Chapter 9 ─ A new page opens

Iris was dreaming about her sister.

It was a dream of something that happened a long time ago.

It was a classic sisterly conversation about what kind of man they would like to marry.

"Is that important?"

Little Iris asked.

"Umm, marriages are political among the nobility. But look at our parents, they are happy together."

"That's why. Yes. I do think it's important to meet someone who makes you feel special."

"Unfortunately your sister has hardly met many men outside the family circle or the knights."

"But onee-sama. Why is it then that dad didn't give you an engagement, but I did?"

"That's because..."

Annerose didn't know what to answer her.

She was too little to understand the reason why she didn't have one.

"I can't tell you now. But you'll get it in the future of course."

"Remember this. A man who is really worthwhile is one who would move the world for you."

"He must be strong, brave and, above all, reliable. That's the kind of man I hope you can get in the future."

"Goodbye Iris."

"Huh?"

◇◇◇

Iris woke up, she was in an unexpected room.

Her eyes moved to the side where Liddy was resting next to her.

(I remember.)

(After Razel defeated those guys, the military police guy took us all under arrest.)

(A younger knight told him that he shouldn't arrest us since we are witnesses.)

(They brought all of us witnesses to the capital to rest before the interrogation.)

(I fainted as I couldn't take it anymore and so ended up in bed.)

"It was a very horrible day. Or maybe that's what they would say about an adventure?"

"No. Adventures are wonderful, this had nothing to do with them."

She got out of bed and Liddy started to wake up.

"Hmm? Iris-sama?"

"Iris-sama!"

"Good thing you woke up!"

"Liddy, I was just tired, I wasn't in danger...not anymore."

Liddy jumped toward her.

This time Liddy's breasts stuck to her face, Iris could feel a huge fleshy marshmallow gently smothering her.

She used all her strength to remove the fleshy lumps and breathe.

"I almost died... they really are deadly weapons."

"Iris-sama."

Iris looked at her friend, who was smiling warmly at her.

"Good morning."

Iris smiled back.

"Good morning."

"So Liddy, what's for breakfast?"

Liddy clapped her hands in delight as she said.

"Everyone is waiting for you for breakfast."

Iris prettily turned her head to the side.

"Everyone?"

◇◇◇

After changing out of her pajamas into something more decent, Iris asked.

"Liddy, whose house is this?"

"Being on my way to the capital I fainted, but I don't remember this being one of my family's properties."

"This house belongs to, well it belonged to Count Bronson."

"His properties were confiscated after that."

"I see."

"...!"

She remembered then something important and asked him immediately.

"Does that mean they caught the count?"

"This, I don't know. The knights said they would take care of it, and then they put us into carriages."

"I see."

Iris was disappointed that she couldn't catch him.

(It's possible that, if they did arrest him, he was silenced by some ally of Baron Olston.)

(He is another problem. Thanks to this, that man has undoubtedly made an enemy of the Duke.)

(I must destroy him as soon as possible so that he does no harm to anyone else.)

"...?"

Iris heard some strange laughter.

"Liddy, you mentioned earlier. That everyone was waiting for me for breakfast."

"Who exactly are you talking about?"

Liddy quickly approached the door that connected to the dining room, and as if it were a surprise birthday she said.

"Obviously. To everyone involved in what happened."

Inside a beautiful, elegant dining room, a bunch of kids were running around and others were playing with the food.

Some children were playing with Leila who was amused at being treated like a dog.

"Hey, I told you that's not for playing."

"It's okay. It's not like they can be in a place like that at any time in their life."

"That's no reason to spoil them."

Monika chided the slacker Veronica.

The door connecting to the kitchen opened, both Louisa and Angie entering with piles of food.

"Breakfast is ready."

"There's plenty to eat."

They quickly noticed Iris.

They hurried to put down the silver trays and present their greetings.

"It is an honor to be present in the presence of Duke Rosenthal's daughter."

Monika belatedly noticed and began to order the children to demonstrate their politeness.

"Children! What I taught you!"

