"Call me Edwinna."
The Elf Queen was a modest noblewoman.
"My name is too long and complicated for a human mind to remember."
To be more precise, she was modest 'for an elf' noblewoman.
"If it's too burdensome, well then. You may call me Edwinna Idmir Eilenden Errastien, Aldrenwell the Second. Half of it should be enough to maintain some semblance of courtesy."
"I'll call you Your Majesty."
"You seem to prefer brevity. How human of you."
The Queen smiled humbly. On her wrinkled face, her still vibrantly sparkling eyes were quite impressive.
An elderly elf is somewhat of an unfamiliar concept. Elves are a race whose physical appearance changes extremely little until just before death.
Signs of aging only appear in elves who have let go of everything and are preparing for death. And in such cases, most elves' eyes "die" first.
Their emotions, worn down by the long years, harden like layers of sediment. Nothing new or joyful remains, leaving them hollow. Gradually they put down roots into the earth, slowly relinquishing their existence as individuals.
Elves who become trees this way are still alive but can no longer be called individuals. They return to the great forest, becoming part of what is called the "Ancestors."
"I was quite surprised when I received the report. I thought to myself, what an interesting guest has arrived during these dull times. I could hardly wait to have a conversation. If I've been impolite, I hope you'll understand."
"It's fine."
"Good, good. Though late, welcome to Kalion, guest."
The Queen smiled warmly. Like a grandmother offering cocoa to her grandchild, comfortably.
But Ivan was someone who didn't trust old people in this other world. Unlike the brilliant 21st century civilization where the elderly were naturally respected with age, in this primitive world, the elderly were "those who had proven themselves through the years they survived."
Especially after a war that had claimed a third of the working population.
"Excluding messengers, no human has enjoyed tea time with me in recent times... at least not in the last two centuries. Now, I have no intention of teaching you our etiquette, so please speak freely without concern for rudeness. What brings you to my palace?"
Ivan quietly touched his teacup. Around him were only two royal guards with their eyes closed.
He was the only one granted an audience in this situation.
He looked around. The spire terrace of the Eternal Palace, the Elf Queen's castle, was gleaming white in the warm midday sunlight.
Wildflowers and unnamed elegant shrubs adorned the aerial garden, and a fountain, clearly powered by magical engineering, scattered sunlight as it flowed.
Birds he had never seen before chirped melodiously.
From this high spire, with just a slight turn of his gaze, all the streets of Idranhil were visible. The panoramic white cityscape and dozens of warships and merchant vessels floating on the emerald sea looked like jewels.
"It's a beautiful place."
"Ah, my only hobby is voyeurism. I have nothing else to do but watch over my people."
This meant she reigned but did not rule.
Since the Privy Council held all administrative power.
Unlike Krasilov's merely nominal constitutional monarchy, Kalion truly maintained royal power under the law in the literal sense. It was a position that remained purely symbolic.
Ivan wasn't accustomed to speaking indirectly. To begin with, he wasn't someone skilled enough in worldly affairs to engage in political conversations with such high-ranking officials.
He soon turned his gaze to face the Queen and said:
"There are groups misusing the Milestones. Is this with Your Majesty's permission?"
"The authority to manage them does rest with me. But what can I do if the council members decide? All I can do is grant permission."
"Did you know about this?"
"Yes. And what you truly wish to ask as well."
The Queen smiled mischievously.
"Speak freely. Kalion's ancient artifacts aren't really your concern, are they?"
"We received intelligence that the deposed Crown Prince of my country has taken refuge here."
"Ah, yes. His name was... Alexandr, wasn't it? That boy was here."
"My country requests the extradition of our criminal according to the treaty of the United Kingdoms."
"If that were the case, you should have sent an envoy with an official petition. That's not something I can help with."
If you're going to mention your country, bring official documents.
That's her stance.
Ivan stared intently at the Queen. Her eyes were still sparkling with amusement.
Go on, entertain me more. That was her attitude. The amusement of a queen aging without power.
"Then I request an audience with Beolgrin Grikenkos."
"Oh?"
The Queen's eyes lit up brightly.
"You figured it out? Krasilov's intelligence is beyond my imagination."
"You flatter me."
So Beolgrin has indeed joined hands with Alexandr.
From the beginning, he hadn't come to Krasilov to deal with Alexandr.
But...
'He could have killed me that day.'
At that time, when Beolgrin possessed the captain of the airship, he had the power to do so. If he had wanted, Ivan would have died at that moment.
He is the most powerful mage of this era. Even in close combat, victory couldn't be guaranteed. That was his level of power even when not in his true form.
Yet Beolgrin spared him after briefly testing him. Rather than sparing him, it was as if the test itself had been the purpose.
'At that time, Alexandr's goal was to usurp or destroy the Krasilov royal authority.'
If he had wanted to join hands with Alexandr, he could have simply bombed Pritzenkaya. The fact that he didn't meant—
'Was he... using Alexandr?'
That Alexandr was necessary for some plan he had.
That he brought Alexandr to Kalion and protected him for some scheme.
And that all this happened under the approval of this old Queen before his eyes.
No matter how powerful Beolgrin might be, in this country he was just one of many Privy Council members. Elves weren't a humble enough race to unconditionally revere him simply because he was a member of the Hero Party.
To harbor a failed rebel prince from another country, support him by dispatching elves, or allow warships to be mobilized to find him—someone's support would have been necessary.
It was reasonable to assume the Queen knew of Beolgrin's plans and was actively supporting him.
