Chapter 127: No One from the Security Team Called

I waited and waited, but no one from the security team called for me. It had only been three days, but I felt that calling myself would be weird. If they asked "Why do you want to join again?" I couldn’t say "I want a new skill."

Unable to hold back any longer, I asked Lily when she came to change the flowers in the vase. She was still a maid, though I didn’t see Stevie. Lily said,

"I heard the security team was disbanded. Captain Copeland was replaced. They said there were too many casualties last time and they needed to absorb the survivors into another unit. If you want to join again, I’ll ask the new captain. Captain Copeland was just a friend, so it was easy for him to help. Should I ask someone else?"

"Then please do. I want to sharpen my skills more."

I gave a perfectly normal answer, but Lily said,

"Speaking of which, the way you fought last time was strange, wasn’t it?"

There were plenty of things I could remember, but I decided to play dumb.

"Really? What was strange?"

"Huh? You don’t notice? It was really strange! Stevie and I were talking about it. Your swordsmanship was completely different from before, and your footwork was so fast that we couldn’t keep up. Last time we thought we were still above you, but this time you were about the same or a little better. I thought that was already abnormal for someone your age."

"Really?"

Being praised so directly made me happy. She wasn’t being sarcastic at all!

"But, Lord Robby, you should experience real combat as much as possible while you still can."

"Why?"

"Because if you’re allowed to go outside, it would be good even if your strength is already great."

"Is that so? Yeah, that’s right."

"Yes. But in the noble district, it might not be challenging enough anymore. Going to the commoner district would be taking the wrong route, though."

"Huh~ So the thieves in the commoner district are stronger than in the noble district?"

"Yes, they say so. There are also thieves who use magic. They say there are thieves who burn down houses, kill everyone inside, and do whatever they want."

"That sounds scary~"

"But if you go outside the capital, there are even more dangerous thieves and magical beasts. No matter how strong you are, it’s good to experience it."

"That makes sense. Should I ask Prime Minister Richelieu?"

"I think so. Why don’t you ask once? Well, I don’t think he’ll approve, though."

"I’ll ask, but I don’t really want to face him."

"That’s the same for everyone. No one wants to meet Prime Minister Richelieu."

"Indeed."

"Prime Minister Richelieu was in a very weak state for a while. His son the Crown Prince died, and his two grandsons remain. They are eight and six years old, the same as His Majesty the King. He was relying on his son but he’s gone, and he has to look after his small grandchildren until they grow up."

"I see. So that’s what happened."

"You still don’t know about that? You really don’t know anything about it, do you, Lord Robby?"

"That’s true."

"Probably from Lady Catherine."

"Really?"

I was chatting pleasantly with Lily when Cass arrived. His face was serious.

"Lord Robby, Lady Doreen is calling. If you’re free, please come to your room right away."

Since I had nothing to do, I said,

"Understood. I’ll go right away."

I followed Cass to my mother’s room. It felt like it had been a long time since I last saw his face.

When I entered the room, my mother was sitting in a chair with a serious expression. She ordered the maids in the room to leave. Of course Cass was the only one allowed to stand beside her.

"Robbie, I’m sorry to call you so suddenly. Actually, His Majesty told me something about you. That’s why I called to hear your feelings."

Ah, His Majesty told Mother. This must be the one-way trip to the neighboring country.

"Robbie, I was going to talk to you about leaving the rear palace and living in the palace, but His Majesty told me he wants you to become an ambassador to the neighboring Kingdom of Mainz."

Mother’s face was serious, completely different from her usual gentle one. This news must have shocked her.

"I’m surprised, but I want to hear your feelings. I’m sure you’re surprised too, but what do you think? You don’t know anything about this, right?"

Cass was nodding beside her.

"Mother, I was shocked by the ambassador to the Kingdom of Mainz. But since His Majesty told you that, it’s already decided, right? You can’t refuse, can you? If I refuse, it will affect Mother’s position, won’t it?"

When I asked back, both Mother and Cass looked even more shocked. They clearly hadn’t expected me to say something like that.

"Mother, I will accept the proposal. Please tell His Majesty that I am happy to accept."

When I said that, Mother burst into tears.

"R-Robbie, what’s wrong? You can just say yes that easily? If you don’t want to, you can refuse. You won’t be able to serve as an ambassador in a foreign country you don’t even know. I think someone is trying to take you out of the country to remove you from the Crown Prince succession. If you’re in trouble or worried, Mother will go back to her parents’ house. We can live simply with the child and the two of us. Robbie, please tell me your real feelings?"

In her usual innocent and strange way, Mother had somehow understood why I was being sent to the Kingdom of Mainz. If I went back to her parents’ house and the three of us lived simply, it would be a difficult life for a baronial family with two princes. The emperor might visit his grandchildren often, even if I never saw him. The child in her belly might be different. In that case, we couldn’t live quietly. Mother’s best place was always in the rear palace.

When I stayed silent, Mother thought I was troubled and looked at Cass for confirmation.

"Cass, you think so too, don’t you? Robbie is still a child. Sending him abroad as an ambassador is impossible, isn’t it? It’s too early."

When Mother spoke, Cass nodded and said,

"Lady Doreen is right. I have watched Robbie since he was born and watched him grow. Recently he has suddenly become more adult-like, but he is still very young. I thought there were many things I needed to teach him. But then..."

Cass fell silent... What? What things do I need to teach him? What else is there? What can Cass teach me?