Fake Cinderella

In the dusk, which began to stain blue, there is an overflowing light beneath my eyes.

While we were fleeing underground, apparently it was time for the sun to rule on the ground.

Brilliant and radiant light, hiccups, hiccups… it was blurry and dark yet swallowed up as if to anoint darkness to bring daylight to the earth.

Me and Lady Elaine often watch the sight silently.

"... what a beautiful sight..."

I was annoyed by that voice, which sounded swallowing somewhere.

(It was in the basement of the Royal Palace that we escaped... and yet nothing blocks our sight, I'm sure...)

He looked around for a moment and accidentally held on to his forehead, realizing that there was a wall higher than his height behind us.

(Ahhh......)

I made fun of it. The sigh spills unexpectedly.

"... Your Highness?

Master Elaine leans her neck in wonder.

"... out... out"

"And?

"Yes, this is outside the royal palace."

Yes. This was the outside of the outer wall surrounding the Royal Palace.

Look up at the wall behind you. It is three times my height… it stands and its beauty is heavy-duty intimidating. Going up this wall won't be possible with a positive attack first.

There's another outermost wall, but the outermost wall is more like a fence than a wall. Since this is only the separation between the premises of the royal palace and the king's capital, it can be said that this white outer wall is the essence, the castle wall that protects the royal palace.

If you look forward and do your gaze a little lower, the outermost fence will be in your eyes.

(Whatever you think, it's easier to go outside than go back to the royal palace)

It's not like I've never been outside. I have been taken outside the royal palace with patience, though not enough to count.

But it was always absolutely safe.

(Because I was with His Royal Highness...)

I have always felt breathless in the royal palace, and I should have dreamed of going out free, but I feel strongly anxious that I don't know what better than the joy of feeling free when the opportunity to go out comes around like this.

And most importantly, when this subtlety is that there's always no one to protect you!

(... I should have been okay on my own the whole time)

Of course, I know I can't do anything without the help of everyone at my own young age, but I was going to stand firmly next to His Highness myself.

(Yet I relied so much on you...)

I'm honestly glad that I was able to go outside, although it was in this situation. But I want the presence of someone who stands beside me.

(Master Nadir......)

Husband...... His Royal Highness Prince Nadir Ethelbert-Dear-Vera-Dardier.

It's probably already a habit to look up to you even though you know you're not there.

Take one deep breath and clench your fists for a long time to regain your feelings.

(This will probably be preached to you...)

But I can't help it. At that time, I didn't have a choice not to run, and I don't think it was a mistake to run into the basement.

(I don't have the courage to wait quietly for help in that place)

"... Your Highness, where are we?

Elaine, who was probably in love with the figure of Wang Du for the first time, also asked me with an anxious look that he finally could afford to turn his attention to the area.

"... outside the royal palace"

I thought it was an awesome stupid answer, but I don't know any more.

I'll keep watching... but that's really all I know.

(There's a tower, there's a tower... er, from the view I've been looking at a lot, I think it's probably a lot better than the north)

By and large, the combination of Lady Elaine and me is too harsh.

(Probably boxed for one or two fights in this country, we say)

"I apologize for involving Her Highness in my circumstances."

Lady Elaine bowed her head on her knees on the spot.

"Please stand. It may not be Lady Elaine's fault."

"But..."

"Maybe I'm the one being targeted"

"... I don't know if that's possible, but I think I'm more likely"

The thoughtful Elaine shakes her neck to the side as she unwinds.

"It doesn't bother me here. Let's start with the future."

I touched Lady Elaine's shoulder and urged her to rise again.

Given your identity, it's normal for everyone to kneel in front of me, but I still can't get used to it.

"Are you talking about the future?

"Yes."

I touch my surroundings with pets as I move my face closer to the wall behind me and observe.

While I was in love with strange scenery, the exit that was supposed to have been empty until just now disappeared.

(I don't see any joints...)

I know this is some kind of tease, too, but touching it doesn't make the exit or the door appear.

(... I think that means this is a one-way exit)

It's the type that can only be opened from the inside, maybe, and you can't go back from here.

"… it seems impossible to return from the exit I just used"

"Well......"

What shall we do, Master Elaine gives a bewildered look?

