Interlude: The King’s Confusion

“What? Lady Lydia herself repelled the slime?!”

I was shocked by the report from the shadow guard.

I had instructed the shadow guard to spread bad rumors about Lady Lydia in the Eudrais territory and to regularly report on her condition.

This time, I had instructed him to create a situation where Lady Lydia would encounter a slime, so that she would become disgusted by the land infested with monsters.

I had judged that the attacking power of the slime would not be life-threatening, and that it would be fine if the Knights came to her aid.

The shadow guard had apparently unleashed the aggressive slime when Lady Lydia had gone out to town, but…

It seems that Lady Lydia herself had defeated the slime.

“Lady Lydia may be strong, but shouldn’t her magical attributes be enough to defeat a slime?”

The shadow guard shook his head at my question.

“Actually, Lady Lydia repelled the slime with salt…”

“S-salt?!”

What do you mean repel with salt?

I mean, are there any young ladies who stand up to monsters?

I-I don’t get it…

“Well, whatever. Please continue spreading rumors so that Lady Lydia will be isolated.”

“But it seems that because Lady Lydia repelled the slime, she has become friendly with some of the residents.”

“Friendly?!”

A noble’s daughter getting along with commoners?! And the reason for that is because she repelled the slime?!

I thought she was a bit of an odd young lady, but I’m impressed that she’s gone this far.

“Well, I don’t think the rumors will die down anytime soon. Please continue spreading the rumors.”

“I understand.”

I’ve set up a few things to make Lady Lydia feel uncomfortable at the frontier. Plus, I have a second plan in case of an emergency.

Everything will surely work out, I tell myself.

But little do I know that everything I plan never goes as planned.