I left your father's office and returned to the study.

　I had some matters to discuss with father about the estate.
　He still gives me a lot of credit, but he's a decent man when it comes to governing his domain.

　With those instructions, I will return to my study to give orders.

　On the way.
　I was just walking down the hallway when I suddenly felt eyes on me.

"......
"......
"......

　Maids who passed each other, maids who lurked in the shadows.
　All the maids I encountered were staring at me with silent, enraptured eyes.

"What's the matter with you?
That's it master.

　I was surprised to be approached from behind.

You startled me. That's Eliza.

　There was Eliza in her maid outfit.
　Unlike the other maids, Eliza spoke to me as usual.
　But she was in her maid outfit "as usual".

What does that mean, you know?
That's because they're all looking at you, Master.
"To me?
Yeah. Here it is.

　Eliza reached out with her hand and pointed at the wise man's sword that I carried on my back.
　The wise man's sword that I carry on my back whenever I'm out and about, the one that is now my partner.

This?
"It's glowing. When the master walks, it pulls the light and leaves an afterimage as it goes.
"Hmmm, come to think of it,

　As a side effect of the automatic spell training (...), the wise man's sword looked just like the one Elisa talked about.

The master is so good looking that all the maids were looking at him because he's even better looking.
"Huh.

　Look around.
　That being said, that's certainly a response.
　Hiding in the shadows and around corners, or glancing at me while pretending to wipe the windows.

　The maids have that "gawking" look on their faces, like Eliza said.

　I didn't feel bad.

Yes, master, yes.
"What is this?

　Eliza held out a sealed envelope to me.
　I take it and look on the back.

　It is sealed with the seal of the Emperor, Elisabeth for Sea size.

"It's for your master, Your Majesty.
"Isn't that you?
"What's that?　I'm just a maid.

　Eliza with a blank stare.
　She seems to want to say she's not the emperor.

　Well, it doesn't matter.

　I opened the emperor's envelope in front of Eliza.

"Open for falconry?
"Yes.

　Eliza nodded with a big smile.
　No, let's stick with the setting to the end, I said with a wry smile.

　　　　　.

　Falconry is a nobleman's game and a social occasion.

　As the name suggests, it was once a game of domesticating a hunting hawk and competing with its hunting ability in the open air.

　The hunting ability of a falcon seems to have been regarded as a nobleman's ability to motivate his subordinates.

　Times have changed, and due to the nature of the current empire's origins (、、、、), the name of falconry is still the same, but the content has changed significantly.
　The nobles demonstrate their abilities by releasing a pre-designed monster and hunting it themselves.

　The content has been changed to be more direct, dangerous, and demonstrative of ability.

　　　　　☆

　On the outskirts of the imperial capital, in the usually empty, wide open grasslands, a large number of people had gathered.

　Aristocrats and their men and servants from all over the Empire had gathered there.
　In addition, the emperor and his personal guard, the staff that ran the falconry.

　In all, more than a thousand people had gathered on the steppe.

　On a man-made platform with a clear view, the emperor Elisabeth was there.

　Despite the fact that it had been only a week since the announcement of the falconry, and despite the fact that it had been called almost spontaneously, none of the nobles seemed to be angry or anything.

　Rather, they are all excited.

　And rightly so.
　Falconry is one of the few occasions when you can show your class in front of the emperor.

　A brilliant swordsman once rose from a quasi-baron to a duke overnight.

　The assembled nobles are all excited and enthusiastic.

"Alec has never hunted a hawk before, has he?

　The Carlisle family space.
　Surrounded by maids and servants, my father asked me.

'Yes, sir. It would have been the first time you were falconing now, Your Majesty.
Hmmm. It was held about once a month under His Majesty before, but this is the first time since His Majesty took over.
We're going to see the best of your father.


"No, no, I'm not joining in. I came to see the good side of Alec today.

　So says your father, who is being served by the maids and is in a completely relaxed mode.

　While other aristocrats around you are busy warming up and concentrating, it's rare to see your father in a relaxed mode.

Aren't you going to get it?
Of course. . because there's nothing more important than seeing Alec in action!

　Father clenching his fist and making a strong statement.
　Or is it like that, or is it the same as usual?

