Chapter 199: Heading for the Checkpoint
Chapter 199: Heading for the Checkpoint
I alone was allowed to mount the horse and advanced at a leisurely poku poku. Because I was a prince I was allowed to ride, but the knight walked while leading the horse by the bit. That being the case — or rather because of it — the speed was slow. The overall speed was decided by the knight’s walking pace, so if only the knight would walk faster it would be fine, but he was slow!Honestly, at this rate it would be far faster if we proceeded alone. I thought this knight normally only rode horses and never walked. He was not wearing metal armor, only leather armor and a leather helmet? hat? yet still...
The attendant walked a little behind the knight and kept glancing at me. I felt as if the color of his eyes said "I’m sorry for the slowness."
As expected, after walking about one mile the knight cried uncle. To be precise he did not cry uncle, but said "Let’s rest," so I reluctantly agreed.
"Won’t the ladies go pick flowers?"
he asked, but Lily and Stevie shook their heads. Because it was under the name of a rest, Stevie took chairs and a table out of her mana bag and produced a teapot. If it had been only the three of us we would not have done such a thing, but because the one guiding us was a knight I thought she was showing respect by bringing them out.
However, producing the tea was a mistake. The knight settled his weight firmly and began to enjoy the tea.
"This tea is delicious~~!"
he said, and for some reason began discoursing on the lore of tea.
While I was letting the knight’s drawn-out talk go in one ear and out the other, something pin! struck me inside.
"Let me ask something. Did you leave the checkpoint first thing this morning?"
At my question the previously slack knight straightened his back sharply.
"Yes, Prince Robin. I left the checkpoint this morning before dawn. At the checkpoint we dispatched people like myself in all directions to search for Prince Robin."
Is that so — he set out first thing in the morning.