"...aren’t you guys a little too enthusiastic with the welcoming ceremony?"
Reiger, who had just walked out of the "Magic Portal", couldn’t help but voice his complaint.
Hearing Reiger’s voice, Yuri and Marilyn finally reacted.
"What, what is going on...!?"
Both of them exclaid in unison.
The office, which had been sowhat deserted, suddenly beca lively.
...
Half a month later, Reiger and Yuri sat opposite each other in the office once again.
A steaming cup of fragrant tea appeared before them, which they sipped as they conversed.
"I see." Yuri calmly took a sip of her tea and soon organized Reiger’s explanations, summarizing simply, "So, you’re saying that you actually reached the territory of pros and even got to Besare near the border, just a step away from the Neutral Zone. But because Princess Liz wanted to go ho, you used magic to bring her back, right?"
"That’s correct." Reiger also took a sip of his tea, equally composed, nodding at Yuri as he spoke, "It’s really great that you could understand so quickly."
"Great?" Yuri smiled sweetly, though her eyes were devoid of amusent, and said, "Do you really think that’s a sufficient explanation, my Thunder Light Sword Saint?"
"Otherwise?" Reiger, seemingly oblivious to Yuri’s mood at the mont, chuckled and said, "I’ve told the absolute truth, without any fabrication. Isn’t that enough for an explanation?"
"Enough... no way!" Yuri burst out, unable to keep from raising her voice, "A single magic spell that can take you from Besare in pros all the way back to the capital Yerulf? And it pinpointed my office with such accuracy? How can one accept that!?"
At the very least, as one of only eight Strategic Magicians on the continent, Yuri couldn’t accept it.
"When did such a terrifying spell co into existence in this world?"
"Why don’t I know anything about it at all?"
"And where did you learn such magic?"
"No, my head is a complete ss."
Yuri rubbed her temples.
It wasn’t just Yuri; even Marilyn, who had been quietly listening, felt as if she was hearing a fantastical tale.
"The territory of pros is at the southernmost edge of the Kingdom of Ginas, and Besare is at the very frontier of this southern territory. From there to the capital Yerulf, located in the heart of the kingdom, there are at least twenty domains in between. If one were to travel by carriage around the clock without rest, it would take at least nearly a month, right?"
So, the journey of nearly a month, Reiger managed to erase with a single spell, allowing free travel between the two places?
Even the always calm and collected Marilyn couldn’t help but feel shocked at this.
Yet amidst her shock, Marilyn couldn’t help but grow concerned about another matter.
"Was it you who said you wanted to co back?" Marilyn turned to Liz, who was standing beside Reiger, her beautiful brows knitting together worriedly as she asked, sowhat icily, "Why did you suddenly decide to co back? Don’t you have the determination to wander the world with your master?"
Marilyn’s words carried an almost imperceptible frustration.
"No, it’s not like that!"
Liz quickly shook her head.
"Then what made you want to co back?"
Marilyn scrutinized Liz’s eyes, trying to see through to her innermost thoughts.
"I..." Liz opened her mouth, then lowered her head and said, "I just wanted to go to the palace to see my father, to see His Majesty, and ask him about so things."
Liz’s response stunned Marilyn.
"Ask about so things?"
Even Yuri montarily set aside her concerns about the "Magic Portal," shifting her attention.
And so, Reiger told Yuri and Marilyn.
"We encountered so things in the territory of pros," Reiger said, "Part of it is related to Liz’s heritage."
Yuri and Marilyn fell silent instantly.
Especially Marilyn, whose gaze upon Liz began to grow complex.
Liz said with full of apology, "I know this is my willfulness, but I really want to ask Father King, to inquire of His Majesty, how exactly he t my mother, and what kind of person she was."
This was a decision Liz had struggled with, pondered over, and finally made recently.
She wanted to ask King Hemulinp whether he truly knew her origins.
Besides being the princess of the Genas Kingdom and the illegitimate daughter of the reigning king, what other identity might she possess?
What exactly was the relationship between her and the Sword of Moslo in her arms and the ancient magic civilization?
What did "that tribe" Maya always ntioned refer to?
Plagued by these questions recently, Liz resolved to return and seek answers from King Hemulinp, the only one who might have a clue.
Understanding Liz’s feelings, Reiger had agreed without a second thought to her request, using the "Teleportation Gate" to return to the royal capital so that Liz could et with King Hemulinp.
"...Have you thought it through?"
Marilyn broke her silence and spoke after a long pause.
"You are no longer the princess of the royal family, but a swordsman sent out to be an attendant. You know the rules of the royal family, right?"
The royal household’s rules dictated that a princess sent out as an attendant could no longer acknowledge her ties to the royal family nor claim to be one of its mbers.
The royal family had to save face; they couldn’t let it be known that they were willing to send their own princesses to serve as attendants to curry favor with powerful individuals of boundless potential.
Although they could never keep it a secret from everyone, at the very least, it shouldn’t be widely publicized or known by too many.
Strictly speaking, Liz was no longer considered part of the royal household nor the king’s daughter but was rely an attendant. In theory, she wouldn’t have the right to an audience with the king.
Of course, that was if Liz were just an ordinary attendant.
"What if it’s under my na?" Reiger then said, "If it’s under my na, then His Majesty the King should agree to et Liz, right?"
That was certain.
King Hemulinp would be more than eager to foster a closer relationship with Reigera. If Reiger truly requested an audience under his own na, even if the king were doting on a beloved consort in his chambers, he would imdiately get out of bed and co to et Reiger.
However...
"By doing this, you might fall into that old fox’s trap and end up owing him a favor," Yuri said, grasping the situation and quickly dismissing Reiger’s proposal.
"Here’s what we’ll do," Yuri turned to Liz and said, "I happen to need to enter the palace for a while. It seems so ancient magic civilization’s texts and docunts have been discovered, and His Majesty is summoning the court magicians to study them. Princess Liz, why not co with to the palace, and I will lead you to your audience with His Majesty."
"Won’t this be too much trouble for you?"
Liz hesitated.
"It’s just showing the way and passing a ssage," Yuri smiled and continued, "I believe His Majesty won’t refuse my request for a eting. When the ti cos, I’ll find an opportunity to step away, and you can have a proper talk with His Majesty."
Liz still hesitated, glancing unconsciously at Reiger.
Reiger nodded at Liz, giving her a sign.
Only then did Liz take a deep breath, bow to Yuri, and say, "Then I’ll trouble you for this assistance."
"It’s nothing," Yuri said nonchalantly, even appearing slightly cheerful.
Seeing the person she wanted to see must have surely lifted her spirits.
Marilyn muttered a few sarcastic remarks to herself about her mistress.
Unaware of all this, Reiger continued to sip his tea, appearing casual but only he knew what he was really thinking.
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