episode_0036

It was the day after the meteor bombardment.

Early morning.

The negotiations between elves and humans reopened once again.

The location was similar to yesterday.

Somewhere in the middle of the border between the Tena’fel territory and the elven kingdom of Rivengard.

The disaster of last night left terrible scars that would not be erased, both on the baron’s territory and the plains.

Hit by blind rocks, various parts of the city walls surrounding the city were destroyed or collapsed, and the roofs of mansions and shops also crumbled.

The roads and meadows within the territory were deeply cracked due to the magic that fell like rain, and countless large and small stone fragments were still embedded everywhere.

There were a considerable number of casualties and injuries.

In such a place.

The baron, I, the elven prince, and a few guards who looked somewhat intact, sat facing each other at a table.

The results of the brief negotiations were not bad.

Because they clearly recognized a common enemy for Baronry and Rivengard.

Setting aside their animosity towards each other.

Both humans and elves agreed to join forces to eliminate the wicked individuals who had unleashed catastrophic magic upon both humans and elves.

And all subsequent remarks were about Elaine.

“Is Her Highness the Crown Princess a sorceress?”

To Elaine, who has not yet even had her engagement ceremony.

The baron looked as delighted as if he had met his lost granddaughter from several years ago.

“No….”

Elaine, who didn’t seem to dislike such attention, blushed slightly and even managed a faint smile.

“But then what about the magic from yesterday?”

The elven prince interrupted the baron.

“So, she is that fellow’s betrothed?”

“Not yet… but she will be soon.”

After saying that, Elaine, with a slight smile, glanced at me subtly.

But the prince’s face was filled only with a sense of pity.

“No, what on earth?”

“What do you mean by that?”

Elaine’s tone rose slightly, as if she were upset.

Her eyes seemed to have gained strength.

“Oh, no, it’s just… don’t misunderstand, he’s just so reckless…”

The prince couldn’t finish his sentence.

“Apologize right away for your insolence!”

Just a moment ago, it was a peaceful morning with a warm spring breeze tickling the tip of the nose, regardless of whether a meteor fell last night.

However, as Elaine’s firm voice echoed across the plain, the air turned chillingly cold as if doused with icy water.

“Cough, cough.”

Aphlatos cleared his throat, avoiding her gaze.

“I told you to apologize right away!”

Startled by Elaine’s sudden change in attitude, the count hurriedly spoke to divert attention.

“Anyway, thanks to the arrival of the Crown Princess Mother, many people were able to survive. I take this opportunity to express my gratitude once again. Hm.”

“Oh, yes, our elves also feel infinite gratitude towards you.”

The somewhat flustered elf prince, trying to appear nonchalant, quickly added his remarks.

“Apologize, quickly.”

But Elaine remained unyielding, like a venomous hunting dog.

“Hm. I’m sorry.”

Being of the elf race, the prince could not ignore the words of a benefactor. Finally, he averted his gaze from Elaine and, seemingly defeated, spoke while staring into space.

“What are you looking at now?”

But once again, Elaine’s words flew like a dagger, causing the prince to look at her with a bewildered expression.

“S-sorry, really…”

“The target is wrong!”

Elaine pressed forcefully, making me feel extremely uncomfortable as I watched.

Seemingly unnecessary, just as the elf prince was about to intervene, he reluctantly spoke.

“I’m sorry, niece…”

Only after hearing those words did Elaine’s face soften.

***

“Niece…!”

For a moment, Elaine forgot what she was going to say.

This situation was far more bewildering than when she was hailed as a great sorcerer among the soldiers of Tenafel that evening.

“A worthless elf is the Crown Prince’s step-uncle…?”

Elaine had thought they looked alike, but she had never suspected any relation.

She had assumed he might be only a year or two older based on appearances, but he must have been at least several decades older.

Basically, elves are long-lived, so they could have lived hundreds of years longer if they were unlucky.

Perhaps she didn’t know that she was being so rude to an elder of a long line of ancestors.

For a moment, dizziness swept over her.

The first worry that came to mind was that.

“Surely the prince doesn’t view it unfavorably…?”

Glancing at the prince’s face, she felt quite uncomfortable.

This is bad.

In self-reproach for making a big mistake, her face turned bright red in the end.

Thump-thump-

It seemed like she had made a huge mistake.

But now, she couldn’t even feel how to resolve this situation.

Fortunately, the elf prince didn’t seem particularly upset.

“So, are you the chosen maiden of the Goddess of Light who will become the prince’s wife?”

The prince’s face, which had just been uncertain, had suddenly become calm.

But no matter what, answering questions related to her identity was a very daunting situation.

Elaine locked eyes with the prince.

She cautiously asked if she could speak.

Eos nodded slightly.

“Yes, th-that’s right.”

