House Deiancle

Princess Tianis was sleeping soundly, oblivious to the commotion around her.

I couldn't help but think "how carefree," but this was actually more convenient right now.

It would be troublesome if she woke up and panicked.

It would be better to explain the situation somewhere calmer than these ruins.

"Anatia-san, it's dangerous here. Let's move for now."

"Yes… Were the other servants all right?"

"We carried out the people we saw on our way here. If there's no one deeper inside, there shouldn't be a problem."

"Good. Tianis makes everyone leave except Kanon when she sleeps, so there shouldn't be anyone."

Alexia carried Princess Tianis on her back.

We prepared a makeshift stretcher from cloth and sticks, and placed the critically injured Kanon on it, leaving her to Elza and Azu.

The healing miracle had stopped the bleeding, but rough handling could reopen the wounds.

"Please chew on this and swallow it. It works very well."

She gave Lady Anatia the same epimedium leaf she'd given Kanon.

Even if she wasn't injured, the psychological shock from such an event must be considerable.

"It tastes strange."

While grimacing, she immediately chewed and swallowed as instructed.

… She really trusted us, I felt.

When I handed her my canteen, she drank from it for several seconds, as if she'd been thirsty.

Meanwhile, Finn came over and whispered in my ear.

"Don't walk near the edges. Cracks have formed and it's unstable."

"Got it. Anatia-san, please follow the path we took."

After confirming her nod, we began moving.

The once-sturdy annex was unrecognizable.

As Finn said, cracks and fissures were visible even in the hallways.

It probably wouldn't collapse immediately, but there was no need to linger.

"This is terrible…"

I heard Lady Anatia's distressed voice as she saw the extent of the damage to the annex.

It was understandable.

The damage was so severe that it wouldn't have been strange if everyone had been wiped out.

The Anti-Magic Orb must have greatly dampened that terrifying magic.

What if they hadn't had the Anti-Magic Orb?

Or if Lady Anatia had been sleeping in her own room? Princess Tianis wouldn't have survived.

What a lucky princess indeed.

We arrived at the entrance and pushed aside the door, which no longer served its purpose, to escape.

Then we could see from outside that part of where we'd just been had collapsed.

There really had been no time to hesitate.

"My lady!"

Several maids came running toward us.

They were Lady Anatia's attendants.

They were wearing combat gear, ready to fight at a moment's notice.

That preparation was probably what delayed their initial response.

Since Princess Tianis's selfishness had kept them away, there was nothing they could have done anyway.

"Thank goodness you're safe. Oh, I was worried sick. If something had happened to you, my lady, what would I have said to the master…"

"Thank you. Yohane-san and his party saved me again."

After confirming Lady Anatia was safe, the maids, except for one personal attendant, immediately began carrying the people we'd brought outside to the castle's infirmary.

We needed the extra hands for transport, so it was helpful.

Then they explained what had happened inside the castle.

First, the night watch soldiers had spotted the massive number of incoming meteors.

Word of the abnormal situation spread quickly, but the meteors were too fast to reinforce the barrier in time.

The meteors collided with the barrier without anyone knowing what they were, and some broke through.

The royal castle had suffered damage in areas other than the annex as well.

"… His Majesty and the Crown Prince are currently unconscious and in critical condition. The First Princess also sustained serious injuries. That's why we couldn't go outside and were delayed in reaching you, my lady. My deepest apologies."

"No, that can't be…!"

The situation was more serious than I'd thought.

Apparently, most of the meteors were stopped by the barrier, but small meteors had directly struck near the royal bedchamber.

That's why there had been no one around the castle despite all the commotion.

There was no room to worry about the Second Princess.

As a result, the Second Princess was here unharmed, thanks to luck and Kanon's devotion.

"Wasn't His Majesty wearing the Anti-Magic Orb?"

"No, he was supposed to be wearing it. But it cannot protect against secondary effects caused by the magic."

The shockwave or being buried under collapsed rubble.

Given that Kanon had nearly died protecting the princess, it made sense.

"If you and Princess Tianis are found to be safe, everyone will feel some relief… Though we'll need a change of clothes first."

The attending maid was about to guide Lady Anatia away when she noticed the state she was in, covered in dust and hiding her near-nakedness under a cloak.

She immediately had another maid prepare a change of clothes and used magic to clean away the dust and dirt.

Once changed, Lady Anatia was once again the beautiful noble lady she always was.

"Yohane-dono. I apologize for asking when you must be exhausted after rescuing them, but I must ask you to come along as well. We cannot simply let you go."

"Yes, I figured as much."

I sensed an atmosphere that would not allow me to say "Leave the rest to you, we'll be going now."

As a commoner, I wanted to say royal affairs were for royalty to handle, but…

A maid squad assembled again, this time preparing clothing for us.

"Please raise your hands. Excuse me, this will only take a moment."

When I raised both hands, they changed my clothes in an instant with practiced ease.

The same for Azu and the others.

They probably wanted us in attire befitting the royal castle.

I'd thought it was leisurely of them, but seeing Lady Anatia's serious expression, I realized this was a kind of performance.

Lady Anatia was of the Deiancle royal bloodline.

She didn't hold succession rights herself, but if the current royal house fell, that would change.

And of the royal house, everyone except Princess Tianis was in mortal danger.

If the worst came to pass, Princess Tianis would be crowned.

But considering her age and track record, would those around her accept it?

There would undoubtedly be calls to make Duke Baroba, who had branched off from the royal house as a duke, the new king.

But the man himself was preparing for war against the Church of the Sun God and couldn't leave the city of Alsarm.

And Lady Anatia was Duke Baroba's representative in the Royal Capital.

That's precisely why they were making preparations to enhance the impression when she appeared.

Noble politics really is troublesome, I thought.

But I'd learned I couldn't ignore it after being thrown in jail before.