After a long night, the day of the king's 50th birthday celebration finally arrives.

　Illtimina and I leave the house.

　The king's personal greeting was to be held in the cathedral of St. Julian's Church in front of the Holy Shumurian Castle. And, to our surprise, Kirto Amandes, the Golden Marked Demon Hunter, will be there with all the guests of honor.

(This is a must go!)

　Illtimina chuckles at my sniffling.

　But Solstice has decided to stay home.

'I have a lot of research to do.

　He shook the grayed-out "Bright Stone of Life" and said such things.
　He went on to say that even though they hold a birthday celebration every year, and this year was the 50th anniversary of the event, he was not interested in the event because he would just be listening to the stories of the greats for a long time anyway. It's a pity.

　Well, it's my first time.
　I'll try to enjoy it in various ways.

So, it's just you and me on a date today.
Yes.

　We held hands and had a small smile on our faces.

　So Iltimina and I came to the big square in front of the royal castle, just the two of us.

　It's a huge square with a large statue of the goddess Shrean.

　Behind the statue, there is a cathedral.

　Residents of King's Landing and people from other cities had gathered in the large square.
　It's a huge crowd.

　And near the statue of Goddess Shrien, there are two huge crystal-like objects standing on either side.

(I wonder what those are?)

　Illtimina tells me.

'It's a celestial voice box,'
Tenseiki?
Yes, sir. The cathedral is not accessible to everyone here. So only the voice of the king from the cathedral will be carried here in that celestial instrument.

　Huh?

(In short, it's a speaker.)

　Apparently, there's also a magic stone in the cathedral that serves as a microphone.

　But they can't all get in.
　Indeed, there are tens of thousands of people gathered in this square. I don't care how big the cathedral is, it can't hold all of them.

(But if we can't get in, then we can't see them, right, Mr. Quilts?

　I'm a little worried.

　Illtimina-san smiled at me in a proud manner.

"It's all right, Marle.
What?
'I've been given a special invitation from the quilt for times like these. Now you won't have to wait in line to get in, will you?

　Two envelopes appear from a large chest.

(Oh!)

　That's my sister, who can do anything.
　She is a flawless worker.

　Illtimina looks happy to see me, and she looks happy to see me, too.

　I'm sorry for the people who gathered in the main square, but we handed the invitation to the priest at the reception desk and were able to safely enter the cathedral.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


　Majestic - that's exactly the only word for it, inside the cathedral.

　Thousands of people are gathered in the huge cathedral with its sacred air. Me and Ms. Illtimina are two of them.

(We're seated on the second floor, aren't we?)

　There were too many people to stay on the first floor.

　Illtimina and I took our seats.

　There seem to be a lot of great people in front of the cathedral. There are people in the choir and orchestra. At the far end, there is a large statue of the goddess Shrien, with a cloister at chest level in front, and a semi-circular balcony-like structure at the end of it.

(Ah, the crystals.)

　On the balcony, there were two magic stones that were much smaller than the ones in the square - still, they were about the size of an adult - but they were still two magic stones.

　The murmur of people could be heard.

　And the lights in the cathedral gradually dimmed.

　A band began to play a beautiful and solemn melody.

'This is it,'
"Hm.　

　In my ear, Illtimina tells me.

　The people's voices have ceased to speak.

　Then a priest, who seems to be the facilitator, announces the opening of the 50th anniversary of the king's birth.
　There is a round of applause.

　We clapped too.

　Soon, the priest called out the names of the guests. Of course, they are all unfamiliar names.

　But some of them were from the Arun Divine Empire and the Tetet Confederacy.
　It's still great.

(Yeah, it's a national event.)

　Eventually, the names of the great nobles and generals near the top of the Kingdom of Shumuria are called out.

　The people who are called will appear in the cloister and stand on the balcony through it.
　They are introduced one by one, and one by one they appear.

　Each time, the people of the cathedral - especially the noblemen who were called at the beginning - applauded loudly.

　Eventually, one of them

"...followed by Kirto Amandes, the Gold Marked Demon Hunter, the pride of Shumuria.

　Mr. Kilt's name was called.

(Ki, here he comes!)

　Ms. Kilt in her dress appeared in the corridor, waving to the people and walking down the balcony like a princess.

　The cheers are also exceptionally loud.

　To the residents of the royal capital who gathered in the cathedral, it seems that the demon princess is more popular than the aristocrat who doesn't know her face. It's a good idea to be able to have a good time with them.

　''Me too,''

Quilt!

　I shouted out.

　Ah?
　For a moment, I thought she looked at me. I buzzed and waved my hand.

　I smiled a small smile.

(Can you see it?)

　I'm not sure.

　Then Kirto Amandes, the Golden Mark demon hunter, lined up with the other great nobles and generals.

　Soon, the princesses, queens and popes appeared.

"His Majesty King Schubert Greig ad Shumria, the great King of Shumria, here he is.

　Finally, the King of the King appeared in the lead role.

　Cracking applause and loud cheers.

(Wha...?)

　The whole cathedral was trembling.
　I couldn't help but clasp Mr. Illtimina's hand.

　The 50-year-old king.

　Is it because the Kingdom of Shumuria is a land of warriors?
　This first time I saw the king was a rugged man with platinum hair and a fearless face. He also had a beard and a dignified appearance.

(What a picture-perfect king!)

　I was a bit surprised.
　And the reaction of the people showed that he was a king and respected by the people.

　The 50th anniversary of his birth ceremony continued.

　First, the guests of honor began their congratulatory speeches.

　But each person's speech was long.
　Long, anyway.



　Eventually, the balcony people also congratulated him.

　It was Quilt's turn to speak.

　It was a polite, canned congratulatory speech, with the kind of polite language that was not usually uttered. He bowed his head to the king and dropped back to his original position.

