“We don’t have a lot of time.” Eliana sighed. “If you had taken even a day longer to heal, we would have missed it entirely. Normally, we should have arrived two weeks ago. How early you arrive is considered showing respect. It informs them of how important you think they are. In other words, showing up today is considered disrespectful.”

“If that’s the case, wouldn’t it have been better if we just didn’t come?”

“Well, the Tibults had already been sent ahead of time to smooth things over. Furthermore, Prince Aberis has opted not to come. He’s used the reason that he isn’t a King yet, making it inappropriate for him to come himself. Ultimately, General Tibult has been acting as a diplomat the last few weeks, and he has warned us they if someone of the royal family didn’t come, they might take offense.”

“So, you decided to come? Why couldn’t your father come?”

“Do you think that is a wise idea?”

“Probably not.”

I knew it was foolish the second I said it. Her father had a poor relationship with the Ost Republic. Even now, he wasn’t in favor of creating peace with them. However, he promised to step aside and let his son lead, and that’s exactly what he’s done. I didn’t even know where he went. I hadn’t seen him the last few times I came to Aberis. I was glad about not having my life threatened, so I had kept my mouth shut, but it was possible he had taken off again and the Prince didn’t know where he was. He was a flighty man, after all.

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“By the way, I was honestly very surprised when I saw fiance’s new appearance,” Eliana spoke up. “You fit in well among these Osterians.”

I blushed. “Ah, is it okay?”

“Brother would say something like ‘you’ve become a man’s man!’” She even did a rough voice trying to imitate him before blushing. “I’m just glad you are safe and alive. However you look, you’re still my fiancé, so that’s that.”

“Is that all?” I asked.

Her blush deepened. “You shouldn’t flirt with me in public, especially around the help.”

We had been edging closer together as we spoke, and the distance between us seemed nonexistent. Although she had a presence, she stood next to a tall, muscular man. It looked like a couple being followed by Faeyna and Raissa.”

“I-it’s okay. You’re married!” Raissa cried out when we looked back at her, her tail wagging.

“Even so… you can tone it down…” Faeyna cut in, a shy expression on her face. “Unless… we can… join…”

I cleared my throat and Eliana took a step away from me. Looking for something around us to take the tension off the moment, my eyes landed on an odd sight in the middle of a square. It was both extremely familiar, and also extremely strange. There was an old sword stuck into the ground.

“Don’t tell me, Excalibur?”

“Hmm? Ah, you’re wondering about that sword?” Eliana offered. “You can try to pull it if you’d like. It’s a local folklore. They say that the man who succeeds will end the republic and become king of the new Osteria.”

I really shouldn’t… should I?