Widale did his best not to express himself as he approached them.
　Needless to say, the Knight of the Guards is the ultimate shield to defend the emperor.
　In other words, they have the authority to prevent suspicious objects from entering the castle.
　...for example, we cannot overlook the adventurers who created the trigger for the defeat of the Vestian army in the Spring War and destroyed the whole expeditionary force just the other day.
　As long as he is a Knight of the Imperial Guard, he is naturally chosen to have high ability, and even for a Knight of the White Rose, he is not the right person to run into.
　There is also a political problem that their abilities are under the direct control of the emperor.
　In this case, however, Dune was more impatient with the approaching Knight than with Widere. 　
　That's only natural. Dune has done a number of wrongs, as Ray has seen before.
　In particular, the burglary, whose name was the collection of tolls just before the start of the competition, managed to keep himself under house arrest, thanks to the civil war and the people who protected him... and when he was found to have caused a disturbance as soon as the house arrest was over, he would be in a bad mood.
　It's not difficult for a regular guard to use his position as a subordinate of Schles to quell.
　But being a Knight of the Guards would be a different story. Even if he was a subordinate of Schles, he had the power to convict him mercilessly and... above all, he had the ability.
　For this reason, it was absolutely necessary for Dune to avoid a conflict with the Knights of the Guards.
　If you're not good enough, you'll be investigated and all the wrongs you've done so far will be revealed.
　Indeed, for Dune, Widale, who has a strong sense of justice, is a very unpleasant opponent. That's enough to want to see you cry in humiliation when you get the chance.
　But I don't think I'll ever get into trouble with Knight Konoe.
　at least now

(d*mn it, it's troublesome. Why, for the most part, the Knight of the Guards, who is usually confined to the back of the castle, comes to such a place.)

　Hiding his inner irritation, Dune gets off the horse and greets the approaching Knights with a smile.
　It was Dune's men, the White Rose Knights, including Widale, and so was Ray, all waiting for the knights to get off their horses and approach.
　Knights in their mid-30s open their mouths to those present.

"What's this fuss about? Are you going to cause trouble near the castle? If so, I need to take appropriate measures as a knight of the guards."
"No, it's nothing. I just saw someone I knew, so I was just saying hello.

　Dune looks at Widale, right?

"...yes. He's right."

　Widale was reluctant to follow Dune's words, but now Ray is with them. It's not hard to imagine what it would be like to be known to the Knight Guards.
　Rather than that, we agree grudgingly.
　Other White Rose knights don't say anything in particular, because they understand what their captain is thinking.
　It was Dune, who shook his story, who looked surprised at Widale.
　If it were a Widare that Dune knew, he would never make himself heard.
　That's why he opens his eyes in surprise and is looked down upon by the Knight Guards.

"Are you guys hiding something?"

　Speak to Dune and Widale, and look to those present.
　This is when the knight of the guards finally finds Ray, who is considered a different element of the occasion.
　If Ray had been on the Dune's side at this time, he wouldn't have been particularly concerned if he was dressed a little out of place.
　In fact, Dune's men are all dressed to their own liking and don't have uniform equipment.
　But... Ray's place was behind Widale. In other words, it was among the White Rose Knights.
　beautiful white metal armor peculiar to the White Rose Knights the only person in a robe among them
　One of the blessings of the misfortunes was that Ray had a small build, a young or a womanly face. That's why the Knight Guards judged Ray to be a woman, not a man.
　Nevertheless, it was too doubtful that only one of the White Rose Knights wore a robe.
　The Knight Guards opens his mouth to Ray.

"The man in the robe," Just pull down that hood and show your face."
「……」

　While Ray responds silently to the words of the Knight Guard, he worries about what to do.

(Are you going to go wild here? That's out of the question.) It makes no sense to come here in the first place. Then do you want to show your face quietly? Dune doesn't seem to remember my face now, but if you look at it in person, you might remember it too, so I'm not sure. Run away? That's like saying it's suspicious.)

　Ray looked at Widale with his head in his mouth, but there was nothing he could do here, even if he looked at Widale.
　In that sense, I was much more impatient than Ray.
　It's definitely going to be a big deal if they find out that they were with Ray here.
　Would you call your boss Angela, who is also the head of the White Rose Knights, or Prince Fritzione?
　When I was about to speak, thinking that I had to mislead the Knights of the Imperial Guard.

"What's wrong with you? What are you talking about?"

　That kind of voice echoes around me.
　It was the same shape as the last time the Konoe Knight came, but in contrast to the intimidating voice of the Konoe Knight, it was a cool voice.
　Everyone there looked in the direction in which they heard their voices... open their eyes in spite of themselves.
　It was there because it was a cabadise.

"Your Highness Kabazeed!"

　a hasty kneeling widdere
　Others knelt as well as Ray, who didn't like to stand out here.

