Chapter 2

I am walking on an unpaved road under the scorching sun.

"It's hot... My feet hurt..."

The woman in a dress walking beside me complained.

"I'm hot too... Endure the pain. I told you we should have fled south."

The south has paved roads and is easier to walk on.

"South is no good. The pursuers will come."

There is a large town to the south of the capital.

In contrast, the east where we are fleeing only has small towns.

"Pursuers will come to the east too."

"If they come, it will be a small group. That's the plan. We can win against a small group and seize their horses and supplies."

Impressive...

We fled from the scene after setting the palace on fire and left the capital.

After all, such a fire would undoubtedly be considered treason.

Even if we were lucky, we would be confined somewhere.

At worst, we would be executed.

"Should we have stolen horses from the beginning?"

"We didn't have the luxury. Besides, if we had stolen horses, the pursuers would have come immediately."

Because we fled without stealing horses, the palace is still in the stage of investigation and searching for the cause...

The pursuers will come after that.

"Still, they should have maintained the road a bit better..."

The road is really bad.

I'm not asking for stone paving, but at least smooth out the bumps.

"Exactly. This doesn't seem like a road right outside the capital. His Majesty is slacking off."

By the way, the reason Reisha isn't speaking in her usual ladylike manner is because this is her true self.

Moreover, other nobles and royalty also speak normally in everyday situations.

"What are we going to do now? The town of Gerk is ahead, but beyond that is the Miralda Mountain Range."

To the east of the capital is a small town called Gerk.

And that's a dead end.

Because beyond it is a rugged mountain range that a prince and a duke's daughter can't possibly climb.

"I know. Let's take an airship in Gerk."

An airship is a flying ship, and it can indeed cross the Miralda Mountain Range.

"Are we fleeing to another country?"

"There's no other choice. There's no place to hide in this country. Let's flee to another country until things calm down."

Seriously...

But, I guess that's the only option.

"Alright. Then let's head for the Water Country of Walter."

"Your mother's family, right?"

My mother is already deceased, but she originally came from the royal family of Walter.

I myself have met my uncle, who is the king there, and he would likely give us shelter.

"That's right. The problem is how to get on the airship."

We fled with nothing but the clothes on our backs, so we have no money.

In that case, the method is...

"Highjacking!"

We're on the same wavelength...

"That's the only way."

"Can you pilot an airship?"

"It's easy. It's not that difficult."

An airship is powered by magic, but piloting it is simple.

However, it usually takes several mages to operate, so it will be exhausting for me alone.

Still, it's better than the gallows or the guillotine.

"Ha... From a princess to a fugitive..."

Reisha sighs.

"If you don't like it, you can go back to the capital. You can blame it on me."

Right now, we can still end it with me being the arsonist and Reisha chasing me but failing to catch me.

"I don't want to. No matter what life it is, I will share it with you... Ha."

Then don't sigh!

Don't make that face like you regret it!

You must think you chose the wrong person!

"If you think that, just walk quietly. You're complaining too much."

"You're a mage, right? Can't you fly? Show me a flying carpet."

I don't have a carpet.

"I can fly, but only me. You're too heavy."

"Too heavy!? To your wife!?"

I'm not your husband.

We're still engaged.

No, it doesn't matter either way...

"That's not what I meant. I don't need much magic to fly alone, but it takes a lot to carry someone else."

I could do it with a staff or some other aid, but I have nothing now.

"Hmm, is that so... By the way, Your Highness. A weak mage like you is walking without complaining."

Reisha is speaking in her ladylike manner again.

"Indeed."

"You said you don't need much magic to fly alone. Could it be that you're subtly floating while making your wife walk?"

Reisha glances at my feet.

"Of course. I'm a prince."

Can I walk on such a road?

"..."

Reisha grabs my shoulder silently.

Then she pushes me to the ground.

"What are you doing!?"

It hurts, idiot!

"Sink! Get down on the ground! Suffer with me!!"

"Stop it! That's disrespectful!"

"Shut up! You're a traitor!"

You are too!

"Let go—wait?"

When I try to push Reisha's hand away, I see a small black object far behind us.

"What's wrong?"

Reisha asks.

"Look over there. Something is coming."

I point to the black object on the road we came from.

"Pursuers?"

"Isn't it too early? Wait a moment."

I focus magic in my eyes to enhance my vision.

This is a spell called Far Sight, which allows me to see things far away clearly.

"That's... a carriage."

I can see the driver, so it's definitely a carriage.

"A carriage? So it's not pursuers."

Pursuers would be cavalry, not a carriage.

"Right..."

"Lloyd, I'm borrowing your sword."

Reisha says and pulls the sword from my waist.

She left it behind when we fled the capital to avoid drawing attention.

"Don't kill the driver."

I say this naturally, knowing what Reisha might do.

"I know. I'll also take valuables and prepare for our journey in Gerk. Is it a merchant's carriage?"

"Hmm? No, wait. No looting."

I use Far Sight again and notice a cross emblem on the top of the carriage, so I stop Reisha.

"What? Why?"

"That's a church carriage. We can't afford to make the church our enemy."

We're already being pursued, and if we make the church our enemy, we'll be targeted by the church's knight orders worldwide.

"The church... I guess not. Then let's negotiate normally."

"You have money?"

You don't seem to have any...

"Of course not. I left everything, including my sword, behind. Besides, will the church take money? Don't they help people in need?"

"They're probably corrupt."

"You're biased... But I agree."

"Reisha, give me back my sword. Leave this to me."

"Alright."

Reisha nods and returns the sword to its sheath at my waist.

By the way, it's a bit scary to have someone else sheath your sword.

We move to the side of the road and wait for the carriage to approach.

After a while, the carriage comes near us and stops in front of us.

"Excuse me, you look like nobles. What are you doing in such a place?"

The driver looks down at us and asks.

It's disrespectful, but he can't get down because we might be bandits.

"Indeed, we are nobles. Could you please give us a ride to the town of Gerk? My wife has hurt her foot."

I'm not lying.

"I see... Please wait a moment."

The driver turns around and opens a small window at the back of the carriage.

"Maria, did you hear that?"

Huh? Maria?

"......Yes, but for nobles to be walking in such a place..."

And this voice is...

"Maria? It's me, me. Lady Reisha Smeul."

Reisha, who also recognized her, calls out to the carriage.

By the way, does she really need to use the honorific?

"Wh-What!?"

A surprised voice comes from the carriage, and there's a rustling sound. Then, a black-haired girl in a nun's habit steps out from the back of the carriage.

The girl is petite and not very tall.

She's about a head shorter than Reisha and two heads shorter than me.

"Lady Reisha!? Why are you in such a place—wait, Your Highness!?"

Maria calls out to Reisha but quickly notices me and is flustered.

...She's still as dramatic as ever.

Thank you for reading.

If you found this story 'interesting!' or 'I want to know what happens next!', please bookmark it or rate it with '★★★★★'.

Thank you!