Carrier Falcon Princess

Even after that, the princess called his name once more. 

‘Valhayle, you…’

She called his name just before she fell unconscious again. The way she spoke his name was so intimate that Valhayle had to recall if they had actually officially met or not. 

But it wasn’t possible. 

Since the first thing he learned growing up as a Lumares was to remember people. And to greet them according to their status. 

In his memory, he had never officially met the 8th princess.

‘…Since it’s the first time we are meeting?’

So he was quite relieved when she said that. 

It was a relief that the 8th princess didn’t know that Valhayle saw her in the fountain 2 years ago and that there was no other reason than desperation that she called his name so dearly. 

‘Yes.’

She was unconscious for a while so she just needs a little more time to get used to everything. It was not strange that she is behaving differently than usual.

Things were different from then and now. The emotional distance between allies must be more intimate since it’s during the war. 

But Valhayle still couldn’t remove all his doubts. 

He could understand that she wasn’t avoiding her anymore but he couldn’t understand how she could call his name so intimately as if she had called him many times. 

Even excluding the way she says his name, she behaved and looked at him as if she already knew him.

Logically, it didn’t make sense that one’s behavior could change this drastically.

“I don’t understand.”

Valhayle frowned and pressed his temples. 

The princess’s actions continued to be strange. 

She acted like she wanted to find something out from him. 

‘Trying to find out something from me, huh…’

Her curious eyes. 

Valhayle wasn’t comfortable with that. 

After some time, he will eventually report to the princess about everything that had happened. 

He would answer her with complete honesty. 

But why is she trying to find something out of me?

While claiming she can’t remember anything to everything he asks? 

That attitude reminded him of something but he couldn’t exactly tell. 

‘It felt like she has a motive…’

A motive? 

Valhayle’s eyes widened. 

“…”

He thought about the report Sir Luke made regarding the castles of the Central region.

‘Apparently some royal heirs had meetings with the castle owners. I looked forward into it and I found out that those castle owners owned some of the most important castles for defense.’

There were royal heirs that were suspiciously involved with the strange parts of this war. 

Valhayle naturally thought of the 8th princess.

He didn’t think the 8th princess who would spend her days in her room would be one of those suspicious royal heirs. 

However, the actions she showed when she woke up kept bothering him. 

The fact that she mentioned the bird the moment she regained consciousness. 

He couldnt’ stop thinking that there was a chance that the only confirmed living royal heir could be one of the suspicious royal heirs. 

And that suspicion made him hesitate making the 8th princess’s survival known. 

He contemplated for a long moment and decided. 

‘I should observe the 8th princess more carefully.’

And ordered at the squire outside. 

“Call for the captain of the elite team.”

He recalled everyone who knew about the 8th princess. 

“Be confidential about her highness. If rumor spreads, there will be consequences.”

Valhayle commanded the five knight commanders and the elite team who knew about the princess’s rescue. 

The normal soldiers and militia who were involved in the rescue mission weren’t notified of the goal of the mission so it was only them that knew. 

By doing so, Valhayle prevented others knowing about the 8th princess. It was only possible because it was during the strict wartimes. 

Until the suspicion that she could have assisted the enemy is cleared, this was necessary. 

Valhayle hated the fact that he was even suspecting the 8th princess. 

*･ﾟ:༻✦༺･ﾟ:*

“Ah, I’m gonna go mad.”

Valhayle’s paranoia was worse than she thought.

While Zelle recovered, she was kept inside the tent for 4 straight days. 

Valhayle must have done a good job keeping her confidential since no one explained anything to her. 

Zelle tried to find out if her bird self was alive but it was unfruitful. 

While tolerating the boredom and frustration from having to stay in the tent only, Zelle patiently reassured herself. 

As soon as they let me out, I’ll go look for the bird.

But days passed and Zelle was still unallowed to leave her tent.

Zelle grew impatient. 

‘This is illogical!!’

Like come on. 

You save a royal heir and hide her away?

Treating a royal heir like a puppet is treachery. Treachery!

Zelle huffed and puffed then started thinking of other ways. 

