Chapter 1

Chapter 1

RISHE DESCENDED the gently sloping stone steps before the vast ocean. The seventh-month sun shone clear and ­vibrant, bathing the seaside town in glittering light. Its rays seemed to reflect off buildings painted pure white, contrasting with the azure sky. A soft sea breeze blew through the streets, fluttering the light mint-green dress Rishe wore.

“Oh!” Rishe’s eyes brightened with excitement when she caught sight of the harbor. Winds from foreign lands always got her excited.

She gazed at the sea, holding her hat down against the wind. At the same time, Arnold, who was walking ahead, turned back and held out his hand to her.

“Rishe,” he said simply.

She guessed that the next few steps were treacherous. Arnold must have been worried she would trip in her high-heeled shoes.

With some hesitance, she took Arnold’s hand. “Thank you.”

“We’re in no rush. If you want to sightsee as you walk, just hold my hand, all right?”

Rishe was a little flustered. Her feelings were so strange of late. Restlessness and nervousness had her in their grips whenever Arnold showed concern for her. She tried to act as natural as possible, surveying the ships in the harbor.

“I believe our visitor has already disembarked. I’m looking forward to speaking with her.”

“You sure you didn’t want to wait back at the palace? You don’t need to meet with her now. She’ll be at the ceremony next month.”

“She arrived a whole month early, though! It’s a great opportunity to meet and befriend her, don’t you think?”

Rishe glanced over her shoulder. Arnold’s Imperial Guards followed them with easy smiles, not the least bit wary. After all, Rishe was the only one who knew what kind of reputation would precede their visitor in the future.

Upon arriving at the harbor, they rendezvoused with Oliver and a few knights who had gone ahead of them.

“She’s right over here. Let me take you to her.” Oliver’s gaze directed them to a spot where a large white umbrella was set up.

A woman stood beneath the umbrella. She was too far away for them to see her expression—furthermore, she hid her mouth with a folding fan.

That’s the “heinous criminal” who’s executed in the future. Rishe slowly pulled her hand free of Arnold’s. Four years from now, her lavish lifestyle empties the treasury of the country she marries into, and her husband the king beheads her for it.

The woman snapped the fan shut in a gesture of breathtaking elegance. As she approached them, her vibrant gold hair streamed behind her. Her deep-green dress was heavy for summer, but her steps were as light as if it didn’t weigh a thing.

It’s like she’s walking on clouds. No, not walking… Rishe blinked as she observed the woman. It’s like she’s sprinting toward us!

As soon as the thought entered Rishe’s head, the woman opened her mouth.

“Umm, I-I-I…!”

Er, what? Ack, wait! Oh no!

It was already too late. The woman tripped and fell on her face with a loud splat. Rishe tossed all apprehension aside and dashed over to her.

“Are you all right?!”

“I-I-I…I’m so sorryyyyy!” the woman wailed. She seemed as if she could burst into tears at any moment. Her long bangs covered her eyes, however, so Rishe couldn’t be sure. “I offer my sincerest apologies for causing you so much trouble with my existence! Th-this is a gesture in an eastern country that means, ‘You may behead me at any time if you wish’!”

“No, please raise your head! There’s no need to do that!”

While the woman attempted to kiss the cobblestone with her forehead, Rishe yanked her upright. Arnold watched from a slight distance with a look that said, You don’t need to bother with that. Still, Rishe couldn’t help herself as she regarded the trembling woman in her arms.

Goodness! It’s unbelievable, but I’m certain this woman is…

 

---

 

Their visit to the seaside Galkhein town had been decided a few days earlier, about a week after they’d returned from the Grand Basilica in the Holy Kingdom of Domana. Rishe had resumed her routine at the detached palace. She got up early to train and build stamina, tended to her field, and supervised her maids’ work. At the same time, she had other duties to attend to: her ongoing negotiations with the Aria Trading Company, letters from Michel that needed replies, and preparation for her and Arnold’s wedding. Despite all this hustle and bustle, an inexplicable cloud had settled over Rishe’s heart.

Perhaps it was only natural for her brother-in-law, Theodore, to pick up on what was bothering her.

“Oh, Sisteeer,” he said in singsong while he and Rishe walked through the halls of the palace. Theodore’s eyes narrowed in mirth as he peered into her face. “Are you listening to me?”

“Hrk! O-of course I am. I’m relieved to hear that you and Mr. Tully are working together so well.”

Rishe had struck a deal with the Aria Trading Company, which she had been very involved with in her first life. She had taught Tully how to make her nail polish and given the Aria Trading Company the exclusive rights to sell it. In exchange, they were to hire workers from the slums to manufacture the product.

At this point, it was Theodore’s project—he knew more about the situation in the slums than anyone else. He also knew more than Rishe when it came to goods circulation in Galkhein and how to procure the necessary materials. At first, Theodore hesitated over accepting the position because he didn’t want to steal Rishe’s glory, but when Rishe insisted—“My goal right now is not to do business but to live a life of absolute indolence!”—he gave in with exasperation.

But Rishe was currently taking up Theodore’s interest whether she liked it or not. “My brother told me to support you, so of course I’m doing everything in my power there. That’s not important right now, though. What’s bothering you, Sister?”

Rishe lowered her gaze at Theodore’s direct question. “It’s not so much that something’s bothering me…”

Lately, Rishe’s chest ached whenever she was around Arnold. She wasn’t completely worry-free when they were apart either. When he wasn’t at her side, her loneliness constricted her heart.

“I’m worried about Prince Arnold,” Rishe muttered. When Theodore frowned, she felt flustered and hurried to explain. “I-It’s not that he’s acting strange or anything! He’s just…so busy.”

“Ah, that. Yeah, I get it.” Theodore nodded in understanding, so Rishe asked him an additional question.

“Your brother handles a vast number of duties all by himself, does he not? Even if you have been helping him more as of late.”

“Yeah. I hear my brother handles about the same number of duties as my father now… But my father has a lot of loyal retainers, you know.” Theodore paused for a breath as he walked down the hallway. “In contrast, my brother has a lot of enemies in the palace.”

“Enemies?”

“It’s because his ways are starkly different from our father’s. Some people no longer benefit from the way my brother does things or have lost their positions because of him.”

Now that Rishe thought about it, she recalled running into Prince Arnold once during his confrontation with Galkhein’s earl marshal. The earl marshal had seemed confident at the time; Rishe now realized that he must have been acting on the emperor’s authority.

All the important people in Galkhein are the emperor’s ­retainers. At this stage, Arnold Hein doesn’t yet have the retainers he will in the future. Following that train of thought, Rishe recalled the names of Arnold’s future military leaders.

