Chapter 0457 Meeting Stalled
-x-X-x-
The Bashteek docked at a port several times the size of Manyama's.
"The ships here aren't merchant vessels, are they?"
"Indeed. There are ships of the same type as the escort ships of the transport fleet. This must be a naval port."
Ryo and Abel leaned out from the ship's railing, observing the port and discussing such matters.
It seemed that the transport fleet had entered the military port of the capital, Wannya.
"A military port of this size is impressive."
Abel, who was familiar with the Knightley Kingdom's military port, was genuinely surprised.
"Abel, our Knightley Kingdom should strengthen its naval power!"
"What brought this up all of a sudden?"
"We should assemble an incredibly powerful fleet and dominate the seven seas!"
"In our kingdom's case, the navy's enemies are pirates…or sea monsters, aren't they? Our current forces are sufficient."
"Aren't you lacking in ambition…"
Ryo was disheartened by the reality that Abel presented.
"However, that may be the case… eventually, strengthening our naval power might become necessary."
"Huh?"
"You all worked hard, right? Investigating sea routes to the Western countries and the Theocracy. Trading with the Western countries via land routes is impossible, but as long as we don't encounter sea monsters… if such monsters are warded off or spells are developed, we might be able to connect with the Western countries via sea routes. In that case, we might need escort fleets that can travel long distances."
"Ooohhh!"
Ryo was thrilled by Abel's line of thought.
Yes, those who govern the state must carry out policies looking twenty or thirty years, or even fifty years into the future.
But in reality… how many bureaucrats are conscious of the grand strategy for a century of the state…
After a while, the two disembarked from the ship and lined up in the farewell procession.
Who were they seeing off?
Naturally…
"Oh…"
"Beautiful…"
"Princess…"
"Long live the princess!"
Princess Iliaja was disembarking from the ship, being seen off by the sailors and marines of the transport fleet.
Those who had followed her in fleeing from the Suje Kingdom and who would continue to accompany her were already ashore, lined up behind the carriage she would ride.
After disembarking, Princess Iliaja greeted Captain Dao and Bansox.
"Captain Dao, it was a comfortable voyage. May favorable winds always blow for you and your ship."
"Princess, your words are too kind…"
"Captain Bansox, I am grateful for your protection. May the Blue Jade Trading Company be shrouded in glory."
"Thank you, Princess. Please feel free to use the Blue Jade Trading Company whenever you find yourself in need. We have a store in this capital as well."
Both Captain Dao and Bansox replied with smiles.
It seems that sailors have a custom of sending people off with smiles, without showing tears.
After greeting them, Princess Iliaja approached Abel and Ryo.
"Abel-san, people do not follow the words of a king. They follow the figure of a king. If you want people to follow you, you must continuously show a figure that the citizens and soldiers can support… it resonated with me."
"No, Princess. You understand that without me having to tell you. Keep being as you have been, and you'll be fine."
"Ryo-san, thank you for protecting me…"
"Oh, no, it was nothing significant."
But Princess Iliaja hesitated, wanting to say something… and finally, a few moments later, she spoke.
"Well… I honestly don't know what will happen to me from now on, but… is it possible to speak with you two again?"
"We plan to travel to the continent with the Blue Jade Trading Company's connections, but I hear it won't be immediate. So… we'll be in this capital for a while."
"Yeah. If you contact the Blue Jade Trading Company, they'll probably be able to connect you to us."
Both Abel and Ryo gave affirmative answers to Princess Iliaja's question.
"…Would you meet with a princess who lost the country to which she should return?"
"Don't worry about that. We are people of the Central Countries."
"Exactly. Even if Abel can't, I'll come to meet you, so it'll be alright."
"Thank you."
Saying that, Princess Iliaja crossed her hands in front of her chest and bowed her head.
This was the deepest bow taken by female royalty during greetings among royalty in the archipelago region.
Of course, neither Abel, Ryo, nor most of those present knew that…
Princess Iliaja boarded the carriage prepared by the principality government.
And so, she headed toward the royal palace.
"Abel-san, Ryo-san."
It was Bansox, the captain of the escort team of the Blue Jade Trading Company, who called out to the two. Next to him stood Captain Dao.
Bansox was the second son of the chairman of the Blue Jade Trading Company, Bandelsch.
"The task was successfully completed. The payment will be made at the Blue Jade Trading Company's Wannya branch, so come with me."
"Oh."
Ryo, delighted by Bansox's words, couldn't help but voice his joy.
Abel, too, was smiling happily.
"Thanks to you two, every one of my crew members arrived without any losses. I'm grateful."
Saying that, Captain Dao bowed deeply.
"Oh, no, Captain, please raise your head."
"It's because your crew acted appropriately. It must be the result of their regular training."
Ryo felt embarrassed by the compliments, and Abel commented.
And so, the four of them started walking.
It seemed the captain was also going to the Blue Jade Trading Company for some procedures.
"Wannya is divided between the military port and the commercial port, but they are right next to each other. Our Bashteek will be moved to the commercial port once the procedures are done."
"Is it alright without the captain?"
Ryo asked, and Captain Dao laughed as she answered.
"That much is fine. Both ports are quite large."
As Captain Dao said, the four of them soon arrived at the commercial port.
The Blue Jade Trading Company's Wannya branch was located facing the port.
It was quite large compared to the surrounding companies.
Many people were coming and going, indicating its prosperity.
Bansox and Captain Dao entered through the front entrance side by side.
Abel and Ryo followed them.
"Welcome back, Captain Bansox and Captain Dao."
The company members greeted them.
"Yeah, we're back. Is Banton here?"
"The branch manager is in the back."
One of the company members replied to Bansox's inquiry.
Upon hearing this, Bansox nodded once and proceeded to the back.
The other three followed him.
Bansox knocked on a door labeled 'Branch Manager's Office'.
"Come in."
A young voice responded.
They entered in the order of Bansox, Captain Dao, Abel, and Ryo.
"Brother Bansox! Welcome back, Captain Dao as well."
"Oh, Branch Manager Banton. You're getting used to the branch manager's chair, aren't you?"
"Brother… please don't call me branch manager. At least not when we're not in front of the staff… ah, you must be Abel-san and Ryo-san. I've heard about you in the messages from the head office. Thank you very much for accepting the difficult escort request this time."
The young man, referred to as Branch Manager Banton, said and bowed deeply.
He seemed just over twenty years old, with a youthful and friendly impression.
"He may look young, but he's quite skilled. Unlike me, big brother and Banton are suited to being merchants."
"Brother…"
"What is it? I didn't say it to belittle myself. I am who I am, and you are who you are, that's all."
Captain Bansox laughed heartily as he said that.
Indeed, seeing him laugh like this made it seem like he was better suited as an escort captain than a merchant…
Ryo and Abel then received their payment.
"Since there were no deaths among the company's crew and escort team, and the princess arrived in the capital, it's considered a complete success."
With those words, Branch Manager Banton placed their reward of 300 gold coins per person, which was double the original amount, on the table.
Just looking at it, one could feel the weight, fittingly described with the onomatopoeia, ka-ching.
"This is…"
"Isn't it quite a hassle to carry it around?"
Abel was speechless, and Ryo muttered.
"We can keep it here at our company. We are committed to supporting you until you cross over to the continent. Of course, we will also prepare accommodations for you, and you may use all the meals and services in the inn freely. We won't charge you. Therefore, I think it would be practical for you to withdraw the necessary amount in the morning and head out into town…"
"That sounds good."
"All-inclusive…"
Branch Manager Banton suggested, Abel nodded, and Ryo muttered, drawing from his knowledge of modern Earth.
"I've heard it will take some time to cross over to the continent, but how long will it actually take?"
Abel asked.
Although the Blue Jade Trading Company seemed to be covering much of the costs during their stay in this capital, he still wanted to have a rough idea.
"Yes, there is something I must tell you about that. The Komakyuta Principality has trade with the Ghegish-Lu Federation at the southern end of the continent, but…"
Branch Manager Banton paused there.
He had a slight frown on his face.
After taking a breath, he continued.
"A civil war has broken out within the Ghegish-Lu Federation."
"Civil war…"
Ryo murmured.
"We had received information a month ago that this was a possibility. That's why my father had informed you that crossing over immediately would be impossible… but the concerns have become reality."
"Is it a large-scale conflict?"
