Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 86: Archduke Kharon and Princess Liana Advance Along the Highway
──Inside the carriage heading toward the northern border──
“What’s the matter, Princess Liana?”
This is the carriage on the way from the imperial capital to the border.
The Duke of Kharon spoke to the girl sitting across from him.
“You’ve been looking frightened ever since we left the capital.”
“…That’s not true.”
Princess Liana lowered her head at Archduke Kharon’s words.
“I’m not frightened. It’s not the first time I’ve gone to hunt magical beasts or approached the border near the Demon King’s domain. It’s a mission given to me by the high-ranking council. While I may feel honored, I am not frightened…”
“Your face is pale. Your hands are shaking. Anyone can see that.”
“…Archduke Kharon…”
“The Holy Sword Princess, who fears neither magical beasts nor the Demon King’s domain, what is it that you fear? Can you tell me?”
“But…”
“We will be working together from now on, investigating the situation. I want to understand my partner better.”
“Me… someone like me, being your partner, Archduke Kharon…”
Princess Liana shook her head frantically.
“Indeed… Perhaps I am frightened. I… have come to realize that the things I’ve believed in up until now, I no longer understand.”
“You don’t understand?”
“About Zagran… and about Sister Sophia… I don’t know what they were thinking, what kind of people they were… Perhaps I never tried to understand them…”
Princess Liana mumbled while gazing out the window.
Her shoulders were trembling slightly.
She hugged herself with both arms, grinding her teeth as if trying to hold back the overwhelming fear.
“I didn’t understand anything.”
She spoke in a voice that seemed to fade away.
“Zagran, whom I trusted… sent Sister Sophia to the border without telling me anything. I only found out much later. And Zagran’s subordinates provoked the magical beasts… and put my sister in danger…”
“I know about that.”
“Zagran said… that Sister Sophia would never face any danger! Yet…”
“I’ve heard that Princess Sophia defeated the magical beasts with ‘Light Magic.'”
“Y-yes. And she created the ‘Trading Post’ at the border for the villagers.”
“She is indeed a splendid sister.”
“However, that’s… not how I knew my sister.”
“Is that so?”
“Sophia… was weak, fragile, like a flower that would scatter with the slightest breeze. She was modest and never appeared in public, and that was why I could always consult her about anything.”
Liana closed her eyes and murmured.
“The Sophia I knew wasn’t someone who would face magical beasts or negotiate with the Demon King’s domain to create a trading post… So, either my sister has changed, or I never knew anything about her…”
“Hmm. Are you afraid of Princess Sophia? The Holy Sword Princess?”
“I… I wasn’t worthy of such a title.”
Her voice was strained.
She squeezed her eyes shut tightly, digging her nails into her arms, and whispered.
“I didn’t know anything. I didn’t know what Zagran was thinking. I didn’t know what kind of person Sister Sophia was… It feels like the world I knew is falling apart… and that scares me.”
“I see. In that case, you should go to your sister’s town.”
“…Huh?”
Princess Liana opened her eyes wide at the Archduke’s words.
“If your partner is frightened, it will affect our future mission. If you don’t understand your sister, it would be best to visit the town where she is and hear what people say about her.”
“But… at the high-ranking council, it was said that ‘Liana must not meet Sophia.'”
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“They didn’t say you couldn’t enter ‘Nosa Town,’ did they?”
Archduke Kharon winked.
“If you go to ‘Nosa Town,’ you can hear about your sister’s reputation. You might also learn about her current situation.”
“But… if I go, my sister will find me.”
“Then disguise yourself.”
“Disguise?”
“I have a capable aide who can temporarily change your hair color with dye powder. Use that, change your appearance, alter your hairstyle and clothes, and leave your sword behind. Just visit the border town as an ordinary village girl. There should be no problem.”
“But that would go against orders. As an imperial instrument—”
“I’m not going against orders.”
“But…”
“Hmm. Come to think of it, there’s a traditional performance from another world called ‘searching for oneself.’ The empire is the successor of the heroes. It’s no problem if Princess Liana, the princess of the empire, disguises herself and goes on a ‘search for herself.’ I will take responsibility for this. That’s all.”
“W-what does that mean?”
“It means you must go to the town where your sister is.”
Archduke Kharon twisted his lips into a grin and smiled.
In contrast, Princess Liana was holding her head in her hands.
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What Archduke Kharon had proposed was “to disguise herself and go meet Sophia.”
This was not something commanded.
At least, it was not part of the teachings of Zagran.
If it were up to him, he would never allow such a thing.
But Archduke Kharon was suggesting an action that was not part of the orders.
Moreover, the Archduke was now Liana’s superior. As both Archduke Kharon and former Sword Saint, Kharon was like a brother to the Emperor, and his influence surpassed that of Princess Liana.
She could not afford to upset her superior’s mood.
This, too, was part of Zagran’s teachings.
However, taking actions that were not ordered was frightening.
Liana had no idea what to do.
“…Um… What should I do…?”
“Well, it’s just simple curiosity. I want to see how a person changes,” Archduke Kharon said, laughing.
“I want to see how you, who were raised under Zagran’s teachings, would react if you were to descend into the town as a common girl. I want to see that.”
“…Huh.”
“Stand in the people’s shoes and go see how your sister is viewed by them. You might understand why Princess Sophia has changed.”
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At Archduke Kharon’s words, Liana involuntarily nodded.
Seeing this, Archduke Kharon clapped his hands and called his adjutant over.
The Archduke and the female adjutant discussed and made arrangements to disguise Liana.
They also decided that the Archduke’s group would take a few days of rest in the next town and began discussing the arrangements for accommodations.
