Chapter 507: Reporting

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It was late at night by the time I returned to the camp where Lady Sonya was waiting. I had assumed everyone would be asleep except for the night watch, but all the important people were still up, waiting for me.

As I gave my report, the atmosphere in the tent grew heavier and heavier. When I reached the part about the fighting possibly spreading beyond a simple clash between margraves and reaching the Royal Capital itself, everyone fell completely silent.

Once I finished, I had nothing more to say. I simply waited for someone else to speak. Eventually, Lady Sonya broke the silence.

"I see. Lord Robbie, thank you for your hard work. The contents of your report have left me at a loss for what to do. For now, we will return to the Eisleben lands, report everything to my father, and begin preparing for war. I’m sorry, but we cannot escort you back to the Royal Capital. We will be heading straight to the Eisleben lands without passing through the capital. I believe there is not a moment to spare.

I truly apologize for this, but I must ask you to make your own way back to the Royal Capital. It feels as though we are abandoning you, and for that I am sorry. Everyone, begin preparations immediately. We depart at first light!"

"Understood!"

At Lady Sonya’s command, everyone who had been listening rose and left the tent.

Only Lady Sonya, Lady Agnes, two maid-guards, and I remained. Tears welled in Lady Sonya’s eyes as she took my hand, her earlier resolute demeanor completely gone.

"This parting has come so suddenly. Please take care of yourself. I will pray for your continued success."

If we had been alone, I think she would have thrown her arms around me.

"I will write a report addressed to His Majesty the King. Could I ask you to deliver it to His Excellency the Prime Minister?"

"Is it only about the conflict between Lord Itsuki Margrave and Lord Richmond Margrave?"

"No. It will also state that the Mainz Kingdom’s Heroes and the Hagen Empire’s Heroes fought, and that only the Mainz Kingdom’s Sage survived. I’ve already written most of it. I only need to add what you just reported, so it won’t take long. Once it’s finished, I’ll call for you. Please wait here."

Her voice had grown thick with emotion. The suddenness of the parting was clearly hitting her. She lowered her gaze.

Outside, people who had been sleeping were being roused and the camp was in a frenzy of departure preparations. Lady Sonya lifted her face, looking as though she wanted to say something more. Just as she began to reach for me, a close aide entered.

"Lady Sonya, we need to discuss the route back to the Eisleben lands!"

Her expression immediately sharpened.

"Understood. Gather the relevant people. Lord Robbie, please wait until I call for you."

Even with that stern face, tears still clung to the corners of her eyes.

I returned to the tent assigned to me and tried to get some rest. The moment I decided to sleep, my mind began to race—an experience I was sure everyone had gone through at least once. Part of me held onto the foolish hope that Lady Sonya might somehow find a little time for us to be alone. The moment that thought crossed my mind, my body reacted on its own. It was simply the way nature worked. But Lady Sonya was busy—everyone in the camp was busy. There was no chance they would delay departure just so the two of us could spend time together. I lay there staring at the tent cloth, knowing it was impossible.

"Lady Sonya is calling for you."

When I stepped outside, the tent had already been taken down. Bonfires burned in the darkness as the surrounding tents were being packed away one after another.

Lady Sonya and her close aides were waiting. She rose and held out a sealed letter.

"Please deliver this to His Excellency the Prime Minister."

Her hand trembled. Her eyes were moist. Our previous parting had also been abrupt, and now it was happening again. Still, I told myself we would meet again someday.

"I understand. I will make sure it reaches him."

"I’m counting on you."

She gripped the hand holding the letter tightly. The paper nearly crumpled.

"Lady Sonya!"

If this continued, she looked ready to break down. I tried to steady her. She looked at me with teary eyes.

"Let’s meet again. Until then, stay well!"

I covered her hand with both of mine.

She said nothing and returned to her place. Lady Agnes spoke next, her own eyes slightly red.

"I have a request for you, Lord Robbie. Could you escort Sage Noshima back to the Royal Capital?"

"What?"

I was so surprised I nearly staggered. She wanted me to look after that Sage and deliver him to the capital?

"Please see that Lord Noshima arrives safely. Since we won’t be stopping in the Royal Capital, there is no one else I can ask."

It was a troublesome request, but she was right. Everyone else was returning to Eisleben. I was the only one heading to the capital.

Still—

"The women who were accompanying the Heroes aren’t returning to the Royal Capital?"

I didn’t particularly want to deal with Noshima, but if those women were coming along as well, it might not be so bad.

"They will be traveling with us to the Eisleben lands."

"They will?"

When they first saw Lady Sonya and the others, hadn’t they looked down on them as country bumpkins?

"It may seem strange, but they say they no longer wish to return to the Royal Capital."

Lady Agnes looked puzzled as well. She had clearly asked them why.

"They received their payment in advance. Apparently, no one in the brothel wanted to accompany the Heroes, so the contract was for a large sum paid upfront."

So they had come reluctantly. They probably thought demanding payment in advance would let them avoid going. Those three Heroes had been disliked even by professional women. Young as they were, what had they done to earn that?

"I see..."

I was at a loss for words. Lady Agnes continued.

"They say they want to leave the Royal Capital behind. They want to live surrounded by simple country people. They’re tired of the tense, cutthroat atmosphere there."

Was that really true? Well, it wasn’t my problem.

"If that’s the case, then fine."

"Thank you."

At this point, I no longer cared much either way.

"Understood. I’ll take him."

Lady Agnes hesitated, looking uncomfortable.

"Given the situation, we need every horse we can get. I’m truly sorry, but we can only spare one horse each for you and Lord Noshima. We need to take the carriages back to the Eisleben lands..."

That made sense.

"Even so, you’ll need every horse you can get in the Eisleben lands, won’t you? We’ll take a shared carriage back to the Royal Capital instead. Keep the horses. Besides, I have a feeling the Sage isn’t very good at riding. A carriage would be better for him."

"That would be a great help."

Lady Agnes looked relieved.

Lady Sonya raised her head, her expression sharp once more.

"One last piece of advice, Lord Robbie. You are from the Marie Kingdom. Do not involve yourself in the conflict between the Mainz Kingdom and the Hagen Empire. If the Marie Kingdom itself goes to war with the Empire, then you may join the fighting. Otherwise, I believe it is best that you remain neutral. There may be requests for you to participate, but you are free to refuse them. Please take care of yourself."

Her voice sounded as though she were forcing the words out. The face of that gloomy prime minister rose unbidden in my mind.