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

"Does this mean you can use teleportation magic?"

Yohem pulled Salomon away from me and tossed him backward. Farce caught him without a word, which made me wonder if these three had become friends without my noticing. The soldiers exchanged glances silently, perhaps trained well enough to remain stoic, but I could tell they had many questions. They watched me intently.

"Sorry for keeping it a secret. I didn’t want the nobles staying on West Island to know. Keith and I can use teleportation magic... and we can also make magic bags."

"Oh, it's fine. I understand you don't trust us fully yet."

Salomon narrowed his already narrow eyes and smiled, looking like he had something up his sleeve. If he truly wanted to be my ally, his face wasn’t doing him any favors.

"More importantly!"

Salomon tried to rush toward me, but Farce grabbed his clothes, causing him to choke and lean backward. Despite being a marquis's son, everyone handled him roughly.

"Let’s hear the plan."

"Since it was decided we’d go to the royal palace, we had plenty of preparation time. Keith and I have teleported near the palace several times. We even brought Bob and others, so bringing everyone won’t be a problem."

"Doing something so dangerous!? We might not be trusted, but making a prince take such risks is unacceptable!"

Salomon confronted Bob, who had remained as my guard despite being a royal palace soldier.

"No one else can use teleportation magic."

"Keith and you could do it."

"Don’t forget, Keith-sama is also an earl's son."

"And you forget I'm a marquis's son?"

Now Salomon and Farce started arguing. This wasn’t getting us anywhere.

"We need to proceed. If you interfere, you’ll be left behind."

"I wouldn’t dream of it, Camille-sama. You can leave this fool, but I’ll be useful. What about the mansion?"

"I rented it."

"The funds?"

"My brother and the others entrusted me with valuables and money for emergencies. I had a magic bag to store it all. The bag you gave me is now with Keith."

Salomon smiled broadly and stood beside Yohem, bumping his shoulder.

"See? I told you. His Highness and the second prince care deeply for Camille-sama. And this initiative and caution, marvelous!"

"Got it. Calm down, you’re hurting me."

"Alright, let’s hear the plan."

Salomon sat abruptly, his posture straight, eyes gleaming with curiosity. He was unpredictable and dangerous.

"This guy is weird."

"Shh, don’t make eye contact."

Keith and Bob whispered, but in the quiet room, everyone could hear them.

"First, if anyone is uncomfortable with teleportation magic, please leave the room. I won’t force anyone."

These soldiers were assigned to protect the fifth prince, who was being targeted. Even if given the option to leave, none of them did.

We teleported in two groups to a mansion in the nobles’ district. The owner had returned to his territory, leaving the place unsold and abandoned. When I asked to rent it as a warehouse for a month, they agreed as long as I paid upfront. Luftanen’s economy was struggling, with reduced exports to the Empire and political instability. Nobles weren’t buying new mansions, so many properties were vacant.

Teleportation magic is instantaneous. One moment we were in the ship’s cabin, the next we were in a garden with a clear view of the palace’s large building. Everyone was stunned.

"Amazing... so this is teleportation magic."

"Camille-sama, can the crown prince also do this?"

"His spirit beasts should be able to."

"Interesting."

While Salomon engaged in conversation, Bob organized the soldiers. I had instructed them not to intervene unless absolutely necessary, as Salomon said it would cause problems if regular soldiers fought each other. They seemed to agree.

The palace had a main gate and smaller gates to the east and west, plus entrances for staff. We headed for the gate used only by royalty. It was about a five-minute walk from the main gate, where everyone could see us. Surrounded by North Island’s official guards, it would be obvious we were the fifth prince’s entourage.

"The fifth prince was expected in two days."

"Coming as planned would have been risky. I have a ring with the royal emblem to prove my identity. Oh, and since we teleported here, the ship should be arriving at the port now."

Salomon spoke on behalf of our group to the gatekeepers. For them, dealing with a high-ranking noble like Salomon and official soldiers from the North Island was a big deal. They responded with visible nervousness.

As a royal, should I be angry about being kept waiting at the gate? How are royals usually treated in this situation? Normally, royals would arrive by carriage, not on foot. But Salomon suggested making a scene to announce the fifth prince’s presence. Living in a secluded part of the palace had made me something of an urban legend among the nobles. The gatekeepers looked like they couldn’t believe I existed.

After waiting over ten minutes, I was about to lose my patience.

"Salomon, isn’t it time?"

"Indeed. Let’s make a show of it. Are you really a dragon?"

‘He doubts us.’

‘Salomon is annoying.’

‘Apologies for the eccentric.’

‘Sorry for the pervert.’

"Recently, my spirit beasts have been talking more too."

"That means they’re growing well. You should start raising another attribute."

My spirit beasts seemed to talk more than others’.

"Is that the fake fifth prince?"

A man, followed by over ten soldiers, rushed over, breathless. 

"I am the third prince. The fifth prince can't be here. That’s a fake!"

"Why couldn’t he be here?"

I stepped forward, trying not to laugh. The third prince himself had shown up. I’d never forget the uniforms of the soldiers who attacked me—they were the same as the ones this man’s soldiers wore.

