ch61-ch80 · 074-ch73

Chapter 73: Who Targets the Princess

"Before Rock can move again, let's discuss what comes next."

Penta starts taking charge with an arrogant air.

Ah right, he's the emperor of the birds, so I guess he's technically important.

"What concerns me is the enemy's objective. I understand they want the Black Bird's 'Egg,' but regarding Ai-chan, things are unclear."

"That's right. At first, I thought the Underz had come to... to take Ai back. To take back the princess."

Papa's complexion has improved just a little.

I didn't even know I was a princess, but Papa was most wary of that possibility. That's why he told me to always keep Penta close to my body.

"I did not even know of the young lady's existence, let alone that she was a princess, until I came to Limilaru."

True, Melkid did have this annoying smug look on his face, like "I knew she was the Black Knight's daughter through my sense of smell and brilliant intellect."

"I was not informed either. To think they would tell Fuchsia of the Underz, but keep it hidden from me, one of the Seven Knights..."

Chartreuse-san, who has only released her helmet, says this while looking at the unconscious black-haired woman, Fuchsia-san.

"They probably didn't tell you on purpose, Charru. Given your personality, you could fight the Black Knight, but you wouldn't be able to bring yourself to harm a non-combatant girl, would you?"

"That is... true."

So Chartreuse-san couldn't attack me whether I'm a princess or the Black Knight's daughter. She's a kind person at heart.

"...However, no matter the order, I cannot believe that Fuchsia, a knight, would raise her sword against royalty. Fuchsia likely was not informed that Ai-sama was a princess either."

"I see. She may have simply been ordered to target the Black Knight's daughter. But even for those in charge, why give such an order now of all times?"

Right, it feels a bit too late.

If they knew a princess existed, whether to target or abduct her, it would have been much easier to do when she was a small child.

Why leave her alone until fifteen, and come to this world now?

"......Ah!!"

"W-what, all of a sudden?"

Melkid, who raised his voice, twisted his fluffy body toward us while continuing to treat Papa.

"Before I took this form, I mentioned to Lord Grandine that there was a 'Black Knight's daughter,' and he seemed extremely interested! He was even more hooked than when I talked about the Master... He was particularly concerned about the young lady's name."

"Eh, then it's Melkid's fault."

When I said that in a cold voice, Melkid's fur stood on end and he started panicking.

"E-even if you say that, at that time I was still with the Underz, and I couldn't exactly hide the information I obtained..."

"The name... I see. That's when they learned the name Ai Shirakawa."

Papa closed his eyes, looking like he was remembering something.

Well, if Shirakawa is Satchio-san's family name, they might think I'm Satchio-san and Iris-san's child. But from their perspective, Papa might just be using the Shirakawa name on his own, so the name might not be the deciding factor.

"That's not it, Ai... The name 'Ai' was given by Iris-sama."

"Eh?"

"The night before the final battle with the Demon King's army, Iris-sama said, 'When peace comes, I want to have a child. I've already decided on a name.' ...Only the Seven Knights who were there at the time heard that."

Uhh... saying something like that right before a decisive battle is totally a death flag... wait, she survived in the end, so I guess it's fine? --No, that's not the point!

That's not what's important.

"So this Grandine person is connected to someone among the Seven Knights, and was told about that... Then, hearing of Ai-chan's existence and name from Melkid, they learned the princess is still alive."

"Please wait, Lord Pentaankool! Then, the one who issued such a presumptuous order to target Her Highness the Princess's life..."

"The likelihood is high that it's someone from among the Seven Knights."

From my perspective, I'm just like, "Oh, so there are people among the Seven Knights who think of cruel things too, huh."

But from Chartreuse-san's expression of disbelief and Melkid frozen with his mouth hanging open, I could tell just how serious this is.

Most importantly... Papa's face looks really pissed.

"Someone... from the Seven Knights... I had suspected... but..."

I've never seen Papa's lips tremble like this before.

Of course. They were comrades who shared joys and sorrows together. And for one of them to target his own daughter... or rather, the daughter of his best friend and the kingdom's princess.

...Unforgivable. It must be unforgivable.

"T-then, the suspects who could have issued the order are seven..."

"No, it's narrowed down further. The Black Knight is obviously out, and the Blue Knight position is currently vacant. The new White Knight and Green Knight were not around at that time."

Thanks to Melkid's stupidly simple remark, Chartreuse-san, who had become calm again, says there are four who fit.

"Red Knight Sir Algyl Cardinal. Yellow Knight Sir Auro Tizzano. Purple Knight Sir Lavand Closiel. And also my master who has retired, the former Green Knight, Lord Jade Forester."