There was one other thing Rishe was itching to ask—something that had occurred to her during her time with Arnold at the Grand Basilica.

“Speaking of His Majesty, where do your father’s wives reside?”

“Not the empress, but his other wives?”

“Yes. Do they live in detached palaces like mine?”

“Well, there were quite a few of them, but aside from Her Majesty, they’re all dead now,” Theodore said breezily.

Rishe froze, gaping at the prince.

Theodore came to a stop several steps ahead of her and wheeled around, a beautiful smile on his face. “Didn’t I tell you? You won’t find happiness marrying into our family.”

Rishe swallowed hard, while Theodore continued to look as smooth as new cream.

“Oh, that’s right!” he said. “A message from Tully: ‘I’ll have that information you requested in a few days.’”

“Er, thank you.”

“Also, if you’re worried about my brother, then you should stop being so reckless. I mean, taking a poison arrow in the neck while protecting someone?! You’re unbelievable!”

Rishe could say nothing in response, but she wondered where he got his information. She was once again impressed by his intelligence network.

With a “Well, see you!” and a smile, Theodore departed. Rishe took a deep breath. Her guards were still walking a little ways away to give them some privacy. Returning to the detached palace with them in tow, Rishe just happened to bump into Arnold in the entrance hall.

“Rishe.”

Her shoulders almost shot to her ears when he called her name, but she refused to display such a response. She forced a smile and looked up at Arnold. “Good day, Prince Arnold.”

She felt herself sweating internally as he turned his blue eyes on her. She was attempting to interact with him as she always did, but had she messed up somehow?

If she had, Arnold made no mention of it. Instead, he said, “This is good timing. I was just about to have someone get you.” His voice neutral, he added, “I’ll be leaving the palace for a short time.”

“Huh?” Rishe blinked rapidly.

“You’ll be on your own, but don’t worry—I’ll leave plenty of guards with you. Make use of them however you wish.”

“You need to leave for official business?”

“I must go meet some foreign guests. They’ll be coming for our wedding and staying in Vinrhys until then.”

Their wedding was about a month away. It wasn’t all that ­unusual that guests from far and wide had already begun to arrive, considering possible delays on the road. On the hosts’ side, it was customary to put these guests up comfortably in a castle. Arnold was probably planning on going by himself because this was but a preliminary greeting ahead of the event.

“Is Vinrhys far away?”

“It’s on the western coast. Probably four days by carriage.”

“Won’t it be inconvenient to go so far when you’re so busy?”

“I experimented with keeping in touch with Theodore on our trip to Domana, and it went well. If I employ the same methods and work on the road, it shouldn’t present any problems.”

Well, that was good news, yet Rishe still wasn’t satisfied. Prince Arnold won’t be around for a while…

Without meaning to, she frowned. Also without meaning to, she grabbed Arnold’s sleeve.

“What’s wrong?” Arnold asked gently.

“Wh—” It confused her to hear him being so tender, but that wasn’t why the question got stuck in her throat. “What…is this?”

No one was more surprised than Rishe by her own actions. Arnold would be gone—and the effect that news had on her ­emotions was incomprehensible.

Is it… She cast her gaze to the floor. Is it that I…?

“Do you want to come with?”

“Huh?” Rishe lifted her head with a start. She felt like Arnold had read her mind.

“To the ocean,” Arnold clarified, face unreadable.

Rishe nodded several times. “Y-yes! I want to go to the ocean!”

Arnold peered at her, deep in thought. “You must prepare for the wedding, though. If you come with me, won’t you be pushing yourself too hard again?”

“My share of the work is easy enough to do there.” It was not Rishe who was most busy now but rather the diplomats and ­laborers putting the wedding together. There was less and less for Rishe herself to tackle.

Arnold regarded Rishe’s hand on his sleeve with a dispassionate glance. After a beat, he said, just as softly as before, “I’ll take you with me, then.”

Rishe was so happy, it felt like flowers were blooming in her heart.

The Galkhein ocean!

She’d agreed without thinking, but it was true that she wanted to visit the ocean. A port town that saw the comings and goings of so many foreign vessels would have no shortage of spectacles. Her eyes sparkled as she imagined it.

“Oliver, make the arrangements.”

“As you say.”

“Thank you, Oliver! Incidentally, who is it we’re greeting?”

If they were going to the western coast, their visitors would either be from the western or the southern continent. Rishe was going over her mental list of the invitees when Arnold answered.

“The Siguel royals. Prince Curtis and his sister, Harriet.”

Siguel was a country Rishe was very familiar with. I never met Princess Harriet, but I know all about His Highness Prince Curtis.

Rishe took a short breath as the man appeared in her mind’s eye. After all, I served his family in my life as a hunter.

 

---

 

Located on the western continent, Siguel was called the country of writing due to its plethora of books. The royal family possessed a printing press, and the people were not in want of reading material. More than anything else, though, the ruling family simply loved books.

Four years after Rishe had begun serving Siguel in her fifth life, the royal family heard the terrible news.

“Prince Curtis hasn’t left his bed in days,” one of Rishe’s hunting troop members said sorrowfully.

“I don’t blame him. I mean, his sister was executed. She must have changed after marriage.”

“I just can’t believe it. Princess Harriet emptied the national treasury and drove her people into poverty with lavish spending?”

Their voices were hushed inside the room they’d been given. Curious, Rishe turned to one of her fellow hunters. “Princess Harriet was executed?”

“Oh, that’s right. You didn’t come to this country until after Princess Harriet moved in with her fiancé’s family.”

Rishe nodded, and one of the hunters filled in the details for her. “Princess Harriet left for a political marriage. It was necessary for Siguel to maintain their relationship with an allied nation. But she was executed as a heinous criminal by the family she married into.”

“Yeah, and now Siguel has to pay reparations for Princess Harriet’s crimes. It’s being struck from the alliance as well.”

It was ill news indeed. While Rishe contemplated this, a hand plopped down on the hood covering her head. “Eep!”

“Hey, Rishe. Fellas. I’m back.”

A stir went through the room at the return of the man they’d all been waiting for.

“Chief! How’d your recon of the hunting ground go?”

“Well, I’m tired. I can tell you that much. Fabrannia’s in a real sorry state. The rural areas are starving, and all the wealth’s concentrated in the capital. Even there, you can see a huge gap between the rich and the poor!”

The hunters’ faces all fell at the man’s overly cheery report.

“I heard all about it from the merchants. They confirmed that Harriet spent money like it grew on trees—buying up jewels and dresses from overseas. What a headache, ha ha.”

