In the early hours of the morning, a carriage protected by a large number of knights was about to depart from the imperial palace. Prince Okyst Yutear was there in person to see his guests off as his father’s representative.
“Well then, Lord Eiwass, I hope we’ll meet again in the future,” Okyst said.
“Likewise, Your Highness. Our sojourn here was most productive.”
“You’re also welcome to visit the empire again at any time, Lady Roselia,” Okyst continued. “I enjoyed conversing with a bright and competent lady such as you.”
“You’re too kind, Your Highness. I don’t deserve such praise,” Roselia replied, bowing.
After bidding farewell to the prince, Eiwass and Roselia boarded their carriage and the Haldorian procession departed. They’d left so early in the morning because today was the last day of the festival, and the roads undoubtedly would be packed if they waited any longer.
“Couldn’t we have waited until the end of the festival instead of going out of our way to leave so early?” Roselia asked.
“You managed to convince Elizabeth. We should head back and inform Her Highness as quickly as possible, don’t you think? Compared to a matter so crucial, mingling with the people of the empire bears little importance.”
“That is a dangerous statement, my lord. People might think you look down on the empire.”
“No one will mind. There are only Haldorians around at the moment. Besides, between the current empire and Elizabeth, it’s plain to see which could be a greater threat to Her Highness,” Eiwass replied, a strained smile on his face.
When he acted like that, Roselia found herself almost believing that he genuinely had Adel’s best interests at heart.
“It’s true that my negotiations with Elizabeth have made the chances of her opposing Her Highness far less likely, but if you earn us the ire of the empire in the same breath, it’ll defeat the purpose.”
“You worry too much, Lady Roselia. Didn’t the prince see us off with a smile?”
“He did, but...”
“You don’t need to worry about a thing,” Eiwass insisted. “I even bought heaps of presents for Her Highness and the others. They must be tired from burying themselves in mountains of paperwork all day.”
✦ ✦ ✦
“Presents?” Now that she thought about it, Roselia remembered their servants loading many boxes she’d never seen onto the carriage. “So those boxes were all presents?” she asked. “When did you even find the time to purchase them?”
“I shopped while you were busy impressing crowds with your fighting skills.”
A vein popped out on Roselia’s forehead, but she forced herself to remain calm. This was Eiwass teasing her, and she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of getting her mad.
“What did you buy?” she asked.
“Popular sweets.”
“Sweets?”
“They’re called ‘chocolate.’ I bought them from Elizabeth’s shop.”
“You sure are brazen, so confidently buying from your sister’s business when she loathes you.”
Eiwass laughed. “I had to queue for a long time. They’re very popular, you see.”
Roselia sighed and refused to dignify him with an answer. She didn’t want to tell Eiwass, but she, too, had heard of the famous chocolate Elizabeth sold, and she’d sent her waiting maid to buy her some while they were in the capital.