/
It was fine if he was willing to take off his mask, give his real name, and take responsibility for his actions, all so he could go to her room at night. And she would be willing to meet him not just tonight, but every night. But that was a little too implausible.
“…How right you are. It is true that I should have considered visiting the bedroom of Saint Aurantiaca, a pure maiden, at this time of night. As soon as I have finished my business, I will leave immediately.”
“Ah… I see. Right… so be it then…” Unable to take back her own words, Thunder Sonia shrank back in her seat. She had expected the man to jump on her and then say, “As long as I take responsibility later, it’s okay, right? No sane person would have a one-night stand with Thunder Sonia, a leading figure among the elves.
“I have some things I want you to hear.”
“What’s going on?”
“I think “you know who” is still on the move.”
Thunder Sonia frowned at these words.
“Really?”
“They may have already infiltrated this country.”
“What about the wedding? Shouldn’t it be called off?”
“It’s hard to say without knowing what they’re after, but it seems the queen intends to go through with it anyway.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less from her. She has a strong will. She… so what should I do?”
“For now, we will only provide information and warnings to those who seem to be able to move.”
“I see. Thank you for the information. I’ll be careful… anything else?”
“That’s all.”
“Really?”
“That’s right.”
“Well, then…” Sonia’s brain whirled at super speed. This man, Errol, the messenger of love and peace. Thunder Sonia knew that his true identity was that of a single man. She also knew that he was a handsome man behind the mask, his family background, his spectacular achievements on the battlefield, and many other things. He was not a bad catch.
“Well, it’s a wedding to celebrate. I hope it goes off without a hitch! Right! We’ll be backstage to help!”
“Right.”
“By the way, how are you doing on your end, huh? Hmm? If you got married, a lot of people in this world would be overjoyed, wouldn’t they? If you don’t have a partner, well, let’s just say…”
“I have my eyes on a woman.”
When he said he had his eyes on a woman, Thunder Sonia stopped talking. She hesitated to ask who the woman was. If she asked, she might suffer irreversible damage.
“I’m glad you do. Yes.”
“Well, I’d better go.”
“Oh, yes. You certainly have. I’m sorry to have delayed you…”
“Yes. Thunder… No, Lady Aurantiaca, please take care of yourself…”
“Of course. I am Thunder Sonia, the great elven archmage. I will be careful. We’ll talk some other time.”
Errol bowed and turned to leave. Thunder Sonia looked at him with a feeling of regret, wondering if she should stop him or not. And then Errol stopped.
“Oh, right.”
“What?”
“The “Orc Hero” has come to town.”
“Bash?”
“He’s here to celebrate the princess’s wedding.”
“I-I see…” Thunder Sonia was annoyed when he suddenly told her about the Orc Hero. But when she thought about it, it wasn’t that strange for Bash to come here. Considering creating a friendship between orcs and beastmen, this wedding was the perfect opportunity.
“Perfect formal attire, modest demeanor… He didn’t even drink alcohol, lest he get out of control. He must be well aware of how he is viewed by the Beastmen royalty. No other Orc could go so far.”
“I suppose. When he came to propose to me, he was dressed in full elven regalia. Of course I turned him down! Of course!”
Normally, an orc would not bow to the family of someone he had killed on the battlefield. Orcs were a race that mocked you, telling you that they would kill you too and wipe out your clan. But Bash, for the pride and honor of the deceased’s family, would bow his head like it was no big deal.
Of course, Bash’s actions were anything but an apology. He appeared at the solemn occasion, dressed in the formal attire of another race, and offered his congratulations in a dignified manner. It was a gesture of respect and friendship from the orcs to the other race.
“However, it seems that the Beastmen royalty are not as intelligent as he is, and while I was out of the room, he was greeted in a bad and violent manner… If that was going to happen, I should have stayed close by.”
“What…? Are the royals of this nation idiots? I know how they feel, but of course they shouldn’t do this. They have too many grudges. The war is over, everyone’s trying to get along, so they can’t be so hostile to the orcs. What are they, children?”
“You’re right… but if they had killed you in “Siwanasi’s Nightmare”, I’m sure the elves would have done the same.”
“Ah… well, we’re all a bunch of naughty children.”
Errol laughed. He was amused by Thunder Sonia’s insistence that an elf who had lived for several hundred years could still be a child.
“I hope the Hero doesn’t hold it against them and isn’t thinking of revenge?”
“No… I don’t think he is. Even after I rejected him, he just moved on to the next city without a care in the world. But it wouldn’t be like that if it was any other orc…”
“I hope so… but I’m also worried about the movements of You-Know-Who. Lady Thunder Sonia, be very careful.”
“I am sure of it. I would never be careless.”
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have bothered you. Well then…”
Errol bowed again and left the room. Thunder Sonia, who remained in the room, swallowed the fruit wine in one gulp and plopped down on the table. She’d be lying if she said she wasn’t worried about You-Know-Who and Bash. But what surprised her even more was something else.
“Haah~.” Thunder Sonia sighed heavily, dropped down and muttered under her breath so no one could hear her. “Being the way he is, he would have plenty of other women by now…”
For who knows how long since her journey began, Thunder Sonia sighed heavily.