I'm back~ did everyone miss me? Leaving that aside, hope you enjoy the chapter!

Even though this was just a journey to broaden my horizons, I did not think that the village would be attacked by bandits and I'd be thrust into combat for the first time in a while.

The day after the incident, we returned to stay at the inn, while allowing one of the members of the Guard Corps to head over to the Army post to report and deal with the aftermath.

Though we asked the villagers if there was anything they needed help with, they stated that they'd feel apologetic for making us do that much and declined politely. As such, right now we were in a state of boredom.

In the end, we had no choice other than to relax at the inn.

After we rushed out yesterday during the riot, it seems that we just missed the bandits that came to the inn, so the inside of the inn was also messy.

We had also lost some of our luggage, but more important than that, the fact that some of the employees we met yesterday had pa.s.sed away caused my heart to be depressed.

Even I'm feeling like that, so one could easily guess how those working at the inn felt…….

As if to suppress that unpleasant feeling, I drank the tea that I had Anna make.

The glances that Anna and Enaline have been sending my way since earlier hurt.

"……is there something that you want to ask, I wonder?"

Unable to endure those glances, I spoke first.

"Um, Ojou-sama……"

"Why is Ojou-sama strong?"

As Anna hesitated to speak, Enaline asked unreservedly.

Though I believed that Enaline hadn't seen me fight directly(?), she probably heard the situation from that time from Anna.

"Did you not ask Anna? ……..when I was younger, my mother was killed by bandits. After that, I started to partic.i.p.ate in the Anderson House's training for the sake of revenge and from there continued to temper myself. Although in the end, the aforementioned bandits were subjugated by Father."

"It's not about that! …….why are you, the daughter of the Anderson Marquis House that strong?"

Anna appeared to grow impatient with my answer as she asked in a loud voice.

Somehow her expression seemed like she was at her wit's end.

However, in the next moment she suddenly stiffened and hung her head, having returned to her senses.

"…….my apologies. I received quite a shock at Mellice-sama's appearance while fighting."

"It's fine. Still, even if you ask why…..the answer earlier is the only one I have."

"Even so, I couldn't help but ask. As another female……I wanted to know the means by which you reached such strength."

Anna and Enaline's gazes were sharp.

I involuntarily let out a sigh at the tense and heavy atmosphere.

"……other than the training with the Guard Corps and the Army, I simply continued to practice on my own from morning until evening. Day after day, I repeated that cycle over and over……there was nothing else, I just continued to acc.u.mulate that experience."

"Why did you go that far……."

Perhaps because she still remained unconvinced with just that, Anna questioned me further.

"Like I said earlier, it was for the sake of revenge. Without sparing a single one of them, I wanted to knock every single person that stole Mother from us to h.e.l.l……all that time, that was the only thing I lived for."

"…….did you not stop training after General Gazelle subjugated them?"

"No. After that…….since I didn't want anyone else to experience the pain from losing an important person like I did, I intended on enlisting in the Army, so I continued to train."

At my answer, their eyes widened in surprise.

"The reason why I accepted the two of you was because your appearances overlapped with the me from that time………because I understood your feelings to a painful extent."

"…….if I may, Mellice-sama."

Anna opened her mouth hesitantly.

"Did you give up? On that dream."

"Anna!"

At her frank manner of speaking, Enaline called out Anna's name in a remonstrating manner.

"It's fine…….it is not that I gave up. To me, enlisting in the Army was merely a means to fulfilling my dream after all."

"Then, that dream?"

"I no longer wanted anyone to experience the same anguish from losing someone important like I did………even if it is impossible to do that for everyone, at least for those within my reach……no, at least for the people of this country. For that purpose, there are other methods that only I can do rather than enlisting in the Army. While vague, I started to think that way. While Mellice alone only has the swordsmans.h.i.+p I've polished since I was young, as Father's daughter and the fiancee of the Armelia Ducal House, I will possess a larger power capable of moving many people."

At that time, I chose. 

To annihilate them and save the villagers.

I do not regret that choice.

Even if they had no choice but to do that, and looking at it from a broader perspective it was only a temporary solution, in that situation I decided to utilize my military might to solve the matter.

