Alec had apparently called for me because he wanted to hear more details about the epidemic. So I told him everything to my heart's content.
Not just what happened in El Alley, but everything that had been tough since I started working, how Cliff and the others were doing, and all about Master Finn. Even General Owen's stalker antics. Sitting across from me on the sofa with the table between us, Alec listened the whole time with an amused expression.
This setup, with Rock standing behind him, was no different from when we used to chat in the school lounge. The only difference was what we were wearing. It felt so nostalgic.
"So yeah, a lot happened, but I'm doing well. What about you, Alec? Are you doing alright?"
"Yes. I've gradually been taking on more political duties."
"Wow! That's amazing!"
"I'm no match for you, Aime."
That wasn't true. He was at the meeting today, and I'm sure he must be doing a great job as a Prince.
"Has the injury from falling off the cliff healed?"
"Rille-nee treated me, so yes. There are some scars left, but it doesn't hurt anymore."
"The scars won't go away?"
"Who knows. But they're under my clothes where nobody can see. Besides, they say scars are medals of honour, right?"
"How tough of you."
Alec laughed, then continued with,
"Please don't push yourself too much. I know you don't mind getting hurt, but it makes those watching worry."
His tone was gentle, but his expression was serious. He reminded me of Rille-nee. I shouldn't joke around here and give him a serious answer.
"Got it. I'll be careful."
"Please do. When I heard the report, I almost considered going to El Alley myself."
"That would've been out of the question. Seriously."
"I envied General Sonnier."
"Don't use that man as a role model!"
Alec laughed out loud. No, this isn't a laughing matter, you know?
"If I could fly like that mage technician, Lux, I would have rushed to your side immediately."
"Oh, actually, I've been discussing that with Master."
I still didn't fully understand what kind of magic circles Lux used to fly through the sky like that. But I was thinking about whether the same thing could be achieved with other magic circles.
"Right now, I'm prioritising the development of everyday items so it's been put off, but I think it'll become something incredibly useful in the future."
"How so?"
"Just like you said, Alec, flying makes travel so much faster, right? For example, if a cargo wagon could fly, we could deliver fresh meat and fish to towns right away. With magic stones, you can activate multiple spells simultaneously, and you wouldn't need mages as a power source. Even a single person could fly. Isn't that revolutionary?"
"Indeed... But if that were possible, people could fly right over fief borders and fortresses."
"You can limit the altitude too. There'll certainly be things that can't be made carelessly once national defence becomes a concern, but if we were allowed to use magic stones for broader things then the possibilities would just keep expanding."
"Ah, I understand that."
Alec agreed wholeheartedly.
"This isn't something that can be decided straight away, but Father is also open to it. I just heard from the Chancellor that there are apparently examples of magic stones being used that way in Galesh."
"Really! I wonder if that started after Master left."
"Most likely. Galesh has had a change in its king, and many things have been shifting. However, the use of magic stones is still limited to within the royal palace. It hasn't reached the common people yet. If we did it in Traus, then this would be the first time something like this is attempted. I believe that would be immensely significant."
Alec continued.
"I was taught that the King of Traus should be generous. That capable people gather under such a ruler, and only when they can act freely as one of the King's people does the nation truly prosper. But, I feel that Traus is a bit too... constrained right now. Perhaps we've been clinging too much to the past."
Bloodlines, the development of powerful magic... this nation was certainly still dragging around things from wartime. Perhaps it was because Traus began as a poorer land compared to the other two nations, with a history of desperately fighting its way up from nothing. I think the nation simply hasn't gotten used to peace yet.
"It's time for Traus to start something new. Not by tearing down what already exists, but by refining it into something even better to live with. We have more than enough power for destruction. That power should be used for something more productive."
Those words were something I had said back at school. He remembered. And had given them much deeper thought... Ah, yeah, that's right. This is what I respect about him.
I'm also one of the King's people. If he's willing to widen our scope of movement to give us more room to move freely, then I have to answer that with everything I've got. I felt like I finally understood the feelings of those nobles who shout "For the King."
"Leave it to me, Alec. Lamps, flying wands, whatever, I'll make anything."
Things that Alec and everyone would be happy about. Things that symbolise a peaceful world.
"How reassuring...But personally, I'd also like for all of us to ride that shabby raft again."
Come to think of it, that raft was incredibly dangerous. It was confiscated and dismantled in the end, so getting the current Alec on it would probably be impossible. But...
"We can ride it."
Saying he wanted to ride something dangerous again surely meant he wanted to hang out with everyone again.
"We just need to change it so that we can."
Alec blinked, then smiled softly.
"...You're right. When you say it, Aime, it feels like anything is possible."
I wonder if that cheered him up a little. Hanging out with your friends isn't something worth agonising over. Maybe the one who's truly constrained isn't the people under the King, but the King himself, weighed down by everything he carries, struggling to move.
"...Still, it's a shame that they destroyed that raft. We worked so hard on it."
We talked a little about our school days since we were already on the topic. It's been a while since we've seen each other, so I wanted to reminisce about our shared memories.
"Rock worked so hard carrying the materials too."
"I remember it well. I thought the load was unusually heavy, only to find you sitting in the cart, relaxing without a care in the world."
From behind Alec, Rock was glaring at me fiercely. What a grudge-holding guy, remembering such a small slight forever.
"That was just a little joke. I got off right away, and I'm not even that heavy. Right, Alec?"
"That's right. You're light, Aime. It was hardly any burden at all."
Alec's gentlemanly nature was alive and well. Rock, on the other hand, was at a loss for words.
"No, Your Highness, that's not the issue. While even Your Highness was helping, she was just messing arou..."
