Memories spun from Aeon's mouth.
　For me, living in modern Japan, it didn't feel very real.
　Of course, he wasn't telling a lie or a lie. But it seemed to me that it was just an event in a story.
　Even though the person who was in the middle of it was right in front of him.

　Mr. Aeon - Princess Lucurion was born the eldest daughter of the Emperor of the Hanok Empire.
　I'll spare you the details, but it seems that she lived a normal, princess-like life.
　...... until she turned ten years old.

　In this world - technically speaking, in the Empire, when you turn ten years old, you receive a blessing in the temple. And then you get your vocation. This is no exception, whether you're a member of the royal family or not.
　Aeon turned ten years old and received the blessing.
　It was basically an informal ceremony, so apparently it was done in an easygoing way, with family and relatives and others gathered.
　It was apparently a normal, solemn and harmonious affair, with his father, the emperor, his mother, who was his main chamber, and his two half-brothers (・・・・).
　But the blessing ...... no, the vocation that was given was bad.

　A rare vocation, 'General (General)'.
　Aeon was given the same (・・・・・) vocation as his father, which was not expressed by his two older brothers, either.
　Mr. Aeon is the son of his legitimate wife and his two brothers are the children of his side room.
　In addition, his two older brothers are a bit of a humble vocation holder and that is a complex.
　The relatives who were present at the ceremony were also very excited by Ms. Aeon's rare vocation, and from that day onwards, she began to talk about it to people around here and there, and it seems that Ms. Aeon's position in the world became increasingly sensitive after she received the blessing.

　Ms. Aeon is the son of a legitimate family and the third in line of succession to the imperial throne.
　Although ......, Ms. Aeon is still a woman.
　She even has two older brothers.
　It's not a matter of how rare a vocation is, or how much of a legitimate family member's child is a political marriage to a neighboring country, and in fact, that was the future given to Ms. Aeon, and it was supposed to be.

　-- but that didn't happen.

　Ms. Aeon rather innocently wanted to study as a 'general', and she discussed this with her father.
　This wouldn't be a strange thing.
　A vocation is the path that God has given him to follow.
　If that's so, then so be it. It was only natural to think so.

　The empire of the time was in the midst of a war.
　In the battle of the Elbaste Conflict or something like that, the empire was about to be outflanked by a mercenary group full of women, but thanks to the exploits of the mercenary group, the Scarlet Wedge, they managed to end up in a painful split, and an award for meritorious service was about to be held.
　The leader of the group was the famous "Holy Knight (Paladin)" who had the vocation of "General (General)".
　Isaac Mitley.
　The emperor himself can't go along with his studies just because his daughter has the same vocation as him.
　He didn't have time to do so, and if he did, it might be rumored that he had chosen his daughter to be his successor.
　Therefore, Isaac, who was the subject of rumors in the imperial capital at the time, was given a white feather.
　Apparently, there was no one else in the imperial capital who actually held the vocation of a 'general' and yet had activities commensurate with that vocation other than the Emperor and Isaac.
　It was so rare for someone to have the vocation of a general.
　Usually, those with a vocation that was rare and useful in any country were often protected and educated by the state and worked for the state. It's not clear what kind of background Isaac was born into, or what kind of mercenary work he did, but if he was a male 'knight' he would be admitted to the country's knightly order, and if his vocation was 'holy knight' or 'general' he would be welcomed by the country with a patronage.
　Even so, the number of "generals" is so small that it's hard to find. There are a few "holy knights" that are found every year.
　Even in that respect, Aeon-san and Isaac were a remarkable existence.

''Isn't Princess Lucurion going to take over the imperial throne?'' Apparently, rumors were flying around in the imperial city as well.
　In this world, there was little difference between men and women. That's why there was a normal possibility that Ion-san would succeed to the imperial throne. Well, since he has the right to succeed, it's natural. Rumors would at least start up.
　But that was just a matter of "when push came to shove," and that was all that mattered. Even though he is currently the third in line of succession, to the extent that his succession will be postponed if his younger brother is born.

