Chapter 51: The Golden Birdcage

When Jocel took me into the audience chamber, I saw a little girl sitting in the center of what was originally the Count’s seat.

She is a lovely girl in a beautiful dress with shiny black hair that reaches her waist. It may sound a bit clichéd, but “doll-like” fits the description perfectly.

She is the third princess of this country, Listil Valscheid.

Standing diagonally behind Listille was a knight who seemed to be an escort. He is a big man, maybe two meters tall. I wonder if it can be said that it is a personification of the rock wall.

The Count stands by his side. It seems that Gerhardt and Patrick were also called, and they were sitting looking uncomfortable, to say the least.

Lutz and Claudia had never met the princess or the count. Jocel whispered from behind me, ‘That’s ……,’ he told me.

If you didn’t know that, the Count would appear to be just a good-natured middle-aged man. “He is a man of great stature,” said the careless adventurers, who could not understand why they had said that.

“Lutz the sword smith and his wife Claudia. We are here at the invitation of Her Royal Highness.”

It was not Lutz who said this, but Jocel next to him. Lutz’s status did not allow him to speak directly with the princess. Therefore, he could only speak to her through a high-ranking knight, even though she was right in front of him.

……This kind of thing is troublesome and I don’t like it.

Lutz is not short-tempered, but being forced to do meaningless acts is more unpleasant than anything else. He already wants to go home.

Perhaps reading Lutz’s feelings, the escort knight turned a contemptuous gaze. He said, “You are just a lowly man.”

I had almost forgotten recently because Gerhard and his associates were somewhat loose, but this is the essence of aristocracy. This is the very sense of being an electorate that brought down my father.

“Blacksmith Lutz, thank you for coming.”

Listil said in a cute voice like a little bird chirping.

“Lutz, how is the sword making progress?”

Apparently, that’s what she had called me to ask. She was on the brink of being sold herself, so how could she not be concerned? It was quite a feat for her to come all the way to the count’s territory, so far away from home.

I would like to reassure her by saying something economical, but there is no point in fooling around. Lutz whispered to Jocel again.

“…… Hey, you’re asking me to say that?”

“It can’t be helped since it’s a role.”

Perhaps annoyed at the two men who were secretly talking, Listil hit the desk with a hand. Her hands were small, though, so it was not very powerful.

“This is an informal forum, I allow a direct answer!”

After all, even a high-ranking person thinks this kind of method is troublesome, and Lutz felt a little familiarity.

The escorting knight looked at the princess. It was the same look he had given Lutz earlier. There was no respect, no emotion, just a look of condescension.

That’s where I finally found out. He’s not the princess’ bodyguard, he’s a watchman.

In case of emergency, the princess will be handed over to a neighboring country. For that reason, it would be a problem for her to run away somewhere.

“Progress has not been encouraging.”

“Eh……?”

As if spitting out something bitter, Lutz said.

Disappointment and despair spread across the girl’s face. It has been a month since they submitted the request to create the sword. She had faint hopes that perhaps even the enchanting of magic had been completed, but on the contrary, the sword creation had been abandoned at the time of its creation.

“Please continue…”

Listil could only say so with a trembling voice. Art is not the kind of thing that can be completed in a single hit. No matter how anxious or painful it is, all she can do is wait.

Sacrifice for peace. There is constant surveillance. The only hope to avert a cruel fate is a great sword, which may or may not be able to do so. I wonder how much pressure is being placed on the girl’s small shoulders.

…..Is there anything I can do for her?

Lutz’s chest aches with a sense of helplessness and guilt.

And there was something that came into view in the pain.

I get it. What should be put into the sword is anger. The rage that destroys and burns up your helplessness and the irrationality of the world.

“Your Highness!”

“Yes!”

Listil’s body jumped up in surprise at Lutz’s sudden shout.

“Thank you, Your Highness, you have helped me to formulate an image of the sword!”

Let’s go, Clau, tapping her on the shoulder and Lutz ran out of the audience chamber.

All those left behind were stunned.

Listil, who is the highest ranking person in this place, did not say that the talk was over or that it was okay to step down. In a sense, what Lutz did was an escape.

“Well, I’ll leave you with this…..”

Claudia was nipping at her heels to get out before everyone came to their senses, but as she put her hand on the door, she turned around and thought, “I have to tell her something”. She had to say something.

“Listil-sama!”

“Yes!”

It is a day when some names are shouted.

“Every girl in the world has the right to fall in love”

“…… huh?”

“It doesn’t matter what your status or mission is, you have the right to ask for it!”

I don’t know what this woman is talking about or what she is trying to say.

Listil was puzzled, but Claudia’s expression was both serious and kind, and she knew that she really cared about her.

Claudia didn’t say it with a deep meaning either. She just wanted to cheer Listil up even a little.

She is just like she used to be. She is in a cage, waiting to be sold. The difference is whether the cage is made of steel or gold.

She wanted the woman who was put in the same situation to be happy.

The escort knight shouted, irritated by the situation where everyone was doing what they wanted.

“Hey woman! I didn’t give you permission to open your mouth, so don’t talk without permission!”

What was it that turned him against me, perhaps because I said something to the effect that she did not have to marry a barbarian king.

By determining the point of anger of the other party, Claudia became calm instead.

Put on a thin smile and bow your head.

“I am sorry, I am a countryman who knows nothing of court etiquette. Please forgive me.”

With that said, she turned her well-shaped ass around and slipped into the doorway, then quickly exited and said,

“You bitch ……!”

The knight grabbed the scabbard of his sword and tried to chase after her, but Listil stopped him.

“Don’t do it. This is an informal setting, and no one will be judged for rudeness. I told you that beforehand.”

“But Your Highness, if we allow such an act to go on, it will tarnish Your Highness’ prestige.”

No, she told Listil not to give up. She knew that it was rude to speak out on her own and that she risked being accused.

Isn’t this what loyalty is all about, kindness? She is the first one to come straight at Listil while everyone else treats her like a tumor.

“Leave it. You are supposed to be my escort. Do not leave your post.”

“…I will make a report.”

“Be my guest.”

The knight and Listil did not even try to make eye contact.

When everyone was thinking that the place was completely empty and it was about time to leave,

“Old Gerhard.”

Listil called out to him.

Gerhard, who had not expected to be asked to speak, was flustered, but as expected, he was quick to regain his composure.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Do you think that someone who is nothing more than a royal wedding tool has freedom of love?”

I often wondered how I would answer. No, the answer is already decided from the beginning. Their role is to create the best sword and conclude peace without surrendering the princess.

Gerhard said proudly.

“That’s why we’re here.”

Listil nodded and asked further.

“Can the man named Lutz be able to create a famous sword?”

“The man came up with something and ran off, which is a sign that art is being created. This is all for the sake of making the sword that will save Her Highness. I ask that you forgive Lutz’s rudeness.”

“You trust him.”

Gerhard nodded emphatically.

I have had several famous swords made. He once saved the soul of a friend. I was convinced that this man would do something, which went beyond trust.

Listil, too, seemed to have made up her mind and declared to everyone.

“Understood. Let’s believe and wait for the next two months. I won’t do anything unnecessary. I will entrust myself to the three craftsmen who the Count Zander family are proud of.”

After saying that, Listil smiled.

It was a bright, girlish smile, devoid of any royal authority.

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