The Reincarnated Count's Daughter Is the Strongest as She Is Loved by the Spirits, Though She Is Only Wishing for Regular Romance!

Interlude: Camille’s Perspective

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Author Notes:

  Please bear with Camille a little longer. To understand why Dia is rampaging on the island, you need to know our side of things.

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The day after meeting the daughter of the Marquess of Berisario, Conning suddenly announced he was returning to Northern Island and booked a ship for two days later. I have no idea what he's thinking, but it's annoying to be dragged around like this. 

When I said I was feeling unwell, they left me at the hotel, so I spent my time in the building we used as our base with Bob and the others. The first floor was a bakery, the second floor was the family’s living quarters, and the third and fourth floors were our base. Bob told the bakery couple that he was the landlord. There are more Luftanen people living in Berisario now, so they didn’t find it suspicious.

"It's inconvenient to be confined on a ship for hours."

"The sea can be unsettling."

"The royal palace has a teleportation array, right? I heard you can instantly travel to other islands."

"Oh, I've heard rumors about that. If it's true, that would be convenient."

'I can do that.'

'I've learned it.'

'And lightning too.'

'I won't lose to those cocky spirit beasts.'

After meeting Diadora, the spirit beasts seemed to have been chattering among themselves, and it seems they learned new magic out of rivalry.

"Could it be space magic? Moana mentioned it once."

'That's it. As long as it's a place we've been before, we can fly there.'

'Zoom.'

So, anywhere we've been before? Even to that mansion? Could we return to Northern Island in an instant?

"Can we also learn to do that?"

Rune asked with hopeful eyes but was disappointed to hear that you need to raise spirit beasts of all attributes.

"We should create a room in this building where we can teleport anytime."

"Keith can learn it? That’s great."

"You should start raising spirits now."

"We don't want anyone outside our group to know about this. Be careful."

Rune and Edgar nodded with serious expressions. For them, the only people they trust are the ones who escaped with them. They don't fully trust Salomon yet, but we need adult allies for the future.

"Do you think Conning can be trusted? He seems like a serious man."

"No. He's a coward despite his size, and he's only thinking about getting praised by the Viscount."

He probably wants to be acknowledged and entrusted with work. That's why he secretly investigates us and reports to the Viscount, even without orders. This time, he reported that I and Diadora became friends, even though he didn't know what we talked about. After he returned to Northern Island, everyone's attitude toward me changed noticeably. 

A prince who escaped attackers and met a fairy princess with the backing of the Spirit King. Who’s that supposed to be? They just mistook me for a girl. I doubt she even remembers my face.

"We should return to the royal palace openly. Being close to the fairy princess could bring great benefits to Luftanen. She might even bridge the gap to the elusive Spirit King!"

"Calm down, Viscount."

This old man is so excited he looks like he might keel over. Why is it such a big deal just because I met the fairy princess? She's unrelated to our country.

"We should assign official soldiers as guards. There are spirit beasts. Even if attacked, we can retaliate. Earl Harle, contact the crown prince."

"This might indeed raise Northern Island’s influence. Our trade with the Empire is a significant part of our foreign income. The connection with the Marquess of Berisario is substantial."

"Exactly. If the fairy princess and you were to get engaged—"

"Viscount, that's going too far."

I couldn't help but interject. He’s dreaming too much. Even my uncle, Marquis Rintonen, seems keen on the idea. When I glanced at Conning, he looked down with a pale face. He can't tell the truth now that it’s become such a big deal. I can go to the royal palace, but I won't say it.

Going back with guards openly, the fairy princess’s influence is incredible.

"Camille-sama, are you really going to the royal palace? The third prince won't stay quiet if you go there."

"Earl Harle. That’s why we’re taking soldiers. We can't let West Island act on their own anymore."

"But…"

"I'm going."

I have no doubts about that. Now that I can teleport, I can help my brother if something happens. I should be able to be of some use now.

"Impressive, Camille-sama. Let’s have Conning accompany you from the company."

"I refuse. I won’t take anyone who can't protect themselves without a spirit beast. They’ll just be a hindrance."

"That's… unavoidable."

"We’ll send Farce as an additional guard, not just Keith."

Farce, a man with a slender face and narrow eyes, has two spirit beast attributes. I hadn't even noticed him standing slightly behind the Earl until he was introduced.

"He’s strong."

Keith said, nodding.

"I’ll go to Mantester. I’ll take Yohem. Protect Camille-sama."

"Understood."

Salomon and Yohem together seem even more suspicious. Yohem is supposedly a lady-killer. He does have a seductive face. When he’s around, women and even older ladies treat us kindly. 

I’m happy to have more allies, but it feels like we’re getting more and more shady adults.

