The people of the village were very kind during the festival, and we were quickly prepared for the long ride, including two horses.
After a quick dinner at one of the stalls, it was time to find a place to stay. The only inn in the village miraculously had a vacant room, and Kai took it without hesitation. I'm the only one who's going to rest? She must have been very tired because she fell asleep without a pause.

The room was simple, just a bed, a sideboard, and a washbasin, with the moonlight pouring in from outside the window. Sitting on the bed, Kai gently combed her golden hair, which glistened in the moonlight. The lustrous texture is like silk, making you want to touch it forever.

I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not.
"...... You know what? I'm not sure what to do.　You're freaking me out even if you know you should.

It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. He twisted his body dexterously using the window frame and landed right next to the person outside.

"As expected of you, Sirius. Have you found her yet?
"If Master Diana has entered that forest, the closest place to her is this village. I've had a few people searching the forest, but ...... you were the fastest.
I'll take that as a compliment.

In the event that you have any questions concerning where and how to use the internet, you can call us at the web site. In his navy blue eyes, a strong determination shines, and you can feel his steel will as he walks toward the future he should aim for. --Sirius knew at once that something had changed in him.

"Master Diana took care of you.
"Don't thank me. Don't thank me. I did what I wanted to do.
I did what I wanted to do." "But it doesn't change the fact that you helped me. --A lion cub, indeed.

I'm sure you'll be glad to hear that.

I'm sure you've noticed.
There are only a few people who live 'behind the scenes' without being involved with the Cresta family. The first person to notice was Master Dualis.
"The head of the family?

Sirius smiled softly at his wide-eyed surprise.

Sirius smiled softly. "It was Master Dualis who had more to do with the Kuro Lion than I did. Didn't your father tell you?
"Not at all. The Kuro Lion...... father doesn't like to talk about the past too much.
So you don't know much about the past?
Well, yeah. Well, my dad decided to stay out of it, so I just avoided it too. For me, the Cresta family was...

The Crester's are a series of unexpected things that I've fallen right into," Kai chuckled, looking down. He cast a warm glance across the roof at her.

If I'd known that the youngest princess of the Cresta family was like that, I wouldn't have gone to the palace.
If I'd known the youngest princess of the Crester family was like that, I wouldn't have gone to the palace. She is certainly one of the most generous of the Cresters in showing warmth even to assassins. We can't read Deanna's thoughts, either.
"As a target, it was extremely difficult. I'm sure you'll be able to find something that works for you. I'm sure you can understand why the people behind ...... the scenes have loved the Cresta family for generations.

I'm sure you'll be able to understand why the Cresta's have been adored by generations. No matter what kind of person you're dealing with, you must complete the job you're asked to do. Only then will you be recognized as a full-fledged businessman.
--But... But the Cresters have always broken that rule, unconsciously, with impunity.

I thought, "I don't want to ...... kill him, do I?
Hmm?
"For the first time, I saw Deanna close enough to hear her voice. I thought I didn't want to kill her, and I was surprised I did.
Yeah, ......, that happens.

I was surprised at myself for not wanting to kill her. If anyone can touch her heart and still want to harm her, they must be a hardcore villain.

I didn't mean any harm to the Crester girl. Not only that, but I don't want to hurt that girl over there right now. ...... Well, I couldn't do my job if I said that, so I locked up those feelings once and for all.
It was a pointless endeavor.
It's true. The longer you're around them, the more they grow up even if you lock them away.

But Sirius could see that. This boy is a pro. That's why he understood the dangers of budding emotions and completely contained them and forgot about them. ...... It was so perfect that he couldn't see that feelings were growing on the other side of the seal.

"Don't worry about it. Don't worry about it. It's not uncommon for the Cresters to use their natural charisma to draw enemies to their side. Especially when you're in the business like us, you naturally have a keen eye for the caliber of your opponents. Even if you fall for Master Diana, it's not because you're immature.
I feel a little better now that you say so, Sirius-san.
Did you know about me?
Yes, I've heard a lot about you. Sirius the Kuro-Winged, along with Sora the Kuro Lion, are two of the most famous people in the world.
I don't like the idea of being famous for my job.

