Chapter 71 - Change of tactics? (2/2)

Saying that just in case, I wave my hand to Fiatora, urging her to come to us.

However, the person in question stood without moving, having a troubled expression on her face, and instead, it was Schwarz who turned here after he finished with his reunion.

Being done with the hugs and while still having his hands on the Empress’ shoulders he glared at me with an annoyed face.

「……You can’t read the mood. However, it is also true that there is no time. We should hurry and make our preparations as well. Mother, please provide me with your support.」

The Empress narrowed her eyes, still wet with tears, and replied.

「…Yes. I understand. So you have resolved yourself, Schwartz… Then I, as a mother, won’t be holding anything back.」

After that exchange, Schwartz and the Empress turned to us.

「They are collaborators. The reward is elves, including Fiatora…… Are you two fine with this?」

「Eh? Collaboration? Reward?」

As I panicked at the sudden development, Yuri, who stood next to me, put on a gentle smile and nodded.

「Yes. No objections. It seems like it will be the best outcome for us.」

As Yuri replied, the faces of the Empress and Fiatora became more rigid as if they realized something.

While both Yuri and Yanual usually were somewhat absentminded, when politics or finances were involved they suddenly became a lot sharper.

And people belonging to royalty and titled nobility had a habit of obscuring such details during a conversation.

「…Can someone explain what we are about to do?」

When I asked, everyone looked at me with the eyes of disbelief.

【Taiki]

While watching Mea and the others return to the empire’s capital, I spoke.

「Now, I wonder what are they gonna do about the last one?」

「Could it be that they judged it to be impossible to bring them out secretly after all?」

「Possibly. In that case, as was expected, we will have a conflict with the Empire. Let’s prepare a letter for Violette-san to deliver. Aifa-san and others seem to have stayed, so they probably stealthy infiltrated the castle. In the meantime, we should make our preparations as well.」

When I stood up with those words while having a wry smile on my face, Ayla worriedly looked at me.

「Are they going to be okay, sneaking into the castle without Taiki-sama’s golems and with only three of them…」

「Aifa is a court magician, right? Unless they go really wrong about it, they should have no trouble getting inside the castle. Right, Violette-san?」

When asked, Violette only shrugged her shoulders, disinterested.

「They will easily manage one way or another. He can enter the castle alone and then bring the two afterward, he also could put them into a container and smuggle in a wagon.」

Violette snorted and expressed her agreement with my opinion.

「That’s how it is. But, if they meet the Emperor it might get problematic. So we have to prepare in case things go awry.」

Surely, they wouldn’t try to force their way through. Since Aifa had a slave seal engraved onto him by the Emperor, a brute force approach is far too risky.

Aifa appeared to be level-headed, so he shouldn’t try anything irrational.

And with these thoughts, I leisurely prepared my letter to the Emperor.