Chapter 26 ─ The Royal Family Audience

A fourteen-year-old girl was walking down a long hallway, humming a song. Her hair was tied in two pigtails and was golden blonde, just like her eyes.

She is the third princess of the Rosenthal kingdom, Lillian Noel Rosenthal, but she prefers to be called Lyla. Behind her was her bodyguard, a female knight with the same hair and eye color as the princess. Her name was Jody.

Jody spoke to Princess Lyla in a fearful tone.

"P-Princess, is it really necessary for me to go?" she asked, very scared.

"Of course it is. Father and mother won't believe me if I don't have a witness, and you are my most loyal witness."

"N-No. What I mean is, do you really plan to lie to the king and queen and involve me in the process?"

"I'm just a simple escort. They'll cut off my head for saying I supported the third princess of the kingdom in going for a walk."

"Jody, you're taking this too seriously. Nothing will happen, nyahaha."

"I'm worried because only you will be scolded, whereas I, besides being dismissed, will be hanged!"

Princess Lyla stopped and looked at her escort.

"You're really annoying. All right, I have a plan in case they get mad at you."

"There's a reason I'm considered the most beautiful and intelligent girl in the kingdom."

"If I were queen, this country would advance hundreds of years in research in just a few years."

"That would lead the kingdom to an economic crisis since you believe money grows on mountains."

"Doesn't gold come from there?"

"Well, yes, but… that's not the point! The problem is that you think everything will be fine because you say so. Just remember that we almost died due to little security and going to unknown places."

"Moreover, the crown princess would laugh at you for calling yourself beautiful."

Lyla got angry with her escort for mentioning her older sister.

"You know how irritating my older sister is, going around flaunting her fake smile and those horrendous, enormous balloons she calls breasts."

"In any case, what are they good for? Nothing, they're useless."

"Princess Lyla, your envy of your older sister is showing on your face."

The princess blushed and quickened her pace.

"I won't help you now, idiot!"

"Please forgive me!"

After walking for a while, they reached the audience hall, exclusive to the royal family. Jody knocked on the door, very nervous, feeling like she was about to faint at any moment.

"Enter."

A strong and terrifying voice called from inside. Jody opened the door and bowed while Princess Lyla pushed the door open.

"Yoohoo! Hello everyone! I'm back~."

Everyone inside looked at the princess. One would think they would give her dark looks for running away, but it was the opposite.

"You must notify us as soon as you arrive. Welcome, my daughter."

With a warm smile, the king greeted his daughter.

"You're really a scandalous girl, making us all worry. The important thing is that you're safe," said the man who holds the position of director and is also the king's great-uncle, Patrick Noel Rosenthal, an elderly man who maintained his physique, making him look like he was just entering his forties.

Although the men of the family were happy she was safe, the female side of the family showed the opposite. The woman next to the king was his wife, the queen. Lyla inherited her golden eye and hair color from her. A woman with out-of-this-world beauty; for being over forty, she looked like she had just turned twenty. Isabella Noel Rosenthal looked at her daughter with eyes on fire.

"My daughter, can you explain why you ran away when it was time for your special lessons?"

"You not only left your teachers waiting, but you also left all of us worried about you. Did the woman behind you not try to stop you?"

Queen Isabella glanced furtively at Jody, who wished the ground would swallow her up.

"Isn't it obvious, mother? She would run away no matter if you sent her to a prison," said two beautiful girls who stood behind their mother.

They were Lyla's older sisters. Looking at her mockingly with her hair tied back, reaching her back, at sixteen years old, the second princess, Elenora Noel Rosenthal, better known to all as Leona, due to her strong character and sharp tongue.

Next to her was a girl physically similar to her mother, but with her hair tied in a braided bun and about eighteen years old. Rebecca Noel Rosenthal, the first princess and heir to the kingdom, looked at her younger sister very irritated.

"You caused our parents much anguish and worry, and you return as if you just took a stroll around the castle and act so arrogant?"

"It must be horrible for our parents to have to raise you."

Looking down to indicate her disgrace towards her younger sister, her large and firm breasts shook. Each princess had a bust size that grew according to her age.

Princess Lyla's was moderately large for her age, while Princess Leona's was well-formed and had a great cleavage to be legally an adult. Leaving the oldest of all the sisters, Crown Princess Rebecca, as the winner, with breasts so large they rivaled those of the queen. Lyla felt angry because, in comparison to her sisters and mother, her breasts seemed barely developed.

"Enough, enough. We called Lyla to explain her reasons for going out. Leona-chan and Rebecca-chan also did their mischief at her age," said the king, recalling the past, causing his daughters, who were judging their younger sister, to feel the shame of their lives at remembering a dark time for them.

"W-W-What are you talking about, father! I never did anything like that."

