Maynard gave a gentle smile the moment he saw the round table and those seated there.

“I was under the impression you weren’t going to show me the throne room, but you’re taking this approach instead?”
“Weren’t you the one who introduced himself as a member of the Rave Imperial Family, Maynard-aniue?”

Vissel gives a curt, “Please,” as he sipped his tea and then indicated the seat across from him with his chin.

“An audience would be too formal.  Why don’t we have a private talk as siblings?”
“In other words, you’ve decided that treating me as a sibling is preferable to treating me as a goodwill ambassador.  It sounds like the sort of stalling tactic Duke Fairart would come up with.  The Three Dukes are probably extremely busy right now confirming things with Kratos, determining the route by which I entered, and various other matters.  Or perhaps they’ll come into contact with me in the end, deciding they’d prefer a figurehead easier to carry than the Dragon Emperor.  Which do you think it will be, Your Highness Vissel?”

“Just sit down already.  This is supposed to be a private talk between siblings.”

Lutiya, seated beside Hades, spoke carelessly while picking up a cookie.  He had many childish aspects, but he was perceptive.  He understood the sort of situation they were in and was able to behave accordingly.

“How true, Lutiya.  Then I’ll accept this invitation without hesitation.”

Maynard approached with graceful steps and sat down directly across from Hades.  The motion with which he drew his chair and the gesture of tucking his hair that came loose behind his ear when he bent forward were both theatrical.  Each action was picture-perfect.  He was like an actor.

The graceful way he lifted his cup and savored the tea gave the impression that he was playing the role of a prince.

“What splendid tea.  Tea leaves from Leilsatz, I take it?”

No one answered.  The sound of Lutiya chewing a cookie and the scrape of a teacup against a saucer as Vissel set it down resounded through the closed reception room.  It was so quiet that even the sharp crack of a log falling in the fireplace could be heard.

“So then, what is it you want to ask?”

Hades gazed out the window, feeling as though he had seen the shadow of a small bird.  The weather was good today.

“Jill… Are you doing well?”
“Well, we’ll just have to trust her with this.”

Rave moved from someone’s shoulder and onto the table where he began looking over the baked sweets on the dessert stand.  Vissel had taken out a book.

“… I’d be happy if one of you said something.”
“…”
“The opposite of love is said to be indifference.  This is troubling.”

Resting both elbows on the table and placing his chin atop his clasped hands, Maynard let out a sigh.

“Very well, I shall tell you.  At this time, in my capacity of Kratos’ goodwill ambassador, I have been entrusted with offering assistance for the poor harvest and ascertaining Prince Gerald’s wellbeing.  I intend to request a meeting with him during the audience.”
“I recommend these baked sweets, Maynard-aniue.  Please fill your mouth with them.”
“Of course, you are free to refuse.  I already took that much into account.  Although, there are fools who will want to receive aid from Kratos due to the poor harvest. Without even realizing they are traitors, they’ll become attentive to Kratos’ every move.  It would also be hard to claim the prince is on a friendly study abroad without even letting him observe the Dragon Flower Crown Festival.  Just leave him in a section for honored guests of something and maintain the appearance that he’s observing it.  Then tell me, ‘Please do enjoy the Dragon Flower Crown Festival,’ and seat me somewhere far away where Prince Gerald can be seen.  Can we settle for something along those lines?”

That was a reasonable suggestion.  When Hades turned to look at him, Maynard smiled brightly in return.

“It’s been fifteen years, Hades.  You’ve grown.  Do you remember me?”

Vissel fired back in a sharp voice.

“Shall I stuff the baked sweets down your throat?”
“You are as overprotective as ever, Vissel. Compared to when you would go around half in tears, crying, ‘But my little brother can see the Dragon God, he isn’t lying,’ and attacking anyone and everyone, I suppose you’ve matured.  Just how many times did I drop you into that hole?  You were adorable, shutting yourself in the library after having the tables turned on you.”

With a loud bang, Vissel snapped his book shut.  The glare he fixed on Maynard was filled with murderous intent.

“You trained me quite thoroughly.  You taught me every kind of malice that exists in the royal court. I’m grateful.”
“I see.  That’s good.  I thought you’d understand now, the danger of foolishly and honestly going around insisting that your younger brother was the Dragon Emperor like that.  How do you feel now?”
“Like I should stuff baked sweets into your nostrils.”
“Oh, right.  I’ve also be entrusted with formally notifying you of the Queen of Kratos’ accession to the throne.”

Maynard was very skillful at varying the pace of the conversation.  Despite thinking he ought pretend not to care, Hades found himself listening.

“With all that said, will I be granted an audience?  Even just for appearances’ sake is fine.  Otherwise, I’ll have to return to Kratos very quickly and report ‘As expected, the Rave Empire has confined Prince Geraldo.  My request to meet with him was also refused.’”

That could become an unnecessary source of conflict.

A young queen trying to recover her older brother, who had been made a hostage, would surely come across as very appealing, depending on how it was presented.

“I’d be delighted if you let me take it easy for a while.  Elynsia-aneue is maintaining border security while Listeard is in Veilberg, so they are impossible, but I wonder how Frida and Natalie are doing.”
“Natalie and Frida were attacked by someone last night.”

Hades didn’t blink as he watched Maynard’s reaction to what Vissel told him.

The concern that replaced his expression was probably false, but the stiffness in the fingers gripping the handle of his teacup and the brief moment he took to steady his breathing appeared genuine.

“They’ve also been excused from their official duties today and tomorrow.  If you want to see them, do so from tomorrow onward.  Especially for Natalie, the sight of your face would probably be bad for her heart.”
“—I see, so that’s why they aren’t here.  Were they injured?  Are the two of them safe?  Seeing as you all are here, I suppose I don’t need to worry…”

“You know something, don’t you?  About the culprit.”

Lutiya, not Vissel pressed the issue.  Vissel’s brows furrowed, but Hades silently watched how it would unfold.

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