All the children bowed their heads and said badly what they learned.

"Thank you so much for the food."

"That wasn't brats!"

"Hahahaha! You really are a unique nun."

"You present your greetings too."

"I am."

Veronica gave her bow and then Monika.

Iris asked in confusion.

"Emm, what's going on here?"

Liddy explained after giving her a light thump on her chest that fluttered like jelly.

"They were all involved in what happened with the black spiders. They are witnesses and they have to give their testimony."

"The knight from the military police said we could use this house until the meantime because it was too much trouble to search each of them for property."

"That sounds like he was just lazy to look."

"That's probably so. But now we're all living under the same roof temporarily."

"Iris-sama. Don't you think it's wonderful to have to have breakfast for the first time with so many smiles all around?"

Iris compared her breakfasts where she only had Liddy by her side compared to now.

Monika came over to apologize.

"I'm so sorry. We don't mean to disturb you, but it's like Liddy-sama said, we were told by the knight to live here temporarily."

"But if you are disturbed by the children's shouting I'll shush them and we'll leave the table right away."

"No."

Iris held up her hand to silence her.

"That's not necessary."

"It's just that I'm surprised."

"There's so much life here, I feel like I'm the outsider."

"Please everyone, have breakfast without waiting for me, this isn't my house, it's everyone's house."

Everyone cheered up and started eating.

Louisa and Angie went to introduce themselves, including Veronica.

After greeting them, she looked at Leila.

(If she's here. Then he...)

Iris walked out of the room looking for someone.

She checked room after room until she went to the garden and saw him.

"As I said, I pointed my fist and told him."

"Go back to the abyss you came from, phantom lord!"

"Then it was destroyed and I used the demon king as a surfboard to sweep the ground with it."

"You are a liar. None of that is true, besides, demon kings don't exist."

"You fucking brat, don't doubt me!"

"You dirty old pervert!"

Razel was fighting Oz.

Iris sighed and walked over to say hello.

"What are you fighting for?"

Oz was the first to speak.

"Ah, it's sleeping beauty!"

"Huh?"

"That's how this guy told you. He carried you all the way across town to bed without letting up on you."

"He's a pervert only."

"You snotty bastard. I'll make you respect me by force!"

Again they got into a fight and Razel paused to say.

"Good morning. I'm glad you're well."

Iris smiled at him with the sincerest smile she could ever make.

"Thank you. I'm glad to see you're here."

That was how the joyful days of the battered flower began.

◇◇◇

Three days had passed since what happened in Batson City.

Iris was living quietly with Razel and the others in that mansion.

To her, that life wasn't one she didn't want to have.

The joy of having laughter and voices in the house made it feel like a different atmosphere than she would have liked.

Then one afternoon, a letter arrived.

The letter was accompanied by a palace official.

"Miss Irislillya Lux Rosenthal-sama is requested for your immediate presence at the palace to give testimony of what happened in the city of Batson."

"It is not necessary for everyone to go who is to give testimony, we only need hers and the young adventurer who was involved in the events."

"That's what Her Majesty the queen says."

After hearing that, Iris prepared to go to the queen.

Liddy dressed her in a semi-formal, but very elegant dress.

"It's been a while since I've seen Her Majesty."

"If she asks for my presence, it's because everyone's testimony has already been taken, but I was the sad main star of this event."

"But he is different."

"Iris-sama, you will possibly meet Prince Karlheinz."

Liddy stood in front of Iris and puffed out her chest to show her how she should confront him.

"Don't let him humiliate you. Be strong."

"You are not weak anymore."

Iris thanked him and then walked down the stairs.

Everyone was in awe of such beauty.

Razel wore ridiculous clothes of eccentric nobleman because there was nothing else in the house.

Iris said to him.

"I'm sorry you have to go to the palace, but you can't refuse."

"You were responsible for defeating the black spiders and the members of the phantom troop."

"Being an adventurer and also a commoner, it's natural for them to want to know if you're not a danger to the country."

"But don't worry, I'll make sure no one tries to blame you."

