Master of the brave.

"It's the captain's orders. Oh, organizations are connected to each other, so they try to infiltrate and get information."

Leno and Wedge. And there's a platoon of two Knights of the Court and a court magician dressed in black based knight clothing. In total, as many as twenty-three human beings appeared one after the other from near and far than in the shade of the grass where they were lurking.

With the accompaniment of an elderly court magician, he probably used the Perceptual Blocking Magic. Advanced magic that covers up people within the contiguity. On the battlefield is the magic used to lay down soldiers.

Leno shrugged her shoulder with an apologetic look on her face as she watched the court knights tie up the wounded and groaning men handily, looking at Winn, who looked like he had chewed up a bitter bug.

"You used us... Whatever I was going to do if anything happened to His Highness Cornelia"

"Of course. I was careful. So the captain asked the Knights of the Court and the Wizard of the Court to do the same, in case he was ready to intervene immediately."

"But why did the captain ask the Knights of the Court? Besides, it's Master Mycen, isn't it?

Winn turned his attention to those with Cornelia.

The Knights of the Court are knights whose main tasks are imperial defense and non-imperial VIP protection. Although smaller than the Central Knights to which Rock and Leno belong, they belong the most elite knights selected from the Central Knights.

It is indeed an elite Knights of the Court and an excessive force of war for the chimps opponents of the Glades, but this time it is the royal family involved, Cornelia. Although the Kingsguard Knights, whose task is to protect the royal family, are likely to come out when it comes to that.

And Mysen, the head of the court magician. Featuring bright white hair, a mustache and an eagle nose, he is a heavy town throughout the heavy town of the Empire, which even the Knights humans know.

Mysen seems naturally familiar with Cornelia, and now she's talking to her away.

"Kingsguard is a noble choice, so hey. They say he's the best in the empire, but he doesn't have any real combat experience, and... Captain, it sounds like he bothered to ask you to use a handout that's in the Knights of the Court, huh?

"What's Deputy Kelvin thinking, too? Were you seriously attacking Letty?

When Winn said in a slight twitch and mix, Leticia, who actually crossed the sword with that Kelvin, looked at Winn as she leaned her little neck.

"Hmm, but right? Brother. If you're serious, you're gonna fight that guy until he dies with me, aren't you?

"No, that's not..."

Winn was stuck in words with denial. Undeniably. He didn't put it into words, but Leno thought the same way, and he was pointing his troubled gaze at Winn.

I will accompany you to the Imperial Palace, Leticia stared at Cornelia walking forward with complicated feelings as she walked surrounded herself by court knights that

(Mr. Cornelia's face like that...... I've never seen it before)

After one of the coups, she's been close to Cornelia, but she's an imperial. The Winns and I felt like we were drawing a line somewhere.

But at that time - the look on Cornelia's face when she was standing up, trying to cling to the hand that Winn offered. Suppose the emotions she has are the same as herself.

(I never thought that could happen... I still don't like that)

It's still not funny that other women are interested in Winn. And the fact that Winn turns his eyes to other women.

The consciousness of Winn, who became a squire, was more directed toward Cornelia than before. At work as a squire, that's natural.

For Wynn, Cornelia is a presence that must be protected.

On the other hand, how about against yourself? I know you take care of me. But there is no denying that somewhere I remain in a relationship like my brother and sister. That relationship, which can be perfectly sweet to him, does feel cozy but also rushed.

Exhale a small sigh.

"What's the matter with you?

"Ugh, yeah... it's nothing"

You must have noticed the sigh, Winn asks caring.

Although I replied it was nothing, I'm just a little happy that Winn cared and brightens my feelings

When I was six years old, I've wanted to spend a lot of time with him since I first met him at The Migratory Bird Inn. But I've been kept apart for as long as four years for a clergy called 'The Brave Man' that I don't even want.

But not now.

Unlike the four years I couldn't be beside you, I can see you anytime now.

