--The princess's office in the royal castle.

　It was dimly lit in the middle of the day, and serene as if it were a world apart from the bustle of the royal capital.
　It's like a forest isolated from human life, or a deep sea where ships have sunk.

　The window of this room is not a place where a girl with the title of "princess" should be standing, but there is indeed a princess of this country.

　Outside the window, I could see only a few clear skies and a dense windbreak.
　At the end of this forest, where heavy colored leaves overlap each other and block out most of the light, is the common graveyard of the royal capital.

　The girl who was invited to this room let out a small sigh, thinking that this was more like a mansion where the King of Death or something was waiting for her than a princess's room.

　The girl who was invited to this room let out a small sigh. Her eyes were filled with "silver" as she stared blankly outside. Her long, straight hair was beautiful, without a trace of habit.
　Very different from her own red hair. Who would know they were sisters if they only looked at this hair, which is habituated and even damaged in places?

　A music box with a quiet and lonely sound like the silver world, flowing in the air with a gloomy heaviness.

It's about to begin.

　Without looking back, she says.
　The red-haired girl snickers and slumps down on the leather sofa, her elegant voice even theatrical.

"Right. It took me a long time. Couldn't you have finished it a little sooner if you let the court mage have free reign?
"It's not just about getting it done quickly. What does it matter if we finished the construction during the cold season? In the cherry blossom season, when people have more time to relax their minds and bodies, the event will flourish.
"That's sophistry.

　The silver girl finally looked back at her dismissive words.

The silver girl finally turned around. I don't care about the heartache of someone else who has been forced to bear the burden of the paycheck and everything else. But just because we're going to hold a fighting tournament during the cherry blossom season doesn't mean we have to build it here.

　The silver girl's eyes narrowed.
　The red-haired girl was right.
　During the cold season, civil engineering work will certainly be delayed. I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure I could have finished the construction before the cold season if I wanted to.

Why are you asking me this now?
Because of the timing. I'm not denying your way of doing things. I'm asking you now because I don't want to get into trouble with you.
"...... I see?

　The silver-haired girl raised one eyebrow and the red-haired girl sighed.

　The red-haired girl sighed as the silver girl raised one eyebrow. You'll only get in trouble.
　Profit and loss, profit, connections and factions.
　There's no profit in looking the other way.

　That's why she's asking now.
　But it seems the red-haired girl's fears were correct. The silver-haired girl finally took her suspicious gaze off her and slowly opened her mouth.

The commoners living in the city have worked hard to create that place. It is only because they were involved that they want to visit the place when it is completed.
That's part of it. What else?
You're suspicious. I just didn't want to give the court mage - the person behind it - any excuse. Wouldn't it hurt you to be told that we made it?

　Both of these reasons make sense to me.
　This place was built with government tax money. The red-haired girl was personally involved as an advisor.
　The promotion plan was based almost directly on her idea, and it has succeeded in attracting audiences from all over the kingdom.

　The large number of commoners must have been the result of word of mouth, as they were proud to have been involved in the princess's initiative.

　But the red-haired girl glared at the silver-haired girl. Then she said.

That's true. --But you 'used' a court mage, didn't you?"

　Unbeknownst to her.
　The red-haired girl knows that the silver girl used the court mage to tamper with the construction.

　That's why she said that at the beginning.

I know. It's been a long time coming. If you let the court mages have free reign, you could have completed it a little faster.

　--The air in the room switches from gloomy to cold.

'............ Now, what are we talking about?
There are magical devices throughout the Colosseum. You don't need me to tell you that. And I'm not listening.　What are you doing?
"Oh, ......, I see. Did you see that?

　I see, I see.
　The silver girl nodded and walked over to the red-haired girl, who finally sat down in front of her.

I didn't tell you about it because I didn't want you to think about it too much.
That's a cheap lie. You care about me?　Can you not make me laugh?
That's a terrible thing to say. ....... You know, there was a time when I gave a speech in a ballroom. You know, about the alliance with the law.


"Oh, that monkey business.

　It certainly reminds me of something I don't like. Yes, the red-haired girl's expression twisted.
　After all, it was the very incident that caused her to give up her name and be dismissed as the head of the business association.
　The silver-haired girl didn't care if she was accused of monkey business.

"It was hard to raise my voice then. I had a hard time raising my voice back then, so I made sure that my voice would come through.
"...... Hmm.

　--She didn't seem to be lying.
　But the red-haired girl is not so stupid as not to notice her change of subject.
　What she just said is just "an answer to a trick she found".

　It's not a reason for using a mage, nor is it an inside story.

And?　Why did you turn to a court mage when you had no intention of using one at first?
So I could work on it. I don't have the skills to imprint magic.
That's not an answer.
Is that so?

　The silver girl smiles, tilting her head.
　The red-haired girl scowls, and she tells him.

"I think that's a good enough answer.

　The red-haired girl looked up as if she had been thrown.

