Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: The High Elf's Audience
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Yuris headed to the Imperial Palace with Reina.
Under the shining sun, the Sun Palace gleamed radiantly in golden light.
Reina had worn a dazed expression the entire way there, like something was off with her.
*What's wrong with her?*
The bold attitude where she'd deliberately stuck close to Yuris had vanished. Now, she kept a slight distance and simply followed along.
"Reina-nim, is something the matter?"
"What do you mean?"
"Your speech today is different from usual."
"Huh? What are you talking about...?"
"You're using casual language."
At Yuris's words, Reina panicked and tapped her own mouth.
"D-Did I? Really?"
"Yes. You've been doing it up until just now."
"S-Sorry. I didn't sleep much last night, so I must've been confused for a bit. You just seem so approachable, like an old friend or something."
Something's definitely up.
Yuris watched as Reina retreated in embarrassment.
"Let's head in for now. Once we're inside, please be mindful of your behavior. Even if it's uncomfortable, try to follow human customs."
"Got it. I have that much patience."
Yuris repeatedly warned her against breaches of etiquette.
She must kneel upon first meeting Her Majesty the Empress.
She must keep her head bowed until the Empress calls for her.
She could only speak to the Empress after Her Majesty had finished talking.
She must not approach the Empress without permission.
And various other protocols besides.
"Alright. Honestly, as an elf, I don't want to do any of this, but since I'm a guest in your country, I'll manage. Just don't expect me to kneel."
"Why not?"
"Elves don't kneel to anyone but the World Tree."
"...Understood. Her Majesty will forgive that much."
She seems normal again at a glance.
Yet a strange sense of unease about Reina enveloped Yuris.
"Let's go in."
Yuris dismissed the guards and knights who greeted her and led the way to the Empress.
Her heart felt a bit heavy because she'd delayed a visit she should have made yesterday.
*I need to wrap this up as quickly as possible and take it easy tomorrow.*
If she could get time off, maybe she could visit Max?
Her chest swelled with anticipation at the thought of some rest.
"Inform Her Majesty that I've brought Reina, the High Elf guardian of the Elf Forest, who has come as an envoy."
"Understood."
After the message was relayed inside, the doors soon opened.
An invitation to enter.
Yuris entered with Reina.
In the vast throne room, the Empress sat at the center, handling affairs. Her gaze turned to Yuris and Reina.
Yuris dropped to one knee, while Reina bowed her head.
Her golden hair flowed like light itself.
The Empress's blond locks, a symbol of nobility, shone brilliantly.
Gazing down at Yuris and Reina with her pale pink eyes, the Empress slowly spoke.
"Welcome, envoy of the elves. I've been eagerly awaiting your arrival."
"I've wanted to meet you too. The ruler of the inferior species, that is."
Reina lifted her head and met the Empress's eyes without flinching.
"Inferior species. How very elven of you."
"Was I wrong? Humans are nothing but lowly inferior races compared to elves."
The embarrassed demeanor she'd shown Yuris moments ago was gone. Now, she stared up at the Empress with sparkling eyes.
"I have no interest in pointless arguments. You've kept your borders closed all this time, only to suddenly send an envoy—what's your intent? I assumed the council of elders would come. A High Elf, though... Is the forest in danger again? Should I send reinforcements like last time?"
Even as the Empress disparaged the elves—who still acted superior despite the empire's past aid—Reina responded calmly.
"No need. Thanks to you, the Elf Forest has entered a golden age."
"Reconstruction seems to have gone well."
"Thanks to Yuris-nim here and the Hero."
Reina avoided naming the Empress to the end.
Yuris watched.
The Empress swallowing her anger at the High Elf's refusal to acknowledge the imperial ruler, even after accepting human aid.
Her expression didn't change, but the aura emanating from her shifted completely.
"If your envoy's purpose is mere boasting, you can leave now. You must be tired from the long journey."
"As if. Do you think I'd come all this way for something so trivial?"
"You didn't?"
Reina pulled a small box and a scroll from her bosom.
"...What's that?"
"A proposed treaty and a gift from the Elf Forest. We're now opening the borders we closed for reconstruction and seeking limited exchange."
At the Empress's gesture, Yuris took the scroll from Reina and delivered it.
Opening the box first, the Empress's eyes gleamed.
"Isn't this a World Tree Tear?"
"Correct. It's our gift to the human ruler."
"You're just giving away a World Tree Tear?"
"We elves never forget a debt, unlike humans."
"...How intriguing."
World Tree Tear.
A beautiful elven gem sparkling with blue light.
Not only mesmerizing to behold, it contained dense, pure mana, making it priceless.
