Chapter 35
The Ones We Caught Weren’t Bandits
The people who attacked our carriage weren’t actually bandits.
They were dressed in filthy, ragged clothes like real bandits—but they didn’t smell.
There’s no way true bandits could bathe every day and stay clean.
So the ones we captured were “people pretending to be bandits.”
Yet even so, they’re incredibly tight-lipped, and no matter how much they’re questioned, they refuse to confess who ordered them to target us—or even which one of us they were after.
Right now, we’re camping a short distance away from where we were ambushed.
There’s a small town a bit further ahead, but since we still don’t know who those attackers are, we have no idea who’s an ally and who’s an enemy.
So staying in a place crowded with strangers was deemed too dangerous.
“I wonder if my brother is okay…”
My brother and Elvin went outside the carriage to discuss what to do with the attackers.
Left alone, I began talking with Moko and the Holy Sword about what we should do next.
Well—Moko barely talks anyway, so he just keeps rolling around the carriage like a fluffy ball.
“He will be fine. For a human, that one is exceptionally strong.”
I nodded at the Holy Sword’s words.
Of course. He’s strong enough to become the final boss someday.
As expected of my dear brother.
Still, forcing someone who refuses to talk into confessing is probably really difficult, so I can’t help but worry… I don’t want him to become too hardened or ruthless while he’s still young.
“Who were those attackers even aiming for?”
“Thou dost not know?”
“It seems they’re insisting they attacked us because we looked wealthy and worth stealing from.”
But their silence is way too deliberate for that to be believable.
Meaning, these weren’t ordinary bandits—they’re professionally trained to keep their mouths shut.
If we had someone skilled in interrogation too, maybe things would be different, but we don’t have anyone like that with us.
To be frank, both the Rosenberg ducal family and the royal family have plenty of people who would love to get rid of us.
If they were targeting Elvin specifically, the motive could be a personal grudge against the royal family… or perhaps they aimed for him because he’s the Crown Prince. Depending on which, the entire situation changes drastically.
“Hmm… Elvin is the child of the previous queen, but the current queen still hasn’t given birth to a boy…”
Royal succession prioritizes males, and only if no boys exist within four degrees of kinship can a woman inherit the throne.
Currently:
-
Elvin is the first in line,
-
his two cousins are second and third,
-
and his younger sister, Princess Fiona—the heroine of the novel Gran Aveil—is fourth.
If the queen were to give birth to a boy, then yes, Elvin might be assassinated for the throne. But at this point, that doesn’t seem likely.
In the original story, Fiona married the Hero and became queen, so the cousins must have been unable to inherit for some reason.
Maybe they were killed by the Demon King’s army or something.
But right now, the Demon King hasn’t even appeared yet.
And even if the queen despised Elvin, would she really move to kill him now, especially when the cousins are still alive and well?
“There was only Princess Fiona mentioned as a child in the novel, so the queen has no motive to kill Elvin yet.”
In that case, it means we siblings are the probable targets…
Isn’t the most suspicious person Miranda, who’s trying to become Father’s next wife?
If both heirs died in a “bandit attack,” Father would have to remarry.
Father would definitely refuse and try to hand the title to a relative, but if he were drugged again, he wouldn’t be able to resist.
Though… it’s also possible the queen is involved.
The drug with a charm-like effect uses licorice as its main ingredient, which only grows in Miranda’s territory—but it also grows in the queen’s garden.
So we can’t tell which licorice was used.
“We already know Miranda is our enemy, and we also know the queen has been cooperating with her. The problem is whether we can safely enter the enemy’s den to search for the golden licorice.”
I expected some interference, but I never imagined we would be attacked so soon after leaving the capital.
My protective charm that keeps “enemies outside” probably prevented them from sneaking into the carriage… maybe they’d been watching from outside all along.
“Hmm… we really need to figure out who the mastermind is.”
Which means…
I took out my charm-making sewing kit.
It contains things like the Sacred Sword Needle, so I always keep it with me.
“…Oh no. No thread…”
I used up all of Moko’s shed fur when mass-producing charms.
“Take more.”
“…Moko, can I borrow a few hairs?”
Moko stopped rolling and blinked his big round eyes at me, then drooped his fluffy fur and came close, squeezing his eyes shut.
“Sorry!”
I plucked out a few strands, and Moko jumped up with a squeak.
I’m sorry… I know it hurt… but we really need this. Thank you.
I threaded Moko’s fur through the Sacred Sword Needle and stitched away.
“Finished!”
I grabbed the completed charm and hopped out of the carriage.
“Brother—!”
He came to me immediately.
“What’s wrong, Letty? It’s dangerous outside, stay in the carriage.”
“Brother, please attach this to the person you want to make confess.”
“What is this?”
“It’s a Confession Charm!“
I had written the word 『Confession』 on it.
Once applied, they should spill everything like a waterfall.
Should’ve thought of this sooner.
“Please use it!”
I placed the charm carefully into my brother’s hand.
