Princess’s Visit (1)
"I am Rinaluna Aranfes. Thank you for welcoming me. There are many things in the Westland territory that interest me, and I would like to take my time exploring and studying them. I will be in your care for a while. Also, I would like to meet the magic beasts with whom you have formed familiar contracts before the day is over."
She is fourteen years old, just a year younger than Brother Chris. With reddish-blonde hair and royal blue eyes, she is not the elegant type but rather a cute princess. However, judging by her assertiveness, she seems to be quite the tomboy.
The royal family possesses a distinctive eye color—a lapis lazuli shade known as royal blue. This color appears only in direct descendants of the royal line. It is the result of a covenant made between the Goddess of Fertility, Celestia, and the Founding King, ensuring that all direct heirs of the royal bloodline are born with royal blue eyes.
However, for some reason, children born to concubines do not inherit this eye color. Instead, their eyes resemble the gemstone sapphire, meaning they are not eligible for the throne.
There is a reason behind their lack of succession rights.
In the past, there was a king who named a prince born of a concubine as crown prince, passing over a princess who possessed royal blue eyes. That crown prince later died in a hunting accident, falling from his horse.
On another occasion, a king disregarded his royal blue-eyed son and instead appointed the son of his favored concubine as crown prince. However, both the king and his chosen successor died of an epidemic shortly after. There are said to be other similar incidents, and every single one of them occurred within six months of the official succession ceremony.
Because of this, the current royal family follows a monogamous system, and princesses hold the second rank in the line of succession.
"Princess Rinaluna, thank you for making the journey to the Margrave of the Western Frontier. I am Alfred Westland, the head of the family. This is my wife, Violetta. As for Atre and the others, we will introduce them to you before dinner, along with our sons. It has taken you a full day to travel from the royal capital to our home. I will have your room prepared so you can rest until dinner."
"That sounds wonderful. My attendants must also be in need of rest, so I will look forward to meeting them at dinner."
"Thank you. Then allow me to escort you to your room."
With that, Father led the princess and her entourage to the guest rooms, and we were finally free for the time being.
Leaning back on the sofa in my room, I let out a sigh.
"Ughhh... I didn’t even say anything, but I feel exhausted."
Atre, who had been napping on my favorite cushion, suddenly hopped onto my lap, so I stroked his back. Ah, so soothing.
"‘Ughhh’? That is quite improper. Where did you learn such a thing?"
Just as Georges was about to start scolding me, I changed the subject.
"She seems like quite the lively princess."
"Indeed. For someone to travel all the way to the Margrave’s territory, and to express such a direct desire to meet Atre and the others, she certainly seems to be a woman of action."
Georges must have decided not to lecture me, as he simply went along with the conversation.
"Five whole days, huh? I’d rather not get involved if I can help it."
"Since Young master Chrisford is close in age, I hear he will be primarily responsible for attending to her. However, since the princess wishes to visit the Great Forest, you will likely have to accompany her."
"I'll avoid it as much as possible, only speaking when spoken to. Hopefully, she will leave without incident."
"That would be ideal."
The way he said that made it sound as though something "would" happen. But I had no intention of digging my own grave, so I kept quiet.
"Oh my, how adorable! I would never have guessed they were S-rank or A-rank beasts at all!"
That was the first thing the princess said upon seeing Atre, Ripka, and Bianca in the living room before dinner.
Ripka and Bianca were only a few months old, still very small. Atre, too, was only the size of a puppy. No one would believe they were fearsome high-ranked magic beasts.
"I’ve been told that I have a high amount of mana myself. If I go to the Great Forest, do you think I could form a familiar contract like you brothers did?"
As expected, her main goal was to obtain a contracted magic beast.
It made sense—if we brothers had been able to do it, others would think they could as well. Besides, having an absolutely loyal and trustworthy companion by one’s side was something valuable, especially for someone in her position.
It was also possible that she wanted to curb the power of the Westland family. After all, we didn't just have a Fenrir, a beast strong enough to destroy nations, but also multiple A-rank magic beasts.
Still, I don’t really like the term “familiar contract.”
"Honestly, I can’t say for sure. As we reported to the royal castle, it was purely a stroke of luck."
"But if Young master Reinhardt’s familiar, Atre, were to mediate, the chances would be much higher, wouldn’t they?"
"High-ranking magic beasts that can communicate with Atre mostly reside deep within the Great Forest, so encountering them is extremely rare. Furthermore, even if you were to go, it would only be to the outer edges, where it is relatively safe—but not ‘completely’ safe. If anything were to happen to you, our family would be held responsible, Your Highness. I must strongly advise against it."
Father was trying to dissuade her from going to the Great Forest.
However, as if she had anticipated resistance, the princess pulled out a document and handed it to Father.
"This states that if I am injured by a magic beast in the Great Forest, the Westland family will bear no responsibility. It has been signed by His Majesty the King, Her Majesty the Queen, and His Highness the Crown Prince."
Father sighed after reading the document.
"Understood. I will not object further to your visit to the Great Forest. However, you may find this unpleasant to hear—we do not indiscriminately exterminate magic beasts. Those that can coexist peacefully are left alone. While Atre and the others have formed contracts with us, we consider them not as mere familiars, but as family and trusted partners to our sons."
As expected of Father—well said.
He had always treated Atre and the others as family from the very beginning.
With preparations to be made, it was decided that the day after tomorrow, my brothers and I would accompany the princess into the Great Forest.
What do you think about this chapter?