Rishe wanted to get a good look at the man too, but his hand on her head was preventing it. She fidgeted, somehow squirming out of his grasp, and turned to face him.

“Hey, Ra—”

“Siguel’s going to war with Galkhein.”

The hunters gasped.

“Chief, is that true? Before, His Majesty said he didn’t intend to get involved.”

“It was presented as an alternative method of reconciliation with Fabrannia. If Siguel supports Fabrannia in their war efforts, they don’t have to pay reparations and they can stay as allies.”

All joviality had seeped out of the man’s voice, and a sneer had ousted the breezy smile from his face.

“Queen Harriet was a heinous criminal. Fabrannia wants Siguel to take responsibility for her.”

 

Once married into Fabrannia’s royal family, Queen Harriet leeched off the country’s coffers while her husband struggled with illness. The people starved, counterfeit money circulated, and the queen paid no mind to her nation’s ruin. Eventually, the king recovered with the help of a certain apothecary, and when he learned of his wife’s misdeeds, he despaired and sent her to the axe. That was the Queen Harriet story Rishe heard, anyhow.

I’m having some doubts, though.

In a room in a small castle on top of a tall cliff, Rishe looked down at a young woman sitting in a chair and blubbering through her tears.

“Urgh… Hic!”

It was the future Queen Harriet.

She doesn’t look like an evil queen who lives lavishly while her people starve, Rishe thought.

While one couldn’t always judge a book by its cover, people’s values and morals were typically evident from their behavior.

Harriet had blonde hair that went down to her waist. Although clearly well cared for, it was in total disarray. It seemed to Rishe that she’d given up on it, letting it grow on its own. Her bangs were long enough to cover her eyes, like a shield that protected her from the prying gazes of others.

Rishe sat opposite her and said, “Please calm down, Princess Harriet.” She attempted to organize the information the crying princess had given her. “Let me make sure I understand your situation. You’re visiting Galkhein from Fabrannia, where you’re residing until your marriage. Your brother, Prince Curtis, is coming on another ship from Siguel. Am I right so far?”

“Y-yes.”

“Got it. So on your ship, you had a guard detail of a few lady knights, but they all came down with food poisoning.” Rishe grimaced, feeling sorry for the poor knights from the bottom of her heart. They had to have been in rough shape after enduring nothing but nausea aboard the rocking ship. Being royalty, Harriet must have escaped the same fate because she was the only one eating other food.

“Th-there should be another group of lady knights from my country on my brother’s ship too, for situations like this, but…b-but…” Harriet sniffled hard, unable to continue.

“Since your brother took a different route, his ship is still on its way, so you’ve arrived in Galkhein by yourself first.” As she spoke, Rishe glanced at Arnold. He stood silently behind her, exuding an aura that was one hundred percent uninterested and loath to get involved. Nevertheless, she asked, “Prince Arnold, might we use some of your Imperial Guards to escort Princess Harriet?”

“That’s what we must do,” he replied. “Oliver.”

“Of course. I’ll make the arrangements.”

“Um, I…” Harriet’s voice, thick with tears, came in halting syllables. “I’m sorry… I appreciate your consideration…b-but I cannot accept your kindness! I-I’m under strict instructions from my fiancé, you see…”

The fiancé in question being the king of Fabrannia.

“I-I’m not allowed to be near any men who aren’t my husband!”

That wasn’t such a strange stipulation.

“Your generosity is w-wasted on me, I’m afraid… I-I’m sorry, I’m so sorry!” She apologized profusely between hitching sobs, her voice tiny. All but folding in on herself, Harriet whispered, surely intending for no one to hear, “I just want to crawl into a hole…”

Harriet was at the end of her rope.

Oh, this won’t do. I didn’t expect her to prostrate herself before us on our first meeting. She’s worried about troubling Galkhein because she doesn’t have her own guards with her.

And lo, her worries had become a reality. Perplexed, Oliver whispered to Arnold, “What shall we do, my lord?”

“We can’t just have a foreign guest staying here with no guards. There’s nothing else we can do.”

As Arnold spoke with his attendant, Rishe sidled up behind him.

“Galkhein doesn’t have any female knights,” Oliver pointed out.

“There are hardly any countries that do. Even on the western continent. And—” Arnold paused, glancing back at Rishe as she stood there waiting for him to address her. “Supposing we somehow manage to find a skilled female mercenary, that’s not the sort of person we can trust to guard foreign royalty.”

“Hey, Your Highness.”

“There’s no way we can find someone on such short notice who’s skilled enough to serve as her guard, whose background we can verify, and who knows the proper etiquette for—”

Rishe tugged Arnold’s sleeve. “Psst. Prince Arnold!”

After several seconds, Arnold sighed and regarded Rishe with resignation. “What is it?”

It’s not like Arnold to ask a question he already knows the answer to, Rishe thought as she raised her hand. “I can serve as Princess Harriet’s guard!”

“What are you saying, Lady Rishe?!”

In contrast to Oliver’s shock, Arnold clutched his forehead, head bowed. The air about him said plainly, I was afraid this would happen.

“Do you believe my command of etiquette is lacking, Prince Arnold?”

“No.”

“Have you ever suspected my background to be less than legitimate?”

“Of course not.”

Rishe smiled at the sour face Arnold was making. “Well, what about my sword skills, then?”

“…”

There was no one more qualified than Rishe. While she might have been betrothed to the crown prince, she herself was little more than a duke’s daughter from a small country. Young women of her status often served as princesses’ maids. In Rishe’s mind, appointing herself as a guard for a short time wasn’t an unreasonable idea.

“You just want to do it for fun.”

“Urk!”

“And you’re plotting something again, aren’t you?”

“Well, do you have any arguments against it, Your Highness? If something happens to Princess Harriet while she’s without an escort, it will be Galkhein’s responsibility, will it not?”

Arnold surely wished to prevent such a complication.

“It’s true that my skill pales in comparison to yours and that of your Imperial Guards, but I believe I could prove quite handy as an escort.”

“That’s not my issue with this.” Arnold gazed at Rishe in ­earnest and then lowered his lips to her ear. “I’m most concerned about your safety.”

Rishe started, his rumbling voice tickling her eardrum. I’m sure those words have ulterior reasons behind them, but still!

She stepped back, flustered, resisting the urge to snap back at him. “Rather than considering me someone who must be protected, I would prefer it if you assumed me capable of fending off most enemies!”

“I never said I didn’t trust you. I believe in your courage and your sword skills,” Arnold said with some reluctance before sighing again. “I would like to know what you’re scheming, though.”

“That’s my little secret.”

“Isn’t it always?” He thought a moment. “Can I ask you to do this for a little while?”

