The next day, the Fontaine family arrived at Muldoin as planned around evening.
　A man a little older than my father and a girl about my age got out of the carriage.
"How do you do. The Lord of Fontaine, Gael. Master Leons, you'll work with me from now on until the Triumvirate Conference is over.

Yes. It's nice to meet you too.

And this is my daughter, Lelia.

Master Leons, it will be a pleasure to work with you.

Yes. It's a pleasure to meet you. Well, here's ...... my fiancées, Shelia and Rihanna.

Master Shelia and Miss Rihanna, it will be a pleasure to work with you.

Nice to meet you.

'Then you must be tired from your long journey, please come inside.
　Once I had finished introducing myself, I showed them in .
　Then I showed them the room they were going to stay in, while Lelia and Sherry and Leena went to the bath to work up a sweat from their trip, while Gael and I had a little chat.

I'm sorry to hear that you came of age yesterday ...... Lord Leons. I have just learned of this fact and was unable to prepare a celebration for you.
　While saying that, the souvenir given to me was also a decent-looking carving.
　Well, it's a little crude, but...

No, no. No, no, please don't worry about it. However, I'm not yet a legal adult.

'Oh, was it?　So, when are you planning on coming of age?

I'm thinking of doing it after the Trilateral Conference and when things settle down at ...... . Perhaps it should be done in conjunction with the wedding.

'So it was: ....... Then I will send you a congratulatory gift at the right time.

Thank you.
　Yeah ...... So far it doesn't look like they're going to bust something in.
　Well, there's no way they're going to say anything big on the first day.
　There's still some time before the Tri-nation Conference.

''But still, you don't look to be the same age as my daughters.

'Really?　Oh, Lelia-san is coming of age this year, isn't she?

'Yes . Lelia is my twin sister, and she'll be sixteen in three months, as will her eldest daughter, Aline, who married into the Baudelaire family.

Oh, you have a twin. I've been friends with the next head of the Baudelaire family since I was a little girl, and I get to hear about Mr. Aline from time to time.

Is that so. Does Aline have a good relationship with Master Frank?

Yes. Well, from what I've heard, things are looking good.
　It sounds like things are going well with José, and the three of you are having a great time at the wizarding school.
　If I wasn't so busy, I would've liked to see you at Frank's coming-of-age party~.
　There's no way the lord won't be in his domain the day the emperor arrives.
　d*mn it ...... I'll definitely attend the wedding party .

That's good to hear. Aline felt inferior to her sister, Lelia, and when she was in the Teaching Kingdom, she refused to meet people and wasn't used to socializing and was very worried about her .
　Yeah. Well, with Frank, he's got that going for him.
　In fact, Frank got along with him.

I see. I knew you felt inferior, Aline, because Lelia became a saint?

''Well, yes . With twins, they look almost exactly the same, so ...... they are inevitably compared to normal sisters.
　That makes sense. You're right, having twins must be hard to deal with.
　My brothers and sisters are all excellent, so they didn't have anything to say about it, but if I hadn't awakened to creation magic, I'm sure they would have treated me the same way.

''I see that was the case ....... But I'm glad to see that you're enjoying life in the Empire now.
　If you can marry Frank, you have no problem with that.

Yeah.

　SIDE: Rihanna.
　I came to the bath to wash off Lelia's sweat before dinner.
Wow! What a magnificent bath! Do Master Shelia and the others bathe here every day?

Yes. You're in there basically every day.
　I know it's a luxury, but I go in there every day .
　It's hard to believe that she lived a self-sufficient life in her country of origin.

You're the most powerful family in the world right now, aren't you, Mladin?

''Hmm. That said, isn't the Fontaine family also the most powerful in the Church Country right now?
　Right. You're going to be the next pope.

Is that right?　Sure, your father is going to be the next pope, but ...... still has a strong enemy, too, right?

Is that so?


　Yeah ...... Was there ever a house that could compete with the kingdom group?
　I can't remember it well because all I remember is what I remember when I was little and what my grandma told me. .......

'Yes . A big reason why your father was able to become Pope was because I was ordained as a saint . But I'm less powerful than the real saint who was kicked out of the country and her grandson, Rihanna. There are people who do not recognize me as a saint, not only among the Kingdoms but also among my fellow Imperialists. ''
　I see... the Imperialists are not completely united either.
　That makes sense.

