Chapter 184
The ceremony commemorating the twenty-fifth anniversary of Father's accession.
To attend it, dignitaries from every country were gathering in the imperial capital.
Today looked likely to be the peak.
"Oh!? Look, Arnold!"
"As if I could see anything..."
I had been looking out from the castle balcony with my hands on the railing, but Orihime, bored out of her mind, had climbed onto me from behind, severely restricting my view.
Frankly, all I could see was the ground below.
"What!? There's a person riding a small dragon!? Is that the dragon knight I've heard about!?"
"The United Kingdom's famed dragon-knight corps?"
I somehow shifted Orihime to the side and looked up.
Although Orihime resisted, looking displeased, I couldn't let that stop me.
A dozen or more dragon knights were flying through the sky.
Their mounts were wyverns. Although wyverns were a subspecies of dragon, the United Kingdom had mastered the art of riding them.
The dragon knights who rode those wyverns had played a major role when the United Kingdom conquered the vassal states, and they had also served as its main fighting force when it went to war with the Kingdom.
Leading them was a man riding a red wyvern.
After landing near the main gate of Imperial Sword Castle, the man leaped elegantly from his wyvern and firmly shook hands with Gordon, who had come out to greet him.
"Who is he?"
"William van Drummond. The United Kingdom's second prince. He's known as the Dragon Prince. As you can see, he's a dragon knight."
"He rides dragons even though he's royalty? What a dangerous fellow. He seems to have no common sense."
"You're the last person who should be saying that."
"What was that!?"
Orihime took offense at my words and pounced on me from behind again, as if to punish me.
She was heavy, to be honest.
"Well!? Have you learned your lesson!?"
"Yes, yes. I have, I have."
"Hmm, I don't see much sign of remorse..."
Even as she said that, Orihime got off me and moved to my side.
In the meantime, William entered the castle with Gordon.
"They seemed awfully close... Huh!? Does that prince prefer men!?"
"Don't ever say that in front of him, all right? And please don't say it while I'm around, either. It would become a diplomatic incident immediately. Those two are close because they're friends."
"Friends, you say? The Empire and the United Kingdom aren't allies, are they?"
"No, but Gordon spent about six months studying abroad in the United Kingdom. That's where they met. They're both warriors, so they must have hit it off. And they're close in age."
"Hmm, I see. I thought that was in terribly poor taste, but I'm relieved."
"The fact that that was the first thing to occur to you is what's strange..."
While exasperated by Orihime's way of thinking, I spotted Leo emerging near the main gate.
"He's far too fidgety..."
"Hmm? Why is your younger brother so restless? I am calmer than he is!"
"No, you aren't."
"What was that!?"
"Ow!? Don't bite!"
"Mmph! What did you say!?"
"Don't talk while you're biting me! It hurts!"
Even when I shook my hand vigorously, Orihime wouldn't let go.
I couldn't understand what she was saying, but she probably wanted me to take it back or something.
Since she was so persistent, I decided to say something I didn't mean.
"All right, all right! You're calm! You're very calm!"
"Heh! That's right! That's right!"
At last, Orihime let go, folded her arms smugly, and nodded repeatedly.
She seemed delighted to have gotten the words she wanted.
She's so easy to please.
"Whoa... The teeth marks..."
Distinct teeth marks remained on my right hand.
Well, if beastkin Orihime bit down in earnest, she could probably bite my hand clean off, so perhaps this was merely a playful nibble to her.
Maybe that's why Orihime wasn't worried about me. Then again, she was always like this.
"That aside, why is your younger brother so restless?"
"Because he's welcoming the Saint famed throughout the continent."
"A saint? The Saint of the Perlarn Kingdom?"
"That's right. A woman who carries the Sacred Staff, one of the Four Sacred Treasures said to have been made from a meteor, just like the Sacred Sword. She's basically the Kingdom's version of Elna."
"The Four Sacred Treasures? Even I know about them. The four holy treasures, including the Sacred Sword, right? I didn't know the Saint had one."
"People generally know it only as the legendary staff. The Four Sacred Treasures are mysterious to begin with. They're said to have been created even before the age of ancient magic, and their effects differ. Though they're spoken of as equals, the Sacred Sword stands a good three heads above the rest."
"You know quite a lot."
"My childhood friend wields the Sacred Sword."
As I said that, I looked up at the sky.
Seeing this, Orihime tilted her head curiously.
"Why are you looking at the sky? The wyverns are already gone."
"The Saint of the Perlarn Kingdom doesn't merely carry the Sacred Staff. She also rides one of the few griffins in the Kingdom."
The moment I said that, seven or eight griffins came flying toward us from the sky.
Leading them was a pale-blonde woman riding a white griffin.
Her medium-length hair reached her back, and the headband she wore was distinctive.
The woman had a mystical air about her and was beautiful. It wasn't merely her looks, either. She possessed a pristine beauty like pure white snow.
A woman who knew no taint.
That was Saint Leticia.
For some reason, a riderless black griffin followed Leticia, and behind it came the griffin knights serving as her escort.
Leo welcomed Leticia and her party with a respectful bow.
I was curious, so I used magic to eavesdrop on their conversation.
"Welcome to the imperial capital, Saint Leticia. You must be tired after your long journey. While you're in the capital, I, Leonart, the Eighth Prince, will be your host."
"Thank you for the welcome, Prince Leonart. And it has been a long time, hasn't it? Five years, I think."
"Yes. It has."
Leo was nervous.
Normally, he would have complimented Leticia on how much she'd grown up.
Now he was sticking to safe topics. He was probably trying not to say anything strange.
Seeing Leo like that, Leticia laughed in amusement.
"Prince, has our friendship disappeared over these five years?"
"N-no! Nothing like that!"
"Then please relax. Seeing you so tense makes me tense as well."
"M-my apologies. It's just... you had become... so beautiful that I got nervous..."
"Thank you. You have become quite handsome too, Prince Leonart. No, that's not quite the right way to put it. You have grown into a fine man. Your fame now resounds throughout the Kingdom as the heroic prince who helps its people."
"It's nothing... I only have the people around me to thank."
"Even so, wasn't it your decision to help the people? I am glad that your kindness has remained unchanged."
Saying this, Leticia extended her hand to Leo.
Leo took it nervously, and they shook hands.
After exchanging a few more words, they walked into the castle.
As they did, Leticia looked over at me.
Her eyes, blue as a perfectly clear sky, caught mine, and Leticia smiled brightly and waved at me.
Since I couldn't exactly wave back, I returned her greeting with a slight bow.
She hadn't changed. She was herself wherever she went, whenever I saw her. She did everything at her own pace.
"Hmm..."
"What is it?"
"As expected of the Saint. I was captivated too! I admit it! She'd be the third most beautiful—after me and one other!"
"You really do look down on everyone... So? Who's the most beautiful after you?"
"The most beautiful woman in the Empire."
Fine, huh.
I've never seen her actually talk, but I'm sure we've at least exchanged greetings.
Even Fine comes second to her, so Orihime was something else.
It's good that everyone has a strong sense of self, but when they're all this determined to do things their own way, keeping up with them is exhausting.
"By the way, where would Elna rank?"
"She doesn't make the list."
"Don't say that in front of her, either..."
Saying that, I sighed.
The gathering of important figures meant that more trouble would be coming, too.
I could only hope there wouldn't be too much trouble.
With that hope in mind, I left the balcony.