‘Yes. At the moment, Sir Valhayle is higher in status than me.’

If times were different, Zelle would be of higher status since she was a royal heir but it was wartime. 

During wartime, the head commander of the 3 militaries were considered 2nd to the king’s authority. 

‘So in other words, I can only resolve this is through Sir Valhayle.’

With that conclusion, she waited for Valhayle determinedly.

“It’s Valhayle.”

Valhayle came by at night in the excuse of ‘visit’ when in fact it was his surveillance. 

Zelle smiled at him. 

A smile was a universal sign of goodwill. If she wanted to handle things well she should smile. 

But when Valhayle saw her smile he hesitated and stopped at the doorway. 

“Aren’t you coming in?”

Valhayle answered stiffly. 

“No.”

Zelle was dumbfounded. 

Hah, why? Are you avoiding me just because I smiled?

Valhayle asked in a distance. 

“How are you feeling today?”

“I’m alright. I think I can even ride a horse now.”

She subtly hinted that she wanted to go outside now but the answer was quick.

“That’s not possible.”

Zelle pushed back her sudden surge of anger. 

“Why don’t you come in instead of just… Standing there?”

Valhayle hesitated but approached her. 

“Yes, your highness.”

“Until when do I have to stay inside?”

Kind voice and gentle question! This is perfectly said!

Zelle watched Valhayle in hope of a positive answer. 

But Valhayle answered coldly. 

“I think it’s best that you stay in here until we can ensure that there won’t be any difficulties serving you.”

Haah. Zelle sighed internally. 

Why not just be direct and tell me that I will grounded longer. 

“If this is for my protection, I’m alright. This is our camp after all.”

Valhayle raised his brows.

He made the face of ‘Us? Did you just dare say us?’.

‘Wow, this is getting more and more frustrating.’

I just called the camp of my country, our camp. Do you have to make such a face?

Valhayle got up, getting ready to leave. 

“There are not many people that know about your rescue in Roheneim. I didn’t announce it. So please understand that I have to restrict your movements.”

H-Hold on. 

“Why… Didn’t you announce it?”

“…”

He remained silent and stared back at Zelle. 

“Since I am not certain if it’s alright to let everyone know about your survival.”

Zelle mulled over his words. 

Not certain to make my survival known? 

Is there a reason why he isn’t? Even thought she was a powerless royal heir, just the fact that she is a royal could raise the soldiers’ morale. 

Since Granoir has also been threatening the military with her life. 

Zelle hid her confusion and asked. 

“And when do you think you’ll be certain?”

Valhayle answered shortly. 

“When all the things that are keeping me uncertain is gone.”

Zelle’s jaw dropped in awe. 

‘What in the world?’

Is it even possible for someone to be completely certain during war?

While Zelle was still in shock, Valhayle excused himself. 

“Then, I’ll come visit again tomorrow.”

And left swifltly. 

Zelle sat on her bed. 

“This doesn’t feel right…”

She was realizing more and more that it was more difficult to deal with Valhayle than she was a bird. 

“Being nice to him doesn’t work at all.”

Zelle laid on the bed. 

She was most concerned about one thing. 

“Why aren’t we going forward?”

She wanted to know about her bird body’s survival but other than that she also wanted to know about the camp’s location. 

Zelle had thought that after the rescue of the princess, they would swiflty complete the retrieval of the Central region but Valhayle didn’t make any moves ever since she woke up. 

‘War is all about timing. If so, why isn’t he doing anything?’

Even at this moment, the Granoir army would be heading this way. 

Since she didn’t know anything about the current army’s state, Zelle was about to go insane. 

On top of that, the fact that it was Valhayle that was keeping her from this information made her even more mad. 

“This is no different than a bird in a cage.”

She grumbled. 

‘Even when I was a bird, I was kept free…’

Then Zelle was struck with an idea. 

Yes, a bird cage.

A bird cage has an entrance. I can’t just wait here.

‘Alright. I will escape my bird cage.’

Zelle’s eyes glowed in determination. 

She had to find out about the current flow of the war. 

Zelle was determined to find out no matter what.