Chapter 6

I was enjoying a comfortable journey through the sky.

It had been quite some time since I started flying the airship, and we must have crossed the border and left Edelthart by now.

Just as I was thinking that it would be nice if I could reach my destination without any trouble, a girl in a nun's habit rushed out from the stairs leading to the deck.

The girl, once on the deck, quickly looked around and then looked up at the steering room where I was.

Then, her face twisted as if in despair.

"What are you doing!?"

Maria shouted at me and ran to the steering room.

"Sir, it's dangerous, please return to your cabin."

I told her in a tone like a crew member.

"Y-Your Highness! The hijacking was a lie, right!? You didn't set the palace on fire, right!?"

Ah... Reisha must have explained it to her.

"Maria, it's true. It was necessary for our elopement."

"It's out of spite!!"

Well, yeah.

"There was no other way. It was an accident."

"Your Highness, it's not too late! Let's turn ourselves in! Stop committing more crimes and atone for your sins!"

"No way. There's no going back now."

Arson, escape, hijacking.

It's impossible no matter how you look at it.

"Your Highness... Lord, save this black magician!"

I don't need your Lord's salvation.

"Just give up."

When I said that, Maria's shoulders slumped.

Meanwhile, Reisha had somehow made her way to the deck and was standing at the bow.

"By the way, is it true that I'll become a sex slave?"

What's that?

Oh, the Church State!

That idiot, did she really say that much...

"The Church State has both good and bad aspects. Well, I don't think a noble like you will become a sex slave, but you might be asked to do something similar."

It's a roundabout way of suggesting it.

"Is that so...?"

Maria really looked depressed.

"Still, it's a surefire way to advance in your career."

"I don't want to! Why do I have to give my body to men other than my husband!? If that happens, I'll commit suicide, suicide!"

This country has strict views on chastity.

"Then you'll just keep healing until you're sick of it."

"I don't want that either! I'm not a potion!"

Of course not.

"Then just give up. I'll send you back to your family later."

"Ah... Why did this happen to me...?"

"Your father can find you a good match."

"If he could, I wouldn't have become a nun... The food isn't even good."

The church preaches poverty, so it's quite austere.

"If I were king, I'd make you a concubine."

"At least call me a secondary wife."

Even if I did, you're a baron's daughter...

It seems unlikely given your status.

"Well, I can ask Uncle Walter or write a letter to your brother."

"......Ah, I shouldn't have helped the Black Prince and the gutter lady...... But then, I'd be in the Church State...... Huh? I'm stuck?"

You're stuck.

"You have that kind of tendency."

"What do you mean!?"

You just can't seem to do anything right.

"Don't worry. I still have the bribe you gave me, and I'm your subject. I'll protect you."

Actually, that wine was pretty good.

"Why are you so optimistic?"

Maria said, looking at Reisha standing at the bow of the deck.

"Worrying won't solve anything."

"Hmm... In that case, I'll advance in my career with Walter..."

She doesn't seem to want to go back home.

"Do that. Your healing magic will help."

"Alright! I'll advance and marry into a good family!"

Why is it that when she says it, it doesn't feel like it will happen?

"By the way, what will you do when we reach Walter?"

"I haven't thought about it. I'll live casually and return when the king dies."

The king is already over 50.

He might die in 20 or 30 years.

"That's quite disrespectful."

"I can't show respect to someone like that. I'm counting on my brother. I want to live a leisurely life as a secondary king."

"Hmm... In that case, maybe you could become a secondary wife instead of a concubine?"

She's already looking for a good match.

"That's a big gamble."

If it doesn't work out, you'll end up as a minor noble in a rural area.

"Hmm, I'll keep it in mind. I'll consider it if the opportunity arises."

What a brat.

"Do what you want. More importantly, go get that gutter girl who's still posing over there. We need to talk about what to do next."

How long does she plan to stay there?

"Okay."

Maria left the steering room and went to Reisha.

Then, she brought Reisha back.

"Are you done talking?"

Reisha asked.

"Yeah, Maria is on board with it."

"......I'm not on board. I just gave up."

Maria muttered dejectedly.

"What are we going to do now?"

Reisha asked, ignoring Maria.

"I want to head for Walter, but we can't land at an airport with a hijacked airship. We'll have to land somewhere and walk."

"Walk... Well, there's no other choice. Maria, how much money do you have?"

"Money? I bought a ticket, so I only have a few gold coins left."

You're poor.

Well, Reisha and I don't even have copper coins.

"We'll have to requisition supplies."

"Ah... The noble prince and lady of Edelthart reduced to highway robbers..."

We're not highway robbers.

"Lloyd, can we land somewhere? We should at least get proper clothes and equipment... Hmm?"

Reisha stopped talking and looked up.

I also looked up because I felt something pass over my head.

"Did you see something black just now?"

Reisha asked.

"I saw it... ..."

Maria also seemed to have noticed.

"Hmm..."

I didn't answer Reisha's question and looked in the direction from which the black object had come.

Then, I saw several airships with skull marks.

"Are you kidding me!?"

"What's going on... Huh?"

"What? What is that? Are they Edelthart's pursuers?"

When I shouted and looked to the right, Reisha and Maria also looked in that direction.

"They're worse than pursuers... Those are sky pirates."

Regular military forces usually issue a warning.

Only sky pirates attack without warning.

Besides, they have skull marks, so there's no doubt.

"Sky pirates!? Why would they come after such a small ship!?"

"How should I know! There must be someone in here who's extremely unlucky!"

Reisha and I shouted.

"I'm sorry! It's me!"

Of course it is...

Reisha and I looked at Maria with pity.

Thank you for reading.

If you found this story interesting and are looking forward to the next chapter, please bookmark it and give it a ★★★★★ rating. It would be a great encouragement for me.

Thank you!