"You are an idiot!

　I was sitting upright and looking down when Angier called me over to him.

　Livia and Noel also surrounded me.

''Rion-san, this is too much!''

You scared the shit out of me. You really scared the shit out of me!　I was imagining a lighter guy, but not if you go that far!

　Dueling with Elijah, but he was angry at me for making people don't like me.

　No, for ruining my reputation, right?

　Angier let out a sigh.

'Don't disgrace yourself any more than you should. You didn't have to go that far.'

　I gave a small laugh.

'I'm not a hero, so being pulled back a bit is just fine with me.

Leon, that was more than a little. Everyone was aghast.

　What is Libya saying?　He gave me a look like, "I'm paying attention.

　Noel crosses his arms.

'Well, I guess it turned out to be a good thing, huh?

　Erica said her feelings out loud.

　That's the best thing that could happen to me right now.

'But here's where we get really busy. The queen will make a move.'

　It's like shaking off the hand that Lady Milene extended to him.

　Angier tells her that she must act immediately.

'I'll make sure of it again. Rion, you will not help usurpation either. But you will not get any closer to the royal family than necessary either. Are you sure you're on board with this policy?

　It was a tougher choice than taking sides.

　But it's for my sweet niece.

　I'm determined to do it.

I'm ready. --I'm ready.

　Luxion, who was floating around my right shoulder, explained in an unmotivated manner.

''I'm going to do my best to support Erica's marriage to the Fraser family, while making my position look more like a kingdom. It will be difficult to deal with Milene, though.''

'Oh, really?　Will you forgive me if I apologize?

　When I told them that I didn't want Milaine-sama to remain angry, the three of them gave me a look of utter dismay.

''Rion, what do you want to do with the queen?

"Mr. Leon, 'Meh!' sir.

No. How could you be so obsessed with a married woman?

　It's simply a preference.

　Angier looks a little happy.

''From now on, my parents' family can't rely on me either. I'm sure the queen won't be able to help us either. We'll have to get through this on our own, won't we?

　Livia looks anxious as she looks at Angel.

'Angel, do you look like you're having fun?'

Do I look like that?

　Seeing a smiling Angel's face, Noel shrugged his shoulders.

'Sounds like a lot of fun. So, where do we start?

　Angel puts his hands on his hips.

'-- I'm reviving Erica-sama and Elijah's engagement. Actually, I've already gotten permission to do so.

　It was Roland who gave me permission.

　That scumbag apparently said he would put up with Elijah if me and Erica didn't get married.

　He is a rubbish bastard no matter how far he goes.

◇

　The Redgrave family's mansion in the royal capital.

　In the office, the father and son are all in the office.

　Vince had received a report about the breakup of Leon and Erica's engagement.

　Gilbert looks happy.

''You've shaken off the Queen's hand, haven't you? 'Father, it is as if you have now declared that you are on our side, Leon.'

　But Vince tore up the report.

''Father!?''

　Exasperated, Vince muttered Angier's name.

'Do you defy me, Angier?

Hey, what's going on?　Why would Angel disobey you?

　Vince turned his sharp gaze on Gilbert.

'The after-the-fact report is proof enough. It's as if you're saying you don't trust us. Besides, it looks like you forced Erica-sama's entry into the Fraser family.

You think the queen approved it?

It's Your Majesty. That bastard only moves fast at times like this.

　Vince could see Roland laughing at him.

　Abominable.

　He usually plays around, but even that has a certain amount of ability.

'Do you want me to call Angel?'

'You think I'm just going to show up at the nickels and dimes when you call me up?　Even if you try to force him back, the Marquis is protecting you. He knows he can't antagonize us right now.

　We are in a situation where we are gathering the faction's friends together, with Leon as our muse.

　If they are hostile, the faction can't sustain itself.

　These are the friends we have gathered in Leon's name.

　If they are hostile, they will certainly be separated from each other.

　Gilbert narrows his eyes.

'We'll set up a meeting to discuss it.

Better yet, find out what Angier wants.

　The dukes were moving suspiciously.

　Vince muttered.

''What's the point of letting the current kingdom live on?

　Ever since the war with the Duchy, Vince had thought that there was no future for the current royal family.

　A new royal family would be needed.

　Angel must have understood that.

　I thought it was this side, but Vince gave a small smile to his daughter, who was apparently hostile to him.

''--Let's see what you can do.

◇

　There was a woman burning a report.

　The office of the royal palace.

