Lovisa proudly explained that the Magic Knight Division of the Filat Knights was one of the kingdom’s finest elite units. Marius merely nodded once in response to Lovisa’s introduction.
Marius felt it was rather rude to remain seated inside the carriage, but it was understandable given that he was a guest of honor and a benefactor of the King. In his previous world, there was a saying, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do,” so Marius didn’t object.
(Still, it’s strange that only the Princess can speak the Firmiyan language.)
Marius mused on this as he listened to the King’s exchange with someone who seemed to be the Commander of the Knight Division. He had been greeted by the Commander, but it was in Taliant Language, and Lovisa had translated for him. If the King couldn’t speak it, then perhaps there was no interaction with the Farmia Continent or the Barnam Continent, or maybe Taliant Language was the official language, making it unnecessary to learn. However, the reason why only the Princess could speak it remained unclear. Marius finally realized something.
(I was really overwhelmed.)
His desire to be liked had lowered his guard, and perhaps that had released some pent-up energy, allowing his mind to start working. Realizing this, he felt like laughing at himself for having lost his composure. He hadn’t forgotten the eyes of those around him, so he suppressed his laughter. Bernhard III immediately noticed Marius’s change. Emma and Lovisa did too.
All three were surprised that the oppressive aura emanating from Marius, which felt like it could shatter at any moment, had vanished. Especially right after the Knight Division arrived, a suspicion arose among them: perhaps he had only been on guard against an attack. Thus, unintentionally, things began to turn for the better.
The Magic Knight Division took up positions that seemed to surround the original guards. To prepare for an attack that could come at any moment, they proceeded in shifts, maintaining vigilance with “Detection.” They drank the magic potions they were given on a rotation system. A single knight could only detect within a range of fifty meters at best.
“Detection” was a magic spell with considerable versatility. While its effective range depended on the caster’s skill, with training, one could limit the direction of their search, thereby extending the effective distance in that specific direction. For this reason, it was recommended among the military to narrow the search to a crescent shape, and all members of the Knight Division were capable of this.
However, the guests inside the carriage seemed to be receiving the most attention. It was not ideal for mere soldiers to expend so much mental energy. Was he just a mage who had washed ashore from another continent, or a spy from somewhere? Despite his suspicious nature, the questions were difficult to suppress.
The primary reason Marius was feared to be a spy from another country was Princess Lovisa. Having mastered the Firmiyan language for a certain reason, she discovered that Taliant Language spells were longer. Her assertion that it was better to cast spells in Firmiyan language was initially dismissed. The suggestion that one’s own country’s methods were inferior to those of other countries, let alone other continents, only stirred resentment among those who loved their country. Had she not been a princess, she would likely have faced punishment or harassment.
However, Lovisa did not back down. Concerned about her country’s declining power due to conflicts with demons and other nations, she finally established a technique to shorten incantations in Taliant Language. Even the stubborn patriots had no choice but to acknowledge this as a great feat. The new spells, named “Lovisa-style Spells” and popularized domestically, acted as a brake on the decline of national strength. Lovisa, who was fourteen years old at the time, was hailed as a genius on par with Melinda Guilford, the legendary “Sage” who made magic accessible to the common people. Of course, she had not shortened the incantations for all systems of magic, but even that was seen as a matter of time.
“Lovisa, Daughter of God.”
The people of the Kingdom of Filat called her this and took pride in her. Naturally, information about such a princess spread to other countries. She was already popular for her beauty, but after her talent became known, the number of suitors doubled, and the machinations of those who seemed to be spies appeared in various places.
Therefore, it was crucial to be vigilant regarding the Princess’s safety, but even stricter security would strain the national treasury. A strained treasury would, in turn, endanger the Princess. The Kingdom of Filat found itself caught in such a dilemma. Perhaps the problem with nations was that whenever someone accomplished something, it sparked a new issue. Thus, the people of Filat had become accustomed, for better or worse, to being wary of foreigners. The Wyvern attack and Marius’s appearance were all the more shocking.
