Chapter 210 The Princess Crosses the Threshold
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”So, they want to ‘accelerate our friendship’ and ‘discuss mutually beneficial arrangements,’ do they? A predictable enough excuse for a visit,” I thought.
Still, the fact that they’d gone so far as to appoint an Imperial royal – a Skygoon¹ pilot, no less – as their ambassador meant the Empire finally realized they couldn’t just look the other way. They were clearly aware of our flight magic, too. If they were that desperate for the secret, it stood to reason they’d toss a royal or two into the fray just to get a foot in the door.
Even if I chased them off now, they’d just keep coming back. Like flies to honey.
No. I’m thinking like a citizen of the Kingdom again – wary, guarded. I have to remember that we might be able to strike a real deal here, just like we did with the Republic. I’m not royalty anymore. My only metric now is what benefits the Dominion².
I sent a quick ping to Shoichi. His reply was instant. I took a breath and addressed the visitors.
”Very well. I’ll inform the King of the Magic Labyrinth that an Imperial envoy has arrived seeking an audience. I can’t promise when he’ll be available, however, so for today…”
”Oh, that won’t be a problem at all! If there’s even a tiny chance he’ll see us, I’m more than happy to wait right here,” Princess Listarte chirped.
She wasn’t budging. She was determined to walk away with something today.
”Fine. Please, follow me inside. I’ll show you to the guest lounge,” I said.
”You’re a lifesaver! Truly!” she replied.
Sardonyx drifted up into the air, clearly deciding that secrecy was a lost cause at this point. I followed suit, using my own levitation magic to guide Lady Listarte and her entourage toward the manor’s receiving rooms.
* * *
Ta-da!
Phase one: complete! I knew they’d play ball the moment they didn’t try to blast us out of the sky nanon.
Beside me, Clary was practically scanning the walls with her eyes. I could tell she was checking for hidden ears or magical bugs.
”Lady Listarte… we’ve successfully infiltrated the territory,” Clary whispered.
”Indeed. But don’t let your guard down – the real work starts now,” I replied.
The King will see me today. I’m certain of it. They wouldn’t have let me past the front door otherwise. The only thing I haven’t settled on is my approach: do I play the ‘Iron Fist’ or the ‘Velvet Glove’? I suppose that’ll depend entirely on the King’s attitude nanon.
”So, Clary… what did you make of those two? And the maids?” I asked.
”They aren’t a threat,” Clary said, though she hesitated. “With caveats.”
”Caveats?”
”Yes. Those two using flight sorcery? At this distance, I could drop them before they even finished an incantation. The maids… they look harmless, but I haven’t seen them move yet. I don’t have enough data to be certain,” she explained.
I’m no soldier, so I have to take Clary’s word for it. She’s a member of the Purple Dragon Knights³ and my sister’s personal attendant – if she says she can handle them, she can. Besides, the maids are just humans. What could they possibly do nanon?
”There was one thing, though,” Clary added. “It was… eerie.”
”Eerie? How so?”
”Those two. They didn’t show any of the usual signs of casting. No spirit-gathering, no mana fluctuations. They just… floated. Suddenly,” she said.
”Maybe flight sorcery is just that specialized?” I suggested nanon.
”Perhaps,” Clary replied.
Regardless, I need to see how the King plays his hand. Do I push the Empire’s military might to force a deal, or do I dangle a few carrots to lead them where I want them? If my sister were here, she’d have probably started a brawl ten minutes ago. I’m glad I have Clary’s cool head instead.
One thing is certain: the Empire has made contact. Whether the Republic likes it or not, their monopoly on wealth is ending. Soon, flight sorcery and the riches of this land will belong to the Empire nanon.
”I still can’t say for sure,” Clary mused, “but we should treat the fliers as a legitimate tactical variable. Still, if we sent in a single Beastman Knight Order – or even just seven of the Empire’s High Tier warriors – we could flatten this place in an afternoon.”
”I’ll take your word for it!” I chirped. I couldn’t tell if she was being cautious or dismissive, but seven people to take a whole territory? That sounded impressive to me nanon!
”But Clary… look at this place. It’s weird, isn’t it?”
”Weird, my Lady?” Clary asked.