So that doesn't mean Mr. Lelia's father is still eligible to be Pope?

Yes, sir. So your father said he was going to ask Master Leons for something. If he succeeded, the Fontaine family would be safe.

If that's the case, I wonder if Leo is asking for something right now?
　What is your request ......?
　Funding?　Or do you want to use some of Master Leo's technology?

　SIDE: Leons.
As a matter of fact, I'd like to ask a favor of Mr. Leons: ......
　Hmm?　A favor?
　We were making small talk for a while when Toad burst in.
　I thought he wasn't going to ask you today.

What can I do for you?
　I bet you're going to ask me to do something messy: .......

'Could I have my niece, Rihanna, back, please?
　Yes?

Return ......?
　I didn't understand what was said to me for a while.
　No, I'm still not quite sure what was said.

Yes. Originally, Rihanna is a Fontaine. She deserves to live in her country of origin.
　No, you can't say that with such confidence: .......
　Is this guy serious?

You were expelled by the ...... church state, weren't you?

Only the saints of yesteryear. My grandson, Rihanna, is innocent of any crime.
　Really?　It was quite a while ago, I don't remember the statement, but didn't it include Leena?
　Well, I'm sure that fact is easy for him to change.

But Rihanna's going to marry me, aren't you?

I'm sorry. I'll pay you a good annoyance fee for that: ....... And I'll offer you Lelia instead.

What?
　I said, but somehow I knew what this guy was trying to do .
　He's going to replace Leena with Lelia .
　Initially, I wondered if he thought he'd get his way once the saint and Lena were gone .
　But there were probably more noblemen who supported the former saint than he thought.
　So he's decided to make Lina a saint and no one will ever complain about it.

So I'm at liberty to do what I want with Lelia, as long as you give me Rihanna. They say she's the most beautiful woman in the land. I'm sure Master Leons will like her.
　The man was just like Leena said he was.
　At first I thought he was a kind parent who was worried about his daughter, but I guess that was just an act .

''No, that's not what I'm talking about: ...... You're a saint, aren't you, Lelia?　Isn't that treatment strange?

'No, she's just a provisional first saint appointed in the absence of a real saint, so that's not a problem.
　I knew it.

Does that mean you're going to make Lina a saint?

Yes, sir. She has neither talent nor bloodline. She's a saint who never complains.

I see. ......
　Huh, that went exactly as I suspected.

Please, I beg you. If the kingdom declares war at this Triumvirate Conference, the entire imperial faction of our church will be there as soon as possible.
　I don't believe those words.

I'm not giving it to you. I won't give you Rihanna.

May I ask why: ......?
　No, let's just say no.
　Who would be stupid enough to dump their fiancé out of wedlock?

Simply because I don't want to give you Rihanna.

"Apparently ...... I was wrong in my assessment of you. To bring your personal feelings into politics, ...... does that mean you are still a child too?

Well, I don't care what they say.
　I don't care if your reputation is tarnished, it doesn't hurt me.

Think about it. This is a matter of national interest for both of us, okay?　If this negotiation is concluded, the Church State can end its ugly struggle and the Empire can comfortably take over the kingdom. What do you think?　Maybe you should reconsider.


　I don't mean to sound like this is a win-win, but the Empire doesn't need your help.
　Besides, I'm sure they'll just shoot you in the back.

I'm still going to refuse. Leena's happiness is more important than the good of the country.

No. Rihanna would be happier being a saint in her country. She is a person who deserves to be a saint. I'm sure she'd love to be recognized as a saint.

It's your imagination.
　Who would want to leave when they know they're being used?
　You really are a bad negotiator.
　Or maybe that's how little the Fontaines can afford it.
　Maybe the man in front of me can't give me a concrete price.

Delusional?　No, okay, ...... we'll leave it at that for today. I'll be back.

"Huh ...... what the hell is going on here today. Bel~ help me. I don't want to have to deal with that guy every day from now on~
　After Gael left, I cried to Belle, who was standing behind me.
　When you're feeling stressed out, it's best to indulge Belle.

I know it's hard, but hang in there. The only person who can protect you, Leena, is Leo.
　Belle hugged me and patted my head gently, encouraging me.
　That's all I need to recover my mind.

I know. ....... Okay, let's get on with it.
　Let's go for Lena. I'll do my best!