The Princess in the Chicken Coop - Chapter 1.9
The ornaments that had seemed needlessly flashy suddenly appeared to shine. Even for her, born in an era abundant with magic, magic stones were never common. The main reason for their high price was the lack of places to mine them.
Unlike jewels, there were no mines, nor could they be obtained from specific places like gold dust. Finding magic stones was purely a matter of luck.
So naturally, they commanded whatever price was asked. Moreover, even Soria had never seen magic stones as large as the ones Owell was wearing.
‘Is this really necessary?’
She stared ahead with eyes full of fear, wondering what awaited them.
Perhaps sensing her trembling, Lenok smiled slightly.
“I said don’t worry. The knights of the Crotia Empire are brave, and my friend’s abilities are quite decent.”
Saying there was no reason to worry, Lenok ordered the departure. The knights’ eyes were filled with determination as they crossed the final defense, leaving behind the moat that had become a resting place for ducks and migratory birds over time.
Lenok too, having shed his previous playfulness, took the lead with a serious expression.
There were no words of encouragement or grand orders. Only the sound of swords being drawn, following the emperor’s blade, filled the air.
As Owell’s barrier covered the knights advancing toward the enemy…
[…So, what happened with the thorny vines?]
Soria quietly asked while watching the thorny vines peacefully making way.
***
That was about 15 minutes ago.
“Are you saying that I’m lying!!”
Lenok’s indignant cry filled the air.
Owell turned his gaze away from the emperor who was shouting at the front.
“Those monster-like thorny vines grew over 2 meters tall and threw and stabbed my knights…”
[Goodness! Were there many casualties?]
“No, nobody died, but.”
This time, even the brave knights of the Crotia Empire turned away with reddened ears.
The elite knights thought to themselves.
‘This is so embarrassing!’
If they could return without fighting, that would be the best situation. Yet somehow, the moment when they had dramatically drawn their swords before departure kept coming back to mind.
But Lenok’s indignation didn’t end there.
[…Your Majesty? Is that palace visible over there the imperial palace of Crotia?]
“Yes, it is.”
[…It’s right in front of us?]
Indeed.
The Crotia Empire, surrounding the Kingdom of Syenn with its vast territory, naturally had its capital located upstream of the largest Syenn River. In other words, the Kingdom of Syenn and the empire’s capital were close enough to touch if you fell over.
There wasn’t a trace of tension left in Soria’s expression. She alternately looked at the Crotia flag hanging on the high spire and the fully armed knights.
[This won’t even take half a day.]
It was only natural that Lenok became angry at the white chicken’s contemptuous gaze.
“Half a day?! Do you know how long it took us to reach the palace!!”
[…But it’s right in front of us?]
The great emperor of the empire pointed at the thorny vines that were quietly lowering themselves to make way, expressing his grievance.
“You don’t know how barbaric these things are!”
[Yes, yes, I’m sure. So, how many casualties did you say there were earlier?]
“No, there weren’t any!!”
[Then the discussion is over. What do you mean barbaric? The ones crossing another country’s borders without permission are the bad ones. According to you, these vines have been acting as soldiers protecting the Kingdom of Syenn, haven’t they?]
Lenok was speechless. He wanted to object but had no words to do so. What could he say in objection? As far as he knew, no one had been killed by the vines covering the Kingdom of Syenn since they first grew.
As she said, the thorny vines seemed to have only one goal: protecting Syenn’s borders. That must be why the previous emperors had left the Kingdom of Syenn alone for over a hundred years.
Although it occupied the middle reaches of the Syenn River, it was only about the size of a count’s territory, so there was no need to take unnecessary risks.
“…That’s right.”
Lenok’s voice sank low. He frowned as he looked with a miserable expression at the river stream that had been swallowed up by the thorny vines.
“If you wish to claim that’s right, you must convince me.”
[Convince? What do you…]
“The river.”
Soria listened carefully to Lenok’s words, spoken through gritted teeth.
“Can the river belong solely to the Kingdom of Syenn? Can you assert that to me with certainty?”
[What are you talking about?]
“I’m saying there was a desperate reason why we had to cross another country’s borders without permission.”
Lenok continued while staring into the distance.
“We had to do whatever it took to reclaim the river.”
Her head lifted up. Being in a chicken’s body made her so small that Lenok only appeared enormous.
After quietly observing his eyes fixed straight ahead and his tightly clenched jaw, Soria silently turned away.
Though Lenok didn’t say anything more, it wasn’t a situation where she could press him to explain further.
She maintained her silence.
‘He must have concerns he can’t speak about.’
While Soria was consoling Lenok with her silence…
She broke her string and fled the moment they entered the Crotia Imperial Palace.
***
Lenok shut himself in his office with a grave expression. This journey had cost half a year’s budget. Though they didn’t say it, nobles filled with expectations were gathered in the hall.
There was just one problem. The results had vanished. How could he possibly go out?
Lenok groaned while clutching his head.
“Owell, was I mistaken? Can chickens actually fly?”
Owell looked at Lenok with sympathetic eyes.
Well, anyone would be shocked by such an incident. Even he hadn’t imagined that Soria would escape until they entered the imperial palace.
That’s how much Soria had seemed to listen to Lenok and trust him.
She had even stopped clucking at Lenok’s exaggerated stories and stared up at him intently – anyone would have thought the same.
They had only spent half a day together. However, Owell thought that Lenok’s usual silver tongue, which often left nobles dumbfounded, had worked its magic again.
The knights must have thought the same, as their vigilance toward Soria gradually decreased as time passed.
The fact that she appeared as a chicken also played a significant role.
Soria had waited precisely for that moment.
The moment when everyone lowered their guard. When all the horses had entered the palace gates everyone had relaxed their tense expressions and started exchanging jokes!
She took flight.
The severed string that had once bound her ankle now hung limply from the saddle – no one knew when she had managed to cut it. Owell observed. Her white wings, stretching out against the blue sky, embodied the very essence of freedom she had always longed for.
On Lenok’s outstretched hand that had tried to catch Soria, only a deep wound remained. Rather than serving its intended purpose, his hand had become nothing more than her springboard, leaving him with a painful souvenir. Lenok clenched his bandaged hand tightly, swallowing hard at the memory.
“Don’t worry, Your Majesty. We’ve sent people to search, so she’ll be found soon.”
“A white chicken? Owell, do you say that not knowing how many chickens there are in the world?”
“Even if we don’t find her, the princess will learn that the outside world isn’t easy. Then she’ll return on her own.”
Lenok shook his head. It was still vivid.