Rishe smiled with relief. “Yes! Leave it to me, Your High­ness!” She was turning toward Harriet when Arnold grabbed her arm. “Ah!”

“Don’t forget, though.” Arnold’s voice was quiet, as if he were carefully etching the words into her memory. “You may be able to ‘fend off most enemies,’ but you’re still under my protection.”

“Y-yep! Got it!” Rishe’s heart thrummed, fit to burst. She wished he’d go a little easier on her.

Willing her cheeks not to redden, Rishe headed for Harriet. The foreign princess was folded over on her chair, overwhelmed to the point of tears.

“Apologies for the wait, Princess Harriet.” Rishe knelt before her. Wow, this reminds me of my life as a knight!

With grace and poise, Rishe took Harriet’s dainty hand. She didn’t give it a gentle squeeze, as she might have when dressed as a boy. Still, she smiled, wishing to comfort the princess.

“Please don’t cry. I will protect you from any misfortune that may befall you.”

“Huh?!”

Following all the rules of chivalry that had been beaten into her, Rishe made a vow to the lady before her. “I swear I will ­defend you…so please be at ease, won’t you, my lady?”

With a squeak, the face hidden behind Harriet’s bangs instantly flushed red.

 

---

 

The small castle designated for Harriet’s stay was on the outskirts of Vinrhys. It stood atop a small hill overlooking the seaside town. It only took some fifteen to twenty minutes to return to the town from there.

Rishe sauntered through the lively town with Harriet in tow. Her guards trailed behind. A few of Harriet’s attendants also ­accompanied them, rounding off the large procession and ­making it obvious that someone important was in town. Rishe had tried to explain that they would stand out like this, but Harriet’s head maid had been quite insistent.

“That will not do,” she’d said. “No matter the situation, if Galkhein’s crown princess is serving as Princess Harriet’s escort, then the least her maids can do is stay by Her Highness’s side to lessen your load as much as we can, Lady Rishe.”

The head maid seemed similar in age to Rishe’s mother. She spoke so matter-of-factly that Rishe found herself unable to argue. Thus, their outing had ended up with a party of ten.

I hope the princess can at least enjoy our stroll.

Rishe turned to Harriet and smiled. “You’re not tired, are you, Lady Harriet?”

“Wh-what?! Er, I…” Harriet hung her head, clearly distressed. She shot a look at her maids before continuing. “I-I’m fine. Please don’t concern yourself with me…”

“I can’t do that. You said you wanted to see one of Galkhein’s towns since you came all this way.” Rishe put a hand over her heart in a most knightly gesture and added, “I’d at least like you to enjoy the experience.”

A sword hung at her waist, its black scabbard adorned with gold ornamentation. It was Arnold’s spare sword. The weapon was a bit big for Rishe, but he had lent it to her with the words, “It’s better than nothing.”

He’d given her his sword belt as well, but it was too large for her even on its tightest notch, so she’d poked a new hole in it. Arnold looked slender, but he was solidly built compared to Rishe.

All this reminds me of my knight’s training.

Fastening the belt around her dress and hanging Arnold’s sword from it, Rishe started to feel more like she was back in her sixth loop. She’d been instructed by her king—a devoted husband—that all knights must show the utmost respect to women. Though she merely dressed like a man in that loop, Rishe had exercised chivalry whenever possible.

“The sea breeze isn’t too cold, is it? If it’s too bright out, I can fetch you a parasol. We’ll walk at your pace, so feel free to direct me.”

“I…I-I-I couldn’t possibly!” Harriet spluttered.

“I beg of you, do not show any restraint with me, my lady.” Rishe took Harriet’s small, pale hand and beamed at her once again. “All I wish is for you to enjoy our day together. I vow to do everything in my power to make that happen.”

“S-so dazzling…”

“Would you like a parasol after all?”

Harriet covered her eyes and shook her head. She cast her gaze to the ground in embarrassment, her long bangs concealing her face.

Watching from several meters behind, the head maid coolly remarked, “Your Highness, if you dig your heels in any deeper, it will be rude to Lady Rishe.”

Harriet’s small frame jolted, and she seemed to shrink in on herself even more.

The head maid sighed—from the bottom of her soul, it seemed. “His Majesty was kind enough to suggest you enjoy some shopping in Galkhein. Why not visit some jewelers to contribute to Galkhein’s economy?”

“Hrk…” Harriet’s face was hidden, but her anguish was discernible enough. “But, um, the money…”

“What about the money? His Majesty entrusted you with plenty of Galkhein currency, did he not?” the head maid curtly pointed out. “In the first place, even if you did not have such funds, it is a lady’s duty to act as the embodiment of elegance at times like these. The opinion that others have of you reflects on His Majesty as well. I try and try, and your behavior never changes! Lady Rishe, please allow me to apologize on behalf of my mistress.”

Rishe blinked and turned her smile on the head maid. “No, Miss Head Maid.”

She stepped forward and took the maid’s hand, as she had with Harriet. The maid’s eyes bugged out of their sockets, but Rishe paid it no mind. “While a lady’s behavior certainly reflects upon her husband as well, I beseech you not to worry about such things in front of me, at least.”

“Wh-what do you mean by that? And why are you holding my hand, Lady Rishe?!”

“I believe that the measure of His Majesty the King of Fabrannia should be taken from his own behavior. My impression of him won’t change because of Princess Harriet’s actions.” Rishe noted the maid’s crinkled eyes blinking back at her in astonishment. “Besides, I think it’s sweet that Princess Harriet doesn’t want to trouble me.” Rishe turned to Harriet, making the princess flinch. “I want you to know that it’s no imposition. Nothing would make me happier as your escort than for you to be at ease and smile.”

“Eep!”

“If you’d like to go shopping, we could go tomorrow. I’ll have the Aria Trading Company, whom I trust a great deal, bring a variety of goods for us to peruse.” She peered at Harriet’s eyes, hidden behind her bangs. “Perhaps there’s something you could do for your maids, Princess Harriet.”

“Huh?” Harriet’s voice trembled with uncertainty.

“If you’re hesitant to voice your own desires, maybe there’s something you could do for your maids instead.”

“What are you saying, Lady Rishe?!” the head maid exclaimed, shaking her head. “There’s no need to pay us any mind. And Princess Harriet—”

“Um…” Harriet opened her mouth at last, gathering her feeble courage. “C-could we go somewhere cool, then?! Somewhere the maids can all sit and rest? I’m sure the voyage was much harder on them than it was on me in my first-class cabin…” Harriet’s voice faded more and more as she shrank in on herself. “I-I’m sorry. I’ve been too forward. I’m sorryyy…” Her words faded into a tiny squeak at the end.

