Vol 4 Chapter 2 (1/2)
“What did you just say?”
A hoarse female voice said
Oswald Coulthard as asked, lowered his head and used the same tone to reply
“Your Majesty Charlotte, just as I reported… … Princess Elizabeth Victoria, as heading here from Saint Edward Independent Acade”
The queen’s face grew paler and paler,
which contrasted with the criolden crown,
Her wrinkled face, due to her illness, looked like a fifty year old elderly While the scepter in her hand felt like her walking stick
Her voice was tre
“It can't be what about the iuards…”
“This is also very unfortunate, but it seems that all of them died in the line of duty”
“For the 6 iuards to be attacked at the borders and the princess … … Is it really a simple accident?”
The queen probed with a squeezed voice
However, Oswald's expression did not change even a little A smile was stuck on his face like a mask
The butler beside the queen shouted
“Insolence!”
However, he quieten dohen the two knights fully equipped with a sword in their hands beside Oswald tightened their guard
“Pardon me if I sounded rude, but what I have reported is the truth”
Oswald used a calm tone to reply
The queen was tre
“Ughhh, why did things became like this?”
She was repeating a thin, irregular breathing A wheezing sound, like cold air passing through the door, came from inside her throat
The butler quickly went to support the queen
“This is bad! Doctor! Doctor!”
The doctors were probably on standby just outside the audience room The door opened immediately and seven people dressed in white entered
“Cough… Margaret, you crazy fool… Are you trying to ruin the country ar? …”
Oswald replied to her after a moment of silent
“Ah? If we are talking about the aio to war is due to the benefits they can gain A nation is a place where people gather For them to survive, it’s about econoain wealth, Your Majesty”
“ Wretch… … Devil! Areto die for the sake of money!?”
“The lifespan of human is about hundred years In that case, there’s not much loss even if they die earlier To be able to e and honour for patriots?”
“Sophistry! Do you ealth that badly? … A noble title, high e… … You should be satisfied… … but… … why do you, still want money?”
“Your words flatter this humble servant I am truly blessed to serve in such an honorable capacity”
“Then… … Why?”
“It’s impossible for you, a born royal, to understand… … I have indeed obtained status and wealth… … Even so, there is still the desire for more, that’s how humans are”
Oswald intentionally said this in a roundabout way
The queen clutched her chest
“dah!?”
“Your Majesty! Please refrain fro anymore!”
As if she was depleting her vitality, she shook off the doctors, shouting “A greedy person like you will receive divine punishment! May you burn in hell after death!”
“Is that so? I believe thatthe streets… … It will be an honour if God noticed it”
Oswald replied as if he was praying
The queen squeezed her chest, eyes rolled back, foa
The doctors were desperately shouting ‘Your Majesty!”
Oswald bowed and left the audience room
Cohts and exited Queen’s tower In a corridor that was lined with stone pillars, the middle was laid with red carpet
A black-haired girl clad in a silk dress appeared from the back of a stone pillar
“Ara, you came back so fast Is the talk with my Aunt over?”
“To be graced by Your Highness Margaret’s presence, this hureat honour”
“Is that so, that will be troubleso, Oswald”
“Esteemed princess, this area is not suitable for such talk How about the balcony over there?”
“How troublesome”
The balcony was facing the courtyard
It was afternoon right now, the war on it
There was also a breeze
There were table and chairs
The princess crossed her legs
The white thighs which were hidden by the dress were exposed Osas standing beside her, hands behind his back while surveying the area
The knights in heavy ar at the door while the maid made tea
Oswald bowed and said,
“ … The audience with Her Majesty… … As this huraced myself”
“Ara, did so?”
“I had no other choice but to provoke her… … It was my miscalculation for the Coinally, I wanted to present her body and end it”
“True, it’s just like her to probe, how troublesome”
“My apologies”
“Liz, is she still safe?”
“She was saved by a boy and escaped towards the mountains”
“Ahh, she will co forward to it The present should be Applewood’s pie then If it’s around this time, the pie won’t spoil that easily”
“… Here? But many soldiers here have the same idea as this humble servant, there are even some who knew about the assassination of princess Elizabeththem”
“It’s fine If she does not coht? I will start a war then”
“Will she appear alone just to stop the war fro?”
