Chapter 94

Chapter 93

While it's true that the Hines territory has rapidly developed and risen, it's premature to say that it has enough value to attract the imperial princess of the continent's strongest nation, the Palan Empire.

Indeed, while many merchant guilds, magic towers, and alchemy schools have established branches here, most of them have not sent significant figures to visit in person.

Of course, if we consider Yulius as an exception, the visit of [Ilena de Palan] is certainly newsworthy.

After all, she is the imperial princess of the continent's strongest nation.

If it were any other noble or royal family, they would have immediately made a fuss and prepared to welcome her.

The situation is akin to a division commander suddenly entering the soldiers' barracks.

Given her sudden visit, shouldn't we be prepared to welcome her? This is the sentiment that is currently circulating.

If the atmosphere is like this, it wouldn't be bad to go along with it.

"Request..."

"How should we handle it? Should we invite her to the reception room?"

A subtle unease was evident in Amy's question. I don't know why she's uneasy, but my response is already decided.

Amy, adjusting her red-rimmed glasses, seemed to anticipate my answer and simply waited for my command.

"Reject it."

"Y-Yes...?"

Her face instantly lost its composure.

What? Why?

She didn't come here for no reason, and I'm well aware of how significant her presence is.

However, that doesn't mean I have to meet her.

Amy, who still remembered my warning not to make me repeat myself, soon bowed her head silently and quietly left.

* * *

-Even so, aren't you afraid of the consequences?

After rejecting the first audience, it seemed like the other side was getting stubborn.

Another rejection.

Rejection, rejection, rejection, rejection.

It's like a stubborn argument, repeatedly requesting an audience and being outright rejected.

Now, both sides have thrown away all pretenses of courtesy and are engaged in a stubborn argument.

While I started it, the other side has also chosen to wallow in the mud.

As a result, those caught in the middle are suffering.

I heard that the Red Dragon Knights, Ilena's personal guard, were furious about my rejection of her audience request, but I dismissed it lightly.

They have their own considerations and didn't cause a commotion.

"I'm not rejecting it without reason."

-Don't tell me... you're using this to boost the territory's reputation?

She looked at me with a disbelieving expression.

"Let's make it expensive."

There's a concept called noise marketing.

Given that she is the imperial princess of the strongest nation, the publicity effect is unparalleled. With the information guilds and merchant guilds here, the vast amount of information moving through this territory makes it even more effective.

-Life isn't a game, and you really have no fear... Your opponent won't move according to your thoughts, so how can you be so fearless?

I understood what she wanted to say.

"It's fine because she's the princess."

It's just a guess, but I don't act recklessly once I've made a decision. I'm cautious before I start.

As a result, I might be envied by those around me.

In a world where plots and schemes are rampant, it's the worst move, but I chose to advance rather than retreat out of fear.

The stubborn argument continued for a few days.

As expected, it didn't escalate into a major issue.

The other side wouldn't want that either.

In the end, Princess Ilena raised the white flag first.

Did she leave like that? In terms of the result, no.

Frustrated by the continuous rejections, the method she chose was...

"Hey, Prince David."

"...Are the princesses of the empire learning to climb walls these days?"

She climbed the wall.

She smiled brightly at my incredulous question.

"We have a lot to talk about, don't we?"

Her smile was as radiant and dazzling as one of the continent's most beautiful women.

But there was a subtle twist to it.

"A lot, right?"

A princess of the continent's strongest nation, who persistently sought an audience with a prince of a small, common kingdom.

And a prince of a small nation who repeatedly rejected her without any reason.

Anyone watching would think they were just playing around, and it was hard to hide the absurdity of this childish argument.

"About what..."

I feigned ignorance, and she smiled sweetly while perched on the window.

Her lively and voluminous golden hair and the hairpin tied at the back of her head stood out against the night sky, glowing blue.

"Don't you have something to talk about? You must have something."

"Come down first, it's cold."

She glanced around and lightly entered the room.

Wearing an elegant short dress, she blushed and frowned slightly as if something came to mind.

She then slowly climbed down from the window, pressing down on her skirt.

