Became the Escort Knight That the Princesses Were Obsessed With

56. Bestowing Grace (3)

The Southern Duke’s carriage ran through the barren mountains.

Rattling interior.

However, Grand Duke Rosetta sat silently in her seat and closed her eyes.

Because her mind was more complicated than ever before.

“Damn….”

While he was away, the two Grand Dukes had already colluded with the 1st Prince and the Princess.

I knew that His Majesty the Emperor was in critical condition, but I never dreamed that they had already betrayed the empire.

However, there was something more shocking than that.

He had never received a similar offer before.

No matter how busy he is with defending the southern border….

It was quite unpleasant that there was never a single offer of collusion.

‘Was my position so insignificant in the imperial palace?’

“I’m sure I’ll have to support someone before His Majesty the Emperor passes away.”

If you keep this lukewarm attitude, you will lose your seat to the nobles who supported the next emperor.

So, we must quickly select the next successor and support him/her quickly.

“But who…” .”

Looking at it, the Northern Grand Duke has already taken over the crown prince.

Even if she were to support the crown prince now, the reward she would receive would be very small.

Moreover, the crown prince’s mother, Rosanna, had a bad relationship with her father in the past.

She would definitely be against supporting the crown prince.

Then, the first princess, Leah… ?

That one is also not very appealing.

He is not stronger than the Crown Prince, and the Grand Duke of the West will receive the most credit.

High risk, low return.

“….”

The person who dominated her mind right now was the third princess, Lydia.

There is still no major supply noble supporting the youngest princess.

If she supports her, she can preoccupy various interests when she becomes empress.

Moreover, her strength is similar to that of Leah, and her financial resources are strong.

If she is aiming for the highest point, it would be right for her to invest in Lydia.

But….

I’m not sure.

Is she truly qualified to become emperor?

Based on what I’ve seen so far, he definitely has charisma.

He is full of spirit and spirit at a young age.

But, what if it is the qualities of a tyrant or a childish prank?

The Grand Duke sighed deeply.

Then, I laid down on the soft leather seat and closed my eyes.

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“… !”

However, soon she had no choice but to open her eyes again.

The faint sound of another carriage wheel could be heard from behind.

“Someone followed behind me.”

“Let me check.”

The secretary sitting across from her stuck her face out the window.

Then, she immediately closed her window again as if it was no big deal.

“These are eastern merchants.”

“A merchant? “This evening?”

Rosetta, who was suspicious, glanced out the window.

An ordinary cart driven by a single horse.

And the two men in the front seat.

The man sitting in the passenger seat was holding a lamp in one hand.

She even showed her leisure by eating an apple with her other hand.

“What is that bastard?”

He is a merchant and wears fancy clothes.

A gold necklace and ornate bandana around the neck.

Even the fancy bracelets.

I feel like I’m seeing the son of a rich man from the East.

“Are you a merchant? ?”

Rosetta frowned as if she was displeased.

However, I soon put aside my doubts and sat down on the leather seat again.

If you are a bandit, you will most likely travel in groups of 5 or more.

Because it didn’t feel particularly threatening.

“I think he probably saw the Archduke’s carriage and followed it.”

The middle-aged secretary spoke calmly.

“If they just follow the fancy carriage ahead, they won’t get lost.”

“I see. “I was a bit sensitive for a moment.”

“If it bothers you, I will speed up the carriage and get rid of it.”

“No, leave it alone.”

The blue-haired woman rested her elbows on the armrests.

She leaned her cheek against the back of her hand, and closed her eyes again.

“….”

How much time has passed?

Around the time I heard the sound of an owl hooting.

Rosetta slowly opened her eyes at the sound of the carriage stopping.

“Have we arrived already?”

She yawned and looked out her window.

However, the sky was still dark.

The carriage has not yet left the southern mountain range.

Still, Rosetta was puzzled by the sight of the stopped carriage, so she stuck her face out through her window.

And….

I soon realized why the coachman stopped the car.

In the middle of the road to the south.

Because someone blocked the road with a barrel and several rocks.

Burning torches surrounding it.

Dozens of men were standing guard in front of the street corner.

“I prayed that we wouldn’t meet, but… What now, Archduke?”

The coachman maintained his composure as if he had anticipated this situation.

Because it was the price of taking a shortcut at night.

“Are those the bandits that Her Highness Lydia spoke of?”

Rosetta got off the carriage, thinking that she would deal with them herself and clear the way.

Anyway, even if dozens of bandits attack you, they are no match for a general who controls mana.

“You guys stay inside. “I will open the way.”

However, something is a bit unsettling.

No matter how often bandits appear, they appear only when you pass by.

“You’re here.”

As a high-class person got off the carriage, the bandits also showed interest.

Wearing black hoods on their heads, they leisurely arrived in front of the Grand Duchess.

“Everyone, relax.”

Among them, there was a middle-aged man who appeared to be a captain.

“Because the Grand Duke of the South must be killed right here.”

A man with ugly knife marks around his neck.

He was alone with his arms crossed and looked at Rosetta intently.

Rosetta’s blue eyes also glared fiercely at the bandit leader.

“I am Rosetta, Grand Duke of the South. If you don’t want to die, get out of the way.”

The female college professor held his chin upright and spoke expressionlessly.

