At the same time, the two men’s expressions changed.
Emile quickly calmed down his agitation.
“…So, for now, me and this Miss are together.”
“That doesn’t answer it.”
“Wh, what?”
Then, as he stammered, the man asked again. “To that Miss, who are you?”
Emile’s expression hardened.
He was in big trouble. He ran out of excuses.
To say he was her uncle or brother, there was no way to explain the difference in appearances, which clearly showed the difference in status.
He racked his brain and came up with the most likely relationship.
“A, a brother she knew?”
Since he gave her relationship advice, wouldn’t it be okay to say that their relationship is at that level?
Basically, all known brothers were people who would do things like that.
So he figured that there couldn’t be a better excuse than this.
However, it took less than a second to realize that the answer had somehow made the two men uncomfortable.
…Did they catch his lie?
* * *
Noel and Elisha crossed the Liz border without major problems before arriving at the slash-and-burn village.
Contrary to their initial worries, the immigration process itself was virtually non-existent.
An old soldier, who looked like he hadn’t slept well in days, was dozing on his stomach, and Noel and Elisha wrote their names on an old piece of paper in front of him.
He didn’t even ask for identification to make sure their names were real.
Although it was a clear failure of duty, neither Noel nor Elisha had the heart to blame him.
Perhaps, after the other soldiers had run away, he was a foolish and sincere man who took on almost all the duties on his own.
The two men, who were able to enter Liz with such bitter feelings, hurried their horses to head towards the capital.
Fortunately, the trip wasn’t that difficult.
The season was fall, and there were plenty of edible fruits and animals on the mountain.
For the two people who thought things would go smoothly, problems arose for the first time.
Bandits.
Bandits who seem to be in a bit of a bad state too.
The thieves threatened the neatly dressed young men, saying, “If you don’t get off your horses, we will kill you!”
Noel had planned to ignore such trivial threats and just pass by, but Elisha was different.
Elisha had gotten off the horse and asked them.
“Do you have any patients?”
They had hesitated but admitted that they did, and Elisha had shown them the emergency medical kit he had brought with him.
“If it’s a simple thing, I know how to treat it. Please guide me.”
Although they had been wary of Noel and Elisha, they had no choice but to take them in in the end.
“How did you know? That, there would be a patient.”
Later, when Noel had asked about the situation, Elisha had answered by shrugging his shoulders.
“Judging from the way he was holding a sword, he seemed to be a slash-and-burn farmer who was not used to this kind of thing.”
There seemed to be no other reason for such people to urgently seek out horses.
Moreover, the expression on his face had seemed quite desperate.
As Elisha had guessed, not long after, the two realized that a little child was injured.
It was said that while wandering around the mountains at will, he was caught in a trap set by local officials for hunting.
The child who did not listen to what the adults said and went about as he pleased was also at fault.
But maybe it was because the resentment toward the nobles was so great?
Instead of scolding the child, the people here prioritized gossiping about wealthy people who enjoyed hunting as a hobby.
Considering Liz’s environment, it wasn’t particularly wrong.
Anyway, after finishing the child’s treatment, Noel and Elisha decided to wait one night and leave the group.
Those who received information that a nobleman’s carriage was passing by rushed forward with their fighting spirit burning… Until they came back with Rieta.
* * *
“What are you going to do?”
As Emile returned among the mercenaries, one mercenary looked worried and asked.
Of course, what they were worried about was whether the mission would be completed neatly.
That was the mindset that a proper mercenary should have.
“Fortunately, the schedule is flexible, so I don’t think there will be any problems with transportation.”
“Well, what should we do if the Princess’ legs become like that? If something went wrong, we might not be able to get all the money.”
“Will he really reduce the price of transporting his daughter?”
“He’s still a guy like that. He’s a beggar of a king.”
Emile nodded in response to the mercenaries’ babbling conversation.
Their concerns were something he fully sympathized with.
But as he listened quietly, he felt annoyed for some reason. He was not sure why.
“Now that she has been properly treated, should we just go?”
“That would be it, if the Princess is asleep in the carriage, but she’s asleep there.”
As they said that, the mercenaries looked at Emile at the same time.
That means they were waiting for him to make a decision.
In fact, there were no rankings among the mercenaries, but Emile naturally had quite a few followers thanks to his unique and gentle personality.
“Hmm.”
Emile thought for a moment.
The King ordered Rieta to be brought to the border within a set time.
If the schedule was delayed, the stingy King might make various excuses and try not to pay them.
It would be difficult.
“…Tonight.”
Although he was reluctant, he answered with difficulty.
He may have been pushed away by the mercenaries’ gaze.s
“I will quietly bring the Princess out, so prepare to leave.”
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