　Isaac Mitley, who had been appointed as a teacher, was apparently an honest man.
　If the Emperor himself asked him to be his daughter's educator, he couldn't say no. No, it's not clear how it actually happened. Maybe he wanted to sell the emperor a favor.

　And so the days of Isaac becoming a tutor and study sessions went on for several years.
　Since Isaac also had a job as a mercenary leader, the study sessions were only once a week for half a day.
　Of course, there was no such thing as a study session where the two of them would be alone in a room, and they were always surrounded by a number of maidservants, other teachers, and knights of the Kingsguard.
　Still, it was a honeymoon for Aeon-san.

　After the Elbaste War, the Empire's major battles had decreased, with only the occasional skirmish occurring at the borderline.
　Aeon-san's talent as a 'general' blossomed as his vocation, and even if it wasn't, he was very popular with the imperial soldiers, and Isaac, who would normally be the target of yakkami, had built a good relationship with the knights and soldiers perhaps because of his charisma.
　Internal politics were also beginning to settle down now that the war was winding down.

　It seems that Aeon-san was happy and couldn't bear those days.
　I suppose so. She's a true princess.
　She has an emperor father, an empress mother, two prince brothers, a handsome governess, knights and soldiers.
　The war is over and the days are peaceful.

　But those days have changed drastically since her father fell ill.

　Aeon's father was still young and robust.
　No matter how much he had been in the war, he was in a position where there were always two elves in the Kingsguard standing by with a spirit stone in hand. If they were injured, they would be healed as soon as they were injured, and even his age, using the spirit stones, he maintained his early thirties forever.
　When I say fallen, I don't mean dead.
　It is said that he was lying ill for an unknown reason, but it was still a big deal in this world.
　This was because it meant that he had suffered an illness or injury that even the elves could not cure.

　Anyway, the emperor fell, and the problem of succession, which was thought to be still a long way off, broke out.
　Normally, a male direct descendant of the emperor would succeed to the throne.
　In this case, it was normal for Aeon's older brother, and even if that wasn't the case, it was assumed that his second son would succeed.
　But there was one way in which this would not be the case.

　--that is, if the current emperor appointed his own successor.


　◇◆◆◆◆.


So that's why Ms. Aeon has been nominated?

　A princess with the same vocation as herself, yet motivated and talented, and popular with the soldiers and people alike.
　It doesn't seem strange that her father would have nominated Aeon-san.
　What the two brothers are like is unknown, so it's hard to say.

'No. ....... My father didn't mean to do that, and neither did I. Even though ...... there are forces that think it's possible to do that and ...... I can say this now, but I've been taken advantage of, haven't I?

What do you mean?

I was intrigued by ...... that ...... I was at fault. I went to ask my father for a favor. Zack and I asked him to let me marry that ...... .......

　Oh. It's like the events of a story.
　Rebecca's gaze is reaching absolute zero, but it can't be helped. I'm sure Rebecca-san has some mixed feelings about it.

"So, what happened?　Mr. Isaac was a mercenary, then there was what you call a status difference, wasn't there?

'Yes. There's no way they should be allowed to do that. ......, but Zack had one of the best mercenary corps in the country, and above all, he was a rare talent. That's why - maybe that's why this happened -

　It was apparently a bit of an open secret that Ms. Aeon was in love with Mr. Isaacs, as it was obvious to everyone around her.
　Due to his position, Mr. Isaacs didn't show any such pretense, but according to Ms. Aeon, they didn't have a bad relationship.

　When the Emperor fell, Mr. Ion was fifteen years old.
　She was a little early for marriage, but she was old enough to have no problem at least getting engaged.
　However, Aeon-san is also a real princess. No matter how good a guy Mr. Isaac is, he's still a mercenary. He didn't think he could actually get married.
　But if there was a way to tempt him to marry her, that was a different story. Mr. Aeon seemed to have fallen in love with the idea.