"Currently, it's not that large. For a while, we will continue to monitor the situation and consider how to resume trade. We will coordinate sending you two to the continent with that…"
"I see. Understood."
Abel nodded once in acknowledgment of Branch Manager Banton's explanation.
"A coup over there, a civil war over here…World peace is far away."
Abel could only give a wry smile at Ryo's murmuring.
Truly… peace seems to be a precious thing.
Komakyuta Principality Royal Palace.
In the council room of the principality, a conference was being held.
The main topic was how to handle the treatment of Princess Iliaja.
Indeed, even at this point, the princess's treatment had not been decided.
Of course, it had been decided once.
The Principality refused the new Suje Kingdom government's request for extradition.
"The principality government has accepted her as an asylum seeker, and a hearing in the capital is necessary, so immediate extradition is impossible."
That was the response.
As already stated at that time, 'because she was accepted as an asylum seeker', her treatment had been decided once.
There were even schemes to eventually marry her to someone from the royal family, push the child born as a legitimate heir… and intervene in the Suje Kingdom as a 'legitimate heir to the throne' a couple of years later.
Amidst this… the transport fleet was attacked.
Moreover, when hearing the scale of the assault fleet, it was quite large.
And the commander was said to be Admiral Rockday.
Admiral Rockday of the Suje Kingdom Central Navy is known as an extremely talented admiral, reputed to have a 90% win rate in warfare.
And one of the most trusted admirals of First Sea Lord Kabui Somal.
Winning the battle and capturing over ten ships, including Admiral Rockday… was delightful.
While it was delightful, that wasn't the issue.
Such a prominent figure led a powerful fleet to attack the transport fleet.
Despite the potential for full-scale war.
In other words, it also means that Kabui Somal, who became the Lord Protector, is determined to secure Princess Iliaja.
The Komakyuta Principality, being a neighboring country, was well aware of the excellence of Kabui Somal, who had led the Suje Kingdom Navy as the First Sea Lord.
Painfully aware.
Now that such a person had become the head of the country… he would become an even more troublesome enemy, and it was presumed that the Suje Kingdom itself, which had previously had some vulnerabilities, would become stronger than before.
Therefore, in the end, the meeting did not progress…
Dosnaji was the fifth secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Komakyuta Principality.
At 42 years old, he was the most successful of his peers, and it had been ten years since someone in their early forties had been appointed as a secretary.
Even within the vast Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he was a high-ranking official, being tenth in seniority, and undoubtedly part of the leadership.
However, in this council meeting, he was at the very bottom.
And that was inevitable.
The council meeting was attended by the lord, who was the sovereign, admirals, generals, ministers, and first secretaries of various ministries.
The only reason the fifth secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was present was that he was in charge of the southern part of the Suje Kingdom.
In other words, the Tamako Province of the Suje Kingdom, where Princess Iliaja had fought.
The resistance in the Tamako Province was very peculiar.
The morale in the Tamako Province was very high.
Given the high popularity of Princess Iliaja, it seemed as if the entire province rose to protect and serve her.
However, in contrast, the movements of the rebel forces were sluggish.
Compared to their blitzkrieg capture of 90% of the Kingdom, their sluggishness was astounding.
It could be inferred that something must have happened to the First Sea Lord Kabui Somal, who is the central figure, or at the capital.
Therefore, Dosnaji, the fifth secretary, questioned the third secretary, who oversaw the central part of the Suje Kingdom.
If something unusual was happening.
However, the response he received was cold.
"Just do your own work. Don't interfere with others' jobs."
He knew that!
No one was interfering out of personal desire!
The reason he was speaking up was that this issue concerned the actions the entire principality should take!
And yet…
"Haa…"
Dosnaji sighed softly, very softly.
It was like this, all the time.
He understood this when he became a senior official in the central ministries.
There were very few bureaucrats working for the country and its people.
The higher the position, the lower the percentage.
This was not only true for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where he worked.
But for all ministries…
When they first joined the ministry, everyone was filled with hope and passion… to create a better country for the nation or the people.
But as time passed and their positions rose, these disappeared.
Because they had less time to actually go out and interact with the people.
A senior colleague of Dosnaji had once said this.
Surely, that must be one of the significant reasons.
For whom is this work being done?
This is something that should always be reconsidered in any job.
Neglecting that would lead to cutting corners.
If you cut corners, you cannot do a good job.
If you can't do a good job, your motivation gets sapped.
If your motivation gets sapped, you cut corners even more…
Once you take a wrong step, it's a downhill slide.
Dosnaji shook his head slightly, dispelling the thoughts inappropriate for this place.
He then concentrated on the contents of the meeting.
However…
Nothing had progressed since earlier.
Realizing this, Dosnaji sighed for the umpteenth time when the doors of the conference room opened, and the chamberlain of the lord entered.
However, he was not as calm as usual, and even from Dosnaji's position, it was clear that he seemed flustered.
The chamberlain handed over a piece of paper, and the lord almost stood up after reading it.
The conference attendees held their breath, wondering what was going on.
The lord handed the paper he received to the prime minister next to him.
After reading it, the prime minister murmured,
"This is…"
Involuntarily.
Being made to wait this long, it was natural that some would become irritated.
"What is written there, Prime Minister?"
That was said by Admiral Guss.
"Well… It says that the First Sea Lord of the Suje Kingdom, or rather, the Lord Protector, Kabui Somal, has arrived in this Wannya and requested an audience with His Majesty."
Immediately after the prime minister said that, no one spoke a word.
Silence filled the room…
Three seconds later.
"Impossible!"
"What is that!"
"Is it genuine?"
"They must have checked his identification plate, surely."
"First Princess Iliaja, and now the First Sea Lord."
"No, it's the Lord Protector."
"Either way!"
However, all the words flying around were probably summarized by the next one.
Namely…
"What is he up to…"
That was the answer everyone sought, but no one here could provide it.
An hour later.
Royal Palace, audience chamber.
"Lord Protector of the Suje Kingdom, Kabui Somal."
In response to that voice, the doors opened, and a man entered, his cloak billowing.
Imposing.
There aren't many men to whom those words apply as well as they do to this man.
About 180 cm tall.
In his mid-thirties, with hair closer to brown than black, brown skin, and eyes of a light blue that stood out remarkably in that complexion.
His features were very well-formed, and even during the time of the old government of the Suje Kingdom, he was more popular with the noble ladies than anyone else.
However, as indicated by the thin sword scar on his right cheek, he was a man who had walked the battlefields.
With both fists clenched and crossed over his chest, Kabui Somal, the Lord Protector of the Suje Kingdom, took the Suje Kingdom's most respectful male bow and knelt on one knee.
He waited for the lord to speak.
In this place, the first person allowed to speak was the highest-ranking person, the lord of the Komakyuta Principality.
Therefore, the assembled courtiers bowed their heads and waited for words.
However, ten seconds passed, twenty seconds passed, and thirty seconds passed, yet no words were heard.
The courtiers raised their heads slightly and glanced at the lord.
The lord continued to look at Kabui Somal, who was kneeling from the top of the steps…
Surely thinking that this couldn't go on.
The chamberlain standing diagonally behind the lord whispered softly in his ear,
"Your Majesty, please speak."
That finally seemed to awaken the lord.
"Welcome from the Suje Kingdom, well done on your journey."
"I am humbled."
Replied Kabui Somal to the lord's words.
This finally allowed others to speak.
First, the Prime Minister spoke.
"Your Excellency Kabui Somal, Lord Protector. May we hear the reason for your visit?"
"Certainly, Prime Minister."
Kabui Somal replied, standing up.
"Recently, there was an unfortunate armed conflict between the fleets of both countries. I am here for the resolution of that matter. And also…"
Here, Kabui Somal deliberately paused.
After taking a breath, he continued,
"To take custody of Princess Iliaja of our Suje Kingdom."
That was the expected answer.
While it was anticipated, for the head of a country to come to the royal palace of another country and state it to the lord and all the courtiers was…
"Outrageous!"
The first to utter that word was Admiral Guss.
The Navy's foremost hawk.
An advocate for war against the Suje Kingdom.
"That is not something to say in the presence of His Majesty! Know your place! "
"I apologize for that, Admiral Guss. However, I merely answered the Prime Minister's question about why I had come. If you wish for a private meeting, we can move to another location."
