Koutarou and Theia were still making noise. Meanwhile, Theia's vassal, Ruth, and her mother, Elfaria watched over the two.
“Koutarou. You're my vassal so you should show me some more love!”
”That and this is different! I'm someone who doesn't hold back in games!”
Koutarou and Theia were still clashing in front of them. While they shared a strong bond between them, they still clashed quite often. Especially so when it came to games and play, and sometimes their arguments would turn into fist fights.
“Theia really loves Reios-sama, doesn't she?”
But despite the two clashing, Elfaria kept smiling. She knew that their intense clashing was a sign of affection.
“Yes. Master is special, and Her Highness is not afraid to shower him with love”
”I am sure meeting someone like that is a wonderful thing”
”I believe it's just as you say”
Ruth and Elfaria shared the same opinion. They also knew it was the truth from their own experience. Koutarou was someone they loved, and wanted to be loved by.
“I am sure only Theia can pull of such a harsh way of loving someone”
“In my case, getting a light flick on the forehead is my limit”
Ruth wanted a relationship like Theia's. However, because of Ruth's personality, Koutarou didn't treat her like he did Theia. Though they were treated differently, it wasn't like she wasn't being treasured. Koutarou surely valued both equally, the only difference was how he showed it.
“And I'm sure Theia wants to be treasured like you, Ruth”
”She is always saying that”
”Fufufu, I thought so...”
Elfaria happily smiled as she looked at Theia and Koutarou. Deep love for Theia resided in her eyes. Feeling that, Ruth once again recognized that Elfaria was Theia's mother. There was also a strong trust Koutarou within those eyes.
“Your Majesty, you really trust Master, don't you?”
“Of course. Reios-sama is Forthorthe's savior and a legendary figure”
”No, that's not what I meant. Both Her Highness and I are willing to trust our lives to Master even if he wasn't the Blue Knight”
“Ruth...”
Elfaria's eyes opened wide for an instant before she nodded at Ruth with a smile.
“You're right. I too would probably have entrusted Theia to Reios-sama even if he wasn't the Blue Knight. To that strong and kind, yet timid and cowardly Sir Knight...”
Elfaria remembered the appearance of Koutarou suffering to escape from the fate provided for him, and how he desperately tried to protect people despite of it. That was why Elfaria trusted him. She knew his strong and proud heart had been formed from that suffering. Whether Koutarou was the legendary Blue Knight or not wasn't that important of a problem.
Is Her Majesty's trust for Master because he is a knight, or is it because of who he is himself...
Because of Elfaria's strong trust, a certain question popped up in Ruth's mind. Perhaps Elfaria fell for Koutarou 20 years ago. Ruth moved to confirm her suspicion.
“Your Majesty. I am aware that this is impolite bu―”
“Mother, Ruth, come over here!”
However, before Ruth could ask, Theia suddenly appeared and took them with her.
“That Koutarou, he won't hold back even against me! So you two help me too!”
”Oh my”
“I understand. I shall help”
Theia brought the two to a stall where she and Koutarou were having a match. Since Ruth wanted to compete against Koutarou like Theia, she temporarily forgot about her question and answered Theia's request.
“Oh, so you've brought backup”
“Say whatever you like. Thinking about it, I have a huge handicap both in physique and experience”
”I will be of your aid, Your Highness”
“Now that I'm here I won't let Reios-sama do as he pleases. Understood, Theia, Ruth?”
”Yes, Mother!”
“As you wish, Your Majesty!”
And so, Koutarou and the others began playing together. They looked like they were having a lot of fun and they looked less like royalties and knights and more like a daughter together with her mother and two friends. As a result, the festival participants that passed them felt like they were cute but noisy foreigners and nothing more.