My father, perhaps because he was ill, gave me permission with surprising ease. Perhaps it was because my father was ill, but he wasn't always so interested in me.

So there's nothing wrong with it.

'No, that's where my brother - my older brother - interrupted me. He said, "Since you're going to marry and become a member of the royal family, you have to give that man the status he deserves, and as an older brother, you have to make sure that he's the right person for your sister. ......

I see. ......

　Hmm.
　Well, it's fair.
　In fact, I think it's more of a concession.
　I don't know how much the royalty in this country are easygoing (...), but even the Japanese don't think marriage between a mercenary and a princess is a possibility.

'But this was a trap.
A trap?
"My brother has hated me ever since I received his blessing ...... or the vocation of 'General'. And he seemed to think that my marriage to Zach was one of the milestones in my quest to become emperor and gain a powerful handhold on the ground. ...... although I didn't learn that until later.

　If you marry Isaac, you get Isaac, a powerful collaborator (with a mercenary group) on his own: ......?
　Well, and a double 'general' couple might be a bit of a great feeling indeed. It's going to increase the popularity of the people, and in fact, I heard that Mr. Isaac was a good-looking man, and Ms. Ion is a beautiful woman (I'm not sure because of her prison crest).
　I wonder if the fact that his brother hated him is ...... because he's still the only legitimate child and has a rare vocation and is very popular.
　In other words, jealousy. It's a bit pathetic, though.

I'm not sure if it's a good idea for me to be a part of it, but I'm sure it's a good idea for you to be a part of it.
　...... My brother approached me with this story. He said that I had to go to the mountainous (...) region to get the "Meridocardia", a flower that is considered a sign of love, to confirm the love between Zack and I. I had to set up a date to protect Zack and protect him. I set a deadline and sent Zack as my escort. However, she told me that I must not tell him the true meaning of this ordeal.
　In order to see my resolve, I was made to sign a spirit contract that I must not tell Zack the truth and that I will return within 30 days.
　...... Hmmm, it's funny now. I must have been soaring at that time.

　Hmm. Well, I can almost see the story, but if she didn't know that the other party was planning to trick her, then maybe it's no wonder that the fifteen-year-old princess is being tricked.
　I have a vocation as a con artist, but it's a technicality to say that it's worse to be tricked.
　Of course it's the deceiver's fault.

'I was ...... embarrassed at the time, but I didn't know about the prison crests. The wording at the time was 'If the covenant is mistaken, the second party owes the prison crests'. I didn't even know that this was the only thing that would strip me of my blessing .......

　So it seems that Aeon left with Mr. Isaacs and a few companions, not knowing that, and with his brain in a state of flux.
　It takes about ten days from the Imperial Capital to the mountains by horse cart. It's a good distance, but that's what travel is like in this world. Apparently, for Aeon-san, it was a fun and enjoyable trip in its own way.
　I've heard that my brother preparing such an ordeal was simply a performance against the outside world, and his attendant lady told me that.
　I've heard that Zach accompanied him as a knight in shining armor and that the journey was completely safe.

　However, things changed drastically when they arrived in the mountains.
　The "Meridocardia", which was thought to be easy to obtain, actually blooms only in the backcountry, even in the mountains, and is not the kind of thing you can get if you pay for it.
　It also has a due date. I can't tell Isaac the truth.

　But Mr. Ion was in no particular hurry.
　At worst, he was optimistic that even if it didn't work out, his brother would understand, and although the deadline might be overdue, a local contractor had been contracted to get him some flowers in a few days.

　He hadn't told any of his companions about the spirit contract.
　The secret ordeal.
　If she got the flowers and returned to the country, she could marry Isaac.
　That was all the fifteen-year-old girl had hoped for.

