--Who are you talking to? Look at us and talk.

　The words that came from the silver eyes took my breath away. My heart was beating wildly and my guts were tightening up. A slight pain was rising in the pit of his stomach.

　Who are you talking to? I couldn't answer that simple question as if it were a question.

　My lips were contorting as if they couldn't respond. A few words popped into my head, but they were all light and flimsy. And not only Kalia, but also Fialaert and Erdis would never forgive such words.

　The three pairs of eyes staring at me had no such tolerance in them. They were sincere and unforgiving.

　Their eyes were filled with such ferocity that if I were to look away, even slightly, they would bite my neck. The swaying of the teeth makes a clicking sound.

　But if so, what can I say? Were you imagining a distant future and picturing them at that time? How could I tell them such a story, which is no more than a snack, now?

　While I was trying to choose my words with a fever in my head, Erdis said with a strangely charming smile.

Perhaps you thought we didn't notice? You've seen someone through us from time to time.

　Elddis leaned closer to me, and at the same time, her grip on my arm tightened. At the same time, a cold breath escaped from my lungs. Sweat dripped down my spine.

　Erdis continued, his lips brushing smoothly.

"Of all people, Lugis. Do you have any idea how humiliating it was for us to have to do that to you?

　I felt like I'd been stabbed in the head. I couldn't look at Elddis's blue eyes with any seriousness anymore. All of this was for my own guilt.

　It was only natural that Elddis said what she said. In fact, I'm surprised it hadn't come up before.

　Even though I know some of the girls from the past, I can't separate them from what they were then and what they are now, and talk about them in the same way.

　How insulting is that?

　They are undoubtedly different now than they were then, and so they are undoubtedly alive now. They are not puppets or actors who always move according to the scriptwriter's wishes.

　Exhale from the back of your throat and relax your shoulders. Something cold brushes against your cheek. I sat up deeper in bed.

　Then I opened my lips. There was no spark in my head. My tongue, which usually moves easily, was strangely heavy.

...... I'm sorry, man. You can't argue or make amends.

　He looked down and said. I really had no words. I didn't know what to say or what to say. I don't even know what to say.

　In the end, all I could feel was disgust at my own weakness for not being able to face the girls as they were. I feel like my spirit is being strangled as it is.

　It's nothing. It's just the past that I've been looking away from, and now it's here in the real world. Life is always like that. What I ran away from will eventually grab me by the shoulders. Then I must face it now.

　For a moment, the words fade from the room. But soon after, Fialaat put his hand on my shoulder and said.

"It's all right, Lugis. I'm not accusing you. I need to hear what happened, but if you're sorry, you should first take a vow not to do it again.

　Fialaert's whisper had a tone that twisted my ears.

　Vows, pledges, promises. Unlike the words of ordinary people, the oaths taken by sorcerers have many meanings. Sometimes they even bind the soul.

　I don't know what Fialaat wanted or meant by that. I don't know what Fialaat wanted or meant by it, but I couldn't force myself to jump over it.

　But at the same time, I suddenly thought. Today, I felt like the conversation was going too smoothly.

　Kalia, Fialaat, and Erdis. Normally they would be willing to use words as blades, but today they didn't dispute a single word each other said. In fact, they seem to agree on everything.

　I wonder if that is really possible.

　Could it be that Fialaat, or even Kalia and Erdis. Maybe they were all talking to each other in order to get to where they thought they were going.

　--In the past, they wouldn't have done that. But if they are now... Wouldn't they have done it as a matter of course?

　I was unaware that something cold was running down my spine and my cheeks were tingling.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


　A voice echoed in the King's Landing barracks. It is filled with uncommon indignation, and so is irritating to no end.

"That firebrand usurper should be executed in King's Landing right now. Captain Richard!



　When Richard heard Neymar-Gloria's pointed words, he shook his white beard in disgust. He sighs and then speaks.

　Richard's shoulders slumped slightly, as if the loss of his right arm had made it difficult for him to balance.

I told you to wait. I'm telling you to wait. It's good that you're taking the plunge. If we kill the girl now, King's Landing will be in chaos once again. In a roundabout way, I'm helping to rebuild King's Landing.

　Richard sipped his drink, not knowing how many times he had said this before, but it seemed that Neymar had an unbearable resentment towards him for saying it again and again.

　Of course, it would not be pleasant to have one's accomplishments talked about as if they were the work of a princess. But the thing that makes Neymar's heart boil more than that is the feeling that he has been used by the heraldry.

　For better or worse, Neymar acted with dignity as he brought down the city gates and defeated the monsters. The scene was deeply etched in the eyes of the citizens of King's Landing, and showed the strength of the Garristo soldiers.

　However, this also made the princess, who was supposed to have led the Garleist soldiers, gain a lot of trust.

　Neymar should have denied this rumor outright. If the usurper is truly the princess, then it stands to reason that the Garristo soldiers would be under her control.

　And to Neymar's annoyance, the Garristo soldiers had no right to object to someone named Philos-Treit claiming to be royalty.

　The blood of kings are those who are chosen by the gods. Therefore, it is the king or his closest senior nobles who select them.

　For now, the nobles who have supported the kingdom for a long time, even though they do not hold central authority, support the idea that she is the princess. The words of Richard, a captain, and Neymar, a local nobleman, would never reach her.

　But there was no way Neymar could be convinced. The one who took back the capital was undoubtedly his own bodyguards. It was not the heralds or the nobles. I'm not sure what to make of that.

　The high-ranking nobles and royalty who should have spoken for Neymar are not here now. All of them have fled the capital and deposited themselves in the cathedrals of the north.

　That's why the usurping princess is gaining even more support. Neymar gritted his teeth and raged, "This is the worst thing that could happen.

　But even as he watched, Richard had something else on his mind.

　To Richard, Philos-Treit's past was known. He knew how it had happened, and he knew roughly where it had led him. And he had seen him once during the Battle of Sarnio.

　But there was one thing that puzzled me.

　Was that princess, Philos, such a strong woman? No, she was more stubborn and much more fragile.

　She never smiled, swallowing her past as she did now, and if she knew the truth, she would have a burning hatred for him, was Richard's opinion of her.

　He's changed a lot. For better or worse.

　Maybe the war was the potion that transformed her, or maybe it was something else. I don't know.

　But Richard was alone in the back of his mind. It's not like he didn't have an influence on him, regardless of the extent of his involvement.

　So the only choice left was to use him or cut him down.

　Neymar's belief that we can't do anything because we don't have the authority is actually wrong. There is no reason for Richard's treason to be concerned with such justification.

　If necessary, he could have just drowned the noblemen who supported him in a sea of blood.

　Besides, the king wanted to lose the head of the concubine. That would be more in line with the king's will.

　But Richard didn't take that step because he had other intentions. A thought that had only just begun to grow in the depths of his heart.

　As soon as Neymar's words had settled, Richard knocked himself to his knees with one hand and rose to his feet. His sword swung at his waist. The words flew at the squire.

"All right. Bring me some good wine. I think I'll go have a little talk with the scoundrel.

　Richard's cheeks twisted as his arm was torn off, but he still had a look of unceasing ambition in his eyes. A deep smile deepened the creases in his cheeks.