"Don't kill it. This child can't even resist…! What the hell did this child even do?"
The man observed me and said reproachfully, without the previous anger in his tone.
"… Miss, you don't understand. This is our problem. Miss, you are unrelated, so could you promptly leave? If you are interested in the circus, please use the front door. We have various unusual things."
"I am no interested. That's not it. I'm talking about this child… You said earlier that you don't need this child, right? "
"Eh? Yeah."
Despite frowning, the man affirmed. I pressed him.
"Then! I will buy this child. How much will you sell it for?"
"Eh?"
The man's gaze seemed to ask, are you sane? but I stared back without averting my eyes. Right behind me, Cain lamented, "Aaaah… Really, Princess…!" sounding greatly troubled.
The man's tone completely changed. He told me mockingly.
"Buy? This? Hah, as if you can afford it! If you want to buy it, show me the full sum upfront! Then I'll sell you this worthless mutt!"
Tit for tat. The sum the man told me is certainly considerable. But don't look down on me. I'm the owner of two stores. I can afford it with my private funds alone.
I nodded without a moment of hesitation.
"Very well. Don't forget those words. I will pay the full sum… Cain."
"… Aaah. You really did it…"
Despite dejectedly hanging his head, Cain handed me the money sack. I don't carry much money on myself, but in case something happens, I've entrusted Cain with a considerable amount of money.
"… You're kidding? Really? Such a lass has it?"
As the man received the sack and checked its contents, his eyes widened.
As expected, he has no idea who I am not being a Wilhelm citizen. The man seemed surprised that I unexpectedly had the money, but he immediately tightly grasped the sack.
Apparently, he calculated profit and loss. It was his opportunity to sell a dog he wanted to kill for a hefty sum of money. The man stowed away the money sack in his breast pocket and told me.
"Alright. We have a deal! I'll give you this mutt! Hah! Rich lass, I don't get why you'd pay a hefty sum for this stupid good-for-nothing dog. I don't care even if you regret it!"
He spat that out and walked away without turning back to me. While looking at his back, I muttered.
"Lass… I'm a married person though."
Cain said exasperatedly.
"Princess, shouldn't you react to the rich part? You're the Crown Princess."
"… Yeah."
I didn't really use public money thought.
When I nodded, Cain looked up at me awkwardly.
"I beg you, don't suddenly jump out again. I was incredibly surprised… Well, in a sense it felt like you."
"Sorry."
Although wondering what he meant by it being like me, I obediently apologized. I have no doubt I caused trouble for Cain as my escort. However, I don't regret it.
"I couldn't stand it no matter what."
"Princess, I know you have such a personality, so I just thought that it couldn't be helped. Even if I tell you to be careful, it's pointless. Well, ain't it good that it was solved with money?"
"Yup, I thought he'd overcharge me more."
Deep down I was fretting about not having enough at hand.
That man looked down at me as a mere lass. That's why he gave the sum he did. I unexpectedly paid it at once, and despite his fluster, he reconsidered that it's a good opportunity.
Anyway, with this the dog is no longer his. While talking, I crouched down in front of the dog that was motionlessly observing me and spoke to persuade it.
"Are you okay? I'll remove that collar now, so stay still."
"Oi, Princess. Is that alright?"
"Yup, probably. I think this child is very clever."
Cain's concern is natural, but I think this time it's a needless fear.
Because, the dog that had just been glaring at the man with angry eyes now looked very obedient as it watched me. There was a glint of intelligence in its eyes, and it seemed to understand that it'd been left to me.
I observed it closely. Suddenly I noticed something.
"Cain, I have a request."
"… What?"
"Cain, could you bring this child together with me outside the Royal Capital? This child looks to be not a dog, but wolf. Then, I of course can't bring it with me to the Royal Palace, and if I release it here, somebody else will catch it. Besides, I think everyone in town will be scared."
"Wolf? … Whoa, it's true."