"Your battlefield you've already won. Now we'll enter mine, leave the diplomatic hassles to me."

Razel was only thinking about a certain word she said despite the fact that he seemed nervous for all of them.

(She called me a commoner.)

(They see me as a commoner.)

(I know it's a joke, but it's really how painful it is to be treated like lowly trash again.)

(I mention this since commoners are always looked down upon and I don't want them to step on me again.)

(Well, it reminds me of the palace back home. There's even some kind of Eli who will take care of the paperwork for me.)

(I want to go home.)

◇◇◇

Razel and Iris were in a fancy carriage that would take them to the royal palace.

She was a little nervous, it was the first time not counting her father, that she was alone with a man.

Not even with Prince Karlheinz has she been alone.

He asked her things of personal interest to her.

"Is this the first time you have come to the capital?"

"It is. I have never been out of the house."

(In fact, it's not a lie. I never left home until now nor have I ever been to the capital of another country.)

(The difference with the capital of the empire is still colossal.)

(This is barely 5% of what the imperial capital has.)

(The differences between the two countries are staggering.)

"I see."

Iris commented blushing.

"If you wish, I can take you on a tour of the capital."

"I've walked its streets since I was a child."

"In fact, there is a very unique place that can only be appreciated when the sun is about to set."

"Sounds nice to see."

She paused for a moment and with all the embarrassment in the world asked him.

"Would you like to go see it one day?"

Razel without hesitation answered her.

"Sure. I'd like it if you could show me around the capital while I'm here."

That made her very happy.

Then Razel said something that finished embarrassing Iris.

"In that flower shop, you have very beautiful white flowers."

"Your Irises are really beautiful."

"...!"

Even if she was talking about the flowers, she felt it was a compliment to her.

(There are even flowers named Lily. Lily will be very pleased to know that there are flowers named after her.)

But Razel was thinking about his fiancée who was at home.

◇◇◇

After a while, they arrived at the royal palace.

Razel was taken to a separate room as the servant who received them informed Iris that the queen wanted to talk to her.

She was sent to a special room where only the royal family could enter.

The place was the very representation of the finest and most sophisticated elegance in the world.

From floor to ceiling it was decorated with fine items for a treasury, but it was only a guest room used for special conversations.

After a while of standing waiting and almost falling asleep, the door opened and a group of maids came in bowing.

Iris got up as well to greet the person who was entering.

"It's been a long time since we've seen each other, Iris."

"It is always a pleasure to receive you, Her Majesty the Queen, Rosemary-sama."

Wearing a beautiful dress that matched her amber eyes, the queen of this country, Rosemary Lux Britannia entered with a unique aura that only a queen would have.

She was in her late thirties, her long blonde hair was tied in a braided bun which turned a pinkish color approaching the ends.

Her white skin looked like fine silk, her red lips emanated sensuality like purity.

Despite being a mother, her figure was curvaceous and perfect.

As the queen entered, she asked her maids to leave.

As she closed the door, all that elegant composure was thrown to the floor.

"Iris-chan! I missed you so much!"

The elegant and refined queen behaved like a little girl, or rather like a mother spoiling her daughter.

Jumping on her, Iris hugged her tightly because she also longed to see her.

"I missed her very much too, Rosemary-sama."

"Tell me Mary. I told you I don't like you treating me special."

"You're almost like a daughter to me."

"Even if I am. I can't disrespect the queen."

"Tch. You should be more spoiled like when you were a child."

"That child grew up, you should too."

"I need my moments to relax, if I didn't, I'd lose my sanity."

"There's too much chaos lately thanks to those idiots and now with what happened between you and Karl."

The queen sat down immediately, Iris had prepared a tea beforehand with the leaves she bought on her way here.

"Mmm, delicious."

"Let's get down to business."

"How are you feeling after that day?"

Iris thought for a moment and sighed immediately.

"I was sad, I won't deny it. But I don't care now, I just want to be happy and if he wants to be happy. So be it."

"My sweetheart... how sorry I am."