I can't help but worry about it.

One step ahead of the current relationship -.

With that in mind, Leticia turned forward trying to cut off her previous troubles.

◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇

That night.

In a room in the palace, Alfred looked over the desk to a report stacked like a mountain.

It has been a long time since my father, Emperor Alexei, stopped devoting his energy to government. Currently, Alfred, the Crown Prince, was in charge of affairs other than the case where the Emperor's leave was really needed.

I glance over the documents stacked like mountains on the desk and press the seal of settlement one after the other. Alfred was well on his way down the pile of paperwork, but his hands stopped in one report.

The report was submitted by Count Elsted.

A very inedible person with a bald head, a rich, fat, evil phase. It is also Alfred's belly.

Content is a case of a village raid that was thought to be according to the advance forces of Petersia near the border, which had been happening since before last year's armed clashes with Petersia.

Count Elsted territory, ruled by Lloyds, had also caused damage in several villages because of its borders with Petersia.

It has reported its findings.

Alfred, who could agree on the odd points Lloyds points out as he went on reading, ordered his squire to bring some material from a library in the palace.

The Imperial Palace's library houses all kinds of documents, from publications inside and outside the Empire to official documents.

After a few minutes, Alfred leaked a small groan, illuminating the material submitted by the librarians and Lloyds' report.

"This is..."

There were about a few people in many villages that had been raided who had fled the difficulties by travelling commercially to nearby cities.

A study, with the help of their surviving survivors, led to the finding that every village had a small number of remains relative to the number of inhabitants who had originally lived there.

The same was true not only in the territory of the Earl of Elsted, but also in all the territory of the Counts of Brecea, Rembrandt and Klefdorf.

A Petersian raid that doesn't even look like a looting purpose.

Consistent with the invasion operation, there is no benefit whatsoever in the killing of unarmed people living on the land.

After that, if you're willing to rule the land, it's even worse.

"Hmm..."

Alfred exhales small as he rubs his eyebrows loose.

(You don't see the purpose... Petersia is not a country with a policy of killing all enemies...)

For one thing, the consideration of the matter later turns to the next document.

The next document was a petition from several nobles.

In a petition that has been delivered to Alfred many times recently, the contents are consistently dissatisfaction with the Crown Princess's squire, Wynn Byrd. that he is inferior in strength to the Knights of the Court, a civilian knight of unknown origin and also a Kingsguard knight who reports directly to the royal family, and the most elite knights who are the key to imperial defense. It also guides the royal family's outing of the unmarried princess for attaching a near-age heterosexual squire.

These petitions had been delivered on a regular basis since Winn was inducted into office as a squire.

But instead of boiling the business down to Alfred's attitude of not accepting it stubbornly or making Winn one squire these days, some of the noble knights also stated why not select a few squire to launch SS.

Some of them are polite and even accompanied by a proposed SS composition.

And in many cases, the proposed composition contained the names of the nobleman's own son, as well as the princess and a boy close in age in the relatives, as candidates for obedience.

So much so that, on the contrary, I admire the intentions that are so clear. It sounds silly to read properly, but the office door was lightly knocked when Alfred was looking through for once.

A squire informs the visitor of the visit.

When Alfred could tell him to let him through immediately, the door opened and with a slow foothold but with a rinse attitude, Cornelia, his real sister, came into the room for him.

"Did I ask you to call?

"Yeah. I got a report about the evening noise. Meissen, I thought you were worried about me. You're old enough already, so don't imitate his heart too badly."

Myssen serves from the grandfather's place of Emperor Alexei, and beside binding the demon leaders as court demon leaders, he is also an emperor's advisor. When Alfred and Cornelia were young, they also served as educators.

I rarely come out of the office behind the palace, but on this day I was rarely out of the palace at the request of Lloyds. And on his way back to the Imperial Palace, Mycen, who accompanied Cornelia, cautioned Cornelia in two words or three regarding the impossibility of using magic in the event of an aggressive situation.

