The First Day

The ceremony commemorating Father's twenty-fifth anniversary on the throne.

This was an Empire-wide event. Each city held a festival for the Emperor that day, but the Imperial Capital was on another level.

The festival began three days before the ceremony and continued even after it ended.

And today was three days before the ceremony.

In other words, the Imperial Capital's festival atmosphere had begun.

The ceremony itself had not officially begun, of course. Even so, the entire Imperial Capital had entered festival mode, so the castle had to respond accordingly.

On the first day, Father would not appear yet. Instead, the dignitaries who had arrived in the Imperial Capital as guests would show themselves before the people.

That said, not all of them would.

Considering public sentiment, the dignitaries from the vassal kingdom had declined on their own. The elven dignitary had said they did not wish to appear in public, while the dignitaries from the Holy Kingdom had declined, citing poor health.

Even so, from the Empire's perspective, it made no difference if those people turned us down.

There were two people whom the Empire absolutely wanted to see appear before its citizens, and there was almost no chance those two would refuse.

"Look! It's Saintess-sama!"

"Is that Fairy Princess-sama beside her!?"

"Long live Saintess-sama! Long live the Empire!"

"Fairy Princess-sama!"

Leticia and Orihime were the ones who appeared on the castle balcony.

Eva and Julio followed, with William behind them. But compared to the first two, the cheers were sparse. That couldn't be helped, though.

The names of Saintess Leticia and Fairy Princess Orihime resounded throughout the continent. They were highly popular even in the Empire.

With those two together, everyone else was inevitably reduced to supporting roles. That was probably why the Holy Kingdom's dignitaries had disliked the idea.

So Eva and Julio were admirable for coming out anyway, and William could also be called an outstanding person.

Then again, in William's case, perhaps he couldn't very well stay inside while the Saintess was appearing.

Saintess Leticia had made her name in the war against the Allied Kingdom.

Eleven years ago, the Kingdom had gone to war with the Empire and, with support from the Duchy of Albatross, somehow managed to maintain its defensive line. However, the strain weakened the kingdom, and it was invaded by various foreign countries led by the Allied Kingdom.

Saintess Leticia appeared while the kingdom was being driven back in various places.

Despite its overwhelming advantage, the Allied Kingdom suffered defeat after defeat and failed to gain any further territory on the continent after the vassal state.

If Leticia had not appeared then, the lineup of the continent's three great powers would have changed.

There was nothing strange about William developing a sense of rivalry toward Leticia.

Still, given the relationship between their two countries, their respective positions were far apart.

Orihime and Leticia stood in the center. William was a little to their left, while Eva and Julio stood to their right.

Naturally, since the dignitaries had come out, the princes serving as their hosts had come out as well.

With Orihime and Leticia in the center, Leo and I stood slightly behind them.

"Saintess-sama, aren't you tired? It was a long journey, so if you are, why don't you go back inside!?"

As Leticia waved with a smile, I silently stomped on Leo's foot for saying something unnecessary.

Leo looked at me as if to say, What are you doing!? but that was exactly what I wanted to ask him.

"Were you listening to what I said?"

"But I have to be considerate!"

"That's exactly what I'm saying is wrong. We're the hosts. Our job is to provide a space where our guest feels comfortable. She singled you out because she wasn't looking for formal treatment. I told you that, didn't I?"

"I heard you, but..."

"Then put it into practice. Why are you telling her to go back inside? Can't you see she's enjoying looking at the people?"

"But she might be tired..."

"If she is, she'll say so herself. She's not a child. You can just treat her like an old friend."

"Even calling her a friend... We only spent a few days together five years ago... And she's the Saintess."

Leo probably didn't worship her, but his feelings were close to it.

He might see her as an untouchable existence that one must not approach.

"That doesn't matter. Do you judge people by their position?"

"But..."

"Honestly, why do you lose your nerve at times like this?"

Exasperated, I shifted my gaze to Orihime.

Orihime seemed pleased by the people's cheers; she waved both hands and leaned so far forward that she looked dangerously close to falling.

"Orihime, that's dangerous."

"Hmm? Is it? Even if I fell, my barrier would keep me safe."

"You look like you're about to fall."

