"Ahem... granted."
The girl cleared her throat. To give the servants in the corridor nothing to gossip about, she resumed a more neutral tone and granted her visitor an audience.
After all, the soundproofing in Kerimud's royal palace really was rather poor. Last night, she had heard every word Kay had muttered in his sleep next door.
Something ridiculous about racing a salmon at swimming, too. Hahaha.
Click.
Before Artoria could finish laughing at her brother, the door unlocked. A figure draped in white robes entered the room with a deeply respectful air.
Just as expected.
Although the visitor's identity had already been revealed when he requested an audience, a faint smile still inevitably touched Artoria's lips when Sovell actually appeared before her.
"Your servant, Sovell Ambrosius, pays his respects to Your Majesty."
"Dispense with the formalities. Rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Seeing that Sovell's words and manner held no hint of joking, Artoria instinctively put away her smile and grew serious.
"Judging by your grave expression, you must have something important to report. Speak at once. We can dispense with unnecessary ceremony for now."
"Yes."
With that, Sovell immediately drew a magic circle and erected the highest-level soundproof barrier and Bystander Dispersal magecraft he could currently cast.
Once everything was in place, Sovell stated his conclusion directly to Artoria.
"Lia, something is wrong with Liens."
"Hmm? Do you mean the deadly poison on that arrow?"
"It goes much further than that..."
Sovell refined his wording a little, then began formally describing his discoveries about the equipment carried by King Liens's soldiers and the abnormal casualty ratio between the two armies.
"Ah... things are going to get difficult."
Exceptionally effective armor-piercing arrowheads.
Magic circles that had been deciphered.
Casualty ratios that did not match theoretical expectations...
Artoria repeatedly went over