“Yeah, Liz is like that, a good person, isn’t she? I’ll make a tart for her Liz doesn’t like strawberry as it is sweet and sour at the same time Hehehe”
“Is that so?”
“I’ forward to it Ah, can’t it happen faster? I will be waiting for you with a strawberry tart”
“How kind of you”
Oswald hadactions
Searching the es nearby to find the body and trample the Queen’s spirit
If Elizabeth returned, Oswald’s tactic would be crazier He thought of sending soldiers to Applewood and watch over the e of Elizabeth being just a clever girl Margaret tilted her cup and said,
“That reuards prepared a decoy”
“Yes, the royal carriage which was protected by the iuards’ subordinates was a decoy”
“Why did you not fall for it? How interesting”
“It’s siuards are united, but their subordinates are not stone A human heart is moved by money after all”
“I see, so you bribed them”
“My apologies, this ent you Graham is very loyal, hence I’m unable to comprehend his vulnerability”
“Ufufu… … What about your loyalty then?”
She threw a provocative look at him
She raised her legs alternatively, causing the skirt of her dress to slip evenwhite skin
“Towards the precious princess… … It has already exceeded simple loyaltyI only know that I have to spare no effort for you The value of hness’ happiness There is nothing other than that, this is my existence”
“Is that so… … Then, Oswald”
“Here”
“I’oes better with strawberry tart?”
“How about Darjeeling with honey?”
“It’s too sweet”
“Even though the strawberry tart is sour?”
“Ufufu, true It’s decided then, bring that out quickly”
“The wind got stronger, you can’t afford to catch a cold Isn’t it about time for you to return to your room?”
“Okay, I get it Hey Oswald”
“Yes?”
“I like Liz very irl”
“Is that so?”
“Hence, when you bring back the corpse, I want to see her before you present her to Aunt Charlotte Of course, that is before she rots If it’s about this season, there shouldn’t be any proble back Applewood’s pie shouldn’t be a problem too”
”Understood”
Oswald bowed her head deeply and respectfully, as if she was the queen
Margaret stood up
She walked while swinging her silk dress, she went to the door that connected the room interior with the terrace
Bastian ran in the forest with all his ht
When he was young, he felt fear froh what he was experiencing noas on a different scale
He ran until a river was seen
It was fortunate that they escaped As it was still April now, the river was cold
It was even more fortunate that they escaped while Bastian carried her
There was a brickthe river
There was nobody in the mill as the door was open Thus they could take a rest there
The mill has brick walls and wooden roof There was a coh there were firewood on the stove, they could not use it without permission
Bastian sat on an old chair
“Haah… It’s been some time since I ran so seriously, so tired”
“That, thank you veryme”
The girl who sat opposite of him lowered her head
Bastian waved his hand lightly
“Don’t mind it, didn’t Elise help ht?”
“My real nah it’s fine for you to call me what you like”
“In that case, is it fine to continue calling you Elise?”
“Yes”
The girl happily nodded her head
“I was called Elise until this ic”
“The silk dress suits you too”
“Ah, is that so?”
“I feel that it’s not bad Though the school uniform is better”
After he said that, Bastian was afraid of beingon her face
“Hehe… … I also feel that the school unifor That reminds me, the countless times I help you, do you mean the times I helped you in school?”
“YeahI got entangled into those aria, hoish I was from another country”
“Even though you are so strong, why do you endure such treatment?”
“I prorandfather… … that I will return hoht”
“How unexpected”
“Ah!”
Bastian turned pale afterthe promise
“Is anything wrong?”
“J, just now, that can’t be considered a fight, right? Not getting involved in a fight, not revealingabout other countries’ politics and religion”
“I believe that isn’t considered as a fight By the way, not revealing your identity means that your identity as an earl’s son is a fake identity, right?”
“Ah, no That”
“Criariane royalty has crimson eyes”
“I, is that so?”
Bastian took out glasses from his pocket The lens were made specially from black crystal
“W, why are you suddenly wearing sunglasses inside the room?”
“N, not good, lasses have the ability to suppress the ic”
“So, are you the third prince, Heinrich Trois Bastian de Belgaria?
