Chapter 55

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"Are you worried, as expected?"

"It's only natural, L Lloyd. After all, it's his first time as a representative... I can't help but pray that nothing happens, even though I'm afraid of everything."

"Considering that he's leading the Royal Guard and has Chris with him..."

"Well, that's fine. If anything happens, it will be a clear act of hostility. We can dispatch the army, after all."

It was late at night, but in Silvad's room, three adults had gathered.

Silvad, Lalarua's couple, and Lloyd were in the room.

Tonight was Aine's first night as a representative. As the first grandson and the crown prince, there was no reason for Silvad not to worry.

"Well, well... If it's a clear act of harm, it's only natural to dispatch them..."

Today, Silvad, worried, was saying things he usually wouldn't. The alcohol had progressed, and he was revealing his inner thoughts easily.

The room was lit by a simple oil lamp, not a bright lamp made by a magical device. The flickering flame, swaying with the slightest breeze, felt somewhat melancholic today.

"Hmm...? Excuse me, it's me."

Suddenly, a knock was heard at the door, which was unusual at this hour and would normally be considered impolite to the king.

Lloyd approached the door and inquired about the matter.

"Ah, I see. It's just in time, there's no need to worry. I'll inform His Majesty... Yes, thank you for your hard work."

"Lloyd? What's going on at this hour?"

"Yes. It seems that the report His Majesty has been waiting for has just arrived. I received it as a report."

"... Hmm? I...?"

"The report from Aine and the others today. Would you like to read it?"

Upon hearing about today's report, Silvad sobered up instantly. He then called out to Lloyd with the most energetic voice of the day.

"Quick, bring it here! Lalarua must be curious too, right!?"

"Yes, yes. I'm curious too... Lloyd, please."

"Hmm..."

Lloyd returned to the two of them in a hurry and handed over the report he had just received.

"... Haim, you say?"

Not only Lloyd, but Lalarua also broke out in a cold sweat instantly. Such an overwhelming aura, emitted by Silvad, enveloped the room, creating a tension different from the one during the sea dragon incident. The two of them remained silent, unable to speak.

Did something happen to Aine? Did Haim do something? Numerous scenarios sprang to mind in the two of their heads.

But it was only for a moment. Within a few minutes, Silvad's face broke into a smile.

"Haha, hahaha! What a delightful story!"

In that instant, the tension in the room dissipated.

"Hey, you? Can you tell us what's going on...?"

"Your Majesty, what did Haim do...?"

At those words, Silvad's smile grew even wider.

He began to summarize the contents of the report and tell the two of them. It was the story of Aine and the others meeting Tigr and returning to the White King.

"Oh, oh... I didn't expect to hear a comedy on such a night. What a good night."

Lalarua, covering her mouth with a fan, was shaking with laughter.

"Hahaha! Your Majesty, Aine has grown splendidly!"

"Yes. I didn't expect the education and experience to bear such fruit."

"But you? You didn't protect the people of Haim. Just that the knights laughed at Grinthe... Isn't that a bit questionable for the Royal Guard?"

"Hmm? ... I don't understand what you're saying?"

Lalarua, seeing Silvad's deliberately puzzled face, understood.

"... Yes. It must have been a misunderstanding on my part."

The knights laughing at Grinthe. Silvad decided not to mention it in the report, thinking it would be better for everyone.

"But Your Majesty, I must praise Dil the most."

"That's right, Lloyd. It's a refreshing feeling... Lalarua, Dil, who defeated the "Holy Knights" of another country several times, should be rewarded by the royal family, don't you think?"

"Yes, that's true. I believe Dil doesn't have a proper sword yet. This is a good opportunity, especially since he will be Aine's guard. We should send him a sword from the royal family."

"Dil will be delighted. I am grateful."

For Silvad, the alcohol of the day became a very flavorful drink.

*

At the same time that Silvad and the others received the report, a report also arrived at Olivia's place.

Martha delivered it to Olivia's room, where Olivia and Crowne were enjoying a night tea party.

The two of them found it amusing, and the conversation flowed.

"Hey, Crowne. What kind of person is this third prince? I've never met him in Haim..."

"To put it simply, he doesn't bend his values and pursues what he is attached to until he achieves it..."

"... In other words, a persistent man?"

"In a word, that's correct..."

