On that day, many people in the imperial capital of the Vestian Empire expressed astonishment.

　Some say they don't understand what's going on, and others look convinced.

"Well, that's right.If the first subjugation force is Prince Schles, the second prince, and then Prince Kabazid, the first prince, will Prince Fritzione be the next subjugation force?"

"But isn't the number too small? The last suppression army, let alone the previous one, had such a large number of people... As far as I can tell, there are no more than 1,000. If you're not good at it, it's less than 500."

"Well, it's a small number of elite people? Because look at it.Prince Fritzione and the man of the robe near the White Rose Knights."

"Man? I'm quite short, but is it okay to be a man?" ... Huh? Hey, wait a minute.I remember seeing the scythe he has."

Me, too.I saw it so much that I hated it at the competition that was held until recently."

"Huh!? Is it crimson? But why? I heard that you disappeared from the imperial capital after missing the award ceremony."

"Oh? I heard that I'm cooperating with the rebels."

"No way. Then why are you so proud of yourself in the imperial capital and with your Highness Fritzione?"

"...Come to think of it, yes. Then what I heard was absurd."

"Don't you know? Because of the crimson, the army is so small, and there's no such thing as a ceremony because the great men in the castle are angry that they missed the award ceremony."

　The people of the First Princess faction, who are rumored to be selfish, have subtle thoughts.

　The supply troops have already joined, Fritzione is in a carriage, and the Knights of the White Rose are also on horseback.

　The aristocrats and knights behind them are also riding horses, soldiers and adventurers, and Ray is the only one walking.

　Even so, the orderly way through the imperial capital made those who watched it feel something dramatic.

"At this rate, I think I can get out of the imperial capital without any trouble."

　muttered Ray, looking at Fritzione in a carriage and the White Rose Knights on horseback.

　Ray is not riding a horse in the name of bodyguard.

　Ray himself is always riding Seto, and he is not used to horses, but the problem is that the horse Ray tried to ride was frightened and he couldn't move.

　Ray thinks it's because of the smell of Seto, but he tilts his head in spite of himself.

　The horses on which Widdale and his companions rode on the way from the rebel positions to the imperial capital were frightened by Seto, but they were able to act properly within a certain distance.

　But why can't I ride a horse without Seto?

　A horse that comes into direct contact with Seto and a horse that comes into indirect contact with Seto.I thought there was a difference, but Ray didn't know the details about it.

　This force, led by Fritzione, was as small as possible and had few men.

　Then the number of horses that could be prepared was decided, and Ray chose to walk until he left the imperial capital.

(Well, if you leave the imperial capital, you can get on the Seto anyway, so you don't have to worry too much about it.)

　The members of the White Rose Knights who are walking near them give Ray a mixed look.

　Originally, there were people who liked Ray and people who didn't like him, but now there are more people who like him.

　Knights heading to rebel positions talked about Ray's strength and delicious food, and some went to see how Ray was staying in the castle, and others who saw him perform a dance-like exercise manipulating Death Size spread Ray's favorable stories.

　Also, the biggest reason was that the superior members of the White Rose Knights, such as Widere and Angela, liked Ray, and even Fritzione, the lord, loved him as his brother-in-law.

　...and there were some who thought Ray was not speaking to Fritzione, and others who disliked Ray for a certain number of reasons because he had not touched him as he had been thinking of him.

"Did you notice, Ray?"

　Widere, who steers the horse, comes to Ray's side and asks.

"Oh, I'm watching you."

"Well, after leaving the imperial capital..."

"Perhaps,"

　a brief conversation.

　The Knight of the Order of the White Rose, who was listening to it nearby, tilted his head in spite of himself.

　I think it's only natural that you're watching with this much concentration.

(It's still sweet, isn't it?)

　Widere wants to cover his eyes at the sight of his subordinates.

　Looking at them means those who are looking at them with some intention, not with a wistful eye like the inhabitants.

　Specifically, those who have a murderous spirit and fighting spirit... Yes, those who are in the First Prince's faction or the Second Prince's faction.

　When I glanced at the other subordinates, I noticed that about 70% to 80% of them were looking at me.

(Many are aware of it, right?)

　Widere looks at the knight, who still doesn't understand the meaning, and decides that he needs to train more.

　If you go through the city with that kind of gaze from the people around you, you will eventually have to go through the place you must go when you go out of the imperial capital...In other words, it passes by the main gate, which is the largest among the gates connecting the imperial capital and the outside.

　The number of people at the main gate is a little less than usual.

　Those who came to see the competition left, and those who judged that they were not playing enough left with the outbreak of civil war, and even those who evacuated from the imperial capital after hearing that the subjugation army had lost.

　And in the end, a little less than usual number of people came and went to the main gate.

　It is probably the merchant's nature to come to the imperial capital even though the suppression army is defeated due to a civil war.

　However, some of them sell goods purchased in the imperial capital at rebel positions.

"Are you going to pass here? I think I have to wait a long time."

"No, it's a gate for nobles, since Prince Fritzione passes by.Did Ray go there when he first came to the imperial capital?"

"Come to think of it, when I came with you, I passed through the aristocratic gate."

"It must have been a few days ago..."

"Living in that hut was the same time, so I had no sense of time.The commotion in front of the main gate seems to have happened a long time ago."

