Please Die, Your Highness - Chapter 42

Prince Declan stopped speaking before he finished the thought, having said it without realizing. He felt a little ashamed, recalling his own self, who, despite being an outsider, had been more wary of Fionechta and Rory than anyone else.

He didn’t know. He was still confused. He was also somewhat fearful because Rory had attempted theft as if he had been waiting for the moment Craig was chased out. Perhaps he had done something unnecessary?

Prince Declan sighed softly, looking at Fionechta, who was sitting opposite him, piling dry grass onto the embers.

“Anyway, I want to apologize to you. About how I initially… acted especially bothersome toward the two of you. Honestly, I wasn’t happy with the party to begin with. I naturally thought I was going with those who were already with me. When they said they would assign other people, I thought, ‘Are they giving me a few knights?’ so…”

He even worried that his brother, Aidan, would again hear bitter criticism from his ministers because of him. Thinking about it now, it was truly foolish.

Prince Declan sighed repeatedly.

“In any case, when I met them in person, it was you all. Craig lied to me about the identities of each and every one of you, and though the situation was clearly suspicious, I had no choice but to pretend to believe it.”

“I understand, Your Highness. You must not have found foreign mercenaries very trustworthy. And, in my view, it was also true that the group was extremely poor for an escort detail serving the prince of a nation.”

Prince Declan was grateful for Fionechta’s understanding. And at the same time, he felt a little embarrassed again.

“Yes. Thank you for understanding. Anyway, I’ve decided not to complain about anything anymore. Of course, this journey is still uncomfortable for me, and it is obvious it will become more arduous in the future, but I must pull myself together.”

It was the very moment he was about to say that he would rely on him going forward.

Fionechta opened his mouth and spoke as soon as his words ended.

“I, myself, am honored to serve a person with such an excellent mindset. However, as you mentioned earlier, I believe there will be limits to reaching the western border with the current number of people.”

“Ah, yes. That’s true. We will need to fill the vacancy left by that mercenary, after all. And it seems we should also hire one more smart person who can manage supplies, like Craig.”

Fionechta nodded at Prince Declan’s words.

“How about hiring several more mercenaries while we’re at it? And it might be better to replace the maidservant and the coachman, too. The coachman, though diligent, is fearful and not suited for such a harsh journey, and it might be better to have a servant of the same gender to serve Your Highness comfortably.”

Prince Declan did not say anything for a moment.

Only the diminishing embers between the two crackled.

“Replace Maeve and Colm with other people, too?”

“I am suggesting that while we should supplement the number of people to some extent, it would be better to compose the party only with those who are absolutely necessary.”

“Of course, Colm… that coachman does seem a bit untrustworthy. Well, I don’t know, as I haven’t had a long conversation with him. But Maeve, the maidservant, is fine. I’m comfortable with her.”

In fact, among this party, she is my favorite. Prince Declan held back from adding that thought.

Although the sight of his disgraceful moment made him want to shudder just recalling it, it also became the impetus for him to feel comfortable with her in his own way. For one thing, the maidservant was taciturn. Initially, he wondered why she was so blunt, but once he realized she was not the type to easily spread rumors like children her age, he liked it.

“And Colm… I don’t think we need to change him, either. He’s already come this far with us. As you said, he is quite fearful, so it would be best to stick with him until the end.”

Fionechta did not express any particular regret at the Prince Declan’s refusal.

“Then we shall do so. The decision is, after all, Yours Highness’s to make.”

“I agree with the suggestion to bring in more mercenaries. It will be too tiring for you to stand guard alone and hunt at the same time. How about we go back to that village we passed? The village where the inn was, I mean.”

“That sounds like a good idea. I saw quite a few men among the travelers who would be suitable as mercenaries.”

The conversation on that topic concluded that way. Fionechta brought up the topic of fishing again, and Prince Declan replied that it looked utterly hopeless here.

The fishing rod on the far side was still set down quietly, without any movement.

“I will go check it once.”

“I attached the float correctly, too.”

Prince Declan retorted, as if to say the lack of success was not solely due to his inexperience. While Fionechta went to retrieve the fishing rod, Prince Declan packed his bag.

Fishing seemed to be out of the question, so it would be better to gather some more mushrooms and return. He wanted to let the two he had left in the village taste these mushrooms too.

The ground near the lake was muddy and covered in moss. As he walked, the squishy mud stuck to the soles of his shoes, and at the same time, there was the sound of the moss clinging to it and breaking apart.

It was then. When the area behind him became strangely silent, Prince Declan turned his head with a puzzled look.

At the same moment, he met eyes at close range with Fionechta, who he didn’t know how or when had reached this point—or perhaps whether he had even gone over there at all.

Thwack!

With a dull pain, stars exploded before his eyes.