"Are you the fake?"

"Why couldn’t he be here?"

I repeated slowly. The third prince was seven years older than me, meaning he was an adult. Despite his delicate features, his tantrum and snarling expression made him look vulgar.

"The fifth prince’s ship should have just arrived at the port."

"You seem well-informed. But we used teleportation magic to avoid wasting time."

"Teleportation?"

"With all-attribute spirit beasts, I can use space magic."

To draw attention, my spirit beasts appeared in their small forms. Even small, they were unmistakably dragons, surrounding me protectively.

"I am blessed by Spirit King Moana. This alone proves I’m not a fake. You seem to have only two spirit attributes. Are you truly the third prince?"

"You... you..."

The fourth prince had three spirit attributes, so the third prince was known to have the fewest and was sensitive about it.

"You must be a fake... the fifth prince was reported dead..."

What a fool.

"So that’s the report you received. And now you bring soldiers wearing the same uniforms as those who attacked my mansion and killed over ten staff, including maids and cooks?"

The gathered onlookers, gatekeepers, and palace guards all turned their gaze to the third prince. If my words were true, they were accomplices to an attempted regicide.

"Did you know three of your soldiers were killed in the attack?"

"..."

The soldiers the third prince turned to look at were glaring at me, pale-faced. They were likely searching for an excuse, but they were too panicked to find one.

"When we checked their belongings, we found identification. Want to see?"

‘Camille, that man was there.’

‘I sense the same presence from the first floor.’

An actual assailant was brazenly showing his face?

"Which one?"

‘That one.’

With a noise, ice stakes surrounded a man.

"What are you doing? He attacked us! Capture them!"

Their only option now was to capture us and dispose of us as impostors. The soldiers drew their swords, and our soldiers prepared for combat.

"Capture? After your soldiers killed the ones the crown prince sent to protect me, you dare say that?"

"Kill him! Kill the fake!"

‘Camille.’

"Do it."

Upon my command, the spirit beasts grew to full size. Massive dragons of different attributes appeared, swimming through the air, their scales glittering in the sunlight. This spectacle must have been visible from the palace.

"What are you waiting for? Kill him!"

"Think carefully. If West Island abandons the third prince, will you be discarded too or return to the island? It’s up to you."

Salomon’s spirit beasts, smaller but present, surrounded him protectively. Despite being a weirdo, his spirit beasts looked like formidable wolves. We outnumbered them in spirit beasts. Our soldiers were surrounded by our spirit beasts for protection.

The third prince’s shouts and his soldiers’ fear painted a clear picture of who the criminals were.

"Camille-sama."

Bob tapped my shoulder, looking toward the palace. Following his gaze, I saw four larger dragons encircling the palace.

"Those are the crown prince’s spirit beasts."

The huge dragons appeared, casting shadows over the palace. People below panicked, fleeing from their first sight of spirit beasts. I hadn’t intended to cause such a commotion. I didn’t expect the crown prince to reveal his spirit beasts.

‘Finally, we can be large again.’

‘Radek’s spirit beasts!’

"Call him the crown prince."

‘Titles mean nothing to spirits.’

"He’s my brother."

‘A brother is superior.’

‘Long time no see, Camille’s spirit beasts.’

‘It’s really Camille. I’ll inform Rad

ek.’

The spirit beasts were delighted to be large again, causing quite a stir. What should I do next?

"Magnificent. To see so many legendary king’s dragons at once... just witnessing this was worth coming along."

"Stop being impressed. We weren’t supposed to cause this much of a scene."

It seemed having Yohem around kept Salomon in check.

"Protect me! Do something!"

The third prince sat on the ground, scared of the dragons, and his soldiers distanced themselves.

"Where are your spirits?"

"What?"

"Where are your spirits?"

The third prince and his soldiers’ spirits had disappeared. The soldiers from West Island, realizing the futility, dropped their weapons and knelt.

"You! What did you do?"

How should I know? I can't make someone else's spirits disappear.

"Camille-sama! Over there!"

Salomon grabbed my arm, shaking it while pointing to the sky.

"Moana-sama. The Spirit King!"

Light gathered, forming the shape of a beautiful woman with smoky blue hair flowing to her waist. My and the crown prince’s spirit beasts flocked around her.

Amazing, she really looks like a Spirit King. Until now, she’d appear so casually that she seemed like a neighborhood lady, but this was a game-changer.

Since the wise king’s death, there hadn’t been a record of the Spirit King appearing before many people. It had been decades, maybe over a century, since she last showed herself.

People around were in chaos, some fainting, crying, or trying to flee. Some were captivated by the floating beauty.

Usually, I’d wave and greet her casually, but now I knelt and signaled my group to follow suit. I felt like letting fate decide.

‘Camille, it’s been a while. Radek will be relieved. You and the crown prince are the only ones recognized as Luftanen royalty now.’

"Why?"

The third prince stood hastily, but Moana looked at him coldly.

‘Who are you? Ah, the one who ordered Camille’s death. Arrest him immediately.’

Palace soldiers arrived, capturing the third prince and West Island's soldiers without resistance.

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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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