Royal Princess of Blood

We didn’t face much obstruction on the way to the capital city of Nishinoa. With the number of guards on our convoy, I got to focus on resting and disregard just about anything outside. Usually, I wouldn’t be like this, I would be more attentive. But honestly, being so weak leads you to disregard a lot of things. I didn’t like it much. Thankfully, I had reliable allies. That’s why you can't do everything alone, people! Always have friends in places.

“But Estelia, making friends is hard!” Mm, yeah. Well, good thing that’s your problem. Not mine. Hehehe. Seriously though, it’s good to have friends in high places. For instance, have friends in the police. They could help you get out of trouble if you get into one, get you out of jail quicker, or something. Or just anything that needs the help of the police.

Although friends didn’t have to be all-powerful. They just had to be in the right place.

Our convoy was moving quite fast, basically almost galloping, so we didn’t have to waste a lot of time. They wanted to reach the capital city as quickly as possible and bring their lady to safety. After what happened to her, of course they would. Good thing I could sleep in the roughest situations.

Therefore, it didn’t take long before we arrived at the capital city. The city of Iwagane. From the scale, it was almost similar to Hokunoa’s capital. The wall was tall and exceedingly reinforced with stone and metal. Embrasures lined ‌the surface of the wall, guards were standing behind them, watching. The battlements on top were wide, people overlooking the distance, watching whatever was coming. The city was built around a major river. Massive gates stood at the entrance, having two layers in fact. The giant doors were opened, but the portcullis was lowered, keeping the pathway sealed. I assumed they only opened them whenever there was someone about to come in.

As the convoy approached the gates, I stared out ‌the window. The scenery of the landscape here was no different from Hokunoa's. Just barren wastelands. Next time, if I might as well be going on a journey like this, the view better be good.

We stopped at the gates for a short while before the gates rose open and the convoy moved into the city, rolling through the streets at just the appropriate speed. The people on the streets looked on with curiosity. The buildings shared fundamental designs back on the other island, as was their culture, as they were one. However, Hokunoa’s capital seemed to be denser compared to Iwagane. The buildings were not as closely knit. It would seem fewer people were coming here to stay.

The first thing I noticed was that there were guards patrolling the streets. And like the city we came to previously, things seemed to be peaceful. The people also looked decent enough. Perhaps this was where the difference lay between Nishinoa and Hokunoa. With what I was seeing, I already found this island to be most preferable. Still, this was just cities. From what I’ve been hearing, I imagined those outside of it would be different. And, from what we learned from the criminals, all this good stuff might just be only at the surface.

Nira leaned at the window with widened eyes. She was truly showing that curiosity and wonder of a child, excited to see an entirely new place. Not much I could witness her really act like this. The good stuff of course, not the innocent murderous side of her. But it was good that she was developing as a person nicely, finally setting aside her terrible and cruel upbringing.

Eventually, the convoy pulled up before the palace entrance. On the way to the entrance was a wide staircase, and at the top was an extravagant structure colored in white and red. Like some sort of shrine entrance — a symmetrical structure on both side walls of the passageway. A structure made of both wood and stone, with curving roofs composed of tiles. It was a grand entrance, elegant.

And unlike Hokunoa, they didn’t have a towering castle. The palace here must be only on the ground floor. And judging from the wide elevated area of land, the palace might indeed cover a large area.

From the looks of it, the people at the palace were notified of Miyako’s arrival the moment we reached the city gates, as guards in armor immediately rushed down the stairs and lined up at the flanks. This place was fancier than I imagined, not gonna lie. Everything looked good so far for real, for real.

After I pulled up my hood to cover my head, Velar opened our carriage door, and both Nira and I promptly exited the carriage. As I looked around to take in the view, I saw Miyako wave at me to come. I gestured to my crew to follow.

Miyako smiled widely as we approached. “Please follow behind me.”

I nodded. “Nice place.”

“T-Thanks.”

Taneva looked around. “Things got bigger the last time I was here.”

Miyako stared at him in surprise. “You’ve been here before too? Then did you meet my ancestors?”

“Nope. Was not interested in meeting anyone. I was just a passerby and quickly left.”

Yeah, he’s only interested in fucking dying.

“I see… Alright then, let’s go.”

When we were about to go, a man wearing some sort of formal robe with large sleeves came rushing down the stairs. He bowed deeply to Miyako. He must be a high-ranking servant.

“Lady Miyako! It’s good to see you alive and well.”

“Yes. I’m glad to be back home at last.”

“Miss Satomi, too, it’s good that you served your purpose well.”

“Of course,” Satomi curtly said.

