Marie thinks.

(I--I've always depended on my brother.)

　In a previous life, Marie regretted that she had caused her brother's death.

　If I hadn't gone on a trip abroad that day.

　If I hadn't forced the game on Leon - a different future would have been possible for Leon, wouldn't it?

I had to hunt my brother down.

　Marie was standing in front of the capsule where Erica was sleeping.

　Inside the liquid-filled capsule, Erica was being protected by a group of robots who were under Creare's command.

　She relied on Rion to protect her daughter from her previous life.

(I--I couldn't do anything for this girl.)

　In her previous life, Marie was not a very good mother.

　I understand that myself.

　That's why.

　This time.

　And this is the result.

'I'm sorry. I'm sorry, brother--sorry.

　The Lost Item "secret potion" recovered for Leon is a powerful dope.

　Leon is reconditioning it for himself to make it even stronger.

　You can use it three times.

　It was a life-threatening drug that must be used with a neutralizing agent after one use.

''I--I didn't mean to do that!

　She put her forehead against Erica's sleeping capsule and sat down on the floor as it was.

　The tears spill out - and Marie looks up.

　She looks at the sleeping Erica.

'Erica, I'm sorry.' --I have to pay my brother back for what I owe him.

　Standing up, Marie took a deep breath when she was ready.

　She slapped her cheeks with both hands, turning red with more pain than she expected.

'Alright!　I'm fired up. I'm ready to do whatever it takes to make this happen. If I can do it, I can do it - and I know I can.

　A second life.

　What have I done with myself?

　When I looked back on my life with that in mind, I didn't have any good memories.

　I was born into an aristocratic family.

　But it was a bad aristocratic family that only looked good, and as the youngest daughter, I was not treated well.

　A childhood in which she lived a life of unsatisfactory food and tried her best to use her knowledge of games to turn her life around one day.

　Fortunately, she had a talent for healing magic, and she tried to hone her skills to become a saint in the future.

　Once she entered the academy, she took Olivia's place in the academy and enjoyed it at first.

　Yes, just the first time.

'--I'm not even good at second time of life.

　Smiling bitterly, Marie says goodbye to Erica.

'Erica, I'm sorry.'

I could use that now, too. If it was for you...

　Leaving the room, Marie hurriedly made her way to Julius and the others.

◇

　The first thing Marie did was to go to--

'I've been deceiving you all this time. I'm so sorry!

　--I am on my knees.

　It's one of the rooms in the school.

　In the past, it was one of the rooms where the boys would invite the girls to hold a tea party, but now it's a little dusty with few students using it.

　The one standing in front of Marie, who is on her knees in such a room, is Julius and others.

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

　A confused Julius tried to make her stand up, but Marier didn't move from her spot.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.

'Marier-san, is there something going on?'

　Greg crosses his arms and lets out a sigh, feeling uncomfortable with the unmoving Marie.

'You're ready for something, you know.' -- you're going to tell me, aren't you, Marie?

　Chris turns his attention to the tables and chairs that are covered with seats.

'Marie, you can't talk in that state,'

　Brad says as he and Chris set up a table and chairs.

'I'll get you some tea. Let's take our time talking about it. We have to make sure you hear the story about how Marie has been cheating on us.

　Marie was in tears as she stood up, with Julius and Jilk holding her by her sides.

'I'll tell you everything. I'll tell you--please help my brother.

　Julius hears Marier's complaint and looks troubled.

'Marier's brother?　Is that from the Viscount Raffan family?

No. You see. Leon is my brother in a previous life.

　Hearing the story, Jirks puts his hand to his forehead.

'I guess we'll have to hear more about this. Then I'll go and get you a cup of tea.'

◇

　Six people were gathered around the table where tea had been prepared.

　Marie turned over, looked downcast - and told them what had happened so far.

　That she was a reincarnated person.

　That Rion was her brother in her previous life.

　And--Marie said that she would never have gone out with Julius and the others if she should have.

'It's my fault. I tricked everyone - the saint was really Olivia, but I was blinded by greed and called myself a saint.

　The original opponent of Julius and the others was Olivia.

　Marie told her honestly.

(I'm sure they'll all be cursing me out.)

　Marie told him all about her feelings without covering them up.

　I didn't really like him.

　I just wanted to go out with him because of his status, his wealth - and his good face.

　Marie thinks.

(I'm such a bad girl, aren't I?)

　I cry at my own ugliness.

　And I'm pathetic for asking for help from the person I was cheating on.

　But if I didn't do this - Marie couldn't forgive herself.

　At the same time, she was willing to drop everything if it meant helping Rion.

　The scent of tea, which could not be called good or bad, spread in the room.

　Julius, who had finished his tea, opened his mouth when Marier stopped talking.

　All five of them listened to Marie until the end.

''--Jilk, as usual, your tea is bad,''

　But what came out of Julius's mouth was a complaint to Zilk.

''Eh?''

　Looking up, Marie was surprised why he was talking about it.

　Zilk's eyes narrowed as he looked at Julius.

''His Highness cannot understand the delicate taste.

　Brad laughs.

'No, it's not good. This would be better for Baldfalt - or your brother-in-law (...), wouldn't it?

　Marie's mouth snapped up.

　Before they knew it, Greg and Chris had taken off their jackets and even their shirts, and were reaching for the tea cakes instead of drinking tea.

'I see - so Baldfalt is your brother-in-law. Hey, what should I call you from now on?

　Greg consulted with Chris.

'We're in trouble. Now Baldfalt is our boss and your brother-in-law?

　Chris, his glasses glowing and seriously worried, had no answer.

　Marie stood up vigorously with her hands on the table.

