--Wangcheng, Botanical Garden.

　It's almost time for the fresh season to arrive.
　Most of the cherry blossoms have lost their petals, and instead, the beautiful new greenery is full of life and basking in the sunshine.

　It is said that some troublesome insects appear at this time of year, and a number of attendants are sent out to take care of the garden.
　It is a complete aside that one maid, who has nothing to do with the extermination duty, is running around with an insect net.

　In the first place, it is not the type of insect that you would be happy to catch like that.

"In the nearby countries, they think it's lucky to have insects in their soup.
Cultural differences are horrible. ...... Absolutely disgusting. ......

　The maid's breath rises lightly, and her cheeks relax with pleasure.

I'm not sure what to say.
I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that.
I'm not sure.　I'm not sure what to do.
Okay. Well, that's good. ......

　It seems to have calmed down somewhat recently, with only occasional sneezing.
　Futa is relieved.

　In the past, before the Colosseum, in the world where Futa lived, sickness was always accompanied by death.

　In contrast, there was a full-time healer in the royal castle. If there's a problem, you can get it looked at right away.
　Futa let out a sigh of relief.

　As a matter of fact, the presence or absence of magic used by healers has a tremendous impact on people who are wandering between life and death.
　Their magic specializes in improving vitality, or in other words, speeding up the natural healing process of humans, and does not have divine powers such as restoring a missing arm or resuscitating the dead.

　However, a healer was a strong ally against illness.

　--For example, if I had been able to see a healer right then and there. I'm sure my sister...

"Master Futa?
"Oh, no, it's nothing. I hope you're well.
....... Yes, the maid is fine again today.

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

　Then she went back to preparing the garden table.
　Futa was wondering to himself what was the point of the bug hunt, but that question was soon answered.

　But his doubts were soon answered when he saw a shadow walking towards him.

I'm sure I've kept you waiting.
No, sir. They're just getting it ready.

　Oh, no. If the tea is ready by the time the other guest arrives, the water from the thermos will be cold.

　It was just a way to kill time until then.

　The guest's expression was slightly strained as she looked at the insect net.

"Corona, did you get any bugs?
"A lot of horseflies!
I see. ...... I believe you, but of course you didn't just touch the tea, did you?
Mmm-hmm.
Answer me.

　I'm not sure what to do.
　I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one who's had it.

I was rinsing in the water trough I brought with me.
"......, huh?
I don't trust you.
I don't know who you are.
"You are...

　While I was saying that, the tea was being processed with beautiful skill.
　I'm not sure if you've seen this before, but I'm sure you've seen it before.

　You'll be able to find a lot of people who are interested in this.

This is the work of a maid.
...... Yes, it is. Yes.

　Futa also smiled loosely.
　Yes, this is Corona's job.
　She's not going away. That's a sign.

　Someday, I'll remember the past when I'm gone and be happy for the present.

...... Shall we sit down?
Yes.

　Lilac's face is slightly soft as she says this next to me.
　You'll be able to find a lot of people who are interested in this sort of thing.

You're right.
You're right, but I wish you hadn't made me think.
You're right. ......

　It's almost the end of the hot tea season.
　She said she's always ready for a cold cup of water. She was a very good maid, and she was always ready to help Lilac, depending on her mood.

　The taste of the tea leaves was fresh and mellow.
　Because it was the first flush, the flavor was green despite its light color, and the fresh green scenery of the season made it even more delicious.

It's delicious.
I got it!

　The maid with the full-blown smile and Futa smiling loosely at her.


　Lilac smiles serenely as she watches the two of them.

　There was the usual routine.

"...... Well...

　Lilac put the teacup back in the saucer and opened her mouth when the cup was half full.

You said your name was Mirabelle G. Gringott.
Oh, yes. The music you play is wonderful, but everything else is terrible.
...... That sounds familiar.

　Lilac glanced at the maid.
　Lilac glanced at the maid, but Huta shook her head.

No, sir. Corona is just a bit quirky. I don't think it's rude to lump them together.
"You're both rude!

　"You're both rude!" the sad maid replied.

"Mirabelle G. Gringott is the daughter of the Gringott family. However, there was a rumor that she had been given birth to a child by a servant. It is a common story that she was neglected by her own wife after the death of the servant.
There are a lot of implications, aren't there?
There's too little confirmed information. Let's get some things straight.

　I close my eyes and open them.
　In the meantime, the soft atmosphere of the tea party was gone, and the First Princess was there, thinking about politics.

"In the first place, Mirabelle was thought to be dead.
What?
I'm not sure, but I'm pretty sure her real wife killed her. ...... My memory is fuzzy, so I did some research. At least that's what the records say.
How long ago was it when you say it's fuzzy?
About seven years ago. I was still... no. That was when I didn't know much about the outside world.

　He didn't say when he was imprisoned.
　But even if I didn't, I was ten years old. No matter how smart you are, you can't have a strong political network.

"So who is he?
Either he's a fake calling himself Mirabelle, or he's still alive.
By the way, what was Mirabelle's occupation?
According to the records, he's a poet. As for the specifics, you'll have to do some digging at ...... and the Gringotts' people.
Instead of asking them directly?
...... It's possible that there's some kind of trap. I'm not sure what kind of trap it is.

　Someone has something to gain by Lilac's exploration of Mirabelle's existence.
　Lilac is cautious because she could be the bait for a trap.

　She doesn't know what kind of trap it is, and it may not be a trap, and that is unknown. However, she does not know where she has shown herself to be vulnerable in the first place.

　Therefore, I will never let her get caught in the middle by investigating her out in the open.

