Let go of me!　Just let me through here!

　It was Angier who was furious from the morning.

　He was forcing his way through the corridors of Einhorn, forcing the robots to stop him.

　It was Rion's room that they were aiming for.

　Out of breath, Clairvoyant, who followed me when I finally arrived at the room, was dumbfounded as if he was yare.

You're in good spirits since this morning.

"There's no such thing as a downer!　What do you mean, "do nothing" when Libya's been kidnapped?　Even if it's at the behest of Rion, I won't allow it.

　As I put my hand on the doorknob, Rion's brother - Nix - comes from behind Angier.

'Rion, what the hell do you think you're doing!

　He was as furious as Angier.

'Brother-in-law,'

'Angelica - no, Mr. Have you come to scold that lousy brother of yours?　Odd. Same for me.

　He seems to be angry at Leon for kidnapping Livia and not acting.

　As they open the door and enter the room, Clairé comes to a position to sneak a peek into the room.

'I don't know. Master, I'm quite angry~''

　When they entered the room, Rion was sitting in a chair, one arm resting on the desk.

　He is tapping his index finger in rhythm with a thump.

　When they walked into the room, he didn't even turn his head.

　Their faces were expressionless - as if they weren't thinking about anything.

　When Nix approached with his big crotch, he grabbed up Rion's chest as it was.

''Rion!　I've been told you're trash, but you're really going to be trash!　You're abandoning little Olivia!　You're not going to sit back and let them do this to you!

　Leon's eyes are unmoved.

　Angel also blames Leon.

'What do you mean to stop us from protesting and taking back Libya!　Are you - is that what Libya is to you?　You're going to stay in your room and do nothing?　Even if we don't win, there's still something we can do!

　Rion only turned his gaze to Angier, who had tears in his eyes.

　His eyes were different from the usual.

　When Ange gasped for breath, his gaze went to Nix.

''--Let go.''

　Rion's expression was different than usual.

　Nix is about to say something, too, and Rion's mood pressures him away.

　Luxion, who is floating by Rion's side as he adjusts his clothes, notes Cleare, who has not entered the room.

''I told you not to let anyone into the room.''

'You can't be rough with little Angie, can you? More importantly, what are you going to do?

　Luxion does not answer Cleare's question.

　Instead, it was Rion who answered.

'I will help Libya. But at the same time, we will let the Republic perish.

　Angel was disconcerted by the words.

'Ho, are you serious?　Do you even know what you're talking about?

　Rion wasn't fazed in the slightest.

'I mean it. To be precise, I'm hitting the Republic like it's never been able to sustain itself before. If I didn't do anything - I'd just go home as normal.

　Nix was in a cold sweat.

'Do you know what you're talking about?　You were defeated by a Knight of the Republic, weren't you?　How can you fight a country when you have an opponent that even Allogants can't beat?

　Leon laughed.

　Seeing that smile, both Angier and Nix pulled back.

''This is a country that relied heavily on the Holy Tree. If that goes away, it will be a great mess. For me personally, I'll be able to solve the problem and kill two birds with one stone.

　Creare cringed.

'Wow! You're going to do that?　You're going to do it~. And the battlefield is on the continent, right?''

　Luxion was concerned about that, too, but

"They made their first move. It seems they're looking for a quick fix.

　Nix turned his gaze to Angel, as if troubled.

'What's going to happen?　If the Holy Tree is gone, will the country be gone as well?

　When asked by his brother-in-law, Nix, who is not familiar with the inner workings of the Republic, Angier predicts the future of the Republic.

If they really lose the Sacred Tree, then the Republic will not be able to govern itself as it has until now. But the impact on the surrounding countries will be considerable.

　Nix looked at Leon in a panic.

'Are you going to go that far?　No, I don't know if you can, but if you do, you - the people of this country -

They were the ones who made the choice.

What?

You get everyone together. I'll take one Einhorn and go to Libya to rescue them. Angers will stay in Ricorne.

　Angel, who was told, was about to say something, but he knew immediately that Rion's eyes would not allow him to refuse, if his resolve was firm.

　Still--.

''Wow, I'm going with you. You're in danger now. It's ridiculous to think that you would fight alone.

