Heinrich adjusted his glasses and subtly surveyed the people around him. Perhaps because this was where monsters had reportedly appeared, the knights were heavily tense as they guarded Maxel.
He had altered his appearance and was secretly accompanying Maxel's schedule.
His magical tool not only changed his outward appearance but also minimized his presence to the utmost degree, so when he slipped in and posed as a porter, no one paid him any mind.
"It brings me such relief that Your Highness has graced us with your presence here."
"Have you stationed guards inside?"
"We've strengthened the city's defenses to focus on protecting the citizens. Over here, we first closed the gates and... ah!"
The lord, who had been continuing his explanation, let out a short scream. The main gate he claimed to have firmly shut stood wide open.
"Why is this open?"
"My apologies, my lord. I will investigate immediately."
"Your Highness, if you give the order, the knights will check the situation inside first."
Maxel stared fixedly at the open gate. Heinrich had a premonition that he must be thinking the same thing.
"No, I will go in directly."
Perhaps Anelli might be inside—a baseless hope.
The workers were made to wait near the main gate. Likely keeping in mind the possibility of combat.
Taking advantage of everyone's distraction with Maxel's guard detail, Heinrich quietly slipped into the bushes.
The lush petals of the fully bloomed flowering trees concealed him.
'Anyway, Maxel will only travel along the roads paved within the farm...'
Having put enough distance between them that he could no longer make out their conversation, Heinrich surveyed the farm.
"...."
At the end of the endlessly stretching flowering trees, farm buildings came into view.
If Anelli was truly here, wouldn't she be there?
He would likely be able to explore those buildings before Maxel, who would be advancing with knightly protection.
Once his destination was set, his pace quickened. Heinrich practically ran toward the building.
And just as he nearly reached it, he discovered a greenhouse beside the building.
Something on the ground next to the greenhouse was glinting in the sunlight.
"Glass?"
The side of the greenhouse was broken. Heinrich eyed it suspiciously and slowly approached.
Despite his efforts to minimize his footsteps, the sound of crunching came from stepping on glass.
Heinrich, startled by the noise, froze in place. Just as he was about to take another step, someone covered his mouth from behind.
"Wait, just a moment!"
He, who had been about to reflexively shake off his assailant, stopped his actions upon hearing the urgent whisper.
Once the other person realized Heinrich had completely ceased resisting, they carefully asked.
"Will you not make a sound?"
Heinrich slowly nodded. The other person, showing brief hesitation, slowly released their hand.
The moment he realized the other person was moving away from him, this time it was Heinrich who caught their wrist. A thin wrist he could easily grasp with one hand.
As expected, this time too, he could recognize the person by voice alone.
"Your Highness."
He could feel the other person—who had been trying to pull their wrist free—hesitate at his voice. Anelli, checking his face with disbelief, openly frowned.
"Ha..."
For some reason, Heinrich didn't feel hurt at all by her hollow sigh. Rather, he felt somewhat elated.
At the same time, he worried that Maxel might come here at any moment.
"...This way."
Still holding onto Anelli while checking their surroundings, Heinrich led her behind the building.
"Just a moment, Your Highness?"
"Shh."
Now it was he who silenced Anelli. She seemed surprised by his sudden action, but followed along obediently as if not wanting to cause a commotion.
Once they reached a secluded spot behind the building and Heinrich released Anelli's wrist, she immediately put distance between them.
"Why is Your Highness here?"
"You'd better lower your voice a bit more, Princess."
Glancing behind him, Heinrich calmly conveyed the situation.
"Maxel is currently here with knights in tow."
Anelli's stiffly frozen expression became utterly crumpled. She muttered with lips parted in disbelief, then irritably swept back her bangs.
"Damn, just my luck with everything."
Heinrich looked at her in surprise at the unexpectedly rough language.
Though she couldn't raise her voice, her quietly moving lips were certainly pouring out anger and irritation toward Maxel. Perhaps the journey had been exhausting enough to roughen her personality.
"Ha!"
Thinking even that was fine, Heinrich forgot the situation and simply laughed.
He could feel Anelli's gaze regarding him like a madman, but he paid it no mind.
A refreshing exhilaration dominated his entire body.
That bastard Maxel really was drowning in delusions all by himself.
* * *
My expression must be terribly contorted.
'...What on earth is this?'
The situation was a complete mess.