Olivia, unable to say the next word, sipped her tea to relax. Crowne, seeing Olivia's state, also took a sip of tea.

"The report says he was a candidate for a princess..."

"The words of the royal family take precedence over everything. If we take those words literally, he was almost a sure candidate."

"Oh, oh..."

In Haim, the words of the royal family are given more importance than in Ishtarka. The royal decree that Aine used during the sea dragon incident doesn't exist. It's more accurate to say that it's always a royal decree.

"Still, Olivia, is it okay? From the report, it seems more thorny than the Ishtarka we know."

"Yes, it's fine. We no longer have diplomatic relations... and I am not a citizen of the Ishtarka I love. I don't see it as a problem."

Crowne thought. There is probably no one who fits the term "Holy Maiden" better than Olivia.

Perhaps because of that, Olivia is someone who rarely "dislikes" people. She just becomes "indifferent."

As a result, she might feel like the ants on the side of the road, completely losing interest.

Even if Grinthe, who was once part of her family, were there.

No matter how much she thought about it in her head, it was natural. Considering how the Roundheart family treated Olivia and the others, it was rather kind that it ended up this way.

"Besides, it's a rude story... Trying to steal a girl who is going to marry into someone else's family. Oh? Was it the third prince who approached her first...? No, but once she refused, it's invalid, right?"

"Um, Olivia, ma'am?"

Crowne, being called, smiled and looked at Crowne.

"What do you mean by 'marriage'...?"

"Crowne, I meant it in the sense of being Aine's... Am I wrong?"

Crowne, hearing those words, blushed.

"Well, you know... That..."

"A bit embarrassing?"

At Olivia's words, Crowne nodded without saying anything, hiding her eyes behind her bangs out of embarrassment.

"Hehe, I understand. ... Let's continue the tea party, shall we?"

Seeing Crowne, who was still blushing, Olivia encouraged her to continue the tea party.

Crowne, who often takes bold actions when with Aine, felt embarrassed when it was put into words. Finding Crowne's appearance cute, Olivia often doted on her.

*

Several days had passed since Aine and the others arrived in Eura and held several meetings.

They were never allowed into the ship, but Tigr requested meetings almost every day. Even when Aine and the others were in meetings with Duke Amour, Tigr attempted to intrude several times. However, he was stopped by the Ishtarka Royal Guard and Eura's knights and never succeeded.

Finally, the day came for Aine to return to Ishtarka. On the final day, an emergency operation was carried out.

"Alright, keep it steady! Raise it carefully!"

Under the supervision of Aine and the others, the operation to raise the large block of sea crystal that had been discovered was underway. Due to the scale, it was decided to use the equipment of the battleship Aine and the others had arrived on to raise it.

"I appreciate your cooperation."

"Not at all. It's a beneficial deal for us as well. We are grateful for this opportunity."

"Will you return immediately after this is raised?"

"Yes. This has been a fruitful meeting. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity you provided."

"We are also grateful. ... However, one problem did occur."

"It was an accident. We are not concerned about it."

"... But, I am grateful. You prevented Haim's hostility from being directed at us."

Regarding the Graf and Crowne incidents.

Eura was not involved, but it was suggested that Ishtarka might be. The information was given to protect Eura.

Of course, there was a desire to tease them, which Ishtarka could not deny. But the best option to achieve both was that.

"It's an important friendly country. Don't worry about it."

"... Ishtarka appears to be a gentle country. But if Haim gets too carried away..."

"One thing. I will tell you."

The atmosphere around Warren changed slightly, becoming more serious.

"We don't need to launch a direct attack to cause damage. For example, let's say we change the fishing methods in one of our port towns to a 'special' method. This would change the marine ecosystem in the nearby waters, and dangerous monsters would move to areas with abundant food, such as the waters near the port town of Roundheart. Monsters are always hungry, so it would only take a few days for their movements to change."

"... I see. I am glad to have heard this valuable information."

"That's good."

While they were talking, the operation to raise the sea crystal was proceeding smoothly. Warren felt more at ease, thinking about how the country would benefit from transporting it to Ishtarka.

After a while, the sea crystal was raised and loaded onto the battleship. Aine and the others, after confirming this and bidding farewell to Duke Amour, finally headed for their homeland, Ishtarka.

"Here, Prince Aine. This is a small gift from us, Eura."

