"Wow! Today I changed my face perfectly and made the atmosphere as strange as possible, but you still know that?"
"His Highness Arnold was too frightened to be a temporary knight." The red eyes are the decisive punch. "
“I see. Sure, I'll help you next time!”
Why are you in such a good mood when you can see through the disguise? Leechee asked Raul, dumbfounded.
"This is a hypothetical story." If you were an enemy of Galkhain, how would you dive in if you had to investigate this country? ”
"I'd like to answer that as a secret... but I can't keep my mouth shut with my benefactor." At least, like me this time, [I was one of the knights from the beginning], I won't dive in with my face. "
I hear that Raul is here now, dressed as a knight, because Arnold and I have a match. Arnold wants Raul to find out if anyone has infiltrated Gulkhein's Imperial Castle.
With Arnold's permission, Raul would be able to mingle with one of the knights. The walls of the Imperial Castle were tightly guarded, and even a light-hearted kitten was not yet a way for humans to infiltrate in secret.
I guess the realistic thing is to be prepared to spend more than a few years, and start by joining the Knights.
You don't play the knight's fake, you enter as a real knight.
"Yes, after all, Galkhain has taken the attitude of" accepting me as a knight if I have the strength regardless of my status "." From my point of view, this is one of the few sweetnesses in a vast country called Galkhain. "
Raul raised his index finger and continued shaking it as he played.
"Well, I guess the Emperor has a sense of sweetness." Even with meritocracy, only the nobles were actually in the upper echelons of the Knights. Unless you're a nobleman, it's unlikely that you're an agent of another country. "
(...... Your father betrayed that premise. As a gesture, it would have required much more severe treatment than if the common man had been an agent.)
With that in mind, it may indeed be fair for my son, Gutheil, to remain a knight.
"That's why, as a knight, you don't deserve to dive in any way." Your only Highness Arnold is your own Kingsguard. If I had to choose to infiltrate as a knight as an agent, I might try to join your Highness's Kingsguard. "
……
"However, I don't know if you are a Kingsguard in any way unless you are someone who knows your information." So, to conclude, [I came to investigate this country from another country] became a knight and there was no infiltration. If you want to efficiently extract information from high-ranking officials and superior knights, there's another way. ”
What Raul has told us so far is consistent with what Raul has seen in the life of a hunter.
Well, what's the other way?
"Nh?... nhh..."
Raul, who had even spoken to me so far, came here and mocked his face.
"That's right... I'll tell you that, and your Highness will be quietly furious..."
"......? Perhaps Lord Arnold has kept his mouth shut?"
"No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Leechee tilts her head more and more.
Nevertheless, I have some idea about the [alternative] that Raul said.
In the life of a hunter, the method was forbidden in front of Leechee.
Therefore, looking at Raul's current attitude, there is no doubt that there is a "more alternative way to efficiently steal information from high-ranking officials and superior knights".
(When that happens......)
Leechee takes one breath and then says one more thing she wants to hear.
"Hey Raul, if you don't notice the signs of a 'normal person' approaching you, what time is it?"
"In addition to that, when there is a cute girl nearby who thinks, 'I really want you to get close to me.'" Like you, for example. "
"...... Raul......"
"Hahaha, I'm just kidding. It's not limited to girls, and when there are a lot of unrelated third parties around, it's probably too late to notice that one of them is" approaching ". But it's not like I didn't realize it existed, so it's a bit out of your question."
(That's the answer, isn't it?)
That was when Kyle and Michelle visited the Imperial Castle of Galkhain, for example. Leechee dressed up as a man and dived into a knight apprentice, with Theodore's help.
It was a secret to Arnold, but after he discovered it, Theodor caught him in the hallway. At that time, I was thinking, and it was common for a lot of people to come and go in the corridor, so I was completely alarmed.
Still, I didn't overlook Theodore's signs. Leechee was surprised when she was grabbed by her wrist.
(Raul was the one who taught me how to read and erase signs. Thanks to my thorough memory, I was able to help the Knight's life.... if you're dealing with a normal person, you'll know they're getting close to me.)
On the other hand, it was difficult when someone who could erase the signs was the opponent.
When you are alert, it is still difficult to be alert. Even on the first day I arrived at the Imperial Castle of Galkhain, it took me some time to notice Arnold behind me while I was looking down at the view from the balcony.
