At those words, Maxel's eyes trembled faintly. As if unable to believe what he had heard, he furrowed his brow and asked again.
"A military force?"
"Not the imperial army that Her Majesty will one day bequeath, but a private army that Your Highness will lead with valor."
The word 'private army' felt somehow disquieting, and Maxel did not relax his stern expression.
Lilia, as if understanding his discomfort, offered an explanation.
"I know there are dangerous Monsters in the Veladia Mountains. I also know they are about to go on a rampage. But with mere suspicion, you cannot mobilize the imperial army, can you? After the Monsters rampage, it will be too late. If Your Highness exterminates them all before any damage is done, wouldn't everyone praise you?"
Lately, the movements of the Monsters had been strange, and even now in the imperial palace, the Empress was unconscious after being attacked by a Monster.
Leading soldiers to subdue the Monsters before it was too late didn't seem like a bad method.
Above all, considering Maxel's plummeting standing, going to the battlefield, taking up a sword, and achieving military merit would be the very way to overturn his recent stagnation in one fell swoop.
"So you're saying I need a private army to subdue Monsters? But that's no easy task. Soldiers, of course, and funds as well..."
He did have some private soldiers, but Monster subjugation was not a problem his private forces could solve. He was worried that, blinded by a vain desire for glory, he might push all the soldiers he had painstakingly raised to their deaths.
And was it just the soldiers? To lead a force, commensurate funds were also necessary.
As if guessing Maxel's concerns, Lilia smiled gently.
"I have a mine. So, Your Highness only needs to lead the soldiers and subdue the Monsters to raise your name."
At Lilia's words, Maxel made a surprised expression.
The fact that Lilia owned a mine not reported to the imperial family was something Maxel had known for a long time.
However, he had been so preoccupied with various matters that he had temporarily forgotten about it. He never imagined Lilia would step forward and confess it first.
"Could it be that mine... Did you secretly prepare it for me?"
"Of course."
Maxel was momentarily speechless.
Maxel, who had been moving his lips wordlessly, let out a long sigh and pulled Lilia into an embrace. Her small, delicate body fit snugly into his arms.
"I had vain thoughts about you. To think you've been striving so hard for me like this."
Maxel regretted his past self, which had been swayed, even if briefly, by Anelli's return.
What was the reason he had turned back to Anelli in the first place? Unlike the cold and indifferent Anelli, it was because there was Lilia, who thought of him so much.
Lilia, nestled in Maxel's embrace, buried her head and spoke in a gentle tone.
"You know the Ruejak barony, don't you? They have soldiers."
"Ruejak... I recall the young lady of Baron Ruejak stayed as a guest of the Duke Roam's household. I remember she was a friend of Anelli's."
"The baron's daughter is also close to me, you know?"
As if pleading not to forget that she was also her friend, Lilia spoke in a coquettish manner. Maxel looked down at her as if she were adorable.
"The Ruejak barony will not refuse an opportunity for Monster subjugation. It's a glorious matter, after all."
"Right, it is a glorious matter."
Maxel stroked the back of Lilia's head.
She, who had stepped on broken pieces to embrace him, felt so utterly lovable. So, the arm holding her tightened.
They were completely unaware of the crows scurrying about between the slightly open balcony doors.
* * *
Regarding the incident that occurred at the Lindea River, I had already known for some time, having heard the story through Mori.
Back then, Mori said that before his death, he had possessed a faint divine power, and it seemed that power remained even after he awoke.
[So, I thought I had to do something.]
The divine power he possessed seemed to dilute the fear of nearby beasts. The animals welcomed Mori, and Mori listened to their troubles.
The place where Mori opened his eyes was the Lindea River. The ducks living in the Lindea River would grumble about the humans who threw stones at them for amusement, he said.
In other words, it was a peaceful riverside with no particular problems otherwise.
Perhaps that was why the Rusalka's story had particularly captivated Mori.
[It was very small.]
Mori said it was so small and emaciated that at first, he thought it was a child. Thinking it was a child lost by the water's edge, he approached.
But up close, he saw its body was covered in green moss, and its hair was soaked in water, hanging down like seaweed.
[It said it needed rest. That it was too tormented.]