The red-haired girl looked up as if she had been shot. "............, you can't be serious.
I'm sure there won't be any court mages dominating the general's camp any time soon. It's a sign of the times, isn't it?
You mean the cold season is a time for you to prepare the groundwork for your ......!
I wish you would say "finish". They don't roll over so easily, either.

　She plays with her beautiful long silver hair and tells me in a nonchalant tone.

　It's simple.

　I'm not sure what to make of that.
　I'm pretty sure the pretext is the speech you just gave. And so he approached one of the court mages - probably one of the top mages - and got him to go along with it.

　The only people who can hold the power in the court mages now that the war card has been destroyed are those close to such interests. So, I see.
　I'm sure that the court mages that she may have come into contact with will be the ones that will outshine her.

　And so - gradually, gradually, the court mages who are close to the princess form the largest faction.

I'm sure you'll be able to figure out when you'll need it.

　I'm sure you're not the only one.
　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

You want to make a splash with the appearance of the swordsman, don't you?
Yeah.

　I'm not sure what to make of this.
　The girl was too dumbfounded to say anything.

"The greatest authority granted to the king. That's in the way. Even though it was unavoidable, I'd like to clear my name quickly.
How dare you, when you've been cutting off your father's allies at an alarming rate?
What is it?　Do you feel sorry for your own father?

　It's a good idea to take a look at the actual information on the web. I'm not sure what to do.

　I'm not sure what to make of it.

"You don't want to ........................ kill your sisters, do you?
"That's a lame threat. You want to kill me now?　It's impossible for you to kill me now, because you think more of profit and loss than emotion.

　But the words were easily spoken.
　The red-haired girl bit her lip involuntarily. --She knew.

　There is a part of me that wants to kill the woman in front of me with a swelling desire to kill her.
　But there were also reasons why I couldn't do so.
　And it is me who can lower my fist when I have a reason.

　I was so frustrated that I was about to burst into tears, but I pushed them away with anger.

　Oh, really.
　This is no princess's room. This is the room of the King of Death.

Can I get back to the story?
Suit yourself.
So, to continue. You want to unseat Eastwood so you can undermine the warlords. As I showed you, the second son is useful.
"I showed you ......," he said. You've shown me something filthy. Do you have a habit of exposing yourself?

　I remember the exchange between Eastwood's second son and the silver girl.
　The red-haired girl who pretended to be a chambermaid and got away with it made me want to vomit, to be honest.

If that's what you call exposure, well, ...... I couldn't live without it.
It's rare that I don't feel sorry for you.
It's more fun than you think.
It's the end of the line.



　The silver girl slowly crossed her white legs and stroked her lips.
　The silver girl slowly crossed her white legs and brushed her lips.

I had a run-in with Arawn B. Smiles.
"You should have just died. I mean, did you quit calling me 'Aria'?"
Arawn B. Smiles. Aria?　Who's that?
What's going on?

　Did he hit his head?　The red-haired girl couldn't help but wonder.

'Aria?　That's even more rude than calling me names.
"To say that name is to disparage yourself as a common soldier.
"If someone can't even keep up with my solos, I call them 'Aria'."

　It's no wonder she doesn't know that I've been told that.

"After all, for a 'random' mass murderer, there are many things that don't quite add up. It's different from Conrad's claim that he went around killing women and children.
"Hmm. That's good.
Yeah, I'm really ...... really, really happy for you.

　The silver girl smiles at me.
　The red-haired girl interpreted that it was "convenient", but it was not so. The silver girl welcomed the idea of meeting Arawn B. Smiles in the arena.

Eastwood is trying to frame you?
"Yes. That would mean he's got something to hide. Here's the thing.
So, I met the daughter of an Eastwood estate baronet.
...... Oh. Why?
It just happened. She's going to a martial arts tournament.

　I see," nodded the silver girl.

Did you get any information out of her?
"Daughter of a baronet. Well, that's not much to go on in Lean Glide.
Shall we?
I didn't know a single thing about the killer. But instead...

　I think back to the conversation I had with her this morning.
　The word "killer" itself didn't seem to ring a bell.

I'm not sure if that's what you're referring to ......?

　She seemed to be distressed by the idea that someone was killing so many people.

I've heard that there are a lot of missing women.
I see.

　She closed her eyes and gently brushed her lips with her dress glove.
　The silver girl pondered for a moment and then looked up.
　Then she saw the red-haired girl with the corners of her mouth twisted in delight.

　So she guessed. She guessed and asked.

"How long has it been going on, by the way?
About two years ago.
Go to ...... and tell me.
No. I like to see you suffer.
"You've always had a twisted personality.

　After a moment's contemplation, the silver girl looked up.

"Arawn entered the kingdom a few months ago. So we just have to wait for the information to be siphoned off?
Are you planning to eliminate them directly?
"No, I'm not going to do anything about it.

　The silver girl said and smiled softly.

"Now, Haru. The fighting tournament is about to begin. I have high hopes for you too, Beatrix.
Call me Pasta. Don't you dare mess with me, Lilac.


　--Amidst all the speculation. The biggest festival in the history of King's Landing is about to begin.