Once Elfaria had introduced herself, Koutarou and the others started their own introductions. The introductions took place one at a time in private in parallel to a strategy meeting. And since there were eight people that hadn't meet Elfaria before, it took nearly an hour before it was Clan's turn as the last one.
“It's been awhile, Clan-san”
“I see you haven't changed at all, your majesty”
“I'm glad we could meet again”
As Elfaria said that, her expression changed a little, into the expression of someone meeting an old friend.
“Truth be told, I've always been watching over you until today”
“Me?”
Clan put her hand on her chest. Her eyes behind her glasses showed surprise.
“Yes. I watched over as you matured, and started looking like you did in my memories, eagerly awaiting for you to become the person I know”
“Then, when I left for Earth...”
“I danced for joy, thinking that the time had finally come”
“You weren't worried for Theiamillis-san?”
“Why would I? I already knew the results, and besides, Reios-sama was with her”
Elfaria and Clan both turned to look at Koutarou.
He was in the middle of a serious looking discussion with Theia and Kiriha. That wasn't the face of the boy Satomi Koutarou, but the legendary hero, the Blue Knight. It was the face that Clan had monopolized until today.
“In fact, I'm more worried now”
“That's true. We're currently in a very severe situation and―”
“No, no, I'm not worried about that”
Clan thought that Elfaria's worry was the coup d'état. However, she smiled and shook her head. She wasn't worried about that.
“Whatever happens with the coup d'état happens. And if I am defeated whilst walking alongside the Blue Knight, then so be it. As long as I do my best for everyone's sake, I won't have any regrets”
“Then what are you worried about?”
“That girl. Harumi...”
“Harumi?”
It turns out that Elfaria was worried about the girl behind Koutarou listening in on the strategy meeting, Sakuraba Harumi. But Harumi didn't look like a threat to Clan. She couldn't understand what Elfaria worried about.
“She looks just like the silver princess. It's like she is her reincarnation”
“Surely that can't be... She might be able to control Signaltin in this age, and has Alaia's memories... but Harumi is herself, she's a different person than Alaia-san”
“'If I had met you first... if... I had asked you first... what would you do, Koutarou-sama?'”
“Eh?”
“They're the words of the Silver Princess trying to stop Reios-sama. I found those words in history of the translation device, in the armor's data that you gave me in the past”
20 years ago, Elfaria had asked Clan for the data from Koutarou's armor. Since the data had direct recordings of important history in Forthorthe, it was something she would love to get her hands on.
“That's what the Silver Princess told Reios-sama, and Harumi met him before anyone else, and now she is serving as the Silver Princess's replacement. There's nothing I'm more worried about than this”
Elfaria smiled wryly. If that wasn't by pure chance, then what did it mean? To Elfaria who wished for her daughter's happiness, there was nothing that worried her more than that.
“...Fate might not be on Theia's side”
“There's no need to worry. Your majesty”
However, Clan wasn't worried like Elfaria was. This time it was Clan's turn to smile.
“Even if your worry comes true, Bertorion isn't as simple of a man to only accept just Harumi”
“You sound confident, Clan-san”
“I guess you could call it a woman's intuition”
“Well that's a problem. It seems I've found another reason to worry”
“I won't back down easily”
“My, fufu... Still, it feels very strange to hear you speaking of a woman's intuition”
“Even if you're the empress, I won't forgive that kind of rudeness... I'm aware of it myself too though, fufu”
“Fufufufu... Allow me to formally apologize, princess Clariossa”
Before long, the two were laughing together. Their first meeting in 20 years proceeded peacefully. But something served to break that peacefulness,
and it was Clan's bracelet that was vibrating.