-- After hearing from Leila, I decided to ask Sylvia and Sakura to return to the Spring Wakaba-Tei for the time being.

　I'm not going to have any more conversations that require witnesses, and the sun is about to go down.

''For now, I'll try to arrange for you to be sent to work at the head office, but it depends on what the rest of the staff wants, so I can't guarantee that.
Yes, that's fine. No need for favoritism.

　Leila is glancing at Garnett while responding to me in a polite manner.

　I don't understand why Garnett is giving me a threatening look, and I guess she's having trouble reacting.

　I can imagine why the guy is reacting like this.

　But it's something Leila will never be able to explain.
　If anything, it's awkward to even picture it in your head.

　It's as good as conceit when you can't get confirmation from the person in question, but that doesn't mean you don't have the guts to get confirmation.

　It's not that I haven't had such an experience in my life, but as expected of Garnett, the age difference is too different for her.

''Again, as for me, I have no intention of fulfilling the engagement. I'm going to evaluate you in terms of whether you are a suitable candidate for the Dragon King's Knights.
I'd be more comfortable with that, too.

　Leila's remarks hadn't been reserved all along, but I didn't feel uncomfortable.

　If it's only about height, but when it comes to strength, I'm aware that I'm greatly watered down by high-ranking adventurers and knights.

　That in itself isn't a good or bad thing, it's just that it doesn't suit my personal tastes, and yet I myself don't hold Leila in particular.

　And if the ideal is His Majesty Alfred, then there was no way I would be offended just because it didn't match Leila's tastes.

''Well, let's see. You might think it's a shitty idea at first, but it might turn out to be a handful later.
'That's the time. If you come to desire him as your mate, you'll have to change your policy gracefully. It's only hypothetical, so I don't think it's likely.

　Hearing Layla's reply, Garnett became more wary.

　He couldn't help but think that it was just a self-destruction, since he was only being replied to a tentative story he had brought up himself, but he didn't dare to say the words.

'One thing, just to be sure. Please treat me as just 'Layla' here. Not as Beatrix Leila Hyndman, the Dragon King Knights' fringe, but as just 'Leila'.

　That didn't need to be said.
　After nodding his head and then looking at Garnet, Garnet also nodded silently and agreed.

''Of course, I will also treat you as a mere 'Garnet' and not as Garnet Argentea of the Silverwing Knights. Please tell that to the two of you who have returned home earlier.
They'll be fine. They won't tell anybody about me.
I see you trust ....... I'm impressed. I'll trust that trust too.

　At least, they seemed to agree with each other about hiding their identities as people associated with the Order.

　When I suddenly looked out the window, it seemed that sunset was already nearing.

'I think we should probably go home soon. Have you already decided where you're going to stay?'
You don't think he's gonna try to break into my room, do you?

　When Garnett said this jokingly - with the intimidation intact - Leila returned the statement emotionally for the first time.

'Nah!　There's no way you could be so dishonest!
'Hare ......!　Hey, you!　Didn't you say you weren't stuck in the old ways?
'And that's not the same thing!　I'm not so careless as to rent a bed to a lord!
"I ain't gonna do nothin', White Wolf!
Even friends and acquaintances should be avoided!

　I watch from the sidelines as if it's an argument between a man and woman of my age, as if it's someone else's business.

　...... Of course it's just a metaphor.
　I'm well aware that a man(...) woman(...) argument is fundamentally untenable.

　If you interfere poorly, you might end up making things even more complicated.
　The best solution here would be to keep quiet.

　Nevertheless, when I think about the fact that these women are related to the neutral faction of the Silverwing Knights, who are said to be retaining their old values, and the Dragon King Knights, who are said to want a realistic change, I feel somewhat strange.

''And anyway!　I'm afraid we're going to have to leave you here today!　Please feel free to use me as a full-time employee in the future!　So go to ......!

　Leila bowed politely and left the house, dragging the residue of her excitement with her.

　Garnett looked down at his hands with an awfully complicated expression after Leila left, and muttered to himself as he squeezed out.

'...... broke ......'
No, because I know better than anyone that it's not like that, okay?

　The air was going to be strange if I didn't, so I decided to change the subject anyway.

　I just had a question I wanted to ask right away.

''For that matter, who is this Miss Alma thing?　You lied about being my sister or something.
It's me, for God's sake. It's me.

　I knew it.
　It's a good thing that you're able to get a better idea of what's going on.

It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. It's a good idea to be able to have a good idea of what to expect when you are in your own home.
...... I don't mean to say this lightly, but your daughter didn't pretend to be dead or anything like that.

　Garnett shushed for a moment, and then responded with a mumbling 'Aye'.

'I made a condition to convince your father. I'm not going to be the only one who can do that. I'm not going to be able to have the former master's youngest daughter die when I think about the future.

　Garnett's smile as he said this was a mask for the dim emotions he didn't want me to see.

'...... Wait a minute. That would mean that my youngest daughter has always been called 'Alma', right? But you've been a garnet since you were a kid, haven't you?
Hmm?　Yeah, that.

　Garnett's expression switches to that of a normal one, and his lips fish up as if he's trying to reveal the seeds of a prank.

'They're both my names. Garnet Alma Argentea is the name I was given when I was born. I'm going to take advantage of the confusion of the war and say that they are actually the brother and sister of Garnet and Alma: ...... What's that face? I'm not a fan of that.

　Garnett looked up at me quizzically.

　Apparently, I had smiled unconsciously.

'I just thought this was one more thing I could get to know about you,'
'Yuck, ...... it's not a big deal. Well, well, the only people who know this much about it are your family and you. ......

　Garnett slurred his words with a gurgle and lightly kicked me in the leg to fool me.