“I, I don’t knoho is that”
“I understand I promise that I won’t tell anyone No matter what your real identity is, you are my benefactor”
“O,oh”
“You said you caive h the line of soldiers just to do so?”
“It’s true that I ca a friend from soldiers is normal”
“Friend… …”
“Eh? Why the surprised look!? If I a to have as a friend, I will jump into that stream okay!?
“Haa, being a High Britannian royalty sure is tough”
“I feel that it’s hard to approach Belgaria’s royalty”
“What… … Eddie of the Balzac House, our relation is good and not strange at all Sarandfather is very strong! Alanting to teach swordsmanshi+p”
“I see, a ducal house”
“Ah! N, no… … Erm… … That ritten in the newspaper”
“Ah, yes yes, I understand” Elise smiled
Bastian then changed the topic
“That reh Britannia uns…”
“This is the coy is advancing rapidly Due to that,war”
“Well, that’s normal”
“Perhaps this thought ht be normal for men, but I oppose a war If there is a war, many people will die”
“Well, it’s just that Belgaria has always been in a state of war since I was born, so I do not really understand ill happen if there is no war”
“Don’t understand?”
“Ah, no, do you mean that it’s better that people don’t die?”
“Yes, it’s a ith Belgaria”
“Ah?”
“I'aria Beyond the ocean, there is Hispania in the east”
Bastian frowned
“Is there so with their head? Even if they have numerous new cannons, they won’t be able to win This country’s soldiers lack experience… … And they intend to start a ith Belgaria that has been at war for hundreds of years?”
“If there is a chance for victory, they will start a war Perhaps that is what the High Britannians are thinking?”
This was said in a timid voice
Elise was not subirls
“If there is a chance, they will attack That’s how military men think”
“For what purpose? A ill not make a country prosperous, conversely, there arediplomatic ties”
“Ah? I, is that so ?
Benefits that were better than ere things that High Britannia did not thought of Elise nodded
“For exaes, two of the together Which of the two villages will be more wealthy?”
“The one that won the fight?”
“Thatto ask help from the people they defeated?”
“Well, that won’t work In fact, the defeated peoplewill return the favour twofold”
Elise nodded her head
“Perhaps it is possible to gain benefits and wealth for a hundred years by winning a war However, what about two, three hundred years later? Is it possible for the country to prosper forever?”
“Forever, is it?”
Bastian was not really aware of Belgaria’s history
The Empire existed for 851 years, there was once a period where half of the Empire’s territory was annexed by others, even the capital was captured
“Although one should consider about the future, but can a hu?”
“As a ruler, one should not only think about his own happiness, but also the country’s future”
“Ah, I see”
That re the sa
He often heard that as a ruler, one should prioritize the country’s future than self
“Because of such thoughts, I firmly oppose a war”
“I see, I see”
“However, within the country, support for a war is strong The war faction will aret, as the queen”
“Does that girl want to start a war?”
Elise entered into deep thought
“She… ”
“What does that mean?”
“She passes each day being bored As a duke’s daughter and the first princess of High Britannia, coupled with gentle parents and outstanding subordinates, she is beautiful and healthy, and doesn’t have any goals forced on her”
“How incredible”
“Precisely of that, it is very boring to her”
“If that’s the case, why not go out and play?”
“As long as she is in High Britannia, she will get bored quickly, because her IQ is higher than average”
There was nobody siaria’s royalty
The first prince Auguste was sickly, while the second prince Latreille was busy with entina, who has yet to coe, was banished to a border fortress as the commander The fifth child died soon after birth Even the fifth princess Felicia, as rising in the order of succession, has yet to venture out of her hoe
Bastian hiaret
Rich and healthy
“I have sis too”
“Is that so?”
“That reuy in the reat drive”
“Does Bastian read too?”
“I was there because I flipped all the statues in the yardand was criticized by the chief steward, so I went to hide ahts”
“ Ugh…”
During the spring two years ago,
Because of his red eyes, Bastian alore sunglasses when he was outside of the palace Even so, there was a chance of his identity being exposed
Despite that, I relasses and talked with that youth “What’s so interesting about that book?”
“H, I suppose”
“Nothing!? Then why are you reading it? Isn’t it tiring?”
“The reason why I read books, is the same as the reason why you breath
“Not breathing will be painful?”
