I saw Hellraider looking at all of us with a facial expression that would never change except anger. Only for a moment, he immediately walked away again leaving us toward the stairs leading to the upper balcony where some seats were placed.
I began to feel Hellraider's new habit in situations like this was to look for a seat located above the crowd. Could it be that he wanted to observe the movements of everyone there? I think that's a kind of positive progression that Hellraider is doing to be able to act like a normal person.
"Did he eavesdrop on all of our conversation earlier?" asked Sherubiel.
"It seems so. I invited Sir Hellraider because yesterday I got a surprising thing from Grelmure that he attended the public festival. So I conclude that he will be safe to be brought anywhere hahaha..." said Gruzhnil while laughing.
"Mendicore, why did you not know that Sir Hellraider was near us?" I asked.
"Actually I knew, Johann. But he was just silent in other side earlier. I thought your purpose since departure was to meet the Commander, not Sir Hellraider. If you asked where he was, I would definitely tell you." answered Mendicore.
Hearing that answer, I felt that Mendicore didn't yet understand the "special" relationship between me and Hellraider. Of course because I never told him that he was my biggest idol from the game.
"Oh yes I want to ask you, Johan. Sir Hellraider is wearing a thick black fur mantle on his shoulders. Do you happen to know where he got it from?"
I just realized that Hellraider had been wearing that mantle since yesterday. Has Gruzhnil been continuously curious about that but still reluctant to ask Hellraider directly?
"That's a mantle made from Greslan's fur, Commander." I said seriously.
Gruzhnil was shocked again, his mouth wide open and his eyes widened.
"S-Seriously? Y-You are not joking, right Johann?" said Gruzhnil still not believing.
"It's true, Commander. I have checked it directly. It seems Greslan left his fur right in front of his house at that time." added Mendicore.
"I can't believe that Lord Marsiel's right hand acknowledged Sir Hellraider's existence..." said Sherubiel who was still shocked.
"I hope this information is kept only by you, Commander. I also don't want the Commander to distance yourself more from Sir Hellraider. In my opinion, for him this is just an ordinary gift." I said.
Gruzhnil then closed his eyes while taking a deep breath and then smiled.
Suddenly from behind me, I heard people shouting loudly. When I turned back again, I saw people wearing something like training clothes and carrying bows walking in formation toward outside the garden.
"It seems the archery competition will start soon. Let's go see there!" said Gruzhnil with a tone trying to be calmer.
We followed Gruzhnil outside the garden which turned out to be near that grassy field.
"Is this safe, Commander? What if there is a Groth watching us?" I asked to make sure.
Gruzhnil then glanced at me with a rather strange look for me.
"Well, did you forget what you said about Sir Hellraider earlier?" said Gruzhnil while smiling.
I turned my face away and nodded, as if understanding the implied answer from Gruzhnil.
In that open field many people had gathered who would watch the archers demonstrate their skills. There were 6 round archery targets lined up.
"Are they athletes, Commander?"
"Oh no, Johann. They are all The Graendall soldiers who have a hobby of archery and are invited to the Palace by Emperor Gregustus. Archery is indeed one of the hobbies of the people here."
I nodded again. Indeed when I was at the public festival yesterday, there was also an archery competition.
All 12 archers immediately lined up in front of the targets about 50 meters away. Everyone cheered encouraging until the archers started their shooting position. When the first arrows shot and stuck into the targets, the audience applauded. I saw the arrows didn't land exactly in the center.
One by one the archers showed their performance. None seemed able to hit the exact center, until the last archer managed to hit right in the center. All the audience applauded loudly for that last archer.
Suddenly from the garden direction, I saw two people walking. It was Emperor Gregustus with Princess Glynpatra holding a bow. I knew that Glynpatra was the best archer in Grivendal. Was this the peak of the show?
Everyone cheered and chanted Glynpatra's name. She immediately went to the farthest target and shot. With just the first arrow, Glynpatra directly hit the center. Then she moved to the next target and still hit the center with one shot until the last target.
