Published: January 4, 2026
“By the way, you weren’t there the next year, right? Did you spend too much money that year?”
“Uh, no... Well... my grandfather passed away the next year.”
“Ah, I see.”
I listened to her story, nodded, and understood.
She was in mourning and just couldn’t afford to do anything else.
Of course, there was no law or unwritten rule forbidding it.
It’s just that when the de facto head of a family, a major figure, dies, it’s not normal to pay a huge sum to claim honorary status.
I couldn’t really recall the year after that.
I remembered the “next year” Etona mentioned, so I kept an eye on her, but the “year after that” was completely out of my mind.
By process of elimination, I figured she hadn’t used the honorary knight system since then.
“So... Your Majesty, why? I thought you were inside the military.”
“Your guess is correct. I was playing the part of a prodigal. I wanted to know what others really thought of me, so I was pretending to be a spy.”
“Alone?”
Etona was surprised.
I glanced sideways at Luke, who had taken some distance after Etona and I started talking.
From Etona’s tone, she didn’t seem to care about Luke at all.
“Since it’s infiltration, it’s easier to move alone. Also, if possible, I want to hear Eiler’s evaluation with my own ears.”
“What!? That guy is useless and full of himself. We don’t need him.”
“But he once defeated the Empire’s army.”
“Huh?”
“Don’t you know?”
“Know what?”
“The one who defeated the Empire’s army was a man named Ryde.”
“Ryde Memedo?”
“Yes.”
“What about him?”
“He was buried alive in his wife’s grave.”
“Buried alive!? A burial sacrifice!?”
I was truly shocked.
Etona looked at me like I should have known, which made me even more surprised.
“I’d heard of burial sacrifice, but no way would someone do something that stupid…”
“Well, Your Majesty, you overestimate him. The reason is ridiculous.”
“What reason?”
“To do a burial sacrifice in his wife’s grave, he said if he didn’t include someone important, his true feelings for his wife wouldn’t be conveyed.”
“……”
I was speechless.
What an unexpected turn.
“…”
I was tempted to ask if it was true.
But I doubted Etona would be definitive.
I turned to Luke.
“Luke.”
“Y-Yes!”
“Return to Henry immediately. Find out everything you can about Ryde Memedo’s current situation.”
“Y-Yes!”
Luke spun around and dashed off.
Whether he understood the situation fully or judged just from my tone, he was stone-faced and sprinted as fast as he could.
“Thanks for the information, Etona. I appreciate it.”
“N-No! I’m glad I could help.”
“Sorry, but we part ways here.”
“You’re leaving?”
“No, I’m infiltrating the provincial capital as planned.”
“The provincial capital… wait, are you going to Eiler’s place?”
“Since I’ve come this far, I want to see for myself what’s really going on.”
I thought about saying that I was becoming curious about Eiler from a different perspective, but I held back.
“It’s dangerous.”
“No problem.”
As long as I moved alone, it was fine.
I could hide my identity easily enough.
The mule is with me, but that’s the only slight problem.
“...I-I’m coming too.”
“Hm?”
“I’ll guide you around the provincial capital. For gathering information, I know the most efficient places.”
“Hmm.”
I nodded slightly and thought it over.
Even if I could infiltrate and escape without issue, I didn’t know where to efficiently gather information.
Having a local guide would be a big help.
Just as I was about to ask Etona to guide me, a quarrel-like voice suddenly came from inside the village.
When I turned toward the sound, Etona also noticed and looked toward the depths of the village.
“What’s going on?”
“Milady! Please run!”
One of the people preparing food for the villagers came rushing over, pale-faced.
“Milady—guh!”
An arrow suddenly flew from behind the man and pierced his back.
The man convulsed briefly, widened his eyes, and fell forward.