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When Seletina made up her mind that she’d say everything, she picked up Elyutinias from her waist and propped it up against the wall with its scabbard. She had no intention of antagonizing them. She was conveying her willingness to talk openly.

The moment Seletina put her hand on the sword a slight tension filled the room, but it quickly dissipated. That was because both Imitia and Remilia understood Seletina’s intention.

After this Seletina began to speak slowly,

“It is as you have guessed, Lady Remilia, being an adventurer and the name Tieck are just a cover.” Seletina said. She then checked that both women on her left and right had heard her before she continued.

Both didn’t say anything. They just waited patiently for Seletina to continue.

“My true name is Seletina. Seletina ul Gold Aldelight.”
“Seletina? You’re a female?”
“That’s what you call a plot twist.”

The fact that Tieck was in fact a girl was one that both shocked the women, but it was also one that they could easily accept.

Seletina had a beautiful face, and at first glance looked just like a woman. But thanks to her neutral atmosphere and the boyish clothes she’d worn, she had managed to fool them into believing she was a man.

If Seletina had waited a few more years until her body had fully matured into that of a woman’s, she likely wouldn’t have managed to fool anyone.

However, that wasn’t the thing that surprised the two women the most.

“Aldelight… Isn’t that the family name of one of the Kingdom of Elugor’s dukes? You can’t be…”
“It is as you have guessed, Lady Remilia. I am the daughter of Duke Aldelight of the Kingdom of Elugor.”
“Seems like we’ve got a bigshot here.” Imitia said in a seemingly relaxed manner, but deep down inside she too was surprised.

The Aldelight family was one of the most prominent families on the continent, with vast assets and lands far greater than those of Elvaro, the city chief of Ulbdor.

“What is the daughter of such a family doing here? And your hair…” Remilia gasped.
“It’s a long story with a lot of twists and turns. It’ll probably take a while, but allow me to tell you.”

◇

Seletina recounted the story so far with deliberate slowness, each word delivered with utmost precision.

Sincerely and as objectively as possible, she presented the facts as they were.

Imitia furrowed her brow, and Remilia placed her hands to her temples as if engaged in deep thought, perhaps a reflection of her own habit of contemplating extensively.

Imitia organized the synopsis while casually playing with the apples on the side table.

“I see. So you were sent as a messenger to meet us, but ended up getting caught up between the mess with the Demons and the Empire in Leverence. After that you were accused of being a witch by Lord Zeeney, so you dressed as a man to escape from Leverence. After that you came to Ulbdor while on the run from them. Does that sound right?”
“Roughly speaking, yes.” Seletina said, nodding.

When she recalled everything a lot more had happened, but Imitia’s words managed to get the general gist across.

The real reason Seletina had come here was to in fact help Imitia, however, if she were to say that then the conversation would twist in a completely new direction, so she had omitted it.

Remilia kept her fingers to her temples and let her thoughts spill out into words.

“I got the general idea. It certainly makes sense why you would disguise yourself, and your gender at that.”
“I’m glad you understand. The way things are now, I must continue being Tieck until I manage to leave the Empire.”
“I see.” Imitia said, seemingly convinced.

Seletina was sure that there were things that didn’t quite add up and some details that had to be looked at a bit closer, but for now she believed that she had managed to earn a bit of their trust.

“Now that I’ve confirmed your suspicions I’d like to get to business, if that’s okay with you.” Seletina said.

Time was of the essence.

Hearing Seletina’s suggestions both women nodded.

Feeling relieved that things were finally moving up Seletina began speaking.

“Ulbdor is in dire straits at the moment. It is only a matter of time before the innocent people are devoured by the Demons… So here I have a request for you.”
“Is it the ship?” Imitia asked before Seletina could even finish.

Seletina nodded in agreement with her question and continued,

“If we use your ship we’ll be able to save many lives. That’s why I’d like to ask you to let us use your ship.”
“So you’re asking us to unload the entire cargo?”
“Correct.”
“Screw you.” Imitia scowled. “That cargo consists not only of goods the caravan has bought. We take pride in being the safest transcontinental couriers in the world. If we were to unload all of it, not only would we lose our money, but we would also have many people after our heads. It’s not a load we can just throw away.” Imitia explained as she bit into an apple.

Seletina guessed that she had said the exact same thing to the emissary sent by General Aubance.

The flat tone with which Imitia said this meant that it was something she was used to saying.

“What if the Aldelight family… No, what if the Kingdom of Elugor secures it?”
“The Kingdom will?” Imitia scowled once more, “You may be the daughter of the Aldelight family, but who do you think you are for a single girl to have her way with the kingdom’s finances? Stop bluffing.”
“I have been sent by the king as an emissary of the kingdom. If you decide to agree then I am more than willing to vouch for you.”
“I wonder just how much we can trust that word.”

Seletina realized that it would be impossible to move Imitia’s mind with just alone anymore. Imitia had a family to take care of, and it was only natural that she wouldn’t take any risks that could harm them.

At the end of the day, a single girl’s word couldn’t be trusted.

In that case…

“Lady Remilia, could you please leave us alone? The rest is something I would like to discuss with Imitia in private.”

From here on Seletina would speak to Imitia as her friend, as Orthus.