— — — — — —
Itogami Island, Central District, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
La Folia sat in the restaurant, dressed in a clean, minimalist knight's uniform that gave her a sharp, heroic air. She sipped her tea while gazing out at the city through the window, calm and composed.
Before long, Kataya Justina hurried over.
"Your Highness." Her expression was heavy.
"What did the Foreign Affairs Minister say?" La Folia turned her gaze back from the street.
"There was no response," Justina said, shaking her head with clear irritation. "Not even a schedule. No matter how I pressed, they just said it depended on His Majesty's availability."
"So we're being brushed off." La Folia smiled, completely unsurprised.
"You can still smile at a time like this?" Justina said helplessly.
"Why wouldn't I?" La Folia narrowed her blue eyes, the corners of her lips lifting in obvious amusement. "Isn't this exactly what we expected?"
"I'm honestly amazed by you…" Justina muttered, leaving the rest unsaid.
This was a major diplomatic issue, one that could easily escalate into conflict between the Dawn Empire and Aldegyr Kingdom. And yet the person at the center of it all looked like she was watching a show.
It was exhausting to even comment on.
"Can we get in touch with Prime Minister Aiba?" La Folia asked casually.
"The Ministry said they can arrange a meeting at four this afternoon," Justina replied at once.
"Mm. Then that tells me going through the Prime Minister won't solve anything." La Folia chuckled softly. "What about Empress Minamiya?"
The Witch of the Void, Natsuki Minamiya.
Privately labeled a traitor by Japan, yet internationally recognized as the Fourth Primogenitor's Empress.
La Folia knew very well that aside from the Fourth Primogenitor himself, Natsuki Minamiya was the highest decision-maker in the original Itogami Island.
If she couldn't see the Fourth Primogenitor, then Natsuki was the obvious next target.
Justina looked puzzled. "Can the Void Witch really decide something like this? This situation started with the Fourth Primogenitor being attacked. Wouldn't his opinion matter most?"
"Of course," La Folia said brightly.
Justina's eyes widened.
"…she can't," La Folia added with a mischievous smile, ignoring Justina's deadpan stare. "But that's fine. Lunch, afternoon tea, chatting about this year's winter fashion. Any excuse works."
"As long as people back home know that I, La Folia Rihavein, am actively contacting the Dawn Empire's leadership and trying to resolve things, that's enough."
"So it's politics again…" Justina muttered.
Knowing full well she didn't have La Folia's kind of brain, she turned and headed for the Ministry to ask whether a meeting with Natsuki Minamiya could be arranged.
---
Not long after, Justina came running back, visibly tense.
"Your Highness, the appointment's been set."
"When?" La Folia asked leisurely, taking another sip of her tea.
Justina gave her a strange look. "Now."
"Now?" La Folia froze, then abruptly looked at the seat across from her.
At some point, without a sound, a loli in a pure white Gothic dress had appeared there. Cute, yet radiating authority.
"One Ceylon black tea," Natsuki Minamiya said to Justina, "with a splash of whisky. No sugar."
"Yes!" Justina spun around and hurried off to place the order.
Natsuki turned back to La Folia. "You've grown quite a bit, haven't you, little miss of the Rihavein family. Was Polifonia not afraid you'd come and never make it back?"
"I discussed it with my mother beforehand," La Folia replied, giving a small nod. She smiled warmly at Natsuki. "Compared to me, you're exactly the same as three years ago. Still as youthful as ever."
Before joining the Dawn Empire's upper ranks, Natsuki Minamiya had made a name for herself in Europe as the Witch of the Void, the Demon Killer and the Strongest Attack Mage.
During that time, she'd had several pleasant interactions with Aldegyr royal family. La Folia wasn't unfamiliar with her at all. If anything, her mother Polifonia was on friendly terms with Natsuki.
"I don't have much free time," Natsuki said flatly after a moment. "You don't need to worry about Ryo. For now, he has no plans to move against Aldegyr."
"For now isn't good enough," La Folia sighed, taking a wry sip of her tea. "Please be direct. When can I meet His Majesty?"
"Not anytime soon," Natsuki answered calmly.
"How long is 'not soon'?" La Folia pressed.
Natsuki narrowed her eyes and smiled. "Are you sure you want to know that badly?"
"Isn't this situation something the Primogenitor himself created?" La Folia replied with a polite smile.
A sudden request for a visit, followed by an equally sudden cancellation, and then an attack on the Fourth Primogenitor. Under those circumstances, there was no way Aldegyr could avoid contact with him.
And the root cause of it all was that inexplicable visit request in the first place.
"Sharp little fox," Natsuki muttered. She glanced at La Folia. "Call back the spirit you're channeling. If I actually decided to act, that thing wouldn't help you at all."
"And for the time being, anyone on Itogami using power will be seen as provoking the Empire. Consider this a warning."
"Why?" La Folia frowned.
Natsuki let out a cold chuckle. "Don't regret it once you hear."
After a brief pause, she said flatly, "The Third Primogenitor has just about arrived on the island."
La Folia's eyes widened in shock.
A meeting between the Third and Fourth Primogenitors? How could something like that happen without a single whisper leaking out?
What were they planning?
What would this do to the world's current balance?
And how was Aldegyr supposed to protect itself if those two collided?
Questions piled up in her head, making it ache.
Natsuki, clearly amused, said, "I told you not to ask and just wait for the notice. Now your head hurts, doesn't it?"
"You really have terrible taste in jokes," La Folia said, staring at her speechlessly.
You clearly baited my curiosity on purpose, and now you're acting like it's my fault.
That's just dirty.
"Oh, and one more piece of information," Natsuki added cheerfully as she accepted the tea from Justina. "Kanon Kanase. That name ring any bells?"
La Folia's expression froze.
Kanon Kanase… who was that?
"Doesn't matter if you don't know," Natsuki said with a cold smile. "Ask your grandfather."
As she spoke, her figure began to fade. "Once you've figured it out, go take a look at the abandoned church in the eastern district of Itogami Island."
And with that, Natsuki vanished.
"Kanon Kanase… Grandfather…" La Folia murmured.
"And a meeting between two Primogenitors…"
She rubbed her temples and let out a helpless laugh. "I really should've let Mother come instead."
"Why did I have to wade into this mess myself?"
.
.
.