The Envoys
Just as Father was about to speak to me, His Majesty and the others entered the room. We men bowed by lowering only our heads, while the women bent their knees slightly in a small curtsy.
“Everyone, you may raise your heads.”
When I lifted my head at His Majesty’s words, I saw His Majesty, the Queen, Prince Albert, and the victims. With them were the envoys from the Ania Kingdom and the families of the victims, the envoy from the Elfa Kingdom and the families of the victims, and behind them the Chancellor and Marquis Rivarks. Marquis Rivarks was Senior Kazul’s father, but I had never met him personally; I had only seen his face in the noble registry, though his eyes did resemble Senior Kazul’s.
Once everyone sat, His Majesty began to speak.
“First, allow me to introduce those from the Ania Kingdom. This is Gadra Tiggar, son of Duke Tiggar and assistant to the chancellor. And this is Bagheera Ordyle, viscount and knight commander of the Tiggar Ducal House. Lastly, this is Mercy, relative of Miss Rabby.”
Tony’s older brother was a tiger beastkin with yellow hair and ears, and upturned black eyes. Bagheera was a black panther beastkin, with black hair and ears and striking golden eyes full of intensity. Mercy, unlike his droopy-eared younger sister Rabby, had upright dark-brown ears, hair of the same shade, and wine-red eyes. He looked overwhelmed by the atmosphere and kept glancing around nervously—he was a rabbit beastkin.
“And next, this is Marquis Tirion Eden, foreign minister of the Elfa Kingdom.”
Marquis Eden was the foreign minister and father of Miss Saelmira. He was an elf, with long pale-green hair loosely braided and light-brown eyes. He was also Lady Reluta’s eldest brother and Ed’s uncle.
Next came our side’s introductions, though Father and Viscount Reluta and his wife had apparently already met. They introduced me and Ed.
“Your Majesty, pardon my interruption. Might this young lady be…?”
Duke Tiggar’s son looked between me and His Majesty.
Huh? Me? Did I do something?
“Ah, this young Young Lady Joan is the one who contributed greatly to resolving the incident.”
“So it was her. Thank you very much for your efforts.”
“N-no, I only reported what my Search showed… Please direct your thanks to those who conducted the search and captured the culprit.”
“Young Lady Joan, you are a person of great character. Yes, of course, we have already expressed our gratitude to them. But the fact remains that the incident came to light because you first rescued the twin cat beastkin. We truly thank you.”
Duke Tiggar’s son said that, and then Marquis Eden followed.
“And from me as well—my thanks. Thank you for saving my daughters. I also heard that when they were taken into protective care in Lampail, they were able to receive treatment thanks to you, Young Lady Joan. And it seems you’ve always been looking after not only my sister but also my nephew. Thank you.”
“No, it is I who should be grateful. Lady Reluta and Lord Edrahil have always treated me kindly.”
After that, the Chancellor explained what had happened since the incident, and then we moved to the terrace for a garden lunch party. There, we didn’t speak of formal matters but mostly talked about how the victims had been spending their time after being discharged.
“Brother, I flew in the sky, you know.”
“Hm? The sky? What do you mean?”
Duke Tiggar’s son tilted his head, listening happily to Tony’s story.
“I got to ride Joan’s familiar, a Pegasus. Gator got scared, but I was totally fine!”
“What? A Pegasus…?”
Duke Tiggar’s son widened his eyes and looked at me.
“It’s true. I have a Pegasus as one of my familiars.”
“Incredible… A Pegasus as a familiar.”
“Joan has other familiars too—”
Tony. Please, Pearl is a secret, remember?
Please don’t say anything else—!
And of course, my inner plea turned into a flag…
“There’s a Carbuncle, and a White Demon Owl, and—also a Fenrir!”
“Fenrir!?”
“Ah…”
Tony slapped his hands over his mouth as Duke Tiggar’s son shouted in shock, remembering that he wasn’t supposed to talk about that. Too late.
Oh my gosh!
Tony, you really did it…
“Young Lady Joan, is what Tony said also true?”
“Y-yes. It’s true.”
“Could you show me that Fenrir? Please, I beg of you.”
“Eh!?”
“B-Brother, you’re not planning to take Pearl—the Fenrir—from Joan, are you?”
“Hm? Of course not… Ah, I see. That is what you and Young Lady Joan were worried about. Because Fenrir is revered in Ania Kingdom, you thought we might try to take it.”
““Yes.””
“Hahaha, we wouldn’t do anything like that. True, the ancestral Fenrir of Ania Kingdom is revered, but that simply means we must not harm one. If we forced a Fenrir away from its contracted master, that would be harming it. …Though, to be honest, no one has seen a Fenrir in Ania for decades.”
“I see… I must have remembered wrong. Joan, I’m sorry.”
“No, don’t apologize. As long as I’m not separated from Pearl, I’m fine.”
It seemed our conversation carried to those around us, who were watching Tony with warm expressions.
“Young Lady Joan, what do you think? Why not introduce Pearl to Chancellor-Assistant Tiggar?”
“Prince Albert… Actually, I left Pearl at General today. I was afraid something like this might happen…”
“I see… Then it can’t be helped.”
“Young Lady Joan, Lord Lampail—if possible, would it be acceptable for us to visit General?”
Duke Tiggar’s son wanted to see Pearl, but he also wanted to personally thank the clinic that treated Tony and the others. Hearing that, Marquis Eden said that in that case, he wished to offer his thanks as well.
Father glanced at His Majesty, who nodded along with the Chancellor.
“Very well. If tomorrow works, we can guide you.”
“It’s sudden, but we are grateful.”
And just like that, the delegation from Ania Kingdom and the Elfa Kingdom would be coming to General tomorrow…
What do you think about this chapter?
