An Extra’s Rise in an Eroge

Thalia, having heard her son's answer, rose gracefully, her sharp eyes narrowing with restrained fury. Unlike the other elves who relied on their bows, she began conjuring a fireball in her palm, the swirling flames reflecting her mounting anger.

But just as quickly as the fire ignited, she extinguished it with a flick of her wrist, her expression shifting from rage to calculated calm.

Her son, who had been watching with smug anticipation, looked crestfallen. "Mother, why did you stop?" he demanded, his tone tinged with annoyance.

Thalia ignored him completely. While she doted on her son, she wasn't blinded by her emotions. Her sharp eyes had already caught the emblem on Ron's chest—the mark of an Imperial Knight of Hestia. As a member of royalty, it was her duty to recognize such symbols, especially those of the most powerful empire on the continent.

She shifted her attention to the crest displayed on Edward and Eleanor's attire, confirming her suspicions. These weren't just any visitors; they were the representatives from the Hestia royal family they had been informed about.

Suppressing her lingering anger, Thalia stepped forward with grace and a forced smile. "Greetings. I am Thalia Vilde. May I know who I have the honor of addressing?"

Edward stepped forward, his posture regal. "I am Edward Hestia, prince of this empire, and this is my sister, Princess Eleanor Hestia. I believe you were informed of our visit," he said, his tone calm yet authoritative.

Thalia's composure wavered slightly, but she quickly recovered. "Ah, yes, we were. I apologize for the... misunderstanding." Her voice was polite, but the tension in her eyes betrayed her simmering frustration.

Her gaze shifted to Ron, her tone growing sharp. "However, even though you are a prince, I must demand an explanation for your knight attacking my son. While he may hold no claim to our throne, he is still a prince of the Everveil Kingdom. An assault on royalty, without valid justification, could be seen as an act of war." Her words were laced with a cryptic warning, her eyes narrowing.

Edward didn't flinch. "I understand your concerns, Lady Thalia," he said smoothly. "But before we jump to conclusions, perhaps we should discuss the reason your son was attacked."

Thalia raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued yet wary. "And what reason could justify such aggression?"

Edward gestured toward Ron. "Captain Ronald, would you care to explain?"

Ron stepped forward, his expression calm but his voice firm. "Your son aimed an arrow at Prince Edward without provocation. As an Imperial Knight, it is my sworn duty to protect the royal family. I acted on instinct to eliminate a threat to His Highness."

Thalia's eyes flickered toward her son, whose face was now pale. "Is this true?" she asked, her voice dangerously low.

The arrogant elf hesitated, his gaze darting around as if searching for an escape. "I... I didn't realize who they were!" he stammered.

Thalia sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You didn't realize?" she repeated, her voice tinged with exasperation. "Did it not occur to you to exercise caution when aiming a weapon at strangers in a diplomatic setting?"

Nyra, who had been silently observing, let out a snort of laughter. "I told you it was his fault," she said under her breath, earning a glare from her cousin.

Thalia straightened, her regal demeanor returning. "It seems there has been a... misunderstanding. I will ensure my son learns from this mistake. However," she added, her tone firm, "I expect the Hestia royal family to address this incident with the appropriate diplomacy."

Edward nodded. "Of course. We will handle this matter with the respect it deserves. But I trust that no further provocations will occur."

Thalia inclined her head, a hint of respect returning to her expression. "Agreed."

"Since the matter is settled, shall we start over?" I suggested, stepping forward to ease the tension in the air.

"Indeed," Edward agreed with a warm smile. "Let us show you the hospitality of the Hestia Empire."

Thalia inclined her head gracefully. "Why not? Although our introduction was rocky, let's move forward and get along."

With that, we walked to the seating area within the garden. The space was lush and vibrant, surrounded by colorful flowers whose sweet scents wafted gently through the air. Though I had suggested moving inside the manor, it was quickly dismissed—elves, as expected, preferred the serenity of nature over stone walls. And with a druid among them, meeting in the garden seemed even more fitting.

Everyone took a seat around a grand circular table that complemented the picturesque surroundings.

Thalia began, her tone polite and composed. "Allow me to introduce us properly. I am Thalia Vilde, sister of the current queen of Everveil. This is Nyra Vilde, the princess of Everveil and heir to the throne. And this young man beside me is my son, Alan Vilde."

Edward nodded, taking his turn. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I am Edward Hestia, and this is my sister Eleanor Hestia." He gestured toward me and added, "This is our cousin, Arthur Ludwig, and beside him is our dear friend Alicia Raven."

We exchanged polite nods with the elves. However, my gaze lingered on the druid who had yet to be formally introduced. Her striking green hair and curious emerald eyes made her stand out among the group, yet she remained silent, her attention locked firmly on me.

Noticing my lingering glance, Nyra broke the silence. "Ah, how rude of me! This is my dear friend, Lesley Dawn. As you can tell, she's a druid. I hope it doesn't trouble you that she's accompanying us."

"Of course not," I replied quickly. "I was just surprised. It's quite rare to see a druid in a human nation."

Lesley said nothing, but her gaze remained fixed on me, unblinking and intense. Her piercing stare unsettled me, like she was studying something hidden beneath the surface.

I shifted slightly in my seat, trying to ignore the discomfort. What's with her? I thought, but I chose to keep my curiosity to myself for now.