If someone in the archduke's household learned those skills, it would threaten the privileges held by the imperial family and powerful nobles. It was the Amsbergs' duty to fight. That was her household's basic stance. And since the proper use of their power was directed outward, not inward, there wasn't much opportunity to make use of it amid the secret feud going on within the capital.
"You have your own positive qualities. There are some things that only you can do. Why not use those qualities to help Arn? Doesn't that make sense?"
"Yes, it makes sense, but I just can't convince myself... It was supposed to be me who protected Finne."
"You're just a sore loser, like you've always been. You were never one to back down from a competition. But I doubt Lynphia is interested in competing with you, and the two of you have completely different roles. We're outnumbered, and we don't have many allies. On top of that, we have a lot of easy targets. I can defend myself, but Finne and Arn can't. We need to have more than one person around who can provide protection. I think that was why Arn made the decision he did, and I also think he'll come to you for help when you're available."
"You really think so? I feel like he'll just keep treating me like I'm in the way."
"He will not. You're so stubborn. Anyway, right now, you're the only one I have to rely on. Stop sulking and give me advice. What should I do when I meet with the grand duke of Rondine?"
"Ugh... All right. Arn has a basic understanding of proper etiquette, so you can just act normally. Just don't say anything too over the top. And don't compliment him. Seriously, stick to the bare minimum, okay?"
"Sure, got it."
Their ship continued on its journey toward Rondine with Leo and Elna none the wiser about the disaster Arn was involved in at that very moment.
6
"Your Highness. There are too many victims in critical condition. I'm not sure how much more I can do under these circumstances."
Such was the report given by the ship's elderly medic. We'd managed to make it within sight of Albatro, but there were many shipwreck survivors in very bad shape after being adrift in the ocean for so long. And some of them had been injured, which made struggling to stay afloat even more disastrous for their condition. I had some healing magic to offer as well, but only for external wounds. I couldn't deal with illness or internal injuries.
"I understand. Just do what you can."
"Of course, I will treat everyone to the best of my ability...but I can make no guarantees."
"Understood. Thank you for all your help."
"Not at all. You were of much greater service than I, Your Highness."
I waited until the doctor had left the room before loudly clicking my tongue in frustration. Marc heard it and grimly smiled.
"There isn't anything more to be done. All we can do is trust the doctor to do the best he can."
"That's not good enough. I said I wouldn't allow a single person we rescued to die."
"Yes...but there are limits to what we can accomplish. It isn't possible to save everyone and everything."
"Not if we give up, no. But as long as we refuse to give up, there's still hope. Most problems in this world have some kind of a positive solution. We're talking about just a few lives among the scope of the entire human population. The world wouldn't make any sense if those few lives were created and yet couldn't be saved. We already paid enough of a price for them, anyway."
All of the treasures we'd thrown overboard immediately came to mind. What a shame. We could've done so much with those. It was such a colossal waste. I'd told Marc you couldn't put a price on saving lives, but the truth was we had paid a significant price, and it was impossible not to mourn that loss.
Were the lives of the people we saved worth it? No way. Deep down, I was certain of that. Saving them would bring no benefit to the empire. Things that were of no benefit to the empire would merit no praise and were therefore worthless to Leo. And yet, we had saved them anyway. I'd saved them while being fully aware of the cost. I'd bought their lives with a great amount of treasure. That meant their lives belonged to me. And I wasn't about to let them be stolen away.
"We should be almost there. Let's go up on deck."
"Yes, I imagine their defensive line will spot us any time now."
The moment Marc said that, we heard a loud voice. It was accompanied by the characteristic background noises associated with amplification.
"This message is for the approaching Adrasia ship. State your purpose for entering our territory. We have received no notification from your government. Once again, I repeat. State your purpose for approaching. We have not been notified of your arrival."
The message was coming from a warship guarding the shore.
They'd come in search of answers after spotting an unidentified imperial vessel.
The fact that they didn't immediately fire on us spoke highly of Albatro's navy. We were lucky they'd been properly educated.
When I reached the main deck, I picked up the voice amplification receiver.
"This is Leonard Lakes Aadler, Eighth Imperial Prince of Adrasia. During our passage to the Grand Duchy of Rondine, we came upon several of your ships that had met with misfortune at sea, and we rescued approximately eighty survivors. Your princess and prince are among them. We request permission to enter the harbor."
The Albatro warship had approached close enough that we were just barely within range of their magical cannons, and when they heard my response, a visible commotion broke out among their crew. They were aware their three dispatched warships had not returned, and that Eva and Julio had been aboard them.
Meanwhile, we continued on course for the harbor. The closer we could get to it, the sooner we could transport the survivors ashore to receive specialized care.
"We understand your purpose. For the sake of security, we would like confirmation that there are shipwrecked Albatro citizens aboard your ship. Please drop anchor."
"Roger that. However, many of the victims are in critical condition. They require urgent medical care. We request that those in need be transferred to your ship and brought into the harbor immediately."
"I wish we could grant your request, but regulations state that no one aboard your ship may enter the harbor. Please wait for the grand duke's decision."
How could they sit there and waste time like that?!
I found myself glaring at the approaching ship. This was no time to be worrying about possible spies. We had Julio and Eva aboard. That was pretty clear proof that the other survivors had been crew members of their ship, wasn't it?!
"How are the princess and prince doing?"
"They still have not regained consciousness."
"Damn it!"
If at least one of them had been conscious, they could have arbitrarily given us permission to enter the harbor. But with both of them unconscious, we had no options.
Were we really just going to sit here and wait until we got permission? How long would it take to travel back and forth between the harbor and the castle? How long would it take for the grand duke to make his decision? Would the victims get the care they needed in time after that finally happened?
We were in a race against the clock, and yet silly procedures stood in our way.
"We've done our duty carrying the survivors this far. They're Albatro's responsibility now. There's nothing more we can do about it."
"They didn't just become their responsibility! Everything has been their responsibility all along! But now that we're involved, we're going to see this through to the end!"
After asserting my intentions to Marc, I tightly gripped the voice amplification receiver. If we continued sailing without permission, Albatro's warship would have to attack us. Our only option was to get them to make the first move.
"Please, just hear us out. Some of the victims are dying. They survived a hellish night of being adrift in the ocean. You are the only ones who can save their lives. Please take them ashore without making us wait for permission to enter."
"We are grateful beyond words for your fervent consideration of our citizens. However, regulations are regulations. The grand duke must give permission before anyone on board an unauthorized foreign ship can be allowed to enter the harbor. Even members of the royal family."
"Who is the captain of your ship?"
"That would be me, Your Highness."
"...Captain. I made tremendous sacrifices in order to save your citizens. I also endangered my crew and myself, and we are still in danger at this very moment. I did this for one reason, and one reason only. I didn't want them to die. As someone who spends their life on the ocean, surely you must understand how treacherous it is to be shipwrecked and adrift on the open sea. I beg you to reconsider."