The servant then turned his gaze on us. “And who could these people be? They are not your guards that departed with you.”

“It’s a long story,” Miyako answered. “But please treat them with the utmost respect.”

“Utmost respect…?” He seemed puzzled to hear that. “Very well. But what happened to the others?”

“... I’ll talk about it when I address my father. Where is he?”

“He has heard of your arrival. He cannot receive you here, but he is waiting for you in the throne room.”

Oh yeah, her father was sick in the first place.

“I understand. Then lead us there.”

And with that, we started climbing up the staircase. As we did, I looked back and noticed the civilians starting to gather, staring at the newly arrived daughter of the lord. They were just muttering at each other, but there was no shouting nor cheering, as this was not exactly an event announced to the public or made a big deal about. But, from the looks of it, there was no resentment or indifference. Likely just talking about her finally returning from her journey safely. Perhaps if it had been announced to the public, there might have been a major reception.

We reached the shrine-like entrance, and I glanced up at the arching entrance, impressed by the beauty of it. The engravings, the grooves, the curves, it was sublime. Using wood alone made it quite a luxurious investment.

After passing the entrance was a wide, whitely paved courtyard, the buildings that surrounded it had ‌similar architecture to the structure at the entrance. At the center ahead of us was a tall building, but overall the buildings here were on the ground floor. The building at the center, judging from how imposing it was, must be the main building, and where we were heading.

There were men and women wearing formal robes all over, soldiers standing in the courtyard. And the ones closest to Miyako as she approached lined up and bowed their heads low.

“This place is beautiful,” Hartwin said. “If only I could capture a moment as we stand here.”

That’s called a picture. Unfortunately, there’s nothing like that here.

We approached the main building, and the pair of massive metal doors was already open. We stepped inside, and the interior was a wide chamber. There were windows on the roof that let the sun’s light inside. The floor was made of fine marble. On the sides were several important-looking personnel, must be some high-ranking officials hanging around here in the city.

Then, ahead of us, sitting on the throne was a man who looked a bit pale and weak. He had long, dark hair and a short beard. He must be Miyako’s father. Standing beside him was a woman who had the same color of hair and eyes as Miyako, wearing a wonderful dress. Her mother, definitely.

We stopped before the throne, then Miyako and Satomi kneeled on one knee. Hartwin frantically followed along. However, after doing so, he stared curiously at me, Taneva, and Velar.

“W-We’re not kneeling?” he whispered nervously.

Miyako was my friend, but nah, I was not gonna kneel. Taneva, on the other hand, since when did he ever give a fuck about that sort of etiquette? He never addressed me properly despite me being a princess. Velar was my knight, he ought to follow how I acted.

I smiled at Hartwin. “Do what you want.”

Miyako then began to address her father. “Father, I have returned.”

“Miyako, I’m glad to see you safe,” he said with a gentle smile. “But you appear to be in the company of strangers. What happened?” his eyes narrowed.

“These are my friends, and they have helped me tremendously.”

It was then that a man, who was standing near the throne, stepped forward, glaring at us. “Your friends are quite rude facing the lord like this. Kneel!”

“Um, they are quite the special characters, they will not kneel if they do not want to,” Miyako said worriedly.

“Nonsense. They must show respect.”

Who the hell is this old geezer?

“I have not kneeled to kings, I’m not doing that kind of crap,” Taneva said with a grin as he casually walked around, checking the place.

“You dare!” the geezer exclaimed in fury.

Miyako grew exceedingly concerned. “Uh… Father, please do not be displeased about this.”

Miyako’s father’s smile widened. “I wonder what kind of friends you have for them to be this brave in showing disrespect. Holding their heads high.”

“It’s just…” Miyako didn’t seem to know how to answer further.

“Taneva,” I called to him. “At least show a bit of politeness in another man’s home.”

Taneva sighed. “That I can go along with.” He returned to standing ‌with us, but he was still too casual. But I didn’t really care as long as he behaved a bit respectfully.

I faced the lord. “The sincerest apologies for my friend’s behavior. He is not on good terms with anyone of… high authority.” That’s putting it lightly. “But I would prefer you not anger him, he tends not to care about the repercussions of his actions.”

“Oh? Can he just shrug off any consequences that might come his way?”

“He absolutely could.”

Taneva leaned close to my ear and whispered, “That’s a good ‌one, Princess.”

I ain’t doing this for you, I’m doing this for them.

“Hm, I can see that.” It would seem he realized Taneva’s might. “And who might you be?”

I lowered my hood. “I am Estelia, princess of a distant land.” I slightly lowered my head. “As such, I cannot just kneel to just about anyone.”