Rishe glanced at the head maid, whose jaw had fallen open, before smiling. While they walked, Harriet had been surveying her maids over and over again. Rishe had wondered if she was just concerned about their eyes on her, but she’d also thought that perhaps Harriet was worried about them. The latter suspicion had proven true.

“Very well. I will take us to a place with terrace seating, then.” Rishe had just arrived in this town herself, but she remembered the map Arnold had shown her. There were several places that overlooked the sea where they could rest in a cool, shaded area at this time of day. “I see you’re able to muster your courage when it’s for other people, Lady Harriet.”

Harriet balked. It obviously took her an immense amount of resolve to make requests, but for her fatigued maids, she was able to say what she needed to say.

“Lady Harriet, you truly are a kind soul, aren’t you?”

“N-no, I, um…!”

Rishe was reaching for Harriet but stopped midway. She wheeled on a white building to one side behind her, searching. Near the roof, flying seabirds squawked at one another. Against the blue sky, a cumulonimbus cloud shone radiant in the sunlight.

“Is something the matter, Lady Rishe?” one of the Imperial Guards asked.

“I heard a child crying or something similar,” she told him. “I thought I might go see what it was about.”

“A child’s voice? Let us go.”

“I’d like you knights to watch Lady Harriet for a moment. With her maids around, I’m sure it’s fine if some men guard her for just a minute.”

“Wait, Lady Rishe!”

Rishe slipped into an alley before her guards could stop her. She walked silently, masking her presence as much as possible. She turned two corners and headed deeper into the white alleyway. There wasn’t a single person there.

That’s not quite true, though. She inhaled and lowered her hand to the hilt of Arnold’s sword.

From above, someone fell on her.

In a flash, she drew the sword and blocked the blow pressing down on her. The movement was less premeditated and more pure swordsman’s instinct. There was a clang as metal clashed with metal.

The figure drew back and laughed as if he were having great fun. It was a tall man clad in a gray cloak, hood low over his face. Only his mouth could be seen, curved in an amused grin.

“Hello there, adorable little lady. That was a fantastic greeting just now. I suppose you couldn’t just stay put with me watching you like that, could you?”

Rishe stared straight at the figure, sword at the ready.

I’ve never seen this person, nor do I recognize his voice. But his movements… Hmm.

“Say, how’d you notice me?” At first, his words emerged in the unfamiliar rasps of an elderly man, but when he spoke next, he sounded younger and stronger. “I’ve been watching you from the rooftops all this time, you know.”

Rishe narrowed her eyes at the interloper’s playful tone. “Nothing special about what I did. I just took a stroll in places I thought would be easily observable.”

She shifted her stance and swept her sword to the side. She’d put on a little muscle since her last attempt, so she had less trouble wielding a heavier sword.

“It’s a habit of mine when I want to confirm an area’s safety.”

“Ha ha! A habit, she says! Fending off an attack from your blind spot is just a habit, huh? You’re a rare one, aren’t you?” The hooded man deliberated for a moment. “Even when I’m chatting with you, you leave no openings. I came down because I was interested, but that was a mistake, wasn’t it?” He stared pointedly at Rishe’s face. “Well, it’s been a pleasure, Miss, but I think I’ll have you take a little nap—whoa!”

Rishe’s sword grazed the man’s hood. He dodged, but no matter; she would attack again. Undaunted, she stepped forward and flipped her sword with another swing. Again and again, she whipped the sword around, but each time, her whole torso swung with it. She had to be careful, but she didn’t let up on pushing the man in the cloak back with each attack. The next instant, a knife sailed toward her eyes, and she twisted to avoid it.

“Oh, you dodged that, eh?”

He was going to stab me in the eye…

She leaped into close range with the man and slashed at him. He dodged her attacks quick as a cat, but his movements were easy to follow as well. She slashed sideways at him, and the man grinned.

“So fast!”

There was a high-pitched clang as the man’s knife blocked her attack.

“Thing is, I don’t have a lot of time to play anymore.” His tongue flicked at his lips. “My coral-haired lady, your beauty is truly a rare wonder in all the world. I don’t suppose we could have a more meaningful dialogue than trying to kill each other?”

“I’m working, unfortunately. And I wasn’t under the impression that we were trying to kill each other.”

“Yeah, right! You’ve been aiming at my face!”

“Don’t worry. I’ve already accomplished my goal.”

From where she was now, she could see his eyes underneath the hood. Knew it. I don’t recognize this face…but I don’t need to.

The man had red eyes; that told her more than anything else.

Rishe leaped back, sword and all, and the man smirked and cocked his head. “True, I don’t sense real bloodlust from you. I see, I see.”

At that moment, one of Arnold’s Imperial Guards shouted Rishe’s name from the street. “Lady Rishe!”

The man’s cloak whipped around as he sprinted down the alley and out of sight. Rishe slowly sheathed her sword and watched him go. They were some distance from the main street, but they’d been loud enough for the knights to hear, apparently. Two had come running.

“Lady Rishe, what happened?! I thought I heard swords clashing…”

Rishe gave an apologetic dip of her head. “I’m sorry. It was just a cat and a crow fighting, not a child crying.”

“A cat and a crow, my lady?”

“I drew my sword to intervene, but it was so heavy, I dropped it… That’s all that happened, really.”

The knights sighed in relief. “As long as you’re all right, Lady Rishe. Please leave such things to us in the future, though.”

“I’m sorry, you two.”

Rishe walked back toward the main road, shooting a glance over her shoulder as she went. There was no trace of anyone in the alleyway. She returned to Harriet’s side with the knights and said nothing of the incident.

A real guard would report what just happened.

She thought back to an earlier exchange with Arnold.

 

“Can you entertain the princess?” Arnold had asked her as he prepared to go out.

“Of course. Where are you going, Prince Arnold?”

“I have a few things to take care of here in town. I’ll be back by nightfall.”

Oliver had been just as busy issuing orders to the knights. That confirmed one of Rishe’s suspicions: Arnold wasn’t interested in engaging with Harriet in the name of diplomacy at all. He must’ve had a different goal here than merely entertaining a foreign visitor.

She had thought it strange that Arnold himself would come all this way just to greet some visitors. From experience, she knew Arnold only acted when he had multiple reasons to do so. Previously, when he’d gone into town with Rishe to buy her a ring, he was also there to observe Kyle’s entrance into the country. When he’d accompanied Rishe to the Grand Basilica, it wasn’t just to take care of accumulating work related to the Crusade Church but to intimidate them as well. This time was no different.

