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“Yes. How sharp. I’m glad.”

The delegation had announced the disappearance of one of the members of their royal family. The fact that they sent this message in advance could mean two things. One was that they were preparing for national disgrace and were willing to cooperate with us and the other was that they were suspicious that the princess had headed here early. I guessed it must have been the latter based on Granius’ tone.

“I expected that their letter requesting for cooperation would be exhaustive but I can’t think of any reason why it’d be that short and provocative.”

“Yes. Exactly.”

Granius smiled whilst showing his teeth. Beside him, it looked like Penne was about to request some protection for the princess but Granius did not look concerned.

“So, what should I do now?”

Granius placed his hands on his chin before smiling pleasantly and saying.

“I, along with the rest of the officials and templars of the 4th Administration and the patrols, are waiting for the princess’ decision.”

“Granius.”

“Yes.”

I already knew that Granius was someone who was harder to deal with the more he smiled.

“… Why are you asking that of me?’

I blinked innocently. I noticed that he was testing me.

“Can’t I?”

“This is the 4th Administration.”

Looking at him, I bit my lip before continuing.

“I’m not the head of the Soletorium.”

“The noble 8th Branch who’s soon going to come of age. There’s no one else to ask.”

Layers of white silk brushed against the dazzling and gleaming marble desk. And his blue toga seemed to shift over his shiny white tunic. The man who had wrapped his entire body raised his chin. He might have looked relaxed but his wrinkled blue eyes looked serious.

Granius interlocked his fingers.

“I will protect you. Ever since that moment, everyone here is with you. Are you telling me that you didn’t know that?”

“…..”

“I’ve already known about your wisdom from how you acted in the banquet. You didn’t act like how you usually are during our conversations.”

He straightened his back.

“How many masks do you wear?”

“… I’m not sure. What are you talking about?”

He did not take a single step but I did feel a lot of pressure.

“I don’t mean to be suspicious of you. However, if you’re going to wear a mask of ignorance when dealing with me, I’ll take that that was the choice you made.”

At that moment, the strength in my legs faltered and I had to remind myself to stand straight and raise my head.

“You’re saying strange things. Granius.”

“What’s strange about it?”

“It sounded as if you wanted to follow me?”

“Why wouldn’t I when you’re my mistress?”

I had never acted like an idiot in front of Granius like I did in front of Castor that day. I didn’t need to do that but still I tried not to be proactive and held myself back from standing out.

“Stop joking around. Why?”

‘Well, princess, that’s what I want to know.”

He wiped the smile off his face.

“Before I became acquainted with the princess, you had already won the hearts of two other princes. After knowing you, I noticed the noble Ducal Princess of Aventa and the Duke of Beasts who had never been friendly to anyone else following you even to this place. Wouldn’t you say that it was because of your capabilities?”

“That’s…”

It’ll only be more burdensome if people expect something more from me. I was confused as to why he was doing this to me instead of the 2nd Prince or the Crown Prince.

“I know you best.”

Everything was peeling back layer by layer. I couldn’t really say that I was capable of anything.

“There’s nothing to be confused about, I didn’t mean to put pressure on you.”

I was staring at Granius who had an unreadable gaze but he didn’t seem to care at all.

“Well, I’ll just mention something briefly. There are some things I regret and some people whom I could not save in the past. I even thought of sending a petition to god because of it… The regrets had remained with me for a long time. Just think of what I said as thoughts of an old man who wants to change and not regret anything anymore.”

“… I am the princess. Have you forgotten?”

“I haven’t.”

“If you decide to back me, I can no longer remain in this palace.’

“Then I’ll come see you before you leave.”

He smiled graciously.

“… That’ll be your loss. Why are you so willing to lose?”

“Princess.”

“It’ll be better for you to back the 2nd Prince like what you’re doing now instead.”

“I had already enjoyed the highest position I could be offered when I was younger. I have no more greed for power. Wouldn’t it be better to support someone who is going to leave soon anyways?”

No. It wasn’t. How would this benefit him at all?

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”

I made eye contact with him.

“… If that’s what you want to do, then go ahead.”

“Alright. I’ll continue to do that. Even in the future. …That’ll be better for Granius as well.”

Since Castor was watching me.

I turned away from his benevolent gaze.

“My apologies. It must have been too early for me to mention this to you.”

Sometimes, I wondered what I deserved to receive such overwhelming love from the patrols and Penne when I hadn’t done a single thing for them. I didn’t know how I should react.

