Chapter 8

In order to meet the guest from the capital, Raido changed into his formal attire and led Naimeria to the reception room.

However, this so-called reception room was a small house that rarely received guests. It was hastily converted from the living room to serve as a temporary reception room.

As soon as Raido opened the door, the guest who had already entered bowed and greeted him.

"It's been a long time, Prince Raido."

"Prince...? No, you are..."

Raido froze with one foot inside the room, his eyes wide open to their limit.

He had thought of a few familiar faces when he heard about the guest from the capital, but the person standing there was unexpected.

In the makeshift reception room, a purple-haired woman stood without sitting, dressed in a clean-looking light blue dress.

Her name was Melitina Marcel, the only daughter of Lockwood Marcel, the Chancellor of the Zain Kingdom, and Raido's childhood friend since they were young.

"I didn't expect you to come. It's quite a feat for you to make it to this rural town."

The woman who should have become his partner if he had been chosen by the holy sword, and who had easily abandoned him when he was exiled to the border, made Raido's voice naturally turn harsh.

He tried hard to stop his right hand from reaching for the sword at his waist, took a deep breath, and calmed his heightened emotions.

"It's good to see you well, childhood friend?"

"Can't you call me Melitina as you used to, Your Highness?"

"Then? Why did you come all the way to this border?"

Ignoring Melitina's words, Raido plopped down on the sofa and gestured for her to sit as well.

"..."

Melitina sat silently on the opposite sofa, staring straight at Raido.

Behind her stood two knights who seemed to be her guards, both wearing high-quality armor and carrying decorated swords.

Behind Raido, there was only one maid, and not even a single guard. The situation made it hard to tell who was the royal.

(She has changed... this woman.)

After spending five years in the border, Raido, who was once just a child, had grown into a first-class warrior.

However, it seemed that Melitina had also changed significantly over the past five years.

Her originally cute and beautiful face had transformed into that of a mature woman, with a straight nose, plump lips, and large almond-shaped eyes that were incredibly attractive.

Her body below the neck had also matured, especially the two fruits at her chest, which were so full that they made him swallow hard.

(Ah, damn it! Why did she have to become such a beautiful woman!)

Raido clenched his teeth and cursed inwardly.

The woman who had once abandoned him had grown into an incredibly attractive woman, which made him feel incredibly frustrated.

The fact that he was stirred by even a hint of desire for the woman he should hate from the bottom of his heart felt like an indelible stain on his life.

"...You've changed. We both have."

"Yes, five years is unexpectedly long."

Raido spoke in a cold tone, careful not to let his frustration show. Melitina responded with a voice that was hard to read.

The two childhood friends stared at each other in silence for a moment before Melitina spoke first.

"I apologize for the sudden visit this time."

"Yes... It's been five years without any word, quite a sudden visit indeed."

"Regarding that, my father will formally apologize to you later, Your Highness."

"...I've been wondering, what's with the way you're addressing me?"

Raido asked, already having a vague idea of the answer. Melitina lowered her eyes for a moment before raising her face to answer.

"The late king... Your father, Prince Raido, has passed away."

"..."

"Currently, Granado is the new king. As a result, Prince Raido has become the Prince."

"..."

Raido lowered his eyes at the answer he had half-expected.

His father, the king, was still in his fifties and had been seriously ill when Raido was exiled. It was more surprising that he had lived for five years.

Raido closed his eyes for a few seconds, praying for the soul of his father, whom he never got to see again.

The young prince's exile was decided by his brother, who was acting as regent, and his close aides. His father had not been involved, and there were no grudges between Raido and his father.

"...So, you didn't come just to tell me that, right?"

After a short moment of silence, Raido asked about the real purpose of her visit.

His father had passed away, and his brother had become the new king. This was certainly a major event for the country, but he didn't think the capital would send someone after five years of no contact. There must be another reason.

"Then... I will convey the imperial command from the new king, Granado, to Prince Raido."

"..."

"The command is for Prince Raido von Zain to immediately be relieved of his duties as the lord of the frontier city and to return to the capital."

"What...?"

Raido narrowed his eyes and asked in an irritated tone.

Despite the menacing gaze, Melitina stared back without flinching. Her unreadable, glass-like eyes made Raido's expression even more severe.

In Raido's mind, something clicked into place.

The gears of fate began to turn again, and the holy sword bearer, who had been exiled to the border, was invited back to the forefront of history.

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