The Young Lady Has Disappeared

Arhan.

He was one of the pro-Sultan faction who served the Sultan with all his heart as the chief of the Itala tribe, the largest tribe in the desert kingdom of Karain.

Although called a tribe, the Itala tribe, which was no different from a huge city built on the desert, was the tribe that provided the greatest strength to the Sultan, and the same was true for Prince Bahan of the Kingdom of Karain.

That's why he had entrusted this to Arhan, the most reliable person. But why would the imperial princess show up for just bringing in one of the empire's adult magazines?

While Bahan's thoughts were racing, Arhan was charging towards the aforementioned maid with a broad smile on his face. Could a mere maid possibly handle him, one of the top five warriors in the Kingdom of Karain? In Bahan's opinion, it was not at all possible.

Of course, he wasn't unaware of the rumors about her. The rumor that she had single-handedly subdued two knights of the Grand Duchy of Endain. But Bahan didn't really believe that rumor. After all, how could someone with such slim-looking arms and waist handle knights? Although Bahan himself wasn't particularly muscular as he liked to indulge in books usually, he had not neglected training as a member of the desert.

Because he was Bahan, he knew that the woman before him didn't have a single muscle capable of properly exerting force. No, rather, because Bahan was well-versed in theory, he knew even more. That if the maid and Arhan collided as they were, it would be the maid who would be shattered.

"Wait... Arhan!"

That's why Bahan tried to call Arhan to stop. But Arhan, whether he didn't hear or not, collided with the maid. Just as he was about to close his eyes tightly at the horrible scene that was about to unfold, something surprising happened.

The maid's two arms move. She pushes away the fist coming down on her with her palm. The smooth movement is like that of a butterfly. Moving subtly diagonally, the maid perfectly avoids the fist thrust at her and extends her other hand.

Of course, Arhan hadn't trained in martial arts just for show, so he didn't panic and somehow regained his collapsed posture, blocking the maid's extended hand. But blocking it was a mistake.

"You should have grabbed it."

With Bahan's murmur, the maid uses the repelled hand as momentum and moves her other hand. The hand that has suddenly clenched into a fist reaches Arhan's chin in an instant.

Thud-! Despite thinking there was no strength at all, a surprisingly loud impact sound fills the lake.

In that series of attacks and defenses, Arhan staggered but didn't faint. Rather, he smiled as if it was even more interesting and charged towards the maid again. Like a fighting bull that has seen red, not falling down. But the maid still blocked Arhan's fist with her characteristically expressionless face. After several exchanges like this, Arhan, seeming to think this wouldn't do, glanced at Bahan.

"May I get a bit more serious, Your Highness?"

"...Do you think you can?!"

As Bahan, who had come to his senses, jumped up, Arhan looked at the maid regretfully. However, the maid was just checking her clothes with an expressionless face as if she had no thoughts at all.

"Hmm. I see. Maid."

"...Is that so."

The maid, who had somehow returned to a proper posture, stands in front of the imperial princess. It was a movement like that of a ghost. Are the empire's maids usually like this?

"I don't know what you're thinking, but you're wrong."

"Y-Your Highness Imperial Princess."

"Yes. Prince Bahan. In my opinion, the items you brought in are not very good. Right?"

"Th-That's true, but."

Of course, it was natural since it was the empire's adult literature. As Bahan rubbed his face in embarrassment, the imperial princess, gaining confidence from his appearance, spoke boldly.

"Alright. Let's check it out. Catherine!"

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Let's check what items he brought in!"

"W-Wait. Didn't you already know?!"

"Do I need to know the specific items you're bringing in?"

Oh, that shouldn't be. The thought that instantly entered Bahan's mind was exactly that. However, Arhan had already given up and was standing far away, and the maid was opening the crate. The crate contained all sorts of items. From general books to hide the adult literature to food ingredients.

"Hmm, nothing unusual so far."

"W-Wait a minute. Isn't that enough?"

"No. Judging by your reaction earlier, there's something criminal in here. I need to find it."

Criminal, is it criminal? It's not that it's not a crime. After all, the distribution of adult literature is illegal in the empire. Of course, it's spread among commoners through word of mouth, but it's not something a prince of a kingdom should be looking at. Having reached that thought, Bahan hurriedly rushed towards the crate.

