Thinking about the uncomfortable feeling I had about Nasha's condition, I looked over at Deanna and the Crockett siblings, who had somehow managed to make peace with the situation.
　When their figures were completely lost in the crowd, a new voice came from behind.

"Oh. I'm not sure if it's the Red Rose that's in there.
"Yes, that's me.

　I turned around and put a Red Rose smile on my face. If Deanna's memory is correct, the voice she heard was that of a person who, while not a complete enemy, could never be forgiven.

"Well, well, well. My sister has been a great help to you.
No, it is I who have been indebted to you. ...... Gracie, Baron.

　The current Baron Gracie - in short, Chris's older brother. He has reddish-brown hair with a loose habit, similar to his sister Chris, and brown eyes that are slightly darker than Chris'. The colors are very similar, but there is not much similarity in their facial features. ...... Or, to be more precise, there are some similarities in their eyes and nose, but their expressions are too different to be considered similar.
　It's a good idea to take a look at your own personal life and the way you live it.

It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.
I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one who's a fan of your work. I told her many times not to do it because even if she was good with a sword, she wouldn't get a wife.
"Well, that's humble. I'm sure the Gracies would have been proud to have you as one of the top eight fighters in the spring tournament.
The Gracie family must have been proud of her ability to be one of the top eight in the Spring Imperial Tournament. ...... But she was only a woman, and she would never leave the house and take over the Gracie name. It would be more helpful if you could improve your feminine charm and socialize rather than your sword skills, but I'm not very good at that.
I think that Commander Gracie is very attractive as a woman.

　I'm not sure what to make of that. The main reason why Edward and Chris's engagement is still unofficial is because of this man, after all.
　--Chris's family of birth, the Barony of Gracie, is a family of knights. He has held important positions as a knight in the royal court for generations, and his swordsmanship is said to be the best in the kingdom. He has consistently refused many offers of promotion, saying that he doesn't need a position when he is loyal as a knight, and has been respected as a knight among knights.
　The misfortune of the Gracie baronial family started when the previous baron was forced to retire from the royal knighthood due to illness when he was young. The legitimate son who was supposed to succeed him (in short, this man in front of me) had neither the talent with the sword nor the heart to strive to gain what he lacked, and he dropped out of the Knight Academy. His daughter, who was born a few years later, inherited the Gracie family's talent for swordplay and set her sights on the path of the sword. Chris learned the basics of swordsmanship from the former Baron Gracie, who had retired from the royal court due to illness, but still had enough energy to teach swordsmanship to the younger generation. However, it was short-lived, and the former Baron passed away without allowing Chris's talent to flourish.
　Chris's brother, who succeeded him and became Baron Gracie, didn't care about Chris's wish to protect the pride of the knight's family, and turned to building a position in the royal court and making the baronial family prosperous. It's also a classic small-time villain's way of courting the son of a powerful family at social gatherings and asking them for a bribe to talk to him. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. ...... If your family has a lot of money to spare, that's probably fine, but the Gracie barons have been knights in the royal court for generations, and the tax revenue from their estates isn't very high. Chris's brother, who had been rapidly depleting his savings, came up with the idea of marrying his sister off to a wealthy family and asking them to support her.
　Chris told me about this when I became unofficially engaged to Edward, and I don't think the Baron himself expected Diana to know about the Gracie family's situation. Chris hadn't told the Baron that he had promised to marry Edward, because he didn't want to involve the Crester family in his brother's foolish scheme. Edward also respects Chris's wishes, and is working behind the scenes to prevent the Baron from doing anything fatal. Although he is Chris's older brother, the man in front of him is not a patient person, and if his schemes continue to go wrong, he will eventually get tired of doing evil.

　--He blatantly disrespects and humiliates his sister, Chris, and pretends to be having a conversation with her, but in reality, he doesn't care about Diana's opinion. I'm not sure what to make of this. ...... It's even worse because it's Chris's brother. If he hadn't been so blatant and extreme in his disdain for women, and if he had listened to what Chris had to say, Edward and Chris would have officially announced their engagement long ago.

I'm not sure what to make of this, but I think it's a good idea.
It's not that kind of thing. As a woman, I admire Commander Gracie and the rest of the palace guard for their dignified appearance.
"Oh, dear. I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that.

　...... It's not flattery or anything, it's just a fact that I admire Chris. Not only Deanna, but there are many women in the palace who admire Chris beyond the boundaries of the ladies in the side chambers. However, I don't think this man would take her seriously if she told him that.
　I tried to keep up the small talk and casually let out an air of wanting to end the conversation quickly, but the baron didn't seem to sense it. On the contrary, he took advantage of the fact that the dance piece had just ended and extended his hand toward me.

Oh, just in time. Would you do me the honor of sharing a song with me?
"...... Yes, with pleasure.

