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“I’m back, Lady Marian!”

After finishing her meeting with Cyan, Alice returned to the place she had promised to meet Marian.

Marian, who had been waiting for her, greeted her and asked, “Did you have a good time with your brother?”

“Yes! I enjoyed it so much that I lost track of time!”

Alice’s face, having shared the unspoken bond with her brother, looked brighter than before.

“I’m glad to hear that. So, what are you planning to do now?”

“We’ve decided to each do what we need to from our respective places. Now that I’ve talked with Cyan, it’s time for me to do my part.”

“Understood.”

Marian nodded as if she understood Alice’s words and then turned her body.

Immediately, a radiant light of five colors emanated from her body, and soon she reverted to her true form as a dragon.

Alice naturally climbed onto Marian’s sharp and sturdy body, and Marian spread her holy white wings and soared high into the sky.

“Oh! By the way, I saw Hastia in the dining hall earlier today! Cyan told me they ended up together due to various circumstances.”

“I was just on my way back from meeting that child as well.”

“My brother is truly interesting. He’s stoic and lacks even a bit of meticulousness, yet he seems to be quite popular. That reassures me. It seems there are more people looking out for Cyan than I thought.”

“Indeed. He also seems to be carrying around a strange creature.”

“A creature?”

Alice asked with a surprised expression.

“Never mind. As long as it stays calm, it shouldn’t be a problem. However…”

Marian narrowed her eyes, which emitted a blue light, recalling the appearance of Nana she had seen with Hastia earlier.

“Take good care of your brother.”

“…?”

“In a world without a controller, there aren’t many who can stop that rampaging creature…”

Marian finished her enigmatic muttering and fell silent.

Thus, the two women flew through the blue veil of dawn towards the frontline.

* * *

My sister left my side, saying we would meet again soon.

I didn’t bother asking her about the power I felt from her.

Since I’m not in a position to explain myself, I figured I wasn’t in a place to question her.

Sometimes, it’s better to trust each other without speaking rather than talking to understand.

As the veil of dawn lifted and the round sun rose,

I decided to eat breakfast alone to clear my restless mind, but my appetite vanished when I saw the knights lined up in front of the dining hall.

In the center stood the somewhat haggard-looking princess, who seemed to have stayed up all night. She handed me a letter without a word as soon as she saw me.

It was a letter from Velias, bearing the seal of the House of Vert.

A request for reinforcements for the demonic invasion.

This was no different from a declaration of war against the royal family in the guise of a request.

It was an act of contempt against the empire and the royal family.

I concluded that this couldn’t be the will of the Duke.

“Why are you showing this to me directly?”

I handed the letter back to the princess and asked.

“I want to know what you think. Do you really think this letter was sent by your father?”

Judging by the princess’s eyes, she too seemed to suspect that the letter did not reflect the Duke’s intentions.

“The Emperor has told me many times. Duke Vert is someone who desires the peace of the continent more than anyone else. You, who have seen it up close, should know this well…”

I silently agreed.

One could ask if reinforcements were genuinely needed, but the words “demonic invasion” were enough to reveal the true intent.

My father would never wish for conquest or warfare.

He would be the first to stand against such acts.

I can confidently say that he would detest the winds of chaos blowing through the continent more than anyone else.

“There’s news that a man presumed to be Aschel, no, Aschel Vert, has been discovered in Velias. Did you know that?”

“Yes.”

“Then this makes the story easier. I don’t think this letter was sent by Duke Vert.”

“Why do you think so?”

“We both saw it with our own eyes that day. The power that man had…”

The princess continued with a determined look.

“He could transmit the power of the Holy Sword to the knights and control them at will. He even forced the bedridden Emperor to wield a sword. Violet also warned about the power of enchantment that man possesses…”

The Power of Enchantment

Looking back now, I wonder why I devoted everything to him in my past life.

It wasn’t just me. Everyone who came into contact with him, regardless of age or gender, either treated him aggressively or even praised him without hesitation.

Why? For what reason?

Was it simply because of his eloquence and abilities?

No.

When I was by his side, I felt that if I didn’t follow him, I would never feel at ease. It was as if he were the only truth in this world.

If the reason for these feelings was, as Princess Arin said, due to some kind of mysterious power, then I could somewhat understand my father’s urging to live for him.

Of course, understanding doesn’t mean accepting.

“So, what do you plan to do, Princess?”