"Ah, Arhan! Help me!"

"I think I've found it, Your Highness."

"Ah, no!"

Although Bahan desperately sent a signal for help to Arhan, Arhan just shook his head with an amused face.

"Accept it like a man, Your Highness."

"Uwaah!"

Bahan's face turns bright red, and the maid's face changes strangely as she opens the book. No, she was expressionless. She was expressionless, but it was the reaction of someone who had seen something unseemly. To think that the maid who had been acting like an iron lady until now would have such a reaction. Feeling strange, the imperial princess tilted her head and approached the maid.

"Hm? A book? What kind of book is it to make you react like that? Is it related to politics? Or ideology?"

"...Would you like to see for yourself?"

"N-No, Your Highness. Really. Really, you can't."

"Oh, get off! I need to check what that book is!"

The imperial princess, who kicked off Bahan who was clinging to her trouser leg, slowly opened the book. Then, seeing the embarrassing illustrations that immediately appeared, she closed the book right away.

"Th-This is!"

"Yes. It's an adult book."

"Wh-Wh-Wh-Wh-What kind of book are you bringing in!"

"Th-That's why I said you couldn't!"

"Is this the time for you to get angry!"

"...The prince's hand touched my thigh. Ah. Aah. You mustn't do this, Your Highness."

"Why are you reading that out loud!"

The imperial princess, who snatched the book from the maid who had somehow started reading it aloud, let out a deep sigh. Meanwhile, it was strangely infuriating because there was no emotion at all in the maid's voice.

"W-Well, I'll confiscate this for now."

"It seems the Imperial Princess is quite a prude."

"...If you say one more word, I'll rely on my authority."

"..."

The imperial princess, who had elegantly rephrased that she would crush her with power, put the book inside her bosom. The maid who saw this seemed to want to say something and moved her mouth, but soon closed it again. Bahan let out a big sigh watching this scene.

"Anyway, it's that kind of book."

"It wasn't drugs or weapons..."

"Who would bring such dangerous things into the academy?!"

"Prince Belrus would."

"Prince Belrus?"

This time, Bahan tilted his head with genuinely surprised round eyes and chuckled.

"Come on. That's impossible. Where is there a goody-two-shoes like him?"

"Goody-two-shoes?"

"Yes. Well, I haven't known him for long. He's a guy who can't even swear lightly. Would such a person smuggle in drugs or weapons?"

"...Then who told you about this place?"

"A senior. One year above us."

"Hmm."

The imperial princess furrowed her brow at Bahan's answer. Meanwhile, the maid, who had somehow found all the adult books, handed them to the imperial princess. Prince Bahan wanted to cry at the situation where his treasures were being confiscated, but he didn't want to show the shameful sight of crying over losing erotic books, so he kept his mouth shut.

"Well, I'll let it go this time, but if you're caught smuggling again, I'll officially report it to the faculty."

"Ah, yes. Thank you."

"Alright."

The imperial princess and the maid who let out a sigh start to disappear. Bahan, who had been watching their backs for a long time, slumped down on the ground when the two had completely disappeared.

"Phew, I survived."

"You should have been more careful."

"Shut up, Arhan. By the way, was that maid really that strong? Strong enough to use weapons?"

"Yes. Well, her hand-to-hand combat was better than most people. At that age, to be at that level, she must be a genius who's been training since childhood."

Bahan widened his eyes at Arhan's evaluation. That maid who didn't even seem to have muscles?

"...Why are they using such a person as a maid? The Fortus family."

"It's the Fortus family, after all."

"That's true."

No matter what eccentricities they display, it's all summed up with the single phrase "It's the Fortus family." That was the value of the Fortus family name. Whether it's a good name value or not, I'm not sure.

"...Anyway. Let's go back. I don't know when the next time will be, but we probably can't use this place for a while, so wait for the next contact."

"Are we doing this again after getting caught once?"

"They took them away. Ah, really, who's been talking about this? Damn."

Bahan kicked a stone on the ground in frustration and glanced at Arhan.

"Anyway, good work today."

"Yes, Your Highness."

After confirming that Arhan had disappeared driving the small boat, Bahan moved his feet. It was a day where he gained nothing and only became curious about the identity of the person who told the imperial princess about this place and the identity of the maid.