At night, the guest house of the kingdom.

　In front of a building with less glamour than the Imperial one, but with more history and charm, two groups of people are facing each other.

　One of them is facing the guesthouse, the one about to come.
　About a dozen beautiful women in veils, led by a minister of the kingdom and escorted by soldiers.

　On the other side is a maid with only one.
　The Father's maid Eliza, who would make everyone here wince if they knew who she was.

　Eliza looked at the minister coldly.

'I understand. I see that you have brought these women with you on your master's nightly errand.
I fear I may be of some help to His Imperial Highness' weariness.
Yes, take me home.
"It's ......
The master doesn't like it. You don't know that every time the nobles tried to send their daughters to you, you were turned away from them.

　At Eliza's words, the minister gasped.

"That's not, no, rumor is--
The master hates that sort of thing. I'll let you through, but I don't guarantee you'll get out of here with your head still attached.
"......

　The Lost Minister.
　Eliza cleared the way, but he was unsure if he should continue on his way.

　He was lost for a long time and then said.

"I'm sorry to bother you. What I'm doing tonight is--
I'll just pretend it never happened. Oh, the master is a normal maid, ask him yourself in the daytime.

　With that, Eliza went back inside the guest house.
　She left the minister there, who scowled as he tried to grasp the meaning of his words.

　　　　　☆

　While I was relaxing in the room, Eliza came back in from outside.
　Her eyebrows are nicely furrowed, and she's in a bit of a bad mood.

Good night. What are you up to, Eliza?
"It's nothing.
"That's not an innocent look. What was that?
He sent the ...... woman. It's disgusting that you know from rumors how much Master cares for Master Angier.

　Eliza reveals her anger to the point of puffing out her cheeks.
　I'm interested in talking about this area at length.

　Maid Eliza, Angel, whom she calls "Angel-sama," is actually a sister-in-law.
　You'll be able to find out what's going on in the world, and you'll be able to find out what's going on in the world.

　I'm curious to know how you actually feel about this complicated relationship.
　I thought it might be interesting to know if there might be a dual personality.

　Of course I can't ask now. I'm not in a position to get into any details.
　It's because in the corner of the room are Reece and Zella, two outsiders.

　So I just say my compliments to Maid Eliza.

Thank you Eliza. I'm so glad you're here.
As a master's maid, it's only natural.
"But thank you. Well,

　I decided to resume the conversation that was interrupted by the arrival of a visitor and Eliza's answering.
　An ordinary maid wouldn't have to stop, but I decided to stop it so that Eliza, who has a direct line to the Emperor Eliza, could hear it too.

What to do now, but first I want to get her to revolt.
"Nah!

　Gah!　And Reece stood up, knocking over a chair.

To the Empire then!
"I'm sorry I didn't say that. I meant to say that I wanted to bring about a civil war in the kingdom.
"No, Ran?

　The momentum has been squeezed out, and Reece just nodded his head.

''Yeah. If it's a rebellion against the empire, the empire will have to put down the rebellion, but if it's a civil war within the kingdom, the kingdom will take care of it on its own.
"...... ah.
Apparently.

　Just as I was about to say, a girl landed from the ceiling with a stutter.

　Among the girls who live in my shadow, only one who is not a maid is human.
　A girl with the evil eye, an assassin who once lived in the dark.

　Dorothy.

　She came back at a very good time.

"What's up, Dorothy?
He said he had all the weapons and food, and that he would move forward if he knew where the princess was.
"I see, thank you Dorothy.
Hmm.

　Dorothy's cheeks flushed slightly and she cut the shadow with her dagger and went back into my shadow again.

"What was that?
We've been unleashing a secret agent by the other side. Apparently, the rebellion is in a state of flux, where they can't stop firing their arrows for the bow.


"......

　Reece to fall silent. She blows her lower lip and looks chagrined.
　Not so much because I was expecting this situation, but Reece looks annoyed.

"So I just want to blow things up as a civil war in the kingdom to vent and land somewhere safe. A civil war, after it's put down, His Majesty won't get involved, and you guys can decide what to do with the people who caused it.
"...... Got it.

　After a bit of hesitation, Reece nodded with a bitter face, realizing that she had no choice.

"So,

　I stared more at Riette.
　She looked more serious than ever.

"Hang on for a while,
"Huh?
"What are you talking about?

　Reece becomes stunned. Zella stands up to take her place.

　Because in a way, my words sounded like "Sorry, go die" (、、、、).

　Of course, I didn't mean that.

　　　　　.

　The next day, outside the royal city .
　The same Alec's carriage, with the king, civil servants and soldiers lined up in front of it, the same as when I came.

"You've been good to me.

　From the top of an auto-carriage, Alec congratulated the king.

Not only did you get an apple, but you got a soldier as your bodyguard.
"Nothing is better than the safety of your father.

　The king replies with a low profile.
　On the king's orders, dozens of soldiers are escorting Alec's carriage alongside his own.

　These are the soldiers who were sent to escort you to the empire until you present the emperor with an apple.

Thank you, then.

　Alec raised his hand, turned his carriage around, and left the capital.

　Just because Alec left doesn't mean the king can't turn back immediately.
　As a man of your country, it is polite to see Alec off until he is gone.

　And so I saw the carriage and the soldiers off.

"Your Majesty!

　A man who looked like a military officer came running out from inside the capital.
　He stopped by the king, sweating and looking like he was in some kind of hurry.

"What's the matter?
"The princess caught the ...... princess.
"Really?

　The king's expression changes drastically.
　The civil servants around him are also buzzing.

　A military officer turns around.
　Out of the corner of your eye, tied behind her back, taken out of the royal city is unmistakably this country's princess.
　It was Riette Silvermoon herself.

　The king and the officials.
　The king and the civil servants were elated.

　　　　　☆

　Far away from the capital, he and Elisa watched in hiding as Reece was dragged before the king.

'What's that?'
"Now the real Princess Reece
What about now?

　Eliza, the bright one, took me up on my words right away.

"Yes, for now. It's a human-like homunculus with the soul of Princess Rietzsche in it.
So the real thing . . and when the time comes, if the spirit comes back to you .
"Yes, it would be a bright red counterfeit called a homunculus.

　Eliza's dialogues connected to my words like a relay in no time.
　When Eliza and I took turns talking to each other, she looked incredibly impressed.

It's as good as it gets, only the master can make a 'fake real thing' like that.
Thank you.
"Where's the carriage over there?
"I have Amelia pretend to be me, and I magically make her look like me on the outside. I told her to be me on the road, to get into some cases and help people along the way.
"So the guards of the kingdom will be the pigeons.
That kind of thing.

　Homunculus Rachel being abused by her father, the king .
　My carriage leaving guarded by a guard with bells.

　Now the terms are met.
　The kingdom should feel safe enough to start a revolt.

　The only thing left to do is to hold them back in the kingdom.