第４９７堀：活路を模索する (Part1)
**Chapter 497: Seeking a Way Out**
**Side: Kagura Kamishiro, Second Daughter of the House of Kamishiro, Kingdom of Haiden**
"Hey, Kagura. What do you think of this letter?"
The Princess shows me the letter she has just finished writing. I’m already exhausted from this repetitive exchange, but I force myself to respond.
"…I believe it is fine as it is."
The parchment is supposed to be a report summarizing the recent incident in Baide, but for some reason, it has turned into a work of fiction, with Princess Carrie suddenly cast as the protagonist.
…I don’t understand. Why does it take two or three days just to write a single letter?! I couldn't possibly say that out loud, though.
"Oh, how terrible! I must rewrite this part!"
With that, the Princess begins her revisions again. She has scraped and rewritten the parchment so many times that she’s already gone through more than ten sheets.
*This Princess is an idiot.* Can someone tell me why I even have to ask her for her opinion? Why is someone like this the successor to the First Ancestor? And why didn't my father or mother warn me about her?
"I am quite tired. Let us take a break. Working too hard is not good for one's health."
"…Yes. I shall call for the attendants."
And just like that, she’s back to her leisurely pace, taking breaks whenever she gets tired. If this were my own home, she would have been kicked out long ago.
"…Should I do it?"
"Did you say something?"
"No."
*Crap.* I let that slip out. I quickly ring the bell to call the attendants, using it as a distraction. *Haa…* I have to be patient. Just endure it for now. In any case, the army from the Haiden capital will arrive in a week. I don’t know what will happen to our relationship with Weed, but my duty as this Princess’s babysitter will definitely be over. That is my only hope. I can’t keep dealing with a Princess who can’t even write a proper letter.
What I really need to do is talk to the people who summoned us… They are essentially keeping us under house arrest in this manor, so I believe a discussion is possible. If they wanted us dead, they would have killed us at the start.
However, as long as this Princess is here, a proper discussion is impossible. I heard from Lady Catherine that she was intentionally raised to have this personality, or that the militant faction is controlling the royal palace—this is all news to me! Father, Mother! Though, there’s no way my words will reach home.
*Ah, damn it.* At this rate, the only future I can see is us angering the people of Weed and being wiped out!
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
"My, what a lovely ornament. What is this?"
The Princess, oblivious to my inner turmoil, points to a white, triangular lump sitting next to the tea the attendant brought in. What is that? There’s something red on top.
"Princess, that is not an ornament. It is food."
"Oh? Even though it has such a lovely shape?"
"Yes. According to Yuki-sama, it is called a 'shortcake'."
"A 'cake', you say?"
"It is a type of confection. The red fruit on top is a strawberry."
"Strawberries can grow to be this large?"
"As far as I know, strawberries are usually much smaller and look different, but apparently, this is a strawberry. They said they performed selective breeding. Regardless, I have already tasted it, and it was delicious. Yuki-sama said that if it suits our tastes, he would be happy to serve it to you, Princess."
"I see. A gesture of kindness from Yuki-sama. Come, Kagura, let us partake."
"Ah, yes."
…What is going on? There was no sign they had such sweets, was there? Where did it come from? Do they have some power other than moving the earth? And besides…
"My, how delicious. Cake is truly wonderful. The strawberry has a lovely sweetness, too."
It’s true. Between those cookies and this cake, everything is incredibly tasty. No, the meals were delicious, too. They were meals from the manor, but the first time we ate, it was food prepared by Weed—the bread was unbelievably soft and easy to eat. As the Princess enjoyed her tea, I felt my body tremble, sensing the bottomless capability of Weed.
"Now that tea is finished, let us return to writing the letter. This time, I shall start from the beginning, so it will take a little while."
"…I see."
*Damn it, this is a form of torture!* Why do I have to wait for a delusional novel to be finished?
"Oh, that’s right. Kagura, why don’t you write a letter to the Duke as well?"
"Huh? Why now?"
"Because it would be improper not to inform them of our successful summoning, wouldn't it? We have reproduced the great achievement of the First Ancestors, after all."
"Ah, ah. I suppose that is true."
It was a suggestion from the Princess, who I thought was just being flighty, but this would allow me to contact my family independently of her. As the Princess says, from Weed’s perspective, this is just a kidnapping, but from our perspective, it is the reproduction of a fairy tale.
*…This might actually work.* I felt it intuitively. It won't be easy to organize, but I started to feel that a collision between Haiden and Weed might be avoidable.
"Yes. Please use this parchment."
"Thank you. However, I will step away for a moment. To contact my family, it would be effective to have the signatures of yourself and Lady Catherine, so I shall go and obtain them."
"That is true. When my letter is finished, I shall have you and Catherine sign it as well."
The Princess says this while diving back into writing her delusional novel. Leaving her to the soldiers guarding the door, I head toward the office where Lady Catherine should be. Since there are soldiers at the door, she should be inside, right?
"Greetings, Kamishiro-sama. Is something the matter?"
"Is Lady Catherine inside?"
"Yes, she is currently handling government affairs."
"I see. Could you tell her that Kamishiro has arrived? Tell her I have something urgent to discuss."
"Understood."
Without any issues, I am immediately guided into the office.
"Is something the matter? Did the Princess throw another tantrum? I have prepared a different cake, so please take that with you. I don’t have time to deal with that Princess’s fussing right now."
"A different cake? Is it from Weed?"
"Yes. They are truly incredible. They even provided supplies that were lacking from the Empire’s aid immediately. It’s rare to see that Big fellow praise anyone so openly. Oh, and we have already reconciled with the Imperial Army."
"Reconciled with the Imperial Army… already? I did see the aid supplies, but… and who is Big?"
"? Ah, you didn't know. He is a prominent figure in this town."
"I see. But they only have about ten people, and they were empty-handed at the time, so how could they have such supplies…"
"They apparently possess that kind of power. With this, there is effectively no need to worry about supplies. In fact, it’s comfortable since there’s no time wasted on logistics. It makes it all the more foolish to pick a fight with Weed."
…As I thought, reconciliation with Haiden won't happen at this rate. There is no element for reconciliation with Haiden. But if that’s the case, it will lead to a war with Haiden. …In that event, my family will surely be dragged into the fight against Weed. If that happens… there is no chance of winning. We were kept alive to gather information this time, but I don’t think there will be a next time.
"Lady Catherine. Please lend me your strength. At this rate, a confrontation with Haiden is certain. If that happens, my family will be caught in the crossfire."
"Well, that is true for you. You don't have the option to easily cut ties with Haiden, unlike me, whose territory was completely absorbed. But what will you do? The army from the capital is already approaching Baide. The confrontation between Weed and Haiden is imminent. Those idiots have no way of understanding Weed’s true strength, and the moment they do, they will be wiped out."
"That is certainly true. Therefore… um, yes. Is it certain that Weed wishes to settle this peacefully?"