He had changed into a dark-black robe so as not to attract attention. But the robe had a velvet sheen, and she could tell it was valuable.
Neia immediately fell to one knee.
“Yes, it is as you say, Your Majesty. Where…is your escort?”
“Oh, I didn’t bring one. Having someone along would only be a bother.”
“Wh-what do you mean?!”
“Mm. I want to speak with your leader in secret. I want you to call her for me… No, I should go to her room. Could you open the window? I can go in that way.”
That was a bizarre request. She wouldn’t normally open her commander’s window, but it was a king—the king who had promised to assist Roebel—who was asking. She couldn’t be so foolish as to displease him.
The word assassination crossed her mind, but if he wanted to kill Remedios, he could have done it when they met him earlier.
There was also the possibility that someone was impersonating the king. But this presence before her that exuded overwhelming sovereignty was undoubtedly the King of Darkness. Each and every move he made could only have been performed by someone born as royalty.
Should I believe him or not?
Neia thought for a moment and chose the former.
“Understood. I’ll go right away.”
“Indeed. By the way, were you sent on an errand or something? If so, I should apologize to your leader.”
“Huh?”
“—Huh?”
Neia inadvertently exchanged glances with the king.
“…You mean you’re not out on work? It’s like free time? If so, I’ll apologize for interrupting your precious—yes, truly precious—off time with my request.”
“N-no, it’s not really…like that… I-I’ll go open the window.”
She slipped past the King of Darkness in hurry.
What had startled her was the kindness in his words, as if someone had gently spread a rich medicine blended with oil on her cracked, dry hands.
She sprinted and reached the inn almost immediately.
Of course, she couldn’t go thudding around at full speed inside such a high-class establishment. That said, she couldn’t take her time, either, so she proceeded at a speed that wouldn’t be uncouth—although she had the feeling she got some cold looks from the staff—and arrived at the commander’s room.
She knocked right away and went to open the door, but it was locked. For a moment, she had the lonesome feeling she’d been the only one left out, but this wasn’t the time.
“It’s Squire Neia Baraja. Please open the door.”
There was a click, and a paladin peeked his face out.
“Excuse me.” She didn’t have time for manners. She spoke to Remedios, who was there, “It’s His Majesty the King of Darkness. He wants to speak to you in secret.”
Neia sensed everyone’s eyes look behind her in surprise.
“No, he’s not there.”
She walked swiftly over to the window and opened it.
As one would expect from a high-class inn, there was no creaking, and it opened smoothly.
“What are you—?!”
From a third party’s perspective, it seemed like an almost dangerous act. It was only natural that one of the paladins would shout, especially since it was one of the ones who had been guarding the Holy Lady.
But Neia took no notice. She leaned out the window and waved to the King of Darkness who was out there somewhere.
Someone yanked her collar back.
“What are you doing, Squire Baraja, indiscreetly opening the window? And where exactly is the King of Darkness supposed to be?”
She turned around to find a paladin red in the face. Well, it made sense to be angry, but—
“That’s enough. She has only broken your rules to grant my wish. If you’re going to blame someone, blame me.”
A soft voice reverberated in the room.
With his foot on the windowsill, the King of Darkness leisurely revealed himself.
The paladins reached instinctively for their swords, but Neia rushed to stop them.
“Hmm… I seem to have startled you. Sorry for that. I came because I wanted to meet in secret. I realize coming through the window is ill-mannered, but I hope you’ll understand that I had no choice… I put her in a difficult situation…” Having set his feet on the floor, he surveyed with room with a kingly air. “…I am the King of Darkness, Ainz Ooal Gown.”
When he announced himself, Neia was the first to take a knee. Behind her, she heard the rest of the knights follow.
“It’s all right… You should stand. We don’t have much time. Lady Custodio. Can we talk?”
“I have no objections. This way, please.”
Neia sighed as she stood—phew—and her eyes met the King of Darkness’s when he turned around. Of course, he didn’t have eyeballs, so maybe she was the only one who felt like they exchanged a glance.
“That squire won’t be participating?”
“She’s only a squire.”
“She was at the audience earlier, though, right?”
He sounded genuinely puzzled and expressed himself in an utterly normal way, but the sarcasm was biting.
“Squire Baraja, you come, too.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
She didn’t really want to attend the meeting, but for some reason, she was curious to see why the King of Darkness could possibly have come.
Remedios, Gustav, and the King of Darkness sat at a table, while Neia and the others stood against the wall. It was the same setup as when they had met the Blue Roses.
“All right, Your Majesty. Please forgive me, but I’ll be direct. Why have you suddenly shown up at our inn?” Gustav asked, and Remedios nodded.
“Sure. I said back there that I’m not fond of indirectness. I don’t want people to understand me in a warped or mistaken way.”
His way of speaking was so substantial somehow, so indescribably intimate.
“We decided on sending Momon in two years, but if you agree to one condition, I’m not averse to sending someone else as strong as him right away.”
“As strong as him?” Remedios yelped.
“…What sort of condition is it? We may not be able to comply immediately,” continued Gustav, and the King of Darkness smiled at him.
“Yes, I figured. I have a pretty good idea of the situation you’re in… It sounds good when you call yourselves a resistance