"You…"
Admiral Guss, whose face turned red with anger at Kabui Somal's polite reply.
These two have faced each other in naval battles many times.
You could say they are rivals of a sort.
Although, in terms of track record… Kabui Somal is almost undefeated.
"We cannot answer about Princess Iliaja's matter at this time."
"Oohh…"
Kabui Somal tilted his head slightly in response to the Prime Minister's reply.
In fact, even Kabui Somal was surprised by that answer.
He had expected to be firmly rejected.
(Does this mean… it could be settled through negotiation?)
He began to think so.
Preparations had been made for any outcome.
However, it was certainly best to resolve the matter without the use of force.
"Then, may we proceed to discuss the unfortunate armed conflict, and during that time, may the Komakyuta Principality decide on the princess's situation?"
"Yes, you may take it that way."
Kabui Somal confirmed, and the Prime Minister nodded.
Subsequently, the 'Peace Pavilion' near the royal palace was rented by the Komakyuta government for Kabui Somal, the Lord Protector of the Suje Kingdom, and his party to stay.
'Blue Jade Inn Wannya' prepared as lodging for Ryo and Abel.
As the name suggests, it is an inn operated by the Blue Jade Trading Company in the capital city of Wannya.
The 'Blue Jade Inn Wannya' faces the second central plaza in the city of Wannya and is a very elegant, five-story stone building.
It is a coveted inn for the people of the Komakyuta Principality, renowned as a place they wish to stay.
Compared to the main branch in Manyama, it is much larger and boasts various facilities and amenities.
"Abel, did you see the open-air bath in the room? It has a wonderfully fragrant wooden tub."
"You really like baths, Ryo…"
"Of course. I live for baths and will die for baths. I plan to have my epitaph engraved with that."
"I-Is that so…"
However, they were about to be further astonished.
By the next words of the employee.
"There is also a large communal bath in the basement."
"What!"
The 'Blue Jade Inn Wannya' had yet to reveal all its offerings.
-x-X-x-
"The underground large bath was amazing."
"Indeed. I can understand why it's called a dream inn."
Ryo and Abel experienced an astonishing aspect of the 'Blue Jade Inn Wannya'.
The two of them were at the café of the 'Blue Jade Inn Wannya'.
It seems to be called 'Cafe Blue', and even those not staying at the inn can use it.
However, it seemed to be quite expensive, and the patrons clearly looked wealthy…
"We can… eat and drink freely here, right?"
"Yeah. The Blue Jade Trading Company is really something."
Ryo trembled at the generous treatment, and Abel was surprised at the generosity of the Blue Jade Trading Company.
And in front of the two was, of course, a special blend coffee from the Blue Jade Inn.
They inhaled the perfect aroma.
Enjoyed the exceptional smoothness.
And savored it all…
"Wow…"
A sigh of satisfaction escaped from both of their mouths in unison.
It felt like one of the pinnacles coffee could reach.
It was such a level of perfection.
The two were sitting by the window.
Outside the window was the second central plaza of Wannya.
Ryo casually looked out the window.
There was tight security at the inn located at the edge of the central plaza.
It wasn't like that yesterday, so something must have happened.
Seeing Ryo's expression, Abel followed his gaze.
"Oh, that's an inn called 'Peaceful Sea Inn' apparently."
Abel said, looking at the heavily guarded inn.
"How does Abel know that?"
"I overheard other guests talking about it in the large bath earlier. It seems some important person from another country suddenly came, so the government requisitioned the inn."
"I feel like… I've heard that somewhere before."
"It happened in Manyamya city too."
"That's right! They requisitioned the inn for Princess Iliaja. Could it be someone from the Kingdom of Suje again…"
"Who knows."
Ryo speculated idly, and Abel casually brushed it off.
It was a rare occasion where Ryo's completely random guess turned out to be accurate…
"That's quite an impressive ship."
"You mean the one docked at the commercial port? It seems to belong to the person who entered the 'Peaceful Sea Inn'"
"What? Then is it someone important from another country? That design is too bold for a state-built ship."
"Even if you ask me…"
While Ryo and Abel were enjoying the view of the plaza and sipping coffee, they overheard a conversation from a nearby table.
Originally, the three people were talking about things like the chamber's sales and membership fees, but at some point, the topic shifted to the ship docked at the commercial port.
Despite their fine attire, they were probably seafaring men at heart.
They were getting excited over the rare ship.
Naturally, this piqued the interest of the two.
"Abel, it seems there's an extraordinary ship out there."
"Seems so. What classifies as too bold…"
"A ship too bold for a nation to build… I'm curious."
"The Bashteek was a large ship, but it didn't have an extraordinary appearance…"
Both Ryo and Abel were intrigued by that so-called extraordinary ship.
What kind of ship would even seasoned seafarers consider extraordinary…?
The two stood up to see the extraordinary ship.
They waded through the crowd gathered at the commercial port and saw it.
"Abel… I feel like I'm dreaming."
"Ryo…what a coincidence, I also feel like I'm seeing an illusion."
The ship they saw was…
"It looks like the Rain Shooter…"
"Yeah, it looks like it to me too."
Indeed, docked there was the Rain Shooter, which was once said to be a revolution in ships, built in Whitnash, Kingdom of Knightley.
It was a trimaran, a three-hulled ship, and an astonishingly elegant vessel distinct from any other ship.
It had no sails, oars, or propellers… it used hybrid navigation with water-attribute magic below the waterline and wind-attribute magic above.
"The Rain Shooter disappeared a year ago. Is what you said, Abel."
"Yeah, I did. I said that through 'Soul Resonance.'"
"What did Abel say back then?"
"I think I said something like…it set sail from Whitnash a year ago for a maritime survey and hasn't returned since."
While talking, both Ryo and Abel kept their eyes fixed on the ship.
"A ship from the Kingdom of Knightley… all the way to this archipelago region…?"
"I don't know. According to past records of the Kingdom's Maritime Agency, sailing east or southeast of Witnash was considered difficult."
"Could it be they forced a maritime survey despite that?"
The large port towns of the Kingdom were only as big as Whitnash.
Several small villages called fishing villages were scattered about, but they were not large enough for a ship like the Rain Shooter to dock.
"There was a report from the Maritime Agency about the completion of a powerful sea monster repellent. It showed considerable results in experiments. They wanted to conduct a maritime survey with it…"
"And the Rain Shooter didn't return…"
"Yeah."
Both Ryo and Abel frowned.
Ryo thought about the construction cost of 370 billion Florins.
Abel regretted his judgment at the time.
"Could it be a sister ship of the Rain Shooter or just a lookalike…?"
"For such a distinctive ship?"
"…No, I guess not."
Ships, when imitated in appearance to make something similar, often do not succeed.
The unseen parts are where the designers' and shipbuilders' skills are embedded.
Neglecting those parts would result in a ship with fatal problems…
"The most realistic interpretation is…"
"That somehow, the Rain Shooter managed to reach this archipelago region."
Both Ryo and Abel concluded that the overly extravagant ship in front of them was indeed the Rain Shooter itself.
"Could we get it back…?"
"That's probably impossible."
Ryo suggested, and Abel shook his head slightly.
Even if it were proven that it was the Rain Shooter itself, a request to return it to the Kingdom of Knightley would likely not be accepted.
Moreover, it wasn't being used by just anyone.
A powerful figure, who had taken control of an entire country, was using it to travel to a neighboring nation.
The exchange "Please return it.", "Sure." was unlikely to happen.
In some cases, it might even be seen as a challenge to authority.
But still…
"If the Rain Shooter is happy, that's all that matters."
"I don't quite understand, but…"
Ryo thought about the feelings of the Rain Shooter, which had been far removed from its birthplace and was now being operated by people they couldn't identify.
Of course, Abel didn't understand at all.
"The Rain Shooter has the right to be happy."
"Oh, uh…?"
"I'll just go have a chat with the owner."
"Huh?"
"If the owner is a good person, that's fine. But if they're bad, I'll take it away."
"Yeah, let's not create a diplomatic incident."
"Abel, don't stop me!"
"No, I'm definitely stopping you!"
Ryo declared with a look full of determination, and Abel tried to stop him.
Needless to say, Ryo had no right whatsoever to take the Rain Shooter away.
Even if one generously assumed the King of the Knightley Kingdom, Abel, who was originally associated with the Rain Shooter, might have some claim, it was still unreasonable…
"Even I can't just demand its return at this point."
