"…Now then."
Rigel's mutter melted into his footsteps and was absorbed by the cobblestones.
The instant the royal castle's outer wall came into view, the weight of the air changed.
The soldiers before the gate "sorted" passersby with only their gazes and made a place of different temperature.
"Halt. Your business."
Before the gate the shaft of a spear was put out sideways.
The soldier's voice was hard.
But the eyes were soft, toward contempt.
Academy uniform.
He was probably a noble.
But his load was little, and there were no attendants.
With that alone the ranking ended.
"An audience."
"Ha? An audience?"
The young soldier next to him bit back a laugh.
The owner of the voice took one step forward as if showing the position of his sword belt on purpose.
The leather sword belt was intentionally exposed to the light.
"A spring-break giddy student come to sightsee the castle? Go back. This is—"
"If you look at the sealing wax you'll understand."
