Chapter 10

After that, I greeted both the First and Second Princes.

As for the Third Prince, it seems he stayed behind in the royal capital.

Since I was invited to lunch afterward, I accepted without protest.

I dined and conversed with the King, the First Prince, and the Second Prince.

By the time everything had concluded and I stepped out of the royal family's grand tent, it was already evening.

Fires had been lit here and there, and from time to time, a delicious aroma drifted through the air.

It felt like a campsite in Japan.

Though, each tent here was large enough to easily cover an entire convenience store.

The scale was completely different.

“Now then, what shall we do next?”

By now, our own tent should be fully set up as well.

I could return and rest, but that feels like a bit of a waste.

After all, the most enjoyable part of the hunting tournament isn’t the daytime hunt itself, but the socializing at night.

Campfire dinners, singing, dancing, having jesters perform, stargazing—

Depending on the occasion, it can even turn into a full-blown party.

It’s exactly like a forest training camp.

Unlike the formal daytime gatherings, the evening events are far more relaxed. One can afford to let their guard down a little.

It’s considered good manners not to take anything said at night too seriously.

“Our tent is fully erected, but we haven’t prepared to receive guests just yet.”

The one who reported this to me was a middle-aged man with dark skin.

He serves as the head knight of the Budoudarl Ducal House.

The head knight’s duty is to assist—or sometimes represent—the lord in political or judicial matters.

And as the head among head knights… he’s the top of the line.

If I were to force a modern Japanese analogy, he’d be like a vice-minister. In short, someone both powerful and capable.

Lately, he’s often been by my side.

He acts as my assistant, bodyguard, tutor, and supervisor.

By the way, if you’re wondering whether he or Marshal Lazabel ranks higher, it’s the latter.

That’s because the head knight belongs to the Budoudarl Ducal House, while Marshal Lazabel is a key figure of the Budoudarl Duchy.

Moreover, the former is just a knight, whereas the latter is a noble.

“In that case, perhaps it would be nice to visit someone else’s tent.”

Since it’s an informal setting, it’s permissible to drop in on another noble’s banquet.

That said, while lesser nobles might be fine with it, if someone of my rank—a great noble—were to drop in unannounced, it would surely cause a stir.

It’s difficult to make a move unless I receive a proper invitation.

As I was pondering what to do, I noticed one of my lady’s attendants—Shiek—looking like she had something to say.

“About that… Princess. A knight of the Larknoll Ducal House has extended an invitation for dinner.”

This time as well, we had come to this place accompanied by merchants.

Naturally, we anticipated demand not only for alcohol but also salt, spices, and olive oil.

We’re even selling soap as a side business.

I had entrusted Shiek with mediating between us, the merchants, and the knights who came to purchase spices and such.

It was during one of those mediations that she apparently received a dinner invitation from a knight dispatched by the Larknoll Ducal House.

…Frankly speaking, Shiek isn’t of particularly high status.

This was not an official diplomatic channel—rather, a roundabout method.

It feels like they’re stacking safeguards on top of safeguards.

“So, it’s not a formal invitation?”

“No. I believe… they feared being refused because we would prioritize the royal family.”

We had gone to pay our respects to the royal family around early afternoon.

Whether we would move directly from that into lunch, or take a short break before heading into dinner—timing-wise, it was a bit ambiguous.

And when it comes to the royal family versus the Larknoll Ducal House, of course the former takes precedence.

It would be awkward to turn down an invitation because of other plans, or worse, to be refused altogether.

That’s likely why they extended the offer via an informal diplomatic route—gently and indirectly.

…Or so most nobles and knights would think.

But I sensed a different reason.

It was certainly out of fear of being turned down, but perhaps it was because…

I felt my cheeks relax with relief.

“Then, if it’s convenient for them, let us accept their invitation.”

I could sense the knights stirring at my words.

No one spoke; they merely exchanged glances.

“…After nightfall, accidents may happen.”

The head knight gently warned me.