"It's true! I am the future queen of the country; I would never commit any embarrassing behavior just for being an infant."

The queen sighed because she was getting angry.

"Leona, Rebecca, and Your Majesty, all of you be quiet."

Opening her mouth to stop the laughter, the room fell silent at the queen's words.

"Lyla, start from the beginning."

"Yes…"

Princess Lyla began to explain her reasons for leaving the palace. No one believed her since everything she said was for altruistic reasons. If she wanted to help people, she could do it from the palace. Once she got to the part about the bandit attack, the queen asked her,

"Who is that young man who helped you?"

Lyla replied energetically since she had finally regained her energy after talking a lot.

"That young man is called Regulus-kun. He is a commoner who helped me, and I told him to come home."

The king confirmed his daughter's words.

"She's right. Once I found out what happened, through a magic stone, I told Hamilton to bring him to the palace. I haven't received any news that they arrived yet, so we're still waiting."

"I see," said the queen, closing her fan.

"That young man must be well rewarded. Saving our daughter's life is not insignificant enough to give him a simple 'Thank you for helping her.' That would leave us with a very bad image. On the other hand…"

The queen's eyes moved with a very somber look.

"You must pay for your misdeeds. Prepare yourself. I will make sure you don't see the light of day for a long time. Your escort as well."

"Noooooooooooooooooooo!"

Both Lyla and Jody prostrated themselves on the ground and screamed as if they had been declared guilty and sent to the guillotine. While laughing at the situation in front of him, Duke Dominique approached the king and whispered,

"Your Majesty, they have finally entered our territory."

"I see. Do you have someone to receive them?"

"My daughter will take care of it. I believe she is the right person for the job."

"I understand."

The king sighed at the visit of an unexpected guest.

(Not only do I have to worry about conflicts with neighboring countries. Now I also have to worry about the safety of a foreign princess.)

This was not the best day for him, thought the king.

◇◇◇

A carriage was approaching the capital of the kingdom. The vehicle was being escorted by a group of elite knights. Inside the carriage, which only royalty would use, were three people. Two of them were on the same side of the seat. One was a young man of knight rank.

His name was Andrew Sera Uttley, a viscount, while next to him was an old man with a fine mustache and a large belly for being thin. He was known as Count Upson, as in the country they come from, the Principality of Rosenheid, only the royal family is allowed to have a second name.

But due to certain circumstances, which are due to an internal rebellion, the principality several centuries ago belonged as a ducal family of the kingdom.

But one day, the head of the family got angry because he couldn't tolerate the treatment of his lands and separated from the country. Hoping for support from neighboring countries, reality proved otherwise, and no one supported him. As a result, he founded an unrecognized country. But in recent years, things have gotten out of control to the point of having a second name without the empire's authorization.

In the small country, only a few nobles can exist, up to the rank of count, due to being technically a duchy. They were chatting while ignoring the person in front of them. A slender young woman with green hair and pink eyes. Her attire was first-class due to her status. She was one of the two twin princesses of the principality, better known as the second queen. Cloe Zera Rosenheid.

She was thinking about returning home, but the reasons for the trip were to achieve peace for the kingdom. Her older sister, the first queen, Rachelle Zera Rosenheid, had asked her to go as an ambassador because the future of their country depended on it. Cloe did not want to come to this place, at least not without her sister.

Seeing Upson laughing vulgarly, she could only curse her situation.

(If only my parents were still alive. I could have come with one of them.)

She thought to herself when suddenly the carriage stopped.

Count Upson said, "It seems we've finally arrived. Hey, you, remember to behave yourself."

"Despite being in another country, it doesn't mean your behavior should be that of a savage. Remember that you represent our homeland. Behave yourself."

(He says that, but he just burped and scratched his lower part. How disgusting.)

(But I must do this for my sister.)

They opened the door, and outside they were greeted by two people. One was a beautiful maid with brown hair tied in a bun and green eyes.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Cloe-sama. I am the right hand of Duke Realight, Cecil Alba Catherine. If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know."

"C-Certainly."

Cloe looked at the girl standing next to her and was so surprised that she accidentally let a word slip out.

"Esther-chan."

The girl in question smiled. She was wearing a beautiful vermilion uniform with white borders. Her golden hair and purple eyes made her look like a princess, which wasn't far from the truth. She lifted the edges of her skirt and introduced herself.

"It's a pleasure to see you again, Princess Cloe. No, Queen Cloe."

"I humbly present myself, I am the only daughter of Duke Realight. Esther Noel Rosenthal, please enjoy your stay in our nation."

Cloe and Esther greeted each other formally, but they did not realize they were being watched by a strange crow with its head upside down.

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Enjoy Chloe as I'm sure you will like many of those who have similar designs.

https://danbooru.donmai.us/posts/6902314