Chapter 101 - Chapter 16: Summons #3 (1/2)
Chapter 101 - Chapter 16: Summons #3
”It has been a long time, 4th Queen. I am 5th Prince, Silvan Doomblade.”
”It is great to see you, Silvan. How have you been?”
Silvan and Elaine greeted each other with smiles. Silvan, who had always been flamboyant, talked formally without any signs of discomfort, but Elaine seemed different.
It wasn’t that Elaine’s courtesy or behaviour was a problem. It was simply that her image was different from what In-gong had seen before.
Now, Elaine was literally a lady. She had Caitlin’s innocent appearance, but her sophistication and subdued voice created a beautiful atmosphere.
Moreover, she spoke with honorifics. She hadn’t done that when In-gong met her last time.
However, despite from In-gong’s surprise, Elaine and Silvan maintained an aristocratic attitude toward each other.
”Thank you for your concern.”
Silvan bowed and stepped back. This time, Felicia was the one to step forward and bow.
”6th Princess Felicia Doomblade greets the 4th Queen.”
Just like Elaine, Felicia acted as a delicate lady. Unlike the usually energetic Felicia, she showed a very gentle appearance.
Elaine said with a smile,
”You seem to have become more beautiful in just a few days. I was worried due to the disturbance in Spider Forest.”
Karma had asked for help from the lycanthrope rangers. It was natural for Elaine, the queen of the lycanthropes, to receive the news.
Felicia gazed downward slightly.
”Thank you for the active support from the lycanthropes. The guardian of Spider Forest asked me to thank you as well.”
In fact, they hadn’t received any help during the fight at Spider Forest, but the lycanthropes had still moved to aid them.Moreover, the lycanthrope rangers had agreed to watch the state of Spider Forest for a while, so it was right to express gratitude.
Elaine responded in a very friendly tone,
”You are my children as well. So, it is a normal course of action.”
They didn’t share a single drop of blood, but Elaine viewed them as children of the family.
Felicia stepped back while hiding her embarrassment and vigilance. Then it was Caitlin’s turn.
”I’m back, Mother.”
Elaine didn’t respond to the light greeting. It was like she couldn’t hear Caitlin’s words at all.
Caitlin bit her lip and bowed.
“8th Princess Caitlin Moonlight greets the 4th Queen.”
“I’m glad to see you’ve come back safely.”
Elaine smiled widely and accepted the greeting. Caitlin looked like she wanted a hug ,but Elaine didn’t allow it. She turned her head and said,
“9th Prince.”
Caitlin was forced to step back. In-gong swallowed his saliva and imitated Silvan’s bow.
”9th Prince Shutra Ignus greets the 4th Queen.”
It seemed like the same greeting, but there was a slight difference in accent and behavior.
After finishing his greeting, In-gong looked at Elaine who was showing a different smile.
”Those are good eyes.”
Her voice was still gentle, but there seemed to be a beast hiding in it. Indeed, In-gong thought that she truly was different from Caitlin. The aides didn’t give personal greetings, so the only one left was Daphne.
“It is great to see 4th Queen. I am Daphne, the daughter of the 5th concubine, Echo.”
Her voice was full of tension, but she didn’t show it in her bow. Elaine glanced at Daphne with amusement in her eyes, then moved her gaze. The raccoon, standing beside Daphne with a sour expression, caught her eyes.
“Nice to meet you. Is that a pet beside you?”
Elaine asked and the party became tense. Daphne, who had been asked directly, tried to read Amita’s mood as she replied,
“Uh... that...”
“A party member.”
In-gong said on behalf of Daphne. Caitlin stepped forward and added,
”This raccoon is the great Amita, Mother.”
It was a slight deviation from courtesy. Everyone was already nervous due to the raccoon’s expression, but Elaine didn’t dismiss her like before. She had heard the name Amita from Chris.
“Nice to meet you, Amita. Will you please forgive my rudeness that stemmed from ignorance?”