Apologized the queen on behalf of the entire royal family.

"Don't worry. That stupid boy is already paying dearly."

"As soon as I got back, I called him immediately and demanded an explanation, he gave me the stupidest excuse in the world and you know what I did?"

"No."

"I disinherited him. I told him he would be neither crown prince nor prince because some idiot would call off his engagement just because of some slut."

"That man came to defend him so I threw him out of here too and he went to his estate."

"Karl is locked up here and cannot leave either the palace or his room without permission."

"That woman, Muriel, was exiled along with her father."

"That baron was just a freeloader, he didn't even pay taxes so jail or exile were his only options."

"That's all I can do for you."

"Now I have several noble idiots complaining, the heir issue I'll have to discuss with them."

"For now, stay quiet, go back to school and let me deal with the consequences."

"Thank you."

Iris said heartily.

"But I won't go back to the kingdom academy, I'll go to the girls' academy because I don't want to have bitter memories of that place."

"I understand. I'm sorry that you suffered these three years and no one knew about it."

"Don't worry, it was painful, but I got over it."

"I'm glad. Now let's get to the main topic."

"Do you have any idea what you got yourself into when you were in that town?"

"Believe me I have no idea what happened."

"Your father asked me to tell you that he was sorry he couldn't come and get you."

"You spoke to my father!"

"That's right."

"He is now going through a big crisis, there are many nobles who are accusing him of a lot of nonsense, even if I do something, they will continue to harass him."

"I understand."

Iris felt reassured to know why her father had not come to see her even in the capital.

"Now talking about the city. Everyone involved in that day was arrested, all the black spiders were imprisoned and are awaiting trial."

"The leader of the spiders is in a cell accompanied by the members of the ghost troop..."

"Is something wrong your majesty?"

The queen was very serious as she looked at the document in her hand.

She asked Iris an important detail.

"Iris, according to Rutherford's report, it says that the one who defeated the black spider and the phantom troop members who attacked, was it the same person?"

"That's right."

She said nervously thinking it would be a bad thing for Razel, she wanted to help him.

Since, Razel attacked a noble.

Under whatever excuse, attacking a nobleman in any country in the world, being a commoner, is a crime punishable by death.

"Razel is a young commoner who exercises the job of an adventurer, he's a year younger than me it seems."

"Hmph. And you say this commoner, this adventurer, defeated two members of the phantom troop all by himself, right?"

"That's right. I saw it with my own eyes, even the leader of the black spider, well I didn't see him actually, but I saw that he fought that guy and since he appeared on the spot it's because he defeated him."

The queen was even more shocked.

(Defeating the whole black spider gang and their leader alone.)

(He even defeated two members of the phantom troop, Rutherford defeated two, but according to him, those guys were weak.)

"Iris-chan, can you tell me more about this guy?"

"What happened with Bronson seems to bother the nobles more than the news that members of the phantom troop were eliminated."

"Understood."

Iris proceeded to tell him everything she knew about Razel.

After a few minutes they finished talking.

"Thank you Iris-chan. That was a good talk, now I have how to defend that boy."

The queen stood up and clapped her hands for the maids to enter.

"Rest until it's time for the meeting."

"Thank you very much your majesty."

Iris left the room and sighed.

"I can't deal with this."

"It's one thing to tell him about Razel to protect him. But that information you said was a bombshell for me."

The queen told Iris a certain secret.

She will remember it for the rest of her life.

◇◇◇

"Huh! The prince is not her son!"

Moments before the meeting ended, the queen blurted out unexpected news to her.

"That's right, but don't shout it out."

"Karl is not my blood son, he is my current husband's son."

"My previous husband and the only king, he was the only man I let into my bedchamber."

"That man you know is not the king because he was the eldest, he is only the spare who was lucky enough to take the throne because his older brother died years before you were born."

"Because of the nature of his death, we kept it a secret. My royal husband was very shy but honest, so we couldn't make him debut before the public."

"It was sad news not to have done so."