"With the fourth prince losing his backing and the third prince potentially being discredited as Camille-sama’s attacker, Camille-sama's position will rise significantly."

"What happened with the fourth prince?"

"He was too reckless, trying to forcefully take the Marquis’s daughter from East Island and is now under house arrest. Southern nobles have formally announced they won't support him as their representative anymore."

"Most of his former aides and guards have returned to East Island."

"He treated them badly too, apparently."

Salomon and Yohem explained. That's one reason everyone’s attitude changed. The third and fourth princes’ positions as heirs are now weakened.

Adults who used to protect me because I’m a northern prince and a child now see me as useful. Even if the fairy princess doesn’t mean to, she gave me an opportunity. I have to act.

I haven’t accomplished anything yet. I couldn't protect the people working at the mansion or help my brother. That girl is doing so much even though she’s younger than me.

"Camille-sama?"

"When can we go to the royal palace?"

"We need to secretly contact the crown prince and gather intel, so please wait a little."

"Earl Harle, thank you. I appreciate you sending Keith. He’s always been a great help."

I need to consider how I interact with people to gain more allies. If they’re going to use me, I’ll use them too. I can’t just go along with everything.

These old men don’t understand Luftanen’s situation. The Empire has more spirits and people who’ve seen the Spirit King than we do. We can’t even call ourselves the Spirit Nation without embarrassment. We united the four islands because we couldn’t fight other countries alone. If we remain divided, any island could be conquered.

But the Empire’s Spirit King shows himself too much. Is it just in Berisario that most nobles have seen him? Or the whole Empire?

"Ah, Camille-sama. I knew you would do something remarkable. You exceeded my expectations."

Back at the mansion provided as my residence, Salomon approached with exaggerated gestures once it was just us.

"I haven’t done anything."

"Meeting the fairy princess by chance on your first trip to the Empire is an incredible coincidence. Let’s use everything we can. You want to return to the royal palace, don’t you?"

I do. I want to see the crown prince safe. If he hasn’t learned it yet, I want to teach him teleportation magic so he can escape if needed.

"Me, Yohem, Keith, and Farce will go… Farce, who are you protecting?"

"What do you mean?"

"Are you protecting Camille-sama or Keith? Which one?"

"…"

"Keith? Fine. Camille-sama, who else will you take?"

"Bob. Edgar and Rune will stay."

"What!?"

"Why?"

"I want to keep the group small."

Both looked down, sulking. I’ll need to talk to them later. They’re commoners with two spirit beast attributes, which is rare in Luftanen, where knowledge of spirits is monopolized by royalty and nobility. They’d face harassment and danger at the royal palace.

"Oh, right. I wanted to give you this, Camille-sama."

"What’s that?"

"A magic bag! I got two, so I’m giving you one."

Awkward. I can make them now that I’ve learned space magic, but I don’t want to reveal that yet.

"Thank you."

"You don't seem very pleased. Do you know about magic bags?"

"I'm wary of being indebted to Salomon."

"Pfft."

"Don’t laugh, Yohem. I’m trying to be helpful here!"

I wonder why these guys didn’t provide any maids, even though they got butlers and cooks. Can’t they keep women around?

"Why are you looking at me like I’m trash?"

I didn’t ask directly, but later Bob explained they just gathered people who could fight during the attack, and there were no women among them. Sorry for doubting you. You just looked too suspicious.

It took about a month to contact the crown prince and get a response. Earl Harle’s sister works as a maid at the palace, and she managed to get in touch with the crown prince’s butler.

Seeing my brother’s handwriting made me

 happy. His letter asked me not to do anything dangerous. He’s managing somehow. He told me to live freely.

If I’m to live freely, I’m going to the royal palace.

Preparing for the journey to the palace took another month. Arranging the guards and entourage for a prince’s formal trip takes time. We have to be ready to cover any trouble.

We traveled to the port for the ship to East Island, following almost the same route as when I escaped from the palace. The Marquis of Mantester housed us overnight before we boarded the ship the next day.

This time, we had the best cabin reserved. Once on board, I gathered everyone in my cabin.

"Everyone’s here. Listen carefully; this is the plan."

"The plan? For when we disembark?"

Only Keith and Bob knew the plan. I silently apologized to Salomon’s puzzled face and shook my head.

"We’re not going to the port. Following the original plan, we’d definitely be ambushed."

"Oh! Do you have a plan? What will we do?"

Salomon seemed more excited than angry about the secrecy, curiosity winning out.

"We’ll teleport from here to a mansion near the palace."

"What?"

"Keith and I will teleport everyone near the palace."

"Whaaat?!"

He grabbed my shoulders with surprising force.

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Author Notes:

  Thank you for reading as always. Your reports on typos are very helpful. If you find the story interesting, please consider giving it a rating below.

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