Looking at the scene around her, Henriette couldn't help but let out a sigh.

　After all, it's a complete change from the kind of graceful life she'd been living just a few minutes ago.
　It would be tempting to let out a sigh or two.

　The place where Henriette is now, like the one she was in, is a windowless room.
　However, there is no carpeting on the ground, and although there is a chair, the quality is much lower than the one you were sitting in earlier.
　It's not a good idea to compare it to the room with the iron bars, but it's wrong to compare it to that room.

　Yes, the place where Henriette is was a prison.

I've heard rumors about ...... that the imperial castle has a dungeon, but it's true.

　Apparently, the common urban legend-like stories about the existence of the dungeons to house the royals who had done something or who couldn't afford to be exposed were true.
　Perhaps it is not only the existence of the dungeon, but also its contents.

　This is because, although there are no carpets or furnishings, it is far from the dimness and gloom associated with the image of a prison.
　The light reaches every corner of the room and the quality of the chairs is degraded, but it is simply because the original quality is too high.
　For the average person, the chairs are still classified as high class, and even the beds are fully equipped.

　It seemed to be more comfortable than staying at a bad inn.

The guest of honor ...... is also a prison for people in very high positions of power.

　It can't be too comfortable when it is a prison.
　But it's in many ways impossible to put a member of the royal family in the same cell as an ordinary person.

　I suppose that's why these things are made...

The problem is, Henriette is in no position to enter a place like this.

　Henriette is only a nominal head of the marquess family.
　Although her title is second in the hierarchy, she is the lowest in her own influence among the marquises.
　It's only to the extent that some of the counts might lose.

　Even though he is supposed to be a key witness in the assassination of the emperor, it was even more uncanny that he was treated this well.

"-- Creepy is a terrible word for it. I just thought it would be better to be comfortable anyway.
......!"?

　At the sound of a sudden voice, I reflexively turned my gaze, which I had been letting play suitably, to the front.

　It's not as if I felt any signs of life, but this is probably due to a shift in senses rather than carelessness.
　Right now, Henriette is not under any restraints.
　But that's simply because she doesn't have to.

　Even though it is for noble guests, this is still a prison.
　Special construction with special materials prevents you from successfully using your gift inside.

　The problem is that this disuse does not seal the gift in any way.
　This has affected Henriette, who does not - or cannot - use her gift.
　Like Allen, Henriette can use the power of her previous life as an apostle, but there is a slight discrepancy between the power she used in the same way as her limbs, so her overall senses are out of whack.

　Well, you'll get used to it after a while. ...... Anyway.
　You will be able to get a lot more information about this.

　I knew it from the voice, but it's a stranger.
　It's not Lisette, of course, and it's not her gender to begin with.
　Standing on the other side of the bars was a boy who was probably about his own age.

　The only thing that bothered me was the familiarity in the voice that had just been spoken to me.
　But when you look closely at the face, you still don't recognize it.
　You're going to be able to have a look at it and you're going to be able to see it.

I'm not sure. I've changed a lot since I last saw you. But you look different, sister, don't you?
"Sis ......?

　So Henriette raised her eyebrows because Henriette has no cousin, let alone brother.
　The only blood relative is her uncle, at least as far as Henriette knows, no one else.

　The person you call Henriette's sister--

"...... Huh?　Speaking of which, ......

　I think there was only one person who called me that in the past.

　When I remembered that, I suddenly remembered that time in my mind.
　The face in your memory and the one in front of you never overlap, but ...... the face in your eyes is the only one that still has a slight trace of you.

It's a good thing that you're not going to be able to find out what you're looking for when you go to ......?

　The moment he said that, the boy--Curtis' face broke.
　Indeed, the face looks happy and ...... but Henriette furrows her brow even more.

　If this boy is Curtis, then he shouldn't be here.

...... Why is it that you're here?　Curtis--Curtis Harness Victor (・・・・・・)

　The meaning of the name Viktur is fixed in the Viktur Empire.
　That is, the bloodline of the emperor ...... was that Curtis was also a part of it.

Unfortunately, that's not my name anymore. I'm Curtis Leublant now.
"Yes ......?　It is true that I had heard that you were going to be adopted out of the country, but ...... why are you with us?
"You wonder why?　There are certainly many uses for the royal family, but unfortunately I don't have much use for them. That's why it was used by your people. Your uncles wanted legitimacy. I was just there to satisfy them in moderation.
It's ...... well, it's certainly a convincing story, but ......

　Although Curtis is of imperial blood, he is not a member of the royal family in the strict sense of the word.
　His mother came from the common people.
　Rather than not being a member of the royal family, it would be more accurate to say that he is not recognized as such.

