The Hero’s Party Members Treat Me Well for Some Reason

Imperial Power Struggle (7)

I told Luke that we’d find the informant later.

But, truthfully, Deila did have a method of investigation she could try right away.

It would at least narrow down the scope of who the informant could be.

*‘First, the one who betrayed me is a noble.’*

To convey information to the First Prince, one must at least have the ability to meet with him.

Commoners have practically no way to approach him.

One needs a certain standing, at a minimum, to meet him. That admission ticket is, of course, nobility.

Therefore, the informant here is, first and foremost, limited to nobles.

Furthermore, there were a total of seven nobles present at that day’s meeting.

Of those, around five had volunteered to rescue the Second Prince.

Deila had selected four of those as members to participate.

The reason, as I’ve said before, is that they would become her figureheads going forward.

Storming the Reclusion Palace is, in itself, the same as rebelling against the First Emperor.

At the same time, it’s declaring oneself as part of the Third Princess’s faction.

So, the probability of *them* being the informant was low.

Since their faces would be known far and wide, even if they were to sell information, they would ultimately become beholden to her faction.

To turn to the First Prince’s side in such a situation?

Though betrayal was commonplace within the noble society, it rarely surfaced for all to see.

They were, after all, aware of their own lack of honor. It was a game of blind man’s bluff, but once it became known who struck another from behind, that person lost all trust.

And with that loss of trust, they would find themselves ostracized from the social circles.

As such, those original four who volunteered were removed from the suspect list. To be both informant and figurehead was too contradictory, after all.

Of course, even that could be a smokescreen… but Delilah, for now, dismissed that possibility.

That left three.

Albert of the Marquis Brenin’s household.

Primo, the third son of the Viscount Coward.

Lowell, the third son of the Viscount Keheln.

Albert had bowed out, citing his failing health, and Primo… well, Primo had always been a quiet, timid sort and confessed to a lack of confidence. What their true intentions were would now need to be examined.

And Lowell…

“Ah, how exciting! Do not worry, Your Highness, trust only in me. I shall ensure that not a single enemy sets foot near Your Highness.”

Honestly, it seemed unlikely. He simply appeared foolish.

From the start, he had eagerly volunteered during the initial selection process. Only his unreliability had kept him from being chosen.

And so, this time, he was chosen purely as a body to fill the ranks.

Being rejected twice in a row was, after all, a little pitiable…

In any case, with that, the five members to participate were decided.

Delilah, with them in tow, headed directly toward the Second Prince’s location.

“The Confined Palace is located somewhat outside the Imperial Palace, in the outer forest…”

Whatever the truth, the Second Prince was confined to the palace with madness. Such an unsavory building surely couldn’t be in the heart of the Imperial Palace. And so, the palace where he resided was, as if in avoidance, in the outer reaches of the capital.

While a bit of a distance, it was, rather, a boon to them. It was somewhat easier to head to the outskirts than to infiltrate the very center of the Imperial Palace.

The location played a significant part in why the plan was conceived in the first place.

“Still, at least it’s not as far as the sea,”

The masked man, Luke, quipped during their travel. He was currently walking directly behind Deila.

Deila glanced at him and said softly,

“…Could you move a little further away, please?”

“Ah, apologies. Was I making you uncomfortable?”

“No, it’s not that…”

Deila swallowed her words. Her cheeks were subtly flushed.

It was absolutely not a phenomenon caused by fluttering or excitement. The Hero’s Curse was capable of stripping away even affection you already had.

The emotion she felt now was embarrassment. Just yesterday, the words she had spoken to him at the docks replayed in her mind.

-You may use me.

‘…Ugh! Why did I say such a thing…!’

She shuddered with mortification at the thought. Even if she had been out of her mind, there was no excuse.

Wasn’t that the sort of thing a woman said to seduce a man?

To nonchalantly utter words like that, words she wouldn’t even say to her first night’s partner.

The memory of clinging to him and weeping, the memory of saying such shameful things, all combined to humiliate her.

Of course, separate from all that, they steadily drew closer to their destination.

As time flowed, the Imprisonment Palace came into view. Despite being in the forest, a cleanly maintained castle stood before them.

Around it, a multitude of soldiers and knights had pitched their tents, maintaining vigilance.

A castle clearly situated in a remote place, yet more manpower than one would expect. Indeed, the First Prince had made his own preparations.

“It seems the time for collision draws nigh.”

So spoke Luke, drawing his sword as he did.

The Princess, too, slapped her cheeks sharply, twice, to clear her head.

From here onward, the true struggle began. To prevent her brother from ascending the throne, she would immolate herself.