But the only thing that made me bitter was that I couldn't use magic. After that, I never touched on the matter, and it seemed I was shifting my interest to Winn and Leticia.

Speaking of which, old Meisen should have seen Cornelia grabbed onto Winn's hand, but he didn't say anything about it.

Cornelia was sincerely prepared to be scolded when...

- Are you listening to me?

Alfred's voice recalls Cornelia, who remembered that time.

"Did you call me for such a novel?

Upon the inquiry, Alfred turned off his grin and glanced into his sister's eyes, who stood in front when he put his elbows on the desk and put his hands together.

"No, I need to ask you something. It's still a long way from here, but I need you to go to the Kingdom of Lyons instead of me."

To that one word Cornelia tilted her neck.

For once, Alfred and Cornelia planned to make a kind visit to the Kingdom of Lyon, partly because the opposition of the nobles had led to the story that only Alfred would visit the Kingdom of Lyon.

"On the face of it, I'm going. But you're actually going."

"What do you mean?

"I can't tell you yet. But just keep your head to Lyon for now."

Cornelia moaned inside but nodded.

When my brother was like this, I knew he was up to something.

But it's not funny that you don't tell me anything like this, as if you're being treated like a child.

Seeing Cornelia with an expression of dissatisfaction by the outspoken, Alfred hands over a petition concerning his squire Win Byrd delivered by an earlier nobleman.

"What's this?

Cornelia dropped her gaze on the petition with a suspicious look on her face and slammed the paperwork on her brother's desk as she tided sassy.

"Regardless of his near-age heterosexuality, how could his birth be a civilian wound to the imperial, imperial authority!

No way, I won't admit this I approved him as my knight to dismiss him for all these reasons!

Even today, Winn didn't look at himself and desperately helped himself. When she puts the thought into her sight, Cornelia makes sure she embarks on it and appeals.

"I know."

Unusual for a quiet sister, Alfred nodded with a calm voice against her sister, who stuffed her like she was excited.

"When it comes to strength and personality, it comes with the assurance of Lord Leticia. I don't see any reason to dismiss him."

If you are indeed in a situation where magic can be used, Winn's skill is only as strong as that of a concurrent knight.

Compared to the Knights of the Court, made up of the most elite knights selected from the Central Knights, a Kingsguard knight made up of nobles with strong magical powers, the overall strength is really inferior.

But when, as in the coup, we find ourselves in a situation where the magic, the strength of the aristocratic knights, is sealed, Win Bird exerts an unparalleled strength.

- Enough to say that even that brave man can't win.

The place where magic is sealed also exists within this vast palace, for example, while the Emperor sees it with the envoys of other countries, the "Sealed Demon Connection" has been developed to prevent assassinations and the like.

Winn's activities in such places, in case, can be fully expected. On the contrary, if it's anything other than those places, that's what you have to leave to the Kingsguard, the Knight of the Court.

Most likely, a knight who is supposed to be loyal to the Empire will join the rebellion.

For that reason, as Alfred, Cornelia's SS was going to launch it in all numbers sooner or later, but not in any way to let the formation be whatever the nobility wanted.

In the meantime, I will be one Win squire until the official SS is inaugurated, but I have nothing to worry about militarily.

Anyway, beside him, that's the absolute power that surpasses the total military power of the Empire.

"But it makes sense that people of the opposite sex are close to their age. Whether or not that scratches the royal authority."

"It's..."

Alfred made Cornelia laugh with her hands up at Cornelia stuck in words trying to argue.

"That would be okay because Master Leticia is here. Rather, wouldn't the Duke's house be more serious than the royal family if that were the problem? Master Leticia goes to the Win squire, doesn't she?

"... when you ask me, yes"

"The Crown Princess and the Duke's Lady are in a love dispute over one man... yeah, that's funny"

Groaning funny, Cornelia was stuck in words for a moment to her brother, who was turning a niggling grin.

