The Kingdom of Ciel-Teira is the Marquisate of Berger and the capital city of Inion.
　It is a city close to the border with the Gileshthal Federation to the west, and has a strong cultural influence from the Federation. In Ciel-Teira, where many houses are made of masonry, the Federation-style houses made of black wood and plaster are rare.

　In the midst of the beautiful, simple, snow-covered streets, this place was different.

　There was a faint, pungent smell in the air.
　The charred pillars that looked like hands reaching for the sky.
　The wreckage of household goods. ......

　It was a burned down house.
　I can imagine that it was a small and lovely house, but there is no trace of it anymore.
　The trees in the yard were also burnt, as if they had caught fire, and there were traces of digging all over the yard, which made the place look even more desolate.

............

　It was daytime, but thick snow clouds hung in the air, making the area dim.
　Rene looked up at the snow flickering in the sky and went through the gate.

"...... I'm home.

　She hesitated for a moment, but then said the words. No one responded.
　It was a little painful.

　This is the house where René and his mother Rosalia used to live.
　That day, the knights of the royal brotherhood came and took everything from Rene.
　I thought so, but it seems that the house was burned down after that. I don't know if it was the knights or the town people who burned it down. I wonder if they dug up the garden to look for ...... hidden property.

　The property of a criminal is confiscated and belongs to the state or territory, depending on the crime.
　In particular, most of the land in the city is leased from the lord.
　On paper, the land has been returned to the lord, and the house should have been cleared out by now. So why is it still in this state? Rene felt that he understood.
　No one can do anything about it because they are afraid of Rene.

　There was no sign of life in the surrounding houses.
　It's like the Mary Celeste, only the people have disappeared.
　They must have run away because they didn't want to live near this house.

　However, in spite of this situation, there are signs of people coming and going in the garden rather frequently.

　In the middle of the garden, there was a crude table on which white roses were laid out.
　Some had long since wilted, others were still fresh.
　A snow rose, a specialty of Ciel-Teira. These roses bloom in the snow and are used for ornamental purposes and for making potions. It is also used as the national emblem of Ciel-Teira, and is the origin of René's name.

　Rene "Rosy" Luvia Ciel-Teira.
　Her parents nicknamed her "Rosy" because of her silver hair and eyes, which they thought of as snow roses.
　Because of her silver hair and eyes, she and her mother were forced to leave the court, but Renée was the Princess of the Shiro Rose.

　Flower offering table.
　People are offering white roses to Rene.
　It started all over the country, without anyone initiating it.
　People mourning René. And most of all, those who feared the Rose of Hell.
　The Snow Rose as a sign of remembrance and atonement.

"It's like ...... all over again.

　I'm not sure if I should be angry or disgusted, but I'm laughing.

If a single flower could save you, ...... you wouldn't be looking for revenge in the first place. ......

　Ignoring the flower stand, Rene walked into the burned out house.

　I'm not sure what to say.

　It has been about three weeks since the undead army suddenly appeared and attacked the royal capital Teiralare.
　Not a small number of people had drifted into the city of Inion.

　The reason was that many of them had fled west from the capital.
　They wanted to get as far away from King's Landing, which had fallen into the hands of the undead.
　And the main reason was that rumors spread that it would be safer to flee to the Union.
　The "Rose Princess of Hell" was killed by the anti-Confederation pretender Hilbert II and his knights. Then, someone thought that the enemy of my enemy is my friend, and that the "Rose of Hell" would not attack the Federation, and many people agreed with them.
　In addition, the Federation is a country that has a long history with Ciel-Teyla. Even those who would have been enthusiastic supporters of Hilbert thought that he might be able to help the people of Ciel-Teira in their time of need ....... Like a bad man who has an affair and then cries to his wife.

　The square on the outskirts of the city was lined with crude tents and tired-looking people hanging out.
　These tents are support from the temple. They had gathered supplies from neighboring areas to create a refugee camp.
　The temple preaches the love of God and the fight against the evil gods. It was the temple's mission (at least in theory) to help the needy people.
　Especially this time, when the undead have taken over the capital. As the Temple was the God's spire in the fight against the evil gods, if it didn't help the people here, its credibility (which was already on the decline) would be at stake.

　Of course, it was impossible to provide full support due to the urgency.
　The only thing that could keep them warm were the fires that had been set up here and there.
　People were huddled around the fires with somewhat stunned expressions.

　In such a gray refugee camp, a cheerful voice suddenly rang out.

"Well, well, well, ladies and gentlemen!
　This is our native snow rose. Its white color is even more beautiful than the deepest snowy peaks, and if you roast it with the art of sorcery, it will become a medicine with the power of a thousand men!

