The hand of Duke Dayan holding the teacup paused.
“Did you just say a different race?”
“To be precise, it is the dwarf tribe.”
Duke Dayan’s eyes widened.
“Dwarves? Weren’t they exterminated?”
Liliana smiled faintly.
“There are survivors. I want to help them.”
“Liliana… what on earth are you thinking?”
“It is something that will help protect our House and make His Highness Prince Estevan Emperor. Please allow it, Father.”
Duke Dayan let out a sigh.
“Of course, this must be kept secret?”
“Yes.”
Seeing her resolute gaze, Duke Dayan finally gave his approval.
“Alright. I permit it.”
“Thank you, Father.”
After receiving permission, Liliana returned to her room and contacted Jerdin.
Naturally, she cast a magic spell to block out surrounding noise.
“Jerdin, I have a favor to ask.”
— Please speak.
“I would like you to build a house at the place I will tell you. A house big enough for about ten people would be good.”
— A house?
“I’m going to bring the dwarf tribe.”
— I see.
“You aren’t surprised?”
— I already knew there were survivors. You must be planning to use their abilities as blacksmiths.
“Yes, I will have them make weapons and equipment with adamantium. Of course, I have no intention of unfairly exploiting their labor. I will trade fairly.”
— In exchange for providing them a place to live.
“That’s right. In exchange for giving them a place to live and protecting them.”
— Understood. I will send people to take measures.
“The location is….”
Liliana informed Jerdin of the location and ended the communication.
***
Liliana, immediately after returning to the Imperial Palace, headed straight for the Sapphire Palace.
When she opened the office door and entered, Estevan was sitting alone at the desk.
“You are here.”
“Did you wait long?”
“Not really.”
Estevan’s tone was curt. From the sharpness in his voice, Liliana tried to guess what kind of mood he was in.
“Your Highness, were you not bored while I was away?”
“Not at all.”
“So you were bored.”
“…Don’t interpret things as you please.”
“It is the truth.”
When Liliana smiled, Estevan, struck right on the mark, changed the subject.
As she said, when she wasn’t in sight, his heart had felt oddly empty.
“Refrain from useless talk. It seems you have business.”
Liliana shrugged.
“Yes, that is right. It is something very important.”
She leaned back against the sofa as she sat.
“Come sit here.”
When Liliana pointed to the seat beside her, Estevan sat in front of her instead.
“Do you not like sitting beside me?”
“If I sit beside you, it seems it will be difficult to have a proper conversation.”
Liliana let out a small laugh.
“I suppose that is true.”
“So, what is your business?”
“It is about the craftsman who will make weapons and equipment with the adamantium I mentioned before.”
“Did you find him?”
“Yes, I know where he is. But there is a problem.”
“A problem?”
Liliana grinned.
“That craftsman belongs to a different race.”
“A different race?”
“To be precise, they are surviving members of the dwarf tribe.”
Estevan’s eyes widened.
“The dwarf tribe is alive?”
“Yes, there are survivors. So I returned to the ducal estate and discussed it with my father.”
“With the Duke?”
“Yes. Because we have to provide them with a place to live. Of course, we also have to guarantee their safety.”
Liliana showed Estevan the map she brought.
“I am thinking of giving them a small undeveloped forest in House Dayan’s territory.”
Estevan stroked his chin while looking at the map.
“Certainly, if it is here, it does seem acceptable.”
It was located on the outskirts quite far from the center of the Duchy, so it didn’t seem likely they would encounter others.
“There is something I need Your Highness to help with.”
“Me?”
Liliana spoke boldly.
“Please come with me to rescue them.”
“Rescue?”
“They are currently captured by slave traders.”
Timeline-wise, they hadn’t escaped yet. The incident of their escape happened after Liliana had grown a bit older.
“You and I alone?”
“Of course. This matter must be handled quietly.”
Estevan let out a sigh.
“Is it not reckless for the two of us to do it alone?”
“Not at all.”
“Where does that confidence even come from?”
“As I said before, I do not know either.”
“You really are…”
As Estevan hesitated, Liliana pressed harder.
“If Your Highness is reluctant, I will have no choice but to do it alone.”
