"Ack! Argh!! Hargh..."
Clank! Lloyd wiped his sweaty face with his palm instead of picking up his metal shovel, which fell to the floor.
"Whoa..."
Lloyd felt his legs weaken and let his body fall to the ground. Even then, he was still short of breath. The fact made him feel a sense of resentment as deep and intense as a cup of espresso.
How is she standing there like nothing happened when I'm about to pass out from exhaustion?
Lloyd lifted his resentful gaze and saw the queen proudly standing tall in front of him. She was completely fine. There was no sign of struggle in her breaths and not a single strand of her hair was out of place.
"Are you tired already, Lloyd Frontera?"
"Argh... 'Already’ is really an unfair word for you to say right now, Your Majesty," gasped Lloyd.
"Harsh? Why so?"
"It has been... about an hour since I began training with you, Your Majesty. Yet, you say I'm already tired..."
"How is an hour of sparring a big deal?" Queen Magentano cocked her head to the side as if she couldn't comprehend why Lloyd was uttering the time. "Isn't this the proper way for a sparring session?"
“...”
"It is typical during a war to clash weapons, run around, then grapple on the ground for at least an hour. So this is obviously how training should be done in order to prepare for one. Do you disagree?"
Lloyd wanted to protest that no one would be able to clash weapons, run, and grapple for an hour in a duel with a swordmaster who was using clubs as her weapon.
Goodness. I only came to report the completion of the Pantara Railroad to her.
Lloyd's mind flew back to one hour ago as he berated his current situation, wherein he turned into her punching bag. When he arrived at the training hall, he was surprisingly met with Queen Magentano holding two clubs.
It was a scary sight. The smile on her face toward him was especially scary. She was smiling like a girl opening up a gift from her first love. Otherwise, she was gazing at him like he was a punching bag that was shipped via express delivery. The clubs in both of her hands made this seem even more true. And from then?
After that, she didn't say anything much.
All she did was raise her clubs in an elegant manner and tell Lloyd to loosen his body. There was plenty of time for them to talk. He didn't want to even think about what came afterward.
Fast forward to now, where I'm being beaten to a pulp.
The two clubs, which turned out to be two metal swords with smoothened edges, were a nightmare for Lloyd. Queen Magentano freely used them as though she was testing a new skill and piece of technology on Lloyd. Sure, the movement of her left sword was a little more awkward than the right, but overall, it was hard to avoid them.
Lloyd, on the other hand, didn't put up much of a fight. He was like a cricket in the face of a storm, and the difference in strength between them could be explained by the number of years they spent as swordmasters. Then, there was the matter of how they attained that level. Lloyd was aided by the Asrahan Core Technique and Supercharge skill, as well as an increase in manaheart volume. Queen Magentano attained her strength through incredible talent and hard work. That produced an unbridgeable divide in their comprehension of bodily motions, mana, and sword functioning, and anticipated responses to each step, and it was this that robbed Lloyd of all energy within an hour.
"Ha... But Your Majesty," said Lloyd as he wiped his perspiring face again. "May I reveal the purpose of my visit?"
"I know that already." She chuckled and looked at him meaningfully. "To report the completion of the Pantara Range."
"Did you know about it?" asked Lloyd, still panting.
"That is obvious." She chuckled again, massaging her left arm. "It would be impossible for me not to know after your terrible fuss against the Benetto Kingdom."
“...”
"Well, the report tells me that you did your job without any issues, so I shall not reproach you. I heard you pulled quite a few tricks. You even succeeded in appeasing that old king."
"I am filled with gratitude that you understand me so well, Your Majesty."
"It would be harder for me not to. You can't possibly think I don't have eyes and ears outside the capital."
"Well-"
"They are also in your fiefdom." Her gaze flashed in wonder for a second. "Which told me that you have the skill to manipulate time."
“...”
"There is nothing to worry about," Queen Magentano promised, "Because if I was jealous or on guard against you, I would have already hurt you earlier in our training session."
"W-words fall short of my gratitude to you, Your Majesty."
"Really?"
“...”
"I see. I understand. I understand how you hope I will trust you that you are not after some avaricious goal. I understand."
As she kept speaking, messages appeared just then.
Ding dong.
[Queen Magentano is putting up her guard due to your overly excellent skills.]
[The title <Magentano Carry > is activated.]
[Queen Magentano still has absolute trust in you. As such, despite her guard, she will not be hostile or hold suspicions against you.]
Her eyes softened as the messages appeared. "As such, I have already taken action that prohibits your people from revealing your powers to the outside world and executes anyone who violates it. Furthermore..." She paused and smiled meaningfully. "If anyone attempts to come between me and you with your time-control power, they, too, shall be executed."
"W-Words fall short of my gratitude to you, Your Majesty." Lloyd hung his head down. He did feel grateful toward her for real this time.