　A man with a vaguely hoodlum-like atmosphere was laying out snow rose flowers on a table like a stage, and he was making a speech.

"Woe is the princess of the white rose. The grudge of the 'Rose Princess of Hell' is deep. She's gone with the dew on the decapitated head.


　No, no, no, no!　The princess has sacrificed her body to the evil gods, and will stand up to receive her punishment!
　Her anger scorches the heavens, and her dead soldiers appear from the depths of the earth.
　Is that the Princess' sin?　No, no, no, no!　We are all sinners!　We are all sinners! We are all sinners who have caused the blood of cruelty to flow!　In time the princess will appear. For we are all sinners!
　...... Well, well, well, ladies and gentlemen!
　This is our native snow rose. Its white color is more beautiful than the deepest snowy peaks, and when roasted with the magic of sorcery, it becomes a medicine for a thousand men!
　If any man thinks of his sins and wishes to atone for them, let him take this flower and offer it to the Princess of the Shiro Rose. Let the poor princess's soul rest in peace!
　Now buy, buy, 200 scoots a bottle!　The sooner the better!

　As if summoned by his words, people began to gather around the peddler.
　A long line of people quickly formed.

One bottle, yes, thank you!　You got four?　That's for the family. You have ...... ten!　That's great, I'm sure the princess can see how you feel!

　Snow Rose is selling like hotcakes.
　Not many refugees have enough money. Even if they had enough money in their wallets, they would want to avoid spending extra money in this situation. Still, people are buying Snow Rose.

"Hey, ......, I wonder why this is happening, .......
"I told you so. I told you, don't believe that scammer Hilbert.
Because, you know, there's nothing like ...... a freshly rebuilt store.
You're lucky to have your life.
　...... If you want your life to be taken from you, you should be sorry. It's a good idea to take a look at your own personal life.
I'm not sure I want to die .......

　The people who bought the Snow Rose were talking.
　The momentum for anti-federalism had dwindled with Hilbert's death. Or perhaps I should say that everyone was no longer concerned with that. All that was left was the fear and anxiety of when the Rose of Hell would come to kill him.
　I clung to the straw. Everyone wants the assurance that they will be alive tomorrow to escape the anxiety.

And now, ......, hmm?

　The number of white roses had dwindled.
　The peddler tilts his head when he sees the next customer is a step away.
　Looking down, he saw a line of small children.

　He is wearing a shabby hooded cloak. I can't make out anything other than "small" because they are completely covered by the shabby cloak. Her dusky red hair was spilling out of her hood.

Please give me a rose.

　It was only when she spoke that I realized she was a girl.

"Yes, 200 scoots a bottle.
...... I'm actually short of money. If you don't mind, I'd like a discount.
"What?

　At the girl's words, the man's tone of voice, which had always been friendly and cheerful, suddenly became overbearing.

"Go home, go home!　If you want to beg, do it somewhere else!
　You know what?　I'm not bringing you flowers for free either. I'm doing business on the edge for your sake. If you go any lower, you'll be eating my money!

　The peddler yelling at me. His words were certainly justified.

　But...
　But the girl's goal was not to bargain.

"I'm just buying something for 130 scoots from a nearby flower shop and reselling it for 200 scoots, can't you get a discount?

　These were the words of accusation uttered in public.
　A mischievous smile peeked out from his hood, like a crescent moon in a frozen sky.

"What?
What?
Oh, really?

　The people who bought the Snow Rose all turned their heads at the same time.

No, of course not!　I paid a fair price for .......

　I'm not sure what to make of that.

I've heard that's the price you pay for fresh flowers in King's Landing. But here, even fresh snow roses are cheap. It's where they come from.
Nah. ......

　Most of the people here are refugees from King's Landing.
　They don't know much about the local area.


　It was a price tag that took advantage of that.

If there are buyers and sellers, that's fine. ...... Maybe that's how the economy works.
　But the way you take advantage of the buyer's ignorance and sell it to them. I hate that.

　The peddler turns pale.
　The customers were slowly approaching.
　The situation was uncertain and uncertain. People's minds are like leather bags that are about to burst with too much water. Men with bloodshot eyes roll up their arms.

"Oh, no!　I just remembered that the old man is dying of an urgent emergency and Kami's head is about to give birth to a stomachache!　That's all for today, everyone!
Hey, hey!
Don't run away, I want my money back!

　The peddler grabbed the rest of the Snow Rose and the money and ran away at once.

　I'm sorry.

It's a good thing I'm not the only one who has a problem with this.

　The peddler fled into the alleyway, scattering the pursuers.
　He's called Duane.

