Elfaria had fled with nothing but the clothes on her back, so she was wearing clothes and accessories more toned down than normal. But even then, what she was wearing looked exceptionally luxurious. Her well-tailored dress made from expensive looking textiles made that obvious. She had a brilliant golden hair like Theia had, and a hair ornament covered with jewels. She also had on pure-white shoes, lined with gold and jewels. Amongst countless other things. Elfaria had an appearance fitting for an empress of an empire in control of many worlds.
“My daughter is always in your care, I'm Theia's mother, Elfaria. It is nice to meet you”
But she was a very open hearted person. Befitting of a pacifist, she spoke with a gentle smile.
“...Y-You could buy three mansions using what she is wearing...”
“Yurika, keep it together!! She might be ridiculously rich, but she seems like a nice person!!”
“Haah... so this is the empress of a country that's been around for over 2,000 years...”
“So that's Theia's mother... I'm glad to see she is healthy”
“Will Clan-san and Theia-san turn out like that too eventually?”
“That's my plan. In order to become the next empress, I'd have to at the very least be on equal grounds with her majesty”
“...The next empress huh... I'll make sure to absorb all of this, and make use of it in the next play...”
The girls instinctively held their breath when they saw Elfaria's beauty. It wasn't just her clothes, but Elfaria herself was just as beautiful. She had the attractiveness of an adult, and a youthful look that made it hard to believe she was a mother. Thanks to that, the clothes she was wearing didn't look gaudy. In fact, they served to amplify her beauty. The empress Elfaria was the kind of person that looked picturesque just by standing still.
“...She sure is making herself look young”
Amongst the many overwhelmed by Elfaria, only one remained normal. That person was sending a frosty glance towards Elfaria and easily cast her beauty aside.
“She should be in her late thirties.... yet she looks like a young girl...”
Those cold words in front of the empress of Forthorthe came from the only man on the bridge, Koutarou.
“Ah?!”
Hearing those disrespectful words, Elfaria noticed Koutarou's existence. She had definitely not heard any praise, yet she smiled brightly. Like a young girl, her eyes sparkled and she ran up to Koutarou.
”Long time no see, Reio―”
“Aaaaaahhhh!!”
Noticing what Elfaria was about to say before anyone else, Koutarou hurriedly caught her and blocked her mouth. He then wrapped his arm around her neck, forcibly drew her closer to him and whispered into her ear.
“Elle, if you say any more than that, I'll punch you, even if you are the empress”
“Hmmh, Mhhm”
Sensing that Koutarou was serious, Elfaria frantically nodded her head. After that Koutarou let go of her, but Elfaria didn't move right away, and instead whispered into his ear.
“...Reios-sama, you still haven't told Theia the truth, even in this situation?”
“..How could I tell her? Do you want to expose Theia to danger?”
“...I don't think there's anything more dangerous than a coup d'état though...”
A sudden shout, rude behavior, and an empress that allowed it. On top of that, they were secretly talking about something. Koutarou and Elfaria's strange behavior astonished most of the girls on the bridge. Theia represented the girls and posed a question to Koutarou.
“Koutarou, have you spoken to mother before?”
As far as Theia knew, Koutarou and Elfaria had never met before. Theia had mentioned Koutarou to Elfaria in the past a few times, though those had only been small talk. But the two of them most certainly didn't look like this was their first time meeting. That's why Theia believed that Koutarou had somehow managed to contact Elfaria after she had given him full access to the Blue Knight's systems.