(At that time, I noticed that Lord Arnold had tried me by mixing his playful murderous spirit. If they had just disappeared and approached me like that, I might not have noticed until I could touch them.....)
Two stories I asked Raul reinforced Leechee's suspicions.
(... the more you think about it, the more evidence you'll find that your imagination is real)
The most important thing is the discomfort I had when I was talking to Dietrich.
"Oops, it looks like we're picking you up."
You can hear the door opening.
A person appeared on the wall at dusk. Leechee looked back at him and called his name.
Your Highness Arnold......
――……
The wind blows through and turns the hem of Arnold's jacket.
Leechee's coral-colored hair also swayed and swayed. Leechee ignores it and asks Arnold.
You've filtered down suspicious people from the beginning as agents.
……
"No, rather... it seems that Lord Arnold was suspicious, so I decided to get involved with that person so far..."
Arnold narrowed his eyes indifferently, wondering if the evening sun was annoying.
And he opens his mouth.
"That's something you don't need to know."
"...... ah"
Leechee's chest felt bitter as she pushed out the words.
It's not because they refused me. Arnold said that because he knew it was about Leechee.
"Your Highness, I..."
"-But..."
Arnold lowered his eyes and took a small breath.
"If you try to take any action and beg me to make it happen, I will never disobey you."
……
The words that Arnold uttered raised a sense of relief and joy.
The word 'you don't need to know' has been told to Arnold before. However, the situation was clearly different from what it was then.
Leechee turned to him and made a heartfelt wish.
"Let me also help His Highness Arnold." I want to do something to make things more convergent. ”
"... what are you talking about?"
Arnold sighed and said with a slightly dazed expression.
"I'm going to help you with what you want to do."
Raul laughed at the surprised leeches.
"Haha, that's amazing! Is there anyone who can make such a light plea to that Crown Prince Arnold?"
"Ugh...! I'm so sorry, I'm really...!!"
Raul, quietly strangled by Arnold, shrugged his shoulders, but Richet sincerely apologized.
On top of that, I'm going to share some thoughts with Arnold and Raul.
On that night, a guest was invited to a room in the Imperial Castle.
A large room is furnished with five chairs, each arranged in a circular shape facing toward the center. Arnold sat down in the upper chair, and Leechee sat next to him, staring at the two people.
"... I'm sorry. Unfortunately, I know you're afraid."
The person whose gaze was directed at me asked, looking terribly uncomfortable.
"Why on earth is someone like me invited to your release......"
……
Arnold, who had a cheek stick on his arm, did not answer Knight Gutheil's question.
Instead, he nodded and opened his mouth as a signal was sent to Leeche with his eyes open.
"I apologize for calling you, Mr. Gootheil." I have a very important story to tell, so it's nighttime, so at this time of the year,
“I understand from what you just said that we should avoid people. But what can I do to help you?”
Even though it was supposed to be confusing, it was just a story full of chivalrous spirit. Leechee continues, grateful for Gootheil's care.
“From here on out, it may be difficult for Gootheil-sama.”
"What the hell is that... no matter what you say, it's a role"
I looked straight into Gootheil's eyes and told him.
“Another country that wants Galkhain's secrets could be sending agents to this country.”
――
Gutheil took a breath and quickly put his strength into his hands.
“His Highness Arnold was one of the first to learn that he had been gathering all kinds of information.”
"--Did you think I was the agent?"
Although his voice was not trembling, Gootheil's complexion was fading blue. The expression was puzzled and impatient, and there was an ooze of giving up.
"I am aware that I am not trustworthy, but I am proud of it. Even if you don't believe me, I've never betrayed my beloved country...!"
"... I understand that you are innocent, Lord Arnold."
".....?"
However, I couldn't choose the word "please rest assured" here.
"Perhaps someone involved in intelligence......"
Just then, the sound of a knock echoes.
I decided that I didn't need permission to enter, so the door opened before I responded. A knight dressed as Raul brings someone in.
……
Gutheil breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of him.
She looks down at Goutheil and smiles lonely.
After that, he looked straight at Leechee and Arnold and called himself this.
“I'm Sylvia Hollingworth, and I'm very pleased to have you here tonight.”