(Quilt-san's turn, is that all?)

　It's a bit sad.

　After all the congratulatory greetings, the king finally spoke.

　It's a low, but streetwise voice.

　It didn't feel like he was shouting, but his voice was heard loud and clear throughout the cathedral.

　He thanked everyone for their support.

　And then.

I have some sad news to tell you today.

　King Shumuria finally told his people the news of the death of El Dorado the rogue, the fiery lion.

　The people froze.

　Some couldn't believe it, but it was the king's words, and the somber look on his face and his voice told them it was true at once.
　Some began to cry.

　It was hard to see from a distance, but Mr. Kilt also had his lips tightly knotted together.

　It was reported that the cause of death was the appearance of a horrible great demonic beast that had targeted the royal capital, and El Dorado Rogue had gone to defeat it and got into a face-off.

　He was a hero who risked his life to protect the people, a hero who saved the country.

　It was known to all the people from the celestial voice, and sorrow spread throughout the city.

"His (or her) will must not be in vain.

　When the King announced this, he announced that he would be sending the "Pioneers to the Dark Continent", which he had also announced his participation, for the first time in ten years.

　The people were surprised.

　But if it was the will of the fiery lion, the positive feelings flared up as the king's story continued.

(............)

　Is the will, really?

　I wondered, but the people around me were shouting 'Hail the King' and 'Hail the fiery lion' as if buoyed by the heat.

　I wouldn't say it was an incitement.
　But it seems to be close to that...?

You're the king.

　He seems to be a charismatic person, after all.
　If I hadn't asked Mumpa-san about the truth beforehand, I might have been drawn in too.

''........I wonder what he's going to do about the quilt?''

　Illtimina-san muttered to herself.

　She had withheld a reply when she spoke before about the pioneer group's participation.
　I wonder what he thinks about it now?

　The ceremony went on.

　A woman who said she was a famous singer sang wonderful songs to the accompaniment of a live orchestra and choir, and a magician-like person performed some interesting and mysterious tricks, and many other events were held.

　And so it was six hours from the start.　

　At the end of the ceremony, the King of Shumuria gave a speech, and then the priestess announced the closing of the 50th anniversary of his birth.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


　Hmmm, that was long.

'Are you okay, Merle?'

　As I sit down in my chair and let loose, Illtimina calls out to me with concern.
　I chuckle.

'I'm fine. But I'm kind of tired. ...I didn't even do anything.
Huh, I see.

　She laughs and gently strokes my hair.

　The area around us is crowded as people start moving en masse, trying to get home from the cathedral.

(Let's leave when we're a little more free.)

　We sat idly in our chairs.

　And.

"--Mr. Merle, isn't it?

　I was suddenly approached.
　Huh?

　When I turned around, I wondered when she had come there, and there was a woman standing there in what looked like a maid's uniform.
　Behind her, there were two knights in fine armor.

　Illtimina-san stands up to protect me with her crimson eyes narrowed.

''What can I do for my Marl?''

　A quiet voice.
　The knights respond with a jerk.

　The hustle and bustle around us becomes distant, and only here is there a strange tension in the air.

(What?)

　I'm confused.

　But the woman in the maid's uniform didn't even change her face.

Forgive me, my lady. My name is Phedonia, handmaiden to Princess Reclear. The two in the back are my bodyguards.
The princess's handmaiden?

　Ms. Illtimina, you look a little surprised.
　No, I'm surprised too.

　Fedonia-san says to us in a beautiful but indifferent voice without emotion.

''Kirto Amandes-sama, the Golden Mark demon hunter, has called for Mahr-sama. Please join us in our path.

　And then he bows gracefully.

(Mr. Quilt?)

　Me and Illtimina-san couldn't help but look at each other.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


　The princess's lady's attendant takes us down the narrow aisle of the cathedral.

　It was probably off-limits to everyone except those who are involved.
　A number of knights were standing at the entrances and exits of the aisle and on the way.

(Hee~)

　Some of the noblemen who were greeting me earlier are there.　

　The feeling of being out of place, is not half bad.
　If Iltimina-san hadn't held my hand and stayed with me, I would have wanted to run away.

''This way.''

　Eventually, we were ushered into the waiting room.
　I opened the door.

Oh, you're here.

　There was that silver-haired beauty in the dress, laughing.

'Miss Kilt,'
"Quilts.

　We were kind of relieved.
　Mr. Quilt raised one hand to the lady-in-waiting in the back.

I'm sorry, Fed.
No.

　She cleared, bowed, and left the room.

　The three of us were the only ones left.

　Ms. Kilt looked around scampering and craned her neck. A jeweled necklace jingled and flickered.

'What's up with Sol?'
Home.
Well then, you didn't come. Boring.

　She says ruefully.
　We giggled.

　Then Kilt urged me and Illtimina and I sat down on the sofa in the waiting room.
　Ms. Illtimina asks us, "So, you called us?

So, what is the reason you called us here?
...hmmm.

　Mr. Kilt looks annoyed for some reason.

(???)

　It was a bit unusual for her to stammer.

　But Illtimina-san's eyes were a little scary.
　With a cold voice, she continued her questioning.

'That maidservant, Fedonia, only referred to Marle by name. I was not called. What does this mean?
Hmm?　That's right.
And she's handmaiden to Princess Lechlear?
..........

　Ms. Kilt, silence.
　And her golden eyes look at me, a little apologetically.

'Actually. I got a report from Mumpa, and he wanted to see Marle.
"...who?

　I listen with a vague feeling of disgust.

　Mr. Quilt pauses for one, pause.

"Lechlia Greig ad Shumria, third princess of the Kingdom of Shumria, is

　He spoke his long and precious name heavily.