'Mi, guys, I'm not kidding, I mean it!

　I'm sure he didn't believe me when I told him about my past life.

　Marier thought so, and tried to tell her once more in earnest.

　But then Julius put his index finger to Marier's mouth.

　His expression is smiling.

''Marie, it's not that we don't believe your story.

Julius?

　Julius removes his index finger from his lips and turns serious as he sits down with Marie.

'It's certainly hard to believe,'

　Marie looks down.

　Still, he has no choice but to believe her.

　In order to help Rion - as I was thinking that, this time Jirku opens his mouth.

''But we will believe in you, Marie-san.

"Zilk?

　Now it's Greg.

"Marie takes us this seriously. You wouldn't be a man not to believe this. Isn't that right, boys?

　It was Brad who nodded to Greg, who was looking at the faces of the assembled men.

'I agree. And you know what, Marie - we told you that we will turn you around. We told you that we'd make sure you were turned around.

　Chris had taken off his glasses.

'I'm sure Marie never told us before because she wasn't reliable. But to tell us this way--I'm very glad now.

　Marie gives me a look of disbelief.

'Why would you believe me?　How could you be so nice to me!　I am!　I'm--I'm a horrible woman who has deceived you and your friends!

　Julius turned over and smiled sadly.

''It's certainly a terrible story.'' -- we didn't understand the pain of Marie's suffering. Marie, it must have been hard for you all this time, right?

　Marie bursts into tears.

'Why? How can you be so--so kind to me?'

　As Marie shook her head in front of the five of them, Julius stood up and gently hugged Marie.

''-- What's wrong with trusting the woman you've fallen in love with?　I don't think Marie would lie to us in this situation. And you're the one who relied on us. And it's our job to respond to that feeling--to respond to that feeling.

　Zilk, Brad, Greg and Chris - the four of them also stand up.

'Well, then, we don't have time for carefree tea, do we?

'Yes. The war against the Empire - or was it a race for survival?

'It's a real, serious war. We're going to help Baltophalt too.

Then let's all go back to my parents' house. --If we're going to help Baltophalt, we'll have to use my parents' power.

　The five of them try to start their own action to fight the powerful empire.

　Marie turns over and cries into Julius' chest.

''Oh, thank you. Really--thank you--thank you. I will do whatever I can. Whatever atonement I can do--I'll do it.

　She was crying and in pain, and her voice was not coming out well.

　Julius gently patted Marie's back.

'There's no need to make amends. Marier, we do this because we want to. We'll help you and Baldfalt - for Rion's sake.'

◇

　The residence of the Duke of Redgrave's family in King's Landing.

　The two men there were Vince and Gilbert, who had come to King's Landing to deal with the Empire.

　Standing in front of them, Angel feels a cold sweat running down his spine.

　Both of them were looking very cold in front of their daughter and sister.

　Vince makes a gentle voice, but he says something with a thorn in his side.

'I didn't expect you to be here. Or are you going to cry already?

　With the current state of affairs with the Empire attacking us, did you come to rely on your family's strength?　That's what I was told.

　Gilbert is even colder than Vince.

'Have you already forgotten that you betrayed us?

　In order for Leon to avoid civil war, Angier betrayed his family's home.

　I have no regrets about that.

　Besides--.

(In hindsight, it was the right thing to do to force a civil war out of the way.)

　--If a civil war had occurred, the kingdom would have been easily defeated in front of the empire.

　Angier took one small, deep breath.

　Then he looked at Vince and Gilbert.

　They showed a posture that didn't take a step back, and then proudly to the two--.

'Father - no, duke. I will make your grandson king.

　--I said so.

　Vince's eyes narrowed as he heard those words.

'We used to reign in the civil war for our own reasons, and now the timing of this -- no, that's what it is.

　Vince noticed immediately, and Gilbert showed his anger.

'It's too late now!　Can't you understand that you've missed an opportunity!

　If you're going to move, do it a little faster.

　Vince controlled Gilbert, who was yelling at him, with his hand.

'Father?'

　To Gilbert's surprise, Vince smiled.

　It was a belligerent - a fierce smile.

'I see. I see.'

　Angier spoke in a calm tone in front of the two of them.

''The kingdom needs to be united as one before the Empire invades. To that end, the Redgrave Dukes will cooperate with us.''

　Gilbert tries to move forward, as if he was talking from above.

'Nuke nuke!'

Stop!　--all right. Our family assures you of our fullest cooperation.

Father?

　When Gilbert didn't understand, Angier let out a small breath and left the room, giving them both his back.

'Thank you for your help.' --Duke.

　Vince muttered as he looked away from his daughter, who he no longer called father.

'Give my regards to your new Majesty.'

◇

　As Angier leaves, Vince explains the situation to an exasperated Gilbert.

　Gilbert was surprised to hear this.

'No way!'

　Vince looked amused.

"No way. I'm as surprised as you are. This is all very amusing, isn't it? My grandson will be king.

　Gilbert's shoulders slumped.

　Vince saw that and followed up.

'I didn't make you king, you know. Forgive me, Gilbert.'

　Gilbert had a blown-out smile on his face.

'No, I was not good enough. At all--if Angier had been a man, I would have given up the heirship to him.

　Vince was surprised when Gilbert admitted that his sister was better than he was, and Vince was surprised - and laughed out loud with a pause.

'Ha ha!　Gilbert, you don't understand, do you?

What's that?

'If Angier is a man, he's at best as good as you, or a little less so. Look, Gilbert - she's strong because she's a woman.

　That being said, Gilbert nods his head.

'-- What does that mean?'

　Vince closes his eyes and then smiles.

'For the man I loved, that is.