Chapter 199: Heading for the Checkpoint

I alone was allowed to mount the horse and advanced at a leisurely poku poku. Because I was a prince I was allowed to ride, but the knight walked while leading the horse by the bit. That being the case — or rather because of it — the speed was slow. The overall speed was decided by the knight’s walking pace, so if only the knight would walk faster it would be fine, but he was slow!

Honestly, at this rate it would be far faster if we proceeded alone. I thought this knight normally only rode horses and never walked. He was not wearing metal armor, only leather armor and a leather helmet? hat? yet still...

The attendant walked a little behind the knight and kept glancing at me. I felt as if the color of his eyes said "I’m sorry for the slowness."

As expected, after walking about one mile the knight cried uncle. To be precise he did not cry uncle, but said "Let’s rest," so I reluctantly agreed.

"Won’t the ladies go pick flowers?"

he asked, but Lily and Stevie shook their heads. Because it was under the name of a rest, Stevie took chairs and a table out of her mana bag and produced a teapot. If it had been only the three of us we would not have done such a thing, but because the one guiding us was a knight I thought she was showing respect by bringing them out.

However, producing the tea was a mistake. The knight settled his weight firmly and began to enjoy the tea.

"This tea is delicious~~!"

he said, and for some reason began discoursing on the lore of tea.

While I was letting the knight’s drawn-out talk go in one ear and out the other, something pin! struck me inside.

"Let me ask something. Did you leave the checkpoint first thing this morning?"

At my question the previously slack knight straightened his back sharply.

"Yes, Prince Robin. I left the checkpoint this morning before dawn. At the checkpoint we dispatched people like myself in all directions to search for Prince Robin."

Is that so — he set out first thing in the morning.

"Then let me ask: did any messenger from the capital arrive at the checkpoint yesterday? Or when the margrave’s messenger came, did he say anything about movements in the capital?"

At my question the messenger’s face showed a momentary "huh?" and his eyes swam.

"No, nothing. Did something happen in the capital? I have not been told anything..."

Unlike the crisp words with which he had been discoursing on tea until a moment ago, his speech suddenly lost its edge. He looked somehow uneasy.

"Is that so? Strange. The reason I took separate action from the carriage was because the margrave informed me about the capital. If a major incident occurred in the capital, would the margrave fail to contact the checkpoint?" ℯ

At my question sweat beaded on the knight’s face.

"O-of course the checkpoint maintains close contact with the margrave, and if anything happens in the capital information arrives one by one. If the margrave has not sent important information to the checkpoint, I believe the margrave’s position would become unfavorable."

"Yes, that’s right. Of course. That means that even if the content is not yet confirmed, information that is thought to be important should still be brought to the checkpoint."

The knight was sweating even more. His face was slightly distorted.

"That’s right! It will definitely come!"

"Is that information shared within the checkpoint? You are in a position to share the information that is brought, are you not?"

At my question the knight’s cheek twitched and spasmed. He was clearly agitated — considerably so.

"I-I am... one of the officers within the checkpoint... any information that is brought is always... told to me..."

He could have lied, yet he answered with foolish honesty. Even though he held a relatively high position, did his pride not allow him to pretend he was a low-ranking subordinate?

In that case, shall I ask about the core?

"Then you must have heard that an incident occurred in the capital yesterday. Why did you hide it?"

At my words the knight’s face went pure white and he began to tremble. The attendant waiting behind had no idea what this was about and wore a blank face. A gag order must have been placed among the officers of the checkpoint regarding the capital.

The knight’s face twisted and he began breathing roughly — haa haa. His mouth opened and closed like a goldfish suffering from oxygen deficiency; was he all right? Behind me I could tell Lily and Stevie were preparing so they could respond at any moment.

Suddenly the knight got down from the chair and prostrated himself. Pressing his face into the ground he screamed,

"Prince Robin!! I am so sorry—!! I know about the incident in the capital—! Th-therefore, with all due respect, I have a request of Prince Robin! Could you please somehow hear me out!?"

At the knight’s sudden transformation we and the attendant were dumbfounded and could not speak. What request was this fellow about to make of me?

"U-um... would Prince Robin... p-please... by all means... become an ally... of Prince Maxim... who will become the Crown Prince...!?"

The knight cried.

To think a Maxim sympathizer was here of all places.

"Do you know what Prince Maxim did in the capital?"

In front of the attendant it would be better not to speak of the coup.

"Yes! I have heard! Therefore, by all means, Prince Robin as well! Please, please become an ally and lend your strength to Prince Maxim! I earnestly, earnestly beg of you!!"

It was a plea that seemed to wring his very soul. I was surprised that Maxim was adored even by a rural knight like this. The attendant recovered from his surprise and prostrated himself together behind the knight. From the attendant’s perspective he probably did not understand well what his master was saying, but for the time being decided to follow his master’s actions.

"Prince Maxim is truly an outstanding person, and if that person ascends the throne this country’s future will without doubt become a brilliant one! Therefore, please, lend Prince Robin’s strength for Prince Maxim’s sake! Please, your assistance!!"

Only the knight’s tremendous heat was transmitted. But I was the one who had nearly been killed without question.