Vol 3: Chapter 38
I woke up early the next day, and requested the staff at the guesthouse to prepare various things. In other words, I wanted to suit up to meet the Emperor.
Apparently, my requests were not unreasonable at all for the people working at the guesthouse, and they pleasantly accepted it.
Mimino-san cut my hair and used her own special hair styling product. When I asked if there was a store that rented fine clothes fitting for the audience, I was told it can already be found inside the guesthouse. And it’s free! Seems like they had us stay in a really good place.
「Hou… Reiji, you don’t look like an adventurer at all.」
「Is that a compliment?」
「Of course.」
Dante-san had a big smile plastered on his face as I finished getting ready.
The clothes I wore were similar in shape to a tailcoat, but a dark red pattern was embroidered on it… It looked rather avant-garde, but it seems to be a common pattern in Lev people’s traditional ceramic crafts.
(It’s been a long time since I’ve been in formal mode. It’s my loss if I get swallowed up by the enthusiasm.)
I know what this audience means. Since information about us is circulating, the Emperor also probably wants the same.
In other words, it is a place to appeal for Lulusha-san’s quick release.
The audience will not only be attended by the Emperor but also many senior officials and influential people. If we make a mistake, our achievements can be turned into volunteer service—as was often the case with aristocratic interactions in the Kruvan Holy Kingdom. Those guys were wicked to the core.
「Wow! Reiji-kun, you look so cool!」Mimino-san said.
「T-Thank you…」I responded, feeling slightly shy.
「Hoho, you don’t look half bad, bocchan. Even a donkey can look good with the right clothes…is what they call it, right?」
Zerry-san said so with a shit-eating grin. And I responded with a flying kick. …Hmm, these clothes don’t restrict my movements even when flying-kicking someone. Quite the quality workmanship.
「Mufufu, but you know, Reiji-kun. The one you’re escorting, Non, is even more amazing.」Mimino-san said.
「Huh?」
Then the door opened and Non-san appeared from the next room.
The fluttering vivid bright orange dress seemed to perfectly express Non-san’s youthful vitality, and the fine embroidery of frills and the sparkles of small gemstones sewn in a pattern were exactly like that of a noble woman no matter how you looked at her.
I have only ever seen her in a nun attire, so this was something totally unexpected.
「WOOOOOOOW!」
「Wha?!」
Suddenly a howl broke out next to me so I thought it was a dog or something, but it was Dante-san.
「Beautiful! Oh, how beautiful you are, Non! I, I have never done anything to make you look like that until now…!」
Apparently he was surprised to see his daughter look so beautiful, and inadvertently remembered that he had never done what normal a father does for his daughter and started crying.
「Dad, we are usually not allowed to look like this once we enter the church. It’s not just you. It is the same for fathers of every nun.」
The calm Non-san’s retort is too sharp.
(Even so, she looks really good with makeup on.)
Her long hair was braided and wore silver hair ornaments.
Since she never puts on make-up during adventuring, a slight make-up made her look quite matureーoh, right, she’s also already 20 years old…
「W-What do you think, Reiji-kun? Does it look too unnatural…?」
Her bashful appearance was also wonderful. Thank you for the meal.
「It’s perfect.」
「R-Really?」
「It’s perfect.」
「But I’m not used to wearing these clothes…and my dad has always wanted to see me in the spotlight at least once.」
「It’s perfect.」
「…Reiji-kun?」
「It’s perfect.」
「Nahaha, bocchan sounds like a broken automaton–Pugyaa!?」
I delivered another flying kick to Zerry-san. What’s so wrong with calling perfection perfect!
「Alright, then. Dante-san, Mimino-san, I’ll leave Muge-san up to you.」
「You do your best there too. I entrust Non to you.」
「Leave it to me!」
「Wait. Bocchan, what about me!?」
For Zerry-san… there is a suitable place as long as she doesn’t get carried away.
**
After that, Non-san and I got into a magic car and headed to the Imperial Palaceーor, more appropriately, the high-rise building where the Emperor resided.
A lot of cars were parked around a huge site; most likely people who gathered for our audience. What’s more, the citizens also gathered together, so the guards were all in charge of traffic control.
Our car, one cut more remarkable than the rest, arrived at that place.
「That’s a lot of people…」
「It’s going to be fine, Non-san. If you’re imposing, no one would doubt a thing.」
「I-Is that so?」
I tried to reassure Non-san, who seemed to be unusually nervous. As a matter of fact, what I said was not just a simple reassurance, but what Earl Sillys taught me when I was in the Holy Kingdom.