　That's the hardest thing I've said in a long time. He was Chris's older brother, and since the Gracie barons were neutralists (or, as they called themselves, unprincipled in their approach to houses with power and money, regardless of their faction), they had a certain degree of social contact with the Cresta family, so it was not as if they were strangers. It is an unspoken rule that if someone you know asks you to dance, you should not refuse unless you have a good reason.
　During the interlude, you walk out to the center of the hall, place your arms around each other, and prepare to dance. Deanna doesn't really like ballroom dancing, where the distance between you and the opposite s*x inevitably approaches zero, and you can't look away from your partner for the entire duration of the song. In fact, Deanna doesn't like ballroom dancing very much, because it can be fun for some people, but usually not for others. A smile is plastered on her face, but her heart is surprisingly cold even to herself.

　--After the men and women have finished preparing for the dance, the dance music is played gracefully. Baron Gracie danced confidently, and Diana stepped to the beat.
　It was difficult to match the Baron's self-centered lead, and to say the least, it was difficult to dance. In terms of politeness of lead and dancing skill, Abel was far superior to her, even though he was a debutante. It was as if she had a professional dancer named Yolanda as her sister.
　Deanna, in her fourth year of socializing, could dance to a certain extent with any partner, and even pretend to enjoy herself with a smile. Her family and her close friends in the palace may be able to tell that she is straining herself, but at least she is not so thin that the conservative leaders who are looking at her to find fault with The Red Rose can't see through her. It's not easy to keep up with Baron Gracie's lead, to keep the dance intact, and to keep smiling, but it's not impossible to do.
　Eventually - as the volume of the song grew louder, Baron Gracie pulled Diana even closer to him.

It seems that my sister has been completely taken in by the Red Roses.
...... What are you talking about?
"Don't be fooled. In the event that you're not sure what you're looking for, you'll be able to find a lot more information on the web. It is natural to assume that you manipulated the flow of the game to some extent in order to give the impression of the Inner Palace and the Inner Palace Guard.
I don't understand what you mean.
I don't know what you mean. - Oh, dear, must I make myself clear?　--How much did you pay to the upper echelons of the kingdom's military, you vixen?



　The disdain in the Baron's eyes became more apparent. In order to prevent Deanna from escaping, his hand around her waist was strengthened and grabbed her firmly.

I'm sure you are the daughter of the king of the underworld who controls the evil of the kingdom. She is indeed the daughter of the 'king of the underworld, who controls the evil of the kingdom', and is not afraid to defile the sacred game with gold for her own purposes. --But you can't fool my eyes.
"You've been saying a lot of things, haven't you? You've been saying a lot of things since a while ago. Even though he's your brother, the Baron seems to be unaware of Christel's skill with a sword. --I believe that with Christel's skill, it would be easy for him to win the match without any kind of schemes.
"Nonsense. A woman is no match for a man with a sword. What you're doing is just a game.

　Snickering, the Baron suddenly changes the direction of his steps and shifts his dancing position from the center to the wall, just barely looking unnatural. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

I've always thought you were a foolish sister. I've always known she was a foolish little sister, but it's not like she can be a knight, and yet she insists on using a sword and never goes out to socialize. When she does occasionally go out, she doesn't try to get a story that might pay off, nor does she try to find a man who might pay off, but instead hangs out with a bunch of pussies with no ambition. It's a good idea to take a look at the actual information on the web and also to make sure that you are getting the most out of it.
I'm not sure what to make of this, but I think it's a good idea. It's a good idea to take a look at the actual information on the web. She is the first woman in the history of the kingdom to head the rear court guard, a difficult position that she has filled without fail, and she has earned the trust of not only our entourage but also His Majesty, who is now an indispensable member of the Ergeland royal family.

　In the end, Diana abandoned part of her smiling mask, her lips remained in the shape of a smile, and her sharp eyes stared at the Baron. I would also like to remind you, albeit in a roundabout way, of the dangers of insulting a woman who holds the official position of Commander of the Kingsguard of the Inner Palace in front of the first in line to her side. Deanna is just trying to keep a low profile because she knows that if she blames this man in front of the public, it will jeopardize Chris's position in the family, which in turn will jeopardize her marriage to Edward. If it wasn't for Diana as the first in line, the fate of the Gracie barons would have been over by this point.
　The Knights of the Rear Guard are formed by imperial order and work according to the king's will, they are the knights for the king. To openly insult the leader of the order is to insult the king who appointed her as the leader. If Chris has some flaws as a commander, it's not so bad, but she has done a better job than originally expected in organizing the female knights of the rearguard, has performed well in the preliminary games, and is so trusted that Juke asks for her opinion individually.
　--In the event you're not sure what to do, you may want to check with your doctor.