"All right. It's like a sneak here, and I hope you don't be too.

　Everybody, including Ray, stands up at Kabazide's words.
　The good news for Ray at this time would have been that it was not Bratta or Rodos, but the female knight, Perfeil, who was with him as the bodyguard.
　Otherwise, there must have been a great stir here.
　But... even in Perfeil, Ray is a distant but familiar figure at the time of the competition.
　Still, I didn't notice it because of the effect of the Dragon Robes cover-up and the preconception that Ray, who is cooperating with the rebels, should not be near the castle.

"So? What have you been doing? This is the center of the Empire of Bestia. I don't like it when there's a lot of fuss."
"Oh! Actually, it was so bad that they could draw their weapons at any moment."

　At the words of the Knight Guard, Kabazid nodded and turned his eyes to Widale and Dune.
　At that moment, he glanced at Ray, who was in the White Rose Knights but did not wear any distinctive white armor, but he spoke without any particular concern.

"I see. I don't think I'll be able to tolerate that kind of course. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

　The words that ask me to confirm are gentle, but almost like orders.
　Widale and Dune can't defy Kabazid's words, and there's no point in defying them, so they obey meekly."Yes, you are right, Prince Kabadmiral Kabazeed.
"It's getting a little too hot. I'm sorry."

　When Dune and Widale bowed their heads and nodded satisfactorily, Kabazid's gaze then turned to Knight Guards.

"That's the case, but you said.
"…but, you know, Robb's man with the White Rose Knights remains suspicious." Wouldn't it be better to confirm his identity?"
"That's all right, that he's with Widale, and he's a guest of Fritzione or something." Then you don't have to worry so much about details. ...right?"
"Yes! This is undoubtedly a guest of His Highness Fritzione,"
"A knight under Fritzione's direct supervision says: You don't have to be so nervous. You don't do anything strange in the castle, do you?"

　the words directed at Ray
　But what surprised Ray more than anything was the covert eye.
　a deep, tremendously deep color His eyes, as if to see through everything, seemed to me to know who he was.
　Do you know who you are? I'd rather act here... I thought so for a moment, but I'd judge that such a thing would only worsen the position of Fritzione, Mercurio, and, above all, Vihela.

"Of course,"

　return words briefly, therefore
　Though not satisfied with Ray's words, Kabazid speaks to his bodyguard, Perfeil.

"Well, I'm sorry I've taken up your time over these things like this. Was it about Rodos next?"
"Yes, in this short period of time, it has become much stronger. I had a first-class talent, so it's only natural."
"I see. I have only the son of a high‐ranking adventurer. Don't you think so?"

　Kabazid, speaking to Perfeil, calling out to Widale.
　However, his gaze was directed at Ray behind Widere.

(As expected, do you notice the hidden effect of dragon robes in the absence of Seto? If you do, are you talking casually like this? No, I don't think so. Then... is it just a coincidence?

　Ray was in great confusion inside, but in fact he didn't seem to take any action.
　That being the case, I wondered if it was too much of a thought for me, but it was also true that it was unnatural to mention Rodos' name here.

(I can't read it. What are you thinking?)

　Contrary to Ray's inner thoughts, Widale, who was at a loss as to how to return the answer, eventually agrees.

"Rodos showed some strength by participating in competitions. If that's the case, I think it's only natural to have the right strength and talent."
"That's true," I've competed with that crimson to some extent. ...Perfield, how well can Rodos compete with crimson?"
"I've never seen crimson's seriousness before, so I don't know... the final fight ended up in a limited place on the stage with each other."
"Well, that's not it. ... Oops, no. It wasn't the time to talk here. It looks like this, and I'm very busy. I'm sorry, but I'm going to leave now. and I hope you will no longer make trouble in front of the castle."

　When he says so, Kabazid goes away with Perfeil, without hearing a reply.
　They watched him back in silence, but the first to come back to life was the Knight Konoe.
　I glared at Ray among the White Rose Knights, but he must have remembered what Kabazid said. The man who spoke was not Ray but Widale and Dune.

"Look, don't make a fuss in the castle. If I see another scene of trouble, I'll take appropriate action next time."

　Tell them all, and the Knight Guards goes away.

"... Kiss,"

　The next thing I left was Dune.
　He glances at Widale with an ostentatious tongue and irritation, and rides away with his men.
　In the end, only Ray and the White Rose Knights remained here until the end.

"It's all right, Captain Widere,"
"Well, I never thought Prince Kabazid would give us a helping ship."
"I hope so,"

　Listening to the conversation between the Widarees, Ray mutters, recalling Kabazid's gaze.





"Perfield, will you make the watch of Fritzione a little more stringent?"
"... what? More than now?"
"Oh, there should be some movement in the next few days."

　Kabazeed, with a faint smile, would tell his bodyguard, Perfeil.