Chapter 282 (1/2)

Father──They were able to understand that when Celis said that, it was about the king that was said to have appeared at the First Princess’s side.

However, just what kind of meaning did she have when she said 「kill once again」?

Before Kain could ask about that, the woman next to Celis opened her mouth.

「What we wish to ask of you two is about the matter that Celis said just now.」

「……?」

Kain and Ein each had different questions come to mind.

The question that Kain harbored was about what that request was.

Ein’s question was about why the woman made a statement as if she were equal to Celis who was a princess.

The woman, no matter how Ein looked at her, was a Maid Knight similar to Ichika and Nino.

Even though she was most likely serving Celis, she couldn’t see anything like respect towards her master at all. Even for that Nino, she possessed respect and loyalty towards Vermudol……

「Due to the previous king that should have died appearing at the First Princess’s side, turmoil has spread to Celis’s faction. Speaking frankly, they are doubting Celis’s legitimacy.」

Hearing that explanation, Kain thought “now that she mentions it”.

Even that black knight said that 「there seems to be many traitors coming from the Staves of Light Chivalric Order」.

The Staves of Light Chivalric Order was the cornerstone of Elarc’s defences that was centered on Magic Knights.

However, he could only catch sight of people that were part of the Swords of Light Chivalric Order.

Or could it be that both the Staves of Light Knights and the Swords of Light Knights wore the same outfit?

「Um……」

「What is it?」

Although he thought that might be the case, Kain spoke it out loud.

「I heard that the Staves of Light Chivalric Order were Celis-sama’s ally but……where are they?」

「They are, no longer under Celis’s command. The ones remaining here are only a few people including the vice-commander.」

So did that mean that they really did betray her? In that case, that would mean that the magical defensive preparations were mostly meaningless now.

As if seeing through those thoughts that Kain had, the blue haired Maid Knight made a thin smile.

「……To become a Canal Kingdom Knight, there is a condition that they must be able to use magic at the minimum. The Swords of Light Knights are able to use magic as well, so there is no problem.」

「Is, is that so.」

That might be enough if it was during normal times. However, if the Staves of Light Chivalric Order is on the First Princess’s side……The Swords of Light Chivalric Order who were at the 「minimum」 probably won’t be able to handle it.

Or could it be, did they have something that could only protect Elarc despite that?

Kain stared at the blue haired Maid Knight.

Seeing those eyes that were trying to see through something, the blue haired Maid Knight grinned and muttered.

「……Even if you stare at me like that, my clothes won’t become see through, you know?」

「Heh!? Ehh!? N, no no that’s not it!」

In response to the panicking Kain, the blue haired Maid Knight put a finger to her mouth looking amused.

「Oya, is that so? Well, I certainly haven’t heard that Clairvoyance Magic has been completed yet after all.」

「……Jeez, Reina. You shouldn’t be teasing our guests.」

The blue haired Maid Knight ──Reina shrugged her shoulders at the troubled sounding Celis’s words, and Kain breathed a sigh of relief.

Ein, who was watching that situation, stared at Reina with a face that just realized something.

「Reina……? You’re, the Maid Knight Reina……」

「Nn? Come to think of it, I did not introduce myself, did I.」

After Reina expressed an impish smile, she pinched both hems of her skirt and curtsied.

「Nice to meet you. I am the Maid Knight Reina. Having a connection with Celis, I am staying here in the form of something like a friend-cum-advisor. Please treat me well, okay?」

Maid Knight Reina──That name came up from Vermudol as a target to search for. If she remembered correctly, there should have also been a report saying that a person seeming like it was her was in the Canal Kingdom.

The legendary Maid Knight.

A person said to have a connection with Ichika who was the strongest part of the Zadark Kingdom.

Why didn’t she realize it? Even though she completely conformed with the picture that was in the documents after looking at her like this.

「……Is she an acquaintance of yours?」

「……Are you an idiot! Acquaintance or not, when speaking of someone who’s a Maid Knight and named Reina, there’s only one person that’s spoken of in the legends!」

「Fufu, there’s no telling, you know. I might just coincidentally have the same name as the Reina that you’re speaking of, you know?」

After Reina said that after hearing Kain and Ein’s whispers with her sharp ears, Celis once again breathed a sigh.

「I’m sorry, Reina is just this kind of person. Even now, she’s purposely confusing you……」