“We don’t have much time,” father said then. “Let us make our way to the lake.”
“Excellent point,” the general said with a nod. “Please, lead the way.”
We met up with Alyssa after leaving the castle—she was going to help us explain to the court mages how spirit beasts worked. Since she had her water spirit at the ready in its beast form, the mages caught sight of it the moment we stepped outside, and they all made a sudden dash toward it. It gave me one hell of a fright. They looked like they barely ever set foot outside, yet there they were, running at full speed.
The most shocked person, though, was Alyssa. Imagine how scary it would be to suddenly have all these robed men surrounding you.
“All of you, quit it!”
The empress could shout all she wanted, but I doubted they understood what they were doing wrong.
Alyssa’s spirit beast looked like a blue goldfish. Its tail fin was large in proportion to its body, and it fluttered about as the beast swam gracefully through the air. The deputy was so desperate to study the floating goldfish that he was practically dancing all around Alyssa as she walked to the lake, trying to get a good look.
Stop that. You look like a creep. And you, chief man, I get that you want to talk to me, but you need to stop hovering around me like that too. You look just as creepy.
Chris was talking to Prince Andrew while Alan was talking to Prince Eldred as we made our way to the lake. They’d be attending school together, so it would be good for them to get to know each other ahead of time. It seemed like their personalities meshed well too.
As usual, I was being guarded by my two valets. We had so many people gathered today that I didn’t have any personal guards this time. I have my spirit beasts with me too.
The sunlight filtered through the trees as we walked down the little lane, a refreshing breeze blowing by as Empress Ephenia—who didn’t get many opportunities to go outside—chatted joyfully with the general. Now that there wasn’t a birthday party going on, the meadow was quiet, the lake still and endlessly beautiful.
“If you could,” I said to Ifri and Levvy. My two spirits turned into their beast forms and were immediately approached by the mages, who had to be held back by the imperial guard.
Come on, guys, you’re looking so dangerous that even your own knights are moving in now. You’re all so hopeless.
(Your Sacred Majesty, are you present?) Ifri called.
(Oh, have they arrived?) came the now-familiar voice.
The surface of the lake shone bright, and together with the rising lights appeared that beautiful man with the smoky-blue hair. I’d met him so many times now that I couldn’t help but view the Water King as basically just the nice man who lived down the street, but as familiar as he was to me, this was the first time the imperial family and the court mages were meeting this ethereal being. His beauty, his stately presence, his imposing aura—they were standing speechless in the face of his otherworldliness.
“Your Sacred Majesty, we thank you for listening to our request.”
(It is of no bother. Are you the empress who destroyed the Earth Queen’s forest?)
“Yes. Though I was unaware at the time, it does not excuse my actions. I apologize.” When the empress lowered her head, the general, the princes, and the mages all knelt in turn.
My family moved to the side and observed quietly so we wouldn’t get in the way of their conversation. Father had already warned me not to say anything without thinking, so I was too scared to say anything at all.
(I am not the one who requires an apology. That land is not mine. Upon request from the margrave, I attempted to bring it up to the Earth Queen, but she turned away and refused to listen. If you truly wish to speak to her, you will need to restore the forest to its former state and return the land to her.)
“That...”
...would be impossible. Even if they began planting trees straightaway, it would still take years upon years before it turned into a thriving forest. Plus, there were already new houses built on that land and people living in said houses. But from the spirits’ perspective, the humans had been happy to destroy their habitat, yet didn’t show the same willingness when it came to their own settlements—it was a very straightforward reason to not cooperate.
(They have already found a new location to settle. Should they complete their migration, the imperial capital will turn to dust, including the forest near the academy.)
Seriously?! It’s that bad?
“I understand,” Her Imperial Majesty said. “We will ask those living there to move out immediately and return the forest to the way it once was. I must ask that you give us time.”
“I must also request this,” her consort continued. “Though it was our ignorance that brought about these events, we meant absolutely no ill will toward the Spirit Queen. Please, allow us to speak with her just once.”
(I have repeated this over and over, but this has nothing to do with me. I already said I would only pass on the message once.)
“Ngh...”
“Please, I beg of you...”
(If you are that desperate, then show it through your actions.)
Even though the empress and the general had stated that they would move their people, the Spirit King was still behaving so coldly. He was like an entirely different person compared to when he interacted with my family.
(While you are here, Deirdre...)
No. Stop. Don’t bring me into this.
(When I boasted about you to the other Royal Spirits, they were very clear about wanting to meet you.)
“Ruri...” I whined.
(Heh heh heh. When I informed them that you had named me, they all said they wanted names as well.)
Then they can give each other whatever names they want. I’d only given the Spirit King a name because he’d been acting envious of my spirit beasts.