"Karl is the son of that man with some woman who died after giving birth. As I married his father for political reasons."

"It was all to keep those in Vandimion from thinking that our nation is untenable. The lack of a king would be very serious, and worse that there is no heir."

"I was on the ropes. I swallowed my pride and accepted that man and that boy into the family, but, though I tried to love Karl because it was not his fault that he hated his father."

"He also became an idiot, now thanks to this we will be the mockery. Accepting such a king will be an embarrassment to everyone, I will have to tell one of my daughters to please take the throne and that will be very annoying too."

"I am very sorry your majesty."

"No worries. It was better for everyone that he at least cleansed his blood by marrying you who possess pure blood from the royal family, but the very idiot is seen to not even understand the basics."

Iris asked her about another issue at hand now that the queen was speaking the truth.

"Your Majesty, how is that man doing?"

The queen understood who she was referring to.

"He's a strange guy, he agreed to cooperate with us without anything in return, not even torture was an option since he said everything."

"What did he say?"

"Nothing useful. Stuff Crossford already knew how his bases of operations or some eliminated nobles that were arrested."

"Your Majesty, may I ask a personal favor of you."

"What do you wish my child?"

With a smile Iris told her.

"Please hand over the custody of that man to me."

"Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Are you crazy?"

"It may seem so, but I'm not."

"He saved me and wished I knew his motivations for having done so, plus I decided to believe in people who help me."

"Iris-chan, that guy is a criminal. It's true that since he arrived, he's cooperated in everything, even the guards and servants who talk to him say that he's a person who doesn't seem like part of a terrorist organization."

"But he's still someone who was inside one."

"All the more reason to have him by my side."

"My life is now in danger because the phantom troop knows I overheard them, they will surely send assassins after us."

Despite saying something so frightening, Iris smiled at the mention.

"But I know Razel will take it upon himself to protect me and take them down, if he could defeat two members without needing to get serious, surely he is the key to taking them all down."

"Besides there are surely people inside the palace who want his life, it's better for us to keep him safe as he may recognize some faces or be a decoy to attract them."

"You're being very stubborn girl, do you want to keep him by your side that badly?"

Iris touched her chest.

"I want to return the favor, he still owes me a full answer as to his reasons or who he is."

"Please, Your Majesty."

The queen stared at her, she looked like a child imploring her gift.

"Cyril."

"Huh?"

"The last thing he said before we stopped questioning him was that his name is Cyril and nothing else."

"He doesn't even have the physique of a knight or assassin, so that weapon he has probably doesn't even know how to use it."

"I can leave him in your care, but I'll have to assign someone to keep an eye on him."

"Thank you very much."

It was after that talk that they then talked about Razel and went outside.

Iris slumped down on her legs.

"I can't believe everything I heard in just a few minutes."

"My head will explode."

She got up to go to the guest room when she saw some knights carrying something on a stretcher.

It was Karl, Iris couldn't imagine seeing him like that again.

She asked the maid who was accompanying them.

"Excuse me, what happened?"

"I-I don't know. The prince was eating lunch as usual in his room and after he yelled that the food was awful that's when I saw a blue light coming from his room."

"I walked in and saw that he was roasted and smoke coming out of his mouth."

"Roasted...like he was struck by lightning?"

"That's right."

The maid ran back to catch up with the knights.

Iris smiled due to the fact that she understood what happened.

"Gosh, it's a magnificent day no doubt."

She returned to her room until the meeting time started.

◇◇◇

The meeting had finally begun.

The ministers, knights and officials were watching everything.

First Iris entered emitting a radiant and elegant aura.

Then Razel entered as if he was a hooligan muttering.

"I hate being here."

"Why do I always have to come to a palace?"

"It reeks of old man and I really hate that stench."

The ministers muttered among themselves.

"So that's the commoner who defeated the phantom troop."

"The important thing isn't that. It's the fact that he attacked a nobleman."

"I understand that, but didn't he just say we suck?"

Razel bowed reluctantly after seeing Iris.

The queen entered and focused on her throne.

