“Jared Leonard. You have been granted an audience with our Queen.”

“Wha—?!”

Just as Fabian and Damien expressed shock as to why I was the one being called, I smiled and rose to my feet.

“I understand. Please, lead the way, Sir Derius.”

The Prince and his attendant glared at me. My response was sharp, as though I had been expecting this outcome—which I was.

They seemed to finally realize that everything so far had been within my calculations, so I smiled and stared at the Queen’s representative instead.

“H-hold on! I am the leader of our team. Am I not the right person who should be granted an audience with your Queen?”

Apparently, the young man could no longer control his dissatisfaction.

To be honest, I couldn’t exactly blame him.

Being relegated to the sidelines when he had been looking forward to this moment must have greatly hurt his ego.

I wouldn’t have done this if he was capable enough, to begin with.

Then, there was his assistant, Damien Lawcroft.

Since he wasn’t on my side, there was a good chance that he was pulling the Prince’s strings. If Fabian made a critical error when addressing the Queen, then things wouldn’t go as smoothly as I intended.

To checkmate the enemy and bring forth the most accurate results, this was the best route.

‘You should just be quiet, Fabian. This is all for the good of the Eastern Kingdom.’ I stared blankly at him.

“The Queen decides who she meets and who she doesn’t. Unless you are questioning the decision of her Majesty,…”

The atmosphere grew heavy as Derius began speaking. His gaze was now filled with danger as he glared at Fabian.

“… I would prefer that you be quiet.”

Instantly, the Prince gulped and backed down. The danger he must have sensed in Derius’ gaze must have convinced him that the Elf before him was strong.

Elves were as powerful as how long they had lived.

For someone like Derius, whom I knew in my first life, his level of strength was something mere humans couldn’t dream of reaching—with the exception of a few.

“Please control your aura, venerable Elf…” Another monster opened her jaws as she stared at the older Elf.

It was none other than Serah Crimson.

She had been composed for some time, but, just as she had warned me, there was a limit to her patience.

“… Unless you want me to bring out mine as well.”

Derius instantly complied and smiled at Serah’s ferocious grin. Even with his power, there were quite a few opponents who would give him a hard time.

People like Serah would destroy him for sure. Fortunately, the experienced Elf understood this.

“Very well. Since this matter has been concluded already, I shall be taking my leave with Jared Leonard.”

Derius rose to his feet and bowed slightly, biding everyone in the room farewell—except for me.

Once he left the door behind him, I followed behind, stealing one final glance at my comrades.

“This is the best route. The Alliance must succeed at all costs. I hope you understand.” My lips parted as I left my allies behind me.

************************

Derius and I walked in silence, moving for a couple of minutes.

It brought back memories of when I knew him in the past.

Back then, our roles were somewhat reversed, and he was only a child.

‘She’ was the one who introduced us back then. To be honest, looking at him from behind… made me remember certain memories that I didn’t want to surface.

Because the only things that would accompany those thoughts were regret… and blame.

We passed the garden, and then entered the Royal Palace building itself.

The structure was extremely tall—ascending to the clouds like a tower at the very tip of the roof.

Of course, I knew why the building was stretched upward.

Once we entered the Palace building, Derius took me on a long walk through the intricate grounds located within.

The Palace hallways were extremely vast, and we passed by several corners in the extremely complex steams of corridors.

It was like a maze, but that was only for outsiders.

Those who were permitted access knew the nooks and cranny of this place like the back of their hand.

Besides, with the amount of time Elves had to live, knowing complicated mazes and building structures wasn’t very difficult.

Eventually, we arrived at the door that led to the Queen’s Throne Room.

It was a massive door built with gold and decorated with many jewels—befitting Elven Royalty.

“Your Majesty, I have arrived with the delegate you requested.”

For a moment, silence followed Derius’ voice. And then…

“Do come in.”

… I heard her voice.

It was majestic, and the sound rang through my ears and echoed in my heart.

It reminded me of yet another person, but I couldn’t quite remember.

Then, the giant doors were opened.

The blinding lights from within caused me to close my eyes for a moment, then open them slowly as I acclimated.

That was when I was met with a breathtaking sight.

The large Throne Room made the Eastern Kingdom’s Palace Hall look like a joke in comparison.

Not only was it larger and exquisitely adorned with several beautiful gems, but the massive room also contained murals that depicted the core root of Elven Heritage.

Magic Beasts and Elves were beautifully drawn on the walls, and the chandeliers brightly illuminated the luxurious hall.

I had no time to fully observe, so my appreciation of my surroundings was slightly diminished.

Derius walked forward, and then I followed behind him.

“I introduce to the Queen’s Court… delegate from the Eastern Kingdom…”

I lowered my gaze and walked forward as Derius introduced me.

The Elf moved out of the way and let me walk ahead of him. I obeyed and didn’t stop until I was a considerable length from the foot of the stairs that led to the Throne.

“… Jared Leonard!”

“I humbly greet the Queen, as well as the Royal Members who are before me. My name is Jared Leonard Alphonse Sereth, and in the name of the spirits, I seek an audience with your distinguished selves.”

‘My manners are perfect this time, aren’t they…?’ A stray thought popped into my head.

“Raise your head, delegate.”

As I heard her voice once more, my heart tightened and I obeyed.

She was indeed the one I remembered.

‘So, you’re the Queen now, uh…?’ A faint smile crept upon my face as I lifted my eyes to witness the most powerful Elf in the land.

“The Queen, Aurora Vindiel, grants you liberty of expression. May the spirits bless this discourse.”