"Uh...you saw it correctly, Eve. Dad saw it, too."
I rubbed my eyes with my sleeve again.
But nothing changed, no matter how many tis I did that.
My blurry eyes beca clearer after a mont, yet the imperial knights in front of our houses were still there. And right behind the knight was a luxurious carriage.
It was the kind of splendid carriage that would never be seen or heard in this secluded village.
'W-What the hell is that?'
No way. Did the prince send this to us?
But it had only been two days since the prince returned to the palace.
"Nial Royce! It is a ssage from His Royal Highness!"
A knight in silver armor with royal insignia stood in front of our house and shouted loudly enough to bring out the entire villagers.
My lower jaw couldn't stop quivering, so I looked up at my dad.
"D-Dad, did we make so mistake? Hmm? W-Why are they swarming our house?"
"I'm not sure, either...Dad is also trying to understand this situation, sweetie...."
"It hasn't been long since His Highness returned! Can he go from here to the capital in two days?!"
"It's useless to ask that, Eve.....Dad is not sure, either...."
My dad looked really dazed as he said that. He walked to the front door with a pale face and trembling body. He then slowly opened the door.
The imperial knight who stood in front of the door examined my dad's face closely and asked.
"Nial Royce?"
"Y-Yes...I'm Nial Royce."
"His Highness the Prince has ordered us to bring you to the capital. So get yourself ready now!"
"R-Right now?"
"His Highness doesn't like to wait!"
My dad turned his head slowly towards . Fixing his tilted glasses, he quietly mumbled.
"Eve...we have to go."
"....Now?!"
[Why do humans keep acting as they please?]
Ex, lying on the sofa, began to complain. I was on the sa page with him this ti.
'W-Why are they behaving as they please?'
Do you really call us to the imperial palace in such a state? Without even giving us ti to pack up?
My dad talked to the knight, and closed the door after he received the letter with the royal stamp on it.
I ran to my dad, clung to his forearm and asked.
"Dad, what did they say?"
"They told to pack up right away...and move my entire workshop..."
"....Really?"
"...Yeah...."
"Is that even possible?"
"That's what I thought..."
There was a mont of silence.
My dad and I glanced at each other before splitting up to pack our bags in a hurry.
"L-Let's move fast! What if those people get irritated and cut our heads off?!"
"That seems unlikely...."
"What if they get annoyed and destroy our house?! What if the prince annulled the contract because we ca late and left us to wander around aimlessly like a beggar?!"
"Eve, sweetie. I don't think he will go that far..."
"Hurry up, Dad! Put your clothes here. Oh, you don't need to bring the won's shoes in the shoe rack."
"Eve? Why is that even in my house?"
"Ugh, dunno! I should've rejected him back then! Gasp! Hold on, Dad! Are we getting acquitted of the cris of blasphemy toward the royal family?!"
"Eve! Sweetie! My cutie. Calm down."
I ran around like my tail was caught on fire, but my dad caught , sat on the sofa, and cupped my cheeks.
"Eve, calm down. That won't happen. Your dad here will guarantee your safety."
"But-!"
"Don't worry, His Highness won't kill us....I believe so. Or if this can soothe you a bit...."
"...What is it?"
"I have soone in the capital that I can ask for help. So don't worry. Let's pack our bags first, sweetie. Okay? We can et them in advance if needed. I love you, my daughter."
"Uwaa, Dad! Do you have friends in the capital?!"
I opened my eyes wide at the story that I heard for the first ti.
That was natural. My dad was the nerdiest among the nerds, who had no friends at all!
My dad folded my clothes with a sullen expression before he kicked out.
"I'll pack up your bags, so go run errands for . Give this money to Mrs. Nianson, the fruit shop down the street. Be sure to tell her that this is my dues. You can do it, right?"
"Huh? Yeah, I can."
"Then go, sweetie~"
My dad opened the front door and sent out.
But there was a problem.
"......"
"....."
My dad forgot the fact that five burly royal knights guarded our front door.
I looked up at them, squeezing the money that my dad gave .
"...Hic!"
I had a hiccup when I suddenly saw the royal knights.
Forget about going to Mrs. Nianson, I grabbed the door handle and twisted it in a hurry.
Uwaaa..Dad, let back in.....
Inside a rattling carriage.
I swept the soft cushion carefully.
The golden-lacquered interior of the carriage was just as fancy as it looked, and the velvet chair---which I would have never imagined sitting on---was so soft that I opened my eyes wide in awe.
My dad and I were sitting opposite each other. We sat awkwardly in the middle of the carriage seats, which we rode for the first ti.
I clasped my hands together to avoid my filthy hands from dirtying the carriage.
'I can't believe I got to ride this carriage....'
The only carriages I've seen were carts pulled by old donkeys to take people to the city.
When I turned my head and looked out the window, I saw the trees gliding past at a high speed.
The carriage was running fast without shaking.
It was amazing that it didn't shake despite running very fast, so I poked my head out the window, feeling the cool wind brushing past my cheeks.
At that mont.
"Ohh, little girl. Don't stick your head out of the window."
The knight, who was riding the horse next to the carriage, leaned closer to tell that.
I nodded in puzzlent.
"Ah, y-yes, sir!"
"Good girl. Sit there quietly."
I quietly returned to my seat just as the knight said.
[Wow, this is really comfortable! This is how you should serve !]
At that ti, Excalibur, who was lying next to , just tactlessly made a loud buzz.
I placed my hand over him and spoke calmly.
"Ex, you're going straight to His Highness."
[W-What is this brat on about!! How can you be so heartless to !]
"No, it's not that I'm being heartless to you....but my dad and my life are more precious than you."
At that ti, my dad, who had been watching us conversing, adjusted his glasses and called .
"Sweetie."
"Yeah?"
"You know, you can't talk with Ex often in the capital."
"Huh? Is it because I'll draw people's attention?"
"Yeah, just to be safe. What if the bad guys try to steal Ex?"
[Hmph! Do you think this body can be taken away easily?!]
"Umm, okay, Dad."
I nodded as I slowly swept Ex's body carefully.
The drunken uncles who wanted to take away my sword. The rude prince, who knew that Ex was an Ego Sword and tried to take him away. They ca into my mind one after another.
I was also reminded by Mrs. Hillary's advice about the capital being a very scary place to live.
I nodded small, biting my lips with a grim expression.
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