He was in the middle of his lecture, but suddenly went quiet. As he turned around, I followed his gaze to the entrance, where a rapid knock sounded, ka-ka-ka-ka, and the door swung open vigorously.
"Excuse me!"
There appeared the beautiful golden princess. She spotted me right away and her ocean-blue eyes lit up.
"Aime! It's been so long!"
I instinctively stood up, and she quickly came to my side, taking both my hands in hers.
"I'm so happy to see you again! You went to the plague village, didn't you? Are you feeling alright? How is Ridill? Is she well?"
The questions came one after another. Calm down, let's calm down.
"Yes, both my sister and I are well. Thank you for your concern. It's been a while, Princess Philia."
Rather than the commoner's clothes from before, the princess was dressed up and looked even more beautiful. I was nearly overwhelmed by her dazzling radiance, but her friendly, innocent smile reminded me that she was the friend I'd enjoyed the festival with.
"It's wonderful to see you again."
"Likewise! I've been wanting to see the two of you for the longest time! Is Ridill not here?"
"She hasn't come back yet. Though I think she should be back soon."
"Oh, I see. Then next time, please bring Ridill with you when you visit. I really, really wanted to chat with you both again. Lately I've been doing nothing but plotting ways to sneak out of the palace."
"That's..."
"Please, tell me all about your exploits in El Alley! Oh honestly, why didn't Alexei tell me you were here right away!"
"I was about to send for you. Before that, I wanted some time to speak with Aime myself."
Alec offered his sister a somewhat wry explanation. It seemed Princess Philia had detected my presence on her own and come running. Despite how vast the palace seemed, impressive.
I was called here partly for her sake too. Otherwise, this princess would try to escape. Anyway, I never thought we would meet again. I really have to thank Alec for this.
"...Philia, Alexei. Might I have a chance to greet her as well?"
I hadn't noticed at all because Princess Philia had been right in front of me. But there, standing at the entrance, was a blonde beauty hiding the lower half of her face behind a fur-trimmed fan.
This was definitely not someone I should be asking "Who are you?" The woman snapped her fan shut and approached.
Her nose was strikingly high and she had exotic features. She looked like a radiant sun queen. She wasn't merely beautiful; there was a certain aura about her. One might even call it majestic.
Princess Philia stepped aside, and the woman stood before me. I bent one knee and offered a greeting appropriate for a person of noble standing. I kept my chin down, my gaze slightly lowered, and without naming myself first, waited for her response.
"So you are Aime."
Her voice and tone were brimming with composure. I looked up and saw that she was smiling at me with the tenderness of a loving mother.
"I am Olivia. Alexei and Philia's mother."
The former princess of Tilney, who had married the King of Traus for the sake of the alliance. She had a youthfulness and perfect figure that made it hard to believe she'd borne two children. And with this, I felt a small sense of accomplishment at having met all the royal members.
"You did good work at El Alley for His Majesty's beloved people. Thank you for your hard work."
"You flatter me."
"I would love to hear your story."
Queen Olivia swiftly replaced her fan with a notepad and pen. Wait, where did she just pull those from?
"What caused the epidemic? I didn't quite understand other people's explanations. How did you figure out the cause? I heard you purified water with magic, but what kind of magic was it? I understand you were attacked by the lord's soldiers along the way? What was the situation like? What did you do? Tell me everything. I want to know all about you."
...Um?
"And you have an older sister, yes? I've been hearing rumours that the Sonnier heir has taken an interest in her lately. How far along has that gone? What do you think? Does it seem like they'll go all the way? What is your sister like?"
"Mother, you're overwhelming Aime."
The one who rescued me from the barrage of questions was Alec.
"Oh my, I'm sorry."
The Queen, who had been inching closer and closer, retreated back to her original position.
"My curiosity just gets the better of me."
"Please calm down. Aime, I'm sorry she startled you."
"She didn't, well, it's fine."
I accidentally dropped the formal speech and answered Alec casually in front of his mother and sister. But whatever.
"I do apologise. You see, I've been terribly bored."
Queen Olivia let out an exaggerated sigh.
"Being a queen is such a tedious role, you know? Of course, there are official duties, but most of them just involve smiling beside His Majesty. And unlike what you hear about faraway lands, there are no other consorts, so I can't even have a proper rivalry drama."
"That sounds peaceful, at least."
I offered from my commoner's perspective, but Her Majesty wasn't convinced.
"Oh, peace is wonderful, yes. But boredom is unacceptable. So far I've tried singing, dancing, music, painting, sculpture, card games, horse riding, archery, swordsmanship, and spearmanship, but I've grown bored of them all."
Why did the second half of that list veer into martial arts?
"I've been thinking about taking up writing next. I'm currently searching for inspiration."
"Inspiration..."
"Mother's stories are soooo entertaining!"
Princess Philia told me excitedly.
"I'll never forget the stories she used to tell us before bed. You remember too, don't you, Alexei?"
"I do. They were supposed to be bedtime stories, but I recall being unable to fall asleep."
"That's why I stopped telling stories at bedtime."
The royal family was warmly reminiscing. Just like an ordinary household. Still, how entertaining could those stories have been?
"...And so, won't you please cure our boredom, Aime?"
Once again, Queen Olivia readied her notepad and pen. The dignity I'd felt earlier was already gone. I wondered if I'd get scolded for thinking of her as just a funny lady.
"Now, have a seat."
I was sandwiched between Princess Philia and Queen Olivia, with Alec across from me.
I couldn't help but laugh at the absurd situation, yet I talked about all sorts of things with this close-knit royal family until the sun went down.
In the end, getting to spend such a luxurious time, more extravagant than anyone else in the entire kingdom, became the most precious reward of all for me.