“Even if someone else’s intentions, not Duke Vert’s, are behind this letter, there are parts I can’t understand. Isn’t it too sudden? A demonic invasion out of nowhere? Our Ushif Empire has never discussed a demonic invasion since its founding. This clearly suggests that something is being planned under the pretext of a demonic invasion.”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know. That’s why I intend to investigate directly in the name of the royal family.”

Investigate directly in the name of the royal family. That means…

“Are you planning to tour the frontlines?”

The princess nodded instead of answering.

“The selection of the escort knights is already complete. But it would be unwise to take just knights. So, I plan to recruit some special attendants.”

Princess Arin signaled to Ressimus behind her with a glance.

Ressimus brought a small jewelry box, about the size of a palm, and handed it to me.

“Open it.”

Following the princess’s instructions, I opened the box immediately.

The item inside was not unfamiliar to me.

A small brooch with the golden emblem of the imperial family and crossed swords on both sides. It was a symbol representing an attendant aiding the royal family’s affairs.

“Are you asking me to become an attendant?”

“This matter isn’t just about the royal family; it also concerns your household. So, I think it’s something we can cooperate on. This isn’t an order or command; I want to propose it to you respectfully.”

The princess took the brooch from the box and offered it to me.

I looked into her eyes without hesitation and asked, “May I ask one thing?”

“Yes, anything.”

“Do you want an attendant from the House of Vert, or… an assassin from Mist?”

The princess paused for about five seconds before answering.

“Would my request change depending on your choice?”

“Not really. It just means whether I’ll be protecting you visibly by your side or from the shadows.”

“I see.”

Understanding the meaning of my words, the princess smiled faintly.

“I prefer your honest self over having you by my side. So…”

“Do you want the latter?”

Again, the princess nodded in response.

Without a word, I accepted the brooch she handed me.

“When do we depart?”

“In two days. Do you need more time to prepare?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“Good. Then, I’ll see you in Velias.”

Having achieved her goal, the princess stood up to leave.

Just as she was about to go, she added, “Oh, by the way, you won’t be the only attendant on this tour.”

“Who else is coming?”

“Luna will be joining us as well.”

I furrowed my brow in puzzlement.

“Is it necessary to include someone from another country in imperial affairs?”

“I extended the same polite invitation to her as I did to you. When she heard it involved you, she agreed without hesitation.”

Given my junior’s personality, this wasn’t particularly surprising.

“And she mentioned she might bring one more person.”

“Who might that be?”

“I’m not sure. She said we’d find out when we meet. She assured me that while you might not know this person, they would be very pleased to see you.”

A strong sense of unease washed over me.

Someone who would be very pleased to see me, even if I don’t know them?

I racked my brain, but no one came to mind.

* * *

“Now, I know it’s late to ask, but are you really going?”

“I’ve already promised the princess. There’s no backing out now.”

“But the frontlines…”

Schurz couldn’t finish his sentence and swallowed hard.

“I’ve been there before, and it’s not completely unfamiliar to me. In the past, I used the blood of the demonic beasts supplied by secret contacts stationed at the frontlines for my research.”

Luna’s eyes were filled more with anticipation than anxiety.

“I’m not going just because of Senior Cyan. My personal curiosity is a bigger motivation in this matter.”

Holy Book Hishkrea said that Luna had the scent of a seeker. The scent of someone who yearns for knowledge and seeks the truth.

Luna couldn’t deny it. Her desire to explore the unknown, her sense of adventure.

For her, the frontlines represented a new frontier where she could pursue things she hadn’t known before, including the world beyond the frontlines, inhabited by so-called demons and other races.

“Of course, given the inherent dangers, it would be prudent to bring a reliable fool— I mean, support.”

As they continued their conversation, they finally arrived at the eastern border of Sevellinus.

“They should be here by now…”

Just as they began to look around, worried that they might have arrived first and gone elsewhere,

“I’m telling you, I’m not a suspicious person!!”

A man’s indignant shout, full of frustration, rang out.

Recognizing the arrival of the person they were waiting for, Luna let out a small sigh.

“Ha. He hasn’t changed at all, that senior…”

Even from a distance, the massive man with prominent muscles was unmistakable.

He was shouting at the top of his lungs, arguing with the knights at the border gate.

“I’m a prince, a prince! Set Shaharkhan, the First Prince of Spania!”