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Meanwhile, in the royal castle of the Veltoria Kingdom—
“Um… Father… is it true? That the Hero has been born…?”
The king blinked in surprise, seeing his daughter timidly open the door to his study. The prime minister standing beside him also looked taken aback.
From behind her, a female royal guard called out in a fluster.
“P-Princess, you can’t! It’s totally improper to just barge into the study without an appointment!”
The king rubbed his temples and waved a hand at the guard. “It is fine. We were just discussing that very matter. You may wait in the hall.”
“R-Right!”
As the guard withdrew, King Leonale III gestured for his daughter to sit on a long sofa.
It was rare for her to come to him. And to do so unannounced was unheard of. She seemed as timid as ever, but her eyes held a spark of hidden determination.
The king glanced at his prime minister, who wore a look of confusion. “Are you sure, Your Majesty?”
“It’s fine. Tell her.”
The slender prime minister nodded and began to explain. “Ten days ago, the court mages observed the Hero’s awakening. The location is believed to be deep within the West Forest of the Brisgard Territory.”
“…So it’s true…” she murmured to herself, then asked in a trembling voice, “Um… when will the Hero arrive at the capital? Do we know where they are now?”
The prime minister glanced at the king before shaking his head slightly. “No… In truth, the Hero has yet to be found. We dispatched the Central Knights, who were already stationed in the west, but there has been no word.”
For once, the princess’s eyes widened, and she raised her voice. “M-Missing!? Why would that be! Ah… I apologize for raising my voice…”
Both the king and the prime minister were startled by her sudden outburst. The king took over the explanation. “We do not know why. We have no idea where he could have gone… I cannot go into detail, but the knights discovered something troublesome during their search… As a result, our country is currently in a state of great confusion. We would like nothing more than to search for the Hero, but we are severely short on manpower…”
The ‘troublesome thing’ the king referred to was the forest’s barrier and the labyrinth beyond it.
Investigating it would take years. The discovery of a new labyrinth was welcome news, but the tasks of dispelling the barrier, assessing the labyrinth’s dangers, and more were piled high for years to come.
On top of that, the country’s leadership was in a panic over the Hero’s unprecedented disappearance.
Hearing this, she fell silent. She seemed to be lost in thought, but since she said nothing, the king finally spoke. “And that is the situation. If you have nothing else to say, you are dismissed.”
She bit her lip, took a deep breath, and looked up. In a wavering voice, she said, “U-Um! W-What if I were to search for the Hero? I have no official duties in the palace, and one guard is sufficient for my protection. Besides… I have read many books about the Hero. I believe I can predict the Hero’s next move. Therefore—!”
The king and prime minister exchanged a look, and the king sighed. “To think you would suggest such a thing… Do you believe I would allow my daughter to undertake such a dangerous task?”
She pleaded, her face on the verge of tears. “Father… unlike my brilliant older sisters and brothers, I am a failure and of no use to anyone… But I want to be of some help to you, even if it’s just a little. So please…”
The king looked at his daughter and let out a small sigh.
It’s true, she is of no use. She was destined to either be married off to a high-ranking noble within the country or, at best, become the third wife of a minor king.
But this daughter, who has never asked for anything, is now begging me so desperately. The king felt a flicker of pleasure at this. He raised the corner of his mouth. “It’s not just about being useful, is it? I am well aware of your fondness for the Hero.”
“Th-That is…! It is true that I wish to meet the Hero, even just once, but…”
Seeing his daughter blush and look down, the king considered it.
We will eventually have to form an official search party, but sending a member of the royal family as a precursor isn’t a bad idea. When requesting cooperation from the various lords, there is a world of difference between a royal making the request and a proxy.
…Besides… her future is already decided. Perhaps letting her have a journey before that would be good. It won’t require many resources, and frankly, her absence won’t cause any problems…
His decision made, born from a mix of affection and calculation, the king looked to his prime minister. He, too, seemed to have reached a similar conclusion. They weren’t expecting much, but it was a decent insurance policy.
“Very well. I will grant you permission.”
“…Father…! Thank you!”
Her face crumpled as she cried out in genuine joy.
“However! You are to send a report every single day. And you are to stay in the castles of the feudal lords whenever possible. Understood?”
“Yes! I understand!”
They decided to discuss the various procedures and the official letter from the king at a later date, and for now, she was dismissed.
As she left the study, her royal guard, Emma, rushed over.
“Princess! You didn’t get yelled at, did ya? I was so nervous!”
“It’s alright, Emma. I’m sorry for making you worry. Also, I have a favor to ask. Would you be willing to accompany me on a journey? I’ve received permission to search for the Hero.”
As she explained what had happened, Emma’s eyes lit up.
“Whoa! So now we can go meet the Hero, all official-like? That’s awesome, Princess!”
“Yes. But of course, neither Father nor the prime minister expects anything of me. I think they only gave me permission because I’m the fifth princess, whose presence or absence makes no difference. …I’m sorry, Emma. You drew the short straw being assigned as my guard…”
Emma shook her head vigorously. “What are you sayin’!? I’m happy to be your guard, Princess!”
“Hehe… Thank you, Emma.”
As she offered her thanks, her long, pale gold hair swayed gently. Though usually timid, her blue eyes now held a rare, strong light, and her cheeks were flushed a rosy pink.
Her name was Cordelia.
Cordelia Juliet Excelle Veltoria.
The failure, the useless fifth princess.
She was well aware that she didn’t live up to her grandiose name.
She had a great dream.
It was to join the Hero’s party and journey alongside him.
Of course, she knew something that fantastical would never happen. She understood that.
But for that dream, she had done everything she could since she was a little girl.
Cordelia paused and looked up at the sky through a castle window.
Her heart pounded in her chest at the thought that the Hero might be looking at the same sky somewhere. She clasped her hands before her chest and pictured the Hero, wherever he might be.
Oh, great Hero.
If only I could meet you, even just for a moment.
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