"It is a pleasure to see you all, our ministers and other members of the palace who make sure to work faithfully for our country."

"Present today are two young men involved with a certain event of extreme importance to us."

"The duke's daughter was the victim of different types of criminals."

"One of them was my son, Karlheinz, who cancelled his engagement on a mere whim."

"He has already been punished by having his right to the throne taken away and being locked up until further notice."

"For whatever reason, he cannot give any order that supersedes the word of the king or queen."

"It wasn't just the one criminal, there were several, among them the black spiders that have terrorized several territories, the phantom troop, which is a terrorist organization that seeks to destroy our country."

"And above all..."

The queen's eyes were sent in a single direction.

"The alleged kidnapping of her by her late son, Baron Olston."

Baron Olston was present.

This was rare to see, as he could not participate being a baron, unless he was called to the capital.

Iris shivered knowing that the person responsible for multiple things was present.

Razel took her hand and she calmed down.

Baron Olston was relaxed.

"Your Majesty, it is a pleasure to see you again after a long time of not coming to the royal palace."

"I would like to express my displeasure about the accusations made against me for happening."

The baron began to weep like a fountain of tears.

"After the death of my only son, Griffin."

"I demand that the person or persons responsible for his death, pay with the full weight of our laws!"

"It is really unforgivable this. My son is no criminal and yet that girl dared to say such fallacies about him and even say that he tried to kidnap her."

"It was when he went to another country to engage in business relations and on his way back that this wrongdoing and misfortune happened."

"The survivors said that my son was unjustly killed by that dirty commoner and they almost by the infernal bears."

"Is it not a crime for a commoner to raise his hand against a nobleman?"

"And more so when she tries to defend someone accused of things that made her own betrothed leave her."

"I really hope that Her Majesty the queen, rather than His Majesty King Elijah, can exercise a dignified judgment before these liars-"

"Hey pig, when will you stop spouting pure bullshit from that snout of yours?"

Razel stood up and commanded Baron Olston to shut up.

He was really pissed off.

"... What did you call me?"

"Didn't you listen to me? I called you a pig, oink oink."

"Now did you listen to me?"

The baron's face was totally red.

He looked at the queen and shouted at her while pointing at Razel.

"Your Majesty! Are you going to stand idly by while you allow that filthy commoner to disrespect me?"

"The only one disrespecting you here is you. How the hell dare you dirty rat in insulting and berating Iris of what happened!"

"I'll tell you for all to hear. It was me who killed the black spiders, I also finished off that big guy and with this fist."

He raised his right hand and clenched it very tightly.

"With this fist I crushed the skull of your cowardly son."

"Do you know what were the final words he said?"

"Don't you know who my father is! It's Baron Olston!"

"And I said 'Well I don't give a shit' and then I had his stupid brain compressed by my fist."

"By the way, the bodybuilder bears were killed by me, you can ask the guild, so the ones who ran away were the ones I didn't murder."

"If you want trouble with anyone, make it me. Whether it's you or any assassin you send, I'll kick all of their asses."

"Oh, I forgot. That idiot son of yours had this in his pocket."

Razel pulled out something he stole from Griffin's corpse just before returning to Batson that day.

"I was wondering what it was, since he doesn't understand letters much, could it be that he has horrible handwriting? Anyway."

"Iris, what does it say here?"

Iris read aloud the paper Razel gave her.

It was full of blood and smelled bad.

"Reminder, go kidnap the duke's daughter, so daddy will be proud and stop calling me a good-for-nothing idiot."

"There's more stuff, but it's petty and obscene, but the important thing is this."

"Count Bronson did business with my father again, he asked my father to make arrangements with people in Vandimion to see that he can sell information. I must stop writing things down on papers, but it's so boring to remember..."

"It's written in a handwriting that's not mine. And clearly Razel can't write either."

"That was a hard blow."

An official came over and went to show it to the queen.

"It is correct what the duke's daughter said. We will immediately check some document involving the late Griffin's handwriting to corroborate whether this is real."

