"Long time no see, Erald-san," Rimuru greeted him with his usual nonchalance.
Under normal circumstances, Erald would have certainly returned the greeting. However, his current predicament made it difficult for him to even find his voice. Instead, he settled for a stiff, formal nod in response.
Sensing his intent, Rimuru shifted his gaze toward the woman standing beside him: Elmesia.
She possessed a beauty that defied comparison—an ethereal elegance expected of the rare and noble High Elf race.
"My name is Elmesia El Ru Sarion, Emperor of the Thallion Dynasty."
"Rimuru Tempest, a Demon Lord of the Octagram."
Elmesia nodded slowly, her eyes silently sweeping over the others present: Issei, Rias, Luminous, and Veldora.
"So many powerful figures gathered in one place... are you perhaps holding a banquet?"
"Mm, not exactly. I'm just trying to be a gracious host to some guests from beyond this world," Rimuru replied.
Elmesia's sharp gaze shifted toward Issei and Rias.
"From beyond this world? I see... so the reports were true."
"Regarding the existence of other worlds, yes, it's all true. A few things happened, and now I'm looking after two of them," Rimuru explained.
Elmesia gave a soft nod. Her jade-green eyes contracted slightly while her lips pursed in thought.
"Lady Elmesia, I have no intention of attacking the Thallion Dynasty, so there is no need for concern." Issei offered a relaxed smile, doing his best to appear as friendly as possible.
"I am relieved to hear that."
Her tone was one of genuine relief, lacking the typical overbearing majesty one would expect from an Emperor.
"So, what brings you to Tempest, Elmesia-san?" Rimuru asked.
Elmesia cast a brief glance at Issei.
"I wanted to confirm something for myself. Now, everything is clear."
"I see. And what do you plan to do now?"
Elmesia gazed out the window at the bustling city below.
"If it's alright with you, I would like to see the sights of Tempest."
Rimuru gave a generous smile.
"By all means. You are free to do as you please, Elmesia-san."
"You have my thanks, Rimuru-dono." Elmesia flashed a sweet smile, one that radiated both maturity and grace. Then, her expression sharpened as she looked toward Erald.
"Do not follow me. I have no desire to stand out."
"But, Your Majesty—!"
"Erald-san, there's no need to worry. I personally guarantee her safety while she's in Tempest," Rimuru added, trying to reassure the frantic man.
"I trust you, Rimuru-dono, but still..."
"How about I act as Lady Elmesia's guide?" Issei interrupted, waving a hand casually.
"That sounds like a great idea," Rimuru agreed.
"That is out of the question! It is our duty to protect the Emperor!" Erald insisted, but he was immediately silenced by a piercing glare from Elmesia.
"Erald, Lord Issei is being kind enough to offer his company. It would be quite rude of us to reject his goodwill." Elmesia smiled softly, yet her body radiated an undeniable pressure.
Erald grit his teeth, his mind clearly at war with itself.
"Furthermore," Elmesia continued, her tone turning heavy and serious, "Lord Issei is the strongest person in this room. If he truly wished it, he could take my life at any moment."
Erald swallowed hard, a feeling of utter helplessness washing over him. Just as Elmesia said, Issei's power was on a completely different level.
"I understand... Lord Issei, please look after our Emperor."
Erald and the other elves bowed deeply and politely.
"Don't sweat it. Tempest is very peaceful; Lady Elmesia will be just fine."
...
"Whoa, that's the first time I've ever seen an elf that beautiful!"
"She's a looker, alright. But she's seriously lacking in the chest department."
Gobta spoke with his usual lack of a filter, only to break into a cold sweat the moment Elmesia's sharp gaze locked onto him.
With just a flicker of emotion, Elmesia's Hero's Haki leaked out, pinning Gobta where he stood.
Despite his hidden genius and considerable strength, Gobta was utterly powerless under the weight of her Hero's Haki.
"Lady Elmesia, please forgive Gobta. He's just a fool who doesn't know when he's playing with fire," Issei said, stepping in to calm her down.
Surprisingly, Elmesia was quite compliant, immediately withdrawing her aura.
Gobta, feeling as though he had just escaped the jaws of death, stammered out a thank you to Issei before making a quick getaway.
"Where would you like to go, Lady Elmesia? I can take you anywhere in Tempest."
Issei's voice was full of enthusiasm.
Elmesia looked at him with a hint of suspicion for a moment before finally stating her wishes.
Having been buried under the weight of dynastic affairs for so long, she simply wanted to relax and visit somewhere fun.
Issei quickly ran through a list of scenic spots and began showing her around the city.
To any passerby, they looked less like a guest and a guide, and more like a young couple on a date.
...
Meanwhile, on a guest room balcony, Rias and Luminous were watching them from afar.
"Are you sure about just letting him go like that?" Luminous asked.
"It seems Issei has a bit of a soft spot for elves. I'll support him if he decides he wants to win Elmesia over."
"Do you actually know much about Elmesia?"
"A fair bit," Luminous replied curiously.
"She is a wise and capable ruler. Thanks to her extraordinary leadership, the Thallion Dynasty has flourished into one of the greatest powers in the region."
"Hee... then it sounds like Issei might have found himself a candidate for a Queen." Rias smiled, looking quite pleased with the prospect.
"What do you mean by that?" Luminous asked, her curiosity piqued.
Rias simply offered a mysterious smile.
"That's a secret. You'll find out soon enough."
To be continued...Anvanced Chapter patreon.com/AgamYupi02