Kallen took a step back, held his left arm before his chest, and knelt on one knee before Loya.
"Thank you for still remembering me, Your Highness Loya."
Loya's expression did not change in the slightest. Well, that fit perfectly with people's established impression of artifact spirits as cold and noble.
In reality, however, Loya was stunned.
She had thought that showing no delight after appearing, deliberately putting on an icy manner, would be enough to surprise Kallen, but she had never expected him to give her an even greater "surprise."
Oh, he actually knelt to me.
For a moment, she wanted to kneel along with him.
Fortunately, she restrained the impulse.
Still, she began to wonder whether the "performance" she had thought so clever had gone too far and made Kallen feel bad.
Ah, am I that bad at acting?
But whenever I performed plays with "them," they all said I had a gift for acting. Were they just humoring me all along?
In fact, Kallen saw nothing wrong with Loya's willing cooperation. It was simply in his nature to want control of what came next.
Besides, his relationship with Loya had to be handled as something "normal." Alternatively, those who noticed something "abnormal" needed a suitable reason to dispel any further suspicions.
So Kallen soon spoke again.
"Not being able to thank you in person for saving my life that night has always been a regret for both Inquisitor Pavaro and me;
"Last time, at Ogleve Fortress, although I encountered you, you were overseeing the trial, so I had no opportunity to speak to you. When I mentioned it to Inquisitor Pavaro afterward, he also said it was a pity.
"This time, I finally have the opportunity. Please accept my gratitude, Your Highness Loya."
He had met Loya