I actually was going to inform her of that.
He expected such a story to be exposed quickly because he had stopped time once when constructing the Jewel of Truth.
I knew that stories of my strange power would eventually reach her anyway.
But it happened earlier than he expected. Lloyd figured that she was more interested in him than he thought.
Whew. So glad that I have the title.
Lloyd exhaled a sigh of relief, knowing that he could have been charged with treason if he had not had the title. She would not have left him alone since, despite her compassion, she was at the pinnacle of power and did not want any subject to threaten that, which was why Lloyd exhaled a sigh of relief.
"But Your Majesty," said Lloyd as he looked around, "Us talking here..."
"It is all right. If you are worried about the possibility of those who might listen to us due to their swordmaster syndrome, you can rest assured."
"Then..."
"Yes, I sent everyone away as soon as you requested the audience. There are only weaker guards here now, so our conversation will not reach their ears."
"I am truly relieved. And as for your promise-"
"The Tears of Summer?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"I knew it. You are always like this."
"Your Majesty?" asked Lloyd.
"You only ever look for me when you need something."
"Forgive me, Your Majesty." Lloyd looked away.
"Forgive you?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Really?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Look me in the eye and say that again."
"Please do not kill me, Your Majesty."
"Tsk. You and your shamelessness."
"Forgive me once again, Your Majesty."
"If you are so sorry, then I might break my promise."
"Your Majesty?" asked Lloyd.
"An idea dawned on me."
"What is it…?" mumbled Lloyd, who looked worried.
"Since you only come to me when you need something from me, I had a thought about delaying the bestowal of the item for as long as possible. That way you will visit me until I am sick of you."
“...”
"That is a satisfying thought. What do you think?" asked Queen Magentano.
"Ah, um, that's-"
"What? Do you think I am sly?"
“...”
"Or are you pondering how you will beg?" asked Queen Magentano sharply.
"Please consider the position I am in, Your Majesty!" Lloyd fell to the ground.
A smile, which was as pure as gold, appeared on her face. "Good. I will do what you so desperately wish."
Swoosh.
"Now that you have gotten enough rest, it is time for round two." She then raised her sword with a bright smile.
A look of utter despair came over Lloyd's face.
♣
Lloyd remained bedridden for a few more days due to the rigorous training session. This time, too, he experienced serious muscle pain, but his perseverance had not been in vain.
Fortunately, Queen Magentano kept her word. She turned public sentiment in the country in her favor by making a domestic and international declaration about the completion of the trade route across the Pantara Range and commending Lloyd's work. No noble in the realm dared to oppose her. Everyone just followed the queen since they had agreed to the deal at the previous hearing presided over by the House of Peers. Those in support of bestowing the divine item to Lloyd rejoiced while the opposing side accepted their defeat. Everything went swimmingly.
A few days later, a bestowal ceremony was held, which could not have been more extravagant. Every noble in the kingdom came, including prominent figures from the provinces. The ceremony was grander than most small palatial events, and its size made Lloyd nervous. However, he was not nervous because he would see prominent figures attending the event, be bestowed a divine item, or attract everyone's attention.
This is a huge event. Up to now, something has always happened in every event regardless of size.
That was the state of his luck. It might have been because of some bizarre rule in this world, but whenever there was a celebration for anything, calamity struck.
Once at Cremo. And again here in the palace during the construction of the suspension bridge and the garden. Yong Yong once went bonkers. With today's event being bigger than ever before, anything can happen at any moment. So, please, never, ever let your guard down.
Lloyd was on pins and needles throughout the ceremony, jumping even at the fall of a napkin, but nothing happened this time. No accident broke out even when the event ended, and the only remarkable event that came close to disaster was getting so nervous and shouting, "I am overwhelmed with gratitude, Alicia!" when he received the chest containing the Tears of Summer.
Ha... It's a relief that I was able to quickly correct myself. Otherwise... Whew.
If he had sullied the queen's name in that way, history would remember him as the man who desecrated her name and got executed.
But it's fine since I got what I needed.
As he left the palace after the ceremony, Lloyd and Javier went to a secluded location outside the capital and went into the quiet woods to wait for the night to set in. At midnight, when the full moon was in full swing, Lloyd was ready to take the final action that would complete his grand plan.
"Are you ready?" asked Lloyd, his voice charged with excitement.
"Yes."
"Here we go."
"I understand, Young Master."
When Lloyd opened the container containing the Tears of Summer, an inexplicable heat flooded over him.
Fwoosh! Just then, Lloyd's Supercharge skill activated, absorbing every bit of heat possible to offset the grueling side effect of the Heart of Winter. As heat seeped into his manaheart, it alarmed Pantalasa, the Elemental King enjoying a rare break inside.
