«Let go! Just let me through!»
It was
She forced her way down the Ainhorn hallway, pushing past the robots trying to stop her.
She was heading for
Panting, she finally reached the door, and Claire‑re followed, looking utterly exasperated.
‘You’re so lively this morning.’ «Don’t you dare get discouraged! Libya’s been kidnapped, and you expect me to do nothing? Even if it’s Leon’s order, I can’t forgive that!»
She grabbed the doorknob, and from behind her Leon’s older brother—Nix—appeared.
«Leon, what do you think you’re doing!?»
He was as furious as Angelica.
«Brother‑in‑law.»
«Angelica‑sama—no,‑san. You’re here to scold that spineless little brother? What a coincidence. I’m in the same boat.»
He seemed angry at Leon for not acting after Libya’s abduction.
When the two entered the room, Claire‑re slipped to a spot where she could peek inside.
‘I don’t know, Master. He’s really pissed off~’ Leon was sitting in a chair, one arm propped on the desk, tapping a rhythm with his index finger.
Even as they entered, he didn’t even turn his face toward them.
His expression was blank, as if he weren’t thinking about anything at all.
Nix strode forward, grabbed Leon by the lapels.
«Leon! You’ve been called a scumbag before, but do you really intend to become one? Are you going to abandon
Leon’s eyes didn’t waver.
Angelica kept berating Leon.
«What do you mean you’ll stop protesting, stop trying to get Libya back! Is Libya just that cheap to you? Just lock yourself in a room and do nothing? Even if you can’t win, there’s still something you can do!»
Leon only gave Angelica a stare, his gaze now different from usual.
When Angelica gasped, his eyes shifted to Nix.
«—Let go.»
Leon’s expression was unlike his usual one.
Nix opened his mouth to say something, but the atmosphere Leon exuded made him step back.
‘I told you no one could enter the room.’ ‘You can’t do anything violent to Angelica‑chan, right? So, what are you going to do?’ Claire‑re’s question got no answer from Luxion.
Instead, Leon replied.
«Libya will be saved. But at the same time, the Republic must be destroyed.»
Angelica flinched at those words.
«Are‑you serious? Do you even know what you’re saying?»
Leon was completely unfazed.
«It’s serious. To be precise, I’ll crush the Republic so it can’t keep existing as it has. If we do nothing—well, we’d just go on living normally, right?»
Nix broke out in a cold sweat.
«What are you talking about? You lost to the Republic’s knights, didn’t you? Even Alogantz can’t beat some opponents—how do you plan to fight a whole nation?»
Leon laughed.
Seeing that smile, Angelica and Nix both recoiled.
«It’s a country that relied entirely on the
Claire‑re was flustered.
‘Whoa—are you really going to do that? On a battlefield that’s literally over the continent?’ Luxion also noted that, ‘The other side launched first. It seems they want a short‑term decisive battle.’ Nix glanced anxiously at Angelica.
«What… what will happen? If the Sacred Tree disappears, will the nation disappear too?»
Asked by his brother‑in‑law who knows little about the Republic’s inner workings, Angelica tried to predict the Republic’s future.
«—If we truly lose the Sacred Tree, the Republic will no longer be able to govern as it has. Moreover, the impact on neighboring countries will be huge.»
Nix hurriedly looked at Leon.
«Are you really going that far? I don’t know if it’s possible, but if you do that… the people of this country—»
«They chose them.»
«—What?»
«Brother, gather everyone. I’ll head out on the Ainhorn alone to rescue Libya. Angelica, stay on the Ricorne.»
Angelica opened her mouth to say something, but Leon’s eyes made it clear he wouldn’t allow refusal.
Still— «I’ll go too. You’re in danger right now. It’s foolish to fight alone.»
Leon lowered his gaze.
His smiling face looked like he knew how foolish he was.
«Yeah. I’m a fool. Because I’m a fool— I trusted you to the end.»
Leon lifted his head.
«Luxion—let’s move.»
‘—Yes, Master.’ ◇ When Libya woke up, she found herself in an unfamiliar mansion.
«Huh? I—»
She’d been forced to change clothes at some point.
She touched her body, confirmed nothing had been done to her, and felt relieved.
Then the fake Noel from yesterday appeared.
It was a large room. Opening the door made a sound echo.
«Did you wake up?»
Two pole‑shaped robots stood nearby.
Libya glared at the girl with a side‑ponytail.
«Why are you doing this?»
The girl smiled.
«You’re a
«What are you talking about?»
In truth, she thought, (Now that I think about it,
She introduced herself while sitting on Libya’s bed.
«I’m Relia—Noel’s twin sister.»
«Noel’s sister?»
«It’s been a mess with those who stirred things up, but now their trump card’s gone. That guy will show his confidence, right? After all, you’re his fiancée.»
She instantly realized «that guy» was Leon.
«What’s your goal? I understand it’s an international incident, at least.»
Relia laughed.
«It’s not that low‑level. This is… well, a higher‑dimensional matter.»
«Higher‑dimensional?»
What on earth was she talking about? Nations, politics—what does a higher perspective or dimension even mean? While pondering that, Relia kept chatting cheerfully.
«You probably can’t grasp it. But this will become the right choice in the long run. It benefits both the Republic and the Kingdom. We’ll finally be freed from that scum.»
«Right? That’s a lie. How can this be right!»
«You don’t get it. That scum is the one causing the chaos. And to keep you close—worse than Marie. He’s a scum through and through.»
Libya, knowing who the «scum» referred to, glared at Relia.
Her eyes were full of hostility.
