The meeting of the side rooms ended peacefully on the surface, despite the various speculations.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a book in the Elgrand Kingdom that will tell you more about the court of the Stanza Empire.

(......After all, it's hard to find a book that describes the court of the Stanza Empire in detail in the Kingdom of Ergeland. (There are books on the cultural climate and history of the Stanza Empire, but even these are rarely compiled by people who have actually seen or heard of the Stanza Empire.

　Even an accurate map of the Stanza Empire would not have been available without the relatives of the Cresta family who migrated to the Stanza Empire. Unlike the time when trade was fully banned, nowadays students are exchanged between the two countries, so it should be no surprise that there are at least maps.

Anyway, it's a big country.

　The Kingdom of Ergeland is not a small country. Deanna's grandfather, who was one of the best horsemen in the Crester family, said that it would definitely take two weeks to ride from the northeastern most part of the kingdom to the southwestern most part, changing horses as fast as possible. However, this is an extraordinary feat for a grandfather who is half human and half horse, and it would normally take much longer. (The reason why the king of this country makes a month-long inspection every year is because the country is so large that he can finally visit all the territories in one month after repeating the inspection three times).
　However, as far as the map is concerned, the Stanza Empire is even larger than the Kingdom of Ergeland. At a rough glance, its total land area is less than twice that of the Kingdom of Ergeland.

(Is the land area of Ergeland and Stanza larger or smaller than the rest of the world? ...... When you think about it, we Ergelanders have only heard about them, and have little idea of what countries and people live in the world. There are countries and people living in the world. I wonder if there is anyone in this world who has made a map of the entire world. The world is too big for a single person to survey, but maybe you could connect the maps of different countries and make one map. (If that's the case, if you ask the people who are making the maps in each country to help you, you could complete it in your lifetime.

　Deanna pulls out a map of the Stanza Empire and a map of the entire Elgrand Empire on the same scale, and tries to match them up somehow. --Then she raised an eyebrow.

"This isn't working, .......
What's wrong?
Even if the scale is right, you can't tell how big and what shape the oceans between the countries are. If you want to make a comprehensive map of Ergeland and Stanza, you need not only a map of the two countries, but also a map of the ocean in between,......, Kai.

　It's about time I got rid of this habit of answering uncomfortably when I'm suddenly approached by this mysterious cloak-and-dagger. When I took out the map of the kingdom of Elgrand from the bookshelf just a few minutes ago, Kai was certainly nowhere to be seen in the room, nor could I sense his presence. If I say I'm used to it, that's all I'm saying, but if I get used to this, I'm afraid it will slow down my response to unexpected intruders.

Welcome. Have you eaten anything?　I have a sandwich.
Thanks, I'll take it. ...... Lately, it's become a norm for me to eat in this room, isn't it?
It's a lot more efficient than risking your life to steal food from the kitchen or warehouse. It used to be a crime, but now that we have His Majesty's approval, we can leave the food for Kai without hesitation.
I've been doing this for a while now because my dad told me not to get involved with the Cresta family, and now I just have to get the food delivered when the Dark Side people take over. ......
I'm sure Sirius will decide that it's better for us to prepare food for Kai, since he eats three meals a day, than for the Darkness to bring him food every time.
That's exactly what he said. "That's exactly what they said to me. They said, 'Deanna-sama is better qualified to manage your diet than we are.
I agree with Sirius. You really don't eat when you're left alone.
I don't want to hear from Dee, who spends an entire day in the library, eating and sleeping.

　...... Is that the time when a delegation from the Stanza Empire came to visit your country and you hurriedly crammed in the basics of the Stanza language while you were back home? It's true that I didn't eat or sleep very well back then unless I was told to.
　While I was chatting with Deanna, Kai removed the cloche from his plate and sipped at his sandwich.

