Chapter 142.2

Rishe believed she asked Oliver to keep his mouth shut.

However, when she snapped around, the silver-haired squire smiled at her.

When she saw his expression, she understood everything.

Oliver certainly abided by Rishe's request earlier to keep things from Arnold.

It was a bit presumptuous of me to apologize for borrowing your squire...

Oliver was not doing what Rishe had asked him to do but was working under Arnold's orders.

"I'll lecture you later. Hop on. I know you're going after that man."

"Your Highness, your help will determine that this is a matter between countries."

Then, as if it were a matter of course, Arnold replied.

"When my wife is involved, there's no way I can ignore it now."

"......."

Sure enough, Arnold was aware of the situation.

That being the case, there was no point in asking and answering questions, and time couldn't be wasted here.

Rishe gave up and used the step stool to straddle the delicately decorated saddle.

Arnold mounted the horse himself and took the reins from behind Rishe. His posture was similar to hugging her, and they were unexpectedly close.

Rishe grabbed the saddle handle, trying to ignore it.

Arnold grabbed the reins and gave his squire a command-like look.

"Oliver."

"Yes, take care...You too, Rishe-sama."

Rishe was about to thank Oliver, but the horse carrying her and the others began to move forward at Arnold's signal.

The horse must be smart and well-trained. It galloped light and steady, so as not to put any burden on its riders.

As they left the castle and rode down the green hills toward the city, Rishe whispered, "I'm sorry I wasn't able protect Harriet-sama."

"..."

Had she been aware of Harriet's abnormality last night, for example, Harriet would not have been in danger, and Garkhain wouldn't have been in danger of shouldering the blame.

Harriet-sama must be terrified...

Even if they could save her without any injuries, it was still their blunder for letting others kidnap her.

Behind the downcast Rishe, Arnolt said, "Your duty is not to be a knight guard of the Princess of Sigwell."

Why did that sound as if shunning her?

But Rishe knew that wasn't it. Arnold continued in an indifferent manner, as if admonishing Rish, "Tell me your position in this country."

"...I am Your Highness's fiancée."

"That's right. And in about a month, you'll be the Crown Princess."

His large hands grasped the bridle so as not to disturb the horse while speaking.

"――Do you think you can only protect the Princess from danger with your own sword?"

"......!"

His words made Rishe's eyes wide.

Had Rishe been Harriet's knight, all she could have done would have been to protect her.

But that was not the case.

As Arnold had said, she might be able to help Harriet not only with her sword, but also with her other powers.

Registering that, Rishe turned and looked up into Arnold's blue eyes.

Then she answered clearly, "No."

"It's good if you understand it."

Rishe nodded in soft affirmation and pulled the hood of her cape over her head.

To get to the location of the smoke signal, they would have to gallop through the port city.

Her coral hair stood out, so she wanted to keep it hidden under the hood. She tied a ribbon under her chin to keep it from coming off in the wind.

Along the way, other concerns sprouted.

"Your Highness, could they have set traps along the way as a countermeasure against pursuit?"

"Then, we'll avoid the shortcuts. Do you have any idea what the enemy's weapons are?"

"I think they're bows and arrows. The arrow heads might be coated with a numbing agent or something similar to stall us."

Rishe said, adding that she had found a bow and arrow in Raul's room.

"That man, acting as His Highness Curtis's shadow gave me some information. His alias is Raul and he has several men at his side."

In fact, there were only a few things she had learned from Raul in this lifetime.

But talking about it like this would lessen questions about why Rishe knew too much.

That was why she mentioned Raul's name yesterday when she found out that Arnold was aware of Raul.

"I've heard that on your orders, the knights' took off their coats before going into the city. Is this a measure to avoid becoming a target for archers?"

"Yes. But we should have been under surveillance from the moment we left the castle."

The hunters were definitely observing them through their monoculars. Once they reached their arrow range, arrows would immediately fly at them.

However, Arnold said flatly, "When arrows shoot at us, all we have to do is knock them off with our swords."

You say that as if it's nothing, absolutely nothing.

However, Rishe knew.

During the recent commotion in the Grand Shrine, Arnold had actually knocked all the arrows with his sword.

The port city of Vinleys was already in sight.

When the horses slowed down to enter the alleyway, Rishe and Arnold reacted at the same time.

"Your Highness!"

"Yeah."

With the reins in his left hand, Arnold drew his sword.

A dry crack reverberated, and an arrow in the air snapped in half.

Arnold did not hesitate to slash the other arrow that sliced through the wind immediately afterwards.

It was neat and precise, with tremendous sword speed.

Seriously, what a guy!

But now, in the last few seconds, Rishe realized.

Arnold was swinging his sword while protecting her.

Not only from the arrows, but he also took various precautions to make sure that Rishe wouldn't be swept off the horse.

