Before Count Saliola stood two young, beautiful women. One of them... well, he didn't know her. The other was none other than the famous Alliance Princess, Amyda Songa Berenkest.
She was indeed smiling, and quite sweetly, too. It was the same smile she'd worn when she first arrived in the Celestial Domain as an Alliance trade representative—and with it, she'd won over the entire imperial capital.
She was smiling just like that now. The count wanted to take it as a friendly gesture, but he found that very difficult.
"Miss Amyda Berenkest, do your actions here represent the Free Stellar River Alliance's position?" Count Saliola asked with a troubled air. He didn't seem nervous, as though he'd merely run into a mischievous child playing a prank.
"The Free Stellar River Alliance and the Galactic Empire, as the greatest and most responsible powers in the galaxy, remain close partners in upholding peace throughout the universe. At least, judging by the way things are now, that will certainly be the case for the next ten-odd years." The white-haired fox of the Berenkest family still wore her sweet smile. She shrugged slightly. "As for what's happening now, it can only represent my personal stance."
"I've never offended you." Count Saliola gave a helpless, wry smile. "I remember attending the banquet when you first visited the imperial capital. We even chatted and laughed together."
For a Seventh Ring big shot, he could hardly have taken a lower stance.
For one thing, Miss Berenkest was at least an "Alliance Princess." Though she never admitted to the title, imperial nobles still treated her with the same courtesy they showed members of the imperial family in private. For another, he still seemed to lack any sense of danger or urgency, as if he thought this was just