--A subterranean passageway connecting the royal castle and the cemetery.

　A girl walks in the dark with a cantera in her hand.
　Standing next to her is a tall, thin man with a tense expression on his face.

　You follow the girl's lead up and down the narrow passageway, turning left and right.


It feels like it's been a long time since I've walked here with you.
"Yes, it has. It was only three months ago.
"Hmm.

　The girl, dimly illuminated by the cantera, smiles softly.
　The smile is the same as the one she had when she passed by the same road one day, but it seems to radiate a different color.
　Specifically, the young man could not verbalize it, but still.

　But he knew for sure that it was different.

It's only March, isn't it?
"Yes, it is. It's only March.
"Is it?

　Stomp, stomp, stomp.
　The sound of heels and boots echoed in the underground passage.

It's been three years since I met Corona. I'm sure we've been together almost ten times as long as we've ...... been together, but I can't help it. I don't think I ever understood her.

　I didn't try to understand her, not really.
　So she muttered.

　Three years ago. Huta was probably in the middle of her last year as a fighter.

　He had no way of knowing what they were up to.

"The Time Witch." That's what they called her. She was an abomination. When I found her, she was badly wounded, but she had a thin smile on her face.
......
"He was tied to a cross and was about to be executed. The reason he was smiling even then was because he was already broken. I won't go into the details after that, but I bound her with a contract and made her my ally.

　The fire in the cantera flickered.

"The truth is, it wasn't broken. I wasn't even able to break it. "In fact, I wasn't broken. I had accepted the "profession" from the beginning. I hated that.




"That's how reality works. No matter how bad the cards you're dealt, if you do something wrong, it's your fault. It's an absurd world.






　The words she recalled were filled with a strange feeling.
　It was an answer to the harshness she herself had suffered.

"So we'll never understand each other. "So we will never understand each other, but we will use them because they are useful. That is the relationship between her and me. It was nothing more, nothing less.
"......, but it was different.
............ I hate to admit it, but...

　The girl looked annoyingly towards the end of the road.
　The girl looked at him and remembered the rest of the conversation she had just had with him.

　I thought to myself.


"Master Lilac. I was wondering if this might be...
"What is it?
Maybe we were both like that at first.
...... At first?


　I'll never forget the day she splashed me with water.
　I'll never forget the day she dumped water on me, the day she told me she had feelings for me after I failed to become a fighting swordsman in the end.


　At that time, she did say that.



"But even so, if you blame it on your profession, that's the end of you. It's the end of your life. There are a lot of bad people like that.



　Don't doubt Lilac's eyes.
　She must have accepted everything that day and given up.
　But not long after meeting Futa, she told me not to blame her "profession".

　In other words.
　Isn't it because she herself is such a bad person?

"I'm sure Lilac's thoughts and desires reached you during our time together. I think, with all due respect.
"......
"Mr. Lilac?
......, is it?

　Lilac exhaled a small breath.

"Hooter.
Yes.
I'm glad you're here.
What?
If it weren't for you, this March and the future would have been very different.
...... Oh, no.



　I haven't done much.
　I was just annoyed with the relationship between two people I care about.


"I want Corona and the princess to get along.


　The words I spoke one day are true.

　As long as they're happy, that's all that matters.

　Lilac raised the corner of her mouth in a small smile.


I'll leave the finishing touches to you, Futa.


　Futa looks up. You'll find her there with the same smile on her face. 　


"I'm almost done with the preparation.
"Oh, already?
How can you be prepared for the unexpected if you're taking so long to prepare?
Well, yes, that's true, but...

　It's been less than three days.

Well.

　"Well," she said absently, brushing her beautiful silvery hair out of her face.

You don't need to put so much effort into one maid. Do you understand?
But you said it would be inconvenient.
....... I thought it was a burden to be forced to think about unnecessary things at this critical time.
Yeah, .......
Complaints?
Complaints, I mean. ......
I'm not complaining, I'm just saying it's a lot of work. It's really not worth the trouble.
"Lilac-sama ......

　I'm not sure if you've seen this before, but I'm sure you've.
　I'm not sure if it's a good idea or not.

I'm sure you'll be glad to know that I'm not the only one who's a bit of a jerk.
"Me and Prim?

　"Me and Prim?" Futa pondered, "We've been working together to find Corona.

Yes, you were very helpful.
I'm glad to hear it.

　Futa didn't bother to ask why.
　As long as things were going well for Lilac, that was all that mattered.

"Just so you know, Futa, there has been no contact with the Order of the Divine Dragon or His Majesty the King?
Yes. They didn't even ask to see me.
Good. I didn't want you to see your father or the Order Commander right now.
Well, that's convenient.
Yes, very well.

　But then Lilac paused to think, pursed her lips and looked at Huta.

"Is something wrong, Miss Lilac?
"No, ......, but I was wondering, do you have any brothers or sisters?

　The story really jumped out at me and I was momentarily taken aback.
　However, there's no way she's going to talk nonsense in this situation.
　Quietly, Futa shook his head.

"I had a sister, but she died when I was very young.
"I see. That's not a very good memory.
No. But so what?
It's .......

　She closes her eyes, a little hesitantly, and mutters.

"It's strange. Why should I hesitate?
"I'll wait for ...... as long as it takes.
No, thank you. ...... Yes. How do you feel about those who mistreat your brothers and sisters?
Yes, .......

　Really. Is it a question of ethics in the broadest sense?
　I thought for a moment and shook my head.

Thanks, but I can't tell you anything unless you know why the person is doing it.
...... sounds like a fair point.
What do you think, Mr. Lilac?
"Me?

　I am," he said, looking straight at Futa.

I don't care what happens to other people who share my blood.
Is that so?

　--That's right.
　Futa kept her eyes downcast.

　She had been fighting alone all this time.
　She's never had a brother or sister to help her, much less a warm heart for her family.

"Please don't look at me like that. Don't you think I'm like a beast that doesn't know love?
"I don't think so. ...... Lilac, did your brothers and sisters give you a hard time, by any chance?
It's the other way around.



　Softly, Lilac smiled.

"From now on, I'm going to give my blood half-sister a bad time.
"What do you mean, from now on?" "The place we're going to is the Orba Trading Company, right?
Yes.


"Beatrix is an illegitimate child abandoned by the king. He was picked up by the Orba Chamber of Commerce and is enjoying his life. ...... I'm sure the king has his own thoughts about him. I'm going to use it to my advantage.


"You see, Master Lilac and Beatrix are sisters .......
Are you trying to tell me something?
No. ......

　Even Futa couldn't say it.

　They're not sisters at all.