"Mmm, in that case, I suppose it can't be helped."

Saying that, Orihime moved back a little.

Seeing Leo watching her, I called out to him.

"Like that. Do it."

"I can't! Saintess-sama isn't like Orihime-sama!"

"Orihime is a Fairy Princess too."

"Their personalities are different!"

"You're such a troublesome pain. Just start by calling her Leticia."

"I can't just call the Saintess by her name!"

Leo shook his head, determined to keep a line between them.

That was just like Leo. Forcing him to close the distance would normally be the wrong move, but Leticia herself wanted it, so I had no choice.

"Just try treating her the way you do Fine-san."

"It's different from Fine-san... I know how to deal with noble ladies, but Saintess-sama is a different matter..."

"I see. It's because women are always throwing themselves at you. That's why you become helpless at times like this."

"That has nothing to do with it, and women don't throw themselves at me."

"You don't even realize it? How sinful."

Since we were getting nowhere, I decided to take more drastic action.

Don't take it personally, little brother.

"Saintess Leticia."

"Yes?"

"Can you see that large mansion over there?"

"Ah, yes. I can see it."

"Actually, a demon lives there. Could you purify it while you're in the Imperial Capital? Mostly its personality."

"That's right! A demon lives there! It has made me cry so many times!"

Orihime jumped right onto my story.

And Orihime, who had no idea what moderation meant, uttered the forbidden words.

"If you're a saintess, you should be able to purify it. Purify everything bad about that flat-chested demon!"

That was going too far.

Just as I thought that, I heard an ominous click from behind us.

Erna, who was guarding even farther behind us, was glaring daggers at us.

Seeing the expression on Erna's face—a look no girl should ever make—Orihime's ears and tail began to tremble. She used me as a shield to block Erna's gaze.

"Don't move, Arnold! I'll end up in her line of sight!"

"Idiot! Don't use me as a shield! You're the one who angered her!"

"Weren't you the one who brought up the subject, Arnold!?"

Saying that, we slowly moved away from Leticia.

We were trying to escape Erna's terrifying gaze, but I also wanted to make Leo work harder.

I gave Leo a quick wink, and he made a face that seemed to say, How could you do this!? It was rare to see Leo look so pathetic.

It can't be helped. I suppose I should lend him a little support.

"Saintess Leticia. Uh, saying 'Saintess' is a bit of a hassle, so may I call you Leticia?"

"Heh, go ahead. Do as you please."

"Then, Leticia. If you have any questions about the Imperial Capital, ask Leo. He's an honorary general of the Imperial Capital Guard, after all. He should know more about the Imperial Capital than anyone."

"Really? Then, Prince Leonart, what is that building?"

"Huh? Oh, that is..."

And so, Leticia and Leo began talking.

The rest was up to Leo.

I felt like Leo had been able to respond more familiarly in the past. Leticia had probably grown too important a figure in his mind.

Still, I had managed to break down that wall a little. This was all I could do.

Well, Leo would manage somehow.

My own problem was another matter.

"Al? Don't you have something you'd like to say?"

"Arnold!? That woman is smiling! Terrifying! Is she a demon after all!?"

"Don't provoke her any further! Wait, Erna! Hear me out!"

"You can explain yourself inside. Third Knight Squad, His Eminence and His Highness aren't feeling well, so we're going back inside."

"What!? I want the people to praise me more!"

"That's enough. The people are happy just to have Saintess-sama here, so let's go inside, Your Eminence and Your Highness. Then you can tell me who the demon is."

Hearing Erna's icy voice, Orihime and I both shuddered.

After that, Orihime and I were forced to sit in seiza while she lectured us.

During the lecture, I grew curious and checked on Leo and Leticia, but it didn't seem as though the distance between them had narrowed much.

Still, the slight increase in their laughter could be considered progress.

"Al! Are you listening!?"

"I am, I am... Hey, Erna, my legs are starting to go numb. Isn't it about time?"

"That has nothing to do with it! Keep listening to the history of the House of Valor! Then you'll understand how foolish it is to call me a demon!"

"But Arnold was the one who started it..."

"Hey, don't blame this on me."

"But it's true!"

As we continued blaming each other, we had to remain in seiza for quite some time.