[Heavenly Castle]
Ayla became stunned at the image shown on the screen of the control room.
While watching the person who was being held by the robots and headed towards here, I opened my mouth.
「He has a flashy appearance compared to the others, so I think he is a great person. …..」
I murmured that and folded my arms.
I wonder if we can discuss about the treatment of the princess? I still don't get it even though I was told about the royalty a little, but I was able to stop the war. If so, some will probably think of me as a threat.
While I'm looking at the screen while thinking about such things, another robot was catching a person at the edge of the screen.
「Yosh. Let's go down and meet them.」
「Eh? Ah, ye, yes!」
While glancing at Ayla who replied in panic and rush to my side, we made our way into the elevator.
When we went out of the castle, I found Mea and the others. It appears that, they are cutting the weeds around the castle. I and Ayla stopped in front of the castle gate while accompanied by A1.
「Ah, Taiki-sama」
Torraine stands up and bows.
「A guest will arrive soon, so thank you for maintaining the area.」
When I said that, Torraine and the others looked at each other.
「Finally, a Great Magician-sama other than Taiki-sama...?」
「Don't, don't get nervous」
「Oh my, I wonder if I will be able to make a food in time...」
While smiling wryly to them who are making a misunderstanding, I shake my head from side to side.
「No, they are soldiers of Azul Kingdom.」
When I said that, Rant and Schnee's face became stiff.
「Soldiers…..?」
「In case something happens...」
The two have started talking to each other with grim expressions for some reason. Torraine seems to be thinking about something silently, but only Mea is looking at me with her usual look.
「Why are the soldiers of Azul Kingdom coming?」
Being asked by Mea, Ayla who's next to me trembles. While pretending I didn't notice that, I answer the question of Mea.
「Oh, I just have something I would like to discuss with the people of Azul Kingdom. I tried helping them because it seemed like they were troubled when they were being attacked by the Blau Empire. Though, they will likely feel indebted to me.」
When I said that, Mea's cat ears moved with 'piko piko'.
「Blau Empire? Help?」
Mea who didn't even realized that a battle was currently taking place on the ground, tilted her head with a curious look.
And, at that time, two black shadows came into my sight and approached us.
When I turn my face to it, everyone also turns around to it.
The two men who were being carried on the back of two robots and wore splendid armor, landed on the ground of the flying island.
Seeing their figures, Torraine and the others silently bowed. Ayla hides behind my back reflexively.
The two people, who looked up at the castle, also noticed us and bows.
The one who raised his head first is a middle-aged man who wore the most flashy armor in the vicinity of the Royal Capital's walls.
「... I'm Dukel Klein, a General of Azul Kingdom」
When the middle-aged man gave his name, the man who looked a little younger than Dukel opened his mouth.
「Like him, I am a General of Azul Kingdom, Heirat Ilka. I would like to thank you for helping our army on this incident.」
When the man called Heirat said that, Dukel's eyebrow rose.
「... Since General Heirat is in this place, I thought that there's a possibility, but... No way, so the Imperial Army on Falbe Fortress City were also driven out...」
「As expected, is it also happening at the Royal Capital?」
Heirat nodded slightly to Dukel's mutter and said that.
I smiled wryly while looking at that two people and bowed my head.
「Nice to meet you, my name is Shiihara Taiki. Please excuse me for sending the two of you here without consent.」
When I make such greetings, the two people who were looking at me to observe, notice Ayla who hid herself on my back.
Both of their eyes widened and said.
「Pri, Princess Letizia!?」
「Wh, why is the princess...」
Hearing the words of the two, Rant and Schnee, as well as Mea looked surprised. Only Torraine didn't change expression.
Ayla, who looked at Mea and the others face and became sad, came out from my back quietly.
「... Dukel-sama, Heirat-sama... It's been a long time.」
Hearing Ayla say that and deeply bow, the two men showed great confusion.
I gently breathe a sigh and put my hand on Ayla's shoulder.