"Oh, this is good. It's got ham and eggs.
"Yeah. Ham and eggs. - Yeah, because the main course was ham steak.
I didn't know this until I started working here, but the royals in this country eat a lot of common food. Ham meat is so cheap that even I can buy it if I work hard enough. I thought they ate a full course meal every day.
"Perhaps the dinners of the Marquise family are more luxurious than those of His Majesty or the Dowager Queen. Basically, during the social season, they have a buffet dinner, and even during other seasons, it's customary for the old aristocracy to invite guests for dinner. But seriously, if you eat such lavish food every day, you'll ruin your body. Lack of nutrition is also detrimental to health, but it is human nature to become unhealthy even if the state of overnutrition continues for a long time. As long as you consume the amount of nutrients you take in, you'll be fine, but I'm sure only a few of you have hobbies that require a lot of physical activity.
That's why the royals eat so little when there's nothing going on.
Especially during the social season. At least half the week, they have dinner parties scheduled. She has a dinner party schedule at least half the week. ...... Although Empress Dowager Rifania doesn't have such a schedule, her diet is in some ways more strict than anyone else in the palace. I'm sure you'll be able to understand why I've been so impressed with your work.
Amazing. I guess women's physical beauty is the result of their efforts.
"Isn't it the same for men?　My brother often complains that if you don't use your muscles, they will fall off in no time, especially during the social season.
"Yeah, that's true. To be honest, I never really thought about it until last year. I've realized that my leg strength has weakened since I've been riding horses much less. I used to be able to train my legs naturally, but from now on, I have to be conscious of them so that I don't lose strength.

　When Kai finished his sandwich while talking, Deanna handed him a cup of tea.

It's hard to stay in shape and maintain muscle strength regardless of gender. It's important to eat for that.
I know what you mean. I understand what you're saying, but when Dee's busy, she skips meals first, right?
If you're not undernourished, skipping a meal or two won't kill you. If you're busy, you skip meals first.　If I can afford it, I'll make a pot of tea and drink it. That way I can get the nutrients from the tea.
"...... You care about other people's food. Isn't that called a contradiction?
No, it's not. Unlike you, I don't need or want to maintain great proportions. Like you and your brother, my muscle strength is not directly related to my work efficiency. I just make sure that I don't eat too much because being overweight shortens your life span. Also, exercise. In the palace, I don't get enough exercise, so I have to make a conscious effort to move my body.


"...... Well, Dee's not in a situation where she needs to be stoic about keeping in shape, is she?
I'm not sure. I'm not sure if you've ever heard of it, but I'm sure you've heard of it. Nowadays, people are more interested in having a body that is well-balanced like Little Mother Refa's, but a long time ago, the ideal body was one that was a little overweight.　Before that, the most beautiful women were those who were so slender that they had to seriously worry about nutritional deficiencies. I happen to have a body type that fits the trends of the time, but there's nothing I can do about the size of my breasts, and when you think about it, it's unreasonable and selfish.
...... I think that's probably partly because of men's preferences.
Oh, you mean in a nightlife sense?

　It is very unusual that Kai, who was drinking tea, choked up. For Deanna, it was just a simple gesture, but for Kai, it was an unexpected response.
　A little surprised, she handed him a cloth and patted him on the back.

"Are you okay?
No, no. ...... I'm fine. I've been wanting to ask you, how much do you know about that side of things?
How much do you know about ...... common sense?

　I've been wanting to ask you about this for a while now.

I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea. This is not simply for the purpose of conceiving a child, but also for the purpose of exchanging affection and trust between a man and a woman in a romantic relationship. Some people seek it out for fun, for the pleasure that the act itself produces.
I think there is a discrepancy between the common sense of the aristocrats in this country and the common sense of ordinary people.
"Ah, .......

　I'm sure you're not the only one who has a problem with that.

I'm sure you're right.
That's right. I'm not sure if you've heard of it or not. If you think about the average age of first marriage in this country, a teenager who has a lot of knowledge about this kind of thing is rather 'advanced'.
I'm sure you'll be able to find something that works for you. If you're an adult, you can get married at any time. In your grandmother's time, it was common for women to marry at fifteen or six years old, and even in your mother's time, it was common, and even now, it is not unheard of. You have to know that before you make your debut.
Is it a requirement for the aristocracy by any chance?
I'm sure you're right.

