Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume5 Chapter5 (section)

===Part 5===

Reicha Alminas.

She was one of the Queens to have gained the honor of serving the five Elemental Lords. 

There were only five Queens in the entire continent, and they were the most eminent of all princess maidens. 

Although Fianna had said she wanted to bring Kamito to meet a high-ranked princess maiden—

He had never for a moment dreamed that she was referring to a current Queen. 

"Why didn't you tell me this before?"

"Because... If I had, you wouldn't have come, would you Kamito?"

Kamito could not hide his conflicting feelings. Likewise, the girl seated beside him was also nervously averting her gaze and looked rather uneasy. 

The girl had glossy black hair neatly done up in braids and cute eyes like that of a small animal. 

Dressed in bright red ritual clothing, she looked like a butterfly about to take flight. 

At fifteen, she was a year younger than Kamito. Like Rubia Elstein, she was one of Fianna's few close friends and confidantes while she was at the Divine Ritual Institute. 

She served the Fire Elemental Lord – in other words, she had succeeded the Calamity Queen elementalist's position. 

Kamito had already introduced himself, removed his disguise, and revealed that he was in truth male. 

Upon discovering that Kamito was in fact male, Reicha very nearly fainted on the spot, and only managed to stay conscious thanks to Fianna's eloquent explanations. 

"I-I-If I am ungracious, it is because it is my f-first time talking to a male..."

"N-Never mind. I should be the one apologizing, to barge in on you suddenly like this."

Looking at the Queen bobbing her head apologetically in his direction, Kamito also bowed his head in response. 

Despite obviously being the highest ranked princess maiden in the continent, she was nonetheless humble and polite. 

Due to her rank, Kamito should have used genteel, formal language when addressing her. However, regardless of that fact, she nonetheless looked like an ordinary young girl, so Kamito could not help but speak to her as an equal. 

"Hee hee, little Reicha is still as cute as ever."

Fianna smiled mischievously and reached out to feel her small chest. 

"Ah – ! S-Sempai, what are you doing!"

"Your chest seems to have gotten a little bigger?"

"Oooh... I-I really haven't...!"

Reicha blushed and twisted her body defensively. 

... Even if she was indeed an old friend, to do something like that to a Queen was pushing it a little, wasn't it?

Kamito broke out into a cold sweat and averted his eyes awkwardly. 

The two girls reminisced fondly for a while, then—

"Reicha, actually... I have a favor to ask of you."

Fianna made her request with a serious expression. 

"A favor – yes?"

Reicha blinked, not understanding. 

"Mmhmm, I need to borrow your power, to break the curse on him – Kamito."

"You mean to say this male has been cursed?"

The Fire Queen asked, turning to look at Kamito.

"My sword spirit might have been trapped by this curse. Please save her, I beg you."
Kamito placed both his hands on the ground and pleaded with Reicha with all his heart. 

"That is a curse so strong that even I cannot break it. However, you have received the blessing of the Fire Elemental Lord; with that power, you can surely destroy even the harshest of curses."

"You are right. If I use the Sacred Flames of Judgment, any curse will turn into smoke, that's true. But..."

Reicha lowered her head and mumbled. 

It was only natural that she would hesitate. 

Even on the behest of one of her best friends, Fianna, she was nevertheless a Queen who had to follow rules and do things by the book. 

Using the Fire Elemental Lord's power for personal gains was an act that would never be condoned. 

A long period of silence ensued, and then— 

"I know."

"Huh?"

At that, Kamito raised his head and regarded Reicha quizzically. 

"Because it is sempai's request, so... But only this once; I will not make this exception again."

The Fire Queen let out a sigh and nodded her head as if making a decision.