Volume 5 - CH 3.12

The highway running towards the east from Roma passed through Lauris and extended further; it then branched off into roads heading towards Gloom and Taroma midway.

If one went out of Roma and walked for about ten minutes along that highway, there’d be an enormous triumphal arch built of brand-new white stones.

Nearly thirty years ago from now, during the era when Ahmad was still governed by Jeffren X, the God believers and the barbarian believers clashed at the northern foot of the Cardoso mountain range in the south of Ahmad in a scale that was the greatest in history. The allied forces of the barbarian believers led by Bigelow’s barbarian emperor Gorgorois VII was approximately one hundred and fifty thousand, and the allied forces of the God believers of which Jeffren X was regarded as the leader was approximately one hundred and ten thousand. The military force which, adding up both sides, exceeded two hundred and fifty thousand people gathered at the foot of the precipitous mountain range, and a fierce battle unfolded over a span of half a month.

The eight Dominas who had hastened to the battlefield also participated actively in this great battle of the century, and it ended in the victory of the God believers. As a result, Bigelow’s sphere of influence receded to the south side of the mountain range, and peace came to the various countries of the alliance for the time being.

The Jeffren Andres Triumphal Arch was built to commemorate this historical victory. The circular plaza surrounding this triumphal arch became the venue of the garden party for receiving Queen Almudena.

Bettina, who had been helping to arrange the pots of roses, which were lined up under the arbour, to decorate the plaza on Isaac’s instructions during the morning, squatted down next to an empty cart inside the wood slightly distant from the plaza and was gazing at the elegant banquet at a distance.

At the plaza decorated with beautiful flowers such as roses, Isaac and the daughters of nobles were having a pleasant chat while drinking black tea. According to the schedule, the queen’s party would arrive shortly, and then it’d change into a formal party to celebrate the recovery of her illness and her return to the capital. However, it was probably Bettina’s imagination that Isaac’s expression wasn’t cheerful despite that.

Members of the Seal Chivalric Order were standing by right in front of Bettina. Although it was under the pretext of guarding Isaac, they were simply forming a line inside the wood so as to encircle the plaza without disturbing the banquet.

Nevertheless, compared with the members whose active participations were seen by Bettina in Heidelauta, the members who happened to be present here today were restless somehow; or rather, they had been fidgeting the whole time. Well, many girls who had dressed up beautifully came to the garden party, so Bettina could also understand the feeling of being very happy to see them at a short distance.

However, looking at the figures of them being rebuked by Lindegaard-kyou again and again, it didn’t seem that they were doing their work seriously. At the very least, it might have been a bit different if Lucius was present, but Lucius’s figure wasn’t at this important place for some reason.

In short, these members were probably what Isaac called the Second Army. Bettina didn’t understand very difficult things, but when she saw this, she could also comprehend Issac’s thought of wanting to change the structure of the chivalric order.

「—Despite this being decided abruptly, quite a lot of people had gathered」

The members began to chatter pointlessly again without being seen by Lindegaard-kyou.

「Of course. It seemed that Minister for Home Affairs-kakka made every effort to do this」

「Camuñas-kyou? Why?」

「This garden party was planned for the sake of choosing a consort candidate for His Highness」

「—」

Staring at the backs of the members who were secretly talking about a secret, Beetina sighed.

If she heard such a topic suddenly, she might have raised her voice unconsciously. However, Bettina had already heard the conversational exchange between Isaac and Camuñas-kyou a few days ago. That was why even now, the feeling of strangely accepting that, thinking “Ah, it’s like that” occurred first, and she didn’t feel very shocked. Let’s try not to have a dream that is overly beyond my status—though it might also be because she came here today while telling herself so.

The enormous triumphal arch cast a cool shadow on the plaza. The highway connecting from Roma passed right under this triumphal arch, passed through the centre of the plaza and continued further towards the east.

From the direction of the east, two members holding the flags of Ahmad up high came, jolting on their horses.

From the fact that the tone of the beautiful girls’ chattering went down a level, it could somehow be understood that they were the forerunners of the queen’s carriage.