Ch. 9

"Uh...you saw it correctly, Eve. Dad saw it, too."

I rubbed my eyes with my sleeve again.

But nothing changed, no matter how many times I did that.

My blurry eyes became clearer after a moment, yet the imperial knights in front of our houses were still there. And right behind the knight was a luxurious carriage.

It was the kind of splendid carriage that would never be seen or heard in this secluded village.

'W-What the hell is that?'

No way. Did the prince send this to us?

But it had only been two days since the prince returned to the palace.

"Nial Royce! It is a message from His Royal Highness!"

A knight in silver armor with royal insignia stood in front of our house and shouted loudly enough to bring out the entire villagers.

My lower jaw couldn't stop quivering, so I looked up at my dad.

"D-Dad, did we make some mistake? Hmm? W-Why are they swarming our house?"

"I'm not sure, either...Dad is also trying to understand this situation, sweetie...."

"It hasn't been long since His Highness returned! Can he go from here to the capital in two days?!"

"It's useless to ask me that, Eve.....Dad is not sure, either...."

My dad looked really dazed as he said that. He walked to the front door with a pale face and trembling body. He then slowly opened the door.

The imperial knight who stood in front of the door examined my dad's face closely and asked.

"Nial Royce?"

"Y-Yes...I'm Nial Royce."

"His Highness the Prince has ordered us to bring you to the capital. So get yourself ready now!"

"R-Right now?"

"His Highness doesn't like to wait!"

My dad turned his head slowly towards me. Fixing his tilted glasses, he quietly mumbled.

"Eve...we have to go."

"....Now?!"

[Why do humans keep acting as they please?]

Ex, lying on the sofa, began to complain. I was on the same page with him this time.

'W-Why are they behaving as they please?'

Do you really call us to the imperial palace in such a state? Without even giving us time to pack up?

My dad talked to the knight, and closed the door after he received the letter with the royal stamp on it.

I ran to my dad, clung to his forearm and asked.

"Dad, what did they say?"

"They told me to pack up right away...and move my entire workshop..."

"....Really?"

"...Yeah...."

"Is that even possible?"

"That's what I thought..."

There was a moment of silence.

My dad and I glanced at each other before splitting up to pack our bags in a hurry.

"L-Let's move fast! What if those people get irritated and cut our heads off?!"

"That seems unlikely...."

"What if they get annoyed and destroy our house?! What if the prince annulled the contract because we came late and left us to wander around aimlessly like a beggar?!"

"Eve, sweetie. I don't think he will go that far..."

"Hurry up, Dad! Put your clothes here. Oh, you don't need to bring the women's shoes in the shoe rack."

"Eve? Why is that even in my house?"

"Ugh, dunno! I should've rejected him back then! Gasp! Hold on, Dad! Are we getting acquitted of the crimes of blasphemy toward the royal family?!"

"Eve! Sweetie! My cutie. Calm down."

I ran around like my tail was caught on fire, but my dad caught me, sat me on the sofa, and cupped my cheeks.

"Eve, calm down. That won't happen. Your dad here will guarantee your safety."

"But-!"

"Don't worry, His Highness won't kill us....I believe so. Or if this can soothe you a bit...."

"...What is it?"

"I have someone in the capital that I can ask for help. So don't worry. Let's pack our bags first, sweetie. Okay? We can meet them in advance if needed. I love you, my daughter."

"Uwaa, Dad! Do you have friends in the capital?!"

I opened my eyes wide at the story that I heard for the first time.

That was natural. My dad was the nerdiest among the nerds, who had no friends at all!

My dad folded my clothes with a sullen expression before he kicked me out.

"I'll pack up your bags, so go run errands for me. Give this money to Mrs. Nianson, the fruit shop down the street. Be sure to tell her that this is my dues. You can do it, right?"

"Huh? Yeah, I can."

"Then go, sweetie~"

My dad opened the front door and sent me out.

But there was a problem.

"......"

"....."

My dad forgot the fact that five burly royal knights guarded our front door.

I looked up at them, squeezing the money that my dad gave me.

"...Hic!"

I had a hiccup when I suddenly saw the royal knights.

Forget about going to Mrs. Nianson, I grabbed the door handle and twisted it in a hurry.

Uwaaa..Dad, let me back in.....

Inside a rattling carriage.

I swept the soft cushion carefully.

The golden-lacquered interior of the carriage was just as fancy as it looked, and the velvet chair---which I would have never imagined sitting on---was so soft that I opened my eyes wide in awe.

My dad and I were sitting opposite each other. We sat awkwardly in the middle of the carriage seats, which we rode for the first time.

I clasped my hands together to avoid my filthy hands from dirtying the carriage.

'I can't believe I got to ride this carriage....'

The only carriages I've seen were carts pulled by old donkeys to take people to the city.

When I turned my head and looked out the window, I saw the trees gliding past at a high speed.

The carriage was running fast without shaking.

It was amazing that it didn't shake despite running very fast, so I poked my head out the window, feeling the cool wind brushing past my cheeks.

At that moment.

"Ohh, little girl. Don't stick your head out of the window."

The knight, who was riding the horse next to the carriage, leaned closer to tell me that.

I nodded in puzzlement.

"Ah, y-yes, sir!"

"Good girl. Sit there quietly."

I quietly returned to my seat just as the knight said.

[Wow, this is really comfortable! This is how you should serve me!]

At that time, Excalibur, who was lying next to me, just tactlessly made a loud buzz.

I placed my hand over him and spoke calmly.

"Ex, you're going straight to His Highness."

[W-What is this brat on about!! How can you be so heartless to me!]

"No, it's not that I'm being heartless to you....but my dad and my life are more precious than you."

At that time, my dad, who had been watching us conversing, adjusted his glasses and called me.

"Sweetie."

"Yeah?"

"You know, you can't talk with Ex often in the capital."

"Huh? Is it because I'll draw people's attention?"

"Yeah, just to be safe. What if the bad guys try to steal Ex?"

[Hmph! Do you think this body can be taken away easily?!]

"Umm, okay, Dad."

I nodded as I slowly swept Ex's body carefully.

The drunken uncles who wanted to take away my sword. The rude prince, who knew that Ex was an Ego Sword and tried to take him away. They came into my mind one after another.

I was also reminded by Mrs. Hillary's advice about the capital being a very scary place to live.

I nodded small, biting my lips with a grim expression.

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