　But it was not to be.
　Aeon successfully obtained "Meridocardia", but it took her longer than expected to get the flower.
　Aeon-san seemed to have underestimated the spirit contract a bit.
　I, for example, have a merchant's vocation, and I'm a modern Japanese, so I'm well aware of the fear of contracts, and I would never make a bad contract.
　But Aeon-san, who was a princess and had a flowery brain, was different.

　In the carriage on the way home, thirty days past the due date.

...... I still dream about that time. I still dream of losing my blessing with a popping sound, a sense of helplessness crawling over me, and black crests appearing all over my body.

　And in that moment, half the people in your party became your enemies.
　It is common knowledge in this world that a prisoner is not a man.
　Otherwise, if you bring the prisoner to the temple, you will receive a gold coin as a reward.

'I would have been in danger if Zack hadn't taken me away with him. But it cost him his life to do so. ...... No, that's a deception, too. Half the time it's like I killed him. ......

　From there, it was roughly as we had heard.
　Mr. Isaac had escaped to the south with Mr. Aeon and some of his handmaidens.
　They managed to find a place to settle down on the way, and told Aeon and her handmaidens to hide there, so he returned to the imperial capital. If he could return to the imperial capital, he could prepare 100 gold coins to exorcise the prison crests.

　But that's where the net was cast.

　From this point on, Rebecca will testify that Isaac managed to dodge the pursuit of the imperial soldiers in order to save the princess with the prison crest, and managed to get to the imperial capital.
　At that point, Mr. Isaacs was already accused of kidnapping and eloping with the princess.
　In the end, he was unable to overcome the violence of numbers and did his business.
　It seems that he was taken into custody and executed only by a summary trial, probably to keep the dead from talking.

　As for Aeon, one of his maidservants betrayed him within a few days, and the villagers came looking for the bounty, and he had to flee by himself.
　Fortunately, she had done a good amount of exercise itself, training as a 'general' with Mr. Isaac, and because she was in traveling attire rather than the so-called princess look, she escaped and fled, and eventually made it to Shamash-san in Luklaera.

...... Later, I learned through rumors in the wind that Zach had been executed and that my father had died while lying ill. As Ayase told me, I have no intention of revenge ...... If I had a wish, it would be to the extent that I wish that I could tell my mother that she was safe ....... And if my brother finds out I'm alive, he might come to kill me.

　Aeon holds the dagger that she saw at Shero's house in her arms.
　The dagger is the same sword that was given to Mr. Isaac by the Emperor, and Mr. Aeon was selfish enough to have the same one made for him.

...... But who is that intriguing (・・・・・) person that comes up from time to time?　I suppose that means he's the one who benefited as a result, but the eldest son took over in turn, right?

　I'm not sure what good there is in forcing Mr. Aeon away.
　Maybe it wasn't just a conflict of interest, though, since he said his eldest son hated him.

'It was a merchant man who approached me about marrying Zach. I heard that he was related to an errand boy or something, and he would occasionally show up at the castle.

　You can find out more about Goyosho at .......

The Goyosho--the Solo family. The Solo family was the lowest ranking of the Imperial Traders at the time.

　Whoa. I know this family.

But after my brother ascended to the throne, I believe he was promoted to First Consul. ...... The man who proposed marriage to Zack was a man named Dida, who claimed to be the master's brother.

Dida?　Chubby with a smirk?

Did you know?

Yeah, well, ......

　Dida ...... That chubby merchant?　
　He had that grin on his face at the castle, too: .......

　So you're saying that there was a dark side to the Solo family.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this, but I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this.

　I'm not sure.
　I mean, what's the point of embarrassing Mr. Isaacs in the first place?

What do you think, Rebecca?　It was kind of a weird story.

...... Yeah. I know that Princess Lucreon isn't a bad person. It fits with the story I've been researching, and I guess I don't know why the current emperor wanted to kill Isaac and Princess Lucreon.

'Really?　Why was Mr. Isaac so disliked by Mr. Aeon's brother?

