Numerous skilled craftsmen and chefs had set up shops or stalls around the grand palace where Rolmund’s emperor lived. Among them was a pastry chef considered to be the greatest baker in Originia.
“No one will expect the empress to be hanging out here,” Eleora said with a smile, waving a man over to her table. She picked up one of the pastries from the table and took a bite. “Everyone thinks I don’t like sweets. I can’t imagine what gave them that impression.”
“I admit it doesn’t really fit your image...” Veight the Black Werewolf King said, sitting across from her. In Rolmund, he was also known as the Astral Fencer. “So, how are you liking Wa’s best sweets?”
“They’re delectable. We import some Wa sweets ourselves, but only dried items that keep well for the long journey.”
“Then I guess it was worth pulling some strings to convince a few Wa bakers to open up shop here. I hear they’ve even taken on local apprentices within Rolmund so the craft won’t die out,” Veight said with a smile.
“You always do this when you’re trying to sweet-talk someone.”
Eleora pouted and picked up another pastry. This one was called ‘spring flower’ and vaguely resembled a pale violet flower blooming in early spring snow. The flower adorning the top of the pastry was made from pounded rice flour and was exceptionally delicate. Most people wouldn’t even realize it was edible. Eleora took a bite and savored the perfectly sweet pastry.
“I didn’t think I’d see you again so soon,” she said.
“I heard you’ll be handing the throne over to Micha, so I figured it was a good time. I realize that given my infamy in Rolmund, it’s dangerous for me to come here, but there’s something I wanted to discuss.”
“I know. That’s why I went out of my way to meet you in person, in secret.”
Indeed, the room where Eleora and Veight were sitting was closed off from the rest of the shop, with no windows looking outside. Few people even knew this room existed, including the bakers who worked here.
“But to think you’d make Ryuunie the next Demon Lord. Is this your way of getting revenge against the empire, Astral Fencer?”
“I’m sure that’s how the public will see it, but Ryuunie doesn’t hold a grudge against you or Rolmund. If anything, he’ll probably try to improve relations between our countries. Woroy’s happy to help with that too.”
Eleora gave Veight a thoughtful look. “I see. It’s precisely because our countries are seemingly at odds that it will create a compelling narrative when Empress Micha and Demon Lord Ryuunie overcome their troubled pasts and work to unite our nations. No one would buy it under normal circumstances, but since we live in a peaceful era, it’ll work.”
“Yes, and it’ll be a significant achievement for both of them, which will help solidify their respective support bases.”
“Heh, you never stop scheming, do you?” Eleora chuckled and picked up yet another pastry. “All you ever care about is making others look good, Veight. Ever thought about yourself?”
“I don’t want fame. I’m just an ordinary vice-commander, after all.”
“Yeah, right.”
Finishing her third pastry, Eleora reached out for a fourth.
“At any rate, this will be a good start for Micha. It helps that she doesn’t have my baggage weighing her down either—she hadn’t even been born during the coup. I wouldn’t be able to make amends with Meraldia even if I spent another decade on the throne, so it’s definitely time to retire.” Eleora smiled happily as she said that. “As a show of sincerity, I’ll tell Micha to restore the Doneiks family honor once our countries become friends again. We can’t have the head of a friendly nation exiled from ours, after all. It wouldn’t be fair.”
“That would be much appreciated. With that gesture, I’ll finally be able to make up for all the damage I caused when I came here.” Veight let out a long sigh and pointed to the nearly empty tray. “By the way, how many of these are you planning to eat?”
“All of them, obviously?”