　Rion lowered his gaze.

　He looked like he knew he was an idiot when he smiled.

'Yeah, you're right. I'm an idiot. Because I'm an idiot - I trusted you to the end.'

　Leon looks up.

Come on, Luxion.

"Yes, Master.

◇

　When Livia woke up, she found herself in an unknown mansion.

'Huh?　I'm--

　Before I knew it, I was being made to change my clothes.

　I was relieved when I touched my body and saw that nothing had been done to me.

　Then the fake Noel from yesterday appears.

　It's a large room. When I open the door, I hear a sound.

'Are you awake?'

　Two pole-shaped robots samurai around them.

　Livia glared at the girl who was wearing a side ponytail.

'Why are you doing this?'

　The girl smiles.

'Because you're a saint.

What are you talking about?

　But in my heart of hearts.

(Come to think of it, I think Marie-san said something like that too. Yes, that time, too, about Rion-san - even in my dreams, Luc-kun said I was a saint.)

　The girls sat down on Livia's bed while telling her their names.

'I'm Lelia - Noel's twin sister.

Are you Noel's sister?

'It's tough because of all the people who stirred things up, but now they can't use their trump card anymore. That guy is going to have a lot of leeway. I mean, you're his fiancée.

　I understood at once that this man was Leon.

''What in the world do you want?　Even I can understand that it would be an international problem.

　Lelia laughed.

'I'm not talking about that low level. This is more - yes, it is. It's about a higher dimension.'

Higher dimensions?

　What is this man saying?　What does it mean to be a state, politics - a further perspective or dimension?　As I was thinking about this, Lelia talked happily.

'You have no idea. But this is the right choice for the future. It's a win-win situation for the Republic - and for the Kingdom. We will be freed from that outcast.

Correct?　That's not true. How can this be right!

You have no idea. It's bad enough that that outsider is stirring things up. He's worse than Marie, having you, of all people, on his hands. He's a brute.

　Livia, knowing whose two names the outsider was, glared at Lelia.

　There was hostility in her eyes.

''Rion-san is not an outsider.'' --What do you intend to do with Mr. Rion?

'You said you'd take the power and imprison him, or if he resisted, Serge would defeat him.

Leon-san is unbeatable. Mr. Leon is the greatest knight in the kingdom.

Strongest?　What's that? That's a very cheap word. And don't you know that guy lost to Serge?　What's so good about a man like that?

　Livia looks straight into Lelia's face.

''He's a kind person. He's not someone who would be called an outsider or anything like that. It's a bit much, but he is a strong and gentle knight who cares about others. I'm not the kind of person who would be disgraced by you.

"--What? I thought you had a weakness for a diabolical outsider. It's like you're in love with him.

Not like that. I love you, Leon.

　Lelia bit her lower lip at the words. Then she makes a smile.

'You're so carefree, you don't even know you're being tricked. When your head is in the air, do you only see what you want to see?　There are tons of guys like that out there. You must be crazy.

　Livia clutched the covers.

　Lelia laughed.

'But he might be so afraid to fight Serge that he'll leave you and run away. He's not as strong as he says he is.

　When Livia didn't say anything back, Lelia was bored and left the room.

'Don't think anything bad. Just stay here and I'll guarantee your safety.

　As Lelia leaves, Livia pulls her knees together and buries her face in them.

(-- I couldn't do anything about it again.)

◇

　Lehria left the room and walked down the hallway of the Rault family's mansion.

　Her face looked like she was enjoying tormenting Livia - but it wasn't.

'What. 'I believe in you to the end,' she said. Men betray you in the end.

　I mutter as I walk away.

'-- It's the hardest thing to believe and be betrayed, and it's a shame you don't know that, too.

　Lelia recalls.

　The face of her fiancé from a previous life.

　She hid her face with one hand.

'I did something out of character, and I worked so hard for him - men abandon people so easily. That's why you're a stupid woman, because you don't understand that.'

　Tears were spilling out of her eyes.

◇

　Serge's room.

　There was Alberg, who had shouted at him.

'Serge, do you have any idea how stupidly you've been imitating yourself!

