The Argent Armor looked exactly like the one I’d defeated before, but I assumed that this was a different suit. Considering how soon I was running into her again, she must’ve had several spares. No matter how many times I take her down, she’ll pop up again and get in my way. This is beyond troublesome...
“Why are you here?” I asked. “And from the hidden passageway, no less.”
“I was once shown the way by Belletochka over there so that I could duel against the Dark Lord,” the armor replied. “I admit that I didn’t know how to open the final door here, but it was half open, so I was pretty lucky.”
She spoke with her usual calm tone that didn’t betray a hint of concern. I see... So that’s how the Dark Lord and the Argent Knight were able to battle. No wonder she can use this place. Noa was spooked by the armor appearing, so I got in front of her to protect her. Noa didn’t know how to open the last door either. Is this some kind of weird coincidence, or...?
“I can’t believe you came all the way here to chase after Noa,” I said. “You seem to have quite a bit of time on your hands, huh?”
“Hmm, well, I’m more here for Belletochka,” the Argent Armor replied.
“Me?” the queen replied. “I just got some snacks out, so how about you catch me up on what’s been exciting in your life over a spot of tea?” She was relaxed as ever and preparing another cup of tea as everyone—including the Argent Armor—turned to her.
“You always try to drag people into your way of things,” the armor remarked. “You never change, do you? You may have tricked Agard, but unfortunately, things won’t be so easy this time around. After all, there’s only a chunk of flesh inside this armor. I can’t eat a single thing!” she declared smugly.
Uh, is that something to be so proud of? “Oh dear, that’s truly a pity,” the queen replied. “These snacks turned out so well.”
“Is that so?” the armor replied. “Then I’ll have to take a few to go.”
Uh... Why is this all so casual? I felt foolish for feeling tense mere moments ago. The ladies’ conversation was so peaceful it was unsettling.
“And what brings you here?” the queen asked. “Would you also like to go to Xeoral?”
“Nothing like that,” the armor replied. “In fact, I came here with quite the opposite request.”
“The opposite? You’d like to leave Xeoral?”
“Why would I need your help with that? I’m already standing here before you.”
“But that’s a temporary body.”
Silence settled over the room. The ladies may have been playfully bantering seconds ago, but the air changed in an instant. I watched over them anxiously.
“In any case... Since Noa awakened, I did assume Xeoral’s existence would be exposed, but I hadn’t expected them to visit you so soon,” the Argent Armor said. “Mary... As I thought, you really are dangerous.”
She blatantly switched the topic of conversation to me. Also, I’d apparently become more of a threat in her eyes than before, unbeknownst to me. I was tempted to hide my face in my hands—why was it always me?—but I didn’t feel like I could deny anything after I’d fought her in Eneres and let her see how powerful I am.
“But this whole hasty tour was orchestrated by Emilia,” I insisted. “She just wanted to hurry to enjoy an outing with Queen Belletochka as soon as she could. It’s not like I was trying to rush things along, you know?”
“Wh-Wh-What are you on about, Mary?” Emilia stammered adorably, not expecting to be drafted into blame game hot potato. “We acted in accordance with your wishes. We, um, er...”
“Um, did you just come here to tell me not to guide Little Mary to Xeoral?” the queen asked.
“Well, yes,” the Argent Armor replied. “How else was I to speak to you? After all, you’re a shut-in— I mean, you’re locked up here, aren’t you?”
“Hoooold it!” Emilia roared angrily. “Where do you get off barging in here and trying to have things your way!” After all the effort she’d put into her plan, Emilia couldn’t just silently watch on as the Argent Armor casually ruined everything.
“Hmm? If you’ve got any complaints, I don’t mind resorting to force,” the armor replied, paying no heed to Emilia’s intimidation and instead adding fuel to the fire.
“Excuse us?!” Emilia growled.
Having fought the armor, I knew Emilia stood no chance of winning a fight with her...
“I see... This is quite the conundrum,” Queen Belletochka observed calmly. It felt like a fight could break out at any moment, but she was sipping her tea with total composure as the sparks flew. “Ah, I’ve got a wonderful idea.”
“An idea?” the armor asked. “I think it’d be for the best if you just shut up and listened to what I have to say.”
“Oh, you’ve got guts acting like that!” Emilia growled. “Would you like us to clobber you into a pulp until you can’t ever open your smug mouth again?”
“Heh. Big talk for a brat who can’t leave her mommy’s side.”
The two ladies glared at each other again, putting the queen’s relaxed demeanor to waste.
“I’d like for you both to make your requests to me as cutely as possible,” Her Majesty said. “I’ll listen to the one who makes my heart skip a beat.”
“Huh?!” Emilia and the armor both grunted simultaneously. Neither could’ve possibly expected this absurd suggestion...and thanks to it, the bloodthirsty atmosphere dissipated and both of them calmed down.
I guess this goes to show how Queen Belletochka gets things done. She’s different from Lady Elizabeth, but she’s still no slouch. I wouldn’t want to be on her bad side.
“Now then, who shall go first?” the queen asked. “I personally don’t mind whoever.”
“Huh? Uh? Well...” Emilia and the armor stammered. I watched them pityingly.
There was a pause before Emilia spoke up once more. “M-Mother! If a request must be made, may we ask for Mary to join us? After all, we’re simply helping her with what she wants.”
“Hey! Don’t drag me into this, Emilia!” I shouted. I wanted to stay a bystander, not have her drag me into this mess.
“Very well. Go right ahead,” the queen said. The queen flashed a lovely smile and immediately allowed it, emanating a sort of pressure that didn’t allow me any argument—I ended up just swallowing what I wanted to reply.
“Heh heh heh, comrade in arms,” Emilia said. “Why don’t we work together to overcome this mess?”
“Don’t try to act cool after you dragged me into this,” I grumbled. “It pains me to admit it, but I am the one making the request, so I guess...I’ll have to join.”
“So, what shall we do?” Emilia asked me. “You’re adept at using your cuteness, aren’t you?”
“Can you stop making insane claims about me that’ll ruin my reputation? I’ve never professed to be good at anything of the sort.”
“Oh, don’t be so humble! You’re second to none when it comes to acting coy!”
“All right, how about we duke it out before I head off to find the Argent Knight?”
“E-Enough banter!” Emilia hastily replied, so eager to not make me an enemy it bothered me a bit. “How shall we go about this? Personally, we were thinking of using the most solemn way of begging that you taught me.”
“Go on?”
“Prostrating!” Emilia said.
“I mean, yeah, that gets our intentions across, but that’s not cute, is it?”
“But of course it is! Aren’t we cute? Then whatever we do shall be adorable. As a bonus, it conveys our sincerity.”
All I could do was just silently stare at her, taken aback as I was by her unshakable determination and absolute confidence in her own adorableness.
“What? It’s no good?” Emilia asked. “Then what bright idea do you have?”
If I couldn’t come up with any other idea, I feared that Emilia would seriously go with the kowtowing plan, so I was trying my best to come up with literally anything else. I didn’t want to see a daughter groveling to her mother.
Nothing was coming to me, so I glanced around the room for inspiration and locked eyes with Sita. Eureka!