As Rishe watched, Arnold shrugged his jacket on and said, “It’s nothing of concern, just something I want to check on. More importantly, this sword isn’t right for your build. I know you’ll be surrounded by guards, but don’t push yourself.” He picked up the sword leaning against his chair and held it out to her.

“Thank you for lending it to me, Your Highness.”

Arnold gazed at her pensively. “I thought…”

She cocked her head and waited for him to continue. Arnold sighed.

“I thought your mood might improve if you saw the ocean.” Rishe blinked and Arnold looked at her skeptically, as if there was something she hadn’t caught on to. “You seem dejected lately.”

Rishe’s heart thumped against her rib cage. He was worried about me?

Guilt arose in her at the same time. Lately, whenever she thought about Arnold, a strange and lonely ache settled in the left side of her chest. Arnold must have noticed the change.

“Oh, no! Nothing troubles me that you must worry over, Your Highness!”

“I don’t know about that. You have no regard for yourself.”

Her own criminal record rendered her unable to respond, but Arnold was one to talk. Before she could formulate a rebuttal, a big hand landed on her head and stroked her hair.

“I apologize for making you work out here. I’ll make it up to you.”

 

Rishe’s ears burned at the remembrance of his indulgent tone. She wanted to curl up into a ball just thinking about it. I was the one who asked to be Lady Harriet’s guard!

“Is something the matter, Lady Rishe?” a knight asked her.

“N-no, it’s nothing! Let’s hurry and get back to Lady Harriet.”

Back on the main road, she could see Harriet speaking with the head maid. Her Highness Princess Harriet, sister to Prince Curtis. I never did meet him in my life as a hunter.

Her habit of hiding her face in her outgrown hair. Her oppressive-looking dress, fabric too thick and color too dark for the hot summer.

She doesn’t strike me as the type to thoughtlessly spend a nation into bankruptcy.

Rishe had to be careful if she wanted to figure this out. It would be foolish to believe rumors without confirming the facts for herself. At the same time, she couldn’t be fooled into discarding all her current information by the behavior of the person before her.

It’s Lady Harriet’s execution that leads to Siguel’s involvement in the war with Galkhein. I’d like to turn them away from that fated path.

She could at last hear the head maid’s voice. “Listen to me, Your Highness. You must not presume upon Lady Rishe’s consideration.” Her words rang clear and harsh. That, combined with her age, brought Rishe’s mother to mind. “You must make a positive impression and foster good relations between Fabrannia and Galkhein. It is His Majesty’s fervent desire that our two countries have a favorable relationship.”

“I-I know… I’m sorry for my behavior.” Harriet hung her head low, words trickling out one after another. “I-I’m a princess. I have no worth if I’m not benefiting my father, my brother, and my husband in some way. I need to try harder… I need to try harder…”

“Lady Harriet!”

“Bwuh?!”

Rishe flashed the floundering Harriet a friendly smile. “I’m so sorry for the wait. It turned out to be nothing of import, so let’s head to that shop! There are so many wonderful stores on the way. All sorts of things pass through this town for trade, you see.”

She chatted away as she walked, and Harriet listened, head bowed. Rishe watched her, keeping an eye on their surroundings for anything suspicious. Soon, evening fell like a curtain over the town.

“Well, please get some rest in your room until dinner, Lady Harriet.”

“Erm, yes, thank you.”

They said their goodbyes at Harriet’s door and parted ways. Now that Rishe was done with her task of chaperoning the princess, she breathed a sigh of relief.

I’m off guard duty until we leave tomorrow.

Galkhein’s knights would secure the castle, and the guests didn’t need any extra protection. If they made such a request, it would be the same as saying, “I don’t trust your security.”

Rishe found herself thinking of the hooded man from earlier. Now I just need to decide whether I should report him to Prince Arnold.

What had Arnold come to this town to do? Her course of action would depend on that, but she had no clues as to his motives. She headed for her maids’ room as she pondered the matter.

“I’m here, everyone. Is Elsie around? There’s something I’d like to—what’s wrong?”

Her dozen maids stood close together, frozen in place.

Elsie stepped forward, pale and trembling. “W-well, Lady Rishe…”

When Rishe heard what the girl had to say, her breath caught in her throat.

 

---

 

Several hours later, Rishe’s head shot up when she heard the footsteps of the one she’d been waiting for in the dining hall.

“Prince Arnold!”

“What is it?”

Rishe shoved off from her chair and scampered over to Arnold. His brows knitted; he’d no doubt caught on to the ­abnormality of the situation from the pallor of her face.

“Did something happen while you were guarding the princess?”

“Er, no.” Rishe shook her head. She clung to Arnold’s jacket, eyes darting around the room. “It’s just, there’s something I’d like to ask of you, Your Highness—though I know it’s incredibly rude.”

“Go ahead. Don’t be afraid. I’ll listen, whatever it is.”

Even with Arnold’s reassuring words, the despondence lingered on Rishe’s face. She was pressed up against Arnold, working up the nerve to speak. “I’d like to sleep in the same room as you, Prince Arnold.”

“…What?”

Naturally, that wasn’t the whole story. Knowing she had to explain herself, Rishe looked around again, making sure there was no one nearby but the two of them.

“Well, you see…”

She’d practically forgotten about almost getting her eye gouged in an alleyway a few hours earlier. A much greater terror had gripped her heart, and she struggled to open up about it.

“My maids said they saw a ghost!”

 

---

 

“So?”

The dining hall was still deserted. Arnold hadn’t called any kitchen staff, doing his best to calm Rishe down alone. He sat her in a chair, took a seat next to her, and gently stroked her hair.

“Take your time. I’m not going anywhere, so just calm down and explain the situation.”

“Right. Well, um, my maids were cleaning all the rooms…” Rishe did her best to recount the story they relayed to her. “While they were in one room, they heard a window opening in the next room over, which no one was supposed to be in. It was a strange, shrill creak.”

“Well, this is a castle by the sea. The hinges are probably rusted.”

“A maid went to check on the window, but it was closed. She thought it was just her imagination, so she went out into the hall to change out the water in her bucket when she saw a humanoid figure in the distance!”

Rishe shuddered and curled in on herself, remembering the fear that had gripped her when she heard the story.

“If a normal person were there, then you’d hear footsteps, right? But the figure just slid away without a sound…” She imagined the scene vividly, though she hadn’t witnessed it with her own eyes. “And the next thing they knew, it just vanished.”

Arnold regarded the shivering Rishe in silence. She was ­terrified of ghosts. As she had died several times and continued to linger in this life due to her strange fate, she couldn’t rule out the existence of specters and the like.

“So you’re afraid of this…disappearing person?” he asked at last.

