kscans

Chapter 65 - The Last Forest and the Little Person

"But first, we have to at least pay our respects to Marquis Ansbackh."

As Kobito-san was urgently ordering preparations for their departure, Dolphen offered this advice with a serious face.

Ugh, I don't think we have time for that.

Kobito-san pouted and bit her lower lip. Dolphen looked away, his shoulders shaking with silent laughter. The others around them did the same. Even the guards from the Western Forest were looking down, their shoulders trembling.

Kobito-san probably intended to look stern, but she was just too cute. Her big, moist eyes, welling with a unyu sound, were simply adorable.

Clearing his throat to hide his smile, Dolphen tried to put on as stern a face as possible and failed. He looked down at Kobito-san with a helpless, pitying gaze.

"We must observe basic etiquette. We sent a fast horse to say we would stop by on our way back, so we must not break our promise."

He's right. There's no need to needlessly damage our credibility. But I want to complete the golden ring even one day sooner.

For the time being, after flailing her arms and legs to protest the lack of time, they settled on having only a meal and not staying the night. This was still rude, but they pushed it through by claiming it was an emergency.

It was the greatest concession from Kobito-san, who wanted to fly off to Molt's forest with Pochiko-san immediately. From here, it would take even the speedy Pochiko-san more than two full days. It would require camping overnight, and even Dolphen opposed it, saying he could not possibly grant permission.

"In any case, if we are to visit a neighboring country, we need His Majesty the King's approval. Have you forgotten?"

Now that he mentioned it, that was true.

Remembering a similar exchange when she had visited another neighboring country's forest, Chihiro sent a fast horse to the royal palace as well.

Why can't things just go smoothly?

And so, whining and grumbling, Kobito-san was escorted, practically dragged, to Marquis Ansbackh's residence.

"Welcome. It has been a long time, Princess Chihiro."

The one who greeted her with the smile of a kindly old man was Hebraiheil. Chihiro gave a magnanimous nod and smiled sweetly with a refreshing expression.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Marquis Ansbackh."

After all that sulking and pouting, look at her now.

The knights, who knew of Kobito-san's sullen mood on the way there, maintained their straight faces while sighing in exasperation internally.

Before them stood a golden-haired child who looked every bit a royal.

In the carriage, she had changed into a suitable one-piece dress, her hair adorned with a small apple-shaped hairpin. It was simple for royalty, but its quality gave her the appearance of a noble or a wealthy merchant's daughter. Considering their journey involved the possibility of camping, it was an understandable choice of attire. Marquis Ansbackh, without any particular suspicion, invited them into his mansion.

They were led to a lavish reception room.

It was furnished with pieces that spoke of history, and the sofa, upholstered in heavy velvet, was exceptionally comfortable. However, for the tiny Kobito-san, every chair was too large. Sakura casually glanced around the room, placed several cushions on a single-person sofa, and settled Chihiro in the space between them. Then, she smiled, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"You must have known that Chihiro-sama was coming, correct? Why has a suitable place not been prepared?"

A chair where Chihiro could sit comfortably had not been prepared. It was just that, but having lived as royalty for a long time, she was sensitive to such things. She sensed a dissonance hidden behind the welcoming smile. It was something that often happened in the imperial palace.

A faint sense of unease, but upon closer examination, an intentionality could be seen.

Sakura had noticed it.

The tea prepared in the reception room, the waiting stewards and maids. The tea cakes were clearly expensive, and there was no doubt they were being welcomed, but the execution was sloppy. For the servants of a Marquis's house, it was an unbelievable blunder.

Noticing the implication of the blunder, an elderly steward bowed his head deeply.

"My sincerest apologies. It seems we were a little carried away with excitement at being able to welcome the princess."

The knights nodded with looks of understanding at the explanation, but Sakura's keen eyes narrowed even further.

"In that case, this."

Offering the prepared tea and sweets to the servants, she smiled gracefully. The faint flames smoldering in the depths of her eyes gave her smile a sharp edge that would not tolerate deceit.

"Please taste it for poison."

At her words, the servants became openly flustered. Then, as if offended, they raised their eyebrows.

"Does that mean you do not trust us?"

Sakura couldn't help but burst out laughing, her clear voice ringing out.

"But of course. Even items made in the royal palace kitchens are tasted for poison, you know? Why would you think the Marquis's house would be an exception? Are you saying the Marquis's house is of a higher rank than the royal palace?"

The servants were at a loss for words.

Now that she mentioned it, she was right. It was unheard of for something a royal would consume not to be tasted for poison. The Marquis's house had been so excited that they had forgotten even that.

At the achievement of their long-held wish.

Every single person in this house, down to the lowest footman, was from the country of Castrato. They held no respect for the Frontier royal family, and with their eyes fixed only on achieving their wish, their attention to detail had been lacking.

Firmly grasping that faint sense of unease, Sakura watched the servants with suspicion.

"I take it this is something that cannot be tasted for poison, correct?"

Which meant that something had been put in it.

Sensing the Marquis's house's ill will toward Kobito-san from Sakura's words, the knights' tempers flared instantly. Their faces contorted fiercely as Dolphen swept Kobito-san into his arms.

"You bastards, what are you plotting?!"

Overwhelmed by his tremendous fury, the stewards and maids took several steps back. As a volatile atmosphere crackled with sparks, the Marquis entered the reception room with someone in tow. He stared for a moment, looking between the two groups, and then spoke.

"What is all this? Was there some offense?"

"This is beyond an offense! Your....."