It said it had been abandoned here and wandered for a long time, and now it just wanted to be at ease. Its final wish was to close its eyes in peace.
I guessed that it had somehow sensed Mori's divine power.
"If it can mimic humans, it probably knows how to deceive and lie as well."
Gazing at the tranquil Lindea River, I murmured softly.
"It's too vast. Even with the help of animals, finding it won't be easy."
Xenon, standing beside me, muttered with a sigh in his voice. Then, glancing back, he added in a displeased tone.
"And on top of that, we have a nuisance attached."
"They're desperate to insert their name somehow."
The Roam knights had attached themselves under the pretext of escort. However, they were likely prioritizing monitoring me and, if possible, intercepting any credit I might earn.
"The Temple teaches various techniques for tracking Monsters. Using them, we could find it quickly."
"But if we increase the party here, we won't even get a chance to talk to that creature."
Even the Roam knights watching me like hawks were bothersome enough.
I was already pondering what excuse to use to detach them, and now I should add Temple personnel?
"It's not in the river. We need to go into the forest..."
We had been searching for days. Based on Mori's testimony, we had been releasing insects and animals to search, but according to Secian, there was also a possibility it was changing its form.
「How did that Monster use divine power? Divine power isn't a force you can use just because you want to.」
I had asked Mori that. And Mori, bowing his head as if apologetic, answered.
[I have the pendant the Captain gave me. I could only use divine power when I had it.]
Hearing his words, I remembered. The pendant resembling a pocket watch that the former Captain had given to Mori.
[When I transformed into a snake, it was difficult to manipulate the pendant. To transform into a Dullahan... it was broad daylight, and there were many ducks around...]
So, he had taught the pendant's manipulation method to the Saluka, which resembled a human form and knew how to use hands.
The timing of that instruction was precisely just before the Empress crossed the bridge.
'If it has the pendant, I might be able to recognize it.'
Where divine power resides, light emanates. The problem is that I am the only one who can recognize that light.
Ultimately, it means I have to personally comb through that vast forest.
"Young Lady."
Perhaps I looked strange just standing motionless by the riverside, a Roam knight cautiously approached and called to me.
"If you request support from your family even now, they will arrive quickly."
"Roam knights? What good is increasing the number of incompetent individuals?"
At my retort, the knight's face flushed bright red. Lowering his gaze slightly, he spoke, striving for a calm voice.
"...Everyone is striving in their training. They will not be careless anymore."
"The problem isn't carelessness; you gentlemen simply lack skill."
"It seems you don't need us at all."
The knight's voice carried undisguised hostility.
'Ah, this is it.'
Suppressing the rising sense of welcome within me, I deliberately raised my head coldly.
"Having personally witnessed your 'pride,' I cannot help but feel no need for it."
"I heard the mage from the Magic Tower and the holy knight from the Temple are merely accompanying for investigation. No matter how strong Young Lady's escort is, with just this one female knight, it's difficult to guarantee safety from Monsters."
Since Samuel was with me in his capacity as a holy knight, it seemed to them that my escort knight was only Pallides.
I tilted the corner of my mouth and mocked the knight.
"Shall I remind you how many Roam knights were defeated by my knight?"
Then, the knight's cheek twitched and trembled. He seemed to be exercising the maximum patience he could muster.
"I had heard that Young Lady was repeatedly kidnapped by Monsters. I was merely concerned that such an incident might occur again this time."
"It doesn't seem like you gentlemen could prevent such a mishap even if you were by my side."
Unable to manage his expression any longer under my unabashed insults, the knight was gradually losing composure.
Perhaps inwardly, he wanted to return to Roam immediately? He simply couldn't bring himself to disobey Father's order.
"You seem afraid of Monsters. In that case, stand here and guide any ignorant commoners who might take the wrong path."
"Young Lady, we are...!"
"Shall I call it an order?"
Crossing my arms, I swept a careless glance over the knights.
"You can report to Father that I gave the order, can't you?"
The faces of the knights, humiliated before outsiders Xenon and Samuel, had now become comical to the point of being hard to watch.
The knight, breathing heavily with a flushed face, gritted his teeth and replied.
"If it's an order, we will obey."
It's a relief I can detach them more easily than I thought.
Thinking so, I turned without hesitation.
The Roam knights did not follow me.