"If you go around the perimeter of this outer wall, there may be an entrance somewhere..."

"But in the meantime, the suspicious will make a mistake, or if you find out with us, you'll make a scene."

"Yeah, that's right."

That's not good, and I and Lady Elaine agreed.

"Besides, it's not always on your side that you'll find me first"

Sometimes the guy who's been after us just now finds us first.

"... So what should we do?

Master Elaine looked at me with anxiety.

I'm the one who wants to ask that, but I can afford how I feel.

I'm used to unexpected situations, though I'm not very happy.

(... I don't think it's much more surprising than when you first woke up in this world)

So I guess I can afford to deal with the rough stuff.

(... oh well)

At the same time, I fell to my heart.

(I hope you don't think of Lady Elaine as an old lady)

Although the words may not be very good, Lady Elaine is a princess who has been kept in a very sturdy box all the way to this age...... or protected.

There is something like a lack of voluntary aggressiveness, so to speak, because of the ultimate public ignorance and because of the strong asylum that has been granted.

The current situation is not that I can speak of people either... maybe worse than that, but the experience of living as a thirty-three year old society, albeit in a different world, has helped me a lot.

So I don't hesitate to actively move myself when things like this happen.

In contrast, it seems that Elaine has no aggressiveness whatsoever as to how she would like to do this herself.

I think that's probably what the home environment has been like since childhood.

(Normally I'd be in such a spoiled state, absolutely broke somewhere...)

Normally, Elaine's protector, along with her cultural shock at the difference between her home and her fiancée when she got married, would destroy her values until then... The knight was the old Duke of Grachez, and his protection was powerful and iron walls - - and as a result, she came this far, in an impossible state.

Regardless of that, I wouldn't be able to move a step from here forever if I were reluctant to say that Master Elaine is an elderly man.

"Dear Elaine,"

"Yes."

"Even if I'm doing this here, I probably won't pick you up"

"... Yes"

Master Elaine is honest with me. This eagle frying from the virtues of growing up is difficult. It's also gratifying not to make a weird noise.

"... don't think it's reckless, but let's go down to the city for once"

"To the city, is it?

"Yes."

The Royal Palace is on a small high hill. … or that all the areas containing this small tall hill are royal palace grounds. Being outside the outer walls seems to mean we've gone way down the basement before we know it.

(I barely went down the stairs...)

"For once, I'm on Royal Palace property because I'm not entirely from the hills yet, but I think it's better to leave here once and get attituded and then sneak home rather than be found as suspicious or fussy in a place like this"

"... right. So, if so, I wonder if it would be a good idea for you to stay at home in Wangdu."

Lady Elaine said in a hesitant tone.

(... well. I've been thinking about going back to the royal palace, but Lady Elaine doesn't have to go back to the royal palace.)

"Thank you for that."

I had decided to go down to the city to get home from the outside, but I had decided exactly what to do.

(... it's easier to return to the Duke's house than to the Royal Palace, isn't it?)

I didn't want to leave near the royal palace if possible, which was my honest feeling, but even if I was nearby, I didn't have the help to go back. Even though it was a way to get back, it was enough to think that I could run into the closest outhouse and go back from there to the royal palace, or sneak back using the underground passage connected from the outside.

(I also feel a little reckless......)

Although the people who live in the King's Capital care little, this King's Capital, Al Greer, also has a capital in the basement… there are urban ruins sunk in the ground.

Yes. Nothing is built on ancient ruins but the Royal Palace. This entire king's capital, Al Greer, lies atop the ruins of the city.

(... Master Nadir said. Arsey-Nay said he was involved not only in the royal palace, but also in the city planning of the king's capital)

That legendary genius architect, Arsey-Nay, not only used the Royal Palace, but also the Wang Capital to create it again.

No man can dwell in the basement of the king's capital.

But there is a path that can pass - an underground path that runs endlessly, just like the royal palace.

(Unlike the underground of the Royal Palace, where there are no guards or watchmen, the majority of them are waterways, and they are in danger in a different sense)

And naturally, there is a path that leads to the royal palace.

There are two things I know.

One was taught by His Royal Highness Nadir, a passage connecting the Royal Palace to the place where the first administration was located, which is now a stuffing block for the Central Division.