…….indeed, it was only a temporary measure.

Bandits appear, so we subjugate them, and if they appear again we will subjugate them again…….you'd only be able to repeat that cycle over and over again.

A fundamental countermeasure to prevent bandits from appearing at all was needed.

Just Mellice on her own could only subjugate them with her sword but…….Mellice Reese Anderson was different.

If I made useful connections in the future, I may be able to take measures to tackle the root cause.

"However I am genuinely rooting the two of you on."

In the end, I said that and brought the conversation to a close.

Neither Anna's nor Enaline's mouth opened.

They just looked off into the distance, appearing to be putting their own thoughts in order.

Seeing their appearance, I drank tea while observing them.

As I gazed at the unmoving girls, the inside of my head was thinking about different matters.

"……it's about time for them to return with the Army."

s.h.i.+fting my gaze away, I turned towards the window and murmured.

At that moment, I suddenly remembered something.

"…….Enaline, I have a request."

At my words, Enaline gave a reaction, appearing to return to her senses.

"Could you immediately change into what I'm wearing right now and pretend to be Mellice?"

For a brief moment, Enaline was unresponsive.

……..just what are you saying? -As though she were asking that, she tilted her head.

"……..just what do you mean by that?"

"This time I was fighting at full force right in front of the villagers, right? Like how you held doubts, normally a n.o.ble girl wouldn't wield a sword at all."

"How is that related to me pretending to be Mellice-sama?"

"……..at least for the time being, I have been partic.i.p.ating in the Anderson House's training using the nickname Mel, and it's been overlooked as I was a 'guard and body double'. The one who fought yesterday was Mel. So, Mellice-sama escaped from the inn and was taking refuge in a place a short ways off from the village……that'll be the outline of what happened. There are some people in the Army that know Mel, so it should work out somehow. Rather than the daughter of the Anderson House wielding a sword, that likely will seem more realistic."

I cannot deny the fact that my last words were wishful thinking.

…….that being said, it was certain that I couldn't just sit around doing nothing either.

"That's why I would like you to pretend to be Mellice. It's alright. It's fine to say that you don't want to meet people because you're still scared from yesterday, and if it comes down to it, it's fine to hide your face the entire time with a folding fan."

"…….it doesn't sound 'alright' at all."

"It's unplanned after all. That being said, it's still better than doing nothing. Now, hurry up and go change."

I started to strip my clothes on the spot.

And then, I once again put on the clothes that I was wearing yesterday.

Enaline was unable to hide her confusion as I persuaded her to change, and then had her board the carriage.

…….As there was nothing we could help with even if we stayed in the village, once the member of the Guard Corps returns, we'll give our greetings to those from the Army and leave the village.

Just around the time when we had finished our preparations, the member of the Guard Corps came back with those from the Army. 

After seeing my appearance the Guard Corps member stared for a moment, but he soon seemed to understand the situation.

………it was probably precisely because he had undergone training together with Mel that he was enlightened after seeing yesterday's battle.

That Mellice was Mel.

"…….huh? Mel-chan?"

Suddenly, one of the Army members posed such a question.

I remember seeing that face before.

"h.e.l.lo, it has been a while."

Turning towards him, I lowered my head.

Seeing our exchange, the man leading the party made a questioning gaze.

"She is Mel. The guard of the Anderson Marquis House's daughter. In order to fulfill her role she has undergone General Gazelle's training starting from a young age, so her swordsmans.h.i.+p is very good. I had doubts about how they managed to subjugate the bandits with such a small number of people but…….if she was here, then I understand how."

The man who questioned me first introduced me to the man heading the group in such a manner.

"…….so she's that skilled?"

"Yes. At the very least, her skill has been recognized by those who have partic.i.p.ated in General Gazelle's training. If she was here, then it wouldn't be strange even if the Anderson House's daughter was travelling with such a small number of guards."

"…….as introduced, I am Mel. Thank you for taking the time for coming out here on this occasion."

"No no, on the other hand we apologize for having caused you trouble. Thank you for having protected the village at this time."

"No…….as someone meant to be protecting Ojou-sama, it was only natural."

