Only until that point did the youth believe that this aura was reserved for the members of the Fenrioette family who possessed their bloodline-exclusive ability. To his knowledge and Lazurii's assurance, Melinda didn't awaken it.
"..."
Although... the green-haired youth wasn't too sure about it now...
While the white-haired man was glaring down at him, he stopped a few steps behind the maid, who approached her lady to announce his presence.
"...?"
The gold-haired girl straightened her back, nodding at the excited Kobolds surrounding her, and turned around to face him.
"!!!"
The moment the naturally sharp gaze of her golden eyes reached him, he froze up.
Not because of her beauty, she was pretty, but not in the way that the green-haired man would describe as conveniently attractive.
No.
The years he spent training and capturing bandits alive let him develop something akin to danger detection, although it wasn't an actual skill.
And at that moment, that danger sense was screaming at him to run away while he still can.
Only that… he no longer could do that…
"Oh~ This is a most interesting turn of events."
The gold-haired girl whom the green-haired young man never had the opportunity to meet in person raised her brows as she smiled, which did soften the sharpness of her gaze a little bit.
"...forgive my manners, young lady. My name is…"
After a moment of hesitation, the man overcame the dread and spoke up while instinctively bowing down in a manner expected from someone of a lower social status addressing his superior…
"Your Highness, this little one is humbled by your presence and the lovely opportunity of greeting you."
And although he was in the middle of his own introduction, Melinda spoke over him and curtsied in a way reserved for addressing members of the royal family.
"...!?"
"!?!?"
The green-haired man's shock could only be toppled by the utter bewilderment on the face of the maid accompanying the gold-haired girl.
"This little one is Melinda Fenrioette, Your Highness. Younger sister of Lazurii Fenrioette, with whom I believe you are acquainted."
Melinda continued, clearly taking over the stage and performing her part flawlessly.
"Sir Zane, Adrianna, somehow our humble journey has been blessed with the presence of His Royal Highness, Ace Adonis of Silveria."
She spoke to her companions in an official way.
"Silver?! Eh… uuuuhhh… doesn't look like silver… malachite, maybe."
While it seemed that an awkward silence would settle between them, one of the Kobolds poked her head from behind Melinda's back and let out an excited screech, only to groan with disappointment at the promise not being delivered.
"Not like that. This person is a boss boss of a really big area. That area is called Silveria - and it is named like that exactly because of their abundance of silver."
"Hmhm~! Silver is nice. Me… I want to try making something like the thingy on her hand!"
The gold-haired girl chuckled softly and explained while gently patting the Kobold's head, making her let out a very pleased screech before raising her head and looking meaningfully at the bracelet of the scout on the maid's wrist.
"That is a great idea~! You don't have many ore veins in here, do you?"
"Yea! It was boring! Well… not really? More like I didn't know it was boring...? But now I think it was?"
Melinda added, continuing to pat the creature, who declared, perking up only to slouch down while trying to find the right words.
"I see. I see...!"
The gold-haired girl nodded her head with an expression full of understanding before glancing at the white-haired man to her side and rolling her eyes while trying to contain a smile.
"Sir Zane. It's rude to glare like that at people you don't want to pick a fight with~"
She pointed out playfully.
"That's right. Although that might not be the case if the person is a known playboy."
The monstrous man, who appeared to have gotten taller while others were blinking, nodded with a strict expression without taking his scornful eyes away from Ace.
"!!!"
Zane's words seemed to particularly hit the maid, who flinched and clenched her fists on her apron, crumbling the fabric as she hurriedly looked away.
"That was so uncalled for, Sir."
"The same could be said about some uninvited guests."
The gold-haired girl pouted, finally making the white-haired man look away while scoffing grumpily.
"Haa… please pardon sir Zane's behavior, Your Highness. His duties as the chosen champion of the goddess Perseverance are taking a toll on someone as scrupulous and hard-working as him. I ask for your understanding."
Melinda went ahead and sighed theatrically, acting out the role of a wife, apologizing for her husband's shortcomings... and enjoying every second of it...
"I… ehm! Of course. It is, as you say, young lady Fenrioette. Although I must say that I wouldn't expect to find you in here, in such company to boot…"
Ace shook off the initial confusion and pointed out after clearing his throat, glancing to the side at the Kobolds who, for some reason, gathered behind the gold-haired girl and were peeking over and to the side of each other to catch a glimpse of him.
"We're actually doing a research. I volunteered to help sir Zane with the task of surveilling the Kobolds' quarry as recently the scholars of Emeraldios Empire had found some interesting documents that suggest those critters aren't some simple monsters."
"Hmhm~!"
She said, picking the most suitable choice from the options she came up with when a gray-scaled Kobold nuzzled its way on her left and hummed happily as it earned a head pat for itself just as its brethren at the girl's other side.
"I-is that so? I had no idea…"
"It's because the legitimacy of those documents is to be confirmed. If, for example, they were propaganda snuck in and spread by the demonkin as some sort of nefarious plan, the last thing that the Empire would want was to spread it to other countries."
Ace raised his brows and hesitated, which only added the wind in the sails of Melinda's made-up story as she lied smoothly without even batting an eye.
"With that in mind, I believe the reason for my presence here is understandable.
"O-of course."
Melinda finished what she wanted to say with a pleasant smile, leaving the green-haired man in a position where he could only nod his head in agreement.