Anesis, the city housing the mansion of Duke Kerebel. An eagle soared toward that metropolis, which stood as the second city of the Kingdom of Mireana.
What set it apart from an ordinary eagle was its sheer size. While a typical eagle reached a wingspan of roughly two meters at most, the one currently approaching Anesis was one—no, nearly two sizes larger.
It was not a monster, but rather the product of meticulous selective breeding and magic.
Engineered to be faster and more enduring than any natural raptor, it possessed enough combat prowess to easily dispatch a small group of goblins despite its non-monstrous status.
Flapping its powerful wings, the eagle descended toward Anesis, a metal cylinder containing a letter secured to its leg.
The gatekeepers marveled at its size but kept a cool head, warning the travelers, merchants, and adventurers entering the city to stay clear of its path.
The bird glided through the gates and flew directly toward its final destination: the mansion of Duke Kerebel.
Inside a room within the mansion, Elena was currently reviewing documents spread across her office desk.
Standing before her was a man in his twenties, frozen so stiffly he seemed unable to breathe.
He was nervous, certainly—standing before the Duke's Daughter was enough to rattle anyone. However, the expression on his face wasn't merely one of anxiety. He was completely overwhelmed by the woman before him—Elena Kerebel, whose beauty was nothing short of a masterpiece.
(…Well, it’s no wonder. Lady Elena has changed so much since this spring. Her beauty always drew eyes, but now it’s gained a certain radiance—one might even call it an allure.)
Ara, seated at a separate desk a short distance away, murmured to herself as she signed her own stack of papers.
Since the war with the Bestia Empire ended—or more accurately, since parting ways with Rei on the battlefield—Elena’s beauty had only intensified with each passing day.
Of course, she hadn't become so dazed by love that she neglected her noble duties, her command over the knight order, or her role as the Princess General who served as the symbol of the Noble's Faction. If anything, she handled her work with more speed and precision than ever before.
(Is this the latent power of a maiden in love?)
The images of her master and the young man she pined for, Rei, crossed Ara’s mind, bringing a small smile to her lips.
However, Elena wasn't the only one who had changed. Ara herself had evolved considerably.
For one, she had never been this diligent with paperwork in the past.
…Though, there was a clear distinction: Elena had been transformed by the stirrings of love, whereas Ara had been disciplined into her desk duties through the combined efforts of Elena and the vice-commander of the Escort Knight Order, Mechen.
Elena finished reviewing a document, gave a small nod, and turned her sharp gaze toward the man.
"…There are no issues. Proceed as planned."
"Y-Yes, Your Ladyship!"
Because she spoke with such a serious, dignified expression, her presence felt all the more commanding, causing the man’s cheeks to flush crimson.
Elena, however, seemed not to notice. She immediately shifted her focus to the next paper.
The man before her had likely already vanished from her thoughts.
Visibly dejected by the dismissal, the official reached for the office door to make his exit, but…
"Whoops, my apologies."
Just as he was about to pull it open, the door swung inward from the hallway, and a voice called out.
The official instinctively scrambled backward to clear the way.
The person entering was a man in his thirties with a gentle face—Mechen, the vice-commander of Elena's Escort Knight Order.
"No, please, go ahead," the official stammered, slipping past Mechen to exit the room.
He closed the door behind him and took a few steps down the hall when—
"What?! Is it true?!"
Elena’s voice rang out so loudly from within the office that he stopped in his tracks.
To him, Elena was the stoic Princess General. He had never imagined her letting out such a frantic, high-pitched shout.
For a heartbeat, he wondered if the Bestia Empire had launched a fresh invasion, but the sheer joy in her voice told him otherwise. Realizing the news was nothing detrimental to the Kingdom of Mireana or Duke Kerebel's Territory, he continued on his way.
He felt quite lucky to have heard Elena shout like that away from the battlefield.
"Please, calm down, Lady Elena."
As the knight walked down the hall cherishing his small moment of surprise, Mechen was busy trying to settle his master inside the office. Elena was already grinning, looking ready to pack her bags on the spot.
Normally, the task of reining in Elena’s impulses fell to Ara, Mechen's superior. However, Ara was currently busy prepping her own gear with just as much haste.
Even if she had grown more responsible, her Elena-first priorities remained as firm as ever.
It was the core of Ara's being, so it was perhaps unavoidable.
"…Forgive me. It was the report I’ve been waiting for. Honestly, that Rei. He did say it would be about three months, but he has kept me waiting far too long."
Realizing how flustered she was acting, Elena sat back down in her chair, murmuring as if to hide her embarrassment.
"So, Lady Elena. I ask again: what are your orders? Fortunately, we have no urgent matters on the horizon, and as I mentioned, Knight Commander Ara and I can handle the remaining documents. If you intend to leave Anesis immediately, there is no logistical hurdle."
Mechen’s smooth delivery caught Ara off guard.
"W-Wait a second. Mechen, did you just imply that I'm staying behind, too?"
