Tasche seems to love plums.
After finishing the heartwarming family gathering, I returned to my private room with Quester.
I thought I would be scolded for reporting the partnership with Spec Company after the fact, but there was no reprimand. Director Benio, a shrewd woman, had already made arrangements with the royal family. It seems her claim of having connections to the royal family wasn’t just bluster.
Since I got the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Mechanist Army, which was my objective, I have no further business in the royal castle. I plan to return to Lilijien tomorrow.
“I was able to truly experience what Ashes was talking about.”
Quester spoke to me as I relaxed, free from the prickly conversation.
“Experience what?”
Tasche on the table was making a cute begging pose, so I took a bag of dried fruit I always keep in my pocket.
“Ashes said, ‘Lady Rose’s face sometimes changes as if she’s a different person. A face we don’t know.’ She also said that her experience in the forest must have changed you, Lady Rose…”
“…Did you not want me to change?”
“I… can’t say.”
Quester answered with a slightly lonely expression. I reached into the bag of dried fruit and hummed.
“Duru-duru-duru~♪ What will come out, what will come out?”
“Kikki! Kikki! (Plum! Plum!)”
“Ta-da! Too bad! It wasn’t plum, it was peach!”
“Kikki, Kikki! (I like peaches too!)”
In front of the dried fruit placed on the plate, Tasche began to do her happy dance. So cute.
“Fufu, as expected, that kind of face suits you, Lady Rose.”
“Does it?”
“It certainly does. You are the most beautiful princess in the three kingdoms.”
“As thanks for your praise, I shall bestow dried fruit upon you.”
“I am deeply grateful.”
“Be sure to do the happy dance, okay?”
“Wh-am I?”
“Kikki! (Teach me!)”
Tasche performed the happy dance in front of Quester. Quester, after popping the dried fruit I handed her into her mouth, imitated the monkey and performed a somewhat awkward happy dance.
“Ahaha! Quester, you’re worse than Tasche!”
“…Then, Lady Rose, please demonstrate the perfect dance.”
“B-but I have to dance too!?”
“Kikki! (You must!)”
Fine. Alright, I’ll show you a magnificent happy dance!
And so began the ball performed by two people and one creature in a corner of the royal palace.
I didn’t want to stay in the royal castle any longer, so after attending the investiture ceremony for my promotion to Lieutenant Colonel the next morning, I immediately returned to Lilijien on my flagship.
I find the bridge of the Pallas Athena much more relaxing than the solemn and luxurious royal palace.
“Kikki! (It’s shiny!)”
Tasche, perched on my shoulder, was excited looking at my brand-new insignia shining on my chest.
“It suits you well, Lady Rose. Now you are our commander in name and in fact.”
Clifford praised me, but I felt conflicted.
“Thank you. But this is nepotism at its finest. A young girl who hasn’t even graduated from officer school and has zero combat experience suddenly becomes a Lieutenant Colonel. It makes the soldiers fighting earnestly look like fools.”
“There may be those who gossip behind your back, but if you produce results, that’s all that matters. They will quickly fall silent.”
I nodded in agreement with Ashes’ encouragement, convincing myself. Yes, all I need to do is achieve results.
“Lady Rose, the Alliance Army’s advance party seems to have started moving. It’s finally time.”
“Quester, Pallas Athena will head directly for Byakuya Castle.”
“Yes! Set course for Byakuya Castle! Full power, full speed ahead!”
“Aye! Full power, full speed ahead!”
The crew responded crisply to Quester’s order, and the super-large pure flame element engine roared to life.
Pallas Athena, accelerating, sped across the wilderness. The time for battle was fast approaching.
Upon arriving at Byakuya Castle, we headed to the designated Rose Cross barracks.
Ashes and Quester’s knight barracks were already there, but Colonel Roogetsu had rushed to prepare barracks for me and Clifford as well.
The stone building assigned to me, despite being newly built, had a charm that made it seem like it had withstood the wind and rain for a long time, and I loved it!
“Everyone, look! It’s a magnificent building!”
“It is magnificent, but… Lady Rose, isn’t it a bit old? Don’t you think so too, Sir?”
“Indeed. While opinions on the style may vary, it is impressive how much they have built in such a short time.”
“I believe it was built to resemble a castle, as it is Lady Rose’s residence.”
“Yes, it’s a bit small, but it’s just like a castle!”
“In fact, it’s a miniature castle. We dismantled a small, abandoned castle on the frontier and transported it here. It was troublesome, but faster than building it from scratch.”
As we turned around, Major Toma stood there with a listless look in his eyes.
“Did Major Toma build this?”
“Yeah, the guest house was getting cramped, so I needed a new place for hangers-on.”
