Meanwhile, in another realm…
Another man was having an odd day. He was an exact copy of the inspector we saw before, only difference being that his hair was blond and was pulled back in a spiky mane, and he was dressed formally yet flamboyantly. With a dress orange shirt, black gloves, a white dress vest, black dress pants, an elegant yellow tie, and black and white dress shoes, he looked like a very colorful butler. He even had a monocle over his right eye. However, his face was the definition of stoic. Not an ounce of humor could be seen in it, and his sharp eyes didn't pay much mind to anything, or so it seemed.
As he walked through a castle with a tray in a hand lifted beside his head, he checked a golden pocket watch on his pants pocket, which was chained to his waist with a gold chain, "I have to deliver refreshments for the queen, what are you doing here?"
The figure he was talking to was a hulking humanoid covered with black fur and with a panther's head. His entire body was covered in thick armor, and a massive sword rested on his back. He stood far taller than the butler, but it didn't faze the blond as he stared unemotionally at the anthropomorphic knight. And said knight gave a nod to his side to a red-haired woman in an armor of her own and with a glare.
"King Faust wanted to show his concern about the queen's health." The redhead, who was a stunner with a curvaceous body that her armor showed off, started, "After all, the Exceed are treated as deities for their abilities, and he'd be sad if she were ill. It's been far too long since we last saw her amongst her people."
The butler walked past them, and before the redhead could yell at him, he answered, "Tell the king he has nothing to worry about while I am at Her Majesty's beck and call. And if you wish to continue this chatting, follow me. Her tea is getting cold and the cheese I got for her crackers is still fresh."
The redhead did as she was told, though reluctantly, "Tsk, does he ever show any emotion?"
The larger knight answered her, "He's not a bad guy regardless of how cold he seems. Haruto Uzumaki, age 21. When he appeared as a sixteen-year-old here before the queen, he didn't have any idea of how this or any other place worked. However, he was taken by her out of the kindness of Queen Shagotte's heart. The man may not have emotions, he even claims he lost them, but there's a heart of justice in him."
The trio arrived to a large throne room where a female cat very much like Charla sat on a throne in thick robes. Only her head was visible and her face was adorned to make her look more like a deity than royalty. As one, the two knights bowed before her, and the butler merely continued his walk before setting down the tray of treats in a nearby stand before making the tea right on the spot.
"My apologies for bringing them uninvited, my queen." The butler bowed his head as he handed the feline monarch her cup, "King Faust had concerns regarding your health, so I brought them here."
The queen nodded, "Thank you, Haruto, I know that man has his own problems already." She said her words carefully before blowing on her tea while the blond sliced the cheese for her crackers, "But I know you wouldn't bring them before me out of the blue."
"I can never escape you, can I?" he asked without a hint of sarcasm, "True enough, I thought seeing Panther Lily could cheer you up."
She smiled at the taller knight, "Indeed. It has been a while. How have the humans treated you?"
"Very well, Your Highness." The panther man answered, "Though rumors about your well-being were worrying more than the king, I among the many. I can now see that rumors are just that."
"Indeed." The butler said calmly before turning to the redhead after putting thin slices of cheese on the queen's snacks, "You can see she's doing fairly well, Lady Knightwalker. Shall I escort you two to the exit?"
"Actually, I came here with a request of my own." The redhead said as she stood up, clutching a spear in her hand, "No one knows for sure, but there are rumors that the queen of the Exceed has not only a butler, but a bodyguard. I wish to see how good a human has to be to serve Her Majesty."
Panther Lily was outraged, "Knightwalker, you can't be serious! Put your weapon down this instant and—" and he stopped talking when the butler appeared at his side in an instant, a hand on his shoulder.
"Allow a simple butler to deal with this." He said while adjusting his gloves, "After all, I also need to crack a few joints into place."
The female knight smirked, "I shall enjoy this."
Haruto slowly raised a hand to his chin, "Since you've travelled all the way here, be my guest and let me…" when he put it over his mouth, three throwing knives popped in between his knuckles, "…entertain you."
Annoyed at the fact that the butler's facial expression remained on a dull serious face, the redhead dashed at him. She held her spear with both hands, expecting him to throw the knives in order to deflect them. It was a shock to her to find that he simply dropped them, he just loosened his grip and let them fall when he was a couple of steps close to her.
"Your tricks won't work!" Without thinking twice, the female warrior threw her spear at him to impale him through the chest, and that was when she lost.
Her eyes widened when he not only stopped her spear by swatting it aside with a hand, but he kicked the knives right at her. Her initial reaction was to yank the spear to block them, but he had already gripped her weapon and kept it tightly in place. Without any other option, she jumped back and let go of her weapon, which he then proceeded to throw at the red-haired knight's feet.
He stared at her and threw something at the redhead, which she caught baffled, "My apologies, I didn't want to aim at your face, just your hair."
She gasped when feeling her own blood drip down her cheek from a cut, and stared at him with both anger and, dare she admit it, awe, "I see you're not here just because you serve good tea."
"May Her Majesty and the heavens forbid my usefulness is restricted to tea time." He told her in his monotone and put his arms behind his back, "I'd like to know why King Faust would be concerned with my queen and her health. I mean no offense to him or the crown, for I am human, not an Exceed. I cannot ask for such a thing, but I am curious. He's been very reserved lately."
"The fact Her Majesty has been reserved lately is what worries the king." Panther Lily answered the butler, who gave him a court nod in appreciation.
"You have my thanks, now…" he pulled his pocket watch and sighed, "It is almost time for the queen's bath time. If you'll excuse us, I have to prepare her tub."
The two nodded and left awkwardly, to which the queen commented, only after they left, "You never bathe me or keep schedules for my hygiene, so what is the matter?"
He adjusted his monocle and approached her with his arms behind his back, "I have kept my eye on the king, Your Highness, I—" she raised a paw to silence him.
"Please, do not address me like that while we're alone as friends." She told him and smiled softly.
He didn't bat an eye but nodded, "Forgive me, then. I am not used to people treating me kindly right from the start. Odd as it is to arrive in this world and lacking so much, it is something of a relief to have you."
She closed her eyes sadly, "As it is to have you. But I still feel like I am taking advantage of you."
He placed a plate of crackers with cheese for her to enjoy, "Enough of that, I chose this. I may not have my emotions or be… really myself after that encounter with my other self, but you are too kind for me to just leave alone with someone like Faust." He adjusted his tie as he stood straight, "Perhaps I lack the ability to feel, but I can still tell the difference between good and evil. With or without empathy, I can see the man has a soul more putrid than a pile of puke. His stench is certainly disgusting."
She blushed at his words, "My, for not being someone with anger, you certainly are… very vocal about your opinions."
"I guess I still keep that part of me that dislikes those who are cruel but cherishes those who show kindness." He kneeled before her and refilled her cup with more tea.
"I do not deserve someone like you at my side." Was her answer as she felt her humble nature brought a few tears to her eyes.
He caressed her cheek with the back of his hand to keep any tears from staining her face, "Do not worry, my queen, I promised to help you no matter what, and I am not the kind of man to break his word."
"Thank you…" she answered fully heartfelt.