Raised the Villainous Daughter and Ran Away

Side Story II. France Corporation Party!

The western end of the Pedelian Empire.

After a long journey by carriage, we arrived at the port of Altria, also known as the City of Blue.

I could have crossed the continent and headed to the Free City of Pantheon, but that would have made the trip too long and I would have been tired, so I decided it would be better to go by sea.

“It smells bad.”

Frances got out of the carriage, her eyes wide open and her eyebrows furrowed. Her face was full of fatigue.

“Kuuuk, the sea is nearby!”

Kazar stretched his arms and yawned.

“But where did everyone go? Why are we the only ones here?”

Frances asked, looking around furtively.

“Mr. Kale and Ladea went to take care of the horse. Ms. Dahlia went to the shopping district with Helena and Laia.”

It hasn’t been that long since I arrived and I’m already wandering around.

“… You won’t get lost, right?”

“Wouldn’t that be so? Because you’re Dahlia.”

Frances nodded her head as if she understood those words.

“Yeah. I guess you can figure it out.”

If Dahlia is the leader of the group, she won’t go down a strange path in the middle. And the upright Helena is with her too.

It’s a bit tricky to wander around without an escort, but if you meet any strange people, Dahlia will take care of them.

I wasn’t particularly worried because she was there.

It’s amazing that such a trustworthy person has joined France Corporation. Our company is full of talented people.

“When is the departure?”

“It’s tomorrow morning.”

“Then there’s quite a bit of time left.”

It is now lunchtime, with the sun shining brightly. You can freely tour the port of Altoria until early evening.

“What should I do? If I’m tired, I can just find a place to stay and rest.”

When I asked Frances, she shook her head, pressing her temples as if her head was throbbing.

“You’re tired. Let’s find a place to stay and rest.”

When we first got on the carriage, Frances was the one who clung to me and kept kissing me, but she wasn’t used to long rides, so she just slept halfway through.

But still, he looked obviously tired.

“Then let’s start with finding a place to stay. Kazar? Can you contact everyone?”

“Yes. I gave you a magic communication tool for contact, so it should be fine.”

I nodded, saying, “Yes.” I looked around the surrounding accommodations while supporting Frances, who was staggering.

‘There is no suitable place.’

I don’t know about Nosuk and Ayoung, but I can’t give Frances some mediocre accommodation. She has to look carefully and choose carefully.

“Let’s move.”

I walked and entered a street lined with inns. Since this was a port, there were more taverns and inns for sailors than regular inns.

‘This is difficult.’

There are many beauties in our party. I don’t mean to belittle them with narrow-minded views, but when you’re drunk, you usually can’t see anything, so there’s a high chance that you’ll get involved in troublesome things.

“Can’t we go to a suitable place?”

Suddenly Frances asked, a look of displeasure rising from her expression.

“But it can’t be a strange place since it’s where Frances will be staying.”

I can tolerate myself sleeping on the streets or camping out, but I can’t tolerate Frances sleeping in shabby facilities.

“… I don’t really care?”

“No, absolutely not.”

Let’s cut it off firmly. Frances pursed her lips.

“Hey, how about there?”

Kazar, who had been quietly looking around, pointed with his finger. The name of the inn was Grancia. Unlike other places, it had a neat exterior.

‘It looks like it was built recently.’

If the exterior looks like that, the interior will be clean too. That’s where I decided to go.

“Let’s go there. Kazar? Call everyone.”

“yes.”

Kazar sent a message to everyone through the communication tool, and we entered the inn called Grancia.

Ding-. As expected, the interior was as clean as the exterior. However, the people inside were extremely vicious.

“… … .”

“… … .”

All eyes were focused this way.

France and Kazar are known as peerless beauties even in the social circles of the zodiac. It’s strange that they don’t catch their eye.

‘I didn’t want to do this, but.’

Before anything bad happens, I release my life force through Aura with the thought of taking action first.

Suddenly, the air inside the Grancia Inn became gloomy and an eerie atmosphere rose.

“Ugh, ugh!”

