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I am Leshimiiya Ausente, the youngest princess of the Ausente Kingdom, one of the three great nations, and my name was inspired by the Central’s mistress, Lady Fiiyanamia.
According to my father, the king, my name was chosen as a symbol of cordiality and reverence towards Lady Fiiyanamia, though I am uncertain of the efficacy of this claim.
Given its significance, certain factions within the nation find me intolerable, resulting in repeated attempts against my life.

In my twelve years of living, I have faced numerous perilous situations.

Thus, when bandits ambushed us on our way back to the capital, I viewed it as just another routine threat.
My primary concern, however, was that Lady Rulinia, Duke Hausen’s daughter, was with me in the carriage. Given our closeness in age and the Hausen family’s ties to the royal family, I stayed with―rather, was sheltered by―Rulinia… Runya’s family under the pretext of experiencing the outside world before entering the academy. More accurately, this arrangement was meant to distance me from the royal palace, which is currently in turmoil due to the antics of my half-brother, the 4th Prince Vilibart Ausente.

We were returning to the royal capital for the admission exam at the second academy both of us are to attend when our carriage was attacked by bandits.
Although we were no longer far from the capital, it’s not as if bandits are non-existent. We specifically have guards for such occasions, and the knights protecting me are more than capable of handling such bandits.
As I comforted the frightened Runya, who was unaccustomed to violent conflicts, I had no doubt about our escort’s ability to secure a victory. Sure enough, the guards managed to subdue the bandits almost effortlessly.

Perhaps our easy victory led to a sense of hubris.
None of us noticed the sweet scent permeating the air.
A mild, saccharine aroma wafted from the forest depths. And if the scent is this potent from here, its source must be sickeningly sweet at this point.

「Runya, you must escape, even if it’s just you.」
「Lady Mii? What’s wrong? The bandits are already subdued.」
「Runya, can’t you smell that sweet scent?」

I lacked the composure to explain everything fully, but having Runya attempt an escape without a clear understanding might compromise her safety.
I calmed myself enough to speak to Runya, and the spirited, tomboyish girl tilted her head in confusion.
Runya’s face then turned ghastly pale, contrasting the vividness of her red ponytail. Despite this, she quickly masked her apparent fear with a serious expression and met my gaze with her amber eyes.

「A stampede is coming, isn’t it?」
「Yes, that’s why you must escape, Runya.」
「No, I will never flee and leave you behind, Princess.」

The trembling of Runya’s clenched fists reveals that her brave words were merely a bluff.
Her endearing bravery brought me joy, yet it also left me frustrated.
I can’t predict the size of the impending monster stampede, but it’s easy to imagine it involving more than a hundred of the creatures. I’ve heard that the recent stampede at Estoque was so massive that A-rank monsters appeared, and their royal capital has yet fully recovered from the aftermath. However, the extensive damage is apparently not the sole reason for its prolonged recovery.

In their situation, the stampede was natural; ours, however, is artificially induced. This stampede is much smaller in scale, and even if it reaches Royal Capital Ausente, it’s unlikely to cause significant casualties.
However, it may paralyze several of the capital’s functions and will undoubtedly cause great unrest among the populace.

If we attempt to escape, we risk drawing the swarm of monsters with us, and there’s a chance they could catch up before we reach the safety of the capital. In such a case, our safety cannot be guaranteed.
That’s why I wanted at least Runya to escape and alert the royal capital.
But if I suggest this, she will surely insist that I escape instead.
After all, Runya is but of a duke’s family, while I am of royalty. Yet, as I am a princess low in the line of succession who has essentially renounced her rights by enrolling in the second academy, Runya’s survival would be better for Ausente as she possesses a special Job.

Moreover, I have received some training in sorcery, while Runya likely has never faced battle before.

Ultimately, without us being able to reach a decision, the swarm of monsters emerged.
The monsters, spilling out from the forest, scattered like clutter of spiders.
For better or for worse, I saw no fast-footed or high-ranking monsters among them. The swarm consisted only of goblins, orcs, and their higher evolutions, led by several C-rank monsters. Their sheer numbers were the only concern.
Although we have an individual of equal capability to B-rank hunters among our escorts, we are heavily outnumbered. It will be challenging to protect us while contending with so many enemies.

Nothing can be done. As I resigned myself to my fate, a small figure emerged between our carriage and the swarm of monsters.
This character seemed to be our peer, if not younger, albeit short for our age.
Clad in a long cloak, their deep black hair flowed into it.

The hair was then tucked underneath the cloak’s hood.
With this, all I can infer is that the individual was a humanoid of small stature.

And then… I heard a song. It had a mysterious melody and was sung with unfamiliar words, yet there was something captivating about the singer’s voice.
It was such an enchanting voice that I only realized that it was that of a girl’s after the song had ended.
I felt ashamed for being so entranced by a song during such a critical situation, but in that brief moment, the circumstances had shifted slightly.

The monsters initially heading towards us now focused solely on the girl. As if they had forgotten our presence entirely, they single-mindedly rushed towards her.
While this could be an ideal chance to escape, any attempt may redirect the monsters’ attention back to us. Should we flee? Should I direct the escorts to assist her? Or should we bolster our defenses, hoping she can diminish their numbers before we strike?

Regardless of the choice, I lack sufficient information about the girl to make a decision.
As I remained conflicted, she took action.
As if performing a dance, she twirled while projecting her limbs outward.
It was a simple motion, yet she possessed the polish and grace of a high noble—or even royalty—which enchanted me once again. I’m certain it wasn’t just me; anyone versed in the art of dance would be captivated by the beauty of her movements.

New character introduction and the first real battle in a while? Now that’s a treat!

This chapter we’re introduced to the princess of the new kingdom Ausente. It is interesting how her existence is linked to Fii and Central, while it might not be reciprocal since Fii probably doesn’t care. We were also offhandedly introduced to the fourth prince who made the absolute fumble with Central. And since she and her friend are enrolling to the second academy, that makes them classmates with the girls. And at the last part, we have our girls enchanting people again. If I remember, this is probably the second time they ever had a large audience (that wasn’t their enemy). First was at the manor during the rebellion, and now this.

Now then, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please feel free to comment. Stay healthy, stay safe, and have a nice day~!