　With a blank expression, it was Milene who was burning the report about Erica's marriage to the Fraser family.

''Yes--I won't take it off my hands. That's what you're trying to say, Leon-kun. No. Is it Angier?

　From Milene's point of view, marrying Erica to Leon was a forceful but necessary thing to do.

　That's how critical the situation is.

'Everyone's walking away from me, aren't they?

　Like Angel, who had high hopes for me, I was betrayed by Leon, who had his eyes on me.

　And the same goes for my children, Julius and Erica.

　At this most important moment, Milene was betrayed by everyone.

'You want to see so much blood. Then you can do what you want.

　Milene could see the collapse of the Holfert Kingdom.

　The movement of Rion's attitude to neither side.

　The movements of the Redgrave dukes.

　Movements at home and abroad.

　Revolts would break out in various places and the land would be stained with blood.

　Lords and nobles will fight, and independent forces will fight each other fiercely.

　While they are doing so, the neighboring countries will also have their hands in the air.

　The Kingdom of Horfath would certainly be destroyed.

　It's almost impossible to get out of this situation.

"-This is what you wanted.

　Milene muttered as the glow disappeared from her eyes.

◇

　The boys' dormitory at the school.

　The two people who called me into my room were Erica and Elijah.

''--Is it an engagement ceremony?''

　While Erica was surprised, Elijah was stiffly nervous.

'Yup, I have to buy a ring!　Oh, and arrange the ceremony!

　Marie slapped Elijah with her harrison.

'Calm down!'

　Elijah was slapped, "Ha, yes! And he's being downplayed by Marie.

　But now that Marie doesn't have a proper position, I'm not in a position to say anything strongly to Elijah.

　I look at Angier and he explains instead.

'We're going to force a summer vacation. If we have an engagement ceremony, there's no way we can interfere with their marriage from there.

　You can see how forceful it was for Lady Milene to push her daughter, Erica, on me after the engagement ceremony.

''Elijah-dono, as you know, this engagement will be taken care of by Leon.

　Elijah seemed to understand what that meant.

''You mean you want me to join the Marquis' faction, right?　No, it's fine. The Fraser family has been the Queen's faction until now. And yet, after the incident with Erica, that's a bit of a blur. It's just that we are failing to begin with, and we don't have any other nobles to introduce to you.

　Being a failure means that I won't be taken seriously by the house around me.

　I mean, is it okay to be under me, even though we have the same title?

Do you have a problem with Elijah working for me?

'Of course there is. But right now I want to grow the faction as much as possible.

　Julius, who had been listening to the conversation, explains it in a way I can understand.

You can't ignore the fact that there are nobles who support you. You can't ignore the palace if you can show that there are nobles who support you. Well, Angelica's aim is to cut down the Redgrave faction.

Oh, really?

　Angier nodded in agreement.

'To the extent that we give up the usurpation, we need to cut down on your father's faction. On top of that, Rion will show both home and abroad that he fully supports the royal family.

　However, they have a problem with this one.

　Julius looked embarrassed.

''But there's no one in the position of Crown Prince at the moment. Even if you say you support the kingdom, to be honest, it's like there's a succession battle waiting to happen.'

　If there is a clear-cut crown prince, you should be loyal to that person as well.

　But right now, no one else is in that position.

　I put my head in my hands.

'd*mn it!　If only I hadn't hit the second prince!

　Julius gives me a sad look.

'I can't speak for other people either, but shouldn't you be thinking a little further ahead?'

　However, you can't start worrying about it forever.

　If you've decided to stick up for your niece, you should stand up and act immediately.

'Then we should talk to Jake. And if not, we can make another prince the crown prince.

　Angel's cheeks are a little red.

'Leon, I like that about you,'

　Marie shook her head.

'That idea isn't the first thing that comes to mind. How is that possible, like getting a crown prince or something?'

　I don't get to decide on the position of Dauphin on my own.

　But there are plenty of ways to do it.

　Beside Elijah, who was troubled and unable to speak, Erica was looking down.

''You didn't have to go this far. Wa, I--

　Mariette put her hand on Erica's shoulder.

'Leave it to me. Ani--Rion will take care of it.

　Erica gave a small nod and turned her gaze to Luxion, who was listening to Angel's story.

''Well, we have a trump card called Luxion.

　Luxion is as usual.

''As for me, though, I'd like my master to remain on the throne. That would be the easiest thing to do.''

　--I'm not kidding.

'Dismissed. I don't want to be a king.

