86 - Signs
Heading out for supplies with Aria, I go through the list, buying everything we need.
Most of it is food.
As for the equipment I've used until now, I've had the unusable pieces bought back. I took my clothes to a second-hand shop and had my equipment traded in or bought back.
The reason I'm spending time on information gathering and taking a vacation is that the last job paid well.
It's not that I don't need to work at all, but I've managed to create some time to relax.
"Let's see... next is camping gear... I think a lot of it was falling apart."
Aria checked the list while I acted as the luggage carrier.
I don't think it's strictly necessary, but this kind of holiday communication is important.
Specifically, I've become convinced recently that I'm not very good at such things.
That's why I'm making time for this.
"Oh, come to think of it... Monica asked for some lumber and tools. She also mentioned wanting me to order some nails."
Aria looked exasperated.
"She can make everything herself! And she was hiding a secret stash of money the other day... How is it that she's quietly richer than I am?"
Monica had been saving money by managing the living expenses I usually give her. I've also given her the rewards from jobs, and she manages money more diligently than Aria.
Because of that, unlike Aria, who spends money on various things, Monica is a bit of a wealthy person.
"Well, there's equipment maintenance and replacements... Look, she basically doesn't spend money on anything."
Monica, who can create things for her own use—no, even things for others—can do anything as long as she has the materials.
However, it seems she's out of time this time, so she's requesting a blacksmith.
"I know that, but I feel like I've lost somehow..."
"Don't compete with an automaton. Besides, why don't you stop the verbal sparring? You'll never win."
Aria, who is often careless, has had various pieces of information gathered on her by Monica.
From her underwear rotation to the amount of food she sneaks.
Everything has been investigated.
(Thinking about it, Novem and Miranda have very few openings. Clara is somewhat indifferent to daily life, but Shannon is on the same level as Aria.)
Thinking that.
"...Aria is on the same level as Shannon."
"What's that supposed to mean! Take it back!"
As expected, being told she was on the same level as Shannon made Aria protest.
I instinctively replied.
"I-I meant that you have those kinds of cute sides too!"
When I made the excuse, Aria's face turned slightly red, and she started walking ahead.
(Did that work? Or did I fail?)
While I was wondering, the Fourth Generation spoke in a voice that sounded like he was smirking.
『You've grown quite a bit, Lyell. To be honest, you're still hopeless, but you're better than you were at the start.』
The Fifth Generation added.
『Better than before. See, you wouldn't even try to speak before.』
The voices of my ancestors teasing me were heard only by me, by force.
I shook my head and chased after Aria.
(Was I really that bad?)
As I chased after Aria while thinking that, I overheard some rumors.
"Heh, so the Crown Prince chose that side, huh?"
"That's how it goes. I feel sorry for the Princess of Fanbayle, but for us, it's only natural..."
Something about a Crown Prince and a Princess was being discussed.
Deciding it had nothing to do with me, I continued following Aria's back.
When we returned to the inn, Aria took the luggage and went back to the room.
On the first floor, Novem and Miranda were talking.
It wasn't a topic like what to do for the lunch menu; they had serious expressions on their faces.
I called out to them.
"What's wrong, you two?"
Then, Novem spoke.
"Ah, Lyell-sama. Good work. No, actually..."
What Novem told me were rumors in Central.
Miranda looked perplexed.
"I went to buy tickets, but they're fully booked for a while. I heard there's going to be an important announcement in Central, but..."
What troubled Miranda was that the rumor seemed to be true.
I remembered the things I'd heard when I went shopping with Aria.
It was a rumor about the Crown Prince, Rufus Vanseim, and a princess from another country, Riane Fanbayle.
Novem explained.
"They say that along with the annulment of the engagement, a new fiancé will be announced. I thought it was strange, but the talks in the royal palace are moving in that direction."
It was only natural to be perplexed.
After all, the princess who was the fiancé was currently in the royal palace.
For over ten years, the Kingdom of Fanbayle, which shares a border, and Vanseim had maintained a friendship.
This was a political marriage as proof of that.
"...Isn't it bad if they annul it?"
The Fifth Generation said.
『In my era, that would mean immediate war.』
The Seventh Generation added.
『Please do not worry. It was the same in my era. They are not sane.』
The Sixth Generation also spoke.
『Did he find someone he likes? He could just take a concubine.』
The Fourth Generation said to the Sixth.
『Ugh, that's repulsive.』
Miranda, while exasperated, said.
"It's bad. It's war material. But when I was in Central, I heard they were very fond of each other. In fact, I thought the future of both countries was secure because of this... It wasn't just a surface-level act, either."
It seemed it wasn't a situation where there was no love because it was a political marriage.
Furthermore, he was going to annul the engagement while the other person was still there and introduce a new partner to the citizens.
I could only think that he had lost his mind.
Novem, however, seemed to be concerned about something else.
"...The next partner is said to be the only daughter of a powerful lord noble. That alone is abnormal."
The only daughter of a lord noble.
If she's marrying the Crown Prince, would she be from a Count's house or higher?
Did he seek a connection with that house to the point of breaking relations with another country?
The successive heads of the house spoke, starting from the Third Generation.
『Whoa, no way. That's definitely a lie.』
『It's impossible. An only daughter... wouldn't the house line end? Do they intend to let the child inherit?』
『They might choose a successor from the relatives. But how is that option?』
『The clouds are looking ominous. Even if both parties were seeking a pretext for war, this seems too elaborate...』
『I felt like it was on the verge of exploding, but now... the First Generation said it. That the era would become turbulent or something.』
Whether the era becomes turbulent because of the appearance of monsters, or monsters appear because the era is turbulent...
Regardless of that, this situation was dangerous.
"It'll be harder to cross the border if things get turbulent. We should probably hurry our preparations."