“Oh, huh!”

“Hey, let’s have a drink!”

The sailors who had been sending glances turned their heads. They all rubbed their forearms and the back of their necks, as if their skin was tingling with the ominous murderous intent.

“…What did you do?”

“nothing.”

“No. I suddenly felt strange.”

Frances had no senses and didn’t notice at all, but Kazar immediately sensed the change in energy.

“Okay. I’ll go and get it, so guard the Duke well.”

I said that and walked towards the cash register. The owner’s shoulders slumped as I walked forward.

“Do you have a room?”

“Here it is!”

“how much?”

“Uh… There are five left now…!”

That would be enough.

“What type of room?”

The innkeeper trembled and showed us the remaining rooms.

“More, one double room, two single rooms, one twin room, one suite… … .”

I nodded.

“What floor is it?”

“… They are all on the third floor.”

“Is there another room?”

“There is only the room I mentioned… … .”

I guess I won’t have to deal with the other guys. I put the bag of money on the counter.

“Rent the entire third floor. Accommodation fee includes meals. Keep the rest as a tip.”

The owner carefully checked his pockets. His pale face brightened.

“We will provide the best service!”

That’s why money is good.

* * *

The room layout has been completed appropriately.

The double room with two beds is for the Ladea sisters.

The twin room with two single beds features Kazar and Dahlia.

Kale and Helena each entered a single room with only one bed.

The most spacious suite was occupied by France and me, so everyone gathered in the suite.

“Was it really necessary to do that?”

“what?”

“I think it came out quite threatening.”

This girl doesn’t know anything.

“In a place like this, taking the initiative is important. If you underestimate someone, you’ll get yourself into trouble.”

This is a port city at the edge of the empire. Unlike other underworldly areas, it is not unsafe, but darkness exists everywhere.

“It’s exactly as the Duke of Gongjak said. Even when I was a mercenary, there were always a lot of people who didn’t know their place. It’s even more so here since there’s a bar attached to it.”

Kale chimed in on what I was saying. After all, he knows the ecosystem well, having lived a life as a mercenary in the wild.

“If that’s what you’re saying… … .”

Frances nodded, convinced by our firm opinion. I told everyone.

“We have to leave early tomorrow, so we only have free time until early evening. You can do whatever you want, but please make sure to bring your communication tools, and move in pairs at least.”

I tend not to be overprotective since they are all people who have stepped into the realm of the strong, but I can’t help it since it is a group trip.

Everyone nodded in agreement, as if they understood what I meant.

“Then, Uncle Kale! Come hang out with us!”

“…Why me?”

“You have to be the guardian.”

“You’re a sword master too.”

Ladea shook her head.

“Oh my. I told you this out of consideration because I thought you might be wandering around alone. You’re so clueless, tsk tsk.”

At that, Kale shook his body and said, “What?!”

“Anyway, let’s get out quickly.”

Sister Ladea and Kale are away.

“Mr. Kazar, can I go see the sea with you?”

“Yes. Since we’re at the port, we should see the sea.”

“Let’s go too, Helena. You wanted to see the sea, didn’t you?”

“Oh, yes!”

Kazar, Dahlia, and Helena also went out to see the sea in the harbor.

Silence fell on the suite that had been noisy until just now.

“… So it’s finally just the two of us left?”

Frances looked at me with a grin. At some point, she had pulled the hem of her skirt to the side, revealing her bare legs in a seductive manner.

You know what I like, and you’re flirting with me blatantly.

“You couldn’t do it because you were moving…? So… … .”

Actually, was this what I was aiming for from the beginning when I said I was going to rest? I chuckled and took off my coat.

“I’ll just do a little bit.”

“Ugh… … .”

I unbuttoned my shirt and walked over to Frances, who was sitting on the bed. She fell back and wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me closer.

* * *

Dawn, when the sun begins to rise.

As it was soon time to depart, we all packed our bags and headed to the port.

While everyone was half-asleep and half-asleep, Dahlia carefully observed my face, then opened her eyes shallowly and snapped.