His Highness Arnold is perfect, but all the hunters are also skilled. If I don't do something, they'll surely use me, a burden, to pull His Highness down altogether.

Rishe exhaled briefly and looked back at Arnold.

"Your Highness."

She asked him as she lowered the bow that was slung over her shoulder.

"Would you mind squeezing me with your arm holding the reins?"

"Huh...?"

Arnold's eyebrows wrinkled, but Rishe wriggled away regardless.

She then stroked the neck of the horse, which had a beautiful golden mane, and begged in its ear.

"Excuse me, Your Highness's horse. I'm going to ride strangely, but I'll try to stay out of your way, so please excuse me for a moment."

"Hey, Rishe, what..."

Rishe put one hand on the horse's saddle and raised her hips so that she was kneeling on one knee on the saddle.

Because of her naturally unstable position, her body swayed unsteadily. Arnold quickly put his arm around her and held her by the waist.

"What are you doing...!"

"Tighter, Your Highness."

She faced Arnold behind her on her knee in the saddle, and then drew an arrow from her quiver.

"Hug me tighter...Let me stick to you, Your Highness."

"―― ......"

Arnold let out a deep sigh at what Rishe was about to do.

After that, he hugged Rishe tightly around the waist.

Now that Rishe was facing Arnold on the horse and was held in his arms, her torso was now much more stable.

Rishe didn't hesitate to aim at the rooftop in the direction the arrow had come from.

"Please gallop at our current pace."

"...Got it."

Rishe could easily locate where the hunters might be hiding as long as she knew the direction.

The killing intent in that spot amplified. Rishe shut one eye, held her breath, and pulled the bow as hard as she could.

The next moment, Rishe shot an arrow straight at the roof of the building.

"Gyaah..."

A short scream came from above, and then the area immediately quieted down.

Arnold naturally noticed that the dab of blood thirstiness in the air had disappeared.

"Did you hit him?"

"It's a non-lethal shot, so it probably didn't kill him."

All hunters wore armor in their vital parts. The arrowhead was small and would not penetrate the leather of the armor.

The hunter she shot was silenced, probably due to the numbing potion in the arrowhead.

"I will continue to use my bow and arrow to eliminate the enemies in the distance. Your Highness..."

She gasped at the murderous air that came flying.

At the same time, Arnold swung his sword.

The blade swept in front of Rishe's eyes and barely repelled a speedy arrow. The arrow, which was probably aimed at Rishe, fell in pieces on the cobblestones.

"Don't worry about the arrows coming this way. Stay focused on your targets."

"Thank you!"

Despite being on an unsteady horse and holding Rishe in one hand, Arnold's sword did not waver. Perhaps he was accustomed to fighting on horseback.

In addition to his precise handling of the reins, the horse was also in tune with its master's wishes. Relying on the stability of the horse, Rishe notched her next arrow.

Arnold with his sword and Rishe with her bow galloped through the port town of Vinleys.

"We've lost enemy archers to the rear west. Next, I'll seal off the two in the east!"

"Understood...We'll enter the back alley in three minutes and ten seconds. We'll slow down in two minutes."

"Then, Your Highness, please pay attention to the seaward side of the alley. I'm sure they'll use the reflection of the sea surface to their advantage!"

They threw reports and instructions to each other and performed their respective roles.

Arnold was dropping arrows and Rishe was shooting at the enemy while they drew closer and closer to the smoke signal.

"Your Highness, can you get around to the right side of that building?"

"No problem. ―― Upward."

"Leave it to me. Keep the speed as fast as you can!"

Arnold did exactly what Rishe wanted him to do, and he did it smoothly.

And in the same way, Rishe directed her bow as Arnold wished.

Amazing...It's as if we can read each other's minds.

This thought occurred to her, and she unconsciously looked down.

Arnold, who was supporting her, noticed this and looked up at her.

Then he smiled a little mischievously and asked in a challenging tone of voice.

"――What do you want to do this time?"

"〜〜〜〜......!!!"

A thrill-like kind of elation ran up Rishe back.

If Arnold would fight with her, she felt like she could accomplish anything. Shaking off the sense of danger on the battlefield, Rishe managed to reply calmly.

"We are very close to the church where the smoke signal was released, but the nearest distance is the most dangerous. It's a bit of a detour, but let's continue on a path with good visibility."

"Okay. ―― The doors of the church will be fortified, though.

Rishe was of the same opinion. It would take some time to break through from the front.

"When we arrive, let's break in through a route other than the front."

"...Other than the front?"

Arnold repeated dubiously, but Rishe concentrated on shooting arrows.

We definitely have to rescue Harriet-sama. As for Raul's intentions...

T/N: Sure enough, Rishe and Arnold are a deadly combo...Just, I can't help wondering, where were the knights following them???? Anyway, thanks for reading 🙂