　He sells everything from dubious talismans to brand-name knockoffs.
　He's a man who makes his living in a business somewhere between a scam and a scam.

　Duane looks at the basket of snow roses under his arm and clicks his tongue.
　The new business Duane had come up with was definitely going well until a moment ago.
　Until that incomprehensible child showed up: ......

"Hey, big brother.
Whoa!

　He was sure that all of his pursuers had been dispersed, but suddenly a voice called out from behind him, and Duane jumped up.
　You'll be able to find a lot more than just a few.

"Here, here, here, Gaja!　How dare you!
Why don't you sell me some flowers?　I'll make it 130 scoots for you.
Who's going to do it?
　You've got to learn the rules of the game. ......

　I don't know how a child's legs could catch up with me when I was running pretty fast, but here we are, a hundred years later.
　Conveniently, there are no eyes around. Even if it's just a girl, I'd feel better if I didn't punch her a few times.

　Duane tries to grab the girl by the chest.
　But the cloak slips off and the girl slips out.

　For a moment, the girl looked like any other simple redheaded girl.
　But then her figure wavered like a mirage.
　Duane had seen something like this before, when he had worked with the sorceress to commit fraud. A magical illusion.

　The girl's figure, cloak and illusion removed.
　Silver eyes and silver hair, shining like fresh snow. She was slender and innocent-looking, but her eyes held a cold fury that bordered on madness.
　The skirt of a common, easy-to-move dress has a rose on it that looks like it was painted with ...... human blood.

"Can't you take this?
I'm not sure what to say.　Aaaaahhh!

　Duane could do nothing but scream.

　The tragic princess who was decapitated in a frenzy.
　A terrible avenger who brought down the royal capital of a country.
　A named monster, "The Rose Princess of Hell". Rene "Rosy" Luvia Ciel-Teira stood as she had been told.

"Somebody help me!

　Duane turned around and tried to run away.
　But with a movement like the wind, Rene spun around.

"Ow!

　Duane screamed as his leg burned, and he fell.
　His right leg had been severed at the ankle, and bright red blood was pouring out.

"Ow, ow!　Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow!
"Somebody"?　Don't you think you should ask for my forgiveness first?
　You can't hear me, by the way. It's magically soundproofed.

　If you say so, the sound of the wind and the bustle of the city won't reach you at all.
　There is no way to escape or call for help.
　Not to mention the ...... fight. You can't. The only thing Duane could do was to punch the b*tc* who tried to inform the guards about his business.

If the white rose is a sign of atonement, wouldn't it make sense to offer it first?
Wait!　No, please wait!

　Duane held up his hands in a sign of surrender and then fell flat.
　Then he rolled his tongue with the greatest force ever.

I'm doing this so that as many people as possible can mourn you!
　It's true that I've done some foolish things, but I have no choice but to do this for a living!　In the first place, those who fled the capital are the criminals who drove you to your death!　There's nothing wrong with taking a little money from them!


"...... Did you support Hilbert when he usurped the throne?
"I behaved as if I did, yes!　I was afraid of what people would think of me!　I was afraid of what people would think of me!　But I never trusted a man like that, not even for a peep. ......

　It was a lie.
　Even Duane, who had nothing to do with the mining industry, would be angry if he heard that the Federation was buying up Gracelm. When he heard that the stupid king (Elbert) had been killed and replaced by a decent man (Hilbert), he thought it was a pleasant event.
　Besides, Duane had been doing too much 'work' in the Inion and had been feeling a bit on the short side lately. He thought that if he and Noa Curio could get along, it would be a good time to change banks, since the east would be more lively.

　But he never said anything about it.
　Duane was a man who could lie with impunity.

　--Come on, my tongue!　I'm a man who lives by his mouth. I don't care what kind of monster he is, I can fool a kid. ......!

"Hmm. ......

　I'm a man who lives by his words. It's a commercial smile to appease and convince people to trust you.
　For a moment, Duane wondered if he had succeeded.

　But then René's words send him into a pit of despair.

I think I'm getting used to it. I think I'm getting used to it. I'm starting to understand the lies that come with it.
　All that training with Alastor and Doubt has been worth it.
What's ......?
I was just a little pissed off, so I thought I'd scare you off. ......
　I've changed my mind. I'm going to make you suffer and then kill you.

　I'll be back.

　On the evening of the same day, a slaughtered corpse was found with over a hundred stab wounds all over its body and the skin peeled off its face.
　The victim's basket was overturned and snow roses were scattered around. They looked as if they had been offered to the dead.
　A man was dying in agony against the wall of the alley. Behind him, the man's blood had drawn a wicked rose.