The Elf Saint is a NEET, so I Forced Her to Work in Another World

A Portrait of a Man (Part 1)

By the end of the second week before the opening of the expositions, distinguished guests from the three races started to arrive at the Holy Palatial Gardens. The first to come was the contingent from Cherwind, led by the Beastman Queen, Ursura of the Beastmen. She was accompanied by her ministers—most of whom were former 'Orphaned' tribe members, her earliest friends and supporters. Also, with them were the esteemed directress of the Royal Academy of Cherwind and the famed inventor of the 'steam engine', Lady Salis of the Owls, the former Chersean noble and current First Admiral of the Cherwind Royal Fleet, Jean Margarette Malvette, and the governor of the Avinus Isles, Lady Ghislaine of the Eagles.

"It's been a while, Your Holiness!" Queen Ursura greeted the moment she got down from the carriage that brought them to the Holy Palatial Gardens.

"Greetings, Beastman Queen!" Maddie reciprocated the gesture, "Though I wouldn't say that 'it's been a while'; a month since your last visit isn't that long."

"True, but..." the Beastman Queen looked at the surrounding people, and when she made sure that everyone present were those close to her... "Ah, fuck it! I'm dropping the formal pleasantries; it doesn't fit me, Lady Maddie!"

Maddie and her entourage were laughing, "It's fine, Lady Ursura!"

"Just Ursura is fine!" the queen replied, "It's not like we're not close, you know?"

"Then I suggest you also call me Maddie—"

"No can do, milady! You're the saint, I'm just a queen."

They both exchanged laughs and jokes, before they went back to the matter at hand, "Any case, U-Ursura, erm...you'll be staying at the Golden Horn guest building, along with your companions. I also asked my carpenters to build a temporary nest for the Lady Ghislaine."

"Great! The orphans and I are already exhausted from the long train travel," the Beastman Queen did some stretches, "And I'm sure the Lady Salis would like to get back to her weird shit, so it's right on timing."

Everyone's attention fell on the silver-haired owl-lady standing behind the Beastman delegation; her unwavering eyes never left the device she was tinkering with. It was only when the Chief Royal Scientist of Cherwind noticed that it was all quiet around her that she realized she was the object of the conversation.

"What?" the owl-lady asked, a bit irritated.

"Nothing," the Beastman Queen chuckled, "we're just talking about how dedicated you are with your...erm...stuff."

"I'm a genius," Salis countered. "I've got no time listening to the talk of idiots."

"Why you—"

"It's fine, Ursura!" the Human Saint stopped the bear-woman. "It's not like we're not used to how sharp Lady Salis' tongue is."

"Heh, at least you can learn a thing or two with Her Holiness, Your Majesty," the owl-lady was sardonic. "And I even requested that I be left back in Cherwind. Geniuses have no time for social events like this."

"Just say that you get tired easily talking to people," it was the Chief of the General Staff of Cherwind, Lady Rumia of the Dogs. She entered the conversation by ruffling and tussling with Salis' hair, much to the latter's annoyance. "And come on, Lady Salis! Stop with your 'genius' stuff; take a break and let's play around for the meantime!"

"I agree with the dog-lady. Well, treat this as a break from the train journey from Malvette," Maddie led them back to the topic. "Please follow my servants; they'll attend to your needs."

"Ah! Finally, can I request that I be given an isolated room?" Salis asked. "If possible, far from the dogs' room."

"Riiiight..." Maddie called a servant and ordered her to show the Beastman delegation the way to their accommodation.