"... what are you talking about"

I turn away from Alfred and say it back in a weak voice. But as soon as I turned back to Alfred, I set my sights on him.

"More than that, brother."

"What?

"I've taken care of Lyon, but I'd like to ask you a favor, too."

To Cornelia with a serious look on her face, Alfred also turns off his grin and looks at her sister.

"Anyway, while on official business, I want you to treat me like a cadet, not as a princess elsewhere, but as before."

◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇

The next day, Alfred had summoned Count Elsted to the office.

"Long time no see, Lloyds. Have you lost some weight…?"

"Yeah, I do a decent job every day, but the meal after work is very tasty. Again, I think it's healthy when human food is delicious."

"No, there's a limit to that too..."

Alfred sighed.

This Count Lloyds Van Elstead standing in front of him is a man who looks like a typical bad nobleman whose hair is bald and fat like an ugly toad, as if it were a story or a play, but who is a good example that people can't measure on the outside.

Although there are bad rumors circulating among the nobles in the Imperial capital and among royal palace officials, the territory is also rich in the Empire's leading barn zones, and we do not hear stories such as rebellion in the territory.

Best of all, though it was also true that the Counts themselves were overwhelmed with debt.

"By the way, Your Highness, what can I do for you today?

"We're going to Lyon next time."

"Hmm."

Lloyds puts his hand on his relaxed jaw and thinks for a beat.

"As you know, on the face of it, it is decided to be a friendly visit. But it's really for a military alliance. I've already got an inside word for that Raul prince over there. After that, if I go out and sign the pledge, we'll form an alliance."

When Alfred cut the words here, he suddenly toned down the tone.

"So I use this to set a trap. Neither will the Petersian side receive a goodwill visit on par. I'm sure we'll take some action."

"Do you intend to sear out those who are inside"

"Yeah. So on the face of it, I decided I went to Lyon, and I'll actually turn Cornelia around.

"If that's the case, there's no need for Her Royal Highness to actually go to Lyon right now? I was wondering if I could wrap up enough alliances after everything. Besides, Her Royal Highness is still seventeen. You're not old enough to be on official business, are you?

"If only to broil out insiders. But sooner or later, engagement with Petersia will be inevitable. Besides, I want to show Cornelia the outside. I want to get some experience. I just sign the paperwork prepared by the other side anyway, so any royal family other than me is fine.

Besides, the princess is very good for the masses. "

"Well sure. If you hear that a princess from a neighboring country is visiting, you will most likely be able to get a taste for it."

Originally an imperial woman is finally considered a public figure when she reaches the age of eighteen. Until that age, even if she was an empress, that statement would not represent the empire.

But Cornelia turns eighteen, so we can't go to the negotiating table right away. Experience needs to be gained in how to behave and rush in various negotiating venues.

The matter of this military alliance has already progressed between Alfred and Raul, with the simple task of just signing it later. What Cornelia wants is an image of the Empire, against the people of the Kingdom of Lyon.

There's no need for a political rush, but it's a good opportunity to experience how you behave as a public servant in another country.

Lloyds nodded as he was convinced.

But as soon as I stop laughing, I try to distort the evil side of it and smile.

"But you didn't call me to that extent, did you?

Alfred nodded one thing.

"Yeah. It's about them, because they've already placed them within the Empire. When it starts, I want you to take command over here."

Lloyds nodded small as he glanced at the paper describing the operation Alfred gave him.

"I see. I'll be honest, I don't really feel like it though.

Well, if it's them, I'll admit I'm the best qualified commander. Let's hope the rest hangs well. "

"You don't have to hang it unless you hang it. As for this one, nothing hurts."

"Are you trying to impress my sister?

"I have him for that"

"If you do say he's going, there's definitely a good chance he's going first."

"Rather, I'm going to ask you to do it here this time. He was one of us, Raul. It's your country. There wouldn't be anything wrong with a brave man out there, would there?

