(EP-181.1) Sand #6
181 – Wind and Sand #6
The woman was an emissary of the Tureuki Empire, representing their Empress.
Apparently, Empress Serazade was requesting some of my time.
As the afternoon after my visit to the prison held no significant schedule, I readily accepted her invitation.
“Very well, please lead the way.”
Was my response too straightforward? The emerald eyes revealed beneath the black veil squinted slightly.
“… Even though I’m the one making the request, you seem rather heedless in accepting offers from strangers.”
Following an unknown person could indeed be seen as reckless. On the contrary, she appeared to be more wary of me.
Did she think I was plotting something?
To give a reason, Gracia was a strictly neutral territory.
Even if they were an envoy or the Empress of a rival nation, no one would risk plotting in this city.
If it was the crazy tyrant Aira, with her unpredictability, who knew. But that fox Serazade wouldn’t do that.
“Here, this way to the room.”
And so, I arrived at a special room where valuable guests stayed in Ark.
It was the luxurious chamber where Aira resided before being assigned her dormitory. Honestly, I never thought I’d come back to this place.
Click, creak.
As I opened the firmly sealed door, a hallway adorned with a fresh white finish and red carpet greeted me. The magical cooling device was also on, making it feel cool and invigorating.
Overall, everything seemed unchanged.
I thought while scanning the surroundings. Then the woman guiding me suddenly said, ” Please wait inside this room for a moment,” and left.
As a result, I found myself alone in the room.
The floor was covered with tiger skin, and the bed adorned with embroidered silk quilt and colorful ceramics scattered throughout, creating a beautiful space.
Silk garments and shoes placed here and there indicated that this was a room belonging to a woman of high stature.
Sniff.
My sensitive Half-Fairy nose suddenly detected a faint sweet scent.
According to my deduction, there must be candy hidden somewhere in this room, boasting a Nymph-friendly taste.
「You have calmly judged the situation!
You have gained experience points through the talent 《Calm Thinking》.
All job experience +5」
‘Alright…’
‘Where is it!? Is it in that drawer!?’
As I looked around, my gaze soon went to a large teddy bear sitting on the bed.
For a moment, I thought that the doll felt out of place in this luxurious room, as it was typically something little girls would like.
Click, creak.
The locked door swung open with a creak, and with the clicking of high heels, someone entered the room. When I turned my head, I saw a woman draped in silk approaching me.
“You’ve kept me waiting, Half-Fairy.”
She was unmistakably Serazade, the temporary owner of this room.
Surrounding her in a half-circle were soldiers armed with curved swords. Then Serazade casually gestured towards them, while gracefully commanding.
“You may withdraw~.”
━Yes.
Thud, thud, thud.
The Empress’ soldiers simply left. There was not a mention of questions like, “How can we leave the Empress with a stranger?”
It seemed like they were well-trained. However, if it were me, I wouldn’t have left Aira alone with a suspicious person.
Of course, it wasn’t because I was worried about Aira’s safety. Rather, it was more about the concern for what might happen to her opponent.
In that sense, Serazade seemed to be trusted by people.
“It is an honor to meet you, Your Majesty Tanak.”
I got up and bowed in an exaggerated but solemn manner. Serazade responded by gently waving her palms at the sight of me bowing.
“Empress Serazade is enough. Your Majesty Tanak somehow reminds me of my father. Now, if you’ll excuse me for a moment.”
Seuk. Seuk, thud.
Serazade took off the heels she’d been wearing and casually threw them on the side.
Judging the discarded footwear, the heels seemed to be about 20cm high. At this point, it was not just about wearing heels; it was more like riding them. It couldn’t be merely considered as adding a bit of height…
「You have calmly judged the situation!
You have gained experience points through the talent 《Calm Thinking》.
All job experience +5」
Look, even the status window acknowledged it. I was also a Half-Fairy with a small stature, but wearing heels that high felt a bit…
Serazade, with her cat-like eyes, crossed her legs as she sat down, and smiled.
“This Highness called the Half-Fairy because I wanted to talk. I wanted to make some time earlier, but I’ve been busy lately until now.”
“What do you want to talk about, your highness?”
“I’d like to discuss a lot of things. But you really are interesting… You look like a fledgling covered in fresh feathers. Why was it rumored that you’re a monstrous figure?”
It seemed that Serazade was curious about the reasons behind the peculiar rumors surrounding me.
I, of course, knew why. I could not be unaware that my enemies in the court and people who hated me intentionally spread malicious rumors around.
Even in the world of the 21st century, there were plenty of defamatory remarks about celebrities and politicians, let alone in a world like this.
So, I decided to respond lightly.
“There’re also rumors about His Majesty, Tureuki’s late King, Suleiman. They say he has tiger-like fur covering his entire face and body, and he tears enemies apart with his sharp fangs, am I correct?”
“… Yes, this Highness knew of such stories about my father. The soldiers of Angmar, who suffered greatly under him, probably spread the rumors.”
“The rumors about me are probably something similar.”
“However-.”
Seuk.
Serazade gracefully raised a finger.
Now that I looked closely, she had rings on every finger, which looked funny as she was like a student trying to appear older by dressing up a lot.
“However, rumors aren’t entirely groundless. There’s a saying in Turkey, ‘there can’t be a shadow on a cactus that doesn’t exist’ .”
“Is that the same as the saying ‘smoke doesn’t rise without a fire’?”
“Yes. Rumors have some basis for creation. In fact, it is said that my father, Suleiman, bit the ear of Demon King Angmar on the battlefield.”
Edited by: faker
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