It Seems That the Slave Girl Is Actually a Count's Daughter. - Episode 40: Triumphal Return

Episode 40: Triumphal Return

“This is the Kingdom of Idea…! It’s so big.” 

Pamela gasped as she looked out over the capital city of the Kingdom of Idea from a hilltop. 

After clearing up a good portion of the mess from before, I returned to my homeland to obtain my authority as an ambassador.

I have to formally report Pamela to my parents. 

Mother already knows some of the circumstances here, so I think she’ll handle things accordingly… 

As I was thinking that, an overly extravagant group of carriages came toward us from beyond the hill. 

Flying high on the carriages was the emblem of the Kingdom of Idea.

“El-sama, that is…” 

“Looks like they’ve come to pick us up.”

I gave a wry smile next to Pamela, whose mouth was slightly agape. 

We were planning to sneak into the capital quietly, go on a date, and then head to the castle… 

Well, that plan’s been completely ruined. 

As always, their preparations are too perfect.

“Prince Ernest, we have come to escort you!” 

A knight with an imposing figure dismounted and called out to us. 

It’s the Knight Commander. Sorry to bother you during your busy schedule. 

When I said that, the Knight Commander shook his head and replied: 

“No, if not me, then who? The other knights are busy guarding the capital and guiding the citizens.” 

I see… Now I’m getting a really bad feeling about this. 

Pamela still looked puzzled—it seemed she didn’t quite grasp the situation yet. 

But if I told her “the citizens are waiting for us,” she might shrink back. 

In that case, I should get her into the carriage first.

“I see. Understood. Let’s go, Pamela.” 

I took Pamela’s hand, leading her—despite her suspicious gaze—into the carriage. 

Upon seeing the luxurious interior, Pamela let out a gasp of admiration. 

And then, it seemed she finally realized she’d gotten engaged to someone outrageous. 

Her body suddenly tensed up.

I sat down next to Pamela with a wry smile and gently wrapped my arm around her waist. 

“El-sama…” 

“It’s okay, Pamela. Once everything’s settled, we’ll return to your home, and I’ll be with you.”

After gaining ambassadorial authority, I planned to stay at the House of Count Reinach for a while. 

From there, I’d go to the castle for official duties. 

Of course, once we secure an official base of operations in the royal capital, we’ll move there. 

Otherwise, I won’t be able to flirt with Pamela.

The carriage curtains were open. 

Responding to the citizens’ welcome is an important duty for royalty. 

There are multiple layers of protective barriers in place. So there’s no danger from outside. 

I even asked Shiro, who was on Pamela’s lap, for backup.

Pamela was tense at first. But as the carriage began to move, she gradually relaxed. 

The carriage had its shocks reduced to the limit. It moved quietly and smoothly.

The capital’s walls have a commoner’s gate, a noble’s gate, and a gate exclusively for royalty. 

When our carriage reached the royal gate, the reddish-bronze gate, decorated with beautiful reliefs, slowly creaked open like a pair of folding doors.

Beyond the shining light that poured in, a massive crowd of people was waiting.

No no no—there’s *way* too many people! 

It’s like the hero returning after defeating the Demon King! 

I could tell the bl00d drained from Pamela’s beautiful face. 

This isn’t good.

“Pamela.” 

“Y-Yes!?”

I gave Pamela a light kiss. 

Her eyes blinked rapidly, her mouth opened and closed—her face turned bright red.

“Pamela, just like that. You can’t make a gloomy face. Everyone will worry, you know. And if it’s too much for you, I’ll kiss you again—this time properly, thoroughly, like licking—”

“I-I’m fine! I’ve come to my senses now!”

She flailed her hands in front of her in a panic. 

Too bad. 

I patted Shiro’s head—he was looking at me with half-lidded eyes—and together with Pamela, we waved to the crowd.

“Prince Ernest has returned!” 

“That must be Lady Pamela beside him, his fiancée!” 

“She’s the savior who brought Prince Ernest back to his senses! Give her a warm welcome!”

…………….…Honestly, I’m not sure if I want to know what kind of rumors were spreading. 

Apparently Pamela heard them too, because she was giggling while waving.

After pushing through the large crowd, we finally made it inside the castle walls. 

By that point, both of us were exhausted from all the waving.

“You okay?” 

“Yes, I’m okay.”

“I’ll cast healing magic on you now.” 

“Th-thank you very much.”

Pamela leaned against me, completely exhausted. 

Feeling Pamela’s warmth for the first time in a while, I thought—maybe responding to the citizens isn’t so bad once in a while. 

Ever since she found out I was royalty, Pamela had been keeping a bit of distance from me.

After patting her head thoroughly—good girl, you did well—I got out of the carriage.

Led by the servants, we arrived at the guest room. 

There, His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen were waiting for us. 

They both must be busy, and yet they took the time—how grateful.

“I, Ernest, have returned. This is my fiancée, Pamela Jérôme, daughter of Count Reinach.” 

“I am Pamela. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

Together, we bent our knees and offered the highest form of courtesy.

“My, my, my! I’m so glad you’ve come, Miss Pamela!”

“Eh?”

Pamela looked bewildered as my mother—the Queen—hugged her tightly. 

She kept hugging her tight, squeezing her close. 

From the impact, both Pamela’s chest and Mother’s chest squished and changed shapes like jelly. 

I have no interest in Mother’s chest, but Pamela’s changing form is a blessing to behold. Truly grateful.

“I see, I see~ I understand now why Ernest is so into you~ This hug feel could be addictive.”

“H-Hold on, Mother, please stop saying things that could cause a misunderstanding! It’d be a problem if Pamela started looking at me like that!”

“Oh my, oh my. This is the first time I’ve seen Ernest so flustered~ You really are smitten, aren’t you?”

Please, give me a break. 

This is exactly why I didn’t want to meet Mother too soon. 

Look at that—His Majesty the King is chuckling too.

“Miss Pamela, it’s the first time you’ve seen Ernest panic like that too, right~?”

“Eh? Um, no… El-sama does things like that from time to time, actually?”

“…Huh?”

Mother froze mid-movement. 

Then she looked at Pamela, then me—twice—and slowly curled her lips up into a crescent-moon grin. 

Then, with a teasing tone, she spoke:

“No way, no way~ So he lets you call him ‘El’? That’s surprising. He never let anyone call him that before. Pamela, when did you start calling him that?”

“S-Since the beginning…”

Pamela replied in a tiny voice, her whole body blushing red. 

Looks like she’d realized what Mother was getting at, too.

“Ufufu, sounds like Ernest has liked you from the very beginning~”

A cheerful, teasing voice rang out.

—— Fin