Chapter 49: Travel Planning

At this point, there was no use trying to soften things, but hearing it stated so bluntly made the conversation feel grim.
I shot my brother a sharp glare.

“Even if you think that, could you please use a gentler expression? It’s quite hard on my heart.”

“Is it? Then how about this—something happens and we all become unable to move, and you come to retrieve us. And when you show up like that, you fall right into the Queen Dowager’s hands alone.”

Just listening to him made me feel exhausted.
Are knights simple-minded? No, that’s not it. My brother’s thoughts and words are just too blunt and concise.

“Fine. Let’s speak plainly then. Reality is harsh, so no matter how we phrase it, the meaning is the same.”

As I said that, Brian-sama was suddenly standing close beside me.

“I will find a way to reach Belsia, even if it’s midway. I won’t leave you there alone. No matter what, I will come.”

“And I, of course, will not leave your side for even a moment, my lady. I will also thoroughly taste-test everything.”

“Since it’s a royal invitation, they probably won’t use poison. It would disgrace them. That part should be safe. And since they want to make me unhappy, they won’t kill me right away. I think they’ll prepare something far more cruel.”

Bell suddenly clung to me with teary eyes.

“Please don’t say such frightening things so casually!”

When I glanced around, Brian-sama and Lloyd both looked troubled.

“You told me not to say things so bluntly, and yet you’re being even more direct yourself,” my brother said, exasperated.

“Oh my, it seems I’ve been influenced by you, Brother.”

I laughed it off, but I knew that wasn’t the real reason.

I had already died once.
Perhaps my sense of things was a little different from normal people.
And in this life as well, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I might die again around the same time.

To me, death was something very close.
It existed in a different place than for my brother and Brian-sama, who faced it as knights.

I needed to be more careful with what I said and did.

“Well, anyway. The six-day journey there should be fine. If something happens on the way, we won’t even get to meet,” my brother said.

At that point, Lloyd spoke up.

“Eric-sama, six days to the Belsian royal palace is a schedule for those accustomed to travel. If ladies are accompanying, it would be better to allow one or two extra days.”

“Ah, right. If we don’t take it slow, trouble might arise. Then eight days.”

“As attendants, at minimum three maids and one servant will accompany you. A supervisor will be necessary. Also, to facilitate smooth interactions with the royal family, it would be best if I, as the Cruz family’s butler, take on that role. I would like to accompany you as well.”

Brian-sama turned to Lloyd with visible relief.

“I agree. I would very much like Lloyd to come along.”

My brother ran his hand through his hair, ruffling it up. His light brown hair puffed up messily.
It was the same color as mine, but shorter, so it didn’t seem as troublesome.

If the woman he fell in love with liked long hair, would he grow it out?
In that case, a nightcap would be essential.

Imagining that made me almost laugh.

He looked at me suspiciously and said,

“That’s probably best. I can’t handle the hysterics of women on my own.”

I felt irritated, but I completely agreed with Lloyd accompanying us.
Besides, I had never traveled for eight days before, so I had no idea what the journey would be like.

Lloyd smiled brightly.

“I will consult with the master immediately. Things will become quite busy from here on.”

“Next is how we’ll conduct ourselves in Belsia. The stone has returned there, and the crown prince now has its blessing. All the spies involved are dead, so it hasn’t been conveyed that we know the stone’s secret. Can we assume the matter of the stone is over?”

My brother looked around at everyone, then finally at me.

“It should be over. That reminds me—Mother knows about the stone in Grandmother’s fan. Should we tell her to keep quiet?”

“What the lady knows is just that it’s a decorative fitting on the fan, right? Wouldn’t it be better to leave it as is?” Brian-sama suggested.

My brother and I exchanged glances and nodded.
There was no real issue, and it would be unnatural if no one knew anything at all.

“I think I’ll just quietly tell Mother that the Queen Dowager is a dangerous person. As something she heard as palace gossip. It would be better if she stays cautious.”

“Can Mother really handle something like that?” my brother asked uneasily.

Lloyd answered cheerfully from the side.

“That will be fine. The madam is quite capable of such things. Social conduct is her strong suit. Her judgment can be a bit lenient at times, but if she is informed beforehand, she will manage. She may even become an asset.”

“I’ve heard something similar from Grandmother too. Though I don’t really know what she’s like in that regard.”

When I said that, my brother looked back and forth between me and Lloyd with increasing suspicion.

“When you tell her, I’ll be there too. That leaves only the Queen Dowager’s grudge against Grandmother. Even if King Marcus regained his memory and something happened, there’s nothing we can do about it. I have no idea what would satisfy her.”

“I hope we can learn something from Great-Aunt’s story. After that, we’ll have to gather information in Belsia.”

Bell stepped forward eagerly.

“I’ll get close to the servants there and gather information. Let’s prepare many embroidered ribbons and small items made by you, my lady. I’ll befriend them in no time.”

Seeing Bell so motivated, I smiled. “How reassuring.”

Then my brother looked at me again.

“What about guards? If we’re going in pretending ignorance, we can’t bring too many. A small, elite group.”

“The Cruz family’s guards alone are insufficient. We will borrow female knights who serve the Queen,” Brian-sama said firmly.

“Is that even possible?”

“Since three women are traveling, it would be best to have female knights close at hand at all times. I’ll request it from the Queen.”

The Cruz family members looked puzzled.
Borrowing the Queen’s personal guards—was that even something one could ask?
More than that, wouldn’t making such a request itself risk offending her?

For some reason, Brian-sama spoke apologetically.

“It would be ideal if my house had female knights, but since I have no sisters, there was never a need. The only excellent female knights I know are those serving the Queen.”

I looked around, gauging everyone’s reactions, then spoke on behalf of us all.

“For a mere noble to make such a request to the Queen… wouldn’t that go beyond impropriety and risk being seen as disrespect?”

Brian-sama stepped in front of me—fast as ever.

“Leave it to me. I have a favor owed by my aunt. I’ll secure the most capable one.”

…Was that really how it worked?

Feeling uneasy, I looked to my brother for help.

“Vice Commander, it’s impossible for the Cruz family to make that request. There are relationships with other houses to consider. Have you taken that into account?”

“Of course. I’ll arrange for Maria to be positioned as a condolence and goodwill envoy from the Queen. Then it wouldn’t be strange for female knights to accompany her.”

A collective “Oh!” rose from the room.

That would make it perfectly natural.