We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
The Twin Princesses and the Head Miko are adventurers and companions.
Since it would be rude for us not to introduce ourselves after the Head Miko has done so, we will introduce ourselves in turn.
At that time, when Lyra greeted her, the Head Miko, Madrine, did not react in any special way. Perhaps the Head Miko is not aware of the circumstances surrounding that matter?
Regardless, when introducing ourselves, I declared myself as the Dragon King, and Mistral introduced herself as the Dragon Princess of the Dragon Race.
I quickly thought to myself, “Why did Madrine know about our titles?” Since Ruiseine had said she told them everything, I assumed she relayed our statuses as well.
“So, why are you here, Head Miko?”
This is a genuine question.
If she is the Head Miko of the Royal Capital, she is undoubtedly the highest-ranking miko in charge of all the temples within the Yorttenitos Kingdom. Therefore, I assumed she would normally be in the Great Shrine in the Royal Capital, not a small shrine within the Royal Castle.
“Hohoho. You are quite sharp, Elnea-sama.”
What is it? I have a preconceived notion that a Head Miko would be a pure and noble being, but Madrine gives me nothing but a sense of incongruity.
Is it because she looks like a young woman? Or is it her haughty laugh? Or perhaps her casual responses and friendly demeanor?
…I see. So, it’s an overall impression.
“Meow.”
The first thing that comes to my mind when I hear “Head Miko” is the Head Miko of the Armēdo Kingdom’s Royal Capital. I’ve only seen her during the New Year and other major events, but she’s a gentle woman with a composed demeanor full of love. Is it because she’s the opposite of that that I feel this incongruity?
“It’s troubling to be stared at by gentlemen.”
I hastily avert my gaze from Madrine, who is wriggling her body bashfully.
Damn it. I stared for too long.
“Elnea?”
“Elnea-kun?”
“Elnea-sama?”
“Elnea, Older Brother?”
The accusing glances from the women sting.
And Priscilla-chan, you want to play, don’t you? You’ve come to a strange place, and you desperately want to play, but you’re holding back – that strong feeling is overflowing from your upturned eyes.
“When you calm down, I’ll play with you a lot.”
“Really?”
“Really. Let’s play a lot together with Ares-chan.”
“Promise!”
“Yes, promise.”
Madrine watched our exchange between Priscilla-chan and me with a smile.
It’s not like I changed the subject to have a conversation with Priscilla-chan because I couldn’t stand the piercing gazes from Mistral and the others.
Really? So, please stop giving me those accusatory looks, okay?
“Meow.”
Nimia, while glancing at me occasionally, munched on the sweets on the table, meowing in agreement. Seeing that, Priscilla-chan also seemed to want to eat sweets and moved away from me to join Nimia.
I felt the atmosphere in the room finally soften with that heartwarming scene.
“Ah, if only the royalty and high officials were gentle people like Elnea-sama and the others.”
Madrine smiled, having observed Nimia and Priscilla-chan eating sweets, and the lack of anger or irritation in Mistral and the others’ gazes towards me.
“I came here on business, but I’m being hindered by the Royal Family. I’m inevitably waiting here.”
What could the Head Miko’s business be? Even nobles and royalty should show consideration to the clergy.
“Putting my own problems aside, Elnea-sama and the others are here for the Temple’s assistance, aren’t you?”
“Yes. That’s right.”
I’m curious about Madrine’s business, but I’ll hold back. I won’t do anything reckless like interfering in matters between the country and the Temple.
At Madrine’s prompting, I pleaded with her to mediate the alleged abduction of the Twin Princesses.
Although Ruiseine had said she was already making progress, I felt I had to speak for myself.
After listening to my entire plea, Madrine asked a single question.
“You can swear to the Goddess that you are innocent, can’t you?”
“Yes. I can swear.”
Madrine nodded with satisfaction at my immediate answer.
“Understood. I accept Elnea-sama’s plea.”
Madrine’s reply seemed to lighten my heart a little. It felt like I had been unconsciously feeling distressed by my current situation.
With Madrine, the Head Miko herself, agreeing to mediate, we immediately began planning to demand an opportunity for objection and defense from the Royal side.
“I don’t think there’s any need to rush,” Madrine said, smiling as she watched us start to bustle about.
As I wondered what she meant, someone knocked on the room door and a miko entered.
“Head Miko, we have visitors.”
She said this and awaited Madrine’s permission.
“Oh, they’re here sooner than I expected.”
With Madrine’s permission, two women with identical, curled silver hair and a man with a dejected expression entered the room.
“Elnea-kun is here.”
“He really is here.”
As soon as they entered, the Twin Princesses rushed towards me.
“Hey! Are you Priscilla-chan?!” I complained while buried in their chests, but no words came out. It was painful!
“Yufi, Older Sister, my butt was touched.”
“Ninia, mine too.”
No, it wasn’t. I was just signaling that it was painful and to let go, and my butt just happened to touch yours. It was unavoidable.
“Yufi. Ninia. Be mindful of your surroundings right now.”
“You two are so unfair!”
“Oh dear, oh dear. You two, you’re in front of the Head Miko. How unseemly.”
Of the three’s words, Ruiseine’s seemed to have the most effect. The Twin Princesses released me and, with a practiced demeanor, greeted Madrine.
“Yufi-sama. Ninia-sama. It’s been a while since your inauguration ceremony, hasn’t it?”
“It has. That the tomboyish miko became the highest-ranking is mysterious.”
“It is. I was surprised that the one I thought least suited to be Head Miko was appointed.”
It seems the Twin Princesses and Madrine know each other. Furthermore, they seem to have a rather close and deep relationship.
“You two chose Elnea-sama, not Prince Grave.”
“We were already being approached by him without our consent.”
“We like Elnea-kun.”