You're right. When you are loved by His Majesty and are on the verge of becoming a full-fledged queen, your words are different. No matter what kind of tyranny you commit, you can be sure that His Majesty will cover it all up. ...... I envy you.
...... That's a roundabout way of putting it.
I don't like being a pawn in the hands of little girls like you. It's a good idea to take a look at the actual information on the web.　My plans are ruined now that the crown has knighted her. You can't get a wife for a sister who is widely known to be one of the top eight swordsmen in the kingdom, even if only in appearance.
You don't have to worry about it, with a daughter of Christel's caliber, you will eventually be blessed with a good match.
"It's not enough to just marry her off. I'm not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing. But ...... a man who wants to marry off a sword-wielding eccentric as a woman would not be a good match for the baronial family.

　It's funny how prejudice and discrimination can come full circle and seem so innocent. What this man says is not even close to the truth, but the only thing I can agree with him on is that a man who wants Chris (in the sense of the baron's idea of family prosperity) will not make the baronial house prosperous. Edward has always laughed at the Baron's scheme of "pandering to those with power and wealth, bribing their way up the ladder," saying, "It's stupid to go to the trouble of piling up money and choosing a ruinous route. It's a good idea to take a look at the website and see if you can find anything that might help you.
　--I'm not sure what to make of that.

I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's a good idea.
"Hmm, you finally understand. I'm not sure how long it took you to figure out such a simple story, but that's why women are ......".
(In this case, gender is not really relevant ......)

　(In this case, it doesn't really matter what gender you are.) When it became too much trouble to even speak, Deanna finally shut up. If you're not sure what you're looking for, you can always try to find out more. It wasn't surprising that the Baron revealed his true nature during the dance, when there was almost no risk of eavesdropping, but he was even more of a scoundrel than Chris had told us, and it was ridiculous that Diana was the only one who was mending her ways.

I'm not sure what to make of this, but I'm sure it's a good idea.

　In the event that you have any questions concerning where and how to use the internet, you can call us at the web site. ...... Seeing the true nature of the eldest son in this way, unfortunately, I think it would have been better for the Gracie barons.

What's wrong?　What's wrong? Are you that surprised that your shallowness has been discovered?
"...... Yes, very surprising.

　--The dance piece is about to end. I'll show my true colors now that I'm dancing just outside the circle, and I'll disappear into the crowd as soon as the song ends.
The Red Rose's smile faded, and Diana thrust her eyes, filled with genuine anger and contempt, at Baron Gracie.

I'm not surprised that Chris's brother, who is so sincere with his sword and so hardworking that he doesn't neglect to train even though he is already good enough, is someone like you who has no sincerity and no effort to improve himself. I've heard that the former baron was an honorable knight and an honorable man of character, but you didn't learn anything important about human nature from your father.
"......
Chris is not a tool to fulfill your ambitions. I don't deny that noble marriages can't be free from politics, but that doesn't mean you can ignore the wishes of the bride. --Moreover, isn't it too heartless of you as a brother to measure the value of Chris-sama's marriage based on whether or not it will help your ambitions?
"You, you...
"Chris-sama is more important to me than being the commander of the Imperial Guards. The cost of insulting Chris-sama in front of me is not small.

　I wonder if he could feel my anger. The baron was frightened to look at him, and his steps became unsteady. ...... Well, since there is only the postlude left, it won't be so obvious.
　Finally - with a sincere smile on his face.

I don't understand how you could have had such an illusion that Chris-sama is a 'Red Rosarian'. --Even if Chris-sama is helping my faction, I don't think that's why I'm going to help your family. We are connected by our hearts, not our positions or interests, and you and your family are separate.

　The postlude to the dance piece ends, as planned, with a clear and categorical rejection. With a natural gesture, Diana released her hold on the Baron, bowed to the stunned Baron, and turned on her heel.
　And then, with a speed that doesn't look like she's walking too fast, she moves away from the Baron and dives into the crowd.

"You ......!　You, how dare you!



　An angry voice sounded out of place behind him. ...... It seems that Baron Gracie had a shorter fuse and was more easily swayed by emotion than he thought. The shame of it all must have blinded him to his surroundings.
　Even if the Baron was enraged, he would be able to escape. Deanna tried to walk away.

　--"Boom!

　Her heart, her instincts warned her, and she turned before she could think. The Baron of Gracie, who had rushed forward without a second thought, was holding her hand.

Oh no!

　It was a stanza-derived gunpowder weapon, quite old and small, but capable of killing. I shuddered at the thought that he had something like that hidden under his formal attire, and at the same time, a chill ran down my spine at the thought that if that thing exploded, casualties would be inevitable.

(We have to stop it.)