“You’re not scared, Your Highness?!”

“Even if ghosts did exist, what could something with no physical form do?”

“Th-that logic only comes from people who aren’t afraid of ghosts!”

Still, Arnold’s words were comforting. “This sort of thing is scarier the more frightened the people around you are, right?”

Rishe hung her head as Arnold stroked her hair. “My maids were spooked out of their minds, so I pretended I was unfazed. I told them there was no such thing as ghosts, which helped my maids calm down, but then I couldn’t tell them, ‘Actually, I’m scared too’…”

“Then you shut yourself away in the dining hall and waited for me to show up?”

She nodded, not unlike a wooden puppet.

“What about all these candlesticks on the table?”

“Well, I wanted it to be as bright as possible…”

She’d thought about staying with the maids as well, but she didn’t think she could save face for long. Instead, she sat here and waited for Arnold’s return, calling his name over and over again in her mind. Naturally, she kept that last bit to herself, gazing up at him now that he was physically beside her. Arnold had the grace not to laugh.

“By the way, Your Highness, did you want to eat?”

“I’m busy consoling you.”

“Oh?”

He said it like it was a task of the highest priority. She knew she couldn’t keep indulging herself, but she felt more secure than she ever had in any of her lives, sitting there with him.

“I really like the ocean.”

“I thought you would.”

“But if I think a ghost could appear in my room, the crash of the waves might scare me.”

“…”

“I think it will be difficult to stay in my room by myself.” She clutched her dress with her right hand and Arnold’s jacket with her left. “Prince Arnold, I…”

Arnold’s expression was complicated, throwing Rishe into a fluster.

“I-I knew it! I’m being a bother to you, aren’t I?! A grown woman like me asking to sleep in the same room!”

“That’s not it.” Arnold shut his eyes and sighed as if he were truly at his wits’ end. “That’s not it.”

He said it twice! Why?

Still frowning, Arnold went on, “I think there’s a double on the fourth floor, on the south side. Is that room usable?”

“Y-yes! I had my maids clean the entire castle, so it should be spotless.” Rishe’s lashes fluttered as she blinked in surprise. “You’ll really sleep in the same room as me?”

“You think I can just peel you off of me and toss you back in your own room?” He must have meant her grip on his jacket. It embarrassed her to cling to him so, but she wanted to stay that way a little longer.

Unfortunately, a knock on the dining hall door prompted her to release him. One of Arnold’s Imperial Guards intruded upon their alone time. “Pardon me, Your Highness. A messenger just arrived.”

I-I’m glad I pulled away! Rishe folded her hands atop her knees, relieved that she hadn’t been caught acting so pathetically.

“The messenger first arrived on a small boat. He said Prince Curtis’s ship will reach the harbor in about an hour.”

Rishe was relieved to hear it. She was sure Harriet would be glad as well.

Arnold responded with his signature impassivity. “Summon Oliver immediately, then.”

“Yes, Your Highness. Also, it seems Prince Curtis dined on the ship tonight, so he won’t require a meal.”

“How’s security at the docks?”

“As for that, well…”

Come to think of it, there was a rumor about a ghost ship off the coast of Siguel, wasn’t there? Wait, why am I remembering that now?!

Rishe shook the thought from her mind, willing it to fade as she stared at the floor in silence. She found herself forlorn again now that she’d pulled away from Arnold, but she had to exercise restraint in front of the knight. At least, that was what she told herself.

Right then, Arnold’s hand brushed against hers. Before she knew it, their fingers had intertwined beneath the table. Her head shot up in surprise, but Arnold feigned ignorance as he carried on his impersonal exchange with the knight. Their linked fingers were like a secret, out of sight.

But there’s someone else right there!

Hyper-focused on their hands, she forgot her fear. A covert touch like this was bad for her heart. She tried to slip out of his grasp, but Arnold squeezed her fingers tighter. His voice, meanwhile, betrayed nothing. Rishe’s ears grew hot as she listened to him, enduring their clandestine hand-holding.

“That’s our new schedule for tomorrow. Make sure everyone hears.”

“Of course. Excuse me, Your Highness.” The knight bowed and left the room, closing the door behind him.

Had the knight thought it strange that Rishe’s and Arnold’s chairs were so close and that dinner hadn’t been served? Rishe had all sorts of new worries now—especially the state of her hand.

“P-Prince Arnold…”

“Hmm?” came Arnold’s soft response as he thumbed Rishe’s ring finger.

“Thank you for holding my hand. But, um, erm…”

Arnold’s other hand propped up his chin as he looked down at the ring he’d given her. “You’re always wearing this nowadays.”

“W-well, it’s important to me!” Rishe stammered. It was the truth, but it felt awkward to have it pointed out to her.

I thought Prince Arnold had no interest in what I wear.

Had he also noticed her ogling the gem’s surface, admiring the sapphire every time light passed through it? The thought made her want to bury herself in the castle’s foundations.

“So the metalwork was wrought by an artisan from Coyolles, eh? You take care of it well for how detailed the craftsmanship is.”

“Your Highness, please!”

“What?” Arnold looked down, running his finger over the ring. What did he think about her bright-red face? She wanted to know, but she couldn’t bring herself to ask him.

Rishe marshaled her courage and changed tack. “We should hurry and eat! Since Prince Curtis has already eaten, you must hurry and have dinner before meeting him!”

Arnold chuckled and gently removed his hand from Rishe’s. “I guess we should. You’ve stopped trembling, at least.”

You guess?!

Much as she wanted to berate him, calming her pounding heart took priority. She drew in a breath, seeking strength, and rang the bell to summon the kitchen staff.

 

---

 

Rishe stayed by Arnold’s side all through their meal, then did some more work after dinner. She accompanied him to his office and, while Arnold handled some paperwork, sat beside him and continued her wedding preparations. Her task for the day was confirming the final list of invitees.

One letter from Rishe’s homeland bore a name she’d rather not have seen, and her face soured. At the very least, she was happy to read many of the other RSVPs. She’d gotten a letter from Zahad, whom she would be meeting for the first time in this life but whom she had been very close to in another one. There was a response from the king of the country Rishe had served in her life as a knight too. She might be able to see some of her fellow knights if they attended.

Arnold, on the other hand, only looked annoyed at the list of guests.

Finishing her work with a strained smile, Rishe set off for the most difficult task of the day. “Well, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go take a bath!”

After a beat, Arnold nodded, wearing just the sort of frown she expected. “Right.”

“Er, please come get me later. I’m going to pretend to sleep in my bedroom to fool the maids!”

“I’ll be there no matter what happens, so don’t worry. Are you going to be okay in the bath, though?”

