There were two ways to travel between the Saber family’s main residence and the villa at the foot of the mountain.

They could either go by horses or magical beasts; or by foot. However, the latter could only be done by the people of Saber family, while horses and magic beasts tended to be slow. Moreover, if the beasts weren’t well-trained, they’d run away as soon as they encountered the magic of Rakia Mountains which grew more unstable as the altitude increased.

Therefore, while the locals could scale the mountain on their own, the same couldn’t be said about any guests. As a result, a building with a teleportation device installed had been erected.

As a magical powerhouse, Kratos had teleportation devices installed here and there which also acted as checkpoints. Every single one of them was connected to the royal capital, but only the royal family could use them free of charge. Ordinary citizens couldn’t use them without a permit and paying a toll. Both the destination and number of participants were also strictly controlled. Nevertheless, in every territory, there was at least one installed. Depending on the size of the territory and other circumstances, the number of devices would increase.

In the territory of the Saber family, there were four of them.

In the Northern region near the capital city, the central region near the main residence, the Southern region near the port town, and one near the foothills where the Kratos royal family’s mansion was located. The Saber family’s main residence, being responsible for national defense, being inaccessible to ordinary people was a logical decision.

Using the teleportation device, they’d be able to reach the mansion at the foot of the mountain in the blink of an eye.

“I’m sorry, Hadith, but the teleportation device suddenly malfunctioned. But riding a magical beast shouldn’t be that bad!”

“Y-yes… But I feel like I’ve seen this magical beast somewhere…”

“This is indeed the beast we fought the other day, Your Majesty. Look, it still bears the injury we inflicted on it.”

Magical beasts were trained to be summoned and controlled through a certain level of magical energy. Therefore, the Saber family generally allowed them to roam freely. Of course, they were restricted from leaving the Rakia Mountains using magic, but until they were summoned, they were free. Until they were summoned, they were no different from any other beast. As such, there was nothing strange for Jill and Hadith having encountered some of those beasts on their trial path.

“Eh!? I wasn’t mistaken!? Is this okay!? Am I safe!?”

“It’s okay, Brother Hadith. Hold on tight!”

“Stop screaming, Rick! His Majesty has a weak semicircular canal—”

“Here, look!”

As he said that, Rick took control of the reins and made the tiger-shaped magical beast to somersault with Hadith still on it. Jill sighed while controlling another magical beast.

…Would Hadith still be alive when they reached the mansion at the foot of the mountain?

As I thought, I should’ve ridden with His Majesty…

Three tiger-type magical beasts raced down the mountain, springing over fields and shrubs as if they were competing with each other. Magical beasts—animals who synergized with magic—grew many times larger than their original forms. At present, each beast was being ridden by two people. Her father rode with Andy, and they served as guides to lead the way. Meanwhile, Hadith was with Rick. For some reason, Rick had become attached to him. As for Jill, she rode with her mother.

“Looks like fun. Would Jill like to try as well?”

“No! If His Majesty falls, I have to catch him!”

“Is that so? I thought the two of you fought after he went to your room?”

Jill panicked when her mother suddenly brought that up, and not to mention, with such an ambiguous tone, too.

“I-it isn’t like that! In the first place, it’s His Majesty’s fault for being so laid back even though we were about to depart!”

“Fufu, is that so? Hadith seems like a punctual person?”

Certainly, it wasn’t like they were late or anything. As long as her closet, which was stuffed with her belongings, didn’t bust open, they could have probably taken their time…

…But then, Hadith casually sat down on her bed and said, “So, this is Jill’s room…” When she saw that, her embarrassment spiked, and all she could think of was to remove him from that place even though he had just entered.

—It’s bad for my heart.

Other than that, she didn’t know how to convey it into words.

“—A lot happened between me and His Majesty!”

“You seem to be quite fond of him.”

As if her mother could see through everything, she summed it up in a single sentence. Jill puffed her cheeks.

“Why, is that not good?”

“No, not at all. Even I fall in love with your father every day.”

“Is that so… Come to think of it. Mother, were you the one who arranged for my engagement with Prince Geraldo?”

Before her mother’s musings could begin, Jill switched the topic to something else. Then, her mother nodded gently.

“That’s right. I stayed silent because I wanted to surprise you, but the tables were turned on us. Moreover, to propose to the emperor of the Rave Empire… At that time, we could’ve been executed for lèse-majesté, you know?”

Jill tried to come up with an excuse.

“H-His Majesty was so kind…”

“Fufu. But there’s something I’ve been wondering about. Jill, why is Prince Geraldo not good enough for you?”

Suddenly, Jill sensed a heavy atmosphere behind her. It was neither murderous nor hostile, yet full of coercion.

Jill corrected her posture. This is just the beginning. Her mother realized she was trying to avoid the engagement.

“Would Mother have preferred Prince Geraldo?”

“Of course, he’s a wonderful prince. He’s brilliant, so he probably won’t be as cute as Hadith.”

“Maybe, that’s precisely why.”

After she answered that, Jill felt that she made the right call.

If Hadith was like Geraldo—someone who hadn’t hesitated to discard her after she was no longer of any use—she wouldn’t have stayed with him. If Hadtih was as wonderful as Geraldo, she wouldn’t have fallen so deeply for him.

…I sometimes think that His Majesty is unreliable.

He was so unreliable that she couldn’t afford to take her eyes off him. Sometimes, she used that as a justification to not let go of him.

“I can’t help it—I fell for him.”

“I used to say the same! I’m so happy. I never expected the day when Jill would say something like that to come.”

To mask her embarrassment, Jill focused on the path in front of her. At last, the mansion came into view. She pulled the reins to slow down the magical beast, and it landed effortlessly on the pasture next to the mansion.

“You’re an amazing person. Keep up the good work, Jill.”

“Will you take my side?”

It’d be more reassuring to have her calm, laid-back, and reserved mother on her side.

“Mother is on your father’s side.”

Her mother replied, smiling gently while alighting from the magical beast. However, the words that followed, “Do your best,” probably implied that she wouldn’t go out of her way to oppose them.

—At the same time, it was also a hint for something that was about to come.

After seeing off the magical beasts that took off upon completing their task, Jill headed for the mansion while supporting the slightly pale Hadith. Given that its purpose was to welcome guests, the mansion resembled a castle.

As they entered from the front garden, they were greeted by semi-circular stairs. Jill gawked at the tall figure at the top of the stairs, prompting her to look up.

“Lawrence!?”

Lawrence, who spotted her, winked and put his finger in front of his lips. Amidst her confusion, another figure emerged.

Her father, mother, and younger brothers stepped forward and kneeled all at once.

“I’ve brought His Majesty the Emperor, Hadith Theos Rave.”

“Well done.”

The blue cloak that only permitted to the royal family fluttered. However, none of her family members seemed surprised.

She was the only one in the dark, and she was appalled.

“Welcome to our kingdom, Your Majesty the Emperor of the Rave Empire.”

Pushing his glasses, the crown prince of that kingdom—Geraldo de Kratos spoke.

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