Raphtalia nibbled on her food very, very carefully. She scanned the fancy plates, the spoons and forks and other utensils and hesitantly dove in, but only after Malty nodded at the girl.
The other demi-human children also jumped at the food once permission was given.
The maids looked appalled at the way they inhaled the food but Jessica only felt tempted to take a trip down to the Slave Trader and spend some time burning him. Surely he didn't need all his appendages. Reducing some of them to ash or flaying him by using a carefully cast wind spell was for the greater good.
"Motoyasu," she said, after taking a bite of her meal, "Please start travelling to the domain of Lord Reichnott soon. He is a kind ruler and with some funds from me we can be certain that they will have a decent home."
The Spear Hero looked happy. Not pleased or smug. He had been subdued after the raid on the slave trader and though he had insisted on participating in all the other assaults on the other traders in the city he had not been very sound of mind.
A day later, with the enslaved demi-humans being healed, clothed and fed. With the effusive gratitude from them towards their Heroes. He was better.
Trauma still clung to him but Jessica knew that he needed it. Maturity was the least of what this man needed to be useful.
"Got it," he said, "I guess you want me to mark the place and then teleport them there."
Malty nodded, "It is the safest and most time-efficient way for them to travel. If you go with a representative from me then you can get a deal set up before taking them there and remove any chance of bandits or slavers getting a shot at enslaving them again. Plus, you get to mark a safe but distant location for your teleportation."
Motoyasu slammed a fist on his chest, "I'll get started early tomorrow," he promised.
"A guide and some dragons will be arranged," she said, mentally listing out her best options, "It shouldn't take you more than a day's worth of travel. You can teleport back her during the night for comfort and safety."
The leer on his face sparked a thrill of fury but she said nothing and returned to her meal.
The boy deserved some freedom. He had done a pretty good job. But she couldn't seem him as anything more than an immature, spoiled, idiot of a man. He was nothing compared to her husband. David may be been unfocused in terms of his professional career but he had been devoted to her.
That Motoyasu dared to imagine he could create any affection for him felt like mockery.
Malty focused on Elena who was sitting on the other side of the Princess. The girl had barely touched her food. "Not hungry," asked Malty.
Elena jumped. "I'm sorry, Princess," she said, stammering, "I-it's just that-"
"You are not used to the idea of eating with what you consider to be filthy animals," completed Malty with a cold tone.
Elena said nothing. She paled. The kids and Motoyasu heard them loud and clear. A smile had the kids go back to their meal albeit with suspicious looks at Elena, but Motoyasu stared at Elena like he had never seen her before.
"Elena?" he said, sounding lost.
The girl said nothing. She looked between Malty and Motoyasu before looking down at the plate as if it held answers to everything.
"Forgive her," said Malty, sounding as if she hadn't planned this entire situation when inviting Elena for dinner, "She has been raised by parents who are themselves rather biased. My parents were the same and for a long time I believed as she did; that Demi-humans are inferior."
Motoyasu nodded and restarted the conversation. The kids went back to speaking among themselves. The maids tried to stay as blank as possible.
Elena struggled to answer. She could barely look at Malty without shock obviously written on her face.
Jessica only smiled back at the girl whom she was going to use to make herself look better.
The princess decided to find a way to reward poor Elena. She truly wasn't going to have a very good time.
"...the ports have also been closed but Earl Habenburg has not yet responded and the Seaetto ports have no overseer's at present," said Captain Anderson.
Malty tapped a finger on the Cane, "Leave Habenburg to me," she said, considering a trip to Cal Mira. It was a chance to boost Motoyasu's power and register with the Hourglass there and set up a teleportation point for the activation event, "and send word to Lord Rabier. He is to restrict access along the ports."
The church representative, a nun named Cayfla, nodded with a smile at this declaration. Jessica wondered if she would be this pleased if she knew the real reason behind this move was to distribute his forces to make his destruction easier.
The Captain nodded quickly and hastily made some notes.
The Captain, Malty, Motoyasu, the nun and Lord Cromwell were seated around a circular table. A handful of guards were scattered around the edges of the room, but a simple wind barrier ensured that no sound escaped the table.
Motoyasu seemed horrifically bored, but a glance from her had him sitting straight up. She had placed the man right next to her, a simple demonstration of her control over him.
"Any other news?" she said looking at the nun and her father's former second in command.
"Our Holy Knights have been scouring the countryside," said Kayla, holding her rosary tightly with one hand while pointing on the map with the other, "but there has been no sighting of the Shield."
"He's doesn't appear to be in the city," mused Malty, "Nor is he near the borders. He might have escaped, but the more likely possibility seems to be that he is either hiding out near the mountains or…"
Malty glanced at the territories near the capital. It had numerous nobles who were loyal to her mother first. Some held primary loyalty to the Church. Some held out for her father.
None were loyal to her.
"Lord Cromwell," she said, after a long pause, "Has Lady Leto replied?"
The man swallowed and used a red handkerchief to wipe away his sweat. His silence made her suspicions flare-up.
"Lord Cromwell," she said more insistently, a glare joining her words.
"...we received a letter," he admitted, "She asked for your mother's approval before acting."
Cayla tsked, "She would never be so polite," she said with a vicious snarl, "What did that heretic say?"
Cromwell shrank further. Motoyasu sat up straight with interest.
"Sh-she said that you were not the ruler of Melromarc and that her oaths were to Her Highness."
Malty smirked, "I doubt those were her precise words," she said dryly, remembering that rude woman who had been something akin to a mentor to Mirellia, "Give me the letter after the meeting Cromwell. Were there any other concerns?"
He nodded with some relief, "Most others have obeyed your command, Princess."
Malty rolled her eyes, "Token obedience," she said, "I doubt they've truly begun to muster their forces as ordered...perhaps it's time I pay them a visit."
Motoyasu sparked up, "I can help," he said, standing up and dramatically changing the form of his spear.
Jessica smiled at the amusing idiot, "Thank you for the offer, Motoyasu," she said, meaning it, "but I need you to watch over Raphtalia and the others and train them along with some of the Knights. It would be impossible for them to work properly without you. I'll be counting on you to watch over them."
The Spear Hero puffed up and failed to realize that she wanted him away from those meetings to keep him away from the cruelty.