——A way to not get nervous when you appear in front of a large crowd and superior nobles? You have a face that never gets unsettled, but such minor things worry you, huh. Okay, the secret is to be imposing.
It’s strange that the interaction with the Earl feels like it was a long time ago.
Which reminds me, did the Earl reconcile with the young lady? There’s no way he didn’t. He’s an over-doting parent after all. Rather, I feel like he never really fought for real in the first place.
「We have arrived. Please step this way.」
The chauffeur opened the door from the outside. When I got off the car, a loud commotion resounded from the crowd outside.
「Let’s go, Non-san. ーNon-san?」
「C-Can you give me a minute? I am suddenly feeling scared…」
Right. The fact that we are about to meet the Emperor of a foreign country itself is already quite the pressure, but we are also surrounded by such a large crowd to boot. It’s natural to feel scared.
I reached out my hand to Non-san in the car.
「Let’s go, my lady. I shall escort you.」
「!」
「Contrary to my appearance, I do have some experience.」
As I put on my best escort smile, Non-san timidly took my hands in hers.
As if guiding her soft hands, I encouraged her out of the car. Then, a different kind of commotion occurred.
「——Wow! A smoking beautiful woman stepped out.」
「——I can’t believe it! She’s a human… but so beautiful.」
「——Is she a princess from some country?」
Fufufu, a number of gazes is gathering on Non-san. What do you think? Our Non-san is amazing, right?
I stood in front of Non-san and proceeded as I had escorted Lady Eva before.
Newspaper reporters from last night threw questions one after another, but I didn’t know how much was okay to say so I didn’t answer them. The guards held them back.
It felt similar to the red carpet ceremony for the Academy Awards. Though we only walked on a paved road since this is a different world.
As one would expect, the crowd did not follow us into the premises. Abba welcomed us at the entrance.
「You came on time. Hmm, is it only the two of you?」
「Yes. Is there a problem?」
「No, it doesn’t matter.」
We then walked into the building. Inside, a spacious lobby extends way up to the second floor, and vermilion-lacquered pillars engraved with geometrical patterns drawn with gold dust stood close together. Umm, what a bad taste.
While explaining the important points to be careful of in the audience with the Emperor, Abba also didn’t forget to add in idle complaints such as, “Thanks to you, I didn’t get a wink of sleep” or “I can’t bring syrup in here.” I completely disregarded those complaints, and focussed fully on escorting Non-san; like weaving through the spots which are bumpy or too slippery
Non-san does have some make-up on, but her face was almost pale white.
「We have to appear before His Majesty the Emperor after all, don’t we…?」she said in a very thin voice.
「Don’t worry, Non-san. I will do all of the talking, so you just have to stay by my side. If you return to the church in the future, I’m sure you would have to attend celebrations and important ceremonies too. So think of it as a rehearsal for then. You are a beautiful woman, so just your presence is very helpful. Good looks are also a weapon.」
When I praised her with all I could think of, her hand in mine seemed to grip stronger.
「I am sorry for whining. I’ll do my best too.」
She said as her complexion returned to normal.
「But you shouldn’t continuously call a woman “beautiful”, okay? Because she might misunderstand.」she added, as if rebuking.
But those are my true thoughts… Though, I guess it’s okay since Non-san seems to be feeling better?
「Please wait here.」
Eventually, we arrived at a room in the back of the 2nd floor. It was as small as a waiting room, with only small chairs. While sitting down and waiting, I sensed the presence of many people entering on the other side of the thick double doors. Preparations for the audience?
After a while, a staff approached Abba and whispered in his earーalthough the staff was startled when he saw Abba sucking on his thumb due to not having syrup.
「It’s time. The audience will start. From here on, you will be alone, so take care not to be crude.」
「Well, I’ll try.」
That’s a tall order for an adventurer on the road.
I glanced at Non-san, and she nodded confidently in response. We got up from the chair and stood in front of the double door.
Alright, then.
I wonder what the Emperor has to say? For the time being, I just want to focus on getting Lulusha-san released.
I just hope there won’t be any unexpected troubles…
『——The capturer of the Labyrinth of Fear, the adventurer party, Silver Balance, has arrived.』
The door opened accompanying that announcement—a dazzling light that was incomparable to the waiting room shined on us like flooding water.