　And that's why Curtis is right.
　The royal family can use it to intermarry with other countries or to strengthen ties with powerful people in the country, but Curtis can't use it poorly.
　The fact that he is descended from the emperor can be used as a spark somewhere, and since he is not recognized as a member of the royal family, he has no ties to other families.

　It is best to use it as a toy to satisfy an egoistic child.

Oh, if you care about me, you don't have to do that at all, okay?　I'm just glad to finally be able to say the same name as my sister.


"...... is a very old-fashioned thing to say,

　The reason why Curtis started calling Henriette his sister in the first place was because he was told that they looked alike in the eyes.
　You will be able to find out the best way to get the most out of your own life.

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're going to do if you're going to be the same name as Henriette: ...... It's not a child's play, but it's the one thing you've remembered until now.

I'm sure it was nothing to her. But ...... it was a life-changing experience for me.
That's a bit of an exaggeration,

　Henriette took care of Curtis because, as expected, she had a little extra eyes.
　Despite being descended from the emperor ...... or so, Curtis was subjected to a sort of bullying at the time.

　It's just that I couldn't stand to see it, so I lightly intervened, that's all.

It's not that much of a problem, but what the hell did you come here to do?　No. ...... How did you know that Henriette was here and how did you get here?

　The only people who know about Henriette's presence here, apart from the Kuro Wolf Knights, would be the duke and the royal family.
　It's unlikely that any of them would divulge the information.

　Especially since Curtis is now the adopted son of a marquis.
　Then there is no reason to release the information to him.

　Something lingers in your mind for a moment, but before it can take shape, another question takes shape.
　Namely, how did Curtis come to be here.
　Since the castle is for the royal family, there is no way that non-royal Curtis can come and go.

　Just like Henriette and the lords of the dukes, he can come and go as long as he has permission, but he needs the permission of all the members of the royal family.
　But Curtis is especially disliked by the two eldest members of the royal family.
　They should be barred from the imperial castle, so there's no way they can come here, but--

"Hmm?　What, it's that simple, right?　--I was the one who ran the Kuro Wolf Knights. So how could I not know that you're here?
"...... The Kuro Wolf Knights must be royalty to move, right?

　It's what is prescribed by the gift of the contract.
　There are no exceptions.

　And when you're bound by the gift, it's not something you can do on your own.
　No matter how much Curtis tells you to, you're not supposed to be able to listen to his orders: .......

Oh, that's strictly speaking a mistake. Unless the emperor approves, to be exact.
...... means you're accepted?
That's what I thought. I just wanted to be sure. ...... Well, it's all about being prepared.

　Instantly, the dots were connected.
　Although there is still much to be learned, one thing is clear.

　And that is--

...... So, you brought Allen and his friends here, and then you taught them all kinds of wrong things.
Is that the one you're interested in?　Well, I'll tell you that's true about that. But it's true that I met with you. You're a real godd*mn knob. ...... It's a good thing I kept you away, just in case.
"...... What did you do to Allen?
It's not like I'm the only one who can do something about it. I've been sneaking a peek at it to measure its combat prowess, but it gives me chills because it doesn't make any sense, you know?　There is a limit to what you can do by yourself, though, ...... no matter how strong you are. In that sense, is that the reason I am here?　No matter how much you disagree with me, as long as you can't disagree with ......, that's it.
"eh ......, you're not going to ......!
"Oh, of course, you didn't manage to do it by force, did you?　That would contradict what you're saying. Well, I'm not just saying that ...... doesn't show its power.

　In short, they may have made a threat or something.
　Well, to be honest, it doesn't matter to Henriette what she does to the royal family ...... if she intends to do something to Allen, that is a different story.

　I don't believe that Allen will be able to get away with anything more than a threat, but he is not invincible.
　If you stare at him as if to say what you intend to do, Curtis shrugs his shoulders with a troubled face.

"Don't look at me like that, sister. I did all that to help you, didn't I?
"Thinking of Henriette?　You think it's all your fault that Henriette is here?
"Well, you understand that too. But you're right. Of course I'm not saying it's just for your sister's sake, and my convenience might be greater. Still, I wouldn't lie to you about thinking about your sister, would I?

　It felt like the words were true.

　But whether I believed him is another story.
　I squint and watch as I try to figure out the truth.

...... What the hell do you want to do?
"What I want to do?　Of course I want to be an emperor. I want to be emperor ...... No. I have to be emperor. No. I have to be the emperor.
Shall be, shall be?　There's the royal family,
"They can't do it. They can't stay in charge of this country forever if they can't decide who's going to be emperor. That's why ......

　Saying that, Curtis gives me a straight look.
　And then .



"So, sis, will you help me with ......?　To take this country. It will be for your sister, too. For you, who have been oppressed in this country for so long.

　I have been saying such things with heat in their eyes and words.