The royal capital of the Kingdom of Filat, Royal Capital Filatos. Located almost in the center of the country, it controlled crucial transportation routes and had four gates to the east, west, north, and south. Since its founding, it had never been under attack, so defense was not a high priority.
The convoy, escorted by the Magic Knight Division, now arrived uneventfully at the Royal Capital Filatos. Those who had prepared for battle were surprised, and all except Marius let out a sigh of relief. A summoner would surely know if their familiar had been defeated. Was the lack of a second attack because he could only control six at a time, or did he attack another location? Was he wary of Marius? Or did he have another target? Marius looked towards Filatos, thinking he seemed to have been caught up in a troublesome conspiracy.
The white stone castle walls were about five meters high. While the walls were intact and the gate was firmly shut, it was quiet inside, suggesting that no major damage had been sustained from the attack. They stopped once before the closed city gate, and a soldier requested its opening. The gate opened quickly, and the procession entered.
The first things that caught their eyes were simple wooden houses, a wide cobblestone road wide enough for several carriages to pass, and soldiers armed with helmets, light armor, and spears, as well as heavily armored soldiers with charging spears, longswords, and shields. There were also a few individuals dressed in blue robes and carrying staves, who appeared to be mages. They glanced at Marius and the others for a moment before returning their gaze to the castle walls and the sky above.
Even though they should have recognized the King’s entourage, their almost dismissive attitude made Marius ask. “Is that alright, with the King passing by?” Lovisa replied with a decisive, “It’s wartime. If we stick to courtesies, we can’t respond to enemy attacks.” Marius, impressed by Lovisa’s seemingly sincere attitude, understood why no ordinary citizens were visible.
He discreetly used “Detection” to search, intending to help, but could not cover the entire royal capital. The royal capital seemed to span over five kilometers in radius. Without being able to scan beyond the city limits, any declaration of “no enemies in sight” would be meaningless. He cursed inwardly as he watched the passing scenery.
Here and there, narrow paths, just wide enough for a single carriage, branched off from the main road. The city seemed to be built in a grid pattern. What caught his attention was that the luxury of the houses seemed to increase with each block. Perhaps it was divided by income disparity. As he saw a row of exceptionally large and ornate mansions, he thought, “Could this be the noble district?” Just then, a grand palace came into view directly ahead. It was characterized by its red roof and walls no more than two meters high, giving an impression of simplicity and resilience against years of wind and snow.
(It’s not flashy, but it has a traditional feel. It suits them.)
Given Lovisa and the others’ personalities, it seemed more fitting than ostentatious buildings. The carriage stopped upon entering the royal palace, and several people emerged. The King, who had remained silent until now, opened his mouth. After hearing his words, Lovisa gave a small nod and looked at Marius.
“We would like you to bathe, Marius-sama, and then join us for a banquet. Would that be acceptable?” Marius nodded his head vigorously. He didn’t know how to politely refuse an invitation from royalty, and he also needed to consider his future course of action. He was vaguely aware that he was giving the impression of an ignorant barbarian, so he decided it would be better to gather information. Whatever the King’s intentions, he reasoned that he wouldn’t be assassinated after being invited to a banquet. Marius believed this based on his own common sense, but he was unaware at that moment that exceptions existed. This was the limit of Marius’s knowledge, ignorant of this world’s history.
Marius was led through the royal palace by a middle-aged male attendant. The interior was not flashy but was adorned with countless lamps and expensive furnishings. This was likely to maintain appearances. Marius, with his layman’s eye, estimated that the royal capital was quite large and had a considerable number of soldiers, suggesting a decent level of national strength.
“This way, please.” The dressing room he was shown was large enough to accommodate dozens of people at once, similar to hotels or inns in his previous world, but it was empty at the moment. The attendant could not speak Firmiyan, so Lovisa continued to translate.
“We have prepared clean undergarments for you to use.” After saying this, the attendant and Lovisa withdrew. It was then that Marius remembered he hadn’t washed his undergarments since arriving. He had bathed in the lake, but he wasn’t sure if he smelled. And he wondered, was Lovisa the only one who could speak Firmiyan in the royal palace as well?
