Arnold’s father, the current emperor, was a man who has been actively engaged in war. Even from the way Arnold spoke, she could tell that he was a belligerent man.

So why did he maintain friendly relations with a country that was politically important yet lacking in war potential?

According to the rumors I heard when I was traveling around in my life as a merchant, Emperor Garkhain is very religious…Did His Highness Arnold burn churches because of his feud with such a pious father?

“That’s not important.”

Arnold looked up from his papers and met Rishe’s eyes.

“Are you sure you didn’t want a maid to accompany you?”

“Yes. At this time of year, only a limited number of people are allowed to enter the Grand Shrine. It’s better to have them stay in the detached palace rather than have them wait in the nearby city during our stay in the temple.”

“— It’s a festival. It’s a bad time to be here.”

Rather, I can’t say I’ve scheduled it to coincide with preparations for that festival…

With that in mind, the carriage began to slow down.

Rishe looked out the window, but they were in the woods in the middle of the road. It wasn’t their destination, nor was it a place where they could take a rest.

Nevertheless, the carriage eventually came to a complete stop. Sensing that Arnold was about to move, Rishe grabbed him firmly by the sleeve. Arnold then raised his eyebrows.

“…Something seems wrong. Stay in the carriage.”

“You’re not going to leave me behind twice. Besides, Your Highness knows by now that locking me up is pointless.”

This was the second time that something went wrong while she was riding in a carriage with Arnold.

Arnold left her behind the last time, but that wasn’t going to happen this time around.

“–Indeed.”

Arnold sighed, then got out of the carriage himself first and reached out his hand to Rishe.

Rishe smiled and took his hand to get out of the carriage. The carriage carrying knight guards was parked in front of the Crown Prince’s carriage, and the knights outside the carriage had confused expressions on their faces.

“What happened?”

“Your Highness, carriages from other countries seem to be blocking the road.”

Rishe felt an ominous hunch upon hearing the report.

No way…

She thought of a certain person, and almost at the same time, she heard a voice just as she had expected.

“—I don’t like it at all! I hate it, I loathe it!”

The bright and clear voice of a girl echoed through the surrounding woods.

Arnold turned his gaze in that direction. The door of a pure white carriage opened, and a girl of about ten years old jumped out from inside.

“Hey, listen up! What are you complaining about? The white carriage is exactly what you wanted, and you were having a good time just now!”

“I’ve changed my mind from a while ago!!! I want a black carriage this time!! I hate this. Otherwise…”

Then the girl looked at her.

She has a beautiful figure akin to a doll with big, bright eyes. Her pale purple hair was in rich waves.

Her lemon-colored dress with frills was a little young for her age of ten, but it suited her lovely appearance well.

As soon as the girl with shiny polished shoes saw that the carriage that Rishe and Arnold were riding in was black, she shouted with a look of determination.

“I’ve decided! If Dad won’t listen to me…”

Then she sprinted at full speed, hugged Rishe around the waist, and shouted, “I’m going to ride in their carriage!”

“Myria!! Don’t you dare bother other people!!!”

Ahhhh…

Rishe looked down at the girl and sighed softly in her mind.

As usual. Myria-sama.

She was the daughter of the family Rishe served as a maid, and she was one of her “targets” on this trip.