Kain knew as well.
He knew that His Majesty had asked for absolutely no reports about this, not even from the guards outside her villa.
That was how little interest he held in Princess Fii.
Even if she turned out to be ‘black’, His Majesty never saw her as a threat. The whole mission was less about determining this, and more about finding her contacts if she actually did turn out to be ‘black’.
His Majesty was presently glaring at a report on water control for the rivers in the south. Kain doubted he even remembered the name ‘Princess Fii’.
A female Grass member, Néna, had occasionally taken observation shifts as well, and was in fact the only female on the team. When she looked at His Majesty these days, her gaze had grown 10℃ frostier, but he probably hadn’t noticed this either.
Kain once again concluded that he had to do something himself.
(It’s simple… ‘Princess Fii is working as your division’s apprentice knight.’ That’s all I have to say…)
Thinking this, he was about to speak to His Majesty who had just picked up his pen.
But that instant-
『If she is ‘black’, report it.』
『Otherwise, no need.』
『The role of a Grass is to follow his orders to the best of his ability.』
『Advising the lord is the role of the retainers. To become his arms and legs is our job.』
various words, flashed through his mind.
(Why…? Why can’t I say something so simple? Why…?)
That day…
(Why am I a Grass…!)
It was the very first time in his life that he questioned who he was.
Of course, the reason he was a Grass was because he had been born to Grass parents, and because he was raised from childhood to become a Grass, but that wasn’t the kind of question he was asking here.
Not realising Kain’s troubles, His Majesty Roy began writing as usual. Apparently he had decided on the direction he would be taking this year in regards to water control projects.
(If only he had even a hundredth of this interest in Princess Fii…) Kain couldn’t help but think.
In the end, his role as a Grass won over, and he couldn’t say a thing about Princess Fii.
(I am a Grass… One who accomplishes his missions, and nothing else. I am a Grass… I am a Grass…)
As he repeated this hundreds of times in his mind, he left the King’s study without anybody noticing.
To be honest, it was actually a bit too late to be thinking about these things, but Kain couldn’t let himself think too deeply about it.
That happened yesterday night.
Today, Kain had been observing Princess Fii from a treetop as well.
Just a moment ago, she had been speaking happily to His Majesty Roy.
(Oh crap, oh crap! I spaced out!)
He had been deep in his thoughts, but now realised he hadn’t been observing properly. Looking back towards her in a fluster, he found that neither Princess Fii nor His Highness Roy could be seen.
(Mu. Have she already moved? I need to find her.)
It was a terrible failure for a Grass. By now, he really questioned his qualifications.
Even so, he tried his best to remain faithful to his mission, but before he could make his move, he noticed somebody trying to climb up the tree he was hiding in.
And they had gotten extremely close…!