Liana, dumbfounded, watched as the plans unfolded one after another.
This was the first time something like this had happened.
What Zagran had taught her was how actions would bring about certain benefits.
Everything Liana did was for the benefit of the Empire.
Even meeting her sister Sophia was meant to help stabilize Liana’s mental state and strengthen the ties of the Imperial family.
The simple desire to “know her sister” was something she had only recently been allowed to accept for the first time in her life.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness.”
The Archduke’s adjutant bowed her head.
“The Archduke sometimes says such things. If you dislike it, feel free to decline…”
“…No.”
Liana placed her hand on her chest and said that.
The fear still lingered.
Perhaps she didn’t know anything about her sister, or even about her mentor Zagran—those thoughts swirled in Liana’s mind.
Sophia was a different person from what Liana had imagined, and when they met, Sophia might reject her.
Maybe everything Zagran taught was wrong, and perhaps Liana would have to be punished for it.
(If that’s the case… then I have to confirm it.)
She was scared.
Liana had always followed Zagran’s teachings.
When she went to meet Sophia, she had probably just complained about her work without really listening to her sister.
How would her sister have felt hearing that?
Sophia, who was frail and could never leave the palace…
Perhaps her sister didn’t want to see her anymore… No, if that were true, it would be strange for her to send a letter. The fact that Sophia sent news meant she cared about Liana. But maybe that was just out of duty, and in reality, Sophia might not care for her. If Liana went to see her, maybe she would be coldly turned away…
“…Archduke Kharon.”
“What is it?”
“Would it be alright if you came with me…?”
“That’s not possible. I would stand out too much if I went with you.”
Archduke Kharon pointed to the scar around his right eye and his left arm, which didn’t move well.
The traits of the former Sword Saint were well known.
If he went with her, it would defeat the purpose of Liana disguising herself as a village girl.
“I’ll assign my adjutant as a guard. You should go.”
“…Archduke Kharon.”
“I’m not forcing you. You could also decide to forgo entering ‘Nosa Town’ and head directly to investigate the magical beasts.”
“……”
“However, I’ve heard rumors… My unworthy former disciple, the son of Valga Rigas, entered the Demon Lord’s domain without hesitation. He entered unfamiliar lands and blended in as if it were perfectly normal.”
Archduke Kharon said, looking at Liana.
“Even among the relatives of my unworthy former disciple, there seems to be quite a person. I would like the brave princess of the holy sword, who is my companion, to gather her courage as well.”
“…Understood…Archduke Kharon.”
The trembling in her body had not stopped.
Having lost Zagran and separated from Sophia, Liana felt as if she were standing naked on the roadside. She was insecure, anxious, and didn’t know where to go.
It was then that Archduke Kharon showed Liana the way forward.
If she refused this, it felt as though she would never be able to go anywhere again.
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“I ask the same of you, aide. Please accompany me to ‘Nosa Town’.”
“I understand.”
Archduke Kharon’s aide bowed.
“When we reach the next town, I will help you change your appearance, Your Highness.”
“Please do.”
“Please call me Nona. We will say that you are a village girl I have taken in. As for your backstory… how about a traveling girl who got separated from her parents and is asking around town?”
The carriage stopped.
Princess Liana moved to the carriage where Aide Nona was.
After a while, the group arrived at a town to the south of ‘Nosa Town.’
This would be the base for the border investigation.
Archduke Kharon declared that the fatigue of travel had caught up with him and announced a few days of rest.
During this time, Princess Liana and Aide Nona prepared for their journey north.
A few days later, they arrived at ‘Nosa Town.’
“This is… ‘Nosa Town’?”
As she passed through the town’s castle gate, Princess Liana froze.
This was her first time entering the town as a traveler.
Normally, she would ride in a carriage, go directly to an inn, and then proceed to the monster hunting destination.
She rarely walked through the town on her own two feet.
“I heard this town was at the northern edge, but it’s quite lively.”
“No, this is strange.”
Aide Nona tilted her head.
“There are too many people. A town so close to the border shouldn’t have so many people. I wonder if they are coming from nearby towns.”
“Is that so?”
“Let’s ask the townsfolk. Which one do you think we should talk to?”
“If possible… someone around my age.”
Princess Liana tightly gripped the hem of her skirt.
Right now, she was disguised as a village girl, with her hair color and style changed. She wasn’t carrying a sword either.
Of course, if she had even a stick in her hand, she could fight reasonably well. But this was unfamiliar ground. Other than Aide Nona, she had no allies here.
As long as she kept her identity hidden, no one would help her.
(…I’ve always been protected, haven’t I?)
She realized this only now.
She had been strong because she was the princess of the holy sword, protected by soldiers.
And yet, she had somehow been able to speak with the Demon King.
To want those dear to him as “tools” in her hands…
Liana recalled how she had been yelled at by the Demon King back then.
At that time, she couldn’t have complained even if she had been killed.
“Your Highness? What is it?”
“It’s nothing. Let’s speak with the townsfolk. Could you stop someone of a similar age who looks approachable?”
“Understood.”
Aide Nona called out to a passerby.
The person she stopped was a boy and a girl walking together.
They looked to be around Liana’s age. The boy was a little taller, and the girl had bright red hair. She wore a metal pendant on her chest, so she seemed to be from a good family.
Neither of them was carrying any weapons.
When Nona spoke to them, the boy’s eyes lit up with curiosity. The girl smiled with a slightly troubled expression.
Good. With that attitude, it seemed like they would be okay to talk to.
With that thought, Princess Liana waited for Aide Nona to return.