「Well then, shall we talk in a different location?」
[Dukel]
High in the sky in the clouds, an island floats far away in the sky.
I thought I lost my way inside a fairy tale, but it appears to be a reality.
Abundant nature and beautiful houses are lined up, and there is a majestic castle in the center as if saying where God lives. It's a luxurious and gorgeous castle that I have never seen before.
And, there are several beastmen and a strangely dressed young man. In addition, Princess Letizia whose whereabouts were unknown is also there.
The look of confusion and surprise also appeared on the face of Heirat who made eye contact with me.
「Well then, shall we talk in a different location?」
While saying that, the young man, who named himself as Shiihara Taiki, took along his golem and went into the castle.
I was dumbfounded because he readily showed his back to us, but I'm convinced because he is a magician who was controlling one golem by himself.
I and Heirat silently nodded with each other and followed behind.
I entered inside the castle without releasing my vigilance, but the moment I stepped my foot inside, that feeling disappeared.
It was a magnificent hall. It is wider and more luxurious than any structure that I have ever seen. I have never seen such a magnificent castle.
「Go, golem...」
「Hmm? 」
When I turned around to Heirat's voice, I saw two golems standing behind the gate. The golems supported the gate with both hands in a posture that looked like they're only there for the sake of opening the gate.
Just how many golems do they have?
And, do they have hundreds of magicians?
I walked inside the castle with an indescribable feeling and entered inside a huge pillar. The inside of the huge pillar was spacious, the scenery changed every time the door, that opens and closes by itself, opens.
Even from Heirat, words are no longer coming.
「We're here」
Taiki said that and led us into a very luxurious hall. It is a magnificent hall that can also be used as a ball and other venues. There were many long vertical windows and I could also see the scenery outside.
It's very weird that there's still no other people coming out even though it was such a large and magnificent castle.
[Taiki]
Taking along the amazed Dukel and Heirat, we moved to the fourth floor. I arranged the table and chairs and sat down.
The one who sat in the chair was only me for some reason, so I also ask Dukel and Heirat to sit down.
As I have Torraine and the others prepare foods on the second floor, only me, Ayla, Dukel, and Heirat are in the hall.
No, because A1 is standing next to me, is it four people and a robot?
I look at Dukel and Heirat who looks up at A1 with nervous expressions, and breathed out.
「Well then, I wonder what should we talk about first?」
When I said that, Ayla, who stood at my other side with A1, opened her mouth.
「... First of all, it would be better to talk about why I am here.」
Hearing her words, the two narrow their eyes.
「That's right….. I became a little surprised because I only heard that you went missing on your way to marry in the Empire.」
When Heirat muttered that, Dukel showed a shocked expression.
「That's a little far from what I heard. It was said that the Empire killed the princess in order to make an excuse to attack the Kingdom. It's not something I should say in front of Princess Letizia, but the princess, who received a slave mark, would be impossible to slip through the Imperial soldiers' eyes and run away.」
Hearing the words of Dukel, Ayla knit her brows and look downwards. Heirat speaks while glancing at Ayla
「I've heard that rumor. However, in Falbe City, where there are also peddlers from the Empire, a rumor that our country hid the princess was also strong, but…..」
「Our Majesty the King won't do such a thing.」
Hearing Dukel denied it without any restraint in his way of talking, Reizent frowns.
Ayla, who was listening to their conversation, nodded with a sad face.
「... Father will not do something like helping me. I threw out my obligation as a royalty for my own selfishness.」
Hearing her words, Dukel and Heirat face Ayla with a hard look. Ayla saw the eyes of the two and wavered for a moment, but she manage to stand firm and opened her mouth.
「There was a moment when I was in the inn of a town and coincidentally there was no lookout. The moment when I thought I could escape, my feet were starting to move on their own...」
According to Ayla, it seems that she was absorbed in fleeing out of the town, lied about her identity and rode in a carriage of sentries who happened to be passing by.
However, she was tormented by the guilt of abandoning her responsibility as royalty midway and tried to return.
