To Noconalay, Altoria appeared as soone seemingly lively and cheerful, but in reality hid a sorrow and puzzlent that others couldn’t perceive, being both insecure and passive, she was indeed a troubleso figure, which left Noconalay feeling "I want to encourage her, yet I don’t want to lose to her".
These feelings were complex and distressing, but there was one undeniable fact.
That is, in both of their lives, to have a friend that they could acknowledge and regard as an equal was unquestionably the first for both.
Therefore, although out of envy, Altoria couldn’t wait to storm the royal city and vent her long-standing jealousy onto Noconalay, when Reiger ntioned Noconalay as her friend, Altoria did not deny it.
It’s just...
"...Can we stop talking about the past? It’s all behind us, right!"
Altoria truly didn’t want her dark history to be brought up by others anymore.
Noconalay scrutinized Altoria, placed a hand on her hip, and spoke nonchalantly.
"Indeed, you are not the sa as before. Your recent actions have gained you notoriety, even reaching Edinburgh."
"You sounded the five Pilgrimage Bells, nearly completed the pilgrimage journey, joined the Round Table, beca the spiritual leader of the Round Table, and even when the Elf Knight personally led an army against you, sohow they had no way to deal with you for the ti being."
"The Child of Prophecy, the true king in the prophecy of the Clan of the Mirror, the Paradise Fairy who will defeat Queen Morgan and ascend the throne..."
Noconalay recited Altoria’s deeds with great familiarity, while her gaze beca increasingly sharp.
"So... why have you co here now? Do you intend to settle matters with the Clan of the King before going to war with Morgan?"
Noconalay’s words turned the previously slightly relaxed atmosphere steeply downward, becoming rather precarious.
The fairies around started to look at Reiger and the others with dangerous eyes.
It was not Noconalay making alarmist statents.
Considering the enemy they shared was Morgan, the positions of Altoria and Noconalay weren’t exactly those that could get along.
Altoria, the Child of Prophecy, the Paradise Fairy, in the view of British fairies, was supposed to defeat the Queen and ascend to the throne.
Noconalay, on the other hand, had already shown through her actions that the Clan of the King also wanted to resist the Queen, to dethrone Morgan, and take the throne for herself.
Both aid at the throne as their ultimate goal—one was the prophesied true king, the other aspired to usurp the throne.
Both targeted the throne, thus naturally, they couldn’t be friendly, only adversaries.
The situation now was that soone competing for the throne brought her people, intruding forcefully into Noconalay’s territory...
Could this be tolerated?
The fairies around decided it couldn’t be tolerated.
Only Altoria seed unaware of the gravity of the situation, keeping a straight face as she spoke.
"Didn’t I say it? I’m here to negotiate!"
Upon hearing this, Noconalay appeared sowhat incredulous.
"You? Negotiate?"
The look on her face clearly showed she couldn’t associate those things together.
This made Altoria bristle.
"What do you an? You’re looking down on ? You’re looking down on , right? I always knew you’ve been looking down on !"
"Don’t make one out to have such a terrible personality! Where have I ever? I rely can’t picture you engaging in negotiations with others!"
"Isn’t that still looking down on ?! Why can’t I negotiate? It’s always been you who won’t listen to reason!"
"Who, who won’t listen to reason? I’m known throughout Edinburgh for being understanding and receptive to my subordinates’ advice!"
"Hmph! See? You’re speaking for yourself again? This would be considered narcissism in the Pan-Human History!"
"You, you call narcissistic? And what about you? Does that make you a masochist...?!"
"I am not!"
"You are!"
Instantly, the two girls began arguing across the air, leaving their peers sowhat dumbstruck.
"...They seem to be pretty close, don’t they?"
Habettelot hesitantly asked Matthew beside him.
"Perhaps... they are?"
Matthew smiled sheepishly.
"So that’s how their relationship is?"
Da Vinci seed amused, watching intently.
"Hmm, they really are close."
Fujimaru Ritsuka subconsciously nodded.
And at that mont, the quarreling duo seed to have heard this.
""Who says we’re close?!""
Altoria and Noconalay simultaneously turned towards Fujimaru Ritsuka, pointing at each other, and vehently rebutted.
"..."
Fujimaru Ritsuka instantly refrained from speaking.
In that mont, it was Reiger who suddenly spoke without warning.
"Why don’t you just get married, share the throne together, wouldn’t that be great?"
After all, fairies do not adhere to human ethical norms, so perhaps female-female marriages are feasible?
However, due to this remark, not only did Altoria bristle, but even Noconalay seed slightly overwheld.
"Excuse , who are you?" Noconalay, intending to refute instinctively, paused upon seeing Reiger, initially stunned, then questioned him with furrowed brows: "A human? Just a re human... speaking to like that?"
Despite being a haughty and disdainful statent, Noconalay’s tone lacked any prejudice or contempt, carrying only pure curiosity.
She didn’t appear as soone who’s supposed to detest humans according to rumors.
Reiger showed no intention of introducing himself there.
"Is this place suitable for negotiations?" Reiger glanced around calmly: "Why not choose a better location for discussing matters first?"
Noconalay’s brows furrowed more and more deeply, her gaze growing more intrigued as she looked at Reiger.
Upon seeing this, Altoria almost reflexively stood forth, blocking Reiger, glaring at Noconalay, resembling a child worried her toy was about to be snatched away.
Yet her behavior prompted a twinkle in Noconalay’s eyes, as if discovering an intriguing plaything, her face appeared with a predatory smile.
"Alright." For so reason, Noconalay spoke happily, "Though I dislike humans, and disdain the Round Table, as the envoy representing a faction, if I refuse outright, I would fall short of the etiquette from the Clan of the King."
"Let’s go, we’ll head to the Great Cathedral."
With that, Noconalay turned away, accompanied by her escorts, leaving without lingering.
"She, she just left?"
Altoria looked a bit stunned, and the rest appeared sowhat surprised, seemingly not expecting the stern-looking Noconalay to behave so amicably.
Only Reiger acted as though he noticed nothing, following directly, prompting Altoria and the others to hurriedly catch up.
The fairies around cast glances at each other, finally dispersing with different intentions, so continuing patrol duties, while others guided, or perhaps guarded Reiger’s group, escorting them away.
Soon, only so fairies remained at the scene alongside eight-legged horse carriages, with periodic hoof beats and snorts from the eight-legged horses.
...
Edinburgh, Great Cathedral.
In the Pan-Human History’s Edinburgh, there is also a St Giles’ Cathedral.
Perhaps due to the convergence of the Pan-Human History and Lostbelt, the Edinburgh in Fairy Country Britain features a similar cathedral.
Though differently located, under Noconalay’s guidance, everyone arrived at this cathedral.
This will serve as the venue for their negotiations.
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