Abel muttered, shaking his head.
The two of them returned to the second central plaza.
There was the 'Blue Jade Inn Wannya' where they were staying, but that wasn't their goal.
"Peaceful Sea Inn."
The inn where the foreign dignitaries who arrived on the Rain Shooter were staying.
It was requisitioned by the Komakyuta Principality and some guards who seemed to be the Kingdom's soldiers were standing in front of the inn.
"Hey, Ryo…"
"I know. I won't try to force my way in, of course."
Abel said worriedly, and Ryo nodded firmly, indicating not to say more.
"Please, don't trouble the Blue Jade Trading Company who's been looking after us…"
"I understand. Abel, do you not trust me?"
"No, not at all."
"What a thing to say…"
Ryo approached the guard in front of the 'Peaceful Sea Inn' with a bright smile.
"Excuse me."
"What is it? This is where the diplomatic delegation is staying. Civilians must not come near."
"Yes, I understand. They came on the Rain Shooter docked in the harbor, right?"
"I don't know the name of the ship, but yes."
"I'd like to know who they are and which country they're from. Is it possible to tell me that…?"
Ryo asked softly, smiling to avoid appearing high-handed.
In such situations, whether the other person would answer or not depended on how you asked.
If someone approached with a smile and polite words… no one in their right mind would suddenly yell at them.
As a matter of common sense, no one would assign such an unusual person as a guard for a diplomatic mission.
If the guard caused a diplomatic incident, it would be disastrous.
Of course, if it were a question they couldn't answer… no matter how they were asked, they wouldn't answer.
"I'm afraid… I can't answer that."
The guard, not harshly, showed a face that said… he wasn't allowed to answer such questions.
In this case, no amount of pressing would work.
"I see. Understood. But, could you at least tell me which country they're from…? Could it be from the neighboring Suje Kingdom?"
Ryo probed further.
Making it easy for the guard not to have to give a clear answer.
A slight nod would suffice.
The guard glanced around and then gave a small nod.
"Got it! Thank you very much."
Without saying anything unnecessary, Ryo thanked him politely and left.
He rejoined Abel.
"It seems they're from the Suje Kingdom."
"I see. Is it about Princess Iliaja's matter or… the preliminary negotiations for the ceasefire with the assault fleet?"
"Or maybe both…"
"If it's both, they must be someone important. Such a negotiation would be difficult, so they'd have to be given considerable authority."
"If they're that important, we won't be able to meet them…"
Ryo said with a frown.
Genuinely considering speaking with the current owner of the Rain Shooter.
Where did this passion come from?
Abel, unable to understand it, shook his head slightly.
Nonetheless, as long as it didn't inconvenience others, he didn't mind letting Ryo clear his mind.
"Why not ask the Blue Jade Trading Company about who came from the Suje Kingdom? It seems to be a rather large trading company, so they might have means to gather palace information."
"That makes sense! They've likely planted spies. Government officials don't earn much, so if they dangle money, they'll easily hand over information. Maybe they've even bribed a few ministers already…"
"The way you say it makes it sound like they're corrupt merchants…"
"Abel, don't say such disrespectful things. To make the right decisions, you need the right information. It's only natural to use every means to obtain the correct information. It's the officials who sell information for money who are at fault."
Abel shook his head slightly at Ryo's leaps of logic.
As a king governing a nation, it was highly concerning for information from the central government to leak easily.
"…What if giving money to officials is prohibited by law?"
"Then it can't be helped. We'll use another method. Like giving a ship to their wives or high-end dolls to their daughters…"
"Uh, yeah… I think all of those would likely get you arrested for bribery."
"That might be the case in some countries. I'm not sure about the Kingdom of Knightley, though."
"In the Kingdom, too… I think there are rules like that for officials and ministers."
"Damn… as expected of the kingdom. They've already taken measures!"
"It's probably because there were people like Ryo in the past who stole information."
"Well, in any country and era, there are only so many ways to obtain central government information. You can either entice the officials with money or charm them with someone, or threaten their families. Make sure to protect the officials so it doesn't come to that!"
"Y-yeah, right…"
Somehow, the premier duke ended up giving advice to the king…
The two quickly arrived at the Blue Jade Trading Company Wannya branch.
Located right next to the commercial port.
"Welcome. You must be Abel-sama and Ryo-sama. What brings you here today?"
The clerk who first noticed the two asked them this.
Even though the two hadn't introduced themselves, the fact that the staff knew who they were meant that information sharing within the Wannya branch was thorough.
Such establishments tend to grow.
If I had shares, I'd definitely want to keep them…
"Excuse me, but I'd like to meet with the branch manager or Captain Bansox."
"I'm sorry. The branch manager is currently out. The captain of the guard is in the guard's waiting room on the second floor. Please follow me."
The clerk smoothly answered Ryo's question and led them.
A knock sounded.
"Come in."
A voice came from inside, and the clerk who guided them opened the door.
"Abel-sama and Ryo-sama have arrived."
"Hm? Oh, you two, good to see you. What brings you here today? Is there something you're dissatisfied with at the 'Blue Jade Inn Wannya'?"
Bansox, who had been reading something, stood up to welcome the two.
"No, we have no complaints about 'Blue Jade Inn Wannya.'"
"Not at all. It's a wonderful inn."
Both Abel and Ryo were very satisfied with the 'Blue Jade Inn Wannya', and they answered clearly.
Hearing that, Bansox nodded happily.
Even if he wasn't directly involved in its operation, it was gratifying to hear praise for a group company.
Especially since it was an inn he confidently recommended to his benefactors.
Ryo and Abel sat on the offered sofa and got straight to the point.
"We want to know who the person from the Kingdom of Suje staying at the 'Peaceful Sea Inn is."
"Ah, it's been a topic of conversation. They arrived on that amazing ship."
Abel inquired, and Bansox responded with a laugh.
Then he continued,
"The guests at the 'Peaceful Sea Inn' are well-known within the royal palace. It seems to be the renowned Lord Protector."
"Kabui Somal?"
Both Abel and Ryo were surprised by this answer.
The head of the enemy country personally coming to the country they recently fought a fleet battle against.
"How bold."
Ryo couldn't help but say, and Bansox nodded in agreement.
"It's unbelievable. It wouldn't be strange if his life were targeted both domestically and internationally. Domestically, by factions supporting the old royal family, and internationally, by nations looking to intervene in the Kingdom of Suje's chaos. Both would want Kabui Somal dead."
"Of course, he'd have some means of self-defense and backup plans, but still…"
"He must have deemed it necessary for the Lord Protector himself to come. It must be that important."
Bansox speculated, Abel pointed out the existence of a backup plan, and Ryo considered the reason for such actions.
"It's not about cleaning up after the fleet battle, is it?"
"It's probably about Princess Iliaja. Well, if they had won the fleet battle and acquired Princess Iliaja, it would've been fine."
"Yeah."
"Thanks to a certain swordsman's interference, they were defeated. It ended up with the Lord Protector himself coming to the front lines. If the Lord Protector gets assassinated, it'll be entirely Abel's responsibility…"
"Why me?! It was Ryo who built an ice bridge and charged the enemy flagship, not me. It's all Ryo's responsibility."
"Shifting blame is not admirable."
"Right back at you!"
A fierce rivalry between the magician and the swordsman…
This is an unchanging dynamic throughout the ages.
It might even be considered a microcosm of the difficulty of achieving world peace…
-x-X-x-
The two left the Blue Jade Trading Company Wannya branch.
"What a pain. I can't think of a way to meet the Lord Protector."
"We're talking about the leader of a country. You can't just meet him that easily."
"In this kind of situation, it's typical for the Protector's carriage to be attacked, and we happen to pass by and help, thus forming a relationship."
"That sort of thing doesn't happen."
Ryo wished for a typical light novel development, but Abel immediately denied it.
"Besides, wouldn't the guard of a national envoy be the strictest?"
"I understand what you're saying, Abel, but…"
"Give it up."
Ryo pouted unhappily, and Abel shut it down with one word.
The two of them were heading towards the 'Blue Jade Inn Wannya', where they were staying.
Naturally, they would pass by the 'Peaceful Sea Inn' again on the way.
There was quite a crowd gathered this time.