The Budoudarl and Larknoll Ducal Houses are currently in a ceasefire.

Since no formal peace treaty has been signed, war could resume at any moment.

In fact, my father and Duke Larknoll are holed up in their respective territories, glaring at each other.

Assassination is unlikely, but there's always a chance of an incident breaking out.

That’s what the knights fear.

They had already signed a ceasefire agreement—so what the knights really wanted was for me not to recklessly walk into enemy territory and invite danger.

“Precisely because it is night, we can accept their invitation. More importantly, I wouldn’t want to be branded a coward for fearing the dark.”

It wouldn’t be a problem to decline, but accepting would likely help build friendlier relations.

Not only that—it would also serve as a warning to the other great noble houses and the royal family, who might be hoping for Budoudarl and Larknoll to wear each other down.

There’s risk, yes—but the potential gain is far greater.

…And on a personal level, I want to apologize to him and make amends.

“…Of course, if you think I’m being reckless, I’ll reconsider.”

If you're all against it, I won’t go.

When I said that, the knights, including the head knight, gave me small, respectful bows.

“Our duty is to protect our lady. Should anything happen, we will shield you with our very lives… so please, enjoy the evening gathering with peace of mind.”

It didn’t seem like they were opposed—rather, they were saying they wouldn’t stop me, so long as I fully understood the danger involved.

“Very well then… Shiek. Would you handle the arrangements?”

“Yes, of course.”

Through Shiek, I sent back a response via the unofficial channel: “If they extend a proper invitation, I’m prepared to accept.”

Not long after, a knight from the Larknoll house arrived, bearing an official invitation.

When I discreetly checked who else would be in attendance, I found—just as I expected—that it was mainly nobles close to Duke Larknoll. In other words, the Larknoll faction.

Going there with just our own party felt risky.

It was practically the same as walking alone into enemy territory.

There was a real possibility of assault—of being gang-raped or beaten.

…That kind of thing does happen in this world, sometimes.

Of course, such incidents typically occur during informal gatherings among lower nobles or knights.

If something like that were to happen here—at a royal event, with famed nobles present—and the target was the heir to a great noble house, it would be tantamount to declaring war on the entire aristocracy of the continent.

Larknoll would be annihilated.

Still, I’ve heard that the custom of “bride kidnapping” persists in the Larknoll domain.

Rumor has it that Duke Larknoll himself abducted his current wife in order to marry her.

And Thor is clearly obsessed with me. If he has a successful example so close at hand, he might just lose his mind and try to force the issue.

Not all people are rational and reasonable. If they were, crime wouldn’t exist.

More than anything, it would make me look like a complete fool to show up unguarded.

Thor might think, “Is she stupid? Or is she actually trying to get me to do something?”

That wouldn’t be good.

And only nobles can stand against nobles.

Even if I brought a whole company of knights, it wouldn’t mean much.

“May I bring a few trusted allies from friendly noble houses?”

“Of course, my lady.”

When I asked whether I could take some of my vassals and pro-Budoudarl nobles with me, the response was an immediate yes.

Naturally.

Telling me to come alone would be no different from saying, “We’re going to beat you up and rape you.”

So, I called on some friendly nobles—like Count Lazabel, my vassal and a marshal, and Count Arobella, a member of my faction—and said, “I’m heading over to dine with the Larknoll faction nobles. You guys want to come?”

In the end, I was joined by about ten nobles—and with their accompanying knights, we numbered around thirty—when I made my way to the Larknoll duke’s tent.

“The Princess Roselia has arrived!”

The Larknoll knight leading the way announced in a loud voice. The nobles gathered around the campfire stirred in surprise.

It seemed they hadn’t quite expected me to show up.

All eyes from the Larknoll faction turned toward us.

Then, one boy stepped forward from among them.

“Welcome, Princess Roselia. …It’s been a while.”

It was Thor who greeted me, and he looked genuinely happy to see me.

From the tone of his letter, I had assumed he was angry—but that didn’t seem to be the case.

I felt a little relieved.