"Saint Mattie, a ......?　Please, please be calm. ......

　Calmly. The words that came out of Largud Anne's mouth almost made Mattia tilt her head back. This is the first time anyone has ever told me to be calm.

　After all, I've never lacked for composure, and that's still true today.

　I'm still calm. My head is so cold it's almost freezing.

　Mattia's eyes blinked as she opened her right hand, the one that had shattered the mirror. The wound hurts as if it were feverish. But that's all.

I'm still calm, Anne. There's something else that's more important. Do you know when he ran away from Garouamalia?

　I felt a trickle of blood dripping from my right hand. I don't even know why I did it. Mattia's brow furrowed, but he tried to keep his face and chest calm as he breathed.

　Anne pulled the shard of mirror out of Mattia's right hand and carefully bandaged it before opening her mouth.

I don't know the details," she said. It's just that when the second star shines, ...... what are you really up to, Saint Mattia? How could you do such a crazy thing?

　As she listened to Anne's words, which were unlike you, Mattia slowly rolled the words around in her chest. It's not like you.

　I don't really know why my right hand moved, either.

　But he knew that Lugis had left this place late at night and had not returned. When I recognized that report as fact, the mirror on my right hand side shattered unknowingly. No, my own right hand had shattered the mirror.

　Oh, I see, so that's what happened. Mattia nodded to himself, as if his thoughts had finally caught up with him now.

　The pain crawling up from her right hand hardly bothered her. Rather, something akin to the determination that burned up her spine was welling up in her heart.

　Mattia realized that his reasoning had caused him to move his body and destroy the mirror in an attempt to keep his cool.

　It was because she could not hold back the emotions that were rising from her chest to her throat. So I forced my right hand to flail about as my body tried to hold it back.

　This was the first time this had happened, of course. Emotions forcing the body to act out.

　But that's just the way it is. Yeah, I can't help it.

Besides, it's only dawn. Maybe he's just taking a rest and falling asleep somewhere.

That's not true, Anne. At best, only a stray cat can be forgiven for such optimism. I'm sure you don't mean it either.

　After carefully wrapping the bandage and finishing the first aid, Anne said something to make up for the situation, but Mattia ate the end of her words. I'm sure you'll be able to figure out what's going on.

If he's gone now, it's obvious where he's headed. You can see it with your eyes closed.

　With that, Mattia pointed to the map on the desk with his left hand, which was safe.

　The destination is the mercenary city of Belle Fain. It's a city that I'm still trying to decide how to handle here in Garou Amalia.

　Anne rolls her eyes and looks at the map and Mattia. What the heck is going on here, and on what basis are you talking about?

　However, leaving Ann's confusion behind, it was now a definite fact to Mattia that Lugis was headed to Belle Fain.

　Thinking about it, there were many times when she could sense it. The man with the temperament to push himself into a corner with his own hands began by arguing against the alliance with Belfain, and then he came all the way to the office and began reading books, something he normally did not do.

　It was shallow. Mattia cursed not Lugis, but himself.

　He should have understood. That he, Lugis, was not a man who listened to others.

　Even though I had nailed him with words not to do anything rash, he slipped away as if nothing had happened.

　That's who he is now. Even if you try to tell it with words, it will not listen. Even if you try to reason with him, he just keeps to himself as if reason does not exist.

　What a selfish, unthinking person. No, but that's who he is. That's the way he lives. This time, I know better.

　Mattia wondered why the thoughts going through his brain were so frighteningly calm. Her body was so hot that her stomach felt like it was bubbling, and she could clearly feel the blood pumping through her body.

　Once, I took a big gulp of air. Deep, deep breaths. I squinted my eyes. I saw Anne looking at me anxiously. I smiled softly to calm her down.

　She smiled softly, as if to say, "I'm sorry I worried you.

"Anne, I have one instruction for you. As the commander of the heraldic order, I have an order for you. You must resolve this matter before anything else.

　Wetting her lips, she continued. Surprisingly, the words were smooth. And so, Mattia doesn't know if his words are really the result of his own calculations.



　Anne nodded, her expression returning to its normal, mysterious self. She is still a good confidante. She'll follow me even if I'm in such a mess. So I'm sure she'll understand the meaning of my words.

I'm revising our strategy against Belfain. Please arrange a meeting with the Belfain emissary right away.

　His eyes widened for a moment, and then a voiceless voice told Mattia.

　I wondered if that was really the right decision. Was it really the right thing to do? But it was only for a moment. Mattia's cold eyes glittered with the light of intelligence, and she responded to Anne's gaze as a wordless spokesperson. Seeing this, Anne's action was decided.

　Anne nodded and ran out of the room. There's a lot to do. It's not just about coordinating with Belfain. It's not just about coordinating with Belfain, it's also about winning over the hearts and minds of the Garouamalia and negotiating with the heavyweights. She's really put me through a lot. I'll make sure she gets her due.

　In her office alone, Mattia let out a slight exhale as she looked up at the heavens.

　--I understand, Lugis. You can't even manage yourself on your own.

　You're no better than a raging horse. You know what is right and what is good. You know what is right and good. You know that you should help people, and you know that you shouldn't force Belfain's hand right now. I'm sure he understands that much. And yet, he can't stop. He doesn't know how to stop.

　Come to think of it, Lugis has always been able to disrupt my plans. The battle to retake Garoua Maria, the siege of the Hanging Gardens of Ghazalia, and now this.

　I understand. He doesn't need reason, or position, or glory.

　He needs to be controlled by someone. A big sigh escapes me. It's no use, it's really no use. Mattia's eyes relaxed with a certain tenderness. It's as if she's caring for something, as if she's a saint, which is no exaggeration at all.

　It can't be Kalia Vadnick. She will only accelerate the momentum of Lugis. Fyarlath La Volgograd is no different. She'll only encourage Lugis to run amok.

　It needs to be controlled. Guide him to what is right and good and keep him under reason. He needs to be in control of everything in his life.

　That's what this is all about. He is no longer someone we can keep an eye on. His influence is great in the heraldry as well, and we can't let him go just because he's gone.

　So that's why I couldn't rest my emotions.

　It's not that I don't like it. In fact, she even felt apologetic to Lugis. I'm sorry that I didn't see it coming, and that I put you through such a difficult time.

　I guess he can't see that on his own.

　--Oh, really, I can't help it.

　Saint. The eyes that are called that are indeed calm and compassionate.

　But the smile on her cheek was, how can I put it? Her beauty was unmistakable, but it was not the all-encompassing beauty of a saint, it was the beauty of a demon.