In the event that you're looking for the best way to get the most out of your business, you'll want to take a look at the following.



"...... what?
No, I was just wondering.
What kind of questions?
Why did you choose Master Diana over your employer?　For example, you could have helped Deanna even if you were still in double-cloak.

The boy, who was older than he looked, shook his head slowly.

I'm not sure if I'd be able to do that if I knew that someone was trying to harm Diana.
"Master Diana will be traveling as the Red Rose in the royal carriage. There is little danger, even if you know that?
"Being in a royal carriage is not necessarily 'safe'. First of all, it was someone from the palace guard who wanted Diana. If I were an assassin, I would somehow sneak into the attendants and do my job somewhere along the way. --That's what I thought.

In fact," Kai said, a disturbing glint in his eye.

"Deanna, you almost got me killed.
"...... what?
"Mana Colt, I think her name is. You might want to check it out.

He gave Sirius a fast-paced account of the commotion in the forest. The knight Colt came to the place where Deanna was resting and tried to stab her with a poison dagger.

The ones who were hiding seemed to have been successfully pierced by the needle I threw to check them, and they didn't attack me any more. Their heads were pretty good, though.
"Stupid ......!　It's impossible even for us to find Diana in such a short time after she made a serious run for it in the forest.　That's impossible even for us!
I'm sure you're right.　I lost sight of her when she was right next to me, and it chilled my heart.
"I grew up in the woods of the Cresta region. You've grown up in the woods of the Cresta region since you were a child, and your relationship with the forest is unsurpassed in your family. This is the first time I've seen such a thing.

It's not easy for even those with the keenest senses to find Diana hiding in the woods. I'm sure you're not the only one. ...... I guess knowing Deanna caught me off guard.

I'm sorry for the trouble I caused you.
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. It's not like you can't do it. I wanted to do it. ...... I was useless in a crucial moment.

In the same way that the Darkness' messenger had been following the procession in secret, Kai had been keeping an eye on it so that no one would notice. The battle in the forest took place when both of them took their eyes off each other for a moment.

Halfway through the forest, I went to see if there was any danger beyond the forest. "Halfway through the forest, I went to see if there was any danger beyond the forest, and just as I was about to, they attacked the wagon.
...... Too good to be true.
I'm not trying to make excuses, but I agree with you. I'm not trying to make excuses, but I agree.
Apparently so. ...... We'll have to tell Duarisse and get serious about fighting them.
I'm not sure what to make of this. He didn't look like he had it in him.
It was the Marquis of Landrose who hired you, wasn't it?
I didn't know that, but that's what the guy I was with told me.

Of course, the Marquis was just slumped in his chair, and it was a man who looked like his subordinate who actually exchanged words with Kai and the others. But he didn't hide his face, so anyone with some knowledge of aristocratic society would recognize him.
Sirius finally got to the point when the secretive boy easily revealed his employer and stood there like a natural.

"So, what are you going to do now?
"What do you mean, what do I do now?
You're not going back to the Peony Room, are you?
No, of course not. Of course not. It would be a disaster if I did. ...... I think you're looking for a new job as close to the palace as possible, and exploring the palace and the palace behind it.　I don't know.
I'm sure you're not the only one.
Oh, that's not going to happen.

He said it lightly and decisively. I was a little annoyed by his undeterred reply.

Do you disapprove of your employer, Miss Diana?
"No, I'm not. There are several reasons. ...... If you work for Deanna, you have to do her bidding, right?
What's wrong with that?
I thought it might be inconvenient if I had to listen to Deanna's orders when she doesn't care about me. I'm sure she's not going to mindlessly order you to run away even when you have to defend yourself with your life.

Sirius was at a loss for words to reply to this very pertinent point.

You can't ignore Diana's orders, right?　But I think it's better to have at least one person who doesn't listen to you beside a girl like that. If you don't ......, you'll definitely be reckless to no end.
But ......, that's not going to keep them in check when the time comes.
I understand that. I'm sure you'll be able to figure out the best way to get the most out of this. I don't listen to Deanna, but when I do something, I'll ask the Dark Ones for help. ...... That should balance things out, right?