I've actually used this before. It's just a place used as a central division stuffing, so I'm more vigilant than normal. You won't be able to enter the premises without revealing who this one is, and revealing your identity will make a fuss.

The second passage connects the cathedral of the West Palace to the Cathedral of the Wang Capital.

Although I have never used this, I know it can be used. Because I heard in detail from Shion that he actually uses it a lot.

(The problem is that the road above ground doesn't match the road below ground and I don't know much about the road)

It's a big difference between listening and actually walking!

Besides, unlike getting lost on the ground, getting lost underground is no longer a stray, but a shipwreck. Probably life-threatening.

I don't think it's Dada that the researchers at the Royal Palace say 'underground labyrinth' or 'Wangdu labyrinth'. I don't feel like stepping into a place like that without knowing the exact path.

(In my case, knowing the exact path is dangerous!

I wasn't really aware of it because His Royal Highness always held me up and moved me, but thank you. I'm pretty directional tone-deaf.

And I also have some reason to hesitate to rush into the outhouse.

This is because the two outlying houses in the king's capital are now the queens of the former king… the first queen of Euria and the second queen of Argenta are the main ones.

In other words, if you rush into the outhouse, Her Royal Highness Lady Euria or Her Royal Highness Lady Arjena will find out about this one.

(I would also like to avoid that, if possible)

So Master Elaine's offer was very much appreciated by me.

(So, you think it's a good idea to sneak a messenger out of the Duke's house and have him pick you up)

"The King's Capital Mansion of the Duke of Grachez house was the northernmost part of the Old Town, wasn't it?

In my head, I think of a rough map of the Wang capital.

I know more or less where there is. I just know, though I've never been there in real life.

"Yes, just outside the north tower... it's very busy every day."

(............ Then if the bell rings, you'll know more or less where)

I think people who live in Wangdu can hear the bells of the shrine.

So if you can hear the northern bell from among the sounds you hear and figure out which direction it's from, you can go that way.

(Problem is, it's probably not a walk away)

Though the heels of today's shoes are almost petanco and very easy to walk, neither me nor Master Elaine can walk that long. Because I don't have the basic health in the first place. I don't feel like even the last ten shifts are a tenth of my strength.

(And that's this outfit)

Though neither of them are usually gorgeous, they look like gowns made from quality fabrics and laces that are luxurious. Besides, it is quite thin because I didn't envisage going outside or anything like that.

(The Wang du is still cold...)

On the calendar I say spring is here, but I need a cape or coat to go out.

Kushun, and Lady Elaine sneezed in good time.

(... yeah. I need my jacket ASAP)

It's strange because once I start to realize it, I feel kind of very cold. I can stay not so aware of the cold because it's moving now, but I'm going to stay up late. If that happens, the temperature will drop even further.

Inspect again in your head, looking at your fitness.

(Shmies on top of my skin and a soft type of corset and lace pannier on top of it. Then underdresses and overgowns...... you must be wearing enough layers, but some, you're not really cold proof)

Specifically, around the Decor... around the neck.

Now the type of gown that is starting to fashion is one with a big open decor, as are the gowns I wear.

This will have a design that opens up the more decorte you wear at a later time. In the morning it's about as open around my neck as I am now wearing, but also as bold as some people dare to shoulder at night. It's still beginning to fashion, so although many people are looking at things, some of them may show up more daring to look at their breasts.

Master Elaine wears a type of dress that hides around her neck in a shawl, so it should be a lot warmer than mine, but still it won't be something you'll ever need in this outfit.

(... Plus, I think it would be very noticeable if you were walking around the city in this outfit)

The overall colour of the clothes of the people travelling through the far-sighted city is dull. This is because the most common colors are gray for coats, capes and other cold gear.

Alice told me that coats and the like tend to be dirty, so they all tend to choose a color where the dirt doesn't stand out. Most popular is gray. The next one will be brown or khaki. Wouldn't the least noticeable stain be black or blue? I thought, they don't pick much because dyeing black or blue is expensive.

The color of Elaine's gown is cream and the color of my gown is bright peacock green. Both will stand out in gray or brown.

(But we need to get down here for now...)

In my head, I began to consider going down to the lower town where I could see under my eyes.