Knowing that the approaching men were from the military, Elfaria left Koutarou and Clan behind her and stepped forward alone. This was both to conceal who Koutarou and Clan were, and because she knew that it wouldn't be dangerous despite their hostility.
“What business do you have with me? I don't have any recollection of calling for the military.”
Elfaria's voice echoed off the walls of the parking lot. With few other people and cars around, her voice reached far.
“We have come because we have business with you.”
The person in the middle of the three men answered. He was the highest ranking of the three and acted as their leader.
“I can't ignore that. If the military is coming into contact with a princess during her private time for an arbitrary reason, they would have to take responsibility.”
“Worry not. We won't have to take any responsibility from just your testimony. We are currently doing desk work right now after all.”
“Nonsense...”
Elfaria's stare grew sharper.
Is the military running wild...?
Looking at how Elfaria and the men were acting, Koutarou was getting a rough understanding of the situation. The military was moving away from the empress' and the congress' control and acting on their own. Even the most well-constructed organization would start distorting after 2,000 years. The current military was far different from the military that Koutarou and Alaia had led in the past.
“You have drowned in your power and haven't noticed that you are out of control.”
“I can assure you that we are not out of control. We are acting under proper management.”
“Someone never using the break can't tell if it's broken.”
“Let's stop with this meaningless chatter, princess. This topic will never lead us anywhere. There's something else more important now, is there not?”
The man grinned and one-sidedly ended their current topic, switching to another. There was no respect towards the princess in his appearance. In fact, it was as if he was looking down on her.
“Now that would be meaningless. I have no intention of withdrawing my statement for the military to disarm.”
“Surely you can do something, princess Elfaria. Wouldn't it be easy? Your highness won't get in our way, and we won't get in yours.”
“You are already in the way, yet you say you won't? You jest.”
Elfaria laughed, but her eyes were the opposite. She only laughed as a tactic, and as she did, the man's expression changed.
“We don't want to do anything violent! You are the next in line for the throne after all!”
He couldn't stand the sight of a girl younger than him laughing at him. His brutal nature appeared on the surface, and he spoke to Elfaria in a low and deep voice. The men's goal was to threaten Elfaria.
“How unsightly. The military top brass has sent you several times because they fear me. Threatening me now is surely meaningless.”
But Elfaria didn't falter. She maintained her smile and stared at the men with cold eyes.
“You brat, don't get so full of yourself!”
“Look, you're already out of control. What happened to your proper management?”
“Kuh.”
The man mortifyingly grinded his teeth. He had lost the moment he lost his temper.
“Go back to where you came from. And tell the top that Forthorthe's royalty won't yield to anyone.”
The winner was Elfaria Kua Forthorthe.
Though young, she was a prideful royalty of Forthorthe.