The Right Way to Use Information 2

A week later, our dear princess finally made an appearance with terrible dark circles below her eyes. Her hair was in disarray, and her eyes were bloodshot. Even hundreds of years of love would have cooled down at once if that Sage-kun could see her current appearance. 「I want to contact the information broker in the royal capital.」 「Rose-sama! That's a dangerous place full of ruffians!!」 Just as I thought, despite Anna's attempts to change Rose's mind, the princess ignored her subordinate and approached me. 「Kai, you should've been expecting this development, right?」 I didn't try to dodge this time. Instead, I gave her an ambiguous reply. 「Ma~n, you took longer than my estimation to reach this conclusion.」 Rose chewed her lips in frustration. 「Then, please guide me to that place.」 She spoke as if she were desperately trying to suppress her anger. 「Roger!」 AD I rose from my chair and escorted Rose on the way to Mujina's store. When I reached the place, I asked the girl wearing a black robe, Mujina, the aforementioned information. 「I have already told you about that information, right, dear customer?」 Mujina exhaled the smoke in her mouth as she told me that with a smirk on her face. Rose, who sat by my side, glared daggers at me, but I ignored her. 「The one who needs the information is this girl. I'll pay a separate fee for that information.」 The required information would play a vital part in this plan of mine, after all. 「Sure!」 Mujina squinted as she looked at Rose, then she told her the information. 「The chivalrous thieves, Wind Cat….」 Rose folded her arms as she pondered something. I have realized this as of late, but her concentration ability is amazing. She grasped what to do with the information in her hand. It seems our princess is a surprisingly flexible person. AD 「You seem to be pleased, dear customer.」 I shrugged when Mujina said so with a smirk on her face. 「Well, yeah.」 I nodded lightly. The crown contest was an unexpected windfall for me. I mean, the time limit for it is around four-five years. I will be free from this duty only when this girl becomes the queen. Thus, for the sake of my slow life, I have to make her win this crown contest. Mujina alternately looked between Rose and me. 「You sure are interesting fellows, my two dear guests.」 She stated her impression of us. Well, for better or worse, we stand out quite a lot. I mean, this girl might already know our identities. Thus, I absolutely can't put my trust in her, aside from the information I buy from her. I mean, if she dares to cheat us with fake information, she would be risking her reputation as an information broker, and her pride won't allow her to do that too. 「Let's think about that later. It's time to go.」 「Yes.」 I had no idea whether Rose was really replying to my words or not since it looked like she was absorbed in her own world. I paid for the information fee and followed her.