　Angier, who had heard Luxion's joke, pondered something like, "If I could do it, that would be nice," and Julius said, "If Baldfalt becomes king, will I be a spit roaster? He was seriously worried.

　--You, Julius!　Where the hell do you think you're going?

　If you'd been stronger, I wouldn't have had to deal with it!

Well, first--oh?

　As Luxion was about to talk about his plans for the future, a guest came to my room.

◇

Oh, Jake, Your Highness.

'Don't say that. You're the only one I'd say this to.

You're not talking like that again.

Huh, I've never felt this way before.

　The school's unpopular courtyard.

　Arle and His Highness Jake were having a pleasant conversation.

　The ladylike Arle-chan was trying to get the attention of His Highness Jake, who was providing conversation topics one after another.

　Hiding in the shadows, Finn and I were breaking out in a cold sweat as we watched them.

''--Really?''

　I hadn't imagined that His Highness Jake would be so serious.

　I thought he would find out his gender on the way and come to his senses.

'Hey, what are we going to do?　You've wiped out all the boys you're trying to capture!

　Jake--Are you a target.

　Classmate--Already married and not in the school.

　Aaron--Aaron--is now Arle's girl.

　Underclassmen--Fiancé and not in the school.

　I can't even speak to the development of the boy who is the target of the attack by the boy who is the target of the attack.

　I look at Finn.

'There must still be Oskar.

'I know your sisters are out to get Oskar!

'What?　No, he's beautiful too, so the other girls would go after him too. I mean, were Finley and the others seriously going after him?

　He didn't think he would be able to get close to Oskar when those two targeted him.

　But Finn, who was watching the situation nearby, was more familiar with Oskar's love life.

''No, there's no way any other girl would go after the boys that Finley-san is after.

Why?

That's because she's your sister!

　Finn said to me, keeping his voice down, "Why don't you understand?! And I'm angry.

　In other words, Finley is my sister who has become the hero of the kingdom.

　Her relationship with Oskar is progressing smoothly due to the consideration of those around her that she won't interfere with such a partner's love path?

It's a dead end.

There's no reset button in real life!　What are you going to do? What are you really going to do?

　I tell a flustered Finn to calm down.

The first thing that comes to mind is that you should be able to get a better idea of what's going on. We can look into that and we'll be fine.

'Wow, I'm sorry, I don't know. I've only heard of my sister. I don't know the details. The emperor's grandfather didn't know either, which is why he sent us to study in his kingdom.

'I've got it. There's Marie, who has been playing that damsel-in-distress game for nothing. You can ask that guy and he'll tell you.

　Hearing that, Finn patted his chest.

'Oh, I see. I'm glad.

◇

'What?　I've played it, but I didn't clear it.

What?

　We called out Marie, and what we heard there was a hell of a story.

'No, I bought it to buy it, but I didn't play it all the way through. I just watched the second half of the game on video to see how it played out.

　This guy threw me out of the way.

　Finn hurried to check it out.

'Nah, then don't you remember any important events regarding Mia?　It doesn't matter how trivial it is.

　Marie crosses her arms.

''Even if you say so, it was a long time ago. Let's see, as I recall--it was set up to make you feel better when you entered the dungeon.''

　--What's that setup?

　Finn seemed to remember, too.

'Yes, that's it!　What, what else?

　For Finn, who is desperate for Mia, he tells Marie to remind him.

　--while pulling a wad of cash out of his pocket, you know.

'Look, I'm going to do this, remember,'

"Wow, I love you!

　I was sad to see Marie take the wad of cash and quickly tuck it away in her own pocket.

　Finn also has a complicated expression on his face.

'You guys have a terrible relationship.'

I can't help but feel sorry for you, my dear sister.

'No, you're terrible too. You're crazy to give your sister a wad of cash!

　Maybe it was because of Finn's presence today, or maybe it was because of Marie's embarrassed face, even though she usually didn't mind.

　It was the face she made when she put on the cat.

'No, no. It's hard to make ends meet for everyone.'

　Honestly, the cost of living for eight people is amazing.

　With quite a bit of money disappearing every month, Marie, who manages the household budget, is always asking for money.

'I see. I'm sorry about this.''

　I'm going to teach Finn an apology.

'Not true. This guy had it coming because he had to support five bastards in his quest for a reverse harem, and he had it coming.

Why would you say that?

　Finn hides his face in his hands as Marie grabs at me.

'Please, for God's sake, give me some important information about Mia.

　Then Erica emerged from the shadows.

'I know.'