Chapter 125 - 2-7
"Welcome. We are honored by your presence."
"Prince Isaac, thank you for coming all this way to meet us," Louis-sama replied.
"The Dark Saint herself has graced our kingdom. There is no greater honor than this."
Prince Isaac, who met us upon our arrival in the Kingdom of Orta, wore deep green knight's attire. He exuded an even more overwhelming sense of strength than when we had met at the ball. His bright smile appeared friendly and sincere, so much so that one might inadvertently lower their guard if not careful.
"I imagine you are busy with preparations for the banquet. I was surprised that Your Highness would guide us personally. You have my sincere gratitude."
"Not at all. I was the one who insisted. More than anything, this is the first time the daughter of Marquis Marcel has visited our country. I would be delighted if you could see and learn as much as possible about the wonders of this land."
Louis-sama took a step forward, approaching Prince Isaac with a smile. The prince raised an eyebrow in amusement.
"Somehow, those two don't seem to get along very well," Theodore-sama whispered, leaning close to my ear as he watched them discuss the upcoming schedule.
I turned toward him to find him resting his chin in his hand, wearing a strangely entertained grin. Noticing my gaze, he quirked the corner of his mouth. "I hope we can make it home without any major incidents," he joked.
Looking at Theodore-sama, I recalled a conversation we had on the way to this country.
"Theodore-sama, have you ever visited the Kingdom of Orta?"
"Ah, a few times. After you contracted with the black cat, you were looking into dark spirits, weren't you? I had a hunch, so I did quite a bit of digging into Orta myself."
"Is that so?! Did you know there was a connection between Orta and the dark spirits?"
"No, I had no proof or certainty. But it did make me wonder why they went to such lengths to hide the existence of darkness."
In a situation where no information could be found within the Kingdom of Dutoit, Theodore-sama had still sensed the connection. With him by my side, I might be able to uncover clues or information I would otherwise miss. Furthermore, why had they revealed a secret they had kept hidden for so long? There were so many things to be cautious of, and just as many things I wanted to know.
As I lost myself in thought, Theodore-sama let out a soft breath.
"Lady Rachel, don't be so tense. If you're too stiff, you'll end up missing what's right in front of you. It's better to take it easy."
As if reading my mind, he gave my shoulder a gentle, reassuring pat and smiled.
"You're right... It is just as you say. Overthinking is one of my bad habits."
"I can never tell if you're cautious or bold. Watching you is never boring; it's quite fun, actually."
I blinked in surprise at his words, wondering what he meant. Just then, Louis-sama and Prince Isaac finished their conversation and turned toward us.
"Lady Rachel, are you tired from the journey?"
"No, I am fine. Thank you for your concern, Prince Isaac."
"Then, as planned, I shall give you a brief tour of the palace."
The festivities would last for three days starting the day after tomorrow, filled with tea parties, dinners, and balls. Once they began, opportunities for private conversation with Prince Isaac would dwindle. There would likely be almost no time on the final day. I needed to take every chance I could to hear more about dark magic from him. Fortunately, he had offered to show us the palace, and I had gladly accepted.
"What will you do, Crown Prince? If you wish to rest, your room is ready."
"No, I shall accompany you, of course."
"...I see."
Despite the polite words exchanged between Louis-sama and Prince Isaac, a chilly wind seemed to blow between them. Seeing this, Theodore-sama merely whispered, "See?" He then politely informed Prince Isaac that he would decline the tour and promptly turned on his heel to depart.
"Well then, shall we go?"
"Yes. Rachel, the interior of Orta's palace is similar to our own, yet you can feel the difference in culture. Prince Isaac, we truly appreciate you guiding us yourself."
"Not at all. The Crown Prince has visited several times, so I imagine there isn't much here that is new to him."
"Haha, that is not true. One can be moved by something wonderful no matter how many times they see it."
To an outsider, it looked like a peaceful exchange between the royalty of neighboring nations, but the air remained frozen. The deeper the smiles of Louis-sama and Prince Isaac became, the more the coldness intensified.
Wait, is the atmosphere going to be like this for the entire stay?
As I walked with Louis-sama, following behind Prince Isaac, I had to struggle to keep my own smile from twitching.