“You did it more than five times yesterday, right?”

“… … .”

“Your face is in terrible condition.”

“… … .”

“Somehow. I heard the sound of the bed breaking.”

As a member of the National Assembly, I immediately noticed that I had far exceeded the recommended number of times. But what should I do? Both she and I have been holding back for several days while moving.

The reason his face is in a terrible state is because he has lost energy, but it is also because he is giving strength to Frances, who cannot get up.

“… Only yesterday was special.”

“Do you plan on just letting it slide like that every time?”

“… … .”

“Ha, regularity is really important.”

Dahlia shook her head, packed her bags, and boarded the ship with Helena. When she looked up, Kale and Ladea had already climbed aboard and were standing on the ship.

“Ah, ahem. Should we go up too…?”

Kazar, who had been watching me strangely, spoke quietly. He seemed embarrassed by the bite marks and red bruises on my neck that were clearly visible.

“… Okay.”

I boarded the ship, holding onto France’s hand tightly to keep her from falling.

Clean and smooth wood. As the tickets were expensive, the interior of the cruise ship was quite old-fashioned from the entrance.

“I expected it to be bigger than I expected from the outside, but it’s actually really big. The atmosphere is nice too.”

It was just as Frances said. Even though it was a cruise ship, I didn’t have high expectations because of the times, but this exceeded my expectations.

“Well, that’s okay.”

Kazar, nodding his head, looked around with profound eyes.

“I think I understand why rich aristocrats go on cruises. It makes you feel like a millionaire that no one can look down on.”

I thought it might just be a simple travel purpose, but I didn’t say it out loud. I couldn’t ruin the mood when they were looking at me with such interest.

“Let’s go to the assigned room. Kazar, unpack your bags too. Let’s all meet at the top deck.”

Kazar said, “Yes,” and walked away. We also moved to our assigned rooms.

So, after unpacking all the luggage we needed and going up to the deck, the signal to announce the departure of the cruise rang out.

-Wooosh!!

Frances frowned and covered her ears for a moment at the magnificent sound of the ship, but that was only for a moment. The ship soon set sail.

I felt the cool, refreshing sea breeze on the cruise ship as it cut through the waves.

Judging from everyone’s facial expressions, it seemed like they weren’t suffering from motion sickness.

“It’s peaceful. The air is fresh.”

“Yeah. That makes me feel better.”

Frances smiled and grabbed my hand tightly. She then placed it against her cheek. I could feel her smooth skin against the back of my hand.

“But is this ship headed straight to the Free City Pantheon?”

Frances asked, looking up at me. I smiled faintly and answered.

“No, I’ll stop by the Iron Kingdom along the way.”

“The Iron Kingdom?”

“Sailors need to rest too.”

“Aha, I see.”

Frances chuckled.

The cruise ship’s route starts from the Fedelian Empire, stops briefly in the Iron Kingdom, and then ends at the Free City of Pantheon.

By the way, this route was prepared by a nobleman who runs a shipyard when he heard that we, newlyweds, were going on a trip.

I refused to lend them the entire ship, saying it was burdensome, but when they cried and begged me to accept it, I agreed to only provide a route.

‘I have to look good to Descartes.’

That is the real power in the empire now. The position of the Duke of Descartes.

“Ugh… … .”

While I was enjoying the cool breeze on the deck and looking out at the vast horizon, France snuggled into my arms.

I could tell he was smelling my scent again as he pressed his lips to my neck and took a deep breath.

Let Frances enjoy it as it is.

‘Where is everyone?’

When I looked around, I saw that they were all gathered together, using Kazar’s magic to make a line, catch the fish, and play by repeatedly releasing them.

“Oh, this fish is so fucking big.”

“It’s a blue-backed fish. It’s good for your health.”

“Then you should eat it.”

“…Here?”

It was a strange game, but it was one that Kale enjoyed the most.

I thought the peaceful trip would continue like this… … .

“Emergency! Everyone on deck, please come inside! There’s a pirate ship ahead!”

Strange things have appeared.