However, a large area near the entrance of the 'Peaceful Sea Inn' was secured by guards.
Probably to be ready if any assassins were lurking among the crowd…
"It's the same kind of crowd as at the commercial port."
"Maybe they're trying to get a glimpse of the ship's owner."
As Ryo and Abel were having this conversation, a carriage stopped in front of the inn.
Immediately, it was heavily guarded by the guards.
"No way…"
"This is the pattern where the Lord Protector arrives!"
Abel was surprised, and Ryo spoke happily.
Then he continued.
"And amidst all this, he gets attacked by ruffians…"
"The security is pretty tight to prevent that from happening."
"Ugh… it seems this won't follow a perfect pattern after all. That's a shame."
The man who got out of the carriage exuded an overwhelming presence just by stepping out, making it impossible for anyone to ignore him.
Overwhelmed by his presence, the voices of the crowd fell silent.
A voice echoed.
"Lord Protector, the man here named Abel thwarted your plan and became the cause of your intervention. Also, I have something to discuss regarding the Rain Shooter in the port."
"Hey…"
The voice seemed to trigger the crowd to start talking again.
Of course, even while that voice was echoing, Kabui Somal continued to walk without stopping and entered through the doors of the 'Peaceful Sea Inn'.
However, he stopped there and spoke to the man accompanying him.
"Narun, did you hear those words just now?"
"Yes, Your Excellency. However, such ramblings are common. We are in enemy territory, so there are those who will incite others."
The man called Narun shook his head slightly as he answered.
"No, not that. Well, that concerns me as well… But it's not that. It's the words Rain Shooter."
"Rain Shooter? Come to think of it, that was mentioned. What about it?"
"Probably, the Rain Shooter is the original name of the Bralkau."
"Wha…"
Narun was speechless at Kabui Somal's words.
The ship they arrived on was called Bralkau, but that name was given when it was commandeered by the Suje Kingdom Navy.
Even those who commandeered it didn't know the original name of the ship.
It seemed that the ship's name was once painted on the stern, but by the time it was commandeered, the paint had already peeled off.
However, six months after it was commandeered, when the steering wheel was removed for repairs, the ship's name 'Rain Shooter' was discovered engraved on it.
It was thought to be the original name of the Bralkau…
"Very few people, even those involved with the ship, know that name, let alone the navy. It's interesting that name was shouted in that situation."
"Indeed."
Narun nodded at Kabui Somal's words.
"Narun, I want to know who those people who spoke earlier are. Investigate."
"Understood."
"Also, inquire about the name 'Abel' with Rockday."
"The Admiral is in Golan Prison, but…"
"We've had our people infiltrate that place for some time now, haven't we?"
"Yes. Is it alright to use them?"
"By all means. Use them."
"Understood."
Golan Prison is located on the opposite side of Wannya Island from the city.
It mainly holds political prisoners and prisoners of war.
Due to its nature of holding prisoners of war, the Suje Kingdom infiltrated spies and bribed many of the guards to control them.
He instructed them to confirm information using those methods.
"Now then…I wonder who they are…"
No one answered Kabui Somal's muttering.
"Ryo, what was that about?"
"Abel, this is to see how they will react."
"I understand that, but…you shouted my name…what if I'm attacked?"
"It'll be fine! We'll capture the attackers and use that to force a meeting!"
"…What about my safety?"
"You should protect yourself."
Ryo declared firmly to Abel.
Of course, this conversation was possible because of the deep trust between them.
…Probably.
"Thanks to you, Ryo, I'm going to get attacked…"
"But Abel, you thwarted the Suje Kingdom Navy's plans, didn't you? I'm not lying."
"You built the bridge…"
"If Abel can take on their revenge single-handedly, everything will work out! Rest assured."
"Yeah, as the one being attacked, I can't be reassured at all."
Ryo nodded enthusiastically, patting Abel on the shoulder, while Abel muttered, shaking his head.
That night, in the special guest room of the 'Peaceful Sea Inn'.
"I have a report."
Narun, the aide to the Lord Protector Kabui Somal, began his report.
"The voices we heard in the evening came from the people staying at the 'Blue Jade Inn Wannya' located in one corner of this square."
"'Blue Jade Inn Wannya', you say. I've stayed there before, it's a high-class inn. So these are people who can afford to stay there."
"They appeared for dinner at the main dining room of 'Blue Jade Inn Wannya' last night, so it's certain they are staying there. However, we couldn't discover their names."
"A place like that, the staff must be very professional. They wouldn't leak customer information."
As Narun apologized for his report, Kabui Somal nodded generously.
"If I can have more time tomorrow, I'll continue the investigation. I'll make contact with Admiral Rockday tonight, so I'll combine that with the report…"
"Alright, I'll leave it to you. But don't dig too deep. They're not necessarily confirmed enemies. Avoid conflict whenever possible."
"Understood."
Narun nodded, accepting Kabui Somal's order.
At the same time, in Golan Prison.
A visitor arrived at Admiral Rockday's cell.
Normally, such a thing would be impossible.
Impossible, but…here, with enough money, anything is possible…
"Report on the battle."
The visitor requested, and Rockday nodded once before beginning to speak.
It was a report on the battle that attacked the transport fleet.
After hearing the entire report, the visitor nodded once.
Although they took no notes, Rockday knew they remembered everything.
Kabui Somal had several people with such unusual abilities around him.
"His Excellency has one question: Who is this 'Abel' person?"
Admiral Rockday was surprised by the visitor's question.
He answered slowly.
"As expected of His Excellency. To already know about Abel… Abel is the swordsman who crossed the ice bridge first and overwhelmed Commander Monrashou as mentioned in the previous report. He comes from the Kingdom of Knightley in the Central Countries and was cooperating with the Blue Jade Trading Company's escort team."
"I see. I'll report that."
"Ah, wait a moment."
Rockday hurriedly stopped the visitor as they were about to leave.
"The water-attribute magician working with Abel is troublesome as well. His name is Ryo. I thought he was the central figure in the construction of the ice bridge, but… upon investigation, it turns out it wasn't the case. Ryo constructed that ice bridge all by himself."
"…Didn't you say it was a two-hundred-meter bridge?"
"Yes, I did. Even with multiple magicians, it would be difficult to construct such a large-scale magic, yet a single magician bridged it. Please convey this to His Excellency. To be wary of Abel and Ryo. It's difficult to admit, but the battle this time was practically their doing. Don't underestimate them."
"I understand."
Rockday conveyed the threat of the two, and the visitor nodded, committing it to memory.
Though the visitor found it hard to believe, it didn't matter.
They were there to relay what they heard verbatim.
Kabui Somal would decide whether it was factual.
The next day.
In the Komakyuta Principality, a meeting was being held in the conference room at the royal palace.
Meetings had been ongoing for several days.
Initially, it was a court meeting, but since the previous day, the king had been absent due to ill health.
Making things even more chaotic.
An increasingly confused meeting… meant that nothing was ultimately decided.
Attending today's meeting was Dosnaji, the fifth undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Even while he was here, work was progressing at the main office, so his workload was likely increasing.
"At the very least, I wish something would be decided…"
Dosnaji muttered to himself.
There's nothing more exhausting than a meeting where nothing gets decided.
Why can't anything be decided, despite all this discussion?
What is the value of having these discussions?
Do we even need discussions to decide anything in the first place?
Ultimately, discussions reveal not what is right, but who is skilled at navigating them and who holds the power to decide.
These thoughts, unrelated to the meeting, ran through his mind…
Currently under discussion, as always, was what to do about Princess Iliaja.
Alongside this, Kabui Somal's request to meet with Princess Iliaja was also being considered.
As usual, the pro-war advocate and naval hawk Admiral Gus called for the expulsion of Princess Iliaja and Kabui Somal from the country.
Prime Minister Botan, known as a moderate, attempted to calm the situation.
Amidst this, many ministers expressed their selfish opinions…
Dosnaji sighed softly.
And muttered to himself.
"Nothing changes today either."
But that wasn't the case.
A report suddenly came in.
"Report: The Suje Kingdom Navy has deployed near the border. The number of ships is 400."
"Four hundred!?"
"Their entire main force…?"
"Is the Suje Kingdom planning to start a full-scale war? "
"No, Lord Protector Kabui Somal is here in Wannya."
