Volume 10 - Chapter 18 – Unforeseen Incident (2/2)
“Yes, if it is the princess’ order.”
“Eh, Jin-dono, are you already going back?”
Jessica agreed immediately but Gloria looked a bit sad.
“I shall come again someday.”
Saying that, Jin stood up. Following him, Elsa and Hanna also stood up. Reiko was holding the bag, which was almost empty now. For some reason, there was something packed in it.
They headed towards the south gate on the princess’ carriage. The ones riding on the carriage were Jin, Lieschen princess, Tia, Elsa and Reiko. Jessica and Gloria were riding horses, escorting the carriage.
Hanna was still wearing the princess’ dress. Who knows how many more clothing she had received. In fact, the dresses she got were packed in the bag Reiko was carrying.
“Right, I should give you this. I had requested for it yesterday.”
The princess handed over a castle entry permit to Jin.
It was of silver color, only given to people the royalty had acknowledged. Who knows when they had it made but it properly had Jin, Elsa and Hanna’s portraits engraved in it, making it useless to other people.
“With this, you can come to the castle anytime.”
The general public can only enter the castle when the gates are open, meaning from 7 am to 6 pm. But with this silver permit, they can enter anytime except of emergency times such as war periods.
“Thank you very much.”
Jin gratefully accepted it. The portrait was black and white so he could possibly come in with a different hair color as well.
“Also, this is my thanks.”
Saying that, the princess handed over a heavy bag to Jin.
“It has 50 gold coins in it. I do not know if it is enough but it is the best I can do. Please forgive me.”
500,000 toll, approximately 5,000,000 yen. Jin refused to accept it.
“Princess, this is too much.”
“Mu-I-Is that so? But, I would like to…”
“No, that money is the tax from the people, right? It won’t be good to use it like this.”
Jin tried persuading her with that.
“Mmm, then how much would you be willing to accept?”
Being asked that in return, Jin was at a loss for words.
“Ri-right. 2 gold coins would probably be enough..”
Hearing that, the princess brought out 5 gold coins from the bag and handed them over.
“The things you have done is much more valuable to me than 50 gold coins. Please understand that. And also, I know how you feel but do not be so modest. That would be decreasing the value of the things you did.
It was really fun getting to know you guys. If it is okay, won’t you be my friend?”
Jin, and Elsa too, understood the princess’ feelings and Hanna as well, kindly said,
“Yes, with pleasure.”
“Happily.”
“Princess, you will become my friend? Yayy!”
There was no way they would refuse.
“Hmm, I am grateful. Then, from now on, I would like you all to call me Lies.”
“Yes, Lies-sama.”
“Is it okay to call you Lies-sama?”
“Lies-onee-chan!”
“Yes, that is fine. Ahh, today is a good day.”
Meanwhile, the carriage had reached outside the gate and stopped. To check if there were any suspicious beings in the surroundings, Jessica and Gloria galloped with the horse a little further.
Jin had said it was fine to drop them off at the gate but the princess was reluctant on parting and so made the carriage go past the gate.
Looking outside through the window of the parked carriage, the princess asked,
“Is your carriage outside?”
To that, Jin had no choice but to give an ambiguous answer, ‘Well, yes.’.
“Well, that is fine. I do not want to pry into it….. Well, then. Come visit again someday.”
Saying that, the Lies princess shook their hands one by one.
And then the door was opened.
Even before the stepping stone was placed, Hanna got off as she was closest to the door.
At that moment, someone appeared out of nowhere and grabbed Hanna and held a dagger to her neck.
As always, Jin had no sense of how to use money. Saying that it was the tax money and decreasing the amount… was that really a good thing to do?
The SP dedicated to Hanna were also late due to the carriage’s speed…