"Thank you, Lord Ed. I am delighted to receive these attractive items...? This is..."

The Royal Guard received the gifts from Ed. Among them, Aine found a wooden figurine.

The color and shape were enough to remind him of a certain existence.

A strange, dangerous impulse suddenly overcame Aine's body. He didn't know why, but from the moment he saw the figurine, he felt a destructive urge in his heart.

"That is a figurine of a race known as the guardian deity of this continent."

"Is that so...? Then, what race is this figurine?"

Aine felt his heart beating heavily. Could he really see that figure here? He thought.

"The Red Fox, the guardian deities of this continent. They are considered a lucky race, and I wish their blessings upon Prince Aine... and Ishtarka."

In fact, on this continent, thanks to them, people with "red hair" are said to be born with the blessing of the guardian deity, Ed continued to tell Aine.

"... Ah. Thank you, I will gratefully accept it."

On the other hand, Aine was struggling to keep his expression from showing. Chris and Warren seemed to be in the same state of mind. This continued until they entered the White King and were alone.

*

Aine and the others had moved to the ship, and it was supposed to be just a matter of returning. But the atmosphere in the room was far from calm.

The ship had already set sail from Eura, and Duke Amour's castle was no longer visible on the sea, but the atmosphere remained unchanged.

"Well, Prince Aine... Lord Chris. I would like to hear your opinions."

The words Warren spoke were out of character for him.

After all, he had the ability to solve many things on his own. Therefore, asking Aine for his opinion was unprecedented.

"This figurine is definitely a 'Red Fox,' I think."

A red-colored figurine of a woman with fox-like features. It was identical to one of the Demon King's subordinates described in the documents Chris had translated. Aine pointed to the figurine on the table with a rough gesture.

"I don't know the details, but I agree with Prince Aine. I think it is the same as the Red Fox."

"Hmm..."

'A subordinating Red Fox. She is likely the trigger for the Demon King's rampage'... This was a sentence written in an old Elvish script in a book Katima had purchased.

But he couldn't understand the meaning at all. Assuming the sentence was true, why would such an existence be revered as a guardian deity on this continent?

"I don't understand. The Demon King was made to rampage by the Red Fox through some means. Let's assume this is true. Then, did the Red Fox come to this continent after causing the rampage?"

"Assuming what Prince Aine says is true, it's the best option... but I don't understand the purpose."

While Aine and Warren were wondering about the reason, Chris spoke up.

"... Hedonism. That's what was written in the book."

"... Chris. What are you trying to say?"

Unlike usual, Aine was acting strangely. Warren and Chris, finding it odd, listened as Chris continued.

"The Red Foxes might be planning something on this continent..."

"Considering that they caused chaos in Ishtarka, it's possible they are trying to do the same. But the next target might not be Ishtarka..."

Chris's opinion was agreed upon by Warren. Given their hedonistic nature, they might be toying with the continent, as if playing a game, Chris hypothesized.

"No."

But Aine's single word contradicted Chris's statement.

Aine's demeanor remained unchanged, exuding a different aura. Chris, seeing this, felt as if Aine were a seasoned knight. Even sitting still, he seemed to have no openings, and if you took your eyes off him for a moment, you might find your head on the ground.

"I thought they were just lonely. But it's different... They've been playing with us from the beginning. From the very beginning, I trusted them, and that was my mistake."

Words without context began to spill out of Aine's mouth.

"Prince Aine...? What are you saying...?"

"What's wrong with Prince Aine!"

Warren was followed by Chris in shock. They couldn't understand what Aine was saying. They looked at him with worried eyes, wondering what he was suddenly talking about.

What did he trust? What was from the beginning? They couldn't understand anything Aine was saying.

"Just lonely, I thought. But it's different... They've been playing with us from the very beginning. From 'that' time, from 'that' moment...!"

Aine, unresponsive to their calls, stood up and approached the table where the Red Fox figurine was placed.

Chris, seeing this, went to Aine's side and tried to take his hand. He wanted to calm him down, not knowing what was happening.

But his legs wouldn't move. Chris looked at his legs, wondering why.

He hadn't been restrained by any binding magic, nor were there any signs of other magic being cast.

... But there was one thing he realized. His legs were trembling like a fawn.

This was fear, a feeling he hadn't experienced in a long time