“I’ve never actually seen it before, but it seems that divine power is truly remarkable. It seems my nephew really has good fortune with women.”

The elf prince seemed to be a more generous person than she had thought.

Even though he must have felt considerable embarrassment at his much younger self, he laughed as if it were nothing.

“By the way, the elves want to express their gratitude to you… What do you think? Will you set foot in the forest of Rivengard?”

It was a difficult request.

If she were with the prince, she would go anywhere, but going alone was quite daunting.

So she looked at the prince’s face again.

The prince nodded for her to go, but Elaine attached a condition.

“I don’t want to go alone, only with the prince.”

“Ohh…”

The elf prince looked intrigued.

“Then let’s go together.”

That’s when it happened.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

The distant sound of drums signaling an approaching army was heard.

It felt extremely ominous, as if being pursued by an overwhelmingly powerful enemy.

I saw where the sound was coming from, and in the distance, a massive army was approaching this way.

It didn’t take long for the person leading the army to reveal himself.

With his golden hair resembling the emperor’s and amethyst eyes reminiscent of the empress, he gave off an eerie vibe just by looking at him.

The man who was advancing alone without any escorts, halting the march, was undoubtedly Prince Serbice Caldevrion of Mersenne.

Clad in armor like a seasoned warrior preparing for war, he was swiftly approaching on a white horse.

If the worst villain in the novel, Serbice, set his mind to it, killing me would be child’s play.

Perhaps that’s why even the dust stirred up by the horse felt strangely ominous.

Heeheehee!

As the white horse stamped its front hooves and came to a stop, Serbice, who had dismounted, smiled brightly.

“Have you been well, sir?”

Though he was only eighteen, just a year younger than me, his voice carried a certain authority beyond his years.

Despite his attempts to speak kindly, there was an unfathomable chill hidden within his voice, making it seem almost menacing.

“….”

From my perspective, it wasn’t easy to muster the will to respond.

I was simply curious about what his intentions were.

“I heard the elves were causing trouble, so I rushed here a month ahead to assist you. Won’t you grant me a place as well?”

He laughed, but an unmistakable pressure seemed to emanate from him like steam.

His resolute gaze also seemed to threaten that if not acknowledged, he would immediately start a war.

“Uninvited guests should leave at once.”

The Elven prince’s words were spat out without even glancing, as if growling, yet Serbice didn’t flinch.

“The affairs here do not concern the Crown Prince. Do not provoke unnecessary conflict and withdraw.”

Even though he was looking at the next Emperor of the Empire, the Marquis, who didn’t even rise from his seat, rebuked him with a cold voice.

Both the Elven prince and the Marquis seemed to have a different attitude toward Serbice compared to when they dealt with me, for some reason.

When she was angry with me, it felt like she was deliberately acting, and her attitude towards the service felt like she was forcing herself to face someone she really disliked.

In her eyes, voice, and content, a distinctly different sincerity was being felt.

Even the brief glance and turning away, her face showed genuine dislike, even mixing words seemed annoying.

Naturally, the service’s face also noticeably stiffened.

But this guy.

He was giving slaps to nobles and princes, and anger to me.

With an incredibly sharp gaze, he was solely targeting me.

So it wasn’t unreasonable for Astia to stand in front of me with a dagger in hand.

“How dare you block my way, do you want to die as a mere knight?”

“Step back, Astia.”

As soon as Service tried to grab the dagger, I quickly pulled her back.

“Hmph!”

As Astia stepped back, at that moment, the voice of Lergio, the high priest of the Goddess Church, was heard.

“Your Highness Eos!”

Lergio rushed over urgently, calling my name with a very earnest voice, seeming exhausted.

His clear eyes and voice somehow felt welcoming.

“Are you alright, Your Highness?”

I maintained a calm expression and just nodded slightly.

The appearance of the high priest was completely unexpected, and Service’s expression underwent a dramatic change for a moment.

“I greet the High Priest.”

Service’s gestures and voice seemed to show a strong desire to be seen well.

“To see the Empire’s second sun once again… ”

Lergio erased the eager look that had been only for me and exchanged a very polite greeting with the Crown Prince.

“But Your Highness, what brings you here?”

“Oh, just passing by, wanting to lend a hand for the peace and prosperity of the Empire. But it seems the conflict with the elves has been peacefully resolved. Well then, Your Grace. I shall take my leave. Please give my regards to Lord Hyeongnim and Count Tenafel.”

There seemed to be something planned, but with a look that seemed to indicate it was no longer possible due to Lergio, Service eventually turned his back.

He was just about to say so.

Suddenly, he turned back and looked at Elaine.

Then, after being momentarily lost in thought, he quickly regained his composure, hurriedly mounted his horse, and disappeared into the distance with his army.

The one who broke the silence that had been flowing for a while was the Elven Prince.

“Well then, I guess we should start moving as well.”