Cain observed the dog, no, wolf, and made a surprised face. Right, this child I thought to be a dog was a wolf.
I thought about keeping it at the Royal Castle if it was a dog, but a wolf is better returned to the wild.
"… It can't be helped. Got it."
"Thanks. You too, sorry. When we go outside, I'll take off the collar."
I don't think anything will happen, but I can't carelessly release a wolf. The wolf was looking at me with a suspicious face, but before long, it resigned and laid on the ground.
… Yup, it's really smart.
I have no doubt that it roughly understands what I say.
"Princess, hold onto me."
"Yup, thanks."
I clutched near Cain's waist with one hand. With the other I grasped the wolf's collar.
Cain made signs with his hands and activated the secret art in the blink of an eye. His red left eye glowed.
"Ah."
The next moment, we were outside the Royal Capital. Until a moment ago we had been near an outer gate of the Royal Capital. The distance wasn't far, so with just one leap we managed to leave.
"Look, we're outside. We're right by an outer gate, so hurry up and release it before someone finds us. It'd be especially troublesome if it was a soldier."
"I understand."
It might have been fine when I was a fiancée, but now that I'm officially married, sure enough my face is known to soldiers.
It would turn into an uproar if they thought the Crown Princess of their own country that was loitering outside the Royal Capital was a fake or got involved in some trouble. I absolutely want to avoid that.
"I'll remove it now."
"… How will you remove it? It's a magical item that can't be removed by human hand… Aah, I see."
Perhaps Cain realized the answer while asking the question, as he made a convinced face.
"Yup, I'll use neutralization magic."
―― Come off.
I touched the silver collar with that feeling.
The collar came off disappointingly easily and fell to the ground with a heavy thud.
Cain said in an amazed voice.
"… That collar. They're collars known for not coming off without a dedicated key and registered voice. But that didn't matter at all to you, Princess… In a sense, isn't neutralization magic unbeatable?"
"It's often inconvenient."
The only magic I can use, neutralization magic, appears to be extremely rare, but in exchange I can't use ordinary magic that everyone can use.
No, according to Ms. Delris I can use it, but I still haven't succeeded.
But I've been saved by this neutralization magic many times, so I can hardly say that I don't want it.
I turned my eyes to the wolf that was staring at me in surprise.
After all this child is incredibly smart. It's not barking at all, and I feel like it can properly understand what happened to it now.
"―― The collar came off. Sorry that you had to go through this. But I hope you won't resent humans. I don't know where you came from, so I can only remove the collar and set you free."
Saying that, I slowly stroked the wolf's head. I was worried it would hate it, but the wolf quietly let me stroke its head.
"I'm going. Don't get caught by humans anymore. Find your fellows and be happy."
When I pushed its back, the wolf trotted a few steps, then looked back. I nodded to it with a smile.
"It's fine. I don't think we'll meet again, but stay well."
I'm not certain if it understood the gesture, but I waved my hand goodbye. The wolf stood still for a moment, but soon it began to slowly leave.
―― I hope he'll be happy.
Never again get involved with humans.
I can only pray so.
"… Shall we go back?"
I watched until the wolf disappeared and spoke to Cain.
Cain, who had been silently standing by my side, nodded, "Yeah."
"Sure. It's gotten late… Princess, the Crown Prince returned to your room. He won't shut up that you still aren't there."
"… Crap."
The solemn feeling disappeared in an instant.
I promised Freed I'd be back by the time he finished work. Realizing that I broke my promise, I spoke impatiently. Cain too nodded with a serious face.
"Yeah. Let's hurry. Otherwise, the Crown Prince will glower at me."
"… Sorry."
I could easily imagine Freed glowering at Cain. Feeling guilty, I looked up at the sky.
"Anyway, let's hurry back. Cain, please take me back!"
"Yeah."
Both of us must've imagined the same thing. Cain was making a bitter face as we looked at each other, and we decided to go back to the castle as fast as we could.
Chapter end
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