「Oi, did you hear about it?」

In the knight’s mess hall at the Romancia Castle in the imperial capital, the soldiers are gossiping cheekily over their cold boiled potatoes.

「The muscle princess seems to have gone to the Guild Autonomous Region.」

「In that place at the lower continent?」

「I guess it suits the wild princess who likes to imitate knights.」

「I guess she got frustrated because she hasn’t been able to vent after the war ended.」

「She even made the 15th knight order patrol on the site of the former dungeon on purpose, right? Thanks for that though. The battle with monsters has finally calmed down so I wish she should stay quietly in the castle.」

「But she looks very beautiful when she wears a dress.」

「So what? Did you fall for her?」

「It is impossible for the princess to marry someone other than a noble or high-ranking officer, right?」

Adel’s reputation in the empire isn’t good. In the empire, women are supposed to be protected by men.

In particular, among the knights, although she’s a princess, there is a strong backlash in making her, a woman, an honorary commander.

「…..perhaps it’s about Ricart.」

The name Ricart causes a few knights to turn grim.

「I guess that court mages don’t like a mage lower ranking than them is being treated too favorably.」

「Oi, watch your tongue!」

「Eh….? What? Are you with the court mages?」

「Ah, no….sorry. Ricart-san is not bad.」

Some old timers from the chivalry have noticed that Riito should be the “brave”. They were strictly ordered not to say anything about him and Adel.

「Even so, I never thought that she loves him that much….」

「Who wants to bet that the sixth princess eloped?」

「Me!」

「Stop that. You’re being too rude.」

The knights, freed from the days when monsters just popped out of the ground endlessly, are quite busy.

-0-

—Scene Change—

-0-

On the other hand, the emperor’s entourage.

The emperor’s advisers, known as the Privy Council, were in general agreement with him.

「It has been a while since Riito Ricart left because of the court mages—」

「There is no sign of unrest.」

「He was a strange man who didn’t like to stand out. An ungreedy, scary man—」

「Yes, it is easier to control a man who is motivated by money and honor.」

For the members of the Privy Council, Riito was a dangerous foreigner.