Discussion

"Sister, no one said we don't respect him."

Kelart set down her teacup and turned to look at her sister, a hint of helplessness flashing in her eyes.

"But respect is one thing, and trust is another. A person with that kind of power suddenly appears in the Holy Kingdom. Don't you think we should learn more about him before reaching a conclusion?"

"Learn more?"

Remedios raised an eyebrow.

"How? Just go ask him! Why sit here guessing?"

Kelart sighed.

Her sister's mind was as straightforward as ever.

"Captain Remedios has a point."

Calca interjected at the right moment, trying to ease the subtle tension between the sisters.

"But Kelart's concerns are reasonable too. Mr. Higashino's sudden appearance is startling, and his power... To be honest, it lies beyond the limits of my understanding."

She paused, and a strand of golden hair slipped over her shoulder.

"I mastered fourth-tier divine magic when I was fifteen, and my talent was considered among the best of the Holy Kings throughout history. But the power Mr. Higashino displayed surely far surpassed the fourth tier."

"Sixth tier?"

Kelart asked.

"Possibly higher."

Calca shook her head.

"Possibly much higher. He might even be seventh or eighth tier. I have never seen anyone repel tens of thousands of troops with a wave of their hand, nor have I read of such a feat in any ancient text."

If Higashino Makoto were there, he would have complained that knowledge of players had been suppressed by the Slane Theocracy and the Dragon Lords. They didn't even know that the Six Great Gods had been players.

A brief silence fell over the council chamber.

Though Remedios knew nothing about magic, she trusted the Holy Queen's judgment.

What did it mean if even Calca couldn't determine the level of his power?

It meant that the man might be stronger than any holy knight in the history of the Holy Kingdom.

He might even be stronger than any Holy King in the history of the Holy Kingdom.

"I heard..."

Kelart broke the silence, lightly tapping her fingers on the table.

"The southern nobles have already begun to stir. They're extremely interested in this 'holy knight who fell from the sky' and seem to be planning to win him over."

Calca's brows drew together slightly.

The southern nobles.

The factions that had opposed her succession still troubled her.

If they really won over Higashino Makoto...

"We can't let those southerners get their way."

Remedios's voice was tinged with anger.

"Mr. Higashino is a benefactor of the Holy Kingdom, not a political bargaining chip!"

"You're right, Sister, but that's politics."

Kelart turned to Calca.

"Your Majesty, I suggest we approach Mr. Higashino ourselves. Once he arrives in the Royal Capital, we should arrange a formal meeting as soon as possible. At the very least, before the southern nobles 'hunt him down,' we should make sure he understands where the Holy Royal Family stands."

"So you plan to use him?"

Remedios's voice cooled.

"I said approach him, not use him."

Kelart remained unfazed.

"Sister, don't you want to meet the holy knight who saved the border fortress with your own eyes?"

Remedios opened her mouth, but in the end, she didn't argue.

She did want to meet him.

A holy knight who could repel tens of thousands of demihuman troops on his own.

As the strongest holy knight in the Holy Kingdom, how could she not want to meet him?

"Then it's settled."

Calca made the decision.

"Once Mr. Higashino arrives in the Royal Capital, arrange a meeting immediately. We'll meet in the reception hall of the palace, and the attendees..."

She glanced at the two women beside her.

"Just the three of us."

"Understood."

Remedios nodded.

"Heh heh heh... Got it."

Kelart smiled.

Calca leaned back in her chair and absently ran her fingers over the badge on her chest.

In truth, she was more anxious than she let on.

It wasn't just about the mysterious holy knight's power and background. It was also about...

She glanced at Kelart, then at Remedios.

The sisters were the people she trusted most and her closest companions.

But for that very reason, rumors about whether she and the two of them were "that kind of relationship" had never stopped.

She was already twenty-eight.

As the queen of the Holy Kingdom, she needed a husband. She needed an heir.

But she didn't want to marry just anyone.

She wanted true love.

Someone who loved her for who she was, not for her status or her appearance.

And that holy knight who had fallen from the sky...

Calca shook her head, casting the impractical fantasies from her mind.

I was getting ahead of myself.

"By the way, Your Majesty."

Kelart suddenly spoke, the smile at the corner of her mouth growing.

"I heard Mr. Higashino has a maid with him."

"A maid?"

"Yes. Apparently, she's a striking woman with gray-blond hair, and she follows Mr. Higashino everywhere."

Kelart sounded nonchalant, but a glint of curiosity shone in her eyes.

"I wonder if she's simply his maid, or..."

She left the sentence unfinished, but Calca and Remedios both understood what she meant.

"Kelart, don't make things up."

Remedios frowned.

"I'm not making anything up. I'm just stating the facts."

Kelart shrugged.

"A young, handsome, powerful man traveling with a beautiful maid. Sister, don't you think that's an interesting combination?"

Remedios snorted and said nothing.

Calca lowered her head, gently tracing the rim of her teacup with her fingers.

A maid.

Was there already someone by Mr. Higashino's side?

She didn't know.

But for some reason, the news made her feelings even more complicated.

"Regardless."

Calca raised her head, her gentle yet resolute expression returning.

"Mr. Higashino is a benefactor of the Holy Kingdom. We'll treat him with courtesy and meet him with sincerity. We can discuss everything else later."

"Understood."

Remedios and Kelart rose at the same time and bowed slightly.

After the sisters left the council chamber, Kelart suddenly stopped.

"Sister."

"Hm?"

"Do you really have no doubts about Mr. Higashino?"

Remedios fell silent for a moment, her sharp eyes gazing out the window at the end of the corridor.

The streets of the Royal Capital were bustling with people, no different from usual.

"Of course I have doubts."

At last, she replied in a low, calm voice.

"But I won't dismiss the good he's done just because I have doubts. Mr. Higashino saved our people. That's a fact. As for everything else, once I've met him, I'll judge for myself."

Kelart watched her sister's retreating figure, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly.

"Heh heh heh... Sometimes, Sister, you're smarter than I am."

"What did you say?"

"Nothing. Come on, there's still a lot to prepare."

The sisters walked side by side down the corridor, their footsteps echoing through the empty hall.