"Beolgrin Grikenkos was the High Astronomer. He was Your Majesty's right hand, so I can only speculate."
"Well, is Lord Grikenkos the type of person who could be anyone's right hand? Hehe, do you think I still have hands and feet left?"
Looking at the Queen smiling enigmatically, Ivan quietly nodded.
She was suggesting a deal. Regarding Beolgrin's whereabouts.
"I come here not as a soldier of Krasilov, but as a mere guest."
I am a soldier of Krasilov. Of quite high rank.
"In my country, we have this custom. A guest who takes shelter in someone's home does not refuse the host's small requests, however inconvenient."
If you need hands and feet, I'll play along for a while, so tell me what you need.
Hearing Ivan's words, the Elf Queen smiled modestly and asked:
"What an interesting custom. Isn't it proper for any respectable house not to burden their guests?"
Are you planning to make this an issue later?
Ivan shook his head at her words and replied:
"Isn't it human decency to repay kindness with kindness?"
As long as you keep your end of the deal, I'll resolve this cleanly.
The Queen nodded with satisfaction at Ivan's answer.
"Truly, Krasilov is a nation that understands courtesy."
Deal established.
Ivan took a satisfied sip of his tea.
"She asked me to dance with swords."
"Huh...?"
Edel put down her fork at Ivan's words.
"Her Majesty?"
"Yes."
"To whom?"
"The Privy Council."
The Privy Council's dueling proxy (current council member, owner of the Sword Corner) tilted her head. For reference, this was the office of the branch manager of the Sword Corner's Idranhil branch.
The branch manager was watching Ivan and Edel with arms crossed. The meaning in his eyes was clear.
Shall I ring the bell?
Edel shook her head. Stand down.
To reiterate, elves who carry swords are fundamentally lunatics. And since the baseline for elves was already lunacy, they were double lunatics. Ivan acknowledged this simple fact without any racist stance and moved his hand to his waist.
Ready to draw his axe immediately if they attacked.
"What exactly did she say?"
"She told me to investigate the misuse of the Milestones and dispose of those involved if corruption is confirmed."
"And she entrusted that to a human— a foreigner?"
"Obviously she just wants me to stir things up first."
The strongholds of the Elf Privy Council members are like trees. Like old trees that house beehives, birds, vipers, and other creatures.
Shake it, and who knows what will come out.
As the amazing science and technology of the 21st century revealed, trees are organisms that communicate with each other through their roots. It's known that when one tree is attacked, other trees immediately become aware of it.
Once again, Elf Privy Council members are like trees.
Disturb them and they'll go wild, communicate closely with each other and go wilder, and then start going even wilder.
This is different from the previous Alchemy Faction incident. That ended as part of "elf politics" as usual, with Beolgrin and the Sword Corner supporting an internal power struggle within the Alchemy Faction.
But this time, it's a sword wielded by the Elf Queen through a foreign "human."
"Hmm."
Edel twitched her ears thoughtfully, then shook her head.
What would happen if the Privy Council members rebelled against the Queen? She was a monarch sitting on mere formality, without any real power. How difficult would it be to replace her? Her son had been grown for over 300 years.
They would replace the throne, imprison the Queen, and reorganize the government. In the process, the Queen's sword handle—that is, Ivan—would be shattered.
"And you accepted this?"
"For a price."
"A price? What is it?"
"Alexandr."
If Beolgrin had joined hands with Alexandr, meeting Beolgrin alone would solve more than half of this problem.
When the Privy Council starts to riot, their vision would narrow, as is typical of all riots. Angry beasts are naturally blind.
Meanwhile, the Queen would achieve what she desires.
Ivan would secure Alexandr and return to his country.
A mutually beneficial relationship. Humans call this a "deal."
After hearing Ivan's explanation, Edel chuckled and shook her head.
"You've become quite the politician, Yon."
Edel took a sip of tea and lamented:
"I wonder what Her Majesty truly desires."
Ivan silently agreed.
Elves who begin to age lose their sight. It was a natural process. Only elves whose emotions and motivations have been completely worn away experience aging.
So, it was quite strange for an aged elf to be so passionately plotting something.
Her eyes were sparkling with passion and curiosity.
Ivan wasn't well-versed in elves. All he could be certain about regarding elves was that they die when their necks are cut and that they are extremely troublesome.
However, not from an elven perspective but from a power perspective, he was familiar with such cases.
When an old, tired, and powerless ruler shows passion for something.
It's usually only when they're engaged in a political struggle to seize power.
But.
"As long as it stays within Kalion, I don't care."
If it didn't affect Krasilov, it didn't matter at all.
He wasn't even interested. Why should he care if elves wanted to be "elves"?
"You know it's difficult for me to help, right? I need to start managing the Sword Corner now."
"Get things in order beforehand."
"My goodness, even giving advance notice of an audit. This is why power is so nice. So where do you plan to visit first?"
Most countries in the United Nations operate their state affairs through competition between the so-called "House of Nobles" and "Royalists." If one had to describe it, it would be the separation of executive and legislative powers. (Judicial power was not separated as both held it.)
However, in Kalion, there is no such thing as "Royalists." No noble stands on the side of the monarch.
Therefore, if the Queen wants to stir up the Privy Council, there's no need to carefully select nobles. Picking blindly would still mean targeting the "Noble Faction."
"The Life Faction."
So if he's been given the authority to dance with swords, it's fine to strike at the suspicious ones first.
Given the clear circumstances that they had been plotting against the Alchemy Faction, the black mages were the most suspicious in the current situation.
Ivan finished his tea and stood up.