Finally, my father and the King of Seldonia are done chatting, and we enter the carriage that they have prepared for us.
It''s larger and more luxurious than the carriage we were in.
Ours is a traveling carriage even though it''s ridden by royalty, so it''s only natural that the one that emphasizes mobility is smaller.
We ride in a luxurious and comfortable carriage and start moving towards the royal palace of the Harzion Kingdom.
Inside are me, my father, my maid Alisa, and Anne, the head of the magic knight order, as my escort.
On the side of Harzion Kingdom, there''s King Seredonia, Princess Irene, and one guard from that side.
''''But Miss Irene has grown up! You were such a little thing the last time I saw you!
''Thank you. But at that finger''s width, it''s about the size of a pea grain.
''Right! Well, that''s too small! Hahaha!
Shut up...
Why does this guy talk so loudly?
Even though it''s a big carriage, it''s not a space like a big hall, so everyone should be able to hear him as loud as he speaks to the people next to him.
I spoke lightly with Princess Irene, and then my dad started talking to King Seredonia again.
My seat is in front of me with Princess Irene in front of me and Alisa next to me.
''Princess Irene, I''m sorry my dad got involved in the annoying tangle.
No, he''s a very funny man and a lot of fun to be around.
When I apologized, Princess Irene said that with a gentle smile.
I''m glad she didn''t seem to be offended since she seemed to mean it.
''''Does Prince Christo call your father ''father''?''''''
Hmm? Yes, I do. I don''t want to call that guy ''Father'', even if I die.
Oh, really?
Oops, I shouldn''t have told Princess Irene this.
I''ve embarrassed her.
''Are you on bad terms with King Leonardo?
No, it''s not a bad thing. It''s just that I don''t like it one way or the other.
Oh, really?
I answered honestly again, and it got weird in the air.
Huh, it can''t be helped.
''''Well it''s not that I completely dislike my dad. Rather, I have a lot of respect for him.
'' That''s right.
Yes, most importantly, your people have a lot of trust in you.
Jere, the head of the Order, Anne who is there now, and many other people trust and respect my dad.
Many of his subordinates are willing to risk their lives for my father.
I would never want to say this to him, but he has an absolute charisma that I don''t have.
It''s something he was born with, so it''s not something you can acquire.
My dad is an idiot, a huge idiot.
And yet, he can be the king of a country because his charisma is absolute.
For example, in the previous raid, my dad went to the front lines himself, even though his butlers and maids were desperate to stop him.
What country''s king would stand on the battlefield with his own sword and shield?
I can only call him a fool.
But he was capable of doing it, and the fact that my father did it was an inspiration to his soldiers.
He has the power to attract and inspire people.
That''s a power that I can''t do, that I don''t have.
That''s probably where the trust of my father''s men comes from.
''So as a king, I think there''s a lot of respect for him. As a father, though, he''s subtle.''''
Oh, really?
I''m a little itchy to praise my dad, so I''ll just humiliate him a bit at the end.
Yeah, there really isn''t much I can respect about him as a dad.
''''I respect your father, too. Both as a king and as a father.''''
The only king I wouldn''t respect as a father is the King of Begonia.
''Hmmm, is that so? I''m sure he''s a delightful father.
It might be fun, but it''s too loud.
''I''m sorry I can''t defend that either,''
Princess Irene, who returns the joke with a joke, laughs elegantly, still with a beautiful smile.
Come to think of it, my voice doesn''t leak out of this place anymore, so I might as well say something about Eric.
''''Princess Irene, is this carriage soundproofed?''''
''It''s enchanted, so I don''t think the outside world can hear it unless it''s too loud. ....unless it''s as loud as King Leonard''s voice.
I don''t have to be that loud.
My dad is still talking in a noisy voice with the King of Ceredonia, Anne, and the guards over there.
Of course, my dad is the only one who is loud.
Princess Irene, perhaps because she heard me soundproofing her, lowers her voice a bit and tries to listen to me by moving her face closer to mine.
I also speak in a voice that only she and Alisa, who is next to me, can hear.
''I said earlier that Eric isn''t here, he''s just not here as an escort, but he''s here in Harzion State.
'' Are you sure?
''Yes, sir. We''re on a mission, so it''s up to us to see if they show up in our presence in the future.
The plan is for Eric and his team to act in hiding, so they have no plans to show up.
Unless there''s something very wrong.
''I would love to meet you in person and thank you very much.
Eric would probably like to meet Princess Irene as well.
'' Oh, I see....
Princess Irene''s face turns a little red at my words.
When we met before, Eric said ''I will definitely come to see you again''.
Since he approached me so passionately, it''s only natural that I would be aware of him.
That''s good to hear, Eric.
At least it sounds like a good feeling.
''''I mean, is Prince Christo on good terms with Eric-sama? From earlier, when I call Master Eric''s name, I feel as casual as a friend.
''Yes, I know. He''s my only best friend.
At my words, Princess Irene''s eyes widen in surprise.
A prince of a country and a mere soldier are best friends, that would be strange in the normal course of events.
But--''''
''''The only person who sees me not as a prince, but as a cristo is Eric.
Really, I think so.
For some reason, that guy, from the beginning, sees me not as a prince, but as a friend.
And that makes me more than happy.