"Your Highness Homar Kaiser, your coming here as I had hoped truly brings me great comfort. It makes this humble estate shine with glory~"
"That's enough. A little courtesy in greeting is sufficient. Between you and me, there's no need for so many cumbersome formalities, Zepha."
They exchanged a glance. The two royals, of similar age and each holding a position just below the very top in their respective nations, suddenly burst into laughter in front of everyone.
"Hahaha! It's been so long since we last met. I thought you might have become a bit more mature and serious, Homar."
"If acting distant with old friends counts as maturity, then I'm still far from it."
The atmosphere shifted abruptly. Just a moment ago, the tension had been so solemn it was almost suffocating, yet as the two spoke familiarly, it gradually eased.
"W-what exactly is going on?" Nova was full of question marks. "When did you become so familiar with the Empire's prince, Brother?"
"Back when he wasn't a prince yet. We met for the first time at an international conference and hit it off right away. You could say we felt like old friends at first sight."
"Yes. Back then, I wasn't a prince, and you weren't the Crown Prince either, Homar. At that time, we were both just ordinary people."
Miles couldn't help but complain inwardly. Did these two have some enormous misunderstanding about the definition of 'ordinary people'?
Even if they weren't yet prince and designated heir, weren't they still royal-level figures? Since when did that count as ordinary?
Despite his refined appearance, Zepha Soroya was… how to put it, far more free-spirited than his first impression suggested.
"Let me guess," Zepha said, "which one of you is Livorden's Royal Duel Knight, Aisha Carlos?"
Before Crown Prince Homar Kaiser could make introductions, Zepha had already begun observing Miles and the others on his own.
Such behavior was quite rare in noble social etiquette. For ordinary nobles, it would be considered rude. For someone of a prince's status, however, it could only be called informal.
"You!" With pinpoint accuracy, Zepha pointed directly at Aisha. "You must be the legendary Royal Knight of Livorden."
Having never met her before yet guessing so accurately, Zepha Soroya must have obtained information about Aisha Carlos' appearance from somewhere.
For example, the most widely circulated rumor: the Royal Duel Knight was extremely flat.
Though this time, under normal circumstances, Zepha would have been correct.
"I'm not Aisha. I'm El Carlos. Yes… Aisha Carlos' younger sister."
Unfortunately, Zepha had pointed to Dark Aisha.
Zepha blinked in surprise. "The Royal Duel Knight has a younger sister? That's news to me."
"I'm Aisha Carlos."
"There's… another one?"
Only then did Zepha notice that there were two identical girls standing before him.
To be honest, Aisha felt a little depressed inside. Her own presence had somehow been overshadowed by another version of herself.
Which one of us is the original, anyway!
"A mistake, a grave mistake indeed. I intended to take this opportunity to increase my favorability in the Royal Knight's heart, but it seems I've only made things worse."
Trying to raise favorability in this way? Was this imperial prince really reliable?
"Let's return to the main topic, Zepha," Homar suggested.
"Wait, I still have one more chance. Let me guess again… Miles!"
Since he was standing here, this seemingly unreliable imperial prince must have been the one who specifically requested Miles' presence today.
Without waiting for permission, Zepha Soroya began a new round of "identification," his gaze sweeping across the group.
"You! You must be Miles!"
"I'm Irena…"
Irena, who had been "mistaken" for Miles, looked at Zepha as if he were an idiot.
How do you even get the gender wrong?
"Ah, wrong again? I only heard that Miles was born a commoner, and seeing that you're dressed rather plainly—"
"Plainly? It may be a bit old, but this is a classic witch's robe! What do you mean plainly?!"
Irena's oddly specific sense of pride had once again been provoked.
"So then… which one of you is Miles?"
"I am."
Although this imperial prince had displayed a rather unusual personality from the very beginning, Miles didn't underestimate him in the slightest.
How could a prince of the Empire possibly be a fool? Miles felt that Zepha Soroya was deliberately presenting himself this way.
Deliberately acting approachable so that others wouldn't feel awe or distance simply because of his royal status.
Compared to those stern, overly formal noble lords, Miles actually preferred interacting with someone like Zepha.
Seen that way, Zepha was a social expert in his own manner.
"So you're Miles." Zepha stroked his chin. "You're much younger than I imagined. But that's fine. Excellent!"
Excellent in what way? Another one like Sylvia was more than Miles could handle.
"Royal Knight Aisha Carlos, and Royal Guard Miles. To meet the two of you at such a critical moment for the Holy Varian Empire is truly fortunate!"
The tone shifted once again. Zepha looked at Aisha and Miles with utmost sincerity.
"A critical moment for the Empire?"
Since arriving in the Empire, Miles had heard more than once that the situation was extremely chaotic.
But he hadn't expected that the turmoil of the Holy Varian Empire had reached the point where even a prince would describe it as a moment of life and death.
Aisha asked curiously, "Then why specifically Mr. Miles and me?"
"Because the two of you share something in common."
"(?▽?*) It's because we're deeply in love with each other!"
"Ah… so that's the kind of relationship you two have?" Zepha blinked in confusion. "That's news to me as well. My apologies. That's not the common point I was referring to. Were you disappointed?"
Miles suggested, "Prince Soroya, you really don't need to pay attention to remarks like that from Aisha."
Even before Zepha explained, Miles had already more or less guessed their shared trait.
"Miles and Aisha… you can both wield God Cards. That is absolutely crucial!"
As expected. He had only used The Winged Dragon of Ra yesterday, and today Prince Soroya had specifically summoned him.
It was likely that the events of last night's duel had already reached Zepha Soroya's ears.
"The legendary God Cards that stand at the pinnacle of Duel Monsters—only with the power of you two is it possible to accomplish this. To stop my younger sister!"
"Stop your younger sister?" Miles asked in surprise. "Prince Soroya, forgive my question. Your younger sister wouldn't happen to be…?"
"Yes. The current Emperor of the Empire—Quaedes Soroya."
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