Draudillon stood at the doorway, looking up at the angels floating in the air, their light reflected in her dark eyes.
"This is..."
"The Virtue Angel are far stronger than ordinary Steel-rank adventurers; each one could destroy a city."
Higashino Makoto stood beside her, arms crossed.
"Twelve of them. From today onwards, they belong to you."
Draudillon turned her head and looked at him, her dark eyes wide open.
"What... what did you say?"
"I told you, they belong to you now. These are the terms we agreed on last night, and I generally don't choose to break them."
Higashino Makoto spoke in a flat tone, as if he were saying that the weather was nice today.
"Didn't you say that the Dragon Kingdom is harassed by Orc every year? Didn't you say that the army is about to collapse?"
He paused.
"With these twelve angels, at least in your lifetime, no Orc will dare to set foot on the Dragon Kingdom's territory."
Draudillon's lips trembled.
"You... you really want to give them to the Dragon Kingdom?"
"To be precise, it's for you."
Draudillon looked at him for a long time.
Then she took a deep breath, turned around, and faced the angels.
"Whose orders do they take?"
"Who else could it be? Of course, it's yours."
Higashino Makoto said.
He's not so wicked as to resort to tricks over such a trivial matter.
"They will carry out your orders. No magic, no contracts, no cost. All you need to do is speak."
Draudillon remained silent for a moment.
Then she spoke.
"Angel."
Her voice wasn't loud, but it echoed across the empty square.
The twelve Virtue Angel bowed their heads simultaneously, as if in homage.
"Please protect the Dragon Kingdom!"
The angels did not answer; they had no mouths and could not speak.
But at the same time, they raised their spears, the tips pointing to the sky, light condensing at the tips and then exploding.
Twelve beams of light shot into the sky, exploding and transforming into countless golden specks that rained down like a meteor shower.
That was their answer.
Draudillon's tears finally welled up.
She didn't wipe it.
She simply stood there, head tilted back, watching the lights bloom in the sky, watching the angels float in the morning light, watching the country she had protected her whole life finally have a true protector.
"Thanks."
Her voice was hoarse, tinged with tears.
"Thank you, Mr. Higashino... thank you..."
Higashino Makoto looked at her, a gentle light flashing in his dark eyes.
"Don't cry."
He said it in a flat tone.
"The Queen is crying like this, what kind of behavior is this?"
Draudillon sniffed and wiped away her tears with the back of her hand.
"I... I didn't cry."
Your eyes are red.
"That's... that the sunlight was too bright."
Higashino Makoto looked at her for two seconds, then chuckled softly.
"Okay."
Draudillon looked up at him with her red, tear-filled eyes.
"Higashino. Higashino."
"Um."
"You... you really don't need anything else?"
Higashino Makoto thought for a moment.
"If you absolutely have to give it to me--"
He paused.
"Come with me to breakfast."
Draudillon paused for a moment.
"Breakfast?"
Yes, breakfast.
Higashino Makoto nodded.
"I've heard that the breakfast in the Dragon Kingdom is good; I'd like to try it."
Draudillon looked at him for a long time.
Then she smiled.
"Good."
She said.
"I'll go with you, we'll eat the best, as much as we want."
Higashino Makoto nodded.
"Then it's settled."
He turned around and walked out of the square.
He took a few steps, then stopped without looking back.
"By the way, Draudillon."
"Um?"
"You can give these angels any command. However—"
He paused.
"Let's not use them to invade other human-majority countries."
Draudillon paused for a moment.
How could I--
I know you won't.
Higashino Makoto interrupted her.
But I still have to say it.
He continued walking forward.
"Because power is something that can become addictive if used too much, and once addicted, it becomes uncontrollable. Once out of control, you become the kind of person you used to hate the most."
I don't want to see you become like that.
Higashino Makoto likes the Dragon King Princess in her current state and doesn't want her to change too much.
Draudillon watched his retreating figure, watching him gradually walk away in the morning light.
"I won't."
She said in a low voice.
"I promise."
