Outaishihi ni Nante Naritakunai!! Chapter 321

"I thought so before, but somehow it feels weird."
"Is that so?"

I'm walking through town alongside Cain. The sun is still high. I thought I didn't have to go back yet, so I decided to drop by the curry store I run.
Because his eyes turned black, Cain is walking next to me looking awfully restless. He's been fidgeting ever since leaving Ms. Delris's house.

"I've only been looked at strangely, so… I feel uneasy that nobody is paying attention to me."
"After all you're bothered by both. Sounds tough."
"It really is. Besides, the last time I walked through town I resolved myself that it'd be a one-time thing. Or rather, this feels different from then."

Cain laughed troubledly and restlessly looked around. The attitude of people around is normal, there's nothing strange. Among the people I pass some seem to remember my face and say things like, "Princess Consort? … No, no way. Princess Consort wouldn't be here in town… Yup, it's an accidental resemblance," to convince themselves.
There's no way I can say, "Sorry, I'm the person in question," so I slip by while feeling complicated, but as expected, the effect of the wedding seems tremendous.
Despite the suspicious gazes, I headed towards the curry store while looking unconcerned.

"Good day. Everyone, are you doing well?"

The shop seems to have just begun preparations for the evening, and there were no customers.
When I showed my face through the back entrance, everyone's faces sparkled.
Lars, whom I'd entrusted managing the store to, heard everyone's voices and came from inside.

"Master!"
"It's been a while. I came to show my face. Sorry for disturbing."

When I waved my hand with a smile, Lars looked around.

"? What?"

My eyebrows scrunched upon seeing the sudden suspicious action. Lars asked with a serious face.

"No, where's His Highness the Crown Prince? Is what I thought."
"Eh? Freed? I think Freed is in the middle of working right now, but what about it?"

Did he have some business with Freed? I thought so, but Lars shook his head.

"I was sure you'd come together. After all Master, His Highness the Crown Prince is madly in love with you, right? I thought there was no way he'd let you go out alone."

Told so with a serious face, I flushed.
Even if I know it myself, I don't feel happy at all being told it by a third party.

"… I wonder."

Lars looked at me with a somewhat amazed face.

"… Master, both you and His Highness look madly in love. You're newlyweds, so I think it's wonderful that your relationship is good, but… Master, who's that man? Master, you don't seem like a person who'd have an affair."
"Huh? Aah, Cain? He's my escort."

Realizing Lars was directing his gaze at Cain, I introduced him. However, affair, I'm beyond surprised.
Lars scrutinized Cain with a suspicious face.

"Escort? He doesn't look strong at all, but is he a soldier from the castle? … Does His Highness the Crown Prince know?"
"Doesn't look strong… Cain is very strong."

At any rate, he's a former brilliant assassin.

"He's not a soldier from the castle but my exclusive escort. Of course, Freed knows him."

Hearing that Freed know, Lars looked visibly relieved.

"I see… Then it's fine. I was worried there'd be a rumor that the newly married Her Highness the Crown Princess came with a lover."
"Lover…"

No need to guess, he's referring to Cain.
While I found it extremely unpleasant, Cain said in a frightened voice.

"Seriously, please stop… If such a rumor spread, I'd be killed by the Crown Prince."
"No… I don't think Freed would go that far."

I can affirm that he'd do it if it was true, but he won't move on a simple rumor. I thought so, but Cain said with a truly displeased face.

"Do you really think that? Princess, he's a narrow-minded man who made an expression of a demon when you even tried to touch me."
"… Hmmm."

I couldn't deny what I was told.
While we were talking in whispers, Lars said.

"For now, please enter the store. Master, I want to hear how you've been… We can talk a little, right?"
"Yeah."

When I nodded, not only Lars but all the employees smiled happily.
I became the Crown Princess, but they still treat me the same as ever.
I was slightly worried that their attitude may change, but it seems it was a needless anxiety.
I was extremely happy about that and secretly smiled to myself.

After having a fun time talking with everyone for the first time in a while, I slowly walked towards the castle.
The curry store is doing well as ever.
Actually, the store specializing in hamburg steaks that I'd been preparing before getting married opened just the other day, and it too is doing well. The businesses I'm the owner of are doing well.
That store has a trustworthy manager, so I'm not worried.  Nevertheless, I was thinking of checking there on my way back home, when I caught sight of a crowd of people on a plaza with a fountain.

"? What is it?"
"… Princess, please stay here. I'll go check."
"Okay."

I obediently nodded and came to a stop. Cain skillfully slipped through the crowd and immediately reached the destination.
His figure disappeared. He must have moved somewhere he could tell understand what was going on.

