68 040. Imperial Prince is Heading Out to Enjoy a Festival -3 (Part Two)

Although it was late in the evening, we were already fairly close to Hilda fiefdom anyways, meaning it was unnatural for the carriages to stop so abruptly like this.

While tilting my head, I opened the carriage's door. "What's going on?"

One of the Crimson Cross members nearby responded promptly. "It's nothing to worry, your highness. Please go back to bed and let us handle it."

I peeked my head out further and took a look at the path ahead of us.

"I don't know what kind of touring troupe you folks are, but it doesn't matter now! Give up all your belongings and we'll let you go!"

What I saw was a muscle-bound man boasting rather abundant beard. He was accompanied by a large contingent of men reeking with obvious signs of desperate poverty. With suspicious grins in their faces, they were blocking the road.

Their hands were gripping woodcutting axes, kitchen knives, and other shoddy make-shift weapons.