I had hurriedly driven the crying Durahan back into the greenhouse, and suddenly Prince Heinrich had popped out. Even bringing unfortunate and terrible news with him.
「Maxel is currently here with knights in tow.」
Why on earth is Maxel here? Isn't he supposed to be busy with capital festival preparations right now? Why is someone calling himself a crown prince not doing his proper duties and instead leisurely flower-viewing?
"Did he perhaps come with Lillia? For a date?"
Lillia had spouted nonsense before about wanting to travel to the provinces, saying the countryside's simplicity was better than the capital's splendor.
Perhaps she had pestered him, wanting to see the Empire's beautiful flower farm.
If that were the case, they'd be too busy enjoying their time together to bother me, which would have been good for me.
"Maxel came after hearing news of monsters appearing here. She didn't come."
"...He's still useless."
If there was a schedule like this, he should have pestered me to come along. To make me see this beautiful scenery alone?
"He plans to tour this farm entirely, so you need to hide quickly."
Even without Heinrich's urging, I was anxious enough already.
I still don't understand why Durahan keeps running away from me. What if holy knights are dispatched and battle breaks out with Durahan in this situation?
If even one of them perishes and the secret of my resurrection remains unsolved, that would be a huge problem.
Moreover, seeing it constantly running away made me more concerned.
But wait. Why is Heinrich here?
"Why exactly is Your Highness... Never mind. Thank you for the warning. Then I'll be going."
"Wait!"
Heinrich urgently caught me.
"Let's move together."
"Why should I?"
"Maxel doesn't know I've come here. I'm also in a position where I need to hide."
"That's Your Highness's personal matter."
"Princess."
"I'm grateful for the warning, but I didn't ask you to come, so do you intend to take responsibility?"
"Can't you consider it repayment for the warning?"
Repayment for the warning. What kind of repayment for a warning I didn't ask for?
My brows furrowed automatically, but thinking differently, thanks to Heinrich's warning, I could discover Maxel's presence faster, so I couldn't just ignore it.
I was frowning with a sour expression, working my lips, when a new voice cut in.
"Who are you?"
It was Xenon, whom I had sent to find Nadav, returning. Xenon, accompanied by Nadav and Nesi, looked at Heinrich and me alternately with a hardened expression.
Then he strode forward and pulled me slightly toward himself.
"I don't know who you are, but step away."
"I don't know who you are either, so don't interfere."
Neither would back down, glaring at each other as if in a standoff.
"I am this person's traveling companion. If you have business, speak to me first."
"This is no place for a servant to interfere."
"I'm not a servant, I'm a companion."
Thanks to Xenon dealing with Heinrich, I had some breathing room. Whatever happens between them, I don't care. Let's quickly resolve this situation first.
I turned my body slightly so Heinrich couldn't see.
'Maxel said he's searching this farm, so I need to escape quickly... but what about that crying Durahan?'
Gritting my teeth and worrying, I moved Jigor—who had been sitting on my shoulder insisting on defeating Heinrich right this moment—onto my palm.
"Go inside and persuade them. Since others might discover you, stop the crying first and hide together. Got it? I'll go out briefly and return."
[Leave it to me!]
"Tristan is supposed to come this way later, so join up with him. Can you hold on?"
[Please trust me! This Jigor will live up to the captain's expectations!]
I could feel Heinrich looking this way at my figure whispering to a finch, but I didn't have the luxury to explain.
Having lowered Jigor into the hole inside the greenhouse, I returned and grabbed Nadav's reins while looking back at Nesi.
"Did you find any back paths while wandering around?"
[As one leading a flock, a leader must always scout safe retreat routes. There are three paths out of here.]
"You really are the best, Nesi."
Nesi lifted his head with dignity. Beside him, not only Heinrich but even Xenon had stopped their verbal sparring and were watching this scene.
Those blockheads, seriously.
"Xenon, aren't you going?"
"I am!"
Xenon quickly approached me. I, who had been about to simply turn away, ultimately couldn't overcome my unease and spoke toward Heinrich.
"Don't just stand there, follow for now."
"Thank you, Princess."
At Heinrich's appearance smiling as if relieved of tension, Xenon shot him a dissatisfied look.
Will he be able to act like that even knowing Heinrich's identity? I wonder how he'll handle it later.
I don't know. Let's retreat first and think.