“This is something I shouldn’t tell you, but…”
“Yes.”
Whisper, whisper.
The village chief whispered into Sena’s ear. Hearing the information, Sena flinched.
“…Thank you for telling me.”
“Hehe, I had to tell you, Sena.”
“Stay healthy.”
“You too, Sena. Stay safe.”
Turning his back, Sena left the village, deep in thought.
Astria asked curiously.
“What did the village chief say?”
“He told me which direction Chris went.”
“I see.”
The place Chris had headed to was the County of Roam, located southwest of here. It was a location that could be reached by slightly detouring around the Birkender estate.
Sena clasped his hands behind his back and looked at Astria.
“We can go straight there.”
“No. We’ll stop by the Birkender estate first.”
“What?”
“Finding Chris comes next.”
Sena doubted his ears.
After finally finding a clue, they weren’t moving immediately?
As he looked at her with a puzzled expression, Astria raised an eyebrow.
“Is there a problem?”
“No, it’s just… Why? Clearly, finding Chris should be our top priority right now.”
“There are things you don’t need to know.”
True to her tyrannical nature, she didn’t even intend to explain the reason.
‘Wasn’t she being too much, even yesterday?’
Despite his efforts yesterday, she only belittled him.
And after telling him not to fight next time and to act like her, she even mocked him.
‘She’s going to get upset.’
“Your Majesty.”
“What?”
“You know, Senior might get upset…”
“…”
Astria sighed deeply as she looked at the forlorn fluffball.
“As I said yesterday, I initially planned to deal with your matter first. Now that I’ve confirmed he’s alive, that’s enough. Sir Chris will manage.”
“That’s nonsense. Chris is being chased by the Church and Duke Granz. We need to help him quickly.”
“Well, I see someone who seems in more urgent need than Chris.”
“If it’s my grandfather, he’s fine. I’m worried, but he’s not in a critical situation.”
“No, not him. I’m talking about you.”
Astria lifted Sena’s wrists.
Sena was taken aback, and his robe slid up, revealing his pale waist.
“Try to break free.”
“…”
Sena closed his eyes tightly and strained, but his efforts were so feeble they barely registered.
Astria’s eyes darkened. Sylvia, who was standing with her hands behind her back, also looked down at the ground.
“It’s clear to see your condition is worsening. You’re not fit for travel. Let’s finish this quickly and get you some rest.”
‘This is my last chance.’
Sena smiled bitterly.
“We’re going to the Birkender estate. This decision is final.”
Astria said coldly, releasing her grip.
“But.”
Sena spoke up immediately.
“Let’s go on foot, not by wyvern.”
“…Didn’t you hear what I just said? We don’t have time.”
“There are some things I can’t compromise on.”
‘This journey is only going to last three weeks at most.’
The time he had left with Astria and Sylvia was fleeting.
Sena wanted to create unforgettable memories during this brief period.
For that, they couldn’t travel comfortably by wyvern. That would strip away all the romance.
“If we go a little further from here, we’ll reach a point that passes through Celine. This is also the Village of Heroes. There will be at least a carriage here.”
“Sena.”
“Please, Your Majesty.”
Astria stared intently at Sena for a long time.
Suddenly, she remembered something Chris had said in the past.
-Did you know? Sena is surprisingly stubborn. Once he makes up his mind, no one can change it.
Now she finally understood what he meant.
However, it felt a little different. It wasn’t that Sena’s stubbornness couldn’t be broken.
‘There are some flowers you just don’t want to trample.’
Astria chuckled softly.
“Do as you wish.”
**
Fortunately, the villagers readily provided them with a carriage, easing their worries.
They didn’t even take money for it. Sena felt a bit guilty, wondering if that was okay.
The carriage looked more expensive than he expected, which brought a sense of relief.
Well, even if they had to spend all their money, having Astria around meant it wouldn’t be a big problem.
“What’s our next destination?”
“Count German’s territory. See here?”
Sena pointed at the map. It was an estate located slightly below the Village of Heroes. Incidentally, if they went straight from the Village of Heroes, they would reach the Birkender estate.
“Why are we taking a detour?”
“Um, it’s tough to go that way. There are lots of monsters.”
“…?”
Both Sylvia and Astria looked stern simultaneously.
“You’re traveling with the Empire’s greatest knight and the most powerful Empress in history.”
Of course, it wasn’t because he didn’t trust the two of them.
If Chris’s destination was the Birkender estate, they would inevitably meet him there.
‘Chris may have left first, but this route is faster. We might get there first and wait.’
Though he felt sorry for Astria, Sena intended to pursue Chris.
“Well, I have some business there.”
“Prick.”
“Ahaha.”
As Sena laughed awkwardly, the coachman ahead was startled and stopped the carriage.
“Bandits!”
“…What?”
Sena’s eyes sparkled.
‘Here they are! The indispensable bandits!’
Whether they were directly threatened by bandits or ended up saving someone from bandits who turned out to be a princess, these were the thrilling parts of any journey. Essential elements, really.
“I’ll be back shortly.”
Sylvia quietly stood up.
“Do not stain the sword I bestowed upon you with such filth.”
“…I’ll fight with a fallen branch then.”
“That will suffice.”
Astria smiled contentedly, and Sylvia moved to open the carriage door. Sena held onto Sylvia’s arm, stopping her.
“Senior?”
“Just wait a moment!”
‘Do you think I’ll let this perfect opportunity slip by?’
Sena grinned widely.
‘I’m showing it here. To Astria.’
He still harbored ambitions to win over Astria with his own unique flair.
Sena reported confidently to the Empress.
“Please trust me.”
Astria was curious about what this white-haired furball was plotting now.
-Everyone, get out of the carriage!
