"And Mr. Elena will go to Gilm in a few days?"

　A man in his fifties asks Elena so.
　What you see is not trust in Elena... but a strong sense of dissatisfaction.
　Elena understands, however, that many men, whether hidden or not, have such complaints.
　For a man like the one in front of him, Elena, nicknamed General Hime, who should be called a symbol of the aristocracy, does not like the fact that Elena goes out of her way to the neutral stronghold.
　These people don't like the friendly relationship between the aristocracy and the neutrals, and they think it's better to follow the neutrals... eventually absorb themselves.
　No, I don't think so, but it's already a decision for these people.
　That's why it's not interesting for Elena to go all the way to Gilm, where Dusker is the lord of the Neutralists.
　While understanding the thoughts of the nobles in front of her, Elena speaks without seeming to care.

"Yes. The building is currently being extended, but the aristocrats of the aristocratic school acted foolishly by sabotaging it."
"But still... if Mr. Elena doesn't bother to go, why don't we send someone else?"
"No. My father ordered me not to touch it, but I still touched it. So there is no point in sending half-hearted people. It is important for me to go."

　If you say something that makes the man in front of you look forward to it, it could be spread out as a fact without Elena's knowledge.
　Knowing that he is a calm man, Elena tells him so flatly.
　The man seemed to have said many things to Elena's words, but in the end he thought it was meaningless to say anything more, so he just greeted her and left the room.

`Whoa,'

　A sigh of relief breaks through Elena's mouth when he sees the door through which the man left.
　A cup of tea was laid gently in front of such an Elena.

"Well done, Elena. For the time being, anyone who wants to see you today is the last."

　Elena reaches for tea with a slight smile at Aara's words.
　a rich scent that spreads through one's
　Elena was also able to make tea, but she still fell far short of Arra's.
　By drinking tea, you can see that the irritation within you disappears.

`Whoa,'

　Elena's mouth escapes again, a very different kind of breath.
　As she watches Elena, she smiles a little.

"Huh? What's wrong with you? Did something go wrong?"
"No, it's nothing. By the way, do you want some dried fruit that goes well with the tea?"
"I feel like I'm being misled... well, let's say I'm deceived by Arra's words."

　He spoke in a discontented tone, but a smile was on Elena's face.
　In front of such an Elena, Arra places a plate of dried purple fruit.
　It's been dried up to a great extent, but it's still too big to eat in one bite.
　Cut the dried fruit into your mouth as easily as bread.
　Then, the next moment, the intense sweetness concentrated by the sun spreads through her mouth and after enjoying it for a moment, Elena drinks tea again.
　Strangely enough, the sweetness in my mouth was washed away with tea...and I reached for the fruit again.
　After several repetitions of the action, the gaze suddenly turns to the window.
　You can already see the sun setting completely outside the window.

(I would have liked to go out with Ray if I could... well, I knew it wasn't possible.)

　This incident, which was about to return to Gillum, was a matter of course, but Elena needed to move around.
　That's why Elena, apart from Ray, was meeting with nobles and with influential figures in Anesis.
　Still, it was only natural for Elena to want to spend time with Ray if possible.

"It's a pity, Mr. Elena."
"...what?"

　That's why Elena is momentarily silent when Arra talks to her as if she's read her mind.
　Arra smiles as if she knew what Elena's appearance.
　Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Elena carries the remaining tea to her mouth to mislead it.

"Even so, I feel a little sad to think that I will go back to Gilmoo in a few days."
"Yes, but I'll still go to Gilm. What about Arra? You don't have to force yourself to follow me, if you want to stay..."
"I'm going to Gilmoo".

　You may stay in Anesis.
　When Elena tries to say so, Arra insists without letting her say it all.
　For Arra, Anesis is a place to call her second home.
　But still... if it were Gilm and Annesis with Elena, it was only natural to choose the former.

"I see,"

　Elena doesn't force herself to stay in Anesis, either, to understand her feelings.
　Some say that Arra should remain in Anesis as the leader of the Knights of the Guard of Elena, but... in terms of the escort of Elena, Arra is more likely to be with Elena.
　However, if Arla is good at paperwork, she may have had another opinion.

"By the way, I've met most of the people in the day. What remains is that important."
"Well... you did a great job."

　Arra says thankfully, and Elena responds with a smile.
　And as you enjoy your time slowly, you'll hear the door knocking in your room.

"Who is it?"
"Excuse me, young lady. What shall I do when Mr. Ray is back?"
"Well, you're back, aren't you?"