Where there's light, there's shadow. For us knightly women, the holy knightly woman, for example, is an object of envy and jealousy. If you were in a higher position, you might feel dirty and unforgivable. ...... Otherwise, the current emperor's vocation is 'Lancer'.

'Lancer, eh? It's certainly a bit plain, isn't it?

　You know, the ones that get called a basic job or something!　I remember when we hired Orica before, there was one girl who was a spearman. So it's that common.
　On the other hand, the sister (Aeon) who has a general, her boyfriend (Isaac), and her boyfriend even has a vocation as a holy knight.
　I see, I'm going to have a sense of inferiority.
　Kill him!　Maybe it's not too much of a stretch to think that.
　...... Well, as someone who would lead an empire, I feel too small.

''Not only that, but it was a bit of a problem with our group at the time. ...... The troops led by the Crown Prince - that is, Princess Lucreon's older brother - were not very good at fighting anymore. The story goes that Hetty's people metamatized him to the point where he was so metaphorical, and we were the ones who saved him, so there was a great deal of resentment towards Isaac. ......

　He's a no-good guy.
　But I kind of get it. Because when you lose a lot, a young man who looks like a prince comes to your rescue and saves you. Even though I'm a real prince.

　I mean, Hetty-san came into the story without hesitation, but I see, that guy was also leading a mercenary group at the time .......

''Even if there was a Reaper on the ...... imperial side, it would have been a historic defeat. I'm sure my brother was also intrigued by this incident and thought that if he didn't do something about it, my father would choose me to be his successor, so he had to take action. In those days, the head of the Solo family was always standing next to my brother and ...... I can only speculate.

　Seriously.
　The head of the Solo family, you mean Hetty and Efta's father?
　You're too small-minded.

　You know what?　Oh, did I mention that Mr. Hetty was a mercenary to harass his father?　I wonder if that father was so besotted with the crown prince that he made the crown prince's army look like shit.
　That's an unthinkable dynamic: .......

　Well, whatever it is, Mr. Aeon was set up and he's here now.
　I don't have a problem with hiding him, but when the Solo family is involved, there could be a problem.
　We have a relationship with the Solos because of Deanna's case, and Efta comes to us regularly. Even Dida left, saying she was going to Lake Street or something, and she'll be back eventually.
　Even ......, well. As long as you're in disguise, you'll be fine.
　If not, you can handle it if you don't show your face to Elishe.
　We have other prominent ones in our house.

　In fact, Mr. Ion might not like it.
　We're related to the Solo family.
　Even with the Solo family, though, Hetty-san would be an ally.


Have you finished the ...... story?

　I was approached from behind.
　I turn around and see Shamash smiling at me in a pose with his arm on my waist.
　'How long have you been there?

'It was long overdue for me to seal it there, but it looked serious, so I went ahead and sealed it off in the public tunnels. ...... Apparently we've finished introducing Aeon, so may I introduce myself?

　They said they sealed off the last remaining tunnels as well.
　You were so engrossed in the conversation that you didn't notice.

　Shamash looked around at us and smiled and bowed gracefully.

'I am Shamash Aureole. As you can see, I'm a demon race, that's what I'm called. My specialties are summoning magic and various types of magic. I'm not sure if my attack magic is good at ice-cold magic, I met Ayase-kun there just now under the guidance of the great spirit. It's the same as Le Baraka says: 'A person you meet under the guidance of your guidance will become a friend for life'. I hope you and Aeon will be friends with him.

　I don't know how everyone felt about the demon race, and perhaps Shamash, who calls himself a demon in a very friendly manner, has drained their venom out of them, but they all somehow remain silent.
　We were all silent for a moment, smiling and glancing at each other.
　It's a good thing that you're able to get a good idea of what's going on in the world.

It's a good thing that you're able to have a good idea of what you're looking for.　Really, who the hell are you ......?

　Then he muttered something like that to himself.