I asked again in surprise at Selene’s words. She looked straight at me with serious eyes.
「The value of a Carbuncle lies in the gem on her forehead. The males choose their marriage partners by looking at that gem. A woman whose gem is damaged will be completely ignored by other Carbuncles.」
She pressed the small dagger into my hand.
「Also, it is our custom for Carbuncles to split each other’s gems in half after one of them dies and keep a piece. It is an eternal promise that we will never betray each other, even after death.」
She brushed her bangs up and showed me the gem clearly.
「But…」
「I am prepared for the pain!」
Selene’s eyes remained completely serious as she looked at me.
「I understand. But can we do it another time? I need to properly ask the village elders and Sele-san about permission and any disadvantages first.」
「Yes…」
Selene’s shoulders drooped.
「Besides, I still don’t fully trust my own skill at 100 percent yet…」
I looked at my own hand. I had learned various techniques from Shuuji-san, but I had not yet mastered everything.
「Understood. But please do it soon!」
「Yeah, leave it to me… wait, that sounds weird, doesn’t it…?」
「I’ll be looking forward to it!」
This… I’ll probably need to explain it to Shuuji-san when we get back…
「Oh right. Would you like to train under my master too, Selene?」
「Your master, Yuuki-san?」
「Yeah. Your sword is a larger type called a 【greatsword】 compared to mine. I haven’t learned the greatsword techniques yet either.」
I placed the small dagger back in Selene’s hand and gently stroked the gem on her forehead.
「Will you be training together with me?」
She asked while gripping my clothes.
「Yeah. Since we have the chance, I think I’ll learn too.」
「Then I’ll do it!」
Selene jumped into my arms. As I caught her and felt her body heat, the entrance to the tent opened.
「We’re back～ Oh, looks like everything is fine already.」
「Aah, that’s not fair!」
「Master! Hold me too!」
Amilia and Shia came running over and clung to me. Amilia watched with a wry, resigned smile.
◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆
「Well then… we’ve arrived.」
「Yes…」
Four days later, we crossed the border without any major issues. Spread out before us was the city of Milrose. The sudden appearance of an army of over 7,000 soldiers caused an immediate commotion.
「Yuuki, I brought her.」
Riding beside Amilia was Natalia-san in full armor, accompanied by several escorts.
「It has been a while, Natalia-san.」
「Yes, Holy Knight-sama… or should I call you Demon King-sama now?」
Natalia-san gave a formal salute from horseback. I returned it with a gentle smile.
「What brings you here today leading such a large army?」
Natalia-san’s eyes sharpened as she scanned the surroundings.
「Yes. I have come to pledge my loyalty and direct service to Amilia Filresia, the rightful heir to the Filresia Kingdom.」
At those words, Natalia-san remained calm, but her accompanying soldiers looked shocked and glanced at Amilia in confusion.
「The Saintess is the rightful heir? What exactly do you mean by…」
「It is exactly as it sounds. Amilia is the child left behind by the previous king.」
「In that case, she should possess the Holy Sword!」
「Amilia.」
At my signal, Amilia took the sword that had been hanging from her horse.
「Natalia-san, would you like to draw it?」
「Y-Yes…」
Natalia-san dismounted, accepted the sword from Amilia, and pulled it from the sheath. It looked like an ordinary blade.
「It certainly matches the illustrations from the legends…」
She returned the sword to its sheath and handed it back to Amilia.
「However, according to the legends, the Holy Sword will emit light when drawn by a member of the royal family. I cannot offer my full trust until I see that.」
「Understood. Amilia.」
「Yes… here!」
Amilia drew the sword from its sheath and poured her magic power into it. Light immediately burst forth as the blade began to glow brilliantly.
「This is… Understood. The city of Milrose shall pledge its loyalty to Amilia-sama.」
Natalia-san knelt and bowed her head. Her escort soldiers hurriedly dismounted and lowered their heads as well.
「Thank you, Natalia. We greatly appreciate Milrose’s support.」
「Yes!」
◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆
After that, Natalia-san sent her escort soldiers back to the city to prepare for the march.
「Thank you, Natalia-san. Your acting was excellent.」
「Thank you. I was surprised when you first suggested the performance, but this should fool the king’s agents nicely. They will probably rush to send a report tonight…」
「The news about the rightful heir will likely spread in two or three days. I hope things go smoothly…」
「Do not worry, Demon King-sama. My agents are already prepared to spread the appropriate rumors at the same time.」
「You even arranged that… Thank you so much, Natalia-san.」
「Not at all. It was my husband who suggested it.」
「I see. Then I’ll have to thank Ulberick-san as well…」
While we were talking, Amilia and the others entered the tent.
「Yuuki, Natalia-san and her soldiers are here.」
「Yuuki-sama, the preparations for tonight’s camp are complete. Selene said…」
「Thank you, Amilia, Liliana.」
「Amilia-sama!」
Natalia-san knelt swiftly and bowed her head.
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