第１３７１堀：女神乗り込む (Part2)
As for the Viscount, presumably the highest-ranking hostile entity within the royal castle... for some reason, he is idling away his time, seemingly eating at a shop near the gate.
No, he has been there for several hours now; he must be waiting for something. But the envoys, Lilishe and her party, have already arrived.
What is his objective?
The fact that I’ve had to divert my surveillance assets makes gathering intelligence a real headache.
Well, considering the circumstances, does he intend to interfere on their way back?
Is he aiming for a disappearance during their return journey?
It’s not impossible, though I do wonder if he could even keep pace with the carriage.
For now, there are no suspicious shadows approaching the vehicle; the situation remains truly uneventful.
Right now, the real question is how the conversation between Lilishe and King Saurus will unfold.
Incidentally, the leaders of the Intercontinental Exchange Alliance—Seraria and Alstaire at the forefront—are listening in on this, just as we are.
They’re doing so from the conference room, snacking on treats.
I honestly wonder if they’ve come to Weed not for a meeting, but for a bit of R&R under the guise of diplomacy; their laziness is that profound.
Still, it’s better than having them exhausted, though I should probably insist they refrain from drinking during breaks.
I’ll add that to the agenda next time...
"I cannot express enough gratitude for your willingness to grant this audience, despite the suddenness of our visit."
The voice that reached my ears was so clear and articulate that I briefly doubted it was Lilishe speaking.
The absence of her usual, languid drawl only heightened the sense of dissonance.
Yet, this must be the face Lilishe wears when engaging as a stateswoman.
I suppose I should be grateful that she drops the act with us... I suppose.
After all, Priestess Lilishe is a popular beauty in Weed, among the adults as well as Aslin and the children.
Every time I hear that, the male gods—myself included—wear a complicated expression. Faide is no exception.
Hearing this greeting, the figure sitting on the throne—King Saurus, who looks surprisingly young—replies:
"Not at all. It was our country that requested this. It is I who should be grateful that you moved so swiftly."
He responds with a proper grasp of his position.
I had been worried he might act haughty and start complaining, but it seems he has a handle on things.
Just as I thought that, the King’s stern expression melted into a smile.
"However, Priestess Lilishe. It is good to see you in such fine health."
"Yes. And you, Prince—no, Your Majesty. It is a relief to see you doing well, too."
"There is no need to call me Prince or Your Majesty. I wish I could say that, but I suppose that isn't possible. Still, could you at least speak normally?"
"If that is Your Majesty's command... I was a little worried, you know~ but I'm glad to see you haven't changed~"
With that soft, airy voice, the atmosphere in the audience chamber split in two.
There was the warmth brought about by Lilishe’s words, and the polar opposite—a stifling tension from those who felt that just because the King gave permission, it didn't mean she should be so insolent. *Is this just social posturing? Can’t you read the room?*
Even I could feel the clash of those opposing currents.
Orelia and the others, sensitive to such things, turned pale and looked toward me...
"Yeah. I get what you’re thinking, but leave it be. I can handle it physically if things go south, and this is Lilishe’s way of doing things."
"B-but, to intentionally invite such animosity..."
"I know. I understand your point, Orelia. But look, no matter how she speaks, there will always be animosity and people who dislike her. More importantly, Lilishe isn't my subordinate. She is a collaborator, and she holds full authority as an envoy of Litea. It’s not that I *couldn't* say anything, but if I did, she’d surely get her back up."
"Exactly. Lady Lilishe is a goddess. She stands here as a collaborator to Yuki-sama, and you should not take that for granted. This isn't because she is a goddess; you should simply be grateful rather than treating kindness as a given."
Prol closed the discussion by saying exactly what I wanted to say.
Right. It’s about not forgetting basic human courtesy.
Besides, when Lilishe gets sulky, the collateral damage is a pain to deal with.
And honestly, she did say she had an acquaintance here, but... the King himself?
That explains why she volunteered.
At the very least, Lilishe is the type who can handle herself properly.
I’ll give her credit for that.
Though, she’s still a walking bomb, no matter how you look at it.