At those words, Estevan’s expression hardened.
“Are you saying that in your right mind?”
“Yes, I am saying it in my right mind.”
Seeing the look in Liliana’s eyes, Estevan realized he couldn’t stop her.
“I will go with you.”
If he sent this reckless woman alone and something happened, he himself would only end up in trouble.
***
After the Founding Festival ended, a month passed before anyone knew it.
Liliana lived peacefully in the detached Palace while receiving her education as a future Princess Consort. Then, after checking the calendar and judging the timing, she began preparing.
It was time to properly go rescue the dwarves.
After a few more days passed, Liliana met Estevan late at night in light clothing.
Today was the day they would go rescue the dwarf tribe.
She boarded the carriage that had been waiting in advance.
Estevan was already inside the carriage.
“You came on time.”
“Of course.”
“Let’s depart.”
The carriage set off somewhere.
After running along the night road, the carriage stopped at a cave located deep in the mountains.
“Are they in that cave?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s get down.”
Estevan got down first, and Liliana followed after him.
They hid and watched the entrance. Two guards were standing there.
“Let us go.”
As Liliana stepped forward, Estevan blocked her.
“I will take the lead.”
He drew his sword and stepped in front of her.
Liliana let out a small laugh and followed behind him.
“Who goes there!”
The guards at the cave entrance aimed their swords.
“You don’t need to know that.”
As Estevan was about to swing his sword, Liliana cast a spell.
“Sleep.”
In an instant, the guards collapsed and fell asleep.
“There is no need for Your Highness to spill blood.”
At those words, Estevan let out a small laugh.
“That is true.”
“Shall we go in?”
The two entered the cave. Then a guard on patrol spotted them and blew a whistle.
Piiik!
“Intruders!”
At the guard’s shout, those guarding the cave all rushed out and surrounded them.
“Fog Sleep.”
A hazy fog rose from beneath Liliana’s feet. The fog swept over the guards.
“Cough, cough, what is this….?!”
“Ugh!”
The guards exposed to the fog had their eyes go unfocused and collapsed. When the fog cleared away, Liliana dusted off her hands.
“They will not wake up for a day.”
Estevan looked at her with a bewildered face.
“It seems I came along for nothing.”
Liliana shrugged and smiled faintly, then leisurely moved forward.
When they went deeper inside, mercenaries with skills on a completely different level from the guards at the entrance were waiting.
“Who are you?! This isn’t a place just anyone can enter.”
“Really? It was easier to get in than I expected.”
When Liliana said that with a grin, the mercenaries’ eyes glinted.
“Ha, how ridiculous. By the way, you’re quite pretty. Looks like we can enjoy ourselves for once.”
As the mercenaries uttered greasy words and looked at Liliana with lecherous eyes, Estevan sprang forward in an instant.
Crack, thud!
The mercenaries collapsed foaming at the mouth under his brutal hand and foot movements.
Estevan’s gaze as he looked at the mercenaries was murderous.
“The first one to get up will die.”
Liliana looked at Estevan with a dumbfounded expression.
She approached the mercenaries.
The mercenaries who had been severely beaten by Estevan were lying on the floor foaming at the mouth.
Among them, Liliana spoke to the one who looked the most conscious.
“Do you know where the boss here is?”
The mercenary hesitated.
“Th-That’s….”
“What, is it hard to say? Then die here.”
When Liliana looked at him with killing intent in her eyes, the mercenary flinched and spilled the truth.
“I-Inside. The one-eyed man with an eyepatch over his left eye is the boss.”
“Really?”
“Y-Yes!”
“Good. Then get out of here.”
At those words, the mercenaries hurriedly ran out.
Liliana looked at the iron bars the mercenaries had been guarding. Women were imprisoned inside the cage.
She broke the lock of the iron bars with magic and opened the door. Then she also broke the shackles binding the women’s wrists and ankles.
“Everyone, leave.”
At her words, the women shed tears and thanked her.
After freeing all the women, Liliana went further inside together with Estevan.
Soon, they encountered the one-eyed man and his subordinates rushing out after hearing the commotion inside.
“So you’re the intruders.”