"Wait Your Majesty!"

Baron Olston was still not giving up.

"This is clearly a trap set up several days ago!"

"If you cannot do your job properly, then I will have to wait until the king returns to have another meeting with him."

"Olston."

The queen forgot her formality.

Her beautiful golden eyes looked repulsively and aggressively at the baron.

"Are you belittling me for being a woman? Answer me."

"O-Of course not my queen."

He replied as cold sweat ran down his body.

"The offense as you say I was going to punish her. But, in view of the fact that you have now offended me. I suppose it requires that you receive a double punishment. no?"

The baron was on the ropes.

Razel raised his hand and formed a guillotine with his finger passing over his neck.

It was a declaration of war from him and surely the queen.

"No. There should be no punishment, it was I who was wrong."

With saying those words, he bit his tongue as he returned to his post.

"And you young commoner. I understand that you don't know where you are, but you must moderate your words, just this once I will give you as punishment a reprimand so that it won't happen again."

Despite saying that, the queen would not give him any punishment.

The queen recomposed her posture and noticed Razel staring at her.

"Is something wrong?"

"Not at all, no. I just wanted to show my regret about my actions earlier, I sincerely apologize to everyone present for my behavior."

"I-I see."

(That was good manners worthy of a high-class nobleman.)

Razel knelt down and muttered.

"They're huge. They're big enough to surpass Cordelia, but not big enough to reach Yukihime's level."

Razel stared at the queen's enormous cleavage.

(No matter how much I look at them. If giving birth left her like this, it means Barbara is in a world weight class without rival.)

(I must thank Barbara for having the supreme cup of bosom.)

Razel gave thanks as he clasped his hands together, Iris didn't understand what he was doing, but she knew his eyes were staring at the queen's cleavage.

She was a bit jealous as she even gave him a light elbow bump to make him behave.

"Back to what I was saying."

"The duke's daughter will have no charge of what she was previously accused of. Baron Drole's daughter like her father were exiled, the nobles who mocked her will also pay with reduction of a rank or a fine from their own pocket and not taxes."

"She too will be able to go to the academy for girls starting Monday."

"As for you, commoner Razel."

"You are causing a lot of unrest, your best punishment will be to be Iris's escort. After all, you are currently targeted by the phantom troop from the report I received, you'll have to keep your eyes open if you want-"

"Mom we're hungry, let's have lunch."

"Alicia, don't interrupt her when she's in a meeting with the ministers."

New voices were heard approaching from a back door in case of emergency that was located behind the throne.

It was two girls who approached the queen.

She sighed because she knew who they were.

"Alicia, Lilie, I'm working, don't bother now."

"That's what I told mom, but she's stubborn."

"Hey, but I do want to eat and I won't eat unless it's with mom."

This awkward moment was normal, everyone had seen this embarrassing spectacle once or twice.

Razel began to laugh and lifted his head to watch the family comedy.

But as he did so.

"Huh?"

He clearly observed the two girls.

They too saw Razel, the older of them said loudly.

"Ah! Lilie look!"

"It's the boy who saved us that day in the fortress."

The two girls Razel had saved when he entered this country were present.

What will this be troubling event turn out to be?

◇◇◇

Night fell and in the kingdom's maximum security prison, a man was complaining.

"Damn. Damn."

Gelt, the leader of the black spiders was furiously kicking the cell.

"I have to get out of here, I have to get out."

He could use his magic power to flee, but the place was permeated with talismans created to nullify magic, which was made of small stones that reject the magic element of air.

"Stop kicking the cell, I want to sleep."

Christopher who was in the same cell along with Elim and Chandler on a makeshift bed was telling him.

He was still unconscious.

Gelt turned and wanted to pick a fight.

"We wouldn't be here if you guys had done your job right."

"Hah? Are you blaming me?"

"You couldn't do anything against the guy who beat Chandler!"

"You guys are supposed to be the strongest after the execs. Wasn't it supposed to be a piece of cake to beat whippersnappers?"

"Gelt-dono, Aldelight-sama, calm down both of you please."