　Sitting on the couch, Serge is dismayed to see his father in good spirits in the morning.

'I was just teasing the bastard who was on a roll. Well, I had a good reason to be personally convinced, too.'

'You take someone else's fiancé for personal reasons!　What a pathetic man you are!

　Serge's words brought a blue streak to his forehead.

'You're May. A man who's cuckolded his own woman is preaching to the hilt?'

Don't tell me you know the story.

　Serge speaks to a surprised Arberg, who doesn't seem amused.

There's a guy who knows his stuff. Which one of you lousy scumbags is the one who put the Favell family on the backs of the Respinus family to make them feel better about being cuckolded?

　Alberg clasps his hands together.

'-you're a child, you don't know the story. I'll send back the woman I kidnapped soon. You are to be discreet.

　Alberg was about to leave the room, telling him not to do anything more - but he was about to leave the room.

'That's not good.'

　-- In addition to the armed soldiers in the room, a group of robots entered, led by Ideal.

'Wha, what!'

"The current master is distraught. Let's leave it to Master Serge to take over for him.

Don't be silly, eye number one!　Do you guys know what you're doing!

　In front of his subordinates, as Alberg held up his own holy tree blessing - the head of the Fèvel family - Lambert appeared from behind him.

　Like Alberg, he is holding up the emblem that is the blessing of the holy tree.

''I shouldn't do this, Acting Chancellor. We don't want you to be selfish.''

Lambert, you-- Oh, you're all of you!

　Behind them, the heads of the six more great noble families were all together.

　Arberg stared at the beautiful blond-haired young man - Fernand.

''You're even complicit in the first eye!　I thought you were close to Count Baldfalt!

　Fernand looks down.

''Mister Arberg, we're not that close to each other. Besides - we can't afford to shake the Republic's stall any further. We must do something about the fear of the kingdom. We need to restore a strong Republic.

　The young and capable head of the family was trying to restore the glory of his country.

(I had hoped - but I was young. He was too young. That was the extent of your vision, Fernand!)

　Serge stood up and scratched his hair.

'Don't be so rough. I'm just--I'm my father.

　At those words, Alberg's shoulders slumped.

'Serge, you have no idea what you're talking about. Why don't you realize that your actions put the Republic in danger.

　Serge snickered.

'Did you expect me to lose to that guy?　He comes in, I'll take him down. And then we'll hold this country together, right?　It's easy enough. With Ideal here, he'll have it all together in no time.

　Ideal's voice was bright.

''Yes, sir. We are already prepared to intercept them. The refurbishment work on the airship and armor has been completed as planned.''

　A subordinate - a knight commander who was a subordinate - calls out to Alberg.

''Alberg-sama, the armor you have prepared for me, Ideal-dono, is amazing. With that power, we won't lose to the knights of the kingdom.

　Alberg gritted his back teeth and turned over.

(This would be worse than going back to square one!)

Is this my crime for not punishing you?

◇

　Alberg was thrown into a luxurious room with iron bars prepared for him.

　Since he was the head of the six great noble families, the room was hastily prepared for him.

　As he was sitting on the couch, the soldiers on guard excused themselves.

(What's going on?)

　When I looked up, I saw a girl standing there - a girl who looked a lot like the woman I once loved.

'She has a different vibe to Lelia-kun. --Noel-kun, is it?

　Noel had come to visit him.

　It seems that the soldiers on guard were also excused from their seats because of the priestess' emblem in their hands.

　The emblem of the Holy Tree's blessing has great significance in the Republic.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this.

'You can call me by my name. I came to talk to you.''

　Alberg replies, mocking himself.

'You want to hear my pathetic story?　It's boring. It's not your concern.

　But Noel did not draw back.

'No, by all means, let me hear it. I--I wanted to hear your story.

　After a while, Alberg talked about the past in a matter-of-fact way as Noel lost his patience.

'It's not a funny story, and it's going to be a hard one for you, though?

Yes, sir.

I see. Okay, I'll tell you a story. It was before you were born. I was engaged to be married to your mother at the time. The reason - I was to be chosen as the guardian of the Holy Tree. And it wasn't us who betrayed us first, but the Lespinus family - your parents.