　Attractive to the disturbance... No, only Ray, who has the kind of luck to attract, thought that he might have caused some disturbance if he went downtown, but today he has not caused any particularly.
　But that's not because Ray acted carefully... but simply because two nobles, Ranigus and Terrez, acted together, and there were several knights to guard them.
　But Elena, who thought Ray was watching Annesis alone, doesn't know about it.
　That's why I was worried that Ray didn't cause any problems... but the maid, who came to report that Ray had returned, nods with a smile.

"Yes, I have not heard of any particular problems, so don't worry."

　Elena nodded to such a maid's words, but she couldn't believe them from the bottom of her heart until she heard them directly from Ray.
　With Ray's ability, it's not difficult to get into some kind of trouble and clean up without revealing it.

"Why don't you ask me at dinner?"
"Well, I wonder if Mr. Ray is looking forward to telling Mr. Elena what happened today."

　The maid misunderstood Elena's lines a little, but without any particular correction, Elena says she can go back to being the maid.
　In fact, he probably took that attitude because he was definitely looking forward to hearing about Ray.
　The maid bowed and left the room.

"Now, if Ray is back for now, you'd better ask him if anything went wrong. Not at all."

　She seemed to have muttered that it was troublesome for her, but when she saw Elena, she smiled.
　It was obvious from the sidelines that Elena was looking forward to talking to Ray.
　Elena noticed Arra's attitude, but she wouldn't pry it in because she thought anything she said in the current situation would probably be inconvenient for her.When I finish my remaining tea, I leave my seat.

"Arra, I'm going to see Ray..."
"I still need some paperwork, so please go ahead. If you still have time after it, I'll show up there."
"Really? I don't think I need to do any paperwork now..."
"I want to do it when I can. In a few more days, I'll go to Gilmoo."

　That would make Elena unable to say anything more.
　In fact, it was obvious that the work that could be dealt with before the long stay at Gilm would have to be dealt with.
　In Arra's case, even though he is a Knight Commander, he is the type of Knight Commander who fights on the front lines, leaving most of the paperwork to his subordinates.
　But leaving it to them doesn't mean they don't have a job at all.
　If Arra was not there, the lower person would settle the document, but if Arra was there, Arra would have to do it.

"All right, then, in moderation."

　So Elena and Arra leave the room, Elena heads to Ray's room and Arra to the room where the papers are waiting.

(I am most pleased that Mr. Elena is pleased.)

　Recalling Elena's smile, Arra is walking down the hall... before long she sees some nobles talking in the corner of the hall.
　Some of the aristocrats had just shown their displeasure with going to Gillum against Elena, and they felt Arra's calmness quickly subsided.
　Not surprisingly, Arla doesn't show it either.
　He walked down the hall, and tried to move on without worrying about the nobles... but they wouldn't allow it.

"May I have a moment, Mr. Arra?"

　It was a nobleman who had just met Elena.
　As I asked her if she was okay, she approached her as if she didn't think she would ever.
　Arra, too, can't ignore the approaching aristocracy after being spoken to.

"I don't have much time left to do as a Knight Commander, but only a little."
"Well, that's good, then, to be blunt, I'd like you to stop sending Mr. Elena to Gilm."
"I am in command of Mr. Elena's bodyguard, but I have no authority to dictate his actions."
"But isn't Mr. Arra a childhood friend of Mr. Elena's, then, ought to remonstrate with him not as a subordinate but as a friend?"

　nod to the aristocrat's words in agreement with others

"Mrs. Elena... No, General Hime is a symbol of the aristocracy. It is beneath the dignity of the aristocracy that such a person goes out of his way to the head of the lower neutrality."
"Yes, if you could offer me a hostage from the neutral faction, I'd be a little adorable."
"Hoho! It's no use expecting that kind of thing from a man like Dusker, for he doesn't seem to have a clue about the nobility."

　Arra feels uncomfortable when she says whatever she wants, but she opens her mouth without expressing it.

"Unfortunately, Mr. Elena will never reverse what he has decided, and if he really wants to do so, he may as well tell me in person, at least not so much as I do."
"Well, is Mr. Arra a good friend and sword of Mr. Elena, and I think it would be more effective for him to say it than for us?"
"I'm sorry, but I don't mean to do that. I have a job, so I'll excuse myself."
"... well, after all, Mr. Elena is a woman. You can't look at the whole thing."

　Arra was about to leave, but when she heard one of the aristocratic men say so, she stopped... and looked at him.
　The gaze, not saying anything, was obviously powerful.
　It's a powerful force that can be called a physical force.

『……』

　Arra's gaze leaves the aristocrats speechless.
　If I had to say something, I would be killed.
　They even remember such fears.
　There's no doubt that the fact that we've never actually fought around here has had a major impact.
　He turned his eyes and saw the nobles say nothing, and Arla left.