Such was Dela’s resolve, as she charged toward the palace.

Towards the highest floor of the castle, where her second elder brother, the Second Prince, resided.

*

As she ran, she assessed the forces.

‘Forty-five knights, fifteen soldiers.’

More knights in full plate armor than common soldiers. As this castle was situated in a narrow location, it seemed they meant to stop us with quality over quantity.

‘Fortunately, though, no mages in sight yet.’

Whether one was lurking inside or not remained to be seen, but for now, this was good news. Mages were troublesome adversaries in many respects, after all.

To be frank, it was quite the formidable force.

Even in this world, knights were considered exceedingly valuable personnel.

If unleashed properly in a melee, a single one could butcher dozens.

And such men were gathered here, dozens strong. Even if the entire resistance force charged, it was questionable whether they could match this power.

‘Of course, that is without me.’

They surely hadn’t anticipated it. That the Third Princess would have a Hero in her ranks.

And even if I *had* known, I couldn’t have stopped it.

It smacks a bit of boasting, perhaps, but I belonged, without question, to the world’s strongest class.

To stop me would require, at the very least, the entire army of the Bright family.

“Damn it, he really came…”

“Stop him! His Highness, the First Prince, promised a generous reward if we hold this place!”

And so, I bulldozed forward. Deflecting and pushing aside the knights’ swords, forging a path ahead.

Injuries I would inflict, but not death. Wielding my blade haphazardly here could see me ensnared in a war of public opinion later.

For that same reason, I restrained from using sinister skills like insect sorcery, puppetry, or dark magic.

The revolution must not be tainted by ill omens. We must appear as blameless as possible.

Still, given the difference in…stature… it wasn’t particularly difficult. If I had any worry at all, it would be…

‘The numbers are pressing me.’

No matter how much I blocked, I couldn’t possibly deflect every single incoming attack.

Primarily because I was the vanguard, paving the way, a bit distanced from Dela.

Meaning, inevitably, there were holes in the defense.

I’d entrusted her protection to Bellita, but even so, I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease.

I was cleaving a path forward, then…

*Kwaang!*

“Kkyaaahh…!”

Suddenly, a knight went flying, slamming down in front of me. He’d been launched from behind me.

Even with full plate armor, he had to weigh a good amount. To be sent flying like that?

Startled, I whipped around.

Had Velitta thrown something? No, it wasn’t her.

It was Lowell, standing there with a massive buckler and sword.

“I’ll admit it, honestly. I’m not exactly bright,”

he muttered, as a knight wielding a mace charged towards him.

The guy was huge, looked like he could really pack a punch.

*Thwack!* Finally, the knight’s mace slammed into Lowell’s shield. A considerable impact echoed.

“Thinking isn’t really my forte. Even my father said I had no talent for studying and told me to find a different path as soon as possible. That should tell you something.”

Despite that, he didn’t even blink. As if this was a walk in the park.

Then, with all his might, he shoved his shield forward.

*Thunk!*

…And that hulking knight had no choice but to tumble across the dirt.

“But even a simpleton like me can see this. Something’s wrong with the Empire as it stands.”

I gaped, astonished.

This kid’s got some fight in him…? I just thought he was some ignorant nobleman’s son, blind to reality.

His skill was considerable. Surprised, I finally checked the level floating above his head.

A whopping level 47. Considering the minimum level for a knight was 30, that was incredibly high. Especially at his age.

What he said about being able to handle two or three knights alone wasn’t a lie, it seemed.

“Don’t worry, Princess. I’ll stop every enemy that comes. I may not be good at studying, but I’ve never been lax in my training.”

Good, that was reassuring enough for now. And Velitta was here too. Even if an ally decided to backstab us, they’d buy me time to escape.

Even Albert, who had grumbled all the way until coming here, was now frantically unleashing magic to stay alive. Turns out, the fellow had learned a spell or two, it seemed.

Only that fellow Primo still hesitated, dithering about.

In any case, thanks to them, I could clear a path without qualms. Sweeping away the knights blocking our way like fallen leaves, I moved her forward.

And thus, before we knew it, we had reached our destination.

The highest floor of the Seclusion Palace, a single door stood firmly shut, even the attendants having fled.

It was the Second Prince’s chambers.

“Enter, Princess.”

Having reached our destination, I once again ushered Deila forward. My task was finished now.

Negotiation was not exactly my forte.

“It is your turn now.”

“…Yes.”

The Princess nodded with firm resolve.

Ten years. It was time to reunite with her second elder brother, whom she hadn’t seen for ten years.

*Creak-*

Presently, the steadfastly closed door began to open.