After they passed through the city gates, the royal capital spread out before them: buildings painted in calm hues, while stone pavements, trees, and flower beds lined the main street, leading to another set of walls that hid the palace. It was far softer on the eyes than the alabaster townscape of the imperial capital.
“Mm. This is where we were summoned...” Mizuki said, recalling her arrival in this world.
The hustle and bustle of Metel’s main street was mild compared to Filas Philia’s. It was still lively, but due to its smaller scale, it just wasn’t the same.
“Hmph. How modest it is compared to the imperial capital,” Graziella pointed out harshly, saying what they were all thinking. “The main thoroughfare is far too narrow, leading to fewer varieties of shops.”
“Oh dear. Astel is a nation that respects history,” Titania retorted. “We don’t value policies that are inconsistent with our culture.”
“If you continue to disdain mainstream trends, you’ll end up left behind one day.”
“Do be careful not to lose all your citizens to emigration.”
The imperial princess looked down on the city, while the royal princess admired it. Since they participated in their respective countries’ legislatures, they were far from gentle as they exchanged stinging remarks. The others had come to learn recently that this was just them joking around with each other, so they’d stopped trying to arbitrate between them.
“Oh yeah, is anyone coming to get us?” Mizuki asked.
“Yes, over there,” one of the guards answered, pointing to what looked like a chamberlain, who bowed respectfully in turn.
“We contacted the embassy to avoid too much fuss,” Titania explained. “An uproar would be a nuisance, so there won’t be an overblown reception like there was upon our departure.”
“That’s good,” Mizuki said. “That was pretty crazy.”
“Yeah. One or two parades is enough for a lifetime...” Reiji agreed.
The two of them let out a big sigh of relief. Being the center of a parade made them keenly aware of what it felt like to be animals in a zoo. Just having others watch their every move was tiring in its own way.
“Oh yeah, I wonder how Gregory-san and the others are doing,” Reiji said.
“They must be here in the capital too,” Titania said. “I believe they should still be recovering.”
The knights who’d accompanied Reiji upon their departure from Astel had required medical treatment after the incident in the self-governed state. According to Titania, they’d gone straight back to Astel to recover.
“We’ll have to visit them later,” Reiji commented.
“Yeah. I hope they’re doing well,” Mizuki said.
Around that time, Reiji noticed Titania was staring at his back.
“Tia?” he prompted.
“Now that I think of it, are you not going to wear that mantle?” she asked.
“That mantle...? Oh.”
This reminded Reiji of something he would have preferred to forget. He’d once defeated the specialists of every attribute of magic at the Mage’s Guild, and in reward, the guild master had granted him both a title and an incredibly gaudy mantle.
“That’s, um, a little... you know?” he said with a disconcerted expression.
“Hm?”
“Isn’t it fine?” Graziella joined in. “Why not wear it?”
“Well, there are some profound circumstances behind that...” Reiji muttered.
“Why the grimace?” Graziella asked.
“That’s just the mood I’m in,” Reiji added, visibly distracted, staring off into the distance with undeniable melancholy. He didn’t really mind wearing a mantle, but he couldn’t accept something so strangely colorful. The design was like something out of some retro superhero show, a thing whose sole purpose was to be flashy. The idea of wearing it made him cringe. That was why he tried to brush it off now.
But here was the one girl who refused to read the room and, by doing so, completely obstructed his plans.
“Reiji-kun, I think it’s pretty cool,” Mizuki said.
“Th-Thanks, but... you know?”
She had to understand. He tried to give her a subtle hint as to how he truly felt, but he was cut off by a merciless declaration.
“I understand that you do not really favor it,” Titania said. “But either way, I do believe it is expected of you to wear it on formal occasions.”
“Noooooooooooo!”
Reiji’s sorrowful scream resounded down the royal capital’s main street.
They’d sent word ahead of time that they would be visiting the palace, so they were able to arrange an immediate audience with King Almadious. After a short wait in the reception room to coordinate things, Reiji’s group was guided to the throne room, where two people were already waiting for them.
King Almadious sat on the throne while the prime minister stood to his side. Having only talked to the prime minister one or two times, Reiji had regretfully forgotten his name. He did, however, remember Suimei calling the man “a disagreeable-looking barcode baldy,” so Reiji recalled his rather unique features.
Reiji shifted his focus to Almadious. He was an old man with white hair, with a crown on his head and his scepter of office in one hand. He gave off a very gentle impression. Nelferia’s emperor and Hadorious always had a severe edge to them, but much like during Reiji’s initial summoning to this world, the king’s severity was combined with a gentle demeanor, making him seem far friendlier.
To Reiji, a head of state—a king—had to be unapproachable. A man whom no one took seriously wasn’t fit to lead a country. However, Almadious seemed to command the respect of practically everyone around him. Was this because of his abilities as a leader? Or was there something else that maintained his authority?
Reiji bowed before the king, and before long, he was greeted by a voice from the throne.
“Reiji-dono. Mizuki-dono. It has been a long time.”
“Your Majesty, it is good to see you again. Thank you for making the time to receive us despite our sudden visit.”
“I-It’s good to see you again! Your Majesty!” Mizuki added, still not used to such formal occasions. She hadn’t been this tense in the waiting room, but she started panicking when it came time to speak up.
“King Almadious, it is a pleasure to stand before you,” Graziella said, skillfully covering for Mizuki’s nervousness. “I am truly honored to be granted an audience.”
“Mm. It is wonderful to see you in good health, Your Imperial Highness.”
“I see you haven’t changed much, Your Majesty,” Graziella added.
“Hahaha! How harsh,” Almadious replied, laughing merrily.
Considering their ages, Graziella was still a little girl to him. Her sarcasm didn’t affect him in the least; he warded it off naturally, like a willow standing in a gentle breeze.
“I must thank you for going to the trouble of visiting us,” the king said.
“We have our own reasons for doing so too,” Reiji replied.
“Hmm. Is that so? By the way, how is Suimei-dono doing?”
“Father, Suimei has returned to his world,” Titania answered.
“What? So Suimei-dono truly found a way back!”
“Yes. However...”
Titania looked somewhat perplexed by Almadious’s reaction. She had noticed something unexpected, and so had Reiji—the king spoke as if he was certain Suimei could return to modern Japan.