When I said that, the two of them nodded.
Past noon.
After finishing lunch, I decided to gather information with Miranda.
Taking Miranda, who is knowledgeable about Central, I decided to verify the truth of the rumors.
Did the Crown Prince really annul the engagement?
It was too malicious to be a mere hoax.
The destination was a fancy cafe, but in a partitioned seat there, I ended up paying the information fee and the expensive tea and sweets the other person ordered.
She was an elderly woman working in the royal palace, and it seemed she had been a servant for a long time.
"You've brought quite a handsome man, Miranda-chan. And you don't have that unnaturalness you had before. Good. With the way you are now, it seems you can get along well."
While saying that to Miranda, the woman gestured with her hand to bring out what needed to be brought out.
I thought Miranda was higher in status, but she seemed to be an information expert in the royal palace.
"Same as always. Now, shall I hear... the truth of the rumors?"
Then, the woman checked her surroundings with caution.
I also checked the surroundings, but there was no reaction from my skills.
(No, there were cases where it didn't trigger a skill.)
The Sixth Generation had said something like that. While remaining cautious, I confirmed the rumor.
"...It's a fact. The annulment of the engagement has been officially decided. Riane-sama rented a house in Central and visited the palace to ask him to reconsider, but Rufus-sama is no good. He fell in love with a young girl. And the partner is..."
The woman looked at me and laughed.
The Third Generation said.
『...This person seems to have noticed something about Lyell. She must be quite the information expert.』
The Fourth Generation added.
『There are people like that sometimes. Servants who are skilled in those things. I bet she earns money this way.』
"Your lover... Lyell Walt's younger sister."
My eyes widened, and the Sixth Generation spoke from the jewel.
『Lyell, don't let it show on your face. The other person will find it amusing. Depending on the case, she might raise the price.』
Immediately returning my expression to normal, I listened to the woman's story.
"I saw her from a distance, but she's a kind of monster. I've worked in the royal palace for a long time, and I thought I'd seen plenty of those types, including you, girl."
The woman put Miranda in the monster category.
"Thank you for the evaluation... should I say?"
"Hehehe! You're scary, girl. You're like a spider that never lets go of the prey it's targeted. You'd better be careful, young man."
Telling me to be careful, the woman resumed talking about Celes.
However, her expression was serious.
"Monsters aren't rare in the royal palace. Among those who win political struggles, some have luck as if they were loved by a goddess. They possess something beyond just ability. But you see, she stands out even among those monsters. Anyone who sees that young lady becomes captivated. The only ones who didn't, besides you, girl, were the other monsters. Even so, some of them became captivated too."
Miranda asked for more details.
"The Crown Prince is one of them?"
"The Crown Prince is excellent. Well, just excellent, but I think he's fine for governing a country. But you see... as soon as that young lady approached, he started summoning the Walt family immediately. The ministers are the same."
The Crown Prince, it seems, is not categorized as a monster like Miranda.
I continued listening to the woman's story.
"I feel like Central is gradually being plagued by a fever. Yes... it feels as if war is near."
The woman muttered, remembering a great war from the past.
"Come to think of it—"
"What?"
When Miranda urged her, the woman looked at me while drinking her tea.
"—The previous war also involved the Walt family. Truly, they are a troublesome clan."
The Sixth and Seventh Generations inside the jewel began making excuses, as if they were the parties involved at the time.
『Don't be ridiculous! The royal palace was the one that got involved back then!』
『Exactly! We wanted to return to our territory, but the Emperor at the time said the royal palace was corrupt and unreliable... Thinking about it, the Vanseim royal family is a nuisance clan to us.』
The Third Generation said.
『Right~』
The Fifth Generation said.
『You guys, you used them while saying that, didn't you?』
Hearing the excuses, the phrase "both sides are the same" came to mind.
I decided not to take the woman's words at face value, nor did I think my ancestors were unilaterally correct.
It was because I had recently come to understand the nature of lords a little bit.
They prioritize the maintenance of their own house and territory above all else.
Loyalty and duty are things they follow because they are protected by the authority of the royal family.
I let out a light sigh.
"Thanks for that. But I've already been kicked out, so it has nothing to do with me."
The woman drank her tea while looking at me.
When she finished, she set down the cup.
"Well, I'll be taking my leave now. You've obtained the information you wanted. Also, I'm retiring now. If you want information, I'll sell it, but don't expect to get anything new."
Miranda said.
"It's still too early for retirement, isn't it?"
"Young people are coming in one after another. There are really more people now... it's similar to before the war. I'll leave Central before I get caught up in it. My intuition tells me so."
Miranda, thinking it was a joke, asked with a smile.
"Heh, intuition, huh?"
"Yeah, that if I don't escape from here, it'll affect my life. My intuition is usually correct."
Saying that, the woman walked away from the spot.
I drank my own tea.
Miranda spoke.
"The rumor seems to be true. So, what do you intend to do, Lyell?"
I thought for a while—.
"...The Princess of Fanbayle is in some mansion in Central, right?"
Miranda looked exasperated.
She reached for her baked sweets and put one in her mouth.
"You think you can meet her?"
"I probably can't. But I wanted to know what she's like..."
Then, the Sixth Generation's voice came from the jewel.
『It's not impossible to meet if you intend to.』
The Seventh Generation added.
『Well, certainly.』
The Fourth Generation asked the reason.
『What? Did you have some relationship with Fanbayle? In my era, it felt like a distant country with several nations in between.』
The Seventh Generation said.
『...I believe you could meet her if you used the name of House Walt.』
The Sixth Generation added.
『They probably resent us. Besides, if Celes or the current House Walt messed up...』
I started to feel that I would be the one in danger if I met her.
Or rather—.
(What did the Sixth and Seventh Generations do to Fanbayle?)
I felt a sudden chill.