I wondered, the arrows had already hit that before, what would she do?
Glynpatra took the most steady shooting position, held breath for a moment and released her last arrow. When it hit, I was shocked by what happened to that target.
The previous arrow split into two with Glynpatra's arrow in the middle, and its tip penetrated through to the back of the target made of some kind of thick leather.
All the audience immediately shouted in excitement seeing Glynpatra's spectacular skill. She smiled widely, but repeatedly she glanced to the far right side. Curious about what was there, I looked toward it.
It turned out Hellraider had been standing there watching Glynpatra's performance, but he only remained silent with both arms crossed.
I felt Glynpatra was very happy because her skill was watched directly by Hellraider.
After that, all guests including us were inside the palace for lunch and the next event. I still thought that Glynpatra's heart was very blooming since Hellraider was present there.
"Sir Grelmure, does Princess Glynpatra already have a partner candidate?" I asked softly during the meal. Grelmure had returned to the palace after the archery show earlier.
"It seems not, Johann. I feel that the Princess is a woman with strong principles even though from the outside she appears cheerful and friendly. From circulating rumors, she often rejects potential partners either from military higher officers or other noble families introduced by her father. Maybe this is Emperor Gregustus' personal concern who actually wants to see his only daughter start a family." said Grelmure softly as well.
"Do you see an unusual relationship between Princess Glynpatra and Sir Hellraider?" I asked.
Grelmure then looked at me with a slightly mischievous smile.
"So you already know that story from the Commander, Johann... ???"
"Of course because the Commander and the Princess also visited me at that time..."
I then told my observation earlier when Glynpatra kept glancing toward Hellraider after her archery performance.
"Hmmm... it seems the Princess is more attracted to someone like him, very mysterious but also very strong. But you should know, marriage here has an important role in determining the direction of the empire's politics. She may like him but must remain within those boundaries." explained Grelmure.
I nodded understanding. Besides, as far as I knew, Hellraider who was clearly a foreigner became an important figure in a military order that strictly occupied only by natives as in The Mayhem lore. If Hellraider were forced into the imperial dynasty circle, it would cause even greater political turmoil.
But strangely, as long as I have been here, I never accidentally overheard conversations of elites either in military or government protesting Hellraider becoming a new influential figure in Grivendal. Could it be they exist but are not near here?
Then one of the people who seemed like an event organizer announced that soon there would be a dance in the palace ballroom.
After finishing lunch, Grelmure invited all of us there to watch it. The participants who would dance were members of noble families, government officials and military higher officers. Gruzhnil, Glynpatra and unexpectedly... Hellraider were also present here.
Not long after, the palace dance began as the palace musical group started playing their music. The dancing couples that initially were only a few increased as the musicians played the song with a fast tempo.
I saw Glynpatra standing at the edge of the ballroom enjoying the music. But her face kept glancing toward the right side which when I projected it, turned out again the one she was looking at was Hellraider.
I could sense that Glynpatra really wanted to try dancing with Hellraider. But I could not imagine how they would dance. Hellraider is not the type of man who can show his romantic side through dancing. I just smiled and laughed to myself seeing their relationship that was so complicated to explain.
Suddenly Gruzhnil approached Glynpatra and brought her to the middle area and began dancing. I was quite impressed with Gruzhnil who was understood that she wanted to dance too.
"Whoooaaa... The Commander and the Princess are very suitable as dance partners, right!" said Sherubiel seeing their dancing skills even becoming the center of attention.
"Yes, but remember they consider their relationship only like uncle and niece..." I commented.
After the palace dance event that was quite lively ended, suddenly I saw a military elite running toward Gruzhnil and whispering something. Gruzhnil's face suddenly became tense. He immediately called Grelmure and said something that I could not hear in this crowd.
Why did I suddenly feel uneasy again after all this time?