"Meaning this is…"
"A message to hurry up and decide…"
"A threat…"
"Damn you, Kabui Somal! We won't succumb to your threats!"
The last line was from the pro-war Admiral Gus.
But no one joined in on his enthusiasm.
Everyone was too intimidated by the fleet of 400 ships that had appeared at the border.
Negotiations were a mix of firmness and flexibility.
The Komakyuta Principality was being toyed with by Kabui Somal.
That night. Once again, in the special guest room of the 'Peaceful Sea Inn'.
"I have a report."
For the second night in a row, Narun, the aide to Lord Protector Kabui Somal, began his report.
First, he relayed Rockday's battle report and message.
He then continued with what had learned today about the two individuals in question.
"Their names are Abel and Ryo. They are staying at the 'Blue Jade Inn Wannya'. Their stay is apparently as 'special guests' of the Blue Jade Trading Company, with all kinds of conveniences provided for them. Also, Admiral Rockday's battle report seems accurate, with Ryo, the water-attribute magician, creating the ice bridge, and Abel, the swordsman, boarding the flagship with the Blue Jade Trading Company's escort team, defeating Commander Monrashou and Admiral Rockday."
"I see. I thought it was rare for the cautious Rockday to allow boarding of the flagship, but…a 200-meter ice bridge. And with a swordsman who can overwhelm even Monrashou and Rockday as opponents…losing is understandable."
Kabui Somal smiled wryly at Narun's explanation.
He then continued speaking.
"Both of them are very intriguing talents. Intriguing, but…for now, the matter of Her Royal Highness the Princess takes precedence…"
"Yes."
"The fleet has moved to the border as planned, right?"
"Yes. The report has reached the Komakyuta government, and the court meeting was in a brief uproar."
"I see. Things are going as planned so far."
Kabui Somalu nodded as he listened to Narun's report.
This was a measure taken in anticipation that the principality would firmly refuse to hand over Princess Iliaja.
Of course, it's a move that could be effective even in other situations.
The effect is a 'push'.
Kabui Somal's actions and desires would receive a push from behind…that's the intended effect.
"Tomorrow, I will again visit the royal palace and request an audience with Her Royal Highness the Princess."
"Understood. However, it seems His Majesty the King has not been in good health these past few days, so an audience with him might be difficult."
"So I've heard. I'll try making the request to Prime Minister Botan."
"Do you think it will work?"
"Well, who knows? At the very least, it's better than making the request to Admiral Gus."
Kabui Somal said with a laugh.
-x-X-x-
"Wow, last night's dinner and this morning's breakfast were absolutely delicious!"
"Yeah. Good food is always a plus."
Ryo said cheerfully, and Abel responded with a smile.
Delicious food is justice.
It makes those who eat it happy.
Just then, the receptionist brought a letter to them.
"This just came in."
"Thank you."
Abel said as he took the letter and promptly opened it to read.
After a quick glance, he handed it to Ryo.
"Let's see… Princess Iliaja wants to meet us. It's an invitation to a tea party. What else does it say… oh, it mentions they've acquired some fine tea leaves from the continent. That's great! We should definitely go."
Ryo loves coffee, but he also enjoys tea, such as black tea and green tea.
"Ryo, there's more written, isn't there?"
"It also says she has some matters she'd like to discuss. But that's no big deal, just minor stuff. The location is… the royal palace's annex? There's a guesthouse there? If she's staying in a place like that, she can't go out and play whenever she wants. How unfortunate."
"It can't be helped. The principality would be in trouble if anything happened to the princess. After all, she was attacked during the transport, so even staying in this city doesn't guarantee her safety."
Thinking of the princess without freedom made Ryo sad, while Abel, though sympathetic, explained the situation.
People of high status have no freedom.
Abel, who experienced that firsthand after becoming a king, shook his head slightly.
On the flip side, it made him appreciate the rare moments he could act freely now.
In that regard, he had a slight, just very slight, appreciation for Djinn Garwin.
Just a little, though.
"But if she's in the guesthouse… can we even meet her if we go?"
"Who knows? Well, we'll find out if we go."
Ryo responded casually to Abel's doubt.
Indeed, they'll know if they go, and they won't if they don't…
"Right this way, please."
When the two arrived at the guesthouse's main gate and stated their names and purpose, they were quickly escorted inside.
"We got in smoothly."
"Yeah. It seems they were informed of our arrival."
Ryo and Abel whispered to each other.
Though they were allowed in…
"Isn't security unusually tight?"
"You noticed too, Abel? There were about twenty guards at the main gate, right? And there are soldiers posted at every corner along this path."
A significant number of guards were stationed within the guesthouse.
"Maybe they know you're a dangerous swordsman, Abel."
"What are you talking about…?"
"Abel, the ruthless and cruel swordsman. Your infamous reputation must have reached the royal palace of the Komakyuta Principality."
"Like hell."
"Otherwise, how would you explain this level of strict security? If you think about it that way, everything makes sense, doesn't it?"
Ryo confidently countered Abel's denial.
Strangely certain of his interpretation.
"You could replace 'Abel' with 'Ryo', and it would still make sense."
"I'm a harmless, gentle, and earnest magician. I'm not like you, Abel."
"More like a dragon in sheep's clothing."
"Oh, that phrase sounds cool. Like, 'He seems calm, but actually…'"
"That's not it. It's a metaphor for thinking you're hiding a dragon with sheep's clothing, but it's obviously too big to be hidden. Even if you think you're concealing it, it's still completely exposed."
"That's just mean…"
Whispering back and forth, they followed their guide until they finally reached their destination.
"Abel-san, Ryo-san, thank you for coming."
Princess Iliaja greeted them.
"Princess Iliaja, I'm glad to see you're well."
"Princess, we've come to join you."
Both Abel and Ryo smiled warmly as they greeted her.
Despite their different statuses, they were like comrades who had fought together.
Even after just a few days apart, meeting again made them happy.
Well, technically, the two were a king and the premier duke…
"Please, follow me."
Princess Iliaja led them to a large terrace.
The guesthouse itself was perfectly designed so that even a large terrace was hidden from view from outside the premises.
The trees were also planted strategically.
However, the garden visible from the terrace was filled with many soldiers.
At this point, it seemed more like they were guarding against external attacks rather than preventing the princess from escaping.
Noticing the change in Ryo's expression as he saw the numerous soldiers.
Princess Iliaja spoke with a wry smile.
"If I think of it as them protecting me, I'm grateful."
"As expected of the princess. With just a change in perspective, the world changes. I'd like a certain Abel to hear this!"
"And which Abel would that be?"
Ryo praised the princess while Abel gave Ryo a side-eye.
"N-no, I didn't mean to imply the Abel right in front of me~ Come on, don't be like that~"
Ryo tried to cover up with a cheerful smile.
Princess Iliaja laughed, Abel shook his head slightly, and Ryo took his seat.
The tea was served.
Poured into each cup.
Judging by how well it had been steeped, it must have been brewed right after the two arrived at the guesthouse.
Most likely by the capable chief butler.
The cups had no handles.
A soft fragrance wafted up.
"This is… not black tea but green tea."
Ryo murmured.
Then, he took a sip.
The fresh taste of the tea leaves and a slight bitterness spread in his mouth.
It was a delicious balance.
"This is delicious."
Abel remarked, his face showing genuine surprise as he praised the tea.
Ryo silently nodded in agreement.
He quickly took a second sip.
Savoring the flavor that somehow evoked a sense of nostalgia.
The taste brought back memories of the tea he used to drink at his grandparents' house long ago…
In front of them, a treat was placed.
A small orange-colored confection…
"Is this… a dumpling? A manju?"
It was… perhaps the closest description would be a bite-sized dumpling.
Ryo picked it up and took a bite.
Inside, he found another familiar taste.
"Sweet potato filling? It's nostalgic but delicious."
He murmured, instinctively taking another sip of tea.
"This is… perfect as a tea snack."
He smiled without realizing it.
Seeing this, Princess Iliaja also smiled.
She had been a little worried if the two visitors from the central nations would enjoy the taste.
"That is called Kaerupla, a traditional confection from the archipelago region."
"Ah, I see! It's delicious. I could get addicted to this."
"Indeed. I've never had it before, but the filling isn't too sweet, it's just right."
Princess Iliaja explained, Ryo expressed his joy, and Abel also took a liking to it.