“…Looks like they want us all to get out.”
“Everyone, don’t say a word. Leave everything to me.”
**
“Boss, we hit the jackpot!”
Seeing Sena, Astria, and Sylvia step out of the carriage, the bandits gulped.
They were beauties the likes of which they had never seen before.
“Don’t get any foolish ideas. Greed will get you all killed.”
The bandit leader, Hans, warned them.
‘Excessive greed leads to trouble.’
That was the bandit’s creed. Though, it also depended on their attitude.
“Ladies, are you on a trip? Just the three of you?”
“Heh heh heh.”
“Don’t be too scared. Hand over all your money and we’ll spare your lives.”
“Kuh kuh kuh.”
“…”
Astria’s lips twitched in anger. Sylvia was equally tense.
In contrast, Sena’s eyes sparkled. These were real, local bandits.
“Ahem.”
Sena stepped forward. Hans glanced at Sena.
‘This white one must be the highest-ranking among them.’
Of course, his assumption couldn’t have been more wrong.
‘Let’s see how they react.’
Hans’s smile widened, imagining all the possible scenarios.
The most common reactions were ‘Do you know who I am?’ or ‘Can you handle this?’ Sometimes one of the three would turn out to be a knight.
In today’s world, banditry didn’t always go as planned. But Hans was different.
‘We’re the Leviathan.’
He was an exceptionally skilled bandit who kept his band thriving in these harsh times, ready for any scenario.
‘Show me your move…!’
However—
Hans’s expectations were completely wrong.
Sena pulled a money pouch from his robe.
“Here. This is all I have.”
“…”
Hans reached out and snatched the pouch.
‘Typical. He’s definitely hiding more. This is a decoy.’
It was probably a small, insignificant amount.
But it didn’t matter. Giving up money indicated a desire to avoid conflict, and as long as the amount was decent, Hans wouldn’t complain.
However, upon seeing the amount, Hans staggered in shock.
“What, what, what is this?”
It was at least 50 gold coins.
Enough to allow the bandits to live comfortably for a year without needing to rob anyone.
“Did you really give us everything?”
“Didn’t you ask for it all?”
“Are you an idiot?”
“…Excuse me?”
Sena was puzzled.
He had given them what they asked for, so why the confusion?
Regaining his composure, he spoke with a kind smile.
“This should be enough for you not to rob others for a while.”
Sena smiled warmly, gripping Hans’s hands tightly.
“If possible, consider leaving this lifestyle and finding better work. This money should help.”
“…!”
Hans’s pupils dilated.
Never before had he encountered someone like this.
Never before…
Had there been such a fool!
‘Damn, must be wealthy to give away 50 gold coins so easily. And traveling without a proper guard?’
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Greed in banditry was dangerous.
But sometimes, you had to bet everything on a chance.
No one in their right mind would hand over all their money to a bandit with a smile.
This had to be just a fraction of their wealth. If he could take it all?
‘My life would be set.’
Just as Hans’s eyes gleamed with greed.
Woosh.
He sensed something strange and looked up.
“Gasp.”
A blonde girl was smiling slightly, looking directly at him.
That was all it took, but Hans couldn’t move a single finger.
A predator. The unmistakable aura of a predator.
Just meeting her eyes felt like his body was being torn apart.
In this moment, Hans experienced death.
“Excuse me?”
Sena tilted his head, looking at Hans. What was wrong with him all of a sudden? Sena tapped his shoulder lightly.
“Hah, hah.”
Hans was breathing heavily, looking at Sena with a face as pale as a ghost’s.
‘Is it a panic attack? Or PTSD?’
Either way, it was plausible. But that wasn’t the important thing right now.
“Well then, goodbye.”
Sena bowed politely and started back towards the carriage. But Hans hurried after him.
“I-I’m sorry!”
“?”
“I mistook you for someone else!”
He bowed deeply and placed the money pouch back into Sena’s hands.
“Everyone, retreat! Now!”
Without giving Sena a chance to say anything, Hans and his men quickly fled.
“Oh.”
Sena looked at the money pouch back in his hand and wore a serious expression.
It felt quite unsettling.
But since the outcome was good, it was fine, right?
Sena smiled brightly and turned to Astria.
“Did you see that? Goodwill is repaid. The bandits were so moved by my goodwill that they returned the money.”
“…Indeed.”
Astria chuckled, finding the situation amusing.
Sena still felt a bit uneasy, but with his hands on his hips, he offered some advice.
“Ast…, I mean, Ria, you should do the same in the future. Showing kindness to others isn’t just for them; it’s also for yourself.”
**
Softly breathing, Sena was asleep in Astria’s arms. Given his physical condition and the exhausting day, he seemed quite tired.
Astria quietly adjusted his disheveled silver hair. Sylvia watched the scene with envy and spoke up.
“I should scold him when he wakes up.”
“Does this happen often?”
“…Yes. Even at the Academy, he would give away all his money to anyone in need. And then he’d have nothing left for himself, buying a single baguette to eat all day. No matter how much I scolded him, he never changed.”
Astria blinked.
That’s a bit extreme.
“Does Miss Sylvia think Sena’s way is wrong, then?”
“Isn’t it obvious? If you act like him, you’re just being a pushover.”
“Well, I don’t necessarily think he’s wrong.”
Sylvia looked at Astria with surprise.
Astria gently patted Sena’s small head and spoke softly.
“Goodwill does come back.”
Astria smirked. She didn’t disagree with Sena’s words. In fact, they were almost a universal truth.
However, there was one crucial condition.
“When backed by overwhelming power.”
And for Empress Astria, there was no easier condition.
She would use it for this little furball. That power.
Astria made up her mind. She would grant Sena whatever he desired from now on.