　Meanwhile, the falconry began in earnest.

　Several noblemen were advancing at once in a wide circle of participants - in the middle of the square.
　Then they release the monsters prepared by the imperial guards.

　The nobles compete to see how many of these monsters are killed by the nobles.

"Everyone is very motivated!
That's true.

　Your father replied leisurely, but in a matter-of-fact tone.

"It's the young people who are showing the most enthusiasm, right?
"Come to think of it,
Since you're young, that's what they're trying to do.
"I see.

　Emperor Elisabeth, the Empire's most powerful and beautiful woman of strange age.
　Perhaps the highest level of adversity in the world at the moment.

　I know these young nobles are motivated.

Hey, here come the brothers.
It's true.

　The previous pair withdrew and the next pair of nobles entered the scene.

　Hossen and a couple of other noblemen I didn't know well entered the room.

"Hossen was in on it too. ...... is not too keen on it. They're yawning and stuff.
That's right, brothers are not fools to mess with other people's stuff...
"People things?

　I was about to ask my father what he meant when Hossen's group started.

　The monsters released by the imperial guards were attacking the nobles at once.
　While the nobles charged at them, Horsen was the only one who didn't move.
　He stood on a stick, yawning.

　Before long, the monsters are wiped out at a faster-than-usual pace.

......

　As I was watching the whole thing, I stood up and clapped.
　The nobles around me looked at me.
　They don't seem to understand why they applauded only here.

　I don't have to explain, I just have to know.
　I wish I understood.

"That's good, Lord Choohi.

　On the stand, the Emperor Elisabeth, who had also been watching quietly all this time, quietly opened her mouth.
　A hint of turmoil ran through the air.

　While all the noblemen had been appealing to her, the emperor had been watching quietly, smiling, and now he opened his mouth.

　Moreover, he complimented Hossen Choohee, who hadn't done anything.
　What does this mean?　Eliza continues, as the air is filled around you.

"All of the monsters had practically fallen under his pressure. You are the strongest warrior in our empire to win without fighting.
"Don't give it away, you'll ruin your coolness.

　As Hossen replied, a gasp spread like a ripple in the water.

'Well, the fastest thing that ever happened to me was General Choohi glaring at me.
"And he saw right through it, Your Majesty.
Wait, does that mean the Father of the Nation applauded?

　A murmur ran through me and my gaze was drawn to me.
　Surprise and respect.
　I'm surprised and respectful.

　This makes me a little embarrassed.

Let Lord Chohi have some kind of reward.
"In that case, Your Majesty, do me a favor.
"Say,
"Next time my brother-in-law - Alexander Carlyle, make it a one-man show.

　The throbbing becomes even stronger.
　Holding it down, Eliza's commanding voice.

"Is that right?
It's time for everyone to know that the strongest of the Empire has been replaced.
Very well. Sir Alexander.
"...... yes

　As I reply, they look at me even more than before.

"Lord Choohi, and live up to my expectations.
"Yes.

　It wasn't a situation I could refuse.
　I was in the middle of the field where Hossen and his friends had left off.

""Wow. ......"

　Then a different quality of sighs came from here and there.

　It's women's voices.

　I glanced to see what was going on, and I saw the noblewomen and ladies and the maids that I had brought with me.
　They were staring at me, enraptured, with eyes that looked familiar.



　They have the same eyes as the maids in the house.

　They seem to be transfixed by the afterglow of the wise men's swords and my image.

　I will stand in the center of the field.
　More than a thousand eyes will be on me.

　Then I look at the Emperor's guards.

　The Emperor's guards are releasing monsters.
　Among them is a familiar face.

Is that ...... Chosen?

　For some reason, Chosen is in the guards.
　I'm a maid who is a duchess and is now a maid-in-training in the house.
　And the one who did the Locust thing before (、、、、、).

　Chosen had given a bag of gold and a box of something to the guards.

　The gold bag was probably a bribe.
　Then the box is .......

　I soon found out.
　The guards received the box and opened it.

　The moment he got the box, the guards opened it.

"Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

　Out of the box, a huge dragon emerged.
　A monster hundreds of times stronger than any monster I've ever seen.

　It appeared and howled with a mere roar.

　The women who had been watching me enthralled flapped and fainted.