Kaerupla was typically orange, but the mixture could be adjusted to create various colors, adding a visual appeal. The table was lined with colorful Kaerupla treats.
As the tea party continued in a warm and friendly atmosphere…
"Princess, this just arrived."
A letter was delivered.
Princess Iliaja quickly read it.
And Ryo noticed a brief shadow cross her face.
Abel seemed to notice it too, and the two exchanged a subtle nod.
"Please convey that I understand."
"Is that alright, Princess?"
"Yes, it's fine. It's something that was bound to happen eventually. And sooner is better than later."
"…Understood."
With a deep bow, the chief butler, Ronk, left the room.
Of course, neither Ryo nor Abel brought up the matter at hand.
Though they were curious, it wasn't their place to interfere.
However…
"Abel-san, Ryo-san, the letter was from Lord Kabui Somal."
"What…?"
The Princess herself revealed the surprising news, catching Ryo off guard.
Abel remained silent, but his expression showed his surprise.
"Actually, there was a discreet contact last night. Expressing a desire to visit soon and explain various matters. The letter just now was to inform us that the principality has granted permission, so he asked if it would be alright to visit now."
"I see."
"So, since the Princess has granted permission, Lord Kabui Somal will be coming here?"
Abel nodded at the Princess's explanation, while Ryo confirmed.
"Yes. If you two don't mind, I would like you to join me in hearing what he has to say."
"Eh…?"
"That… might not be acceptable to Lord Kabui Somal. He would likely prefer a one-on-one meeting with you, Princess… or something close to that."
The Princess made the request, Ryo was surprised, and Abel responded with a practical perspective.
After all, Abel and Ryo were complete outsiders in this matter.
"You're right. But… no, I'm sorry. It was a strange request, forget I mentioned it…"
"Of course, we don't mind at all."
"Huh?"
"We'll stand right behind you, Princess, and keep a sharp eye out! Leave it to us!"
Ryo said, thumping his chest with his fist.
As if to say they had it covered, though it was unclear if the gesture was fully understood.
"Hey, Ryo…"
"Abel. The person coming is the one who killed her family."
"Ah…"
Ryo's words made Abel fully grasp the situation.
Including the slight trembling of Princess Iliaja's fingers.
She was about to face the person who had killed her family.
Given her position, it was inevitable, but it wouldn't be easy to stay calm.
Even though she had been trained in the royal household from a young age, this was not a simple matter.
Moreover, a one-on-one meeting… normally, that would be impossible.
Abel realized he hadn't been considerate enough.
"You're right, Ryo."
He admitted it honestly.
"If we can be of help, we'll support you."
"After all, we've survived the battlefield together. In a way, we're comrades."
Abel said, and Ryo nodded in agreement.
They were both good-hearted people.
"Comrades…"
Princess Iliaja murmured.
"Comrades help each other."
"Well, we can't do much, but we can at least stand behind you."
"I could even surround you with an
"Well, I doubt he'd try to kill me in this situation. He didn't do it on the battlefield, so there's no point in doing it now."
"Don't worry, if he attacks, Abel will protect you with his life."
"Well, I will, but… you could protect her too, Ryo."
"What's the point of a swordsman who's slower to react than a magician?"
"That's harsh… Besides, you calling yourself a magician is a scam."
"How rude! Don't compare me to someone who talks big and does nothing, like you, Abel!"
"What is that supposed to mean…?"
Watching the two bicker… or rather, playfully banter, Princess Iliaja smiled.
The trembling of her fingers had completely stopped.
"Thank you, both of you."
She crossed her arms in front of her chest and bowed deeply, showing the utmost respect due to royalty.
-x-X-x-
"Excuse me."
With those words, a man entered the room.
He was dressed in the formal attire of the First Lord of the Navy of the Suje Kingdom, exuding perfect decorum.
He was the current Lord Protector of the Suje Kingdom, Kabui Somal.
The moment he entered the room, he took everything in.
The butler, Ronk, had opened the door.
Princess Iliaja was seated directly in front of him.
Behind her, slightly to the side, stood a swordsman and a robed figure, likely a magician.
Kabui Somal found this puzzling.
None of Princess Iliaja's attendants matched those two individuals.
Of course, he didn't know all of her subordinates, but he was familiar with her personal guards.
Yet those two were not among them.
(Are they overseers sent by the Principality?)
He reached a plausible conclusion.
If the Principality had requested it, Princess Iliaja would have been unable to refuse.
He likely couldn't demand that these two leave the room either.
(Well, it's fine. In that case, I just won't let them leave the room. As long as they don't report back to the Principality government, it won't matter if they hear a few things here…)
Maintaining a calm expression, Kabui Somal considered this internally.
As he approached Princess Iliaja, he crossed his arms, fists clenched, before his chest, and knelt on one knee.
That was the deepest bow of respect toward royalty.
"Lord Kabui Somal, please raise your head."
"My thanks."
Princess Iliaja spoke, and Kabui Somal responded.
"I wish to discuss several matters, but not here, so let's go to the terrace."
With those words, the princess stood and led the way to the terrace.
The swordsman followed her.
Kabui Somal stood and made his way to the terrace.
The robed man trailing him.
It appeared the swordsman and robed man were acting as bodyguards.
On the terrace, a table had been set up, with two chairs placed on either side.
Princess Iliaja sat in one, the swordsman and the robed man stood behind her.
Kabui Somal took the other seat.
"Your Highness, thank you for making time to…"
"Please, get to the point."
Princess Iliaja raised a hand, cutting off Kabui Somal's polite introduction, urging him to continue.
Surprised, Kabui Somal glanced at the two individuals standing behind her and spoke.
"Forgive me, but I would like to speak with Her Highness alone."
He stated it plainly.
However, neither the swordsman nor the robed man moved.
Not even their expressions changed.
Instead, Princess Iliaja responded.
"These people are trustworthy. They are here because I wished for their protection."
"But, Your Highness…"
"Lord Kabui Somal, I have placed my utmost trust in these two. Is that not enough?"
"Of course… Forgive me."
The moment Princess Iliaja spoke, Kabui Somal was convinced.
His actions had been correct.
He had never felt such pressure, not even from his late master…
"To be direct. Our wish is for Your Highness to return to the country and reign as queen."
"Queen?"
Princess Iliaja frowned in suspicion at Kabui Somal's words.
The two standing behind her, Ryo and Abel, were also surprised but remained still, keeping their expressions neutral.
"Yes. Everything we've done has been for that purpose."
"For that… you executed my family…?"
Princess Iliaja's face turned pale.
Though it was more from anger than sorrow…
"I do not expect forgiveness. If Your Highness becomes queen and wishes it, I will step down. I am prepared to offer my life…"
"That's not… that's not what I'm talking about… why me…"
As Kabui Somal declared his readiness to sacrifice himself, Princess Iliaja struggled to find words, overwhelmed by emotion.
At that moment, Kabui Somal raised his head firmly, meeting her gaze with determined eyes.
Then, he spoke clearly.
"It was by the direct imperial command of His Majesty, the King."
Those words were filled with deep respect.
They were words offered to the one to whom he had devoted his entire being.
They were words that brought back memories of words he wished he had never heard… even if they were imperial orders.
"This entire matter was by the direct command of His Majesty, the King."
"My father's…"
Once more, Kabui Somal spoke clearly, though his eyes closed as he did so, tears beginning to form.
Princess Iliaja answered in a daze.
"This is His Majesty's final command."
With those words, Kabui Somaru took out a document from his pocket and handed it to Princess Iliaja.
'This is an imperial command. By any means necessary, ensure that Iliaja ascends to the throne as queen.'
That was what it said.
"My father's… handwriting…"
Tears fell from Iliaja's eyes.
Her father had been strong and strict, yet also kind.
Over the past two years, he had been bedridden more often, his eyesight failing, and he had ceased inspecting the castle grounds.
Before that, he had gone into town twice a week to meet with the people.
Three times a year, he would take a small entourage and tour the country by ship.
He was a king beloved by the people.
But everything changed two years ago.
"Regarding the king's accident, it has been revealed that the Crown Prince and the Grand Duchy of Atinjo were involved."
"My brother and… the Grand Duchy? Are you certain?"
"Yes. At His Majesty's command, I personally led the investigation. Based on the findings, His Majesty issued the imperial command…"
"…"
Despite Kabui Somal's explanation, Princess Iliaja couldn't find any words.