Mechen nodded without a hint of hesitation.
"Naturally. If Lady Elena, the leader of the Escort Knight Order, is absent, we will require you, Knight Commander Ara, to stay as the secondary officer in charge."
"…What? You mean I can't go to the Labyrinth City with Lady Elena?" Ara asked blankly.
Mechen, who had been promoted specifically for his pragmatic administrative skills, gave a merciless nod.
"That is correct. …Did you honestly think you were going?"
Ara hung her head in silence.
Eventually, she looked up at Mechen with a pleading, timid gaze.
Anyone who knew the normally boisterous Ara would have been shocked by the expression, but it held no sway over Mechen.
"That won't work on me. If you leave alongside Lady Elena, the Escort Knight Order will effectively cease to function. It would be no different than closing up shop."
"…I…"
Ara was silenced.
As someone who worshipped Elena, she couldn't bear the thought of letting the order fall into such a pathetic state.
It wasn't just a matter of pride; if the order collapsed, her beloved Elena would be subjected to the ridicule of the more arrogant nobles.
As Elena’s confidante, subordinate, and devotee, she could never let that happen.
Mechen pressed the point. "Do you understand now?"
"…B-But! We can't let Lady Elena go all the way to the Labyrinth City alone! That goes against our entire purpose as her Escort Knight!"
Mechen shook his head dismissively.
"Don't worry. As for an escort—or rather, a driver—I have already commissioned Lord Tsufal."
Hearing the name of one of the Duke Kerebel's House's veteran drivers took the wind out of Ara's sails for a moment, but she quickly rallied.
"An escort! We are Lady Elena's Escort Knight Order, for heaven's sake!"
"In normal circumstances, I would agree. But this is Lady Elena, who has inherited the power of the Ancient Dragon Magic Stone. Who exactly is going to hurt her? Furthermore, she is going to meet Rei-san, the man who earned the alias Crimson during the Spring War. If Rei-san is there, his Gryphon, Set, will be too. …So, let me ask you: do you really think she needs an escort?"
"…"
Ara was left speechless once more.
Elena, though implicitly labeled a monster alongside Rei, merely offered a wry smile and remained silent.
"You see? Our duty is to keep the order in peak condition so we are ready for anything. And we should use this time to focus on our training."
Mechen spoke firmly. Despite its name, the Escort Knight Order was an elite unit built for offensive strikes.
Because they were Elena’s direct subordinates, they were expected to fight at the front to bolster morale, and they had been forged into a force of peerless warriors. Those who couldn't keep up had no choice but to transfer to other units.
Sensing the argument was won, Elena finally spoke.
"Ara, truth be told, I wanted you to remain here in Anesis as well."
"How could you say that?!" Ara cried out, looking at Elena with utter betrayal.
Before Ara could spiral, Elena continued.
"It is not because I lack faith in you. Quite the opposite. Because I trust you above all others, I want you here to guard my home."
"Lady Elena, but…"
"Will you not grant me this request?"
Staring into Elena’s eyes, Ara found herself unable to refuse. She eventually gave a small, defeated nod.
"I… understand. Then, until you return, I shall protect this land with my life."
As Ara made her vow, Mechen let out a silent sigh.
(Lady Elena’s objective is certainly the dungeon in the Labyrinth City, but her primary goal is undoubtedly a tryst with Rei-san. I suppose that's just the way of it.)
He didn't voice the thought. He knew exactly how much Elena had been looking forward to this reunion, and how hard she had worked to clear her schedule for it.
Furthermore, Mechen was aware that Duke Kerebel approved of the connection. If the Duke could bring a man of Rei's caliber into their faction, it was a major win.
Had Elena felt nothing for Rei, the Duke likely wouldn't have pushed the issue; his affection for his daughter was genuine, and he wouldn't use her as a political tool against her will.
But since Elena’s heart was already set on the boy, the interests of father and daughter were perfectly aligned.
(In a sense, it was a stroke of luck. If Lady Elena didn't feel this way, and the Duke still tried to claim Rei-san… well, I'm sure he would have found more unpleasant methods.)
Maintaining his professional demeanor, Mechen spoke to Elena, who now bore a faint, excited smile.
"Lady Elena, I shall have the maids begin packing for your journey immediately. You should be able to depart tomorrow morning."
"I suppose today is too much to ask. …Should I send Iero ahead?"
Elena considered it for a second but quickly reconsidered. She wasn't sensorially linked to her familiar. While she could see Iero's memories through physical contact, the dragon-like creature had to be with her for that to work. Sending it to the village alone wouldn't do her much good until she arrived there herself.
"…No, I’ll wait. I’d rather we just get there as fast as possible. Fortunately, the work is at a natural breaking point, and with Knight Commander Ara here, everything will be fine in my absence."
She murmured the words, her heart already racing at the thought of seeing Rei again. She then turned her attention back to her desk, determined to finish her remaining papers before the sun went down.