”The building! Look at the walls, the stone, the woodwork. We’re in the heart of the Demon Forest⁴. Where did they get the supplies? Where did they get the labor? There’s no supply chain, no worker camps. It’s like it just appeared,” I said nanon.
Now that I was inside, the feeling was even stronger. Building a palace like this in monster territory should be impossible. To build those ramparts alone, you’d need hundreds of master masons and a mountain of gold. And who would even take the job?
Unless the maids are secret super-builders? No, they don’t look the type. The more I look, the more I feel like I’m walking through a dream nanon.
”They even painted the trim,” I noted. “That’s a purely aesthetic choice. It means they aren’t just surviving here – they have enough resources to be bored.”
”I see…” Clary muttered.
If this King has a way to snap his fingers and build a fortress… that’s a bigger threat to the Empire than the flight magic. I need to know his secret nanon.
A knock at the door broke my train of thought. A group of maids entered, led by the one with the closed eyes I’d seen earlier. They were pushing a wagon laden with food.
”I am Vectra,” the lead maid said. “I oversee the domestic staff here.”
”So kind of you to greet us!” I replied.
”The King is currently occupied, but he will join you shortly. In the meantime, we’ve prepared a light lunch. Please, help yourselves,” Vectra said.
The table was suddenly covered in a riot of colors. It looked… heavenly nanon!
”We have five varieties of local fruit juice, all freshly chilled. I trust you’ll find them refreshing,” she added.
Clary looked suspicious, but I didn’t care. If they wanted us dead, they’d have used magic, not expensive catering. I took a sip of the nearest glass.
My ears gave a sudden twitch. Clary’s tail gave a sharp flick behind her.
”This is… Oh my gods, this is incredible!” I cried.
”It is… exceptionally fresh,” Clary admitted. “What exactly is in this?”
”That is a blend of melon, peach, and orange,” Vectra explained.
”A blend?! You mixed melon… with peach… and orange?!” I was floored. In the Empire, a single melon is a month’s salary. And they were just… mixing them? Like it was nothing nanon?
(Well, at least we’re being welcomed,) I thought, reaching for a second glass. You don’t serve liquid gold to people you’re about to kill.
And the food! It was all brand new – vegetables I’d never seen, sauces that made my tongue dance. But the star of the show was something they called a ‘Burger’⁵. Sweet, salty meat, fresh greens, and melted cheese all tucked into a soft bun.
Clary muttered something about ‘eating with one’s hands’ being barbaric, but we weren’t in the Empire, were we? I dove in headfirst nanon.
Lunch was, quite frankly, a triumph.
—
Summary:
Princess Listarte and her knight attendant Clary successfully enter the Dominion’s manor to seek an audience with the King. While waiting, they are served a lavish lunch featuring ‘Burgers’ and luxury fruit juices that shock them with their extravagance. Meanwhile, the Dominion’s residents observe the Imperial guests, noting their interest in the territory’s technology and impossible construction.
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Character Insight:
Listarte displays a mix of tactical calculation and genuine, childlike wonder, particularly regarding the high-quality food. Clary remains hyper-vigilant, assessing the combat potential of the Dominion’s staff, though she is baffled by the lack of traditional magic casting signs.
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Behind the Scenes:
The introduction of modern culinary items like ‘burgers’ and blended juices serves as a primary indicator of the Dominion’s ‘otherworldliness’ or advanced resource management to the fantasy-world characters.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Listarte – Judiette’s younger half-sister. A fox beastman sorceress and the only Imperial citizen capable of riding the Skygoon. Have long dark hair. Wearing ornate Imperial princess robes with gold trim.
• Sard – Magical Girl version of Liliarette. A-cup, wolf cut hair, class guardian knight. Yellowish-red vibe.
• Clary – A rare beastman sorceress and follower of Judiette. Older than Judiette, she speaks bluntly despite the princess’s status. She has light purple hair split in the middle and reaching down to her waist. She is described as having a large bust and wears dresses with loose necklines.
• Vectra – A Unique Individual maid with white skin and white hair. Height 170cm, Bust Size D. Class: Duelist. Attribute: Darkness. Weapon: Star-Strike Battle Axe Volkein
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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