The Crown Prince… her eldest brother had always been kind to Iliaja.
True, he had a strong desire for power, an obsession with wealth, and a particularly bad relationship with their other siblings, especially the younger ones… but even so, she couldn't believe he would go so far as to harm their father.
"Even if my elder brother… the Crown Prince, was involved, there was no need to kill all my other siblings as well."
"I apologize… that was due to my failure."
"Failure?"
"Originally, the plan was to capture the Crown Prince and all the other siblings, and then have His Majesty pass the throne to you, Princess. However, during the capture of the Crown Prince… he passed away."
"Passed away…?"
"It wasn't under normal circumstances… it was likely an assassination by someone. However, the fact remains that it was our failure. Furthermore, at the same time, His Majesty the King also passed away. And all the princes and princesses we had captured as well…"
Kabui Somal explained with a tone of regret.
"That's absurd… the King, the Crown Prince, and the other princes and princesses? The most stringent security measures should have been in place to prevent such assassinations. Who could have possibly bypassed all that…?"
"It wasn't a matter of 'who', but 'where'. A nation with expertise in such matters…"
"Eh… Could it have been the Atinjo Grand Duchy?"
The Atinjo Grand Duchy was said to be in alliance with the Crown Prince.
They swiftly eliminated the Crown Prince, who had evidence linking him to them and even finished off the ailing King.
"The reason they went to such lengths…"
"They aimed to plunge the entire nation into chaos. Not only the royal family but also the central government and the navy's leadership were decimated. In fact, I was targeted… and due to poison, I hovered between life and death for three months."
"Was that why the central government was so inactive while I was in Tamako Province?"
"Yes…"
Hearing this tale, which perfectly fits the term 'clandestine struggle', both Ryo and Abel were shocked.
To superimpose an event like this on the timing of a coup d'état, completely paralyzing the nation's governance abilities.
Although such things have occasionally occurred in Earth's history, doing so with such perfect timing is extraordinarily difficult.
Usually, these actions would occur days or months after a coup.
Destroying everything completely once and then infiltrating the new regime during the reconstruction phase…
The infiltrators would not be politicians but civil servants.
In other words, they would already be embedded in the bureaucratic machinery.
As for whether that happened in Suje Kingdom, it's unclear.
"I understand."
Princess Iliaja raised her head as she spoke.
"I also understand that it was a decree from my father… His Majesty the King."
She paused for a moment.
Before continuing.
"Lord Kabui Somal, it must have been painful for you. Serving my father since your youth… and then receiving such an order as his final command."
"…"
"I do not blame you."
"Your Highness?"
"There are others who are truly to blame. Recently, I've heard that the Ghegish-Lu Federation in the southern continent has also plunged into civil war. The timing is far too convenient. Perhaps the Atinjo Grand Duchy is behind this, seeking to swallow not only Ghegish-Lu but also this entire archipelago region."
After saying this, Princess Iliaja closed her eyes.
A few moments later, she opened them again.
Her expression and gaze filled with determination.
"Lord Kabui Somal, I shall return to the kingdom and take the throne as queen."
"Oh…"
"Will you support me?"
Kabui Somal clenched his fists with both hands, crossed his arms in front of his chest, and knelt.
He then declared firmly.
"This Kabui Somal will devote everything to Her Majesty the Queen."
Upon hearing Kabui Somal's words, Princess Iliaja nodded.
Then she turned around to face Ryo and Abel.
"This is how things have turned out."
"Yea…"
"Hmm…"
At Princess Iliaja's words, Ryo and Abel responded vaguely, unsure of what to say.
There were still many parts of the situation they didn't fully understand.
But the situation was already in motion.
And it wouldn't wait for them to catch up.
"I intend to return to the kingdom quickly and stabilize the situation. My honest hope is that both of you would come with me."
"Huh…"
Ryo and Abel were at a loss for words at Princess Iliaja's unexpected request.
Her request to have them accompany her was entirely unforeseen.
"We need to return to the Central Countries…"
"Yes, I understand. Of course, I'm not asking you to stay forever. Just until I ascend the throne… It seems that elements capable of easily taking the lives of the King and Crown Prince have infiltrated the kingdom during the chaos. So…"
"You want us to protect you?"
"But you have the royal guard, don't you…?"
"Even with the royal guard, the previous King and Crown Prince were still killed."
"Hmm…"
Ryo and Abel couldn't easily reach a conclusion.
At that moment, a voice interrupted them.
"Forgive me, but what kind of people are these two?"
It was the voice of Kabui Somal, the Lord Protector.
It was only natural.
While he was grateful that the Princess had decided to return to the kingdom, she was asking for the two people behind her to come along as well.
Her trust in them seemed genuine, and there must have been something that earned that trust in the past.
That part was not something Kabui Somal would question at this point.
However, he did want to know who these people were.
He didn't even know their names.
"This is Abel-san. And this is Ryo-san. Right, they are my comrades-in-arms."
As Princess Iliaja said this, she smiled.
A smile so dazzling to Kabui Somal.
At the same time, the names of the two men sparked a memory within him.
"I see. Sir Ryo, who built the ice bridge in the recent naval battle, and Sir Abel, who crossed that bridge to take control of the flagship."
"Wha…"
"Impressive, you know a lot."
Ryo was surprised at Kabui Somal's explanation, while Abel nodded.
"And recently, in the Second Central Plaza, you were the one who called out to me in a loud voice just after I returned."
"Yes, that was Ryo."
"Abel, it seems everything has been uncovered. At this rate, your schemes will be exposed as well."
"Don't say things that could cause misunderstandings."
"Abel is the villain, and I'm the good guy. It's crucial to establish that perception from the start."
Ryo, the schemer, was already making his moves.
But first, there was something that needed to be discussed.
Between Ryo and Abel.
"Abel, what do you think of the Princess's proposal?"
"Even if you ask me what I think… We can't return to the Central Countries until the civil war in the Ghegish-Lu Federation ends, so we can't move to the continent yet."
"That's right. And the Grand Duchy that has been causing trouble for the Suje Kingdom is located north of that federation, correct?"
"From the conversation, that's what it seemed like. A powerful nation trying to seize both the Ghegish-Lu Federation and the archipelago region…"
Ryo and Abel were conversing in hushed tones.
"I'm inclined to help the Princess."
"I figured you'd say that."
"Not just emotionally, but logically as well."
"Logically?"
"Yes, helping the Princess and getting her to send us to the continent from the Suje Kingdom seems like a viable option."
"Oh, I see. That could work, but… are you okay with that?"
"What do you mean?"
"We'll lose the all-you-can-eat and all-you-can-drink deal at the 'Blue Jade Inn Wannya', you know?"
"Ugh… that is indeed a sad loss… but abandoning the Princess at this point feels too harsh."
"She's our comrade-in-arms, after all."
Abel grinned in response to Ryo's words.
He had intended to help as well, just like Ryo.
"Of course, we'll need a promise that they'll send us to the continent afterward."
"Indeed. And we'll need to withdraw the money we deposited with the Blue Jade Trading Company before we leave."
"Right. I once heard about a water-attribute magician who forgot to withdraw their money from the guild and ended up in a terrible situation after leaving the country."
"Yeah… that was quite a mess. I ended up having to destroy a village run by an assassin's guild because of it."
Abel spoke, and Ryo shook his head slightly, recalling the bitter past.
That experience had helped Ryo grow.
The two of them then stood before Princess Iliaja.
"If you can guarantee that we'll be sent to the continent afterward, we'll help."
"Leave it to us! Consider it done!"
Abel and Ryo said with a smile.
"Thank you."
Princess Iliaja crossed her arms in front of her chest and bowed deeply, showing the most respectful bow reserved for royalty.
Kabui Somal watched this with a slight tilt of his head, but when he opened his mouth, it was to say something else.
"First, we need to make arrangements to leave this country."
"Indeed. Even though I requested asylum myself… the Principality might not easily grant permission for me to return to Suje Kingdom. After all, I'm a kind of hostage."
Princess Iliaja nodded slightly, her expression showing some concern.
She understood that her actions had made the situation more difficult.
"Leave that to me. I'll make sure the Principality asks us to leave."
"Is that really possible?"
"Yes. Admiral Gus will handle it for us."
Kabui Somal's expression was mischievous, like that of a prankster…