Grandeur Fantasia

Chapter 49.1 ~ Travelling with the Princess (2)

AN: Another chapter for the week~ I'm going to be releasing a Christmas Special but uhm... I'm sorry if it comes out late :3 Thanks for understanding and enjoy the chapter~~~

While Leon and Charlotte were in the carriage along with the princess and the captain of the guard unit, the rest of Crimson Lightning were trailing behind them in their own carriage.

Rafael was on the driver's seat holding the reign and beside him was Alex who was watching the carriage Leon was in, just in case something happened.

Mia was playing with the fox cubs along with Lily. However, Lily seemed preoccupied with something. She, along with Vyra and Freya, kept on glancing over to the princess's carriage.

"You guys... Just relax already. You know that Leon isn't the type of person someone could manipulate that easily right?"

"Of course not. No one could beat darling in a battle of wits. I'm just worried if that princess is trying to seduce him!"

"Come on, she's not you."

Mia tried to calm them down but her effort seemed to be fruitless. Freya, Vyra and Lily were still worried about him. They know that Leon wasn't the type of person who would easily lay his hands on a woman. However, being confined in a small space with such beautiful princess and the red haired knight who was also beautiful, who knew what could happened.

Then, for some reason, Freya felt a chill down her spine.

"Ah! I can't stand it anymore! I'm going there!"

"Stop that, you perverted goddess! Leon is only talking with them! Just stay put and ask him about what happen later. Believe in him a little, will you?"

"...Fine."

Freya sat back down after being stopped by Mia before she could rush over to the princess's carriage. She finally managed to calm down by believing in her darling. Although she had never doubted him, she was still worried if he would be taken away from her.

"...By the way Mia, it's "Darling's perverted goddess", not just "perverted goddess"."

"So you're not denying the perverted or goddess part..."

Lily and Vyra were also visibly calmed down after hearing what Mia said. They too believed in Leon, and so, they would wait for him and ask him what happened later.

Back in the princess's carriage, Leon was about to start collecting information regarding the "bandits" incident.

"Forgive me for being blunt, but do you have any idea on who the mastermind may be behind this incident?"

Leon asked the princess in a very serious tone. There may be a lot of people targeting the princess in order to shake the royal family's foundation for their conspiracy. But if he could narrow down the possibility, it would be easier to investigate them.

Aria seemed to hesitate when Leon said his question. She might have been trying to keep this incident a secret since it may involve the noble society. However, that seemed to be smaller problem compared to her safety. Leon himself was basically volunteering himself to investigate this matter. If she wanted to use him, she would answer it immediately. That was what Leon wanted to test. But she didn't. And it made Leon even more confused at her intention.

Either way he needed to know about this information even if it means forcing it out of the princess.

"This road is not supposed to exist in people's or even an adventurer's knowledge. Even Lingenia's adventurer's guild master didn't know about it when I asked him. Therefore, I assume that it must be a highly classified path which only nobles and the royal family knew."

Leon stopped for a while to look at the princess's reaction. He saw both Aria and Iris's eyes were wide opened in surprise. However, because they didn't seem to answer his first question, he continued.

"The notion that "bandits" coincidentally attacking the princess's carriage guarded by a group of knights was also strange to begin with.

Firstly, there wasn't supposed to be any bandits who knew about this road. Considering there weren't any magic beasts in the area of the road, I assume that this road was properly patrolled and guarded. Thus, no bandits would be able to even come near this road. But even if they did, there wouldn't be any profit in doing so. 

There are no merchant's carriage or any other carriages that will be profitable for them. However, this time they appeared and 'coincidentally' attacked the princess. The possibility of this happening by chance is astronomically low. It would be more believable that this was a planned attack targeting the princess.

Secondly, although they weren't as skilled as the knights, they had advantage in numbers, enough to rival the royal guards. They maintained solid formation even when they were surprised by my arrival. It was as if they had received strict military training.

From those points alone, it would be easy to deduce that the mastermind behind this incident would be a high ranked noble who owns a large group of well trained soldiers, knew the existence of this road, and the fact that the princess would be there at that particular time.

Therefore, based from these points, do you have an idea of who the mastermind behind these incident be?"

Leon knew that his rambling might make him seemed like a know it all. But that's what Leon hoped for. He wanted to show Aria and Iris that he was already aware of the situation and was already plenty involved in this case.

In addition, by implying that this case was a conspiracy by one of the nobles against the crown, Leon seemingly threatened the princess. It was similar to saying that he already knew about a highly classified information about the trouble brewing behind the scenes of the Kingdom. Although it was an underhanded method, if it was to gain information to protect him and his friends, then so be it.

However, instead of getting an answer, Leon received the stare of all three people in the carriage. He was ready to receive the princess's animosity but on the contrary, it seemed like she was impressed, weirdly enough.

"..."

"Incredible..."