“This is why I was unable to return until this morning. Mrs. Poulett and her maid perished when they were buried under a collapsed canopy.”
Two had died, but more had been injured. Since there had been casualties at an event hosted by the royal family, visits to the bereaved families would have to be made and condolence money paid out—those duties had fallen on Arcrayne’s shoulders due to Sachis announcing his need for recuperation.
“Father said it’s nothing major and he’ll recover right away... I guess I have no choice but to believe that.” Arcrayne sighed for the umpteenth time.
For a violent incident with a stray dragon—and one which had gone berserk, at that—the damage done was low, but it pained Estelle to think that some had died.
“Stray dragons are like a natural disaster... But to think one would come so far south...” uttered Estelle.
“No. There was nothing natural about that. It was intentional.”
“Huh...?” Estelle’s eyes widened.
“There was what appeared to be a component of an artifact embedded in its forehead.”
The prince’s words made Estelle recall something like a mana barrier that she’d seen on the dragon’s head.
“Since it was a black dragon, it came from Dragonbone Mountains, yes? Could an artifact control it over such a long distance...?”
Estelle went silent as she spoke. Though there were few of them, there certainly were powerful artifacts out there which made the impossible possible.
“Whoever it was targeted a hunting contest hosted by the royal family. It might be underground organizations or secret societies plotting to overthrow the state. I’m investigating the matter with those as the chief possibilities.” Arcrayne looked melancholic as he spoke.
“I cannot imagine someone would try to overthrow the state... We owe our civilized lives to the royal family...”
Rosalia, Franciel, Ascania, Iberes—almost all the royalty of various countries lying in the western part of the Heredian continent were said to be the descendants of the royal family of Ancient La Tène.
Its lineage was special. Many of the artifacts passed down in each royal family only reacted to the royals’ mana. It was widely known that these artifacts included water filtration devices that were the cornerstone of water and sewer services.
In the first place, commoners and nobles were born with different amounts of mana. Mana-based items and artifacts were necessary to lead civilized lives. Due to their power, one needed sufficiently high amounts of mana to use them effectively.
One could say royalty and titled nobility ruled their country as statesmen in order to share the benefits of mana with those who had little of it.
“People hold different beliefs,” replied the prince. “I’ll thoroughly investigate who’s behind this, so I want you to focus on recovering. Thank you for what you did. I shudder to think of the damage that could’ve been caused had you not been there...”
Despite his cloudy expression, a smile appeared on his face. Then it looked like something had just occurred to him.
“I forgot to mention... We went fully public with the incident, not hiding anything. That includes who slew the dragon... There were too many witnesses, so there was no way of imposing a gag order...”
Arcrayne looked somewhat awkward. Estelle tilted her head, not understanding what he was getting at.
“You’re being lauded in the papers right now—as the one who did the most to bring down that dragon.”
Estelle finally understood.
“I shot the dragon, yes, but that was thanks to His Highness Prince Liedis protecting me.”
“They’re making a grand story out of the whole thing. ‘Two people who were believed to be political enemies joined forces to bring down a dragon.’ Saint Estelle, Dragon Exterminator; the Lady Who Took Down the Beast; Princess Dragon Slayer—different papers are giving you different titles, but you’re getting the hero treatment in every single one of them.”
Cold sweat trickled down Estelle’s back. As a woman, Estelle couldn’t simply be happy about such fame.
“No doubt people will call me a savage or a barbarian...” Estelle quietly said with a sigh.
“I’m really sorry I couldn’t keep things from going public...”
“Do not worry...” Estelle gave the matter some thought. After some silence, she spoke up. “Please use those merits too. I care not what people say behind my back if it can help you.”
“I understand,” replied the prince after a moment of hesitation, which felt like a sign of internal conflict. “In fact, my father has expressed an interest in awarding you a medal—the Rosalian Cross.”
“What...?”
Estelle was surprised. The Rosalian Cross was awarded for contributions to the state. It could be given for many things, but was a high honor nonetheless.
“Though even if we accept his offer, it won’t be until the end of the year until you actually get the medal. But if you do get it, it will be highly advantageous to me,” replied Arcrayne, then added, “I was told it was time I prepared myself.”
“You mean, to become crown prince...?”
“Pretty much. It will put me in open conflict with the queen and Duke Marwick.” Arcrayne sighed.
If he resolved himself to that fate, Estelle would have to prepare herself for the worst too.
The crown, the key, the quill, the holy sword—bearing the four regalia, he would surely look dazzling at his coronation. But if it came to that, Estelle would also have to wear sapphire jewelry passed down through generations of queens, known as the Queen’s Blue.
The queen was her country’s mother. Frankly, Estelle found such a position to be a heavy burden. But since she’d decided to stand by Arcrayne’s side, she would have to carry that burden.
“I shall leave it to you to decide whether I should receive a medal or not,” said Estelle. “My apologies if it sounds as though I wish to simply leave all of this up to you.”
“No, that helps, honestly. I want some more time to think about it,” replied the prince.
A calm smile appeared on Estelle’s face. No matter what decision Arcrayne came to, she would only support him.
“Lastly... About that left hand,” began Arcrayne, seeming to find it hard to say.
At that, Estelle cast her eyes to her bandaged left hand. She then recalled that she still didn’t know the state of her injury.
If she tried to move the hand even a little bit, it hurt terribly. Her fingers hurt particularly badly from the middle joint to the knuckle. They must’ve been cut up by the fragments of the broken pistol because they’d been the closest to the muzzle when she’d held the weapon with both hands.
“Will I be able to move this hand in the future...?”
Arcrayne’s eyes widened at Estelle’s question. He immediately gave a firm reply. “You should be able to. Luckily, the tendons weren’t damaged, from what I was told. It might feel like something is wrong with it for a while, but with training, I’m sure you’ll be able to move it like before.”
“Will it leave a scar?” Estelle asked after a moment’s pause.
“Well... It’s likely.”
“Of course it would be... I was prepared for it.”
Estelle tried to smile, but failed. The muscles in her face went stiff.
“You should be able to make the scar somewhat smaller if you direct your mana into the wound as it heals. But even if it does leave a scar, it’s not like I would see any less value in you, so please don’t depreciate yourself.”
“I am well aware... I know I should be glad to be still alive.”
This time she managed to make a proper smile. Arcrayne looked like he was enduring something, then placed his hand on the fingertips of Estelle’s left hand.
“Let’s remake the cracked ring,” he said. “May actually scolded me after I gave you the last one. Said you and I should’ve made it together.”
“Um, I was happy, though. I liked the design...”
A smile—a genuine one this time—appeared on Estelle’s face as she recalled how Arcrayne had looked when he’d given her that ring.
“I’d like you to think about what kind of ring you want. I can’t give you something better than other Rosalian princesses and queens have had, but I’ll fulfill any other request to the best of my ability.”
“I suppose so. If I wore a ring more luxurious than that of Her Majesty, she would surely glare at me.”
Still smiling, Estelle gazed at her fingertips with Arcrayne’s hand over them.