"Anyone watching would think we're having a secret meeting."

"I'm afraid I might hear such stories even in my dreams."

She shot back with a bright smile.

Ah, scratch!

She must be quite angry.

While a beautiful woman's smile is nice, I prefer to avoid her anger.

Of course, despite her beauty, her young face and small stature make her seem more like a cute younger sister than a romantic interest.

"Really, I didn't expect it to be so difficult to get some time. Right, Prince David? While I'm saying this, it's not as difficult to meet the king of a decent kingdom."

"Ha ha, if there's a way in, there's a way out."

"Rumors are spreading that I'm making every effort to meet you within the territory."

"That was the plan."

She lifted the tea in front of her with a blank expression at my cheeky response.

"Surely not to boost the territory's reputation..."

She finally realized why I kept rejecting her audience requests and looked at me with a disbelieving expression.

"Even though it's a very unlucky thing to say, aren't you too fearless?"

"My courage is a bit big, I guess."

I smiled, and she clicked her tongue.

Clicking her tongue?

-That Ilena, she sometimes has a bold personality...

Princess Ilena doesn't know about Perserk, but she has been closely observed from within Caldras.

-David, don't tease her too much. She has a good heart.

Perserk, who still had some affection for her, pulled my ear and whispered in my ear.

'Ticklish.'

-Huh.

I shot a glance at her as she stepped back with a relaxed smile and then looked at her.

"Since neither of us has done anything particularly well, let's leave it at this. You must have a lot to say to come and climb the wall in the middle of the night."

"It's because of someone. First, let me express my gratitude."

She calmly placed one hand on her chest and bowed.

"Previously, you saved my life. I wanted to make that clear."

I didn't specifically set out to save her.

At the time, my focus was solely on Winry.

That said, I didn't actively prevent her from being saved.

"Also, thanks to you, I was able to awaken Caldras."

As a contractor, she had only become the owner of Caldras but hadn't been able to awaken it into its sword form.

However, after the Principality's sword competition, I awakened it.

There are a few reasons for this, such as her realm improving after the incident or...

'Caldras's power weakening, making the barriers lower.'

-You're perceptive.

Before Ilena could say anything, her brooch began to emit light and transformed into a blurry form of a girl, lunging at me.

She looked about six years old.

Her appearance was similar to Perserk's, with blue-tinted silver hair, but she was different in many ways.

While Perserk was gentle and affectionate, this girl had a childlike cuteness.

Flying in with a very angry expression, she ignored her energy form and grabbed my collar, shaking me violently.

"Caldras."

Ilena, trying to calm her, pulled the girl, Caldras's manifestation, back, but Caldras continued to hold my collar for a while.

Under normal circumstances, I would have pulled her off, but I silently endured her tantrum.

After all, I did hit her on the back of the head.

"Did you sleep well?"

As I pressed and stroked her head, she gnashed her teeth.

People are dying all around, and there's no time for this.

Caldras must be well aware of this fact.

However, her search for me wasn't because of the holy magic at the time.

While she was indeed affected by the loss, she is a divine sword that has endured many hardships.

As expected, Caldras couldn't see Perserk. Only I and Hongdan, who is in a contractual relationship with my soul, can see and touch her.

"Can't you see her?"

"She's doing well. When the holy scar appeared unintentionally, she moved to my side. In short, we're in a symbiotic relationship."

She glared at me, on the verge of tears.

Her voice, directed at the invisible air, was filled with worry and longing, making it hard to believe they were once enemies.

What if something went wrong? What if Perserk wasn't with me and had gone somewhere else?

She was that worried.

-David.

At that moment, Perserk, who had been quietly observing Caldras, called out to me.

-Can you lend me some mana... just a little?

'Of course.'

As soon as I gave my permission, she smiled brightly.

She then lifted Caldras's manifestation into the air and flew up to touch foreheads with her.

Woom...

A significant amount of mana began to flow out, but I didn't interfere, knowing this was Perserk's method of connecting with Caldras.

"Ca... Caldras?"

Princess Ilena's eyes widened in surprise as Caldras suddenly floated in the air and remained silent.