After entering the city, Kabe did not head straight for the palace. Instead, he first found an inn, stopped the car, and settled Heine and Juliet there.
After that, he had originally planned to take Irene and Brandish around the royal capital for a stroll, to see whether there were any Ishgar specialties they might like.
But Kabe had clearly underestimated just how popular he was.
The moment he showed his face on the street, he was recognized, and fans and admirers who had already rushed over after hearing the news instantly surrounded the three of them from all sides.
"Ahhhhh!"
"Lord Kabe, I love you!!"
"Lord Kabe, are you willing to accept disciples? I want to learn magic from you!"
"Please give me an autograph! I want to treasure it forever as a family heirloom!"
Faced with the surging tide of frenzied fans, Irene could only use magic to keep them all three meters away from the group.
And within that sealed little circle, Kabe, who had been forced into accidental stardom, could only respond to them one by one, interacting with the fans and answering their wishes and requests.
Fortunately, the situation did not last too long before a fully armed squad of soldiers forcefully split open the crowd and took the initiative to create a barrier between Kabe's group and the masses.
Coming together with the soldiers was a middle-aged man with a lean, capable build.
He tried to push his way in front of Kabe, but Irene's magic blocked him.
Only after Kabe spoke was he finally allowed into the "protected zone."
Standing face to face with two Wizard Saints, the middle-aged man looked somewhat nervous. He took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from the corners of his forehead.
Only then did he incline himself politely and state his purpose.
"Honored Lord Kabe, Lady Irene, and Miss Brandish.
I am Fernando, chief steward of the royal court. Upon hearing that the three of you had arrived in the royal capital, His Majesty specially ordered me to invite you to the palace to attend a banquet prepared especially in your honor."
After hearing Fernando explain his purpose, Kabe exchanged a glance with Irene, then smiled and nodded.
"Since His Majesty is extending the invitation personally, naturally we cannot refuse. Steward, please lead the way."
Seeing Kabe agree so easily, Fernando was secretly overjoyed.
Under the protection of the soldiers, he quickly escorted Kabe and the others toward the palace.
When the surrounding fans heard that their idol had been summoned by the king, they felt proud as if it reflected glory upon themselves.
Although they still did not want to leave, they very cooperatively opened up a path for the group and followed along behind the procession as it advanced.
Kabe waved as he walked, thanking his well-behaved fans, while inwardly speaking with Irene through telepathy.
"I originally wanted to take you all around the city, but it turns out our king is even more impatient than I thought."
As a newly appointed Wizard Saint and the strongest female mage, Irene also had a fair number of admirers, even if not as many as Kabe.
She was simply far colder. To the fans shouting her name in adoration, she usually responded with no more than a small nod.
But inside the special "communication network" she had created through telepathic magic, she replied to Kabe instead.
"Even without the king's invitation, with how popular you are in Fiore, we were never going to get any shopping done today."
"No problem. Once we get back to Magnolia, I will take you both out there instead.
It may not be as prosperous as the royal capital, but the local people are nowhere near this fanatical. They are practically immune to Wizard Saints by now."
The two of them continued chatting privately like that, exchanging one line after another, while Brandish occasionally joined in with a few comments of her own.
Only when Fernando finally brought them to the front gate of the palace did the three of them end their little side conversation.
Stopping and turning around, Fernando looked at the dense mass of people who had followed them all the way there and, rather helplessly, tried to persuade them.
"Everyone, Lord Kabe is about to accompany me inside to meet His Majesty.
You may not follow beyond this point. Please understand, and under the guidance of the city guards, leave in an orderly manner. Please do not crowd."
At those words, a wave of agitation instantly swept through the crowd, and many of them began complaining that Fernando was making trouble for no reason.
They were only planning to stand outside the gates and watch, not actually force their way in, so why should they be driven away?
Seeing that, Kabe also chose that moment to speak up and help Fernando persuade them.
"Everyone, please listen to the steward and head home.
If you have any questions or requests in the future, you can write letters to Fairy Tail.
Once I receive them, I will reply as soon as possible. And lucky fans may even receive signed photos from me personally."
"Ooooh! Lord Kabe, we love you!"
"You are the most generous idol I have ever seen! I am definitely writing you a letter!"
"Goodbye, Lord Kabe! I am going home right now to write to you!"
The fans who had been unwilling to leave just moments earlier scattered in an instant the moment they heard Kabe's personal promise.
The contrast in their attitude before and after was so sharp that Fernando could not help twitching at the corner of his mouth.
If he remembered correctly, Lord Kabe was a perfectly serious mage. He had never taken part in any strange activities like singing performances or photo shoots.
So how on earth did he have more fans than most actual idols, and far more fanatical ones at that?
Could it really all come down to being young and having a handsome face?
Otherwise, why did none of the other Wizard Saints have this many crazed admirers?
Shaking his head and tossing out the distracting thoughts, Fernando warmly led the three of them into the palace and toward the carriage that had long since been prepared.
Inside the palace banquet hall, King Toma, dressed in a blue-and-white formal outfit and wearing his crown, had already been waiting for quite some time.
And Princess Hisui, who had hurriedly rushed back to the palace to change into a different dress...