Elaine smiled while lowering her posture. Amita stared at Elaine for a while then shook their head with their arms folded.
”I forgive you.”
”Thank you.”
Whether it was to make Elaine uncomfortable or for some other reason, Amita did not say anymore. Elaine didn’t dare say anything else to Amita and introduced Bruce who was next to her.
”This is the great Master Bruce. He is the lycanthrope that boasts the strongest power.”
Master Bruce was a very big, burly man. His head was full of white hair and there were fine lines all over this face, but that was it. His muscles were tight and his body was almost as good as Carack’s.
He dressed almost just like Chris, with animal hides that made him look like a bandit. In-gong could tell instantly where Chris’ fashion sense had come from.
In Knight Saga, Master Bruce hadn’t been present for the lycanthrope subjugation. It was because he had suddenly died two weeks before it had happened.
Bruce stared silently at In-gong. It was obvious that Chris had talked to Bruce about In-gong. Bruce’s eyes reminded In-gong of the sword duke.
However, now wasn’t the time or place for his personal interest.
Elaine turned around and said,
”I am surprised by the sudden summons, but you don't have to worry too much. I don't know the exact reason for the summons, but... it seems to be unrelated to the princes and princesses. Use today to relax.”
Her gentleness was nice. Elaine then glanced at Chris who was standing on her right.
“Chris, can I ask you to guide your brothers and sisters?”
“Leave it to me.”
Chris replied with a rigid expression. Silvan had a somewhat complicated expression on his face, but Chris didn’t pay him any attention.
Elaine ignored the strange tension and called out to In-gong,
”9th Prince, please take a short walk with me.”
Felicia jumped and her eyes sharpened. In-gong just responded like he had already been expecting it.
“I understand.”
The party split in two.
Chris led one group to the palace while Ludwig and the Blood Companions escorted In-gong and Elaine.
Except for Ludwig, the other Blood Companions kept a considerable distance from Elaine. In-gong, Elaine and Ludwig walked ahead at a distance from where they couldn’t be heard.
As soon as they entered the garden, Elaine said quickly,
”So, have you thought about it?”
Elaine stopped talking with any honorifics.
In-gong looked slightly surprised by her sudden change in attitude, but Elaine just shrugged.
”Like I said, you are my child. Moreover, didn’t you make a commitment after learning Divine Beast Authority from Chris and Caitlin? So, I should treat you properly like my child. Do you want a hug?”
Her mischievous smile made her very different from Caitlin. Instead of indirectly hugging an adult Caitlin, In-gong chose to speak.
”I’ve thought about it and I’ve come to a conclusion.”
In-gong hesitated before cutting to the chase. Elaine laughed as she stepped forward and turned to face In-gong.
”Interesting. Can you tell me your conclusion?”
“I will become the demon king.”
His voice was calm. Elaine tilted her head and asked again,
“Why?”
”I want to keep something.”
Wanting to keep something...
Themotivation wasn’t great, but Elaine was very satisfied.
“How interesting. Isn’t this purpose the same as mine?”
Elaine didn’t ask what he wanted to keep. She just turned around and started walking again. In-gong walked next to her for a while before she opened her mouth again.
“Shutra, the lycanthropes will support you. As Chris already said, if you become the demon king, that will be the best outcome for all of us.”
”It that so?”
”It is. Keeping the status quo isn’t as easy as it sounds. It is a lie if I say I don’t want things to improve.”
Elaine laughed playfully, then her expression changed. Her eyes narrowed and she frowned slightly.
”If the 1st Prince, 2nd Prince or 4th Princess becomes the demon king, the lycanthropes are likely to lose our current position. Unlike the current demon king, they have a lot of people on their mothers’ sides. They aren’t few in number like the sura, who are foolish warriors.”
The sura queen didn’t participate in politics. Even Gallehed, one of the five captains, stayed at the Demon King’s Palace unattended.