The Returnee Wants Peace

From all indications, this demon hunting tournament seemed intended as a display of the Empire’s strength after experiencing two trials. Of course, that may not have been the sole motive, but it wasn’t particularly important to Rosha.

What was important to her was that she had to attend the hunting competition to be held in a few days.

“Ugh, how bothersome.”

“Can’t be helped? Blame it on being a Guardian Knight.”

Koko, who was preening his feathers while sitting on the windowsill, retorted.

As he said, it would be a matter of discussion later if a Guardian Knight didn’t participate in an imperial event without a valid reason. Especially for an event like the ‘Demonic Beast Hunting Competition’.

Rosha sighed as she looked at the carriages being loaded in front of the mansion through the window.

It was around that time.

“Miss, which of these two outfits do you think is better?”

Turning around, she saw Berri, who was choosing clothes for the hunting competition, holding two jackets and asking her.

Berri, who had luckily not encountered any monsters so far, looked almost the same as before the trials occurred. Rosha liked her innocence.

It made her feel that all her fighting hadn’t been in vain.

“Hmm, I think the light-colored jacket would suit you well, Miss. But I’m conflicted. Duke Echerzen usually wears black outfits. I’d like your outfits to be harmonious when you stand together…”

…But this kind of innocence was a bit…

There was a reason why Berri was acting like this.

It was because Froy had sent a gift along with a letter to Rosha saying he would be a little late.

-I said it would take a day or two, but it seems I may require a bit more time to thoroughly investigate certain matters. We’ll probably meet at the hunting competition. I’m sending a gift as an apology.

The gift that came with it was a thin platinum ring.

According to the letter, they were a set of two, and if both parties wore the rings, they could know each other’s location.

At first, Berri had said, ‘If it’s from the Duke, couldn’t he have sent something better?’, but when she found out this ring was a sacred relic, she changed her attitude.

And now she was like this.

“Well, I think light colors would be better than dark colors that make you look small.”

“…I think anything would be fine.”

“Anything?! This is an exceptionally important hunting competition hosted directly by His Majesty, and many people will be attending. Since you’ve been away for a long time, you should pay extra attention at times like this. Oh, I think there were a few more jackets in the closet next door. May I go fetch them for a moment?”

When Rosha reluctantly nodded, Berri left the room with a very enthusiastic look.

And Rosha decided to use this opportunity to sneak away.

‘It’s precious rest time, I can’t become a mannequin trying on and taking off clothes.’

It might seem like she runs away a lot when she’s with Berri, but that’s just an illusion.

As she slipped out of the room and crossed the corridor, the passing servants readily greeted her.

“Good morning, Miss.”

“Have you had your meal?”

“You’re not running away from Berri, are you?”

Thinking this wouldn’t work for sneaking away, Rosha quickly headed for the back door. The area near the training ground connected to the back door wouldn’t overlap with Berri’s route, so it seemed fine.

Just then, a knight who was preparing personal items for the hunting competition spotted her and spoke.

“Oh, Miss. Didn’t you finish your physical training this morning? Are you going to do more?”

“No, I’m just going to stay in a corner for a bit.”

“Ah. You’re hiding.”

The knight nodded as if understanding and left with a fighting pose. The other knights passing by had similar attitudes.

“You came again, just like the day before yesterday?”

“If so, that side will be better for hiding, Miss.”

Some even went as far as to tell her good hiding spots. This was thanks to becoming close with the knights while doing physical training over the past few months.

‘…They’re all good people.’

Rosha, who had settled on the stairs in front of the armory, watched the knights busily moving about in the snow-covered training ground.

In the past, she didn’t know what kind of people the family knights were. She had never set foot in the training ground.

She would have only known the Emperor as the sun of the Empire and the great and capable His Majesty, and wouldn’t have known what thoughts Cedric had when he became the Imperial Aide.

‘And Froy too. Before cooperating like this, I would have thought he was a terrible villain.’

Rosha gently fiddled with the platinum ring on her hand.

Come to think of it.

Although the occurrence of the trials was unfortunate.

If the trials hadn’t occurred and she had continued living without being transported to another world, it probably wouldn’t have been that happy either.

“It’s fortunate when you think about it like that.”

“Hm? What is?”

“Originally, getting closer to the truth isn’t always good. It’s often closer to pain.”

Koko said. He’s usually a mischievous parrot, but sometimes he seems like a sage.

‘Koko’s words are right.’

The truth is sometimes hard to accept.

But it can’t be helped.

Once you know, you can’t close your eyes and pretend not to know, so you just have to move forward.

“Child, why are you here?”

At that moment, she turned around at the sound of a voice, and saw Marian holding her personal sword looking at her.

“I ran away for a bit. Are you participating in the hunting competition too, Marian?”

“Yes, I’m going along. I have some personal matters to sort out.”

“If it’s personal matters…”

“It’s adult business.”

Marian winked with her one remaining eye and patted Rosha’s head. Marian had a tendency to treat Rosha like a child.

“You’ve been through a lot, child. Now leave it to the adults.”

Marian’s calm voice made a corner of Rosha’s heart ache. But only for a moment, as one word from her statement kept bothering her.

Um… I’m an adult too, you know?

* * *

The Imperial Palace of the Marcia Empire had undergone repairs and expansions repeatedly for hundreds of years. Naturally, its structure was very complex, and hidden passages and secret spaces were scattered here and there.

The place where Marquis Lycaon was staying now was one of those secret spaces.

‘How long do I have to wait here?’

A gloomy basement without windows. The damp moisture and earthy smell could be felt.

In fact, it was a place he didn’t want to stay for even a moment, but he had no choice as the secret passage connected to the underground prison was here.

Moreover, didn’t His Majesty personally tell him to wait here?

‘Yes… His Majesty wouldn’t abandon me.’

How much had the Lycaon Marquisate supported all this time!

Just right then.

The sound of someone coming down the stairs connected to this place was heard.

Shortly after, the one who appeared was a man with thin eyes wearing a monocle – Count Nigel.

As soon as Marquis Lycaon saw him, he asked breathlessly.

“How long do I have to stay here? And what happened to my son?”

“Son? Which son are you talking about…”

“Geoffrey, I mean Geoffrey!”

“Ah, your eldest son is still in prison.”

The Marquis let out a long sigh upon hearing those words. Although Geoffrey was a good-for-nothing, he was still the eldest son who would continue the family line.

Meanwhile, Count Nigel continued speaking.

“As for when you can leave… actually, public opinion isn’t very good, so we can’t let you out right away. But as always, there’s a way.”

“What is this way?”

“You’ll probably find out soon. I’m not sure if you’ll be able to remember… Anyway, get some rest for now.”

“Th-that…!”

Marquis Lycaon looked at the object in the Count’s hand with a shocked expression.

The Necklace of Suggestion.

It was the sacred relic that was taken by the Imperial Palace when he was thrown into the underground prison.

But Count Nigel was holding it!

However, before he could raise any questions, his consciousness sank deep as he saw the light of the red jewel.

“My, my, quite stubborn, aren’t we?”

Count Nigel’s voice faded away.

The fact that he was a researcher in a secret experiment hosted by the Imperial Family belatedly came to mind, but it was already too late.

…

And finally, the day of the hunting competition arrived.