In all probability, there would be an ambush, and I'd be alone except for the attendant driving the carriage. From our enemy's point of view, they'd see tricking Sebas out of the way as a success. In which case, another assassin with a fair grasp of the state of affairs within Zandra's faction should show up. I would take that opportunity to pry out some useful information again.
As I was formulating my scheme, the carriage attendant let out a scream.
"Eeeeek! Y-Your Highness! There's someone right in front of us!"
"Never mind. Just keep going."
"B-but, Your Highness?! I-I don't want to die!"
The attendant must have realized the man out there was an assassin.
The young driver stopped the carriage, then jumped off and ran away, leaving me behind.
Sitting there all alone, I sighed. This was exactly what I'd anticipated. It would be easier to do what I needed to do this way, but I still despaired of my own lack of popularity with people. If it had been Leo taking the carriage, the attendant wouldn't have run for the hills like that.
"Come out. I don't want to have to drag you out of the carriage."
"Yeah, right. You just want to make sure it's really me."
I muttered sarcastically under my breath in response to the assassin's reasonable sounding request, but I did as he asked and got out.
Standing in front of the carriage was a middle-aged man with short, brown hair. His dignified expression gave him the aura of a powerful and seasoned fighter. It looked like Zandra was really serious; this guy must have been one of her top five most capable supporters.
At a glance, I guessed he had the strength of an A-class adventurer. Adding the fact that he was an assassin, for whom sudden sneak attacks were their job, this man was quite formidable. Even another A-class adventurer would easily be overpowered and killed if taken by surprise from behind. Assassins were different from adventurers. They were professional killers.
"It's too bad your attendant left you high and dry like that."
"Being unlikable isn't a new thing for me."
"I see. So that's not enough to ruffle you, huh? Is that because of your faith in your steward?"
"Yeah. Sebas will be here to kill you soon."
"That's a beautiful relationship between master and steward you have, but unfortunately, that's not going to happen. I don't care how amazing your steward is, it'll take him a while to finish off twelve assassins before he can come to your rescue."
"You sure about that?"
I didn't let my composure slip. Apparently taking that as a bluff, the man smirked and came closer. Then a dagger made of flames appeared in his hand.
"I was ordered to assassinate you, but I won't. I'm going to immobilize you, then bring you to my master."
"Knowing my sister's penchant for torture, I'd rather you didn't."
This guy had some serious smarts and good judgment. Kidnapping me was better than assassination in this instance, since once I'd gone missing, there would be plenty of options. Neither Erik nor Gordon would make any real effort to rescue me, and if she played her cards right, Zandra might even be able to take my place as aide to the ambassador.
All Zandra had to do was get me out of the capital before a search started and then torture me. Once I broke, I'd be entirely at her mercy. Even if I was later rescued, I'd be unlikely to expose her if the torture had gotten to me. Or she could choose to crush my spirit. That would be an even bigger blow than assassination and come with none of the danger.
"How pathetic. If you're going to resent anyone, resent that perfect twin brother of yours."
With that, the man threw his dagger of flames.
However, I'd already put up a defensive barrier around myself which that caliber of magic wouldn't be able to penetrate. I was confidently standing there with my guard up when the assassin's dagger of flames was suddenly extinguished by yet another sword.
"What the—?!"
"Who're you?"
"Just a passing adventurer."
The owner of the sword was a young woman with brown hair tied in a ponytail. However, she could easily be mistaken for a boy with her scruffy clothing and the hat pulled low over her eyes. I recognized her immediately.
She was the A-class adventurer who had been attempting to subdue the mother slime in the Kleinert territory.
"If you're an adventurer, then stand down. I'm assuming you're not here on a request?"
"That is true. I also don't know who that is behind you or why he's being attacked. And I certainly have no obligation or duty to help someone like him."
"In that case—"
"But seeing someone killed right in front of your eyes isn't a nice feeling. Plus, his attendant even abandoned him. It seems kind of unfair if I were to do the same."
"You do realize that taking his side will mean declaring a powerful individual as your enemy? Are you sure you want to do that?"
"I'd rather regret helping him than regret abandoning him."
The moment she said that, the man categorized the young woman as a foe. He immediately drew a dagger in each hand and threw them at her. These daggers weren't made with magic like the one from before. The girl deflected them with her sword, but right after that came a dagger made of ice. If she dodged it, I would be the next target in its path.
The girl responded to the assassin's artistic attack with an even more stunning stunt of her own. She transformed her sword into a shield and blocked the dagger of ice.
"A magic sword that can change form... Some peculiar loot you've gotten, huh?"
"I found it among some old ruins. Look what else it can do."
Next, she changed the shield into a spear, which she whirled around as she slowly approached.
At first glance, it was just an ordinary spear. But we quickly discovered it wasn't ordinary at all.
"Urgh... What the hell...?!"
"Wow. I'm impressed you're not going to sleep. This tone puts even powerful monsters to sleep in no time."
"That sound...!"
So the spear emitted a sound that lured opponents to sleep. I couldn't tell at all, but apparently, to the assassin, the whirling spear's tone sounded like a lullaby.
It was a formidable ability to have. Falling asleep right in the middle of a serious battle was no joke. Even if someone managed to stay awake, just fighting while drowsy would be much less effective.
The assassin must have intuited all that. He immediately put distance between the adventurer and himself. Then, with a glance at me and a disgusted click of his tongue, he retreated.
Not long after, Sebas appeared.
"How is everything here?"
"I was just helped out of a dangerous situation. Thanks. You saved me."
"I just couldn't watch someone be killed. By the way, from the look of your carriage, you appear to be some sort of noble?"
"Yeah, sorry. I'm Arnold Lakes Aadler, the Seventh Imperial Prince."
"The Seventh Imperial Prince? Ah, so this was about the famous conflict around the throne. I guess it was a good thing I stepped in to save you. I just got one big step closer to my goal."
The young woman then removed her hat and got down on one knee. Her face looked well-enough, though was a bit androgynous. She seemed about the same age as me.
"Your Highness. My name is Lynphia. I know it's crass to ask for repayment for saving your life, but please allow me one request."
Uhh, I didn't remember ever asking for her help. In fact, it was because of her I'd lost the opportunity to capture and interrogate the assassin.
Although I was silently grumbling to myself, I had to remember she didn't know that I was Silver. As Arnold, whose life she'd just saved, I couldn't refuse her a favor. If I did, no one would ever want to help out Leo or me again. At the same time, based on past experience, I knew without a doubt that whatever she was about to ask of me was a real doozy. Still, I decided to at least hear her out.