"I envy Prince Kabazid's attitude while meeting him up close.I was worried about many things.When will they know about Ray?"

　That alone made Ray understand what Widere meant.

(Well, in the end, I think I was discovered by the covergeed.)

　After meeting Cabazide near the castle, he was now convinced that Cabazide would have known his identity in Ray at that time.

　As such, there is no doubt that something will happen this time as well.

(The question is how big something is.)

　As I progressed, wondering how much trouble it would be, I soon saw a gate for nobles.

　Then, a security guard approaches immediately.

　I noticed that a group of over five hundred people were coming towards me, and my face stiffened.

　When Fritzione came out of the leading carriage in front of him, he looked surprised."Your Highness Fritzione... what can I do for you?"

　Nevertheless, it is probably only the guards who are in charge of the situation that have not been shaken by the words.

"I'd like to go out for a moment, would that be all right?

"Outside? Well, the people behind me..."

"It's my bodyguard.

"What? ... Guards?"

"Yes."

　a security guard with a momentary look on his face.

　Certainly, if Fritzione, a member of the royal family, was to leave the imperial capital, it would be necessary to have a bodyguard because Fritzione had little fighting power and could only do simple self-defense.　

　But I could not quite understand this number, which was not ten or twenty, nor a hundred or two.

　In the first place, it is normal for the Imperial family to be contacted in advance when they leave the Imperial capital.

　But there was no such communication, and there were too many soldiers and even supply units.

　Above all, the guards knew who was near the carriage.

　I wasn't there when I entered through the aristocratic gate before the competition, but I still heard from my colleagues, and above all, I've seen him at the competition.

(I heard that crimson had left the imperial capital, if I remember correctly)

　Fritzione tilted her head to such a confused guard.

　As if he wanted to say, "What's the matter? Is there something wrong?"

「……」

　The guard could not move against Fritzione, and Angela, who was riding next to Fritzione's carriage, spoke.

Don't do it.Are you going to keep Prince Fritzione waiting forever?"

　Angela's angry voice finally makes the guards come to their senses.　

　Then, I realize that I'm being looked at not only by Angela but also by other people.

　These guards were certainly competent, as they were entrusted with the gates through which aristocrats passed.

　But... nevertheless, it's not as prominent as it can be in these situations.

　What was even more unfortunate was that there was only one guard here at the moment.

　There were a few other soldiers, but there are many places where the number of soldiers is decreasing due to the effect of the destruction of the subjugation army twice.　

　It seems that there are not many aristocrats coming and going now, so only one guard was left at the aristocratic gate.

"Oh, wait a minute. Please contact the castle..."

"That's enough!"

　In terms of duty as a security guard, this guard's attitude is correct.

　But it is Fritzione and the others who will be in trouble if they contact the castle.

　Of course, information is already circulating inside the castle.Still, our information will be sent to the castle as much as possible...I didn't want to hand it over to the first prince faction or the second prince faction.

"Are you going to keep Prince Fritzione waiting here for nothing more?"

"Angela".

　Fritzione calls out to Angela, who glares at her.

　The guard man breathes a sigh of relief at the words, but if he is asked if the situation will be any better, the answer is no.

"I understand that you are trying to fulfill your duties.However, I can't just waste time like this.That's why I force myself through here.You tried to stop us, but you couldn't....is that all right?"

"That's... but..."

　The guard tries to say something, but Fritzione shakes his head slightly and opens his mouth again.

"Okay? We said we'd force our way through here.I'm not asking you to let me through."

　In one word, the guards realize that Fritzione will not stop no matter what he says.

"... I see.I am going to report on this matter from now on."

"What do you understand Mr. Fritzione's words?"

　One of the Knights of the White Rose screamed and reached out to his long sword.

　But...

"Stop it!"

　Just before the long sword is drawn from the sheath, a sharp voice echoes around.

　When Angela realizes that it is Angela who was blaming the guards a while ago, the Knight of the Order of the White Rose stops moving.

　He breathed a sigh and spoke to the knight who looked at him.

"He didn't do anything wrong.We should be blamed this time because we couldn't communicate thoroughly in advance, so we shouldn't take off our weapons, let alone our verbal communication.He is one of the inhabitants of the Vestian Empire that Fritzione should protect."

"...yes, I'm sorry."

　A knight blushes with shame at Angela's words, realizing how shameful his actions were.

　If it is always the case, there is no need to act so impassively.　

　But it's not now.

　the excitement that they were to end this civil war in accordance with Fritzione's words, and the anxiety that the White Rose Knights themselves might join the rebels, even if they had such a purpose.

　They were mixed up and led to these short-sighted actions.

　The guards shake their heads to the knight, saying they don't care.

"No, don't worry.I'm going to the castle to report... oh, then there will be no one here.Oh no. I hope no one goes through this gate while I'm away."

"What?!?"

　They understood what the guards were saying.The knight opens his eyes wide.

"...thank you."

　After a few seconds of silence, the guard nods with a smile to the knight who says so.

"Well, excuse me."

　The guard bowed to Fritzione and made his way slowly towards the castle... yes, with a very slow gait.

　Fritzione thanked him in the background, and Angela bowed her head...The First Princess's faction goes through the gate and out of the imperial capital.

　...and the knight of the White Rose Knights, who tried to pull out his weapon, will marry after the end of the civil war.