We arrived at the castle in a jet-black carriage made of rosewood, drawn by a black Trundle horse. For some reason, the guild held a tournament to decide who our coachman/valet would be, and Mr. Kodak was the lucky winner. Wait, aren’t we in a war?
We got past the gates thanks to our VIC—Very Important Carriage—and stopped at a parking space.
Mr. Kodak graciously opened the door and helped first Sasara, then me out of the carriage. I had Asu on my shoulder, Lou at my side, and Miyu in my chest pocket next to my plate. They were all covered thoroughly with illusion magic. It would be a big deal if they were seen.
Before my eyes stood the coolest, handsomest, kindest person in the world, with a warm smile he reserved only for his family. It had been two years.
“Father!”
“Serephione... Welcome back.”
We embraced—reservedly, considering the place—and kissed each other’s cheeks.
“I can finally see you again, my Serephi...”
“Father... Father...”
We whispered to each other quietly so that only we could hear.
“Shall we get the unpleasant part out of the way?”
My father, Count Granzeus, was accompanying me today as my guardian and an allied lord. I had my father, Sasara, and Mr. Kodak, not to mention Lou, Asu, and Miyu. I wasn’t scared of anything—I felt invincible.
My father cast a soundproofing spell with his pointer finger. “Lou, Asu, thank you so much for protecting Serephione. Miyu, I am her father, Isaac. Thank you for accompanying my Serephione.”
Lou and Asu nodded in return. Miyu blushed slightly, hopped out of my pocket, kissed my papa’s cheek, and then landed back on my chest! Perfect execution!
“Wow...”
Miyu! You’re even more boy-crazy as a holy beast than you were before?! I’ll tattle on you to Renza!
“It’s a blessing from Miyu, father.”
“What an honor. Thank you, Miyu! Shall we get going, Serephione?”
I gently put my arm around his elbow. I’m with my father again! The tension in my shoulders melted away.
“Welcome Count Granzeus, followed by Serephione Granzeus, lady of the Trundle domain!”
The door opened graciously before me and my father. He narrowed his eyes, seeing the lineup of people waiting on either side.
“There may not be many people, but they’re all major people in this kingdom...” my father noted. “It’s dangerous to have them all in one place.”
I sent messages out to Ziek, my brother, and Gillain. My grandmother had taught me that you can never be too careful.
I straightened my back and entered the great hall, the main part of the Judore castle, escorted by my father. Sasara followed behind me, and Mr. Kodak behind her. Everybody held their breath as they watched us.
I was wearing the new and improved gray ninja outfit that Mrs. Marcus had prepared for me. The Trundle coat of arms was embroidered on the back in a thread slightly lighter than the fabric. It wasn’t flashy, but anybody could see it clearly. On my left arm was the Galé coat of arms and the emblem given to me by Gillain that symbolized my future as an empress, a white tangerine flower. I had nothing of the sort for Judore. My makeup was done perfectly, just as my grandmother had taught me, and my hair was pulled back in one of her hair ornaments.
Sasara was in a black version of the new and improved ninja outfit; her blonde hair was bright against the black fabric. Mr. Kodak, meanwhile, was wearing a male version of Sasara’s outfit. Each of them had the Trundle coat of arms embroidered on the back. The black long boots we each wore clicked as we walked in long strides.
My father was in a flawless black suit. As a whole, we looked rather ominous in all black and gray in a space where people usually wore bright, flashy colors.
The king and queen were seated on thrones in an alcove several steps higher.
The king, who I was seeing for the first time in this life, looked much like Gardner, but unlike in the book, his gaze was vacant and wandering. He ordered his soldiers so vigorously in my memories, so what happened to that spirit?
Then there was the queen. She was as beautiful as I’d remembered, dressed in an extravagant golden gown. She seemed ageless. I hadn’t been her enemy in the book, but I also hadn’t been an ally. To her, everything would be all right in the end as long as Gardner became king.
Michael, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Judore, awaited us at the bottom of the steps. He was a man in his mid-sixties, with dark brown hair streaked with gray; together with the queen, he held the real power in the kingdom. As long as he didn’t get in my way, it didn’t matter to me though.
My father, Sasara, and Mr. Kodak all knelt quietly. Me? I stayed standing, of course.
The prime minister raised one eyebrow. “Your head is rather high, Lady Serephione. Have you forgotten your manners during your time in the countryside?”
“I am a Trundle. Why must I kneel to those weaker than myself?”
Trundles only knelt to those to whom they had sworn allegiance. Geintz and my grandmother served the previous king because they recognized his strength. Grandmother never kneeled to the current king, or rather, she had no intention of meeting him.
The only people I would get on my knees for were my beloved three holy beasts, Kilama, and...Gillain.
Everyone in this room who was familiar with Judoran history should have known that fact, but seeing it in practice was another matter altogether. Everyone held their breath.
“Be that as it may, there is the issue of respecting one’s elders. Don’t you find it disrespectful?”
“I might feel that way if our relationship was mutually respectful, but I lost my desire to practice good manners with the royal family after nearly being killed by one of you. I came here not in accordance with your summons, but to wrap up a few announcements at once.”
An elegant laugh resonated throughout the room as if to smooth out the tension. “What an interesting young lady,” the queen said. “I’m glad to see you have a strong spirit. Thank you for meeting with my son recently. I hear it was quite a worthwhile visit, and that he formed a rather nice friendship with you and the emperor. After this audience, I am preparing a welcome banquet. I’d like to get to know you better.”
I soothed Miyu, who was angry at the queen’s ridiculing attitude, and used Appraisal. She shone...red!
Clarissa Judore (Queen of the Kingdom of Judore)
Status: Good
Skills: Fire magic, earth magic, scheming
This was my first time seeing red when using Appraisal. Red meant ill will, but I realized that I couldn’t actually do anything about it now that I’d seen it. I wouldn’t have used Appraisal if I weren’t already on guard. I wondered what dark plans she’d cooked up to get “scheming” under her skills.
“Lady Serephione, the queen is speaking to you. Answer her!” Michael demanded.
I looked directly at the king as I spoke. “Your Majesty, I came today out of respect for your title, despite the fact that we are in a time of war, because I was somewhat curious. Please state your business at once.”
Angry voices from every direction scolded me for speaking to the king while still standing, but the king remained vacant and expressionless. The higher-ranking nobles in the room leaned in, confused.
Appraisal! He shone blue.
Thomas Judore (King of the Kingdom of Judore, E-rank adventurer)
Status: Poisoned by yamweed, diminished capacity
Skills: Fire magic, water magic, wind magic, earth magic, light magic
“He’s poisoned...” said Miyu. “He must not understand anything anymore.”
“Recovery is impossible at this stage,” said Lou gravely. “Even though he’s a user of light...”
Yamweed poisoning was nonfatal. It just rotted the body and mind away until the victim was a living corpse. It would have been called a narcotic in Japan. Who had done this, and when? The queen? Or maybe Schneider?
I turned to my side. “Father...”
He stood up quietly with a severe expression. “I had no idea... He was able to at least give a small nod when I met him three years ago.”