"I wonder if something happened…"

While I was waiting restlessly, Cain came back right away.

"I got it, Princess. It's a circus from another country. It seems the business had started in Irvine, and they expanded to Wilhelm while it was festive after the wedding."
"Circus?"

I know about them, but I've never actually seen one.
I've heard circuses exhibit rare animals and deformed human children. I don't like them, and they're prohibited in Wilhelm.
But the ban doesn't extend to foreign businesses (because it involves diplomatic issues) that occasionally come and attract everyone's attention.

"Circus, huh… Being from a foreign country it won't be regulated… I hope they leave quickly."

When I muttered, Cain asked curiously.

"They're common in Sahaja. Princess, you hate such stuff?"
"Rather than hate… I think they're unethical. Honestly, I don't want them to come to Wilhelm… but that's impossible."

I put a hand to my cheek and sighed. Cain tilted his head as though he didn't understand.

"Unethical, huh… I think even being an exhibit is fine as long as you can live."
"… I see."

Told that by Cain, who had survived a harsh environment, I couldn't say anything else.
Having lived comfortably in an abundant ducal house, I couldn't talk back.

―― I'm blessed to be able to think that.

For example, if I lived in a horrible environment and was asked if I could still say that, I probably wouldn't answer 'yes'.
I know I'm not that strong.
In the end, all I say is pretty words.
So when I heard that from Cain, who had lived in a truly harsh environment, there was nothing else I could say.

―― It's fine as long as you can live.

I'm sure it's what Cain really thinks.
Considering that Cain could only live as an assassin, it's inevitable he'd think that, so I understand it's wrong to blame him for that.

"… Yup. I guess."

I shouldn't continue the topic beyond this. Having judged so, I decided to quickly leave the circus behind.
I avoided the crowd and was about to head back to the castle, when I came behind the circus tent.

"… Huh?"
"Grrrr."

In the back there were many cages that appeared to belong to the circus. Most were empty, but in one large cage there was a big dog.
The dog's coat was a mixture of black and ash. Its sharp eyes seemed to glare at everything. Bothered by that gaze, I unconsciously stopped walking.

"Ah…"
"You stupid dog! I'm not making any money because of your raging!"
"Wow… Princess, this way."

Together with the angry voice, a plump man holding a whip appeared from the back entrance of the circus tent. He was wearing a top hat and a tailcoat that didn't suit him. He looked furious. As I was surprised by the person who suddenly appeared, Cain pulled my arm and hid us behind a tree.

"Somehow… it feels like he'll get angry if he spots us."
"Yup… thanks."

Somehow, I ended up observing them.
I should have just left, but it strangely bothered me.
The man hit the ground with the whip in frustration.

"Of all things to scare guests! It's good that nobody got injured, but do you understand!? I bought you! As an extremely rare exhibit, you have to move as I say! You're useless if I only have to feed you… Shit!"
"Grrrr!"
"Shut up!"

I stared at the man yelling at the dog.
At a glance, the dog didn't appear to have any unusual features. It looked like a big dog, but that's all.
The man opened the cage irately and dragged the dog out. I couldn't tell when it was in a cage, but the dog had an awfully rough silver collar. The dog desperately resisted, but sadly it was pulled out outside the cage by the man.
I completely didn't expect a man could easily win against such a large dog, but for some reason, the dog seemed unable to resist, only its eyes were harshly glaring at the man.

"… I wonder why it couldn't resist."

Unconsciously my doubt came out of my mouth.
Cain answered it.

"That silver collar. It's a magical item called obedience collar. It's a famous thing that's often used on slaves in Sahaja. When you have it put on, you can't resist the person who put it on."
"There is something like that…"

Taught about the existence of the dreadful magical item, I shuddered.

"Even if you can't resist, your will remains, so in a sense its nature is evil. I saw many people with it, but… most of the time their will was quickly broken, or they were killed by their owner in a fit of rage."
"…"
"He's that type too… Princess. It's not something you should see. Let's quickly leave."

Cain pulled my sleeve, but I didn't move.
The man was hurling insults at the dog.

"Buying you was a huge mistake! I thought I could make money, but I can't at all! I don't need freeloaders!! And I don't need those who can't entertain guests. Just die already!!"
"Don't!!"
"Princess!?"

The moment he raised the whip overhead, I showed up and shouted loudly. Startled, Cain called out to me, but I ignored him.
The man must not have expected being watched. As he noticed me, he hurriedly hid the raised whip. I walked to the dog before him and stood in front of the dog to protect it.

Chapter end