'What are you doing, Ezell? You need to say hello, too.
...... Huh?

　Hearing the name and looking at the face of the girl who turned even more reluctantly, I felt compelled to praise myself for not raising my voice out loud.

　The girl who was scolded by His Majesty was none other than the brave Ezell.

''Eh ...... uh ...... it's nice to meet you, Luke White Wolf-sama ......?''
What is it, Ezell? You haven't told me who you are, have you?
'Ugh ...... missed the opportunity and went straight to the inevitable ......'

　Ezell, dressed in her princess-like costume, was swimming her gaze from side to side, slumbering as Her Majesty Alfred asked her a question.

　I remained on my knees, speechless, looking up at the unbelievable scene.

　I had guessed that she and her brother Eddie came from a family of some high status, but I didn't think it was a royal family.

　No, there was another issue that should be more of a concern.

　Ezell had said the other day that he knew of the amount of work that the White Wolf Knights were about to undertake and that he would arrange for a meeting of all the knight leaders involved to meet together through his family's home.

　As a result of that, today's meeting of the knight leaders was held.

　I had assumed that Ezell's parent's nobleman must have contacted His Majesty, but I didn't think it was a direct line to His Majesty.

　Moreover, Ezell had made another promise to Garnett at that time--

"Luke White Wolf. "Luke Whitewolf," he said, "I intend to fulfill the promise Ezell made to your man Garnet Argentia. In light of the contributions you have made, it would be unbecoming of a king to give me a special sword.
Oh, thank you, thank you.

　I can feel the sweat beading down my spine.

　That's right - Ezell had promised Garnett that he would expedite a sword that would be the material (base) for a new weapon.

　That too, I thought the other party would be someone from the nobility, so I didn't take it as an exaggeration yet.

　I thought it was at the level of being able to get an introduction to an excellent blacksmith through my nobleman's contacts or something like that.

　However, if it was a 'request' from the princess to His Majesty the King, the story is completely different.

''Well, I can't spend too much time here and now, but ...... do you have anything to say to me?''

　His Majesty the King speaks to the Queen seated next to him.

'Yes, at ......, Alma Argentia.'
Yes, sir.

　The queen looked not at me, but at Garnett.

"The adventurer may have a look on their face that says 'I am calm and accurate in my judgment,' but at a fundamental level, they can't control their sense of adventure. Otherwise, they wouldn't have become adventurers in the first place.
'Hahaha!　That hurts my ears!

　With that word, His Majesty laughs vigorously and Garnett smiles as he looks up at the queen.

　I'm the only one who's not in the mood, and apparently Garnett is used to meeting His Majesty and the Queen from this distance.

　Is it because he is a member of the famous knight's Argentean family, or does he perhaps recognize them as his friend's (Ezer) parents?

'It may be one of the virtues of waiting for them to return in good health, but I'm sure you're not as content with that as I am.
...... Yes, you may be right.
Then don't be shy. Just be there for him as best you can. I'm sure you have the strength to do so, and I will help you to do so to the best of my ability.
Thank you, Your Majesty, first of all.

　Garnett smiles and bows her head reverently.

　It's hard to imagine from his or her usual demeanor, but it's Garnett who also appropriately wears knightly behavior.

　However, if you listen to just the tone of voice, it was a very elegant and harmonious exchange, but for some reason, I don't know why, but I think the point of the remarks was always in my direction.

Hmm, it's about time. Do you have any last words, Ezell?
In ......, it's .......

　Ezell made a small coughing gesture, then leaned forward lightly in his chair and muttered in a serious voice loud enough for only us to hear.

'Please don't tell everyone else: ......!　I usually always end up estranged from them when their identities are revealed: ......!　Garnett is an exception: ......!

　The gestures and expressions were even strangely comical, but it seems that Ezell has his own sincere worries.

　If your true identity is exposed, you will become estranged, in other words, even if you conceal your identity as a princess and become close to her, if her identity is known, you will experience a psychological barrier.

　And Garnett is the only one who knows all of the secrets of each other, and she's still acting the same way she always has.

　It's no wonder that Ezer is so good to Garnett.

''Awe, Your Highness.
Hey ......!
You'd rather be treated as a friend of Garnett's than called ....... Look forward to seeing you back in Green Hollow, brave soul.
You don't freak me out at all, do you?

　After whispering to each other in a whisper with Ezell, I turned to His Majesty the King and the Queen once again and bowed while kneeling and left His Majesty's presence.

　At that moment, it must not have been my imagination that the two of them seemed to be smiling happily as parents.





'...... hahaha ...... I thought I was going to die ......'

　As soon as I left their Majesties' presence and returned to the sea of people filling the great hall, I let out a deep breath of relief.

　I thought to myself that I was getting used to the audience, but a place where such a dignified attitude was required is a completely different thing.

　If I was just meeting His Majesty in a place where no one else is watching, I could act without becoming too stiff, partly because of His Majesty's dynamic and generous personality.

　However, when you have an audience in a place like this where you don't know who is watching you, my rudeness will not be easily overlooked.

I think you did a good job. I think you did it right.
...... or you, I mean you, I've never heard of Ezell being a princess.
I didn't say that. He's the one who asked me to do it. He asked me not to tell anybody, not just Luke. Not until he told me himself. Do you want an explanation?
No, ...... doesn't matter. I've got a good idea.

　I'm not going to feel bad that Ezell and Garnett were hiding the truth from me.

　I could have convinced them that it was an unavoidable circumstance to do so, and I would have done the same thing if I were in Garnett's position.

　But I just wanted to whine a little bit because I also thought my heart would stop beating under the influence of it.

''Well, we've got to meet up with Sylvia and the others next.

　Garnett turned on his heel and unintentionally posed the question to Garnett's back.

'Is Ezell's identity the only secret you have to keep from everyone?
...... Don't ask me all sorts of questions. You know what? I'm not going to get mad at you for saying it. It's me, right?

　Garnett turned around and lightly stood on his tiptoes, bringing his face close to mine at close range.

''I've been thinking about it a lot, but I just want to postpone the spoiler a bit longer. I've been thinking about a lot of things, but I don't want to give away the story any longer. Of course, I'm going to explain to you when I'm discovered.
I knew you weren't ready for this.
No, what's the word: ......

　Then Garnett put her lips to my ear and whispered, so that no one else could hear.

"There's something so interesting about a secret relationship, isn't there?

　That whisper shook the contents of my head, much more precisely and intensely than the tension of the earlier audience.

I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this. We'll have to rethink this when the situation changes again.

　Garnett only switched her expression to a ladylike smile with a wild tone of voice, and was about to head a step ahead of Sylvia and the others to where they were waiting.