This boy is thinking about a lot of things, far beyond Sirius' imagination. --and probably about as stubborn as Diana.

I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's a good idea." "You've raised a hell of a man, ......, Kuro Lion-dono.


...... Is that a compliment?
50/50.

He has the strength of will to say what he wants to say, and the kindness to protect what he wants to protect. You really are just like your father.
You can find a lot more information on this site at ...... and also the lawfulness of not asking for help from the Cresters even after all this time.

It is your will that determines your actions. Therefore, it is not a matter for us to interfere. --Of course, it would be helpful if we could work together as kindred spirits.
Yeah, that'd be great.
...... And then...

...... This father and son don't get it. This is a family that has crossed the waves of history since the distant past, demonstrating an unbelievable degree of meddling and picking up the pieces of life that spilled over. --That is the Crester family.

The Kuro Lion is on its way to you.
"............, what?

For the first time here, Kai's face showed a youthfulness befitting his age. He was completely caught off guard by the unexpected words.

It's a rare disease, but if you have the medicine, you have a good chance of recovery. I've contacted a familiar port and have already secured a route to obtain herbs.
No, no, no, no, no.
The doctor you asked for is good, but he doesn't have the right tools. I've prepared a facility with all the necessary tools for treatment and recuperation, so you can spend the winter there and you'll be fine in the spring.
"So wait a minute!

Kai turned to Sirius with a frothy look in his eyes and took a step closer.

"Why are we talking about this?
The reason you jumped at the chance to get paid so much for your work is because of the Kuro Lion, isn't it?
So why did the Cresta family?　We've always taken the stance that we don't want anything to do with you.
The Kuro Lion seems to have made up his mind, but Dualis-sama was not convinced. It's only natural to want to give a hand to someone when you hear they're in trouble.
He said he could make do with what I had.
"Even though you've lost the income from the Peony Room?　That's because I'm trying to help you, Diana. Now that I've heard about it, I'm sure Dualis-sama will take care of the Kuro Lion until he's well again, no matter what anyone says.
"That's not the same as this!

Sirius nodded his head to Kai, who performed a dexterous trick of shouting in a low voice.

"Yes. Both of these things are your business, not the Cresta's.
"Then...
"Then--that's sweet, Kai.

Under the moonlight, the head of the Crester family, the Darkness, smiled a very nice smile.

Did you really think that our common sense would get through to the Cresta family?
What ...... is that?
Give it up. --This is what it means to be involved with the Cresta family.

The man with the best instincts realized everything at that moment. He knew that he had made a mistake by choosing to work with the Cresters for the money.

"Oh, this is going to piss me off .......
I'll follow up on that. I'm sure you'll be happy to know that, regardless of how it all started, you've become an indispensable part of Diana's life.
I don't know. ......

He sat on the roof in shock, silently thinking of the sleeping woman beyond.

He sat on the roof in shock, silently thinking of her as she slept. Deanna probably doesn't think that much of me.
You don't know that, do you?
You don't know that. ...... I think it's better for Deanna right now if she doesn't.

The only thing in his eyes when he said that was his heart for the other person. I'm not sure what to make of that.

"...... Why do you think so?
"Diana is the 'Red Rose'. It's the most important of all the king's consorts. --If she were to fall in love with someone else, she would be troubled.
You're saying she's in love with a man other than the king?
That's not what I meant. I can't leave the palace, and I don't have time to fall in love, so what am I doing?　What am I doing? Deanna, you're not very good at organizing your emotions, and if you're careless, you'll go over your capacity again and turn white.
That's .......

Kai is really watching Deanna closely. It's a perfect assumption that Sirius, her mentor, can't complain about.

"Deanna trusts me, at least to a certain extent. That's all I need to know. ...... For now, though.
...... But what if Deanna falls in love with someone other than you?
I'll help and watch over Deanna if it makes her happy. --I'm not going to give up my position as the closest person to protect Deanna, though.

I'm not going to give up my position as the closest protector of Deanna. ...... That's not "watching over" objectively.

You can find a lot of people who are looking for the best way to get the most out of their life.
Sirius smiled slowly as he thought of the things that would change with him being by Diana's side.