「However, those sentries told me at that time….. Because I ran away, the Imperial soldiers who were guarding that night were accused of being a spy of the Kingdom and executed, and they said that the princess, which is me, was already being chased by both the Empire and the Kingdom.」
While Ayla was explaining the whole story until now, the faces of the two became grim.
「Hold, hold on a moment!」
Dukel interrupted the words of Ayla while stuttering. Dukel, who didn't even care that Ayla is startled, raises his voice.
「Princess, is your story just now true?」
He asked that in a strong tone and Ayla timidly nods. Then, Dukel turned to Heirat.
「It's strange. It's full of incongruity.」
「... Yes. It's strange how it was so easy to escape…..」
「No, that's also strange, but those guys who called themselves sentries are also strange. Why are they telling such lies? If the Empire is trying to make an excuse to invade the Kingdom, it would not be that kind of roundabout thing.」
Hearing the conversation of the two, Ayla raised her head.
「... Lie?」
When Ayla said that, Heirat nodded.
「Yes. What the Empire announced was that Princess Letizia was being hidden by the Kingdom. There is also a rumor that the Royal Army was moved when you were being escorted, but I haven't heard a rumor that the Imperial soldiers were executed.」
「That can't be...」
Seeing Ayla who become shocked, Dukel clicked his tongue.
「... Something is moving behind the scenes. They greatly deceived both the Empire and the Kingdom, and tried to kill the princess.」
Everyone kept silent after Dukel said that. I look at their faces one by one and open my mouth.
「Can I have a second?」
When I said that, everyone turned at my direction.
「I will change topic, but can Ayla….. no, can the Princess return to Azul kingdom?」
When I asked a question, Heirat's expression became cloudy. Ayla looked down and become silent, but Dukel was different.
「It's impossible.」
He declared that clearly and Heirat cast down his eyes.
「... A princess of a country was marked with a slave seal and sent out with a treatment less than a concubine. This is equivalent to having declared that the Azul Kingdom is a vassal nation of the Blau Empire. I don't think that Princess Letizia, who is supposed to be offered to the Empire with that kind of situation, can spend a decent ordinary life in the Kingdom.」
Ayla let out sobbing as she could not endure the harsh words of Dukel. Heirat was also showing a grave expression, but there's no sign that he will deny the words of Dukel.
I look at Ayla, who looks downwards and shed tears quietly, and shift my gaze to Dukel.
「... Is it okay even if I accept the princess here? It's out of the question to send her to the Empire, and if she can't return to the Kingdom, I think it would be better to live here in this castle.」
When I asked that, Dukel groaned with a troubled face.
「That is... no, there is nothing we can do here if you take her by force, but I will feel troubled if you asked us if it is okay... Well, to tell you the truth, there is no problem if you can change the target of Empire, but….」
「However, the princess will not be able to avoid the war even if she go to the Empire now. If so, if we say that we didn't see anything here...」
Seeing that Dukel and Heirat are making such discussions with complicated expressions, I wonder if it is difficult after all.
It may be solved if I dispatch a robot as an ally of the Kingdom every time there's a problem, but it is troublesome. It will be best if the Empire will pull out their hands from the Kingdom.
「... I think if another country kidnapped Ayla, the Empire won't blame the Kingdom anymore.」
When I said that vaguely, their eyes widened.
「...Kidnapped the princess?」
「The princess was kidnapped while being escorted by the Imperial soldiers... Certainly, it would be unreasonable to say a complaint to the Kingdom because it will be a failure from Empire's side.」
When they said that, they look at me at the same time.
「Taiki-dono!」
「Can you say that you have kidnapped Princess Letizia!?」
Being asked such an outrageous thing with a very serious look, I blink my eyes.
Be a kidnapper.
In short, does that mean I was being asked?
「... Heh?」
Reflexively, such an idiotic voice came out of my mouth. When I look at my side, Ayla also stares in wonder with teary eyes.