Chapter 99: Guards

“Ah, guards.”

“O-Oh?”

“…What is going on?”

The guards who ran toward us first saw the two men in Friez Kingdom uniforms lying on the ground. Their faces went pale, and they asked in trembling voices what had happened.

“There were some troublemakers from Friez Kingdom. I apologize for suddenly firing a gun in the middle of the city.”

“R-Right…”

I was the one who addressed them.

To anyone watching, I was merely a little girl—albeit one holding a handgun. When I continued in a clear voice and a businesslike manner, the guards naturally could not grasp the situation and merely nodded with indescribable expressions.

“Explaining it yourself will get us nowhere. Do you think you look convincing?”

“I don’t?”

“Of course not. I hate to say it, but even a military uniform is not enough.”

“…”

Did she mean that I lacked authority even without the disguise?

I had thought I might finally be developing an intimidating presence. It felt as though she had crushed my confidence. Was losing one eye not enough to give me a soldier’s presence?

“Forgive us, everyone. I am Emma, Second Princess of Lunoa Kingdom.”

“Oh…!?”

“P-Princess!?”

The guards froze completely at Emma’s introduction, though the cold sweat continued to pour from them.

“Er… Um…”

This was clearly beyond the scope of ordinary guards.

It was only natural that they became tongue-tied and did not know what to do.

“We have no intention of making unreasonable demands.”

I offered them a way out.

“Please summon the highest-ranking person you can reach immediately. This pendant bears the crest of House Willard of Lunoa Kingdom. Use it if necessary.”

“H-House Willard…?”

The moment I said the name, the soldier I had shot in the shoulder shouted and tried to rise.

“House Willard! You… Are you that brigadier general!?”

“If you don’t want to die, stay quiet. Do not forget that our countries are currently observing a ceasefire.”

I forced him to stop by pressing the gun to his forehead.

“Tch.”

Faced with the muzzle and my words, the Friez soldier who had shouted fell silent.

I was relieved he was only a colonel. Someone of general rank might have decided it was more advantageous to kill Emma and me and opened fire.

I was glad he stopped. We had nearly entered a real fight to the death.

“Tell them that the Second Princess and a brigadier general of Lunoa Kingdom are calling. Please bring someone here.”

“Y-Yes!”

For the moment, the situation could be considered settled.

The Friez soldiers had stopped trying to resist. All that remained was for the guards to return with someone who could take them into custody.

After some time, a major general arrived with many soldiers.

“Thank you for your cooperation!”

After arresting the Friez soldiers, the major general of the Austin Empire saluted us and expressed his thanks.

“No, we apologize for causing a disturbance in your country.”

“No, no. We should be thanking you, and you have nothing to apologize for. Now, if it is agreeable, we would like to escort both of you back to the imperial castle.”

“Yes, please.”

After causing such a commotion, we could not continue sightseeing.

Emma and I returned to the imperial castle with the major general.

“Ah, if only this were not a world war.”

On the way, I let my honest thoughts slip out.

“…Hmm?”

What Friez Kingdom had done was nearly taboo.

It had not only burned civilians in complete disregard of international law, but had also caused trouble at a place meant to mourn the dead and insulted another country’s royalty. It had committed one taboo after another.

If this were a small skirmish, another nation would undoubtedly intervene, and the matter would end in Lunoa Kingdom’s favor.

But there was no country able or willing to act.

“…It depends on the Rosha Empire.”

There was plenty of material we could use.

But there were very few parties to whom we could present it.