　I'm not sure what to make of it, but I think it's a good idea. Deanna may have been easy to play with, but the advances made by Fiona, whose nickname in her youth was simply "The Vicious Whore," were probably nothing compared to Deanna's, and so the methods she taught her to fight back were quite varied. The "how to fight back" that was taught to her was quite varied. Even though she looked like a big money-grubbing prostitute, Fiona seemed to be very single-minded and pure-hearted in the area of love, and when Diana said, "How dare you think so much of me?", she timidly replied, "Because I wouldn't have wanted to die for any man other than Jin.
　You'll be able to find a lot more information on this subject in the following article.

I'm not sure what to make of this, but I think it's a good idea.　I'm sure you're not the only one.
I'm not sure if you've ever heard of this, but I'm sure you've heard of it. The only thing I can say is that the vast majority of Erglanders who live a normal life would definitely not have been taught like that.
...... Were you unwilling?
No?　I'm not sure if it's a good idea or not. It's not that I was unwilling or uncomfortable, but I'm genuinely curious that there are a certain number of people who can ...... do such things casually and playfully.
Oh, ......, I agree with you wholeheartedly.

　I've never had any experience with Deanna, so I've only read and listened to what she has to say, but I've heard that the so-called s*xual act is simply a very pleasant thing. Well, unlike other animals, we don't have an estrus period, so if there is no primitive pleasure in the act itself, the act itself will not be performed in the first place, and the offspring cannot be produced.
　However, humans have the ability to think, and there is a society that was created by those thoughts. In a sense, the attitude that anyone is acceptable as long as one can obtain pleasure may be faithful to biological needs, but it is not appropriate for a "human being" who belongs to a society. As a member of the Crester family, which values knowledge above all else, I can't help but think about such things.

A certain number of aristocrats also "play" rather casually. If you're unmarried, you can just about accept it as a good experience for both of you in the future. I can't defend the fact that they want to play until after marriage, and I can't understand it any more.
I don't think it's a crime to cheat on your wife because this country is monogamous.
I'm sure cheating is a crime in this country. There's a nasty clause in the law that says, "Exceptions are made for men of royalty and nobility. If their wives couldn't have children, they had to have them elsewhere or their families would die out.
What an anachronism! Edward-san told me the other day that it's common nowadays for families with no heir to adopt children from close relatives, right?
"Yes, that's right. So, it would have been better to delete that article entirely, but as usual, conservatives are vehemently opposed to it, and it seems to keep coming up on the agenda and then disappearing.
"Why are the conservatives against it?
Why are the conservatives opposed to it? - "They say, 'We can't allow the royal family to adopt a child, let alone a noble family.
Oh, the usual.
Yeah, the usual.

　Kai is really smart, so the story is easy to follow and very enjoyable. ...... It's a different kind of fun than when I'm having an academic discussion with Prince Stanza.

I'm not sure what to make of this.
That's not just a guess, that's 80% of it. It's not always possible to marry the woman of your choice because most of the aristocrats in this country have political marriages. If you're an idiot who can't get enough of a woman you like, there's no way you'd want to change the law to allow you to cheat on her.
From ...... Kai's perspective, men like that are idiots?
"Yeah, a crossbow idiot. Whether it's political or not, a man who prioritizes his own preferences without first facing the person he should be facing is nothing short of an idiot.
You're strict. ......
It's not that I'm strict. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do it. It's simply pointless to repeatedly cheat on your partner for such vague things.　People who pour their heart and soul into meaningless things are idiots.

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

(I see. .......) I'm sure you'll be able to find something that will help you. (I wonder if Kai was "taught" practical skills, and not just classroom lectures like me.



　The moment I thought that, for some reason, my heart fluttered. It was a feeling that I had never felt before, and it was rather negative, and I was surprised that I felt that way even for a moment when I was talking to Kai.

"Dee?　What's wrong?
What? ...... What?
What? You look depressed