However, despite being called the Grand Duke, her leader still maintained a cruel expression.

“Grand Duke of the South? If a young girl like you is the Grand Duke, then I am the Grand Duke of the North.”

Most people in the empire know that Rosetta is a beautiful woman with short blue hair.

Nevertheless, the boss shamelessly denies it.

Even though he knows that she is her archduke, he plans to kill her by pretending not to know.

Rosetta noticed this and prepared to fight calmly.

“Attack us all at once. “Because I have a busy way to go.”

The bandit leader turned his head.

And he energized his subordinates by giving them a suitable reason.

“What kind of grand duke would set out on a mountain path at such a late hour without an escort?”

His subordinates nodded as if in agreement.

“It’s a lie just by looking at it, so kill it without hesitation. “Leave no trace.”

The bandits raised their weapons.

And then he slowly approached the pretty-looking woman with short blue hair.

Meanwhile, the leader adjusted the hood on his head to cover his face more thoroughly.

I thought that a few dozen elite soldiers would easily subdue a female archduke.

But….

「Khaaa!!」

A rather loud voice for a woman struck his ears first.

Cow….

The two subordinates have already fallen to the floor.

The lady they had ignored a little while ago was standing there.

“How dare you kill someone…” ?”

A blue flash of light flashes through short hair.

Rosetta was glaring at his leader, with intense mana wrapped around her fist.

“Those so-called elite soldiers… “It’s absolutely pathetic.”

The bandit leader gives a cold look upon seeing the powerful mana.

He immediately stared at Rosetta with murderous eyes like an assassin.

“Everyone, stand back and reorganize your display!”

I can’t believe they’re reorganizing their display on the theme of bandits.

Rosetta frowned at those words.

However, this was just the beginning.

The guys who were wandering around a little while ago joined forces with Oh and skillfully surrounded Rosetta.

Like hunters trying to catch a lioness.

“I will handle it myself.”

The leader took out the curved sword he was wearing.

Just by looking at it, you can see that the blade has been sharpened in a professional manner.

It is sharp enough to cut even falling leaves.

The moment she saw that weapon, Rosetta realized.

These are not just bandits.

They are assassins of someone who came to kill them.

As expected, the man twisted his wrist and skillfully swung the huge curved sword like an assassin.

As if responding, Rosetta also took out her long sword.

Zweihender is approaching 2M.

She raised the sword into the air.

Both weapons are fierce and have a long range.

They searched for each other and waited for an opening to appear.

―――.

It was Rosetta who moved first.

The moment when the bandit leader walked slowly and hid his head under the stone hanging on the sole of his foot.

She turned her wrist and swung the huge long sword.

The blade was so long that the moment it was struck, the sound of a fierce wind was heard.

The boss reacted to that sound.

He immediately raised his sword with both hands and barely managed to block the attack.

A situation where each other’s mana clashes and emits loud sparks.

When the Grand Duke of the South realized that the bandit leader had the same level of mana as himself, he was quite embarrassed.

It means that he is at least the vice-captain of the capital’s knights.

If you aim for his side, he will rotate and aim for his head.

If you block his head, you can simultaneously slide the blade and aim for his torso.

Rosetta could not let go of her nerves due to Gokdo’s elegant counterattack, which she was dealing with for the first time in her life.

It’s been 20 minutes since we clashed swords so many times.

Both of them began to breathe heavily and pant.

Thanks to this, she had time to ask questions to the assassination leader.

“I haven’t followed anyone yet. “But why are you trying to kill me?”

“The moment I said I would worry about it at the meeting, an order was given to kill you.”

Then the middle-aged man smiled and shook his head.

Thanks to her, she realized.

The Crown Prince and the 1st Princess.

One of the two has already decided to kill himself.

“That…” .”

The man barely supported her with her curved sword stuck in the ground.

No matter how strong he is, his physical strength is lower than that of young Rosetta.

He finally decided to surrender his pride.

“The Archduke has lost his strength, so now attack us all at once!”

The man raised her finger.

She then ordered her besieging men to execute Rosetta.

“The one who cuts off the head will be rewarded even more!”

“It’s annoying…” .”

The shadow of a band of bandits approaching.

Rosetta sighed deeply at the shadow.

And the moment he abandoned the carriage and tried to run away with his minions.

She soon turned her head towards the strong mana she felt behind her, along the way she had come so far.

「Beep—.」

“What…?” ? “This market trumpet sounds.”

The same was true for the tired leader.

He raised his head at the sound of a cheap trumpet that broke the mood.

And then I stared blankly at the clattering wagon approaching.

“Ha… Do you really have to imitate a merchant like that?”

Bashu, the fishmonger wearing overalls and a bread hat, sighed deeply.

When he saw me decked out in all kinds of luxury goods and playing the flute, he tied his head up.

“As expected, you are Master. “He even sings a funeral song to those who will die soon.”

On the other hand, Tau, who revered me as his teacher, looked at me proudly.

“Why? “When I want to attract the attention of people in the market, I always play the flute like this.”

I got off the carriage holding a horn.

And then he approached the two exhausted fighters with a happy smile.

“Well, I’m here to show you some good products.”

Customers who saw my sinister smile regained their appetite.

They backed away little by little, like ingredients meeting a chef.

Bashu looked at my smile pitifully.

“I don’t know who the bandits are….”