“Toma! Are you telling her to move into a used castle! And to be a hanger-on in Lady Rose’s residence! What are you thinking–”
I stepped on Ashes’ foot to stop her outburst. She’s always so troublesome!
“Major Toma, what is this castle called?”
“I believe it’s called Rosenstein Castle. But I think the princess who is the lord of the castle should name it.”
I thought Major Toma, the builder, should name it… No, I can’t trust the Major’s naming sense.
After all, he once tried to name himself Tonma Doshiro!
“Then, I shall take the name Rosenstein Castle as is. I am also a Rose, so perhaps this is fated.”
“…You’ve certainly grown some thorns recently, haven’t you.”
Did Clifford say something?
I considered the placement of furniture in the innermost room of the Rose Castle.
Although this castle was constructed by bringing parts from the frontier and patching it up, it’s the first castle I’ve ever had. I must take good care of it.
That’s right! I’ll abandon the Imperial Residence in Lilijien City and make this my base.
I’ll have a few trusted maids come here, and the rest will remain at the residence.
That way, I can keep away the maids who are spies.
The Major said they could be used to feed false information, but if that plan were used, the position of the maids who received the false information would become precarious.
I don’t think the maids serving as spies volunteered for the mission willingly. They must have been pressured by the royal family.
I know that using what can be used is rational and effective.
However, no matter how rational it may be, it doesn’t sit well with me.
Heavy footsteps approached, *thump-thump*. It must be Major Toma.
“Major, the door is open. Please come in.”
“Roger. I’m not a major but I’ll intrude.” “Pardon my intrusion.”
“Lady Rose, long time no see!” “Gau! (Long time no see!)”
Whoa! It wasn’t the Major, and there were many people!
Um, um… I know Kika and Tachikaze…
A man with his long hair tied up in a topknot-like style at the back of his head bowed, representing the group, and introduced himself.
“I am Ikusaba Heima. Nice to meet you.”
A man with short hair and a scruffy beard followed.
“Name’s Todoroki Danjo. Like Heima, I’m a member of the war band’s executive. The Major told me to come and greet you.”
“I see. As Major Toma may have informed you, please call me Rose. Heima-san, Danjo-san, I look forward to working with you from now on.”
“I’m Kika!” “Gau-gau! (It’s Tachikaze!)”
…I know that. Your begging gestures with your hands and tail are very cute, though.
“Kika and Tachikaze investigated Sabina for me, didn’t you? Thank you.”
“Sajirin and Danjo and the others were with us too!”
Sajirin? Did she mean Mr. Sajiri?
“Oh, is that so. Danjo-san, Heima-san, thank you.”
“We were merely following the Major’s orders. No need for thanks.”
“Heima’s stiff. ‘You’re welcome’ is fine, isn’t it?”
“As members of the war band’s executive, you must be very strong, Heima-san and Danjo-san?”
“Damn right. We couldn’t participate in the previous operation due to our investigation duties, but Kenrou was lucky. If I had been there, we wouldn’t have let him escape.”
“You have no part in this. Kika and Tachikaze were enough.”
!! I see, that’s why you gave up on capturing Kanata when he escaped. Oh, thank goodness.
“Kikki! (Play!)”
“Gau? (W-With me?)”
“Kikki! (Yes!)”
“Play, play~♪ Oh, right! I was supposed to give this to Tasche!”
Kika attached a gold bangle to each of Tasche’s arms.
“So cute~. Tasche, what’s your thanks?”
“Kikki! (Thank you!)”
“I’ll teach you how to use it later ♪”
“How to use it? Isn’t it just an accessory?”
“Um, it’s a transmitter, and a smoke screen, and a directional explosive!”
“Explosive~!? Is, is that okay!?”
Will it explode if it gets shocked? Danjo-san explained to me, who was worried.
“It’s designed so it absolutely won’t explode unless you unlock both bangles and combine them. It’s like a two-part epoxy bomb.”
I’ve heard of that. A bomb that won’t explode unless two liquids are mixed together, right?
“Then it’s fine. You surprised me.”
“Bombs are great. Not only are they powerful and versatile, but they also have romance. Those small bangles are filled with my romance!”
Ro-romance!? Is there really romance in it?
Danjo-san looks wild, but the fact that he could devise such a mechanism in these small bangles means he has nimble fingers.
“Lady Rose, I wouldn’t take this man’s nonsense seriously. Your ears will rot.”
“Say whatever you want, Heima! You’re just as twisted as I am! Pretending to be a Sengoku samurai these days!”
“But I’m not rotten. And I intend to be more straightforward than you.”
And then the two began to nudge each other. I wish they would learn from Kika and the others playing amicably.
Mizar and Koyori are always arguing and nudging each other, so Major Toma must have it tough.
No, Major Toma probably doesn’t mind at all. The surrounding squad members are probably the ones struggling.