Mistral interrupted the three, who were about to start a pleasant chat, with a cough.
“I’d prefer if we could postpone reminiscing about reunions. So, why are Yufi and Ninia here?”
In response to Mistral’s question, the Twin Princesses pointed to the man standing glumly in the corner of the room.
Yes, I recognize that look.
“We were informed by a miko that Elnea-kun was here. So, we brought this traitor.”
“To use a princess as bait while being an ambassador for the Armēdo Kingdom, that’s quite the nerve.”
The person thrust forward by the Twin Princesses and made to stand in the center of the room was the ambassador from the Armēdo Kingdom.
The very person who fabricated charges against me and created the wanted poster.
“Now, tell us the truth.”
“Now, cancel the wanted poster.”
Threatened by the Twin Princesses, the ambassador’s face was drenched in sweat as he looked around.
The room wasn’t very large. Around the ambassador were Madrine, the Head Miko; Ruiseine; Lyra; Mistral; me; and the Twin Princesses.
“We were not kidnapped or abducted.”
“First of all, on whose word did you decide Elnea-kun was a criminal and create a wanted poster?”
The Twin Princesses, uncharacteristically, raised their eyebrows.
“Th-that is because…”
I already know. It was Prince Grave, wasn’t it? He even said so himself in the courtyard.
“What evidence did you have to call Elnea-kun a criminal?”
“How do you intend to take responsibility for disregarding our words and being partly responsible for the commotion in the plaza?”
Under the Twin Princesses’ intense pressure, the ambassador crumbled.
“I-I apologize!”
The ambassador prostrated himself.
“I was instructed by the Prince…”
“You are the ambassador of the Armēdo Kingdom. Why are you following the instructions of a prince from the Yorttenitos Kingdom?”
“Th-that is…”
“One of an ambassador’s duties is to protect the citizens of Armēdo visiting the Yorttenitos Kingdom. To disregard that and hand over an innocent citizen…”
“B-but. I heard he was a wicked individual who kidnapped and abducted the Princesses…”
“How does Elnea-kun look like a wicked person to you?”
“Did you create a wanted poster based solely on the Prince’s testimony, without any evidence?”
“Th-that is…”
Unable to offer a proper response, the ambassador could only prostrate himself.
The Twin Princesses continued to shower the ambassador with harsh words, cornering him. Finally, they approached the prostrate ambassador and confirmed.
“We were not kidnapped or abducted by Elnea-kun. We are saying so ourselves, so there is no mistake, correct?”
“Y-yes. As you say.”
“The wanted poster is a mistake, right? Elnea-kun is not a criminal.”
“Yes. That is exactly right. It was my mistake.”
“Then, you will withdraw the wanted poster, won’t you?”
“Of course!”
“And you will approve of us marrying Elnea-kun, won’t you?”
“As the Princesses say. I approve of the marriage… Huh!?”
Twin Princesses, what are you trying to get approved amidst this chaos!
The ambassador, narrowly realizing the content of the Princesses’ words, raised his face with a strained expression.
We were initially impressed by our princely behavior, and watched with admiration, but finally, our knees buckled.
As expected of the Twin Princesses. They are either shrewd or never let their guard down.
At any rate, one of the suspicions against me was cleared by the ambassador, who had issued the wanted poster, admitting his mistake.
The ambassador completed the paperwork for the withdrawal of the wanted poster and issued a formal apology to me on the spot.
As a result, I am now in a position where I will not be apprehended by the Yorttenitos Kingdom as a criminal.
However, there is still one more accusation: that I colluded with the tyrant and interfered with the wyvern hunt. However, since there is no clear charge or evidence, it remains merely a suspicion. Prince Grave had approached me in the plaza, but he did not mention any crimes related to that matter, and the wanted poster was solely for the abduction and kidnapping of the Twin Princesses.
Even so, it’s understandable that those involved in the wyvern hunt might see me, who brought the tyrant, as a dangerous person. I am aware of that and brought him.
And the reason for bringing the tyrant will become clear when I meet the important figures of this country.
For now, the most important thing was to have the wanted poster withdrawn and to obtain an opportunity to interact with the people of this country not as a criminal, but as someone from Dragon Peak.
With a sigh of relief, I naturally let out a breath.
One problem has been solved, and it’s time to move on to the next.
Next, I want to meet Friel and learn about the current situation in the kingdom. I ultimately want to pay my respects to the King, but if the country is in turmoil, it won’t be possible.
It feels like an abnormal situation for Friel, who has just returned and brought Yugra, to be confined. However, Friel is the only person in this country who can be our ally. I have to find a way to contact him.
However, will contacting Friel involve us in some trouble? I’m starting to wonder about that now.
Having had my innocence proven by the Twin Princesses and now being a visitor from Dragon Peak, and with the Head Miko Madrine willing to cooperate, perhaps I can question Prince Grave about why he created a wanted poster for me and had me captured? And will he listen to my story properly?
Although I might get involved in trouble, should I contact Friel? Or should I confront Prince Grave about this commotion and convey our reason for visiting to achieve our goal?
If I were to fully respect Mistral and the others’ words of “refrain,” canceling the visit to the King would be the best option… but I don’t want to do that.
Now, which of the several options is the correct one? As I was contemplating, the area outside the room suddenly became noisy.
“P-please wait. The Head Miko is staying in the room ahead.”
“I know that. Let me pass, I don’t care.”
A miko’s flustered voice, and then a male voice I recognize.
As we stared at the room door, wondering what was happening, the door was flung open.
“Madeline-dono, forgive my intrusion. Yufilia and Ninia are here…”
Prince Grave, dressed in luxurious blue attire, entered the room with minimal courtesy. Then his eyes widened as he saw me.
“You! Why are you here!!”