"You're absolutely right. But it's also dangerous, isn't it?

"I think it's a good enough opportunity to invade danger."

As Alfred stared straight into Lloyds' eyes, Lloyds exhaled loudly as he had noticed.

"It would be useless to stop it. I'll make you rush to get ready.

By the way, I have a petition from His Highness Cornelia asking me to officially participate in the task that we are currently in charge of?

"From Cornelia?

Alfred gave a strange look.

"Hmmm...... I'm going to have you go to Lyon right away. What do you do now?

We're searching for a kidnapping.

"Kidnapping? That's more of a guard's job than a knight's...?

"A maid from the Count of Behmond's house was kidnapped. So we got a job coming around."

I guess Alfred's inside look at what touched his sister's harp line in that case.

Lloyds grinned with a nibble.

"Apparently, the Winn squire was involved in a separate kidnapping, and Her Royal Highness was also interested."

"So..."

Last night, when she returned, Cornelia had appealed to Alfred to treat her as a cadet as she deserved before the coup.

I'd like to get involved in this case, but I guess that's what I've been saying.

"As I said earlier, I think it would be a good experience for Cornelia to see things with her own eyes. If anything happens to me, she'll be the next emperor."

Alfred says pale, without changing his expression in particular.

"If you're joking, you're gonna tell me something horrible."

"I'm not kidding. In fact, I don't know how the future will fall, and maybe Cornelia will show you more king vessels than I do.

Either way, the royal family will take up official duties after the revelation of the eighteen-year-old. Whatever it is, it must be helpful to go through a lot right now. "

With that said, Alfred stood in front of him, letting a niggle and a grin come to his nobility, who was not a glimmer behind his back from appearance.

"Mostly so much so that they are sometimes ambushed and raided by thugs on the way out. Even I could think of getting attacked somewhere and losing my life, right?

Lloyds missed his gaze by the outspoken as he stroked one thinning head.

"After all, was it you?"

"Well."

Lloyds does not evil even the princess of his own country, he shows it softly.

Alfred knew that Maisen, head of the Knights of the Court and head of the Magic of the Court, was both old friends of Zaunas and at the same time close to Lloyds.

That old Mysen story said Cornelia could hardly use magic to fight when she was raided by a tyrant and was only sheltered by a Win squire.

I guess some thought I couldn't forgive myself for that. Cornelia has that side.

There must be some reason to get involved in this case, but there should also be a strong desire to re-train yourself as a cadet and gain experience.

"Well, it's not a bad idea to get experience under you. But then you can work on a better mission from me, too?

"No, I'm a little concerned, so stay put.

Besides, I thought it would be a good opportunity for Her Royal Highness to show you the light and shadow of the Imperial capital. "

"Right. If that's what Lloyds says, I'll leave it there. Of course, when you're ready to go to Lyon, you'll have that priority. By the way, what do you care about that?

Lloyds nodded, handing Alfred the report he was bringing.

Alfred's hands stopped inadvertently as he quickly ran his gaze on the report.

"Are you sure it's written here?

"As far as the Glades are concerned, we haven't got any confirmation yet."

There was a report of a magician from Shirai, who lives in Teito City, disappearing several people.

And the same thing happened in the Glades that Rock reported yesterday.

"Hmm..."

Alfred roared when he put his hand on his mouth.

"Speaking of which, I looked through your report..."

"Report? Yeah, the actual number of residents in the village raid doesn't match the number of bodies."

"You mean you killed all the villagers to hide your purpose?

"You're saying that the aim was to grab the missing, and that it was to hide it that killed the villagers, right?

"I guess that's what you're thinking, too, isn't it?

To Alfred's inquiry, Lloyds nodded with a grin.

"Kidnapping clashes in the capital began to occur frequently shortly after the armed clashes with Petersia.

I'm wondering if it's strange to have any relationship. "

"But was that what it meant to raid the village until it sacrificed everything?