　Before the Baron could throw his weapon, Diana ran up to him and grabbed his arm. We can't be bothered with such trivialities as being conspicuous or being in each other's shoes when our first priority is to save lives.
　I believe that this type of gunpowder weapon is designed to ignite the gunpowder with sparks generated by the impact of throwing it. In other words, as long as the impact is not given, it will not ignite. ...... They are so small that they can be carried concealed under clothes, so unless a knowledgeable person looks at them closely, he or she would not even know that they are weapons.
　There are a number of signs of movement in the hall. Edward, Chris, the knights of the King's Kingsguard, the outer court, and the inner court - I could sense that they were all trying to rush in from their respective positions.
　Until everyone gets here, Deanna alone can manage to ......!

(...... Uh, no.)

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for and what you can do to help. I'm not sure if this is a good idea, but it's a good idea.
　...... He can slow down the movement of others without touching them. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. This is a great way to make sure you are never alone, even if you can't see or hear him.

Thank you.

　Chanting her heartfelt thanks inwardly, Diana gently pulled the gunpowder weapon from the Baron's hand and slipped it into one of the hidden pockets of her dress.
　After that, she handed the baron over to her friends who had rushed to the scene. ......!

I'm not going to let you get away with this!

　I'm not sure what to make of that. In the event you're not sure what you're looking for, there are a few things you can do.
　If you're not sure what you're looking for, you may want to check with your doctor.

I'm sorry for your loss. Are you hurt?
"No, ...... I'm fine. Thank you for your kindness.

　The white costume is 30% more gorgeous than the one Deanna had seen before. It's not the formal attire of the Kingdom of Ergeland, but from the opulence and luxury of the fabric, I can imagine that this is the highest level of formal attire in his country.
　--Yes. The one holding Baron Gracie back was Exiga, the eighteenth prince of Stanza, who had been completely erased from existence at this soiree.
　Before Diana could even think about what he was trying to do, two knights of the King's Kingsguard, who seemed to be in the closest position, arrived.

"My Master Red Rose!
"I'm sorry, sir. Are you hurt?
...... Yes, I'm fine. His Royal Highness, the Prince of Stanza, intervened.
I see. ...... Your Highness, I'm very sorry to have caused you so much trouble.
I would like to thank you for saving the Red Rose.

　The Order of the King's Kingsguard is an organization that protects the king. As Alford's subordinates and Juke's confidants, they are naturally well aware of Stanza's brutality. They probably didn't really want to thank him, but it was obvious that the prince had come to Diana's aid, and they decided that it would be more problematic to let it go.
　They took Baron Gracie from the prince and tried to leave. The Baron, who had been struggling to stay on his feet, glared at Diana with eyes full of hatred the moment he was forced to stand up.

It's not my fault. ......!　I was only trying to stop that woman, the infamous "Red Rose", from trying to privatize the palace and the kingdom!　You rare and evil woman who leads the kingdom to destruction, you can enjoy your short spring at most!
Shut up!

　To my surprise, it was the prince of the stanzas who responded to Baron Gracie's absurd and misunderstood abuse (a rather common occurrence in the Crester family). I couldn't help but look at him, wondering what he had in mind, but the impression I got from his expression and demeanor was that he was just angry at the Baron's words and actions.

In the event that you have any questions concerning where and how to use the internet, you can call us at the web site. I'm not sure I understand how the Elgrande royal family can be so forgiving as to allow a disloyal man like you to go unchecked.
"......!
"Did you say the princess will destroy the country? In my opinion, it's fools like you who only look out for their own interests that are destroying the country. If the wise Princess of the Red Rose were to take the country into her own hands, she would not take such a foolish measure that a little man like you would understand.
"Now ......
"...... Your Highness, please forgive me for this. It's also my fault for not fully understanding the Baron's feelings and letting my emotions get the better of me.

　Without being able to understand the Prince's intentions, I said something to settle the situation for the moment. It wasn't that he was defending the baron, but rather that he was worried about making Chris's position worse by exposing him further. It was also Deanna's fault that she hadn't expected the Baron to bring a gunpowder weapon to the party, and had agitated him unnecessarily.
　While the crowd was whispering in secret, Baron Gracie was led away by two knights of the King's Kingsguard. The breakdown of the whispering was generally polarized into those who agreed with the Baron's abuse and those who speculated about when he had brought in the prince of Stanza. I don't really care about that, because it's no secret that if someone from Crestar stands out, they get a bad reputation.
　What is important is how the Baron obtained the gunpowder weapon and how he brought it to the party. Somehow, he managed to keep it from exploding, but I don't want this to happen often in the future.

"......, that's enough.

　Deanna was deep in thought when suddenly a voice called out to her. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. It's a good idea to take a look at your own personal life before you make any decisions.


　In a voice that only Deanna can hear, the prince whispers softly.

Let's go. We don't have to stay here forever.
"What ......?

　As the prince lightly pulled her by the hand and urged her to walk away, Deanna's mind was filled with an infinite number of question marks.