To create one, the sacred dew revered by elves—gathered from the World Tree's leaves each morning—was needed.
The sediment from decades of dew collected at the base of the sacred chalice absorbed the World Tree's fresh power over years, forming this treasure.
Even among elves, it was so precious that only the council chairman or a High Elf could wear one.
Had the lavish gift softened her?
The Empress's expression eased somewhat from the start.
Others might see no difference, but Yuris could tell.
The subtle shift hidden in that impassive face.
The Empress calmly unrolled the treaty.
After reading it briefly, the corners of her mouth twitched upward.
"It's surprising enough that elves would offer such generous terms to inferior humans."
"Exactly."
"What's the reason?"
"...Originally, I planned to request Yuris-nim—who protected me—as my escort for a tour of the empire."
"I'm afraid that's impossible. Lady Yuris has far too vital duties to spare for personal matters."
Reina nodded as if she'd expected the firm refusal.
"I figured as much. So now, I'm proposing something else."
"Something else?"
"I'd like to stay in the empire for a while. Provide me with your finest guards and accommodations during my stay."
"You're making such a personal demand?"
"Is that a problem?"
"It's not impossible, but for a people who claim such nobility, it's remarkably self-serving."
Reina shrugged as if it were only natural.
"I've worked nonstop for years on forest reconstruction without a break. A few days of indulgence won't hurt."
"I see. Very well. You'll have the empire's finest guards and facilities."
Yuris was somewhat taken aback by Reina's words.
*Reina compromised on her demands?*
In just one day?
Yuris had sensed how stubborn Reina was while traveling together.
Everything had to revolve around her.
And she'd shown odd interest in Yuris the whole way.
Impossible to miss.
She'd deliberately delayed entering the palace, insisting on spending more time together, clinging to her side.
And now this Reina had bent?
Something had been off since morning.
*She really heard about it.*
Clearly, she'd learned what happened at Max's shop.
But Max had definitely said...
*It'll never leak out.*
Unless...
*Max didn't say anything...?*
No way.
Not only was he skilled, Max was a man who kept his word.
*No chance.*
It couldn't be.
The brief audience ended, and Reina rose.
"Yuris, hand High Elf Reina over to the guards who will attend her."
"Understood."
Yuris led Reina out of the throne room.
The moment they stepped outside, Reina clicked her tongue.
"Not as beautiful as I expected."
"Pardon? What do you—"
"The Empress. She's not beautiful."
"I can't overlook an insult to Her Majesty."
"That's not what I meant. That woman lacks your sublime nobility and purity."
"...Pardon?"
Reina glanced back at the throne room doors before speaking again.
"How to put it... She's like a human overflowing with desires. Unlike you, with your noble power, she's filled with some inscrutable lust."
"..."
"Like that illusion mage from before."
"The illusion mage...?"
"The man named Max."
No way.
Her Majesty the Empress was the most noble of all, laboring solely for the empire.
Desires?
*Even if I think highly of Max's abilities...*
He was hardly a good person, honestly.
Talented and charming, sure.
What was it?
A capable bad boy?
He was a type she'd never encountered before.
*Impressive in many ways...*
Thinking of Max made her heart race uncontrollably.
No matter how favorably she viewed him, Yuris couldn't accept comparing the Empress to him.
"Her Majesty thinks only of her imperial subjects. She is greatness incarnate."
She'd forsaken all personal happiness.
—I am wed to the nation. Until the empire stabilizes, I shall have no one at my side.
—If you wish to be my consort, you must be strong enough to best me.
She'd imprisoned her own desires.
Reina didn't press her opinion further against Yuris's rebuttal.
"Of course, that's just how she appears to me. Humans might see her differently."
This wasn't like Reina either.
In their brief meetings, she'd always been unwaveringly consistent.
"Reina-ssi."
Yuris placed a hand on Reina's shoulder and asked.
"Eek!"
Reina jolted in surprise and looked up at her, flinching.
"Did something happen yesterday?"
"W-What would have happened? Nothing at all."
Finishing her words, Reina hurriedly stepped back.
"I'll be off then. Th-Thanks."
Yuris watched Reina's fleeing back.
*Something's definitely wrong.*
Something had surely happened last night.
What could it be?
The most likely culprit was a visit to Max's illusion shop.
*No way.*
It had to be nothing.
***
"Ugh."
Finishing my work, I stretched to loosen my stiff body.
"Feels like extra today. Maybe I can finally rest."
As I sighed in relief and wrapped up...
Knock knock knock.
A customer?
Ah, I just said the one thing you should never say when you're about to rest.