“Yes, you’re right I will be in pain if I don’t finish reading the book”
“Are you sick?”
“I am told that quite often”
“I hate reading thethe sword”
Bastian shrugged
The young soldier took a few books from the pile on the table
“This work tells a story about a super swordsman, his enemy includes a 100Co(44m) tall monster It is a tense battle”
“This too, the heroine uses h the h man”
“Are, are you talking about ic cult?”
“Ah? You do not know about the bestsellers in the E these the most”
“Is that so? I really hate books after all… …”
“I also recommend this one… … No, perhaps this is a little extreirls’ clothing are a little thin”
“What… is with this guy… … Well, whatever… A cool fight scene? Why don’t you lend me that?”
“Is that so? I’e as you”
“Eh!? Isn’t this written by an adult!?”
“The author? As the target audiences are towards youth, there areauthors Perhaps they just have similar mindsets or simply just childish adults”
“Do you write too?”
“ … I was interested, but… … If I write, there won’t be enough tiht?”
“Ah, I see”
Bastian concentrated on reading the book
It was an outstanding work
Furthere as him
How Incredible—— That was his true thought
“ If, you write a story… … and it becoht read it”
The soldier was a handsoentle smile
Bastian hugged the borrowed book tightly
At that moment, a soldier with black beard entered with loud footsteps
He shouted while red in the face
“Hey!! Regis Auric you bastard! Break ti to make the Marquis wait for you!?”
“Ugh!”
He stood up quickly
At the same time, at the door of the library,
Soldiers froer Order, appeared in the library, which did not suit them
The powerful knights pointed at Bastian
“He’s here!”
Bastian then fled through the gap between the tables, smashed the s and escaped outside In his hand, he was holding the book…
After a short rest in the mill, Bastian moved into the forest with Elizabeth They moved in the direction of the streets and reached Applewood by dusk
“We didn’t lose our way”
“Isn’t that nor my speed and I had memorized the map, it’s impossible to be lost There isn’tbullets”
“Ah… … You’re weird, Bastian”
“Really? Latreille can do it too Ah, though Argentina is not good with directions She is quite interesting as she can get lost in the forest”
“That is normal”
Bastian tilted his head upon hearing that
Appleas a fortress city that was surrounded by walls A bustling city that was the biggest in the east
Even when the sun set, the streets would still be filled with stalls, and the noises were similar to that of a festival
The lives of the citizens here, even with the rapid advancearia
As a precaution, Bastian wore his sunglasses After all, therecity that knows about the features of Belgariane royalty
Bastian as beside her whispered in Elise’s ear, “ …There aren’t that many soldiers”
His shoulder lightly bumped into Elise’s shoulder
“Ah, not all soldiers are on Margaret's side, due to various reasons”
“Although Margaret is the mastermind, but do you knoas the one that ordered it? After all, ordering an assassination of a royal who is named as successor sure is cruel”
“I need to return to the capital”
“Leave it toyou there, so trust me”
“Thanks, Bastian”
She has no idea when soht attack
Because of that fear, she moved closer to Bastian
Even when in the school’s dorm or the canteen, their shoulders were not as close as now
Bastian has aproud and shy At the same time, his desire to want to protect her intensified
“I wonder if we can stay here”
“I wonder if they accept students?”
“That reht?”
“Yeah, it’s dangerous after all”
They have considered visiting Applewood’s mayor, but they decided not to as they were unsure which side the mayor was on
If he was on Margaret side, it was likely that he would call the army immediately
They entered the shop before the sky darkened
It was a building hite walls, the first floor being a bar while the second floor were the guestrooaria have the same inn’s layout
There were sixat a table that was meant to seat four people
At the counter, there was an old woman
“What is it, this isn’t a place children should come”
She uttered words of rejection
How should we explain this? Bastian was stumped
Elise walked to her and said, “Sorry to disturb, we are actually students and we are on our way back hoe that our faed seems to be late… … Is it possible that we can stay here for a night?”
The old woman came out of the counter and surveyed them
“ … Do you have money?”
“Ah, that… …”
Bastian searched his pockets
It was a futile search Not just
“There’s only an old watch, a short sword andwith the most value is my masterpiece!”
“What about h I seldom use it Anyway, I don’t think it’s cheap”