It's been a long time, Lady Vilhemina. And you must be Master Bartolomeus. Nice to meet you.

　Ella's family is very warm and the children welcome Val with a curious look on their faces.
　Once they are all there, Ella and her husband split up the food.
　The menu consisted of pumpkin and green bean soup, an omelet with onions, carrots and peppers, white barley bread and a black pork steak.

'Oh, pork?'

　When Mina moves her eyebrows in surprise, Ella chuckles.

''I know Wilhemina-sama and Bartolomeus-sama are here, but I can't just do nothing. It's a small thing, but go ahead.

I will eat it.

　Val smiled and Ella and the others nodded happily.
　When eating the food, Bal also has to take off his mask.
　Being an elven country that has basically no interaction with the Empire, he just reveals his true face without any particular effort.

'...... So your face is normal?'

Hey!　That's rude!

　One of the children was scolded by his father for expressing an honest opinion.

'Children are honest creatures and I can't blame them,'

　Val laughed and forgave him, which made him and Ella cringe.

'Yeah. Delicious. Both pumpkin and beans. The veggies are fresh and the eggs are sweet and melty.'

　Baru, who has only a mediocre palate, can only give mediocre impressions.
　However, Meena and Ella are content to eat well.
　When the meal is over, the children frolic around and the adults enjoy the after-dinner herbal tea.

''Wilhemina-sama won't you show your face to the chief?''

　Meena sniffs at Ella's husband's question.

'There is no need. 'Not if Master Bartholomeus wishes to see you,'

　Hearing the cold-hearted response, Val thinks geez.
　A cool reception is standard for Meena, but it's understandable to some extent once she gets used to it, as she has zero emotions.
　She apparently doesn't want him to meet with the Chief.

'There will be no need to force a meeting. Could you guys tell her that Bartolomeus sends his regards?　Unless it's against the courtesy of the elves: ......

It's all right for elven courtesy.

　Ella replied smiling, but for a moment she looked heartbroken.

'Well, let's stop then,'

　He said, and there was a knock on the door of the house.
　Ella got up to answer it.

'Excuse me. 'I was told that Master Bartolomeus is in this house.'

　Meena's eyebrows twitched at the man's well-worn voice, and Ella's husband put a hand to his forehead as if to say, 'Ahhhh.

'Apparently, you couldn't ignore Lady Bartolomeus' name.

　Ella's father says with a reluctant look on his face.　

'Do the elven lands hear my name?

　Ella's husband chuckles as Val rolls his eyes.

'If you beat Lady Vilhemina one-on-one, well, no, we'll hear about it.

That's right.

　Bal and Meena turn around as the voice of a well-traveled man is heard again, this time nearby.
　Standing in front of a troubled-looking Ella is a cold-looking man of about thirty years old, with blond hair and blue eyes.
　He wears a black cloak over his green clothing and has a dagger at his hip.

''You are rude, Wendelhert.

I'm sorry, Miss Vilhemina.

　Wendelhert bowed his head at Mina's censure, but there was no denying the somewhat condescending impression.

''Our chieftain wishes to see Master Bartolomeus at all costs.

　He seemed to be making Val listen rather than her.

'All right. I'll see you there.

　He said quickly as the cold killing air escaped from Meena's body.
　Then he asked her.

'Shouldn't you have told me that you didn't want me to be angry?'

'I didn't tell the chief. I just told the immigration officer.

　Meena responded with a slight buzz.
　She tried to follow the rules of the elves in her own way.
　The light-heartedness of the immigration officer's mouth was a miscalculation.

'That's very typical of you, Lady Vilhemina.

　Ella said with a nostalgic look on her face, and then turned teasing.

'But I've never seen you like you look now. The Lady Wilhemina I know.

Ella.

　She shrugged at Meena's chilling comment.
　It was so quiet and powerful that the children at a distance involuntarily stiffened.
　When the air was almost awkward, Val stood up.

'Was it Wendelhert-dono? Let me ask you to show me around.''

Ha!

　Wendelhert responded to his words with a grudging attitude.
　Apparently they were going to be polite to him.
　Then it wouldn't matter, he thought optimistically.