Rennala did not immediately name her price.
Her gaze passed over Horace and settled on her younger sister, who had slipped into the study unnoticed at some point and was puffing out her cheeks.
After all these years, her swordsmanship and sorcery have improved considerably, but her brain... why is she like a solid block of wood when it comes to romance?
No, at least solid wood makes a sound when you hit it. She's cotton-punch her, and there's nothing but a soft, limp lack of response!
Watching Rellana act so awkwardly, clearly caring desperately yet insisting on pretending otherwise, then thinking of the man before her's elder brother-Godfrey "the Golden"-and the increasingly powerful Golden Dynasty behind him, Rennala sighed silently.
Caria appeared independent, but in truth, it faced troubles both within and without.
Internally, there were the academy sorcerers' endless factional struggles and petty maneuvers; externally, there was the invisible pressure of having Stormveil and the rising power of the Golden Dynasty as neighbors.
Through judicial reform and his disciplined order of Great Rune knights, Horace had established a new order and considerable influence within Caria, to some extent even rivaling the royal family.
Dealing with him was a thorny matter in itself.
And as for her younger sister, Rellana...
"Who knows whether it's good or bad, but Rellana just had to be such an idiot!" (The queen's exact words.) Rennala nearly put a hand to her forehead.
After all these years, her feelings are written all over her face, yet she acts as awkwardly as a terrestrial sea squirt that's stepped on a thorn.
Why don't you hurry up and make Horace yours? Having him make you his would be fine too.
I've dropped countless hints and created one opportunity after another, and what came of it?
*You