Chapter 147.2 : Flora’s Agony ~Part 2~
「This kingdom………… Has been at war with the Rubia kingdom? 」
Flora completely exposed herself as someone who wasn’t aware of the way of the world by showing her perplexed face.
「…………. Yes, but it’s just at the level of a skirmish because we’re also at war against the other kingdoms in this region. Well, it’s already a common story in our kingdom though.」
The village chief was looking at Flora as if observing her.
「Ah, uhm, I’m not a noble of that kingdom………………」
Maybe because she felt that the village chief doubted her, she explained that fact in a hurry.
「I see……………. No wonder. With all due respect, you do look suspicious. I do have some questions to ask, will you allow me to ask those questions? 」
After the village chief showed a convinced look, he asked Flora while staring at her.
「………… What might those be? 」
「Since you’re not a noble of our kingdom, why are you wandering in this rural area by yourself? 」
「That’s, I, I met a disaster in the middle of my journey……………….」
Flora replied while averting her gaze with an awkward face. Because rather than trusting her stories, things were going to become even more complicated if she told him the truth. And above all――,
（Rubia kingdom should be an ally of the Bertram kingdom. I wonder how he would react if he knew that I’m the princess of the Bertram kingdom which is backing the Rubia kingdom, the enemy of his kingdom. He’s already aware of the matter of me heading towards Bertram kingdom, but………..）
Flora experienced such anxiety. She might have to explain the fact that she was in fact a big shot of the Bertram kingdom if she were to explain everything. Flora couldn’t choose the best option in this kind of situation.
「A disaster?………. Is that why you have such a messy appearance? Since that’s the case, isn’t about now the time where things will get noisy after your disappearance? 」
「Yes………………… M-Maybe so.」
「So what’s the reason why there are no attendants around you now? 」
Thus the village chief kept trying to probe for more information from Flora. The reason he did so might be because he completely trusted Flora or still doubted her.
「……… I don’t know.」
Flora shook her head slowly.
「I-I see. That’s troubling indeed.」
The village chief was nodding with a non-chalant face towards Flora’s situation.
「……Yes.」
Flora dropped her shoulders in dissapointment. Though she was being optimistic thinking that she might be able to do something as long as she arrives at a human settlement, now she realized that she was in an even more troubling situation.
「Well, I think your best choice is to consult your situation with the nobles who govern this area. Unfortunately that’s something beyond what a village chief like me can do.」
The village chief recommended the idea in order to get a favor from the nobles of the Paladia kingdom.
「…………….. I’ll consider that idea.」
Flora nodded as she gave a vague reply. Her complexion wasn’t that great. As expected, even Flora was aware that asking for the assistance of a noble of the Paladia kingdom would turn her into a political tool.
「Well, if it’s fine with you, feel free to stay in our humble abode for today. Though we can’t give you a satisfactory welcome, we at least have a warm meal. Please decide what you’re going to do during that time.」
After heaving a sigh, the village chief told his intention to welcome Flora as his guest for the time being. Though it was still unknown whether she was telling the truth or not, in seeing her dress he was convinced that she at least really was a noble, so it was not like he could treat her like nothing. There was also his fear of retaliation, since he didn’t know anything about the other party at all.
「………… T-Thank you very much! 」
Flora showed a slightly dumbfounded face and then bowed to him. She was moving around since yesterday without eating anything after all. Now that she experienced outdoor camping at night for the first time in her life, she was lucky just to have a roof to stay under at night.
Afterwards, they soon heard a loud “batan” sound from the otherside of the living room where Flora and the village chief were having their conversation.
「!!!!! ? 」
Flora’s body jerked in hearing that sound. When she turned around to the entrance in a hurry, there were flocks of what were seemingly young men from the village on top of the broken door.
「Dang it! 」
All the young men in the village had cramped faces. Immediately, all of them went “Ooh” when they saw Flora, although she was in her slightly dirty Dress.
「Y-You fools, what are you doing?! Go back to your work! 」
The village chief shouted at those men with a flustered voice and all of them fled from that scene to go back to their work. Donner was also among them.
The village chief heaved a deep sigh ――,
「M-My deepest apologies. They’re being impolite to you.」
He bowed to Flora with a slightly withered face. It was very clear to anyone that those men were tempted by their curiosity to take a glance at Flora’s figure. The village chief feared that their actions just now might incur Flora’s displeasure.
「I don’t mind at all, or rather, did they have business with me? 」
Flora curiously asked the village chief without an inch of thought that those men might have come to see her.
「Ha~……….. Well, it’s not like they didn’t think about it. If you will and it’s okay with you, please don’t mind them. Though it’s slightly off from the time, shall we have a meal? 」
The village chief was bewildered by Flora’s unworldly reply, but he changed the topic of conversation immediately since he didn’t wish for more trouble. Though it was still in the morning, it was too late to be called a breakfast yet too early for a lunch.
「Uhm, I do feels a little bit hungry, but may I rest for a while? I didn’t sleep that much so I still feel drowsy…………..」
「Sure enough, you look pale. Understood. I’m gonna ask my wife to prepare a room for you」
After that, Flora fell into a deep sleep on the bed prepared by the wife of the village chief.