If you ever meet her, and she calls herself Mirabelle, don't be suspicious.
All right.
Did she say anything else to you?
...... Yes, I did. He said he was disowned.
Disowned. ....... You may have been made to say so, or you may think so. There are too many uncertainties. There are many things we don't know, including the reason why he continues to use the surname Gringott. I'll make a few moves on my end, and you can concentrate on your music.
Yes.

　Why do you call yourself Gringott even though you've been disowned?

　I don't know how much better it would be if I could just ask Graciel directly, like Futa said.
　But Lilac closes her eyes.

　She doesn't want to contact Gracial if she doesn't know whose trap it is. Maybe it's a trap aimed at Gracial, not Lilac - or maybe they're planning to round him up at the same time, or maybe it's a trap set by Gracial himself.

　First, under the surface. I'll use the information I have to uncover the truth little by little.

　That's what I do.

　You can keep the smiling young man talking about music and the joking maid in front of you.

If the girl who calls herself Mirabelle has a talent for music,......, then yes, you should talk to Beatrix. You can tell her what I told you, including the fact that Mirabelle is supposed to be dead. At the very least, there should be no advantage to her antagonizing me this time.
"Yes, I see.
What's wrong?
...... No. I don't want you to antagonize her, not just this time.
I'm not trying to antagonize you.

　It's obvious, but Lilac is not moving this way and that because she wants to make enemies. In fact, the fewer obstacles we have to remove, the better.

　However, we do eliminate people who are a hindrance to our goal.

　That's all I'm saying.

　A girl from a noble family with a bad story.


　But if her talent is real, Beatrix will cook well.
　Keep her out of power struggles and ...... out of antagonism with Huta.

I'm counting on you, too.
I understand. I'll do my best to write a song for you, Lilac-sama.

　Lilac smiled softly at him as he nodded to her to leave it to her.
　But it was only for a moment.

　There was one more topic he needed to hear about.

There was one more topic he should have asked about. ...... And the explosives. Can I ask you more about it?

　Explosives.
　Lilac could not ignore the fact that some people had even used explosives to raid the diner in pursuit of Mirabelle.

　In the kingdom, the private manufacture of explosives is prohibited.
　Of course, there are routes to smuggle in gunpowder from other countries, but I wonder if those people really understand the significance of using gunpowder in the capital of the world.

　Lilac waited for Futa's words, furrowing her brow in displeasure.

　His explanation was simple and straightforward, with some hearsay from Izuna.
　According to him, those who went behind the scenes detonated the rear of the store and tried to raid it.
　But they were overpowered by Izuna.

How much gunpowder did you use?
I don't know, I'm not familiar with that kind of thing. ......
...... Okay, so how big was the hole?
I'm not familiar with such things, so I don't know. Fortunately, the building did not collapse.
...... I see.

　That sounds like a lot of explosives.

　I'm not sure what to make of it, but I think it's a good idea.
　It's hard to make any kind of judgment without first seeing the area.
　I'm sure the store has their own reasons, so I'll head out to inspect as soon as possible.

I understand. Thank you very much.

　I emptied the contents of the cup and took a breath.
　There's a lot to think about, but it's not too painful.

　In the past, I've had to deal with things like this many times on my own.
　I've been able to overcome any precarious situation by desperately using someone else and manipulating an uncertain hand.

　But now, at least, I have one card that will never betray me. It's just one card, but I have it.

　Nothing is more reassuring than that.

"Futa, have you been enjoying yourself lately?
Yes. Sometimes I go out to dinner with Izuna and often I talk with Viciedo.
With Viciedo?
Yes. We talk a lot.

　Not surprisingly.
　Lilac shook her head, her eyes slightly downcast.
　I'm not going to say anything about his friendships.
　It's not a contract, and I don't want to restrict his freedom.

　I knew that.
　I knew that if I told him to stay out of it, he would at least make a decision with her in mind.

　That's why I don't want to say it.
　I won't say anything until I'm forced to.

Anything else?

　So I smile and move on.
　Futa gave me a worried look, but I backed off.

"Anything else?" "Uh, .......
What's that subtle look on your face?
What's with the subtle face? - Isn't Futa-sama always subtle?
Isn't it awful?

　He looked at Corona, who was putting away the china with a chuckle, and then growled at her.

Hurrah often asks me out.
"...... again.
"He asked me to go to the Spectacle with him sometime. ......

　Are you okay?　Huta asked Lilac.

　I've already told him that he's the most important person to watch out for at the moment.
　But it's also true that I want to see how he'll react.

　And I could tell by looking at him that he liked Futa for nothing.
　I'm sure that wasn't an act.

It's fine. I'm sure he'll be pleased.
...... Okay, okay.


Come on, let's go!　Let's go right now! It's still fresh in my mind that he came to me early in the morning. I refused at that time, but it was a little painful for Futa to use Lilac's permission as a reason for refusing.

　Of course, it was to Lilac.

You'll have a preview of the concert. There will be a preview of the concert, or whatever you can get from him.
"...... Well, yes. You don't have to deny everything just because you're cautious, do you?
That's what I mean.

　Then I'll accept Hura's offer.


　Lilac smiled at Futa, who nodded.

But.

　But... It's been a while since we've been able to talk like this.

　It's been a while since we've been able to talk like this.
　But talking is not enough.

　My original intentions haven't changed.
　Ever since we first met.

　She stood up, and despite her office dress, she gently pulled out the contessa that she wore around her waist.

I'm the one who should come first.
"Of course I know that. And I'm looking forward to this time, too.

　The two of them are laughing at each other, and Corona is happily cleaning up the garden table, her lips pouting.

　With her back to me, the two of us.

"So let's get started, shall we?

　Lilac goes ahead of you, as if she can't wait.

I understand.

　Futa nodded, his cheeks softening somewhat.

　In the fresh sunshine.
　He slowly stepped out onto the grass.