Higashino Makoto did not turn back.
He simply raised his hand and waved it lightly in the air.
The morning light spilled across the square, casting the long, slender, and sacred shadows of twelve angels onto the ground.
Draudillon stood at the palace gate, her long black hair fluttering in the morning breeze, her white dress shimmering softly in the sunlight.
A smile played on her lips.
That's not the Queen's smile.
That wasn't the Black-Scaled Dragon Lord's smile.
It was just a trustworthy, ordinary, girlish smile.
"Higashino Makoto..."
She murmured the name.
"Thank you."
In the distance, Higashino Makoto's voice drifted on the morning breeze.
"Draudillon, what are you waiting for? To starve to death?"
"They're here!"
Draudillon lifted her skirt and jogged after her.
Black leather shoes made a crisp clattering sound as they stepped on the stone pavement.
Twelve angels hovered above the square, watching the black-haired, black-eyed man and the black-haired, golden-eyed girl disappear at the end of the street.
Then they turned around, facing the palace, facing the city, facing the land that needed to be protected.
With a spear in hand and a shield on his arm.
They are ready.
In the royal palace's breakfast room, long tables were laden with food.
Bread, butter, jam, honey, fried eggs, bacon, sausage, roasted mushrooms, roasted tomatoes, fresh fruit, warm milk, and a pot of steaming black tea.
Draudillon sat in the main seat, with Higashino Makoto to her right.
Kurumi stood behind Higashino Makoto, holding a teapot in her hands, ready to refill the tea at any moment.
The black cat "Zafkiel" perched on the windowsill, its golden eyes fixed on the grilled fish on the table, its tail swaying gently.
"Eat."
Draudillon picked up a piece of bread, spread butter on it, and handed it to Higashino Makoto.
Higashino Makoto took the bread and took a bite.
"Good."
"Just not bad?"
Higashino Makoto raised an eyebrow; after all, these things were only considered decent compared to Novas Etier's food.
But Higashino Makoto did not refute this.
"It's delicious."
Draudillon's lips curled up slightly.
"Of course. That's the head chef's specialty."
She picked up a piece of bread herself, spread honey on it, and ate it in small bites.
The two sat facing each other, eating breakfast in silence.
Sunlight streamed in through the window, falling on the dining table, the silver cutlery, and the white porcelain plates, reflecting a warm glow.
"Mr. Higashino."
Draudillon suddenly spoke.
"Um?"
How long do you plan to stay in the Dragon Kingdom?
Higashino Makoto thought for a moment.
"I don't know. Maybe a few days, no more than a month, it depends on my mood."
"That..."
Draudillon hesitated for a moment.
"Can you teach me how to use those angels?"
Higashino Makoto looked at her.
You want to learn?
"Think."
Draudillon nodded.
"They are the most powerful weapons in the Dragon Kingdom. As Queen, it is my responsibility to know how to use them."
Higashino Makoto was silent for a moment.
"Good."
He said.
"I'll teach you after you finish breakfast."
Draudillon's eyes lit up.
"Real?"
"Real."
"It's a deal then!"
"It's a deal."
Draudillon lowered her head and continued eating her breakfast.
But a smile remained on her lips.
Higashino Makoto looked at her, a gentle light flashing in his dark eyes.
"Draudillon."
"Um?"
You look better when you smile than when you have a serious face.
Draudillon was stunned for a moment, then blushed.
"You—you person—"
"You hate it, don't you? I know."
Higashino Makoto picked up his teacup and took a sip of black tea.
Sunlight streamed in through the window, falling between the two of them and bathing everything in a golden hue.
Outside the window, twelve Virtue Angel hovered above the square, shimmering with divine light in the morning glow.
Inside the window, Higashino Makoto and Draudillon were quietly eating their breakfast.
This is yet another morning in the Dragon Kingdom.
Calm, peaceful, warm, and reassuring.
It was unlike any other morning in the past hundred years.
From this day forward, the Dragon Kingdom possesses the power to resist its enemies.