The adjutant cautiously glanced at King Sorein, but saw no emotion in his liege's eyes. After hesitating, he continued, "Before the major died for his country, he had already traced..."
"Leave it to Her Highness, Queen Soluca," King Sorein said frankly.
He shrugged. "Since I've entrusted this matter to you, I won't concern myself with the person or the circumstances any further. Of course, as an elder, I should remind you that you're not the only one interested in this."
Brunhild looked as if she'd witnessed a rare spectacle. A curious light flickered in her bright eyes, and only after a long moment did she let out a quiet sigh. "Twenty-fourth Great-Uncle, someone like you would live to a hundred in any era."
King Sorein drained the red wine in his cup. "I've seen everything there is to see in this world. Without any other ambitions, staying alive would just make me an old bandit. If, when I celebrate my next birthday, you could come in a different capacity and host a feast for me, perhaps I might find life worth looking forward to again."
Brunhild felt that those words must have offended most of the Privy Council ministers and half the elders, but perhaps they were a truer reflection of his nature.
"Then... General Brunhild Safna, as commander-in-chief of the expeditionary force, I order you to find a new route into the heart of the Devil's Labyrinth star sector before September 30 and take charge of the entire campaign along that route!"
Queen Soluca, Brunhild, rose and nodded in the manner of a soldier receiving orders. She bowed, retreated a few steps, then strode away from the ecological garden aboard the Vulcan Airan. Only when she boarded the shuttle returning to the Dawn Angel did her expression finally crumple.