Chapter 22.5 (1/2)
Chapter 22.5
Chapter 1 E 22.5 (Aftermath)
”What did you intend to say?!”
An angry voice resounded during audiences.
The owner of the voice is a person nicknamed the prime minister of iron and blood, Lord Dornest.
The emperor who should have been the most important person silently listening to Sardina's report while resting his elbow on the armrest of the throne.
”That's all for the report. I'm willing to receive any punishment.”
In front of the Emperor, starting from Sardina and Saitou, Seria, Rolph, then Orlando had kneeled down together.
Within Sardina's mind, replayed the event that had happened a few days ago.
After letting Ryouma escaped, Sardina had waited for dawn to come and the soldiers that had been scattered to return. She bet on the chance that she might be able to catch up to him.
Since her mistake that leads his escape is due to the lack of soldiers.
The situation might change if she collects all the soldiers for pursuit.
However, in the end, Sardina cannot catch a glimpse of Ryouma figure again.
”I know it; it's impossible huh...”
Hearing what Sardina had muttered, Saitou responded with a sour expression.
”It cannot be helped... It was hard to gather all of the soldiers after all...”
For Ryouma, he might have expected something like this to happen.
To said it plainly, he might have calculated that they won't be able to continue the pursue until he was able to cross the border.
”That guy, he's not careless at all it seems...”
Not having naive mind might be the greatest strength that Ryouma possesses.
Sardina bites his lips for realizing that she's being too optimistic.
”It can't be helped... Let's return to the imperial capital.”
Saitou's face shows a clouded expression after listening to Sardina's words.
Indeed since they have failed to capture Mikos.h.i.+ba Ryouma, there's no meaning for them to stay inside the forest for much longer.
Not only they need to immediately let the border to be opened again to make sure it does not inflict much damage to the empire economy, but they also have to inform Seria and the other that had gone to the south.
Although Saitou can understand the situation, he still feels uneasy toward the treatment that Sardina will receive.
After all, it was a big loss for them to have failed to capture Ryouma. And the worst part is, they let the arrested person to escape.
Furthermore, there are some casualties among the knight.
Although there was some unexpected event that Ryouma have some companions, this is not something easy to ignore.
”Dornest face will definitely turn into rage eh~...”
In spite of Sardina's joking words, Saitou's expression remained stiff.
”Indeed...”
In Saitou's mind, he can imagine Dornest figure yelling toward Sardina in front of the emperor.
He was nicknamed the prime minister of blood and iron, due to being a politician that has a strong mind like iron and having the determination to shed blood.
He won't change his att.i.tude toward Sardina just because she's royalty.
He will definitely won't let this case end like this.
Furthermore, there's also another concern.
”I think there's also a problem how to handle Seria-sama after this...”
Sardina nodded toward Saitou's subdued voice.
The one who's the most enthusiastic about this mission is Seria who had lost her family member.
What are they going to say toward such Seria?
”Well, we will manage it somehow. Seria is not that stupid after all. I think if I were to explain the situation to her properly, she wouldn't complain too much...”
(That is the case if it was the usual Seria though...”
Saitou was uneasy due to whether or not she was able to remain calm after her relative being murdered.
Maybe she read him having such complexion on his face.
Sardina shrugged her shoulders and said,
”Well, leave that matters to me. In any case, there's no other choice than to return to the imperial capital.”
A while later, Seria, Rolph, and Orlando sat down in front of Sardina.
”Is that so...”
Seria's voice lacked her usual energetic vibe.
After the decision of returning to the imperial capital, Sardina recalled the three who had gone to the southern border, and she decided to join them at the town south the imperial capital in order to share the information before having an audience with the emperor.
Thinking the current location of Sardina, people might think that she had to pa.s.s the imperial capital to get there, such way of thinking is not wrong.