“Normally I go in by myself, but I’ll say I’m tired from my escorting duties and have my maids help me…”

Arnold’s expression turned awkward. “I see,” he said simply.

It pained her to lie to her maids, but she couldn’t let word get out that she was sleeping with the prince—then everyone would find out she was afraid of ghosts! For Arnold’s part, he’d only explained things to Oliver.

“Pardon us, Lady Rishe. We’re here to escort you to the bath.”

“Yes, I’m coming!” Rishe pumped herself up and left the ­office after giving Arnold a parting look. Then she headed with her maids to one of several bathrooms in the castle.

“Thank you so much for what you did before, Lady Rishe.”

“Everyone’s calmed down since you told us there’s no such thing as ghosts!”

“Oh, um, splendid! You should all go to bed nice and early tonight, then.”

Rishe walked down the halls, conversing with her maids. Along the way, she spotted a large group of people.

It’s Lady Harriet!

The third floor was connected to the building where the guest rooms were located. Right where the hall joined the two buildings together, Harriet stared out a window, her maids standing behind her.

Rishe glided over to her side and peered out the window, where the docks glowed in the light of the moon. “Good evening. It’s a beautiful moonlit night, isn’t it?”

Harriet nearly jumped out of her skin. “Ack!”

“That small vessel belongs to Siguel, doesn’t it? Oh! That ­carriage cresting the hill there must be carrying your brother! I’m so glad he arrived safely.”

“Urgh… Yes, thank you.” Harriet hung her head and peeked at Rishe through her hair. The long curtain of her bangs still hid her eyes, so it was hard for Rishe to read her expressions, but she didn’t seem displeased by Rishe’s presence. Harriet looked back out the window and murmured, “Troette’s moonlit hill…”

The words rang familiar enough.

Aha! Considering where she’s originally from, I can see why she’d make the reference. Rishe smiled wryly, feeling complicated. I didn’t want to use this strategy, but it’s a sure shortcut to bonding with Lady Harriet.

“Right, the final scene in the Claudiette Saga,” she said, and Harriet’s head whipped up. “You were referring to the scene where the princess’s carriage traverses the moonlit hill, right?”

“Y-you’ve read it?! It was just published last month on the western continent, though!”

“Yes. I sent for a copy after hearing of its popularity.”

This was a bald-faced lie. She’d read the book in Siguel—just one book among the countless in the country of writing—in her fifth life.

“It’s a wonderful story, isn’t it? I could perfectly picture the scene where the hero, Gene, makes his triumphant return.”

“Precisely! I know just what you mean. Each scene was so rich with detail, and the story had such exciting twists and turns! Um, if it wouldn’t be an imposition, could I ask which character you liked best, Lady Rishe?”

“That’s a difficult question. I did love Gene, but I suppose I was most interested in his mentor…”

“General Craig!” Rishe and Harriet said at the same time.

From a slight distance, the maids gaped at them.

Harriet’s cheeks flushed as she professed, “I-I love him too! A master of the blade who seems cold but gives the hero the exact advice he needs and watches over him from afar!”

“You felt secure every time he appeared in a scene. I loved reading his conversations with Gene.”

“Yes! And, um, I’m sure the sequel will go into the general’s past! I-I’m looking forward to it so much, knowing he’ll be in it again!”

Rishe chose her words carefully, a pleasant smile plastered on her face. Mm-hmm, I was just as naive as you once. Who could’ve imagined the general would die protecting the main character in the next volume?

Thanks to her loops, Rishe knew the future. That meant she also knew spoilers for works of fiction that hadn’t yet been ­written in this life. She had to be careful not to let those slip into her conversation with Harriet.

Once you know what happens down the line, you can never return to blissful ignorance! Ugh, I wanted to avoid talking about a work that’s still in progress with someone who loves reading so much…

Yet this seemed like the only topic that could put Harriet at ease. Just as Rishe suspected, Harriet was now much more relaxed than before.

In a tiny voice, the princess said, “I-I’m so happy. In Fabrannia, I’m told only to read practical texts, not fiction…”

“How long have you been staying in Fabrannia ahead of your marriage, Lady Harriet?”

“A year and a half.”

“My, that long? Has it been a year and a half since you saw your brother, then?”

“Y-yes! I’m sure my brother has read the Claudiette Saga as well, so I was looking forward to discussing it with him.” Harriet took a deep breath to steel herself. “Um, Lady Rishe…thank you so much for letting me see my family.”

Harriet’s voice was no louder than a squeak. Her maids, still at a distance, hadn’t even heard it. The princess had probably intended that as she continued, “I-I don’t mean anything strange by that! But, if not for your wedding, Lady Rishe, I don’t think I’d be able to see my brother until my own wedding. It’s not until next year, which seems so far away…”

“You never went home once during your stay in Fabrannia, Lady Harriet? Fabrannia and Siguel aren’t that far away, are they?”

“I-I may only be engaged now, but it’s Fabrannia’s royal ­family I’m marrying into. It would be shameful to return home for anything but a wedding or a funeral.” Rishe blinked in surprise, so Harriet hurried to add, “Er, I just don’t want to be a burden! I’ve already been learning for a year and a half and I’m still useless.”

“That’s not true, Lady Harriet.”

“No, it is! And a political marriage is the only thing left for a useless princess!” Harriet clapped her dainty hands over her bangs. “I was born and nursed on the tax money of my people. If I’m not of some use to my country, there’s no reason for me to be alive, let alone having ever been born!”

Looking closer, Rishe realized that Harriet was trembling. “Lady Harriet, you…”

“I need to be better… I need to be better!” Those words were so quiet, she must’ve meant them for only herself to hear.

She thinks she can only fulfill her duty by being a pawn in a political marriage. The idea struck a chord with Rishe. I used to feel the same way about myself.

If that was the case, then there was nothing Rishe could say to counter it. If one didn’t find their own possibilities within themselves, their aspirations would be forever out of reach. Right now, any other options were unrealistic for Harriet, like stories written by someone else. Rishe offered consoling words instead.

“The carriage has passed the castle gates, Lady Harriet.”

Wordlessly, Harriet looked out the window. The carriage came to a halt, and a man stepped out. His golden hair was a match for Harriet’s, but cut short, and he was tall and slender. His clothes were simple yet high-quality—a formal outfit completed with a cape. The man looked up and smiled in relief when he spotted Harriet.

“Curtis,” Harriet breathed.

Rishe’s eyes locked on those of the man beside the carriage. She could see his face quite clearly, even in the distance, thanks to the bright light of the moon.

Ahh. I see what’s going on here.

His eyes were ruby red.

That’s not Prince Curtis.