"Yelling won't get us out of here."

"Shut your mouth, old man, and come up with a plan."

"He's right, Blackmore, you should think of a plan to escape before he finds out."

"Find out who?"

"Obviously I'm talking about... You said something at what point?"

"I didn't open my mouth."

They all looked at Chandler, but clearly he hadn't been since he was still in a coma.

But a hand grabbed his neck and moved his jaw.

"Answer me. Before he finds out who? the leader?"

The mysterious figure emerged, it was a mysterious person covered by a robe and a mask in the shape of a sinister skull.

"Skull-sama. How long have you been here?"

"Since the beginning. I only saw you guys talking nonsense, but I've had enough."

The figure was slowly approaching. Everyone was terrified, Gelt went to talk to Skull.

"Skull-sama it's a pleasure to see you again!"

"Pleasure? You say?"

Skull's tone was grim and with signs of anger.

"You had a single mission, and not only did you lose, you were arrested, and now await trial."

"And you Gelt, you let Jax and Kaffaro, sorry, let Gelmud and Geld be easily killed while you cowardly survived."

"You were number two of the twelve spears and yet you are in this miserable state because of a peasant."

Skull was getting angrier and angrier, the black sockets of his eyes began to show a hellish red.

"Please give us another chance after getting us out of here!"

"Another? Chance?"

Skull turned his head ominously.

"Do you think second chances exist?"

"Our rules are simple."

"Never betray the Phantom Troop."

"You will die for the Phantom Troop if necessary."

"And the Phantom Troop never gives a second chance because it is unforgivable, a second chance would be a mistake because it would lead to a third one later."

His eyes flashed with so much anger, the room lit up.

"To lose and die is honorable, but to lose and stay alive is an unforgivable sin."

Next, screams and sounds of something breaking as if splashing against the wall were heard briefly.

Skull emerged from the cell covered in blood and large amounts of it.

The blood fell to the floor, but was magically wiped away.

He closed the door and the guard standing guard was for some reason mesmerized.

"Good job, take a break."

The guard fell asleep and continued walking quietly, the other inmates and guards were asleep.

"I already took care of one problem, it's your turn to take care of the remaining one."

◇◇◇

Count Bronson had been on the run for days.

He was running non-stop, his legs were bleeding, he hadn't gone to the bathroom, eaten anything or drank water.

He just ran for his life.

The wound on his arm had become infected, his feet were mangled.

He wanted to live, but he didn't know where to go.

He came to a distant city and wandered down one of its roads.

The light of the light was as clear as sunlight.

Then, he heard a laugh behind him.

He turned around and saw a strange figure.

"Kukuku."

He made that strange sound a few teeth that seemed to move in the same rhythm as a sword being unsheathed and swiftly thrust in.

He was a medium tall man, white hair and an elegant suit.

In his hands he held a katana and as he raised his face.

"Hey, do you want to play? I'm bored."

A terrifying pale face and red eyes stared at Gaelius.

His mouth was covered in blood and he walked as if his leg was broken.

"Play, play, play, play, play, play, play, play."

He repeated the same thing over and over until he seemed to burst into ecstasy.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I want to play so bad!"

"I want to cut your organs and chop you up like ground meat!"

He stuck out his tongue which was black and began to move it lasciviously.

His eyes rolled in the opposite directions and then he took an attack stance and said.

"Cut, cut, cut, cut. I want to cut! Ahyahyahyahya!"

He quickly overtook Count Bronson and in a matter of seconds turned him into mincemeat.

"That was sublime! I want to keep playing!"

"Play, play, play, play, play, play, play, play. kyahahahahahaha!"

First thing in the morning, the knights found the criminal wanted all over the country.

Which was turned into the remains of something that was once human.

But that wasn't the only thing they reported.

In the maximum security prison, the corpses of all those who were to be interrogated that day were found.

No one can explain what happened in both events.

________________

Since we don't have Liddy again, the last fanservice is for her.

https://danbooru.donmai.us/posts/7240908