"Thank you."
Those words, spoken by the princess, undoubtedly carried great weight.
"You protected everyone in Shimosa, both those inside the castle and those in the castle town. I'm sure they are all deeply grateful to you."
Now that's more like a princess.
They all thought the same thing.
"You lot—your heads are held far too high! Princess, there is no need for you to be so polite to people like them!"
The young guard frowned as he rebuked them.
Kiyohime turned around and shot him a cold glare.
Startled, the guard immediately backed down and retreated.
"We are deeply honored by your praise."
Sakumura was the most courteous among them—though being praised by someone from the Tokugawa Shogunate felt somewhat strange to him.
"We are deeply honored by your praise."
Miyamoto Musashi copied Sakumura's gesture.
"I am as well."
"I am as well."
Fujimaru Ritsuka and Fuuma Kotarou followed suit and bowed.
"There's no need to be so stiff, Lord Fujimaru Ritsuka. There is no difference in standing between Kiyohime and Lord Fujimaru Ritsuka!"
Kiyohime said with a blush, though she at least managed to maintain her composure.
"All right, all right. Then, Lord Fujimaru Ritsuka, let us get to the point."
Her expression finally turned serious.
Though beneath that seriousness was a trace of unease.
"You have all heard, haven't you?"
"The rumors spreading through Shimosa recently, concerning me."
Fujimaru Ritsuka nodded and answered seriously.
"We have. In fact, that is why we came."
"They say... you received a letter. What was written in it could not have been anything normal, could it?"
Fujimaru Ritsuka did not immediately conclude that it was a death threat, since they still did not know the letter's contents.
"Yes, that is correct. The contents of the letter could only be described as...