Chapter 120 - 2‐2
"What! Has the daughter of the Marquis of Marcel truly tasted our country's specialty?"
"Yes. I heard a rare fruit had arrived at the market in the Marcel Territory once. It was so sweet and succulent that it truly surprised me. I still find myself reminiscing about it even now."
"Those fruits spoil quickly, making them difficult to export to other countries. However, if you've taken such a liking to them, I shall certainly arrange for them again."
"Oh, truly!"
During this pleasant conversation, Louis-sama and I were making our rounds, greeting the royalty and ambassadors invited from neighboring countries. Louis-sama had sent me the guest list in advance so I could review it. Thanks to that, I had been able to memorize the necessary information beforehand, allowing our conversations to flow smoothly. With Louis-sama's natural support, everything had proceeded without a single issue so far.
"That minister seems to have taken quite a liking to you," Louis-sama whispered, leaning close to my ear as we stepped away from the foreign minister we had been speaking with. I tilted my head, looking up at His Highness as he narrowed his eyes in a gentle smile.
"Is that so?"
"He is a man who usually finds it difficult to break his stern expression. Today, his glass was emptied quickly, and it's rare to see him in such high spirits."
"You truly observe everyone around you so closely, Louis-sama. I must learn from your example."
To think he even noticed the speed at which the minister's glass was emptied. Louis-sama's situational awareness was truly astonishing. Moreover, while he praised me, it was Louis-sama who had guided the conversation to topics I could easily share with the ambassador.
He truly is a remarkable man.
As I gazed at Louis-sama's profile with admiration, he scanned the entire venue.
"Now... next is... ah. It seems they've finished speaking with the Queen."
Following Louis-sama's gaze, I saw two men bowing to the Lady Queen.
"That gentleman is..."
"Ah, he is the Third Prince of the neighboring Kingdom of Orta. The man with him is likely his subordinate, Count Baraja."
So that was Prince Isaac Orta. He was the Lady Queen's nephew and, if I recalled correctly, a member of the knights' order. In the neighboring country, His Majesty the King had yet to designate a Crown Prince. However, Prince Isaac reportedly had no interest in the throne; rumors suggested he would renounce his royal status in a few years and be granted a dukedom instead.
"I hear he rarely appears in social circles, so I've only greeted him a few times during my visits to the neighboring country, but his skill with a sword is said to be quite formidable."
Louis-sama placed a hand on my waist and provided this supplementary explanation as we walked toward Prince Isaac.
"Ah, it seems they've noticed us as well."
When I looked up, a dignified man with neatly styled, reddish-purple hair and sharp eyes narrowed in amusement turned his gaze toward us. A strong will emanated from his cool eyes, and his posture suggested a slender yet thoroughly trained physique.
"Please forgive our late greetings. Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince, My Lady. Congratulations on this auspicious day."
"Thank you for coming today. This is my fiancée, Lady Rachel, daughter of the Marquis of Marcel."
"I am Rachel Marcel. It is a pleasure to meet you."
In response to my greeting, Prince Isaac placed a hand over his heart, lowering his sharp eyes.
"It is an honor to meet the Dark Saint."
Earlier, His Majesty had officially announced that I had received a blessing from the Dark Spirit King. While everyone had expressed surprise at this fact and offered their congratulations, it was also true that some foreign representatives seemed less than pleased that the Kingdom of Dutoit was gaining more power, especially since a Saint of Light had already been born. Prince Isaac was royalty from Orta, the country Louis-sama was most wary of. Yet, in his gaze, I saw interest in me, or rather, in the Dark Saint. I felt no malice there.
"I found it hard to believe you had received a blessing from the Dark Spirit King. However, seeing you in person, I understand. I am quite surprised by a beauty that exceeds all my expectations."
Prince Isaac turned to the man beside him, Count Baraja, as if seeking agreement. "Don't you agree?" The Count offered a gentle smile. "Yes, truly."
"Oh, if I say such things in front of her fiancé, even His Royal Highness the Crown Prince might take offense."
Prince Isaac raised an eyebrow playfully, perhaps sensing the momentary tightening of Louis-sama's arm around my waist. He seemed to be enjoying the reaction, almost as if he were being provocative. However, Louis-sama brushed off the atmosphere with a beautiful smile.
"Not at all. Hearing my fiancée praised makes me as happy as if the praise were for myself."
I felt my cheeks flush slightly as I looked up at Louis-sama, who spoke with such certainty. As if seeing right through me, Louis-sama turned his face toward mine, his smile deepening even further.
"You two seem to get along quite well. It seems the future peace of the Kingdom of Dutoit is all but guaranteed."
"We shall strive to make it so."
To an onlooker, Louis-sama and Prince Isaac likely appeared to be enjoying a pleasant conversation. Yet, for some reason, I couldn't help but feel as though a cold wall stood between them.
While mindful of the tension, I occasionally joined the conversation with a smile. Suddenly, Prince Isaac rested his hand on his chin, dropping his gaze to the floor as if lost in thought.
"Still... darkness, is it?"
"Is something the matter?"
When I questioned his muttered words, Prince Isaac looked up with a serious expression. "Ah, my apologies."
"No, it's just... a blessing of darkness in the Kingdom of Dutoit... I was quite surprised when I heard the news."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I was under the impression that neither spirits of darkness nor the Dark Spirit King resided within the Kingdom of Dutoit."
No spirits of darkness in this country?
Of course, I knew that I was likely the only one in this country contracted with a spirit of darkness. However, it piqued my curiosity that Prince Isaac accepted the existence of dark spirits so naturally. When my contract was first announced, it was accepted on the surface, but I knew it had caused considerable confusion behind the scenes. It wouldn't be strange for those rumors to reach the neighboring country. But Prince Isaac's phrasing was different, it was as if he had accepted the existence of dark spirits and the Dark Spirit King from the very beginning.
Perhaps...
"Does that mean you were already aware of the existence of spirits of darkness?"
Could it be that Prince Isaac had known all along? The truth about dark spirits was something I couldn't find no matter how many books I searched through in this country. Although I had become able to use a small amount of power, much remained a mystery, and I had no way of knowing the full extent of my abilities. Even though I had been given a blessing, I didn't know if I would ever meet the Spirit King again, and I couldn't speak with Kuro now that we were away from the Spirit Land.
If there was someone who held a clue... The thought made a cold sweat break out, and my heart began to race. Prince Isaac must have noticed my confusion, for he turned his gaze toward me with a meaningful smile.
"Are you curious?"
I caught my breath as Prince Isaac's gaze intensified.