"If we crush the village, we can at least cut the power of the nobility in that region. And..."

Lloyds also handed another report to Alfred.

"This is a report of a reported disappearance in our territory in recent years."

"This is..."

Compared to regular years, the number of cases of missing persons had grown exponentially from last year to last year.

"And here are the numbers for Count Brecea and Marquis Rembrandt."

Again, just like Count Elsted's territory, the number of outbreaks was growing rapidly.

"But... the number of incidents has been decreasing in every territory since about six months before the armed clashes with Petersia."

"That must be because each lord has stepped up his security. And the truth is, there's been a raid in the villages since we stepped up security."

"... I see"

Alfred nodded.

"Well... we're going to need to find out if all the people who went missing could have used magic."

"Unfortunately, we don't know who's missing in the village raid, but if it's a kidnapping in the city, it's possible to investigate it, so we're currently letting it investigate"

"Let me know if you find anything"

"Yes, sir."

Lloyds respectfully salutes.

And when I turned my heels back to leave the room, I stopped Lloyds in the way Alfred remembered.

"By the way, Lloyds. I ask you, if you are going to beat Miss Leticia, what will you do?

Alfred listened, as if talking to the public.

But Lloyds was never surprised by the question.

That is not just because of the empire, but because if one were to be involved in a military hub in a neighbouring country, there would be some consideration of the matter.

Furthermore, if we stand on the front line once and see it, we have to be aware of whether or not it responds.

- When you turn the brave against the enemy, how should you deal with it?

Lloyds, avoiding instant answers, opens his mouth pretending to think only a little.

"Well, I wouldn't do anything."

"Saying?

"She's a person too, so if you leave her alone, she'll die soon."

"That's a long time, sir."

Alfred laughed.

Certainly even a brave man with extraordinary power has more life than being a person.

Any one of them dies.

"But what if we can't wait then?

"She's also a person... if you take away the base of your heart, kill mentally, and make her think you've earned the real deal on it, she'll die of suicide or something later - though, as far as I'm concerned, I still recommend the way ahead. I think the best thing to do is just leave it alone."

◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇

In the sense of living the day to the fullest, the people who live here in the Glades may not be very different from those who live on the nostalgic battlefield where Kelvin spent every day.

Kelvin thought so as he listened to the hustle and bustle heard from the outside, being put through the most splendid room in the building first brought to him by a bald-headed man.

The rough rage of men who can be heard from time to time mixed with the merchandising and children's voices.

Though somewhat different from the hustle and bustle we hear on the battlefield, it was something that made Kelvin feel nostalgic somewhere.

"I'm sorry. They're still late for the other arrival."

You thought you were in a bad mood after a long wait for Kelvin to close your eyes and listen to the hustle and bustle you hear from the outside, a bald man says that while offering you a wooden cup with wine.

"I don't mind. It's common for great people to be late."

Kelvin has been treated much better since one recent incident.

You thought he was the benefactor of his life, and the bald-headed man gives Kelvin a fine room there in the ghetto, too, and thus behaves like a booze.

The residence could have had surveillance, but if you had Kelvin's arm, they wouldn't grab your tail unless it was extra hand work, and you weren't actually going to move until you grabbed some information.

For that reason, Kelvin enjoyed living in a slum with a view somewhere no different from the battlefield.

Whether that overly prestigious attitude played a role, today Kelvin talked about getting a job introduced at the mouth of a bald-headed man.

The wine poured into your mouth seems to be cheap just because it is strong in alcohol. The tannins are strong and the flavour is bad, but on the contrary, it reminds me of the flavour of alcohol I used to drink on the battlefield, which makes me feel sad.

As I swallowed the wine poured into the wooden cup over time with the little one, the door knocked and a bald headed man's subordinate-like man came in. When a man has some kind of two-word or three-word conversation with a bald-headed man, he leaves again.

The bald-headed man looked back at Kelvin as the man left.

"Apparently, the other side is here."