True to her word, Amel arrived in under five minutes. To be honest, she seemed a little giddy.
"So this is my Sworn Friend’s sanctum. It is so grand—ahem. A magnificent exterior that marries solemnity and elegance. As expected of my Sworn Friend, it is a dwelling worthy of a truly exceptional being."
"Thank you. But really, I’m sorry to have made you rush all this way on such short notice."
"Think nothing of it. For my Sworn Friend, I would race to the very edge of the world. Our souls’ covenant is a bond that not even the fires of samsara could hope to consume."
"Right... well, for now, let's not stand around talking out here. Please, come inside."
"Hehe, this is actually the first time I've ever been to a friend’s ho—hnnn-hem! Very well, I shall take you up on your kind offer."
Ah, I see. The reason she seemed so high-spirited was simply that she was excited about visiting a friend's house for the first time.
It occurred to me that Amel might be a true Elite Loner. She’d mentioned receiving those colored contacts from someone, but if I recalled correctly, she’d called them an acquaintance, not a friend.
I wasn't sure what had happened to the idea of me being in a "predicament," but for the time being, a joyful-looking Amel followed me inside, her eyes darting around curiously as I guided her through the halls.
I led her straight to the reception room and had Illness-san bring out some black tea before moving on to the main topic.
"Thank you again for coming. So, about the favor I wanted to ask..."
I explained the situation regarding Lilia—how she was eager to establish trade with the Winged Race, and that if Amel didn't mind, I wanted to introduce them.
After listening to my explanation, Amel gave a slow, deep nod and let a cool smile slip onto her face.
"...I do not mind. This is a request from none other than my Sworn Friend. I should not be the one to dictate the terms of the contract; that should be left for a later date. Every soul has its proper place, and their domains are sacred. However, rest easy. In the name of Amel, Leader of the Winged Race, I solemnly swear here and now that the door shall be opened."
In other words, while the specific details would have to be negotiated later with the actual person in charge, she was guaranteeing right now that she would at least come to the table.
"Thank you. In that case, if you have the time, would it be alright if I introduced Lilia to you right away?"
"Heh, yes, of course. I have long held an interest in the White Rose Princess whose fame echoes through the lands. She may be a radiance that contrasts with my own jet-black nature, but the truth can only be found at the end of the path one treads."
"So you know Lilia by reputation, but you won't know if your personalities click until you actually meet? Is that what you mean?"
"As expected of my Sworn Friend. Our souls truly do resonate on the deepest level."
I didn't know why, but every time I accurately deciphered her words, her affection for me seemed to spike. Even now, while she was trying to sound cool, her eyes were practically sparkling.
Since there didn't seem to be a problem with the introduction, I decided to get it over with immediately.
A few minutes after I sent word, Lilia arrived in the reception room and took a seat across from Amel. When I’d gone to fetch her, Lilia had been muttering to herself with dead fish eyes, saying, "It hasn't even been an hour since breakfast... what is happening... truly..." However, she was a professional noble through and through; she’d managed to reconstruct her usual composed expression by the time she entered the room.
After a brief exchange of introductions, Lilia broached the subject of the trade agreement.
"I would like to confirm one thing: would it be acceptable if we discussed the specific trade details with a representative at a later date?"
"Indeed, for there exists a proper time and a proper place. I shall leave it to the Sage with the Catalog. If it can be granted, I wish for a span of time equivalent to thrice the curtain falling. The Sage cannot move with the speed of a gale; they require a grace period to arrive."
"...U-Umm..."
Hearing Amel's response, Lilia wore an obviously troubled expression. Most likely—no, definitely—she had no idea what Amel was talking about.
I stepped in to translate as planned.
"Umm... essentially, she's saying she’ll send a representative with a catalog of trade goods and specialties to your mansion in a few days to negotiate. As for the schedule, she’d like to set it for three days from now at the earliest. Since the representative isn't quite as fast as Amel, it will take them some time to travel from the Winged Race's village to the capital, so she's asking for a schedule that accounts for that."
"I see. In that case, regarding the negotiation date, would it be acceptable if I sent a formal letter later so we can find a day that is convenient for both parties?"
"I have no dissatisfaction with the radiance you show."
"She says that would be fine."
Amel was going at full throttle, using some incredibly convoluted phrasing, but I was getting used to it. I translated fluently, and the discussion proceeded without a hitch.
The only thing was that every time I translated, Amel turned those sparkling, impressed eyes toward me. I got the distinct feeling her affection was continuing to climb.
Amel She was incredibly excited about the situation of visiting a friend's house, and her spirits were high. Her chuunibyou-style phrasing was also at full power. She was extremely happy that Kaito could fluently grasp her true intentions.
Kaito His usual adaptability was on display. He had already become quite accustomed to Amel's way of speaking.
Lilia Just when she thought her stomach was done reeling from the shocking social connections revealed at breakfast, she ended up facing the leader of the Winged Race in less than an hour. She didn't know what was happening and didn't even want to think about it anymore, but her stomach hurt—it hurt a lot.