Chapter 1539 - Omen ①

Inside a castle in the Archlesia Empire’s Royal Capital, Emperor Chris was processing a large volume of documents. Although she had a considerable amount of work in hand, Chris’ expression was cheerful and somewhat happy.

Seeing this, a female advisor of hers chatted with her, seemingly intending to make small talk.

[The economy is on the upswing these days. Seems like things are heading for the better, isn’t it?]

[Yes, it seems like the whole country is becoming more lively, and I want to cherish this atmosphere. Well, I would rather make another push forward, but I can’t be too greedy.]

[It’s true that the reputation of the land under the Providence of God of Fate-sama and the policies encouraged by Her Majesty have borne fruit, but the fact that we were able to establish a connection with the Lord Trading Company is really significant.]

[Indeed, thanks to the fact that the largest and most influential trading company in the country has joined the reformism faction, the other trading companies have become much more cooperative.]

Stopping her pen at the words of her advisor, Chris muttered deeply. Since she became Emperor, she had been trying to reform the financially strained state of Archlesia Empire while fighting against the conservative faction as a reformist.

Her efforts have borne fruit in recent years, with the entirety of the Empire now in a very positive trend, thanks to the rise in the vitality of the country as a whole through various people-friendly policies, the highly popular tourist attraction under the Providence of a Supreme God, and the support of a world-class major trading company.

[I hope we can make the forthcoming Founding Festival a success and keep a firm hold of this economic prosperity.]

[Speaking of Founding Festival, the one held in the Symphonia Kingdom was quite a spectacle. With all the Six Kings participating and the level of attention it brought, its economic effect must have been extraordinary.]

[……Their management must have felt stomachache from all the big shots participating, but even so, I still envy them. Miyama-sama’s influence in matters really is tremendous……]

Her conversation with the advisor shifted to the Symphonia Kingdom’s Founding Festival. It’s extremely rare for all Six Kings to participate in a country’s Founding Festival. Originally, only the members of the Six Kings who had strong ties with said country would participate in it.

In Archlesia Empire’s case, the Dragon King Magnawell has a strong relationship with their Empire, and he would always send one of the Four Great Demon Dragons, excluding Grandiereus, to attend each year’s Founding Festival as his proxy.

[However, even though it may not be on the same level as in the Symphonia Kingdom, Dragon King-sama has obtained a special clone body this year and is able to act without worrying about the physique of his main body, so I am told that he himself will attend the Founding Festival, for which I am very grateful for.]

[It would be nice if Miyama Kaito-sama would open a shop at our Archlesia Empire’s Founding Festival…… but with Her Majesty’s capability, is there anything Her Majesty can do to achieve that?]

[Hahaha, there’s no way I can do that. At the time of the Symphonia Kingdom’s Founding Festival, he set up a shop because it just so happened that he himself had such an idea in mind. In fact, his stall was opened in an area where there were not many people, so him opening his shop back then wasn’t for business purposes, but for fun. It’s exactly because Miyama-sama is the kind of person who would comply if one earnestly requests something from him that I can’t carelessly ask him favors.]

[Everything has its difficulties, isn’t it?]

In fact, if Chris were to ask him, there is a possibility that Kaito will open a shop in Archlesia Empire’s Founding Festival even if he does not feel like it. However, such an act of taking advantage of Kaito’s kindness will only result in her suddenly getting strangled by someone later on.

Considering the fact that she wouldn’t be exempt from criticism from other countries, she couldn’t go through with such a plan. Moreover, Chris herself didn’t want to do anything that would inconvenience Kaito.

There was a time when she thought of taking advantage of Kaito, but now that Kaito has completely become a singularity in the world…… and most importantly, because Chris has become close to Kaito and has developed affection…… favorable feelings for him, she no longer wanted to use Kaito for the benefit of her country.

[Well, it’s no use thinking about all the special factors. Let’s just keep things sure and steady and think about making the Founding Festival a success. And so, that’s enough chit-chat, let’s get back to work.]

[Understood.]

Chris resumes her work with a chuckle, while her advisor also slightly chuckles and nods her head. The atmosphere in the office was somewhat calm, partly because Chris’ mood had become softer than before.

Right at that moment though, a knock came at the door and another member of her advisors entered with a letter. This needs not be said, but there are many letters that were sent to Chris, the Emperor, on a daily basis.

Such letters would normally be gathered before being delivered to Chris, but the fact that her advisor has specifically brought just a single letter in this matter suggests that it’s likely something of significant importance.

[Excuse my intrusion. Your Majesty, I have received a letter addressed to Her Majesty from Amel-sama. According to the other letter that came with it, Amel-sama is planning to open a stall at the Founding Festival, and this letter is an application for that……]

[From Amel-dono? She sent out this request not as one of the Wingeds, but as an individual? That’s very unusual…… The Wingeds have only opened a small stall every year only to follow duty, so this would be the first time this happened.]

The Wingeds were originally a closed-off species, and they have never participated in the Founding Festival, only setting up a small accessory stall as an act of duty to the Empire.

This situation in which Amel, the Chief of the Wingeds, personally opened a store was also unprecedented. Surprised, Chris unsealed the letter and checked it…… and her eyes opened wide.

The reason was that, contained in this letter that mentioned their intention to submit an application for a stall opening, was a particularly shocking text.

『Stall Subject: The Goods of Chaos Tainted with Everlasting Darkness 《Chaos Regalia》

Stall Owners:

Amel

My Sworn Friend

Product Collaborations:

The Lord of Illusions Clad in Transient Garments

The Young Celestial Spirit Striving for the Absolute』

The contents of the Stall Subject and the Product Collaboration sections were, as usual, phrased in a way that made no sense to Chris, making her wonder what exactly is the stall she was setting up, but upon seeing the text “My Sworn Ally” in the Stall Owner section…… she instantly understood that it indicated Kaito. Chris, sensing a vague premonition that this year’s Founding Festival was going to be tremendous, lightly massaged her forehead.

<Afterword>

? ? ? : [I’m starting to see improvements among those in the upper class.]

Makina : [It does seem to be the case. As expected of my beloved child~~]