«Leon isn’t a scum. —What are you planning to do with Leon?»
«Either strip his power and imprison him, or if he resists, Serge will defeat him.»
«Leon won’t lose. He’s the Kingdom’s strongest knight.»
«Strongest? What a cheap phrase. Don’t you know he lost to Serge? What’s good about that guy?»
Libya stared straight at Relia’s face.
«He’s kind. He’s not the kind of person to be called a scum. He may go overboard, but he’s a strong, caring knight. He’s not someone you can belittle.»
«—What? I thought the utterly vile scum had something on him. It’s almost like you’re in love.»
«It’s not ‘like.’ I love Leon.»
Relia bit her lower lip, then forced a smile.
«You’re being naive, thinking you’re not being fooled. With a flower‑brain, you only see what you want to see. Men like him are everywhere, ready to be tossed aside. Are you crazy?»
Libya clutched her blanket tighter.
Relia kept laughing.
«But he might run away, scared of fighting Serge, and abandon you. He’s not as strong as he boasts.»
When Libya stayed silent, Relia, bored, left the room.
«Don’t think about stupid things. As long as you stay here, I’ll guarantee your safety.»
When Relia left, Libya curled up and buried her face in her knees.
(—I couldn’t do anything again.)
◇ Relia exited the room and walked the hallway of the Raulth manor.
She didn’t look like she was enjoying bullying Libya; she just seemed… empty.
«What’s this? You keep saying you’ll believe till the end, then men always betray you.»
She muttered while walking.
«—Being betrayed after believing is the worst, yet you can’t even understand that. What a pity.»
Relia recalled a face from a past life—her former fiancé.
She covered her face with one hand.
«Doing something out of character, giving everything, and yet men just discard you. That’s why women are foolish.»
Tears fell.
◇ Serge’s room.
Alberk stormed in, shouting.
«Serge, do you realize how stupid you’ve been!?»
Serge sat on the sofa, looking bored at his energetic father who’d been yelling since morning.
«I was just teasing a cocky brat. Besides, I had my own reasons.»
«Using personal reasons to steal someone else’s fiancée! How pathetic you are, man!»
Serge’s forehead flushed with a blue vein.
«Shut up. A man whose woman was taken and then lectures me?»
«Did you, by any chance, know that ‘story’?»
Alberk, shocked, listened as Serge spoke dryly.
«There was a guy who knew the details. In revenge for being cuckolded, he set the Fevel family against the Respinus family—what a low‑life scumbag.»
Alberk clenched his fists.
«—You’re a child; you can’t understand. Return the woman you kidnapped, and you’ll be put on probation.»
Alberk tried to leave, saying there’d be nothing more to do— ‘That’s a problem.’ The room filled with armed soldiers and robots led by
«The—what!?»
‘The current head is insane. Let’s appoint Serge as acting head, shall we?’ «Don’t mess with me, one‑eyed freak! Do you even know what you’re doing?»
Facing his subordinates, Alberk raised his Sacred Tree’s emblem, and from behind appeared the Fevel family head—Rambler.
He, too, bore the Sacred Tree’s crest.
«Not allowed, Acting Chairman. Your selfishness is unacceptable.»
«Rambler, you— you all!»
Behind them stood the other six noble heads.
Alberk glared at the blond youth—Fernan.
«Did you also side with the one‑eyed? You were close with Count Bartfort, weren’t you!»
Fernan looked down.
«Lord Alberk, we’re not that close. Moreover—shaking the Republic’s foundation any further is impossible. We must curb the fear of the Kingdom. We need to restore a strong Republic.»
The young, capable lord sought to revive his nation’s glory.
(He had potential—but he was too young, too narrow‑minded.)
Serge stood, ran a hand through his hair.
«Don’t get rough. After all, I’m your father.»
Alberk’s shoulders slumped.
«Serge, you know nothing. Your actions endanger the Republic.»
Serge sneered.
«Did you think I’d lose to him? If he shows up, I’ll beat him. Then we’ll unite this country, right? Easy enough. With Ideal, we can consolidate instantly.»
Ideal’s voice was bright.
‘Yes. Preparations for interception are complete. Airship and armor upgrades are finished as scheduled.’ A subordinate—formerly the commander of the knights—spoke to Alberk.
‘Lord Alberk, Ideal’s armor is amazing. With that power, the Kingdom’s knights won’t stand a chance.’ Alberk clenched his teeth, looking down.
(If this continues, we’re worse off than starting over.)
«—It’s my fault for not punishing you.»
◇ Alberk was thrown into a luxurious cell with iron bars, prepared for a noble of the Six Great Houses.
When a guard left his seat, he looked up.
‘What’s happening?’ A girl who looked just like the woman he once loved stood before him.
«Your aura’s different…—Noel?»
Noel had come for a visit.
Because she bore the priestess’s crest, the guards stepped aside.
In the Republic, the Sacred Tree’s crest holds great meaning—especially for a priestess.
«Call me by my first name. I came to talk.»
Alberk answered with self‑mockery.
«Want to hear my pathetic story? It’s boring. Not your concern.»
Noel didn’t back down.
«Please, I’d really like to hear it. I want— I want to hear your story.»
After a while, Alberk, resigned, began to recount his past calmly.
«It’s not an interesting story, and it’ll be painful for you too, right?»
«Fine.»
«—Alright then. I’ll tell you. It’s a story from before you were born. Back then, I was engaged to your mother. The reason— I was slated to become the guardian of the Sacred Tree. And the first betrayal wasn’t ours, but the Respinus family—your parents.»