"Are you sure, Master Elddis?

　Erdis's long ears flicked at the words of her maid Valette, and she slowly sat down on the bed that had been prepared for her.

　The bed is strangely soft to the touch, and if you bury your body in it, you will sink into it as far as you can. I'm not sure what to make of this.

　In the past, the highest-ranking members of the trading city of Galuamaria owned a guest house that was given to the Queen of Gazalia, Finn-Eldis.

"What do you mean, good or bad, Valet?

　Erdis leaks the words while looking out the large window at the night view of Galuamaria. Her voice sounded more like she was talking to a friend than to a subordinate.

　The ceremony of friendship between Gazalia and heraldry had ended a long time ago, but the streets of Galuamaria were still bright. It was as if no one had forgotten the aftermath of this good day, as if they were grieving over the end of this day, and still refused to turn off their lights.

　Elddis did not dislike this kind of emotional activity of human beings. In fact, she even envies it. The sense of regret for the passing of time is a feeling that is not common among long-lived elves. Elddis might not have even known that such a feeling existed if she had not spent time with him in the imprisonment tower in Ghazaria.

　As Erdis admired the sight of Galuamaria with moistened blue eyes, Valette's voice struck her ears again.

So, of course, it's about Lugis-sama. I'm sure you're not the only one who has a problem with that. If only Erdis-sama had shouted out there that Rougis-sama belongs to Gazalia...

　I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one who's a fan of your work.

　You can find a lot of things that you can do to make your life easier. She even twists her lips at things that have nothing to do with her. This habit seems to be showing its face again today.

　You don't have anything to be angry about, Erdis thought as he sat up in bed, his eyelids flushing with the daytime scene.

　--You can't be mad at me, he thought, as he sat up in bed and pictured the daytime scene in his mind's eye: his knight being recognized as a hero of the heraldic order and even given the title of gold.

　On the other hand, Gazalia only half-accepted the act. If we were to isolate this part of the story, we could certainly understand why the maidservant's eyes were shimmering.

　Still, it's not every day that an elf would say that they should have done something about Elddis, the queen. But there was something pleasing about this side of Valet that made Elddis give this elf with human emotions the role of her maid of honor.

I'd be lying if I said I didn't think anything of it, to be honest.

　That's as it should be, Valette didn't need to be told.

　I can't tell you how many times during the daytime ceremonies I've had feelings of ugliness rise up inside me. I can't tell you how many times I felt like my face was about to collapse.

　To tell the truth, I wanted to embrace Lugis and make him mine, even if I had to tear down my title of Finn right there.

　But I am the Queen of Gazalia. But I am the Queen of Ghazaria. I cannot act like that in front of that crowd.

　And what I truly desire is not a name but a reality. It's not the flower itself but the root that lies beneath the ground.

　In other words, today's ceremony is like a petal in full bloom. I'm sorry to say but I'll leave that to them. So I want the fruit and the roots. Elves are by nature such creatures.

　They take their time, they take their time, they take their time, they take their time to get what they want. In order to do so, they will bite their teeth and savor some bitterness and pain. This is because we believe it to be a necessary act.

　That's why Erdis has forgiven Lugis for a certain amount of selfishness in the past, and today's behavior will be tolerated.

　Yes, but of course, I would take all the roots, fruits, petals, and names if I could. But that's a story for another time. I've already planted the seeds for that.

　I've already sown the seeds for that..." Her lips rippled as she spoke, and Valet raised an eyebrow in reply.

I don't like that kind of elvish patience. The longer you wait, the more likely it is that someone else will take what you want and your prey will turn its back on you and run away.

　Truly, Valet's words were unelvish in every way. Erdis couldn't help but smile as he narrowed his blue eyes and let the words go.

I'm not going to let you go, I promise. I'm not going to let you go.

　Erdis still had the same smile on his face. She had a gentle expression, as if she were really talking to a friend.

　But not her blue eyes. But not the blue eyes. The graceful atmosphere of before is gone.

　Now, even with the glittering light, there was a fierceness in her eyes that looked as if it could eat through your heart.

　Valet's face, which had been tinged with vermilion, probably due to rage, instantly lost its color. She knew exactly what the Lord's eyes were pointing to.

She knew exactly what the Lord's eyes meant. "Lugis once said that he wanted to make sure I couldn't escape.

　It was a honey-sweet memory that had been exchanged in the tower, a memory that only Elddis and Lugis knew. Just remembering those days, Erdis's heart was filled with ecstasy.

　Oh, if only those days could have lasted forever. The days that she spent alone with him in the tower were so comfortable that she even thought such a ridiculous thing. In the midst of all this, Lugis did indeed say that he would not let Elddis go, that he would not let her go.

So I decided not to let him go either - you know what I mean by that, Valet.

　Erdis' words were no longer in the friendly tone of voice he had used earlier. It was no longer the gentle, friend-speaking tone.

　She is the unmistakable queen of Gazalia, and her voice has a certain coldness to it.

　Valette's skin trembled slightly, but she still hung her head reverently as the queen's handmaiden.

"Yes, Finn Erdis. Your decision must be the consensus of all of us Elves and all of us Gazarians.

　Erdis opened his blue eyes wide and nodded in the face of Valet's somewhat firm voice.

　She then cocks her shoulders lightly to soften the air. Her blue eyes had returned to their normal state.

　Erdis, speaking of which, opened his lips as if he were making light conversation.

"It seems that Lugis received the gift properly. Truly, it was worth the ceremony just to see her.



　Valet nodded lightly in response to the Lord's soft words.

'Yes. These are Lugis-sama's special uniforms and ornaments that I made for this day. I hope you like them.

　Nodding at the maidservant's words, Erdis looked at the dark green uniform that Lugis had worn during the day, and some of the ornaments. Her small lips rippled with happiness.

　The expression on his face is not quite appropriate for expressing pure joy at receiving a gift. Rather, it was a smile with a hint of seductiveness, as if to say that her plan had worked perfectly.