Seeing the Holy Queen Again

In the early morning of the Holy Kingdom, the sun rises from the sea, bathing the entire Royal Capital, Hoburns, in a warm golden light.

Higashino Makoto used a ring to transform himself into someone with black hair and black eyes.

He strode forward, with Alice Kuonji following behind him.

The two walked through the palace gates and down the path paved with white pebbles.

The guards saw him, were initially wary, then froze, and then knelt down on one knee.

"Higashi... Higashino Makoto!"

The sound echoed in the courtyard.

Higashino Makoto didn't stop, but simply gave a faint response.

"Get up, you don't need to kneel."

The guard stood up, his hands still trembling.

"Higashino Makoto, you... you're back! That's wonderful!"

"Hmm, where is Her Highness the Holy Queen?"

"In... in the bedchamber..."

Higashino Makoto nodded and continued walking forward.

Neia Balaha stood on the training ground, holding the silver-white longbow in his hand.

The bow still retained a faint magical glow from its last use, and the bowstring gleamed with a pale blue sheen in the morning light.

Fine beads of sweat clung to her forehead, her breathing was slightly rapid, and her "fierce" eyes were fixed on the target in the distance.

The small black pupils reflected the red bullseye.

She nocked an arrow, drew the bow, and aimed.

The moment the finger slipped off the bowstring, the arrow shot through the air and hit the bullseye.

Ten rings.

She lowered the bow, took a deep breath, and smiled slightly.

Then she saw Higashino Makoto.

The bow almost slipped from Ning Ya's hands. Neia stood there, her "fierce" eyes wide open, her mouth opening and closing.

"Dong... Higashino--!"

She knelt down on one knee, her movement swift and decisive.

"Get up, you don't need to kneel."

Higashino Makoto walked up to her and looked down at her.

She was several heads shorter than him, and had to look up to see his eyes.

Those "fierce" eyes held both shock and joy.

"You... you're back? When did you get back?"

"Just now."

Why didn't you say so beforehand?

"If I'd told you beforehand, it wouldn't be a surprise."

Neia's tears finally fell.

She didn't wipe it; she just stood there.

In the past six months, she has gone from a knight's squire to a well-known wandering knight.

But she still uses the title "Paladin" and is still waiting for the person who said "the essence of a Paladin is protection, not weapons" to return.

"Higashino."

"Um."

"I have not failed you. I have been protecting you. Protecting the people, protecting the villages, protecting those who need protection, for I am a paladin."

Higashino Makoto looked at her, a gentle light flashing in his eyes.

"Hmm, well done. Your archery skills are even better than before."

"Have you seen it?"

"Yes, there was no slacking off. I'm very satisfied."

Neia's lips curled up slightly. She took a deep breath and wiped away her tears with the back of her hand.

"Higashino, how long will you be staying this time?"

"Not long, but I should stay for about a week."

"Yes!"

Neia's eyes lit up.

In the distance, Pavel Baraha stood in the corridor, her gray eyes watching her daughter and the silver-haired man.

Those eyes, which could see in the dark, were now slightly red, and a smile played on her lips.

"You're here too."

Higashino Makoto didn't even turn his head.

Pavel paused for a moment.

"Your subordinate is here."

Your daughter is doing well.

"Thank you for the compliment, sir."

At this moment, Higashino Makoto took off his ring.

He regained his white hair and golden eyes and began to explain.

"By the way, my current appearance is a magical disguise. I probably won't be able to look like this again, so don't forget to recognize me next time we meet."

"Yes."

"Yes."

Neia and Pavel didn't ask him why he was pretending; they simply bowed deeply, then turned and walked into the shadows of the corridor.

Alice Kuonji stood behind Higashino Makoto, watching the departing middle-aged man's back.

Higashino Makoto turned around and walked deeper into the palace.

Calca Bezarese sat in front of her dressing table, holding a small mirror in her hand. Her long golden hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her blue eyes stared at her reflection.

She was wearing a white nightgown with the neckline open, revealing a section of her fair collarbone.

I had just taken a shower, and my skin was still damp, glowing faintly in the morning light.

Her fingers lightly traced her cheek, the tips glowing with a faint golden light.

That was a beauty magic she invented herself, combining micro-healing techniques with beauty treatments to keep the skin young and radiant.

As Holy Queen, she needed to maintain her image; as a woman, she needed to maintain her beauty.

You look good today.

She talked to herself in front of the mirror, a slight smile playing on her lips.

"Hmm, it's really good...?!"

Calca's body froze, his hand hovering in mid-air, the mirror nearly slipping from his grasp.

She turned her head and saw the figure leaning against the windowsill.

Long, silver-white hair, golden eyes, and a dark robe.

"It's me, Higashino Makoto. You look different, don't you recognize me? I remember showing it to you that night, right?"

He leaned against the windowsill, arms crossed, a half-smile playing on his lips, looking at her nightgown, at her open neckline, at her exposed collarbone.

"East-- Higashino--!"

Calca's voice trembled, and his face instantly turned bright red.

She frantically pulled at the collar of her nightgown, her fingers trembling.

"You—you—when—and how did you get in—!"

"The one who just came in."

"You—you didn't knock!"

I knocked, but you didn't hear me.

"I--I--!"

You were looking in the mirror, so focused you didn't hear me.

Calca's face turned even redder.

"What—what did you see?"

"I see you're using magic to care for your skin."

"Anything else?"

Higashino Makoto thought for a moment.

"Your collarbone is beautiful; no wonder it's Holy Kingdom's Treasure."

Calca took a deep breath, then another.

Then she stood up, walked up to him, and looked up at him.

She was much shorter than him, and had to look up to see his eyes.

In those blue eyes, there was shame, anger, and a complex emotion that was hard to describe, like finally seeing someone you'd been waiting for a long time.

"Higashino Makoto, you're back without even telling me?"

"If I'd told you beforehand, it wouldn't be a surprise."

Calca stared at him for a long time.

Then she smiled, and that smile, the one considered the Holy Kingdom's Treasure, was truly captivating.

But more than anything, it was a woman's smile carrying a hint of helplessness and relief.

You are really annoying.

"I know."

But—welcome back.

Higashino Makoto looked at her, a soft light flashing in his golden eyes.

"Calca."

"Um."

"Your skincare magic works really well. Teach me sometime, it's quite interesting."

Calca paused for a moment.

"How... how did you know?"

"I know a lot. Don't you look younger than last time?"

Calca's lips curled up slightly.

"... Thanks."

Higashino Makoto straightened up from the windowsill.

"Change your clothes and come for a walk with me."

"Now?"

"Right now."

Calca lowered her head and looked at her bathrobe.

"You... you turn around."

"Why?"

"Because I need to change my clothes."

"It's alright, let me see."

"Didn't you reject me when I threw myself at you last time?"

"I simply refuse to have children."

Higashino Makoto looked at her indifferently, then turned away.

Calca hurriedly changed her clothes into a simple white dress, her long golden hair was pinned up and secured with a silver hairpin.

She walked to the mirror, looked at herself, and then took a deep breath.

"Alright."