The elven country of Stark Ordnung lies in the north of the Empire, beyond the dreary Bärvalde Mountains.
　It is a well known fact that what is harsh enough for humans is not much of an obstacle for the elves.
　In the past, the empire had built a fortress to watch over the mountain range, but after Meena joined the Yagamihiki and formed a friendship with the elves, it has become a deserted position where those who have been sent to the left are sent away.
　Now the delegation, with Beate as its ambassador, arrived at that fort up to the carriage.

'Your Highness Beate, you are welcome.

　The head of the fort shivered with nervousness as he greeted the white dress-clad Beate, who got off the carriage.
　It wasn't unreasonable, as his head would be physically blown off if he were to rough up her, an imperial princess.
　The current emperor was not a tyrant, but neither was he needlessly generous to those he was supposed to judge.
　There was no reason for him to show mercy to those who were off duty.

'It's a nice, refreshing place, isn't it? It's nice and refreshing.

　Beate looks at the enraged fort and assesses it with a smile.
　If the others said the same thing, they would only think it was painfully sarcastic, but in her case, they meant it.
　The only people who can understand this are Meena, Sydonier, and the maidservants.
　The people in the fort only seem to have been distantly reprimanded for not being ready to receive the royal family, and they have plenty of cold sweat on their hearts and backs.　

''We have no other intentions towards Your Highness. Encourage you at best.

　Sydonier tells him to follow up, and the head of the fort bows his head in fear.

'We have a small but ready to feast. Please come this way.'

　First, the female knights of the escort advance to the front of the line, with Sidonier sticking to the right of Beate, and Meena guarding the tail end of the line.
　Since there are no rooms for nobles in the fort, the princess is addressed to a room that looks spacious and safe.
　Meena was given a room by the wall right next to her in case Sydonier slept in the same room.
　The rooms of the knights and maids of honour of the guard are lined up across the corridor.
　The rooms of the fort were uniformly built of solid, bleak stone, with a priority to keep out the rain and dew and to withstand the wind and snow.
　Beate, Sidonier, and Meena were fine, and while the female knights were used to it, the handmaidens were not.
　However, they did not complain, as they were made up of young women who felt honored to be part of this mission.
　There is also a natural awareness that these women of low status cannot complain when the imperial princess, Beate, does not say anything.
　The food served in the dining room in the fort at night was excellent in terms of ingredients, but the cooking techniques were mediocre.

The ingredients can be brought in with magical tools, but we couldn't bring a cook with us.

　Rather than complaining about the lack of utilization of the fine ingredients, if not the spoiling of them, Beate appreciates them with a smile.
　She is a very generous person for a ruling class, enjoying the current state of affairs, and is very grateful for the hospitality of her guests.

''Your heart is greater than the sea, Your Highness Bearte.

　Sydonier appreciates with an elegant smile.
　She was used to living a simple life and had no complaints about this trip.

'I was going to shut you up if you complained, but it was nice to save you the trouble.

　Needless to say, it was Meena who made the most profane statement to the Imperial Princess.
　For an elf who had no fear of the emperor's prestige, the princess was just a small thing that borrowed her father's prestige.
　Since there was no Val to deter her, she would not have hesitated to use her powers if she felt it was necessary.
　The three people eating here now are Beate, Sidonier, and Meena, with a few knights of the guards standing at the entrance and by the wall.
　The attendants and soldiers are probably eating elsewhere.
　Congratulations to the escort knights for avoiding a development that no one seems to benefit from in front of the escort knights, Sydonier thinks.

'But then again, Wilhemina is amazing. If you'd told me, you'd have set the date in a matter of seconds, wouldn't you?'

　Beate smiled at her, but Meena didn't respond.

'Vilhemina, you should at least respond with a word.

　Sydonier gasps and advises.

'There's no denying that it was negligence on the part of my people.

　When Meena finally replies, the princess speaks to her without punishment.

''What is Meena's position among the elves?　It doesn't sound like you're just descended from the lore's heroic duo news, does it?

　That alone shouldn't be enough to make him equal to the chief, or even more influential than that, in a sense.
　It is not only Beate, but Sidonier, and the emperor thinks so too.

'I have no righteousness to teach you,'

　But Meena wasn't even willing to answer properly.

''Then I'll have Bartolomeus ask him.

　How far Bearte seems to have a tough spirit, he says smiling.

'Guh. ......'

　Meena, who had kept a blank expression on her face all this time, choked up for the first time.
　Sydonier said with an exasperated, teasing expression.

''You're not supposed to be stupid, but you're surprisingly silly, aren't you?　You should at least come up with the option of Bartholomeus being used first.

　Meena's face was briefly filled with regret, but quickly returned to a blank expression.