Dolphen, about to shout in anger, was cut off as Kobito-san in his arms stirred significantly. Chihiro stretched her body, leaning out from Dolphen's arms, and stared intently at the woman standing behind the Marquis. With a frozen gaze, she managed to whisper through her trembling lips.

"Cyril.....!!"

A small, squeezed-out whisper.

In response, the woman called Cyril returned a radiant smile, her face as graceful as a blooming flower.

"It has been a long time, Fatimah-sama."

The knights watched with puzzlement the woman performing a deep curtsy and Chihiro, who did not even try to hide her explosive rage.

"You're the one who killed me, who killed Fatimah!!"

"Whatever are you saying? You are right there, are you not?"

Tilting her head in a show of confusion, Cyril gently reached out a hand to Chihiro. Dolphen slapped her hand away with great force and pulled Kobito-san back into his arms.

"So it was you. The source of it all, who imprisoned and tried to kill Chihiro-sama, and who caused the death of this Fatimah-sama."

Dolphen pierced Cyril with a burning gaze. But no one, including the Little Person Squad, could hide their confusion, not understanding the meaning of his words.

Who is Fatimah-sama? She was killed?

As such questions filled the room, Cyril bit her lip.

Imprisoned and tried to kill Fatimah.

Is that what they thought?

The princess she had raised with all her love. There was no way she would ever try to kill her. It was true that a mistake had thrown their plans into disarray. And it was undoubtedly true that the princess's life had been endangered as a result.

But she would never have thought of killing her.

Cyril started to open her mouth to explain, but then reconsidered, thinking such a futile thing was meaningless. There was no need for explanations to the princess who was about to become their puppet.

Glancing at the table and confirming that nothing had been touched, Cyril took something out from her bosom. Before Dolphen could react and snatch it away, Cyril threw herself at him, holding the object.

Dolphen hurriedly pushed her away, but it was too late. The object Cyril had been holding was stuck in Kobito-san's right arm.

"Chihiro-sama?!"

It was a small, balloon-like object with a needle attached. Dolphen quickly pulled the palm-sized thing out and shook Chihiro.

"Chihiro-sama? Chihiro-sama?! What is the matter?!"

Kobito-san's head lolled limply, showing no reaction. Her eyes had lost their light, and all that could be confirmed was that she was still breathing faintly with a dazed expression.

"You, what did you do?!"

Cyril lightly parried Dolphen's attempt to grab her and looked at him with clear, emotionless eyes.

"I wonder. Is it poison? What do you think will happen if we just leave her like this?"

She chuckled and picked up the balloon-like object that had been thrown aside. A pale purple liquid dripped from the needle at its tip.

That was used on Kobito-san?

It all happened in less than an instant. The knights' faces were frozen in shock. It had happened so quickly that no one could react.

Is it poison?!

As Dolphen trembled, his face ashen, Cyril held out a hand and gave a twisted grin.

"I can provide the antidote. Hand Fatimah-sama over."

"Don't be ridiculous!!"

"Oh? Are you sure? If you leave her like this, she'll die, you know?"

Even as he roared, baring his teeth, he knew. Without knowing what kind of poison it was, only the person who used it could provide the antidote. Capturing and torturing her might not make her talk, and more importantly, there was no time.

If this continued, there was no telling what might really happen.

Biting his lip so hard it bled, Dolphen fought to control his shaking fingers and handed Chihiro over to Cyril.

"Captain?!"

Sakura stopped the knights who stepped forward in surprise. The arm she extended to block their path was trembling slightly with rage.

"We have no choice. Chihiro herself is the hostage. Until we know what kind of drug it is, we have to do as they say."

"But....."

Before the knights' despairing eyes, Cyril lifted Chihiro into her arms and, with an ecstatic expression, buried her chin in the girl's soft, golden hair.

"Ah, welcome back, Fatimah-sama."

The Little Person Squad regarded Cyril, who looked as if she were in the throes of bliss, with suspicion. Cyril gave them a cold glare, then turned on her heel and walked toward the back of the room. The stewards and maids, who had been watching the whole affair, followed her.

And so did Marquis Ansbackh.

"Your Excellency! This is outright rebellion! Do you understand that?!"

Dolphen shouted at the back of the old man who was leaving without any emotion. But the old man was completely unfazed. He turned back slowly and spoke, his words like a long sigh.

"Neither in the past nor in the present have I ever sworn allegiance to the Frontier royal family. It cannot be rebellion. We were enemies from the very beginning."

Dolphen was speechless at the unexpected words.

"Do not follow us. We will treat the princess once our own safety is confirmed. You and your monsters will not move from this spot. If you follow, the princess's treatment may be delayed."

With that, the old man looked over the Little Person Squad and the monsters with tired eyes. As royalty, Chihiro could not keep the monsters by her side in the residence, so both Pochiko-san and Mugita were in the carriage. However, sensing that something was wrong with Chihiro, the monsters were circling the mansion warily.

Marquis Ansbackh looked at them through the window with a pained expression, then disappeared into the depths of the mansion.

Watching the Marquis disappear, Dolphen could not process what had happened. From the moment he realized the Marquis's house's ill will, it had all happened in an instant. Just a few minutes. In that short time, his master had been taken from him.

How could this have happened.

Just a moment's carelessness had led to this desperate situation.

He was speechless at his own incompetence.

Behind the helpless and surrounded Little Person Squad, Romel's official Frontier army advanced toward the Marquis's residence.

And another contingent was also making its way toward the Marquis's residence.

One was the official Frontier army, the other a mysterious force.

Thus Castrato, having obtained the Golden King, began a full-scale escape toward the border. The Castrato army was surely preparing for battle near the border.

As the gods watched on, the fate of the world was left in human hands.