It sounded simple in theory, but was quite difficult to execute in practice.
Trafalgar's rank was baron, so he didn't need to provide dowries for the Third Princess's marriage.
The Third Princess's wedding was scheduled for early next month. The gifts provided by the counts had basically all been shipped out, and another problem was that we weren't familiar with the count lords. Trying to infiltrate the dowry caravans that the counts valued would be quite difficult.
Counts, huh... Hmm...
Chris, might she have a way?
In the afternoon, our group finally traveled downstream and approached Baron Hurst's Territory.
"How will Mr. Dragon Turtle get back?"
"Dragon turtles know their way back on their own. They're not stupid."
I steered the dragon turtle close to shore as Lily reluctantly bid farewell to the dragon turtle.
I crouched down to adjust Lily's disguise. Supposedly, due to Duke Borgia's generous reward, the number of adventurers around Rothschild had decreased significantly, but we still couldn't let our guard down.
"Staying in my castle is the safest option. We can take our time planning what comes next. If you need anything, I'll go purchase it. Baron Hurst's Territory may be small, but it has all the essentials."
"Seriously thinking about it, isn't this just keeping a mistress in a golden house, meow?"
"...If you don't want to stay, you can leave. That's one less mouth for me to worry about."
"Meow! Anna, please be careful. He's definitely planned out a route for night raids on Anna..."
Carol Cat was ostensibly whispering, but deliberately made sure Trafalgar could hear.
"I won't."
"You're not interested in a beauty like Anna, meow?"
Being called a beauty by others... felt quite subtle, and somehow this word always made me think of debauched rulers indulging in feminine charms or drunken rogues emboldened by alcohol.
"...To say I'm not interested would be a lie."
"See, meow! You really do have ulterior motives toward Anna..."
"I said I won't." Trafalgar paused. "I have a girlfriend."
"..."
"..."
"Hey? Why did you all suddenly stop talking?"
"Too much normie energy, causing discomfort. Suggest seppuku, please, meow."
Carol Cat's merciless reply made me burst into laughter. At least thanks to Carol Cat, the atmosphere on this journey hadn't been too gloomy. She told us stories ranging from the legends of Mount Olympus in Arcadia to the Phoenix of Arcadia. Before we knew it, we had arrived at our destination, Baron Hurst's Territory, through Carol Cat's storytelling.
Carol Cat had taught us a lot about Arcadia. For example, beastkin who climbed the steep Mount Olympus using only physical strength without magic were honored as heroes. Or how the Phoenix actually possessed considerable intelligence, with some people witnessing it speak human words.
Arcadia was a very interesting place, and the beastkin living there weren't savage at all.
[Anastasia's affection toward "Carol Cat" +1]**
[Anastasia's affection toward "Trafalgar" +1]
"Meow? Anna!"
The sudden pop-up message immediately ended Carol Cat and Trafalgar's argument, and even I was stunned for a moment.
My affection had increased—was it because we'd spent time together and become familiar?
"Anna never increases affection toward me..."
"You're not an adventurer."
And why did Sigrdrífa's tone sound like a jealous housewife? Really...
"—?!"
"Anna."
"Everyone, please wait a moment."
I called out to Trafalgar and Carol Cat, who were leading the way.
Carol Cat looked completely bewildered, while Trafalgar frowned but said nothing, only placing his hand on his sword hilt.
I kept my [Detection] skill active at all times, and in the nearby forest... there were reactions that definitely weren't from wild animals.
And there was more than one.
Without hesitation, I shot a chain toward the depths of the forest and entangled the first creature I made contact with.
"Whoa?!"
What had seemed like an unremarkable bush suddenly transformed into a guard after the chain made contact, and some item fell from his body.
"That's... a disguise tool?"
Trafalgar immediately recognized the truth about that item. Similar to camouflage used by snipers in the real world, it was made in tool form and could temporarily improve [Stealth] skills and concealment.
We were being ambushed.
Since they'd been exposed, the other guards also removed their disguises one after another.
The person leading them was actually Uncle François.
"We meet again, Anna."
"..."
"Sigh... It looks like this old man is thoroughly hated by Anna. Can't be helped—this is my job."
Uncle François smiled bitterly but showed no intention of retreating.
He recognized us, and he recognized Lily. Lily's disguise was meaningless in front of Uncle François.
Trafalgar asked displeased, "What are you doing here?"
"Baron, you've sheltered Amaryllis... so I thought perhaps you might bring them back here for refuge. Even though I have a temporary search warrant from the Duke, I can't keep bothering noble castles."
"This is quite the misunderstanding."
Trafalgar was speechless. At the time, he had no intention of helping us, but through a series of coincidences, François had developed the wrong impression and, like a blind cat finding a dead mouse, stumbled upon the truth.
It seemed the goddess of fortune was not smiling upon us.
Uncle François decisively raised his right hand—this gesture was—
Even using silence magic couldn't stop emergency signal magic.
A green emergency signal instantly shot toward the sky, its meaning: requesting reinforcements.