Perhaps he noticed my expression because though he was as friendly as ever, he did sound more formal.

“Back to the main point, it’s better to be more certain of our position towards the desert princess.”

“Position?”

“Yes, there seems to be friction between the delegation and the princess.”

“I know.”

The princess said it herself. The delegation were the chancellor’s people and they were planning a revolt.

“Hmm, considering the situation in the desert right now, I do understand. However, the longer we hide her, the more complicated it’d become. If the delegation, who are going to arrive soon, claim that the Imperial Palace kidnapped her, it’ll only become a headache.”

Granius sounded as if he was sick and tired of it all. Desert merchants were already a hassle to deal with. He rubbed his large hands over his face as if he could not even say anything,

“Then, what’s Granius’ opinion?”

“I’d recommend announcing it.”

“The fact that we’re protecting the desert princess?”

“Yes.”

Releasing his clasped hands, he pushed back his chair and leaned back before laughing heartily.

“Of course, that’s up to you to decide but I don’t think it’d be a good idea to send the desert princess to His Highness, the Crown Prince. Don’t you think so?”

“… You’re right.”

“Because the delegation causes a commotion wherever they go, there are those who might already know that the desert princess is in the Empire. And they would soon know that she is under the protection of the 4th Administration Office.”

I nodded my head.

“Rumours like that shouldn’t spread before we announce it ourselves.”

“Yes. The rumours would then favour their side. Because the 4th Administration has a lot of enemies. Huhuhu. Well, our competent deputy would take care of that.”

Startled, Penne exclaimed.

“What? Don’t dump your work on me, Aediles.”

“Oh gosh, did you see that rigid response? Anyways, princess, taking control of information is the most important thing now.”

“… I think so too. Well, I didn’t think to go as far as to announce it. But I don’t think it’s a bad idea.”

As a noble who had been the head of an Administrative Office for so long, he was able to judge the situation quickly.

In fact, I had visited Granius today to ask him to prevent the desert princess and Crown Prince from meeting somehow.

But what if we just completely exposed her instead of hiding her?

“Why don’t we just officially announce that we saved the desert princess? What if the princess and her escort who were checking on her stage happened to save the desert princess? What about it?”

Technically, it was the patrols who saved her.

“Oho. And since they are of similar ages, they quickly became friends. And they are not awkward around each other at all.”

“Right. If we become ‘friends’. It wouldn’t be bad to give her a tour of the Imperial Palace or have a small chat with her.”

Ahacia’s goal was to propose to the Crown Prince and in order to do so, Ahacia has to find some time alone with the Crown Prince at least once.

But how would she move if her entire schedule was revealed? If everyone’s gaze was on her, it would not be easy for her to make a move.

“I don’t want her to be engaged to my brother.”

“It’s not what the 2nd Prince wants either.”

Granius added kindly.

“The gods are protecting you and following you. I will only move as you wish.”

I didn’t know the details of the current situation in Ra-Hart but it had been a rich country for years. The country was surrounded by deserts and their land was too barren for farming. So, water was very precious to them.

Hence, they gave up farming and instead gathered lots of gold. Exporting quality silk was their main means of doing so.

Usually, water was needed to grow mulberry trees but they managed to raise them along with silkworms with a special technique. Ra-Hart silk that was made through their special methods was the most luxurious product the continent had to offer. Their artisans were kept under strict watch to prevent their secrets from leaking. The Royal Family held the technology to make silk so their authority was irrefutable. To the point that a rebellion was hard to believe.

The 2nd Prince would not want Castor to solidify his position with the backing of the desert through Ahacia.

“Then, inform my brother, the 2nd Prince. I’ll be accepting help from Julian this time round.”

“I’ll do that. Hm, it’ll be amusing. To the 2nd Prince, the princess must seem very interesting.”

“Why?”

“Even though your goals are the same, aren’t you the Crown Prince’s patronus?”

“…..”

I was speechless. There was a bone in his words. (1) How, why and when did I become the Crown Prince’s patronus?

He didn’t ask any questions but his eyes said it all. I could make something up. However, once I saw his deep hollow eyes, I decided that I shouldn’t lose his trust.

“There’s someone I can save by becoming my brother’s patronus.”

“Is it the Ducal Princess of Aventa?”

Instead of answering, I smiled.

“You’re half right.”

I wanted to save myself too.

T/N:

(1): Like how she should be wary of bones in her food, Ash was aware that Granius had an underlying meaning to his words