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"N-no, no, no!!! Wait a minute!! Why, how is it that Maria has been kidnapped!? Maybe she's just late today!"
Well, to someone who doesn't know Maria normally, the fact that I know her wouldn't be a reason for concern.
But that doesn't matter.
Just because I was born a prince, I still have ordinary memories from my past life, and I don't want to act high and mighty because of that, nor do I feel like I can bear the responsibility.
But only for now, it's different.
I have to protect Maria, no matter what.
That person got caught up in this because of me. Because she gave me everything I needed to live in this world.
"Bossa."
"Y-yes!"
I got off the bed, grabbed Bossa's cheeks who was still kneeling by the bedside with both hands, and made him look up.
"This isn't a request. It's an order, okay? Your response is either 'yes' or 'understood,' Bossa. What's your answer?"
"U-understood..."
Bossa's voice trembled slightly at my words.
But, well, I'll forgive him for that energetic reply.
"If you understand, immediately tell General Baltzar the situation and call back Master Cyrillos. Let me tell you, Master Cyrillos also thinks of Maria as family. He's my caretaker who raised me, but it's no exaggeration to say that he raised me alongside my father and mother until they made up. General Baltzar's misjudgment caused this situation, so be prepared to be punched in his place."
"Y-yes..."
He probably easily imagined it. I chuckled at Bossa, who forced a smile with a strained face, and then took my hands away from his cheeks.
"Alright then. I'm going to get dressed, so Bossa, just tidy up the curtains. As for the bed... I guess it can stay as it is."
I quickly moved to the dressing room next to the bedroom, chose some casual clothes, and changed.
I lightly folded the pajamas I was wearing and put them on the sofa in the dressing room.
When I quickly returned to the bedroom, Bossa had just finished gathering the curtains.
"L-Lord Raymond, that was quick. Did you change by yourself?"
I grabbed Bossa's arm as I passed by, who looked a little surprised, and moved towards the private room.
"W-wait, Lord Raymond!?"
"I'm going to General Baltzar right away to find out when Maria went missing."
"Yes, well. That's fine, but! Please listen to me a little!!"
Bossa pulled the arm I was grabbing in the opposite direction, stopping in place.
Bossa, who knelt down to meet my gaze, looked straight into my eyes, so I followed suit and looked straight back at him.
"Why are you in such a hurry? Maria is the daughter of the Grimaldi Duke family, after all. If someone harms her, the Grimaldi family will come after them, so even if she was kidnapped, you don't have to be so anxious, right?"
"Ha. Do you think the people who kidnap others follow such human principles? Then the Knights are only dealing with well-behaved people."
At those words, Bossa's hand that was holding my arm twitched.
"The survival rate of kidnapping cases depends on time. If the purpose is murder or rape, the survival rate is even lower. It's fine if this is a misunderstanding. But what if the guys who don't like me kidnapped Maria as a threat to subordinate me? We're already one step behind the opponent at the point when the incident occurred. It's natural to be anxious."
"............I understand. But please stay in your room today, okay? I'll call Cyrillos back and have him guard you. So, can you leave Maria's matter to us?"
"Then you have two days."
I held up two fingers in front of Bossa's eyes.
Sweat broke out on Bossa's face at the small number.
Too few? Too soon? Say whatever you want. It's more than enough, isn't it? It's too long.
"If you can't find Maria between today and tomorrow, I'll start moving in earnest, so keep that in mind. Today, I'll be with my mother, so please provide security up to there. Make sure to get Master Cyrillos to me by tomorrow. If you can't find her by the day after tomorrow, I'll expect you to follow my instructions, so be prepared."
As Cosimo Bossa, the prodigal son, talking to Lord Raymond, had I ever felt this much pressure before?
I certainly thought he was intelligent.
However, I thought it was just something appropriate for his age.
But, I may need to rethink this.
What seven-year-old even thinks about the survival rate after a kidnapping?
If he had actually been involved in a kidnapping since he was a child, well, I wouldn't want to know, but I could still understand it.
But, of course, Lord Raymond, who has never left the palace as royalty, shouldn't have such an experience.
"Hey, what are you doing? Let's go quickly, Bossa."
"Ah, yes. Sorry."
I seemed to have been lost in thought.
Startled by Raymond-sama who was pulling my hand, I approached Raymond-sama who was a few steps ahead.
"Then, I will escort you to Lady Maya's room. May I have your hand?"
I handed out my hand thinking I would be turned down considering our interactions so far, but Raymond-sama obediently took it.
Raymond-sama tightly gripped my hand, my fingertips, I noticed the coldness of the hand, and the trembling of the fingertips.
I was slightly relieved that this child who wasn't like a child was still a child after all.
If only this child could depend on his beloved Gerald-sama, he could be protected.
Not wearing a mask, not as a false identity, but as Rashid Gertzen.
"......Shall I carry you?"
"Don't get carried away. It's just for today."
Ah, but. I wonder if I'm not cute enough?
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