"What a fine sense of duty……..I am sincerely sorry, but could you guide us to the bandit's stronghold? After that, could you tell us the details of the situation from that time?"

"Oh…….Mel, I'll do th-……."

Hearing his request, the Guard Corps member raised his voice, but I shook my head at him.

"You wait by the carriage………Ojou-sama wishes to leave the village quickly, and was worried about you being tired as you had to ride all the way to the garrison two villages away and back to bring everyone from the Army with you. That is why she has specially permitted you to ride together with her in the carriage."

"No, I do not require that much……"

"…….and, Ojou-sama is frightened from this time's matter. Anna has been by her side all this time, but just that isn't enough to wipe away her anxiety, so I think it would be good if you stayed near her for now."

"…….if Ojou-sama commanded thus, then I shall."

"You can hear the details from Anna inside the carriage. Also, I would be thankful if you could tell her that I will be guiding everyone from the Army…….on that note, shall we go?"

I guided them to the bandit's stronghold.

Like that, I explained the situation from that time to them.

Since it was regarding a problem that had already been brought to a close, once I finished explaining the sequence of events, I wasn't asked any special questions and was released fairly quickly.

And then, once I returned to where the carriage was stopped, I informed everyone on the carriage that everything was finished and that we would now be heading home through the door.

The Mellice-sama who was riding the carriage……or rather, Enaline, nodded, which could be faintly seen through the door.

"Well then, on that note we will now excuse ourselves."

……it was good that n.o.body said they wanted to give Mellice their greetings, or that they wanted to hear the details of the matter from her as well. I did take great pains to have Enaline masquerade as me, it's great that she didn't end up having to do anything, though I do feel rather apologetic for doing this to her. The moment I thought deeply about such matters and took the horse's reins in hand-

"P-Please wait!"

Just what in the world is it, for someone to suddenly be calling us to a stop?……-when I looked over my shoulder wondering, a woman that I saved yesterday was standing there.

"My name is Brittany. Thank you very much for yesterday…….if you hadn't saved me, then who knows what would've happened to me by now……"

"It is good if I was able to be of a.s.sistance to you."

"U-Um……while it may be impertinent of me, please allow me to express my thanks."

"No, just your feelings alone are sufficient."

"No way……"

The woman's eyes fl.u.s.teredly wandered about.

"U-Um…….you're already planning on departing today, right?"

"Yes. We will only be a hindrance if we stay, and since those from the Army have arrived, I can have a peace of mind regarding dealing with the aftermath."

"……I see."

Her apologetic expression contrastingly made me start to feel apologetic.

"There really is no need to mind it. Honestly speaking, if Ojou-sama hadn't had plans to pa.s.s through this village on her itinerary, then I would not have come to this village. And, as Ojou-sama's guard it is my duty to protect Ojou-sama…….and eliminate any dangers that may approach her. This time, the enemy that I had to eliminate just happened to be the same as those threating all of you. That is why, please do not mind it so much."

"Even if you say that, it is thanks to you guys that I was saved……..that is a fact."

As Brittany said that, she made a gentle smile.

However, in the next instant, her brow furrowed as though she had thought of something.

"Ahh! If that's the case, then do you have any plans to go to the Capital?"

Her face brightened as she appeared to suddenly come up with an idea. She took out a piece of paper from the small box in her hands and started to write something.

"Eh?"

As I said that, I was suddenly pa.s.sed a memo with a contact address written on it.

"Actually, I'm a member of an opera troupe…….so if you happen to be in the Capital, then please allow me to give you a seat at the opera as a present."

I see, so she's a singer……with her beauty, that did seem understandable.

"So it's like that …….then for you to be at this village, are you in the midst of travelling?"

"No, this is my hometown. While it is embarra.s.sing to admit, I have not returned in a long time, so…….because of that, I took advantage of my break to come back, and then that happened."

"Is that so……"

"Thanks to you, I'm still alive and will be able to sing again. I truly have nothing but grat.i.tude towards you."

"……I see. If you're going to say that much, then I will accept it. I look forward to your song."

"Thank you very much, truly!"

After giving our farewells to the members of the Army remaining at the village, we left.