I’m sorry, it’s because of me.”
“Not at all. Rather, thanks to Your Highness, both Ayla and I have had a wonderful time.”
It suddenly felt strange to hear Ide calling me “Your Highness.”
Since Ide frequently visits the capital, the Mente family will probably move there?
If they had been preparing for this already, they should be able to leave soon too.
“Ayla must have been shocked, I’m sorry she has to move so suddenly.”
“I’ll explain it to Ayla, so please focus on your own move.”
Ide spoke as if I didn’t need to feel indebted to him.
Although his true identity was unsettling, I was far more grateful to him, so I bowed my head to him one last time with proper etiquette.
“Thank you for everything, Lord Mente. I’m late in saying this, but thank you for saving us as well.”
“We are the ones who are grateful, Your Highness. I hope you remain safe in the future.”
Ide also bowed his head to me with proper etiquette.
This was quite a good farewell.
Except for the rather meaningful parting words Ide delivered with a smile, which people often say out of courtesy:
“I hope we meet again somewhere.”
* * *
The journey to Grand Duke Eckhart’s domain was smoother than expected.
During a brief rest stop where we got out of the carriage:
“Lady, I want to ride a horse too!”
“I-It’s dangerous!”
Another game of tag between Theodora and Aslan began.
Aslan, in a way that would annoy anyone watching, smoothly dodged Theodora’s hands and ran towards the horse.
At a glance, it might seem like Aslan was just being Aslan, but I knew this was actually quite smooth.
I know best that if Aslan were really throwing a fit and being stubborn, it wouldn’t end with just this much.
‘She’s trying not to stray too far from me, which is quite admirable.’
How much more admirable she’s become compared to when she used to leave home without a word.
Of course, it also meant that Aslan was aware of the danger, which pained my heart.
“Lady Aslan, please!”
“Lady Aslan!”
Theodora and the knights surrounded Aslan, but as if teasing them, Aslan jumped high.
She landed gracefully on the horse’s back, finishing with a perfect pose.
“Oh my. Our Aslan, you’re amazing?”
Clap, clap, clap.
I found myself applauding her movements, which looked like a circus performance.
The knights were more shocked than impressed by Aslan’s insane athleticism.
But Aslan, as if only my reaction mattered, puffed out her chest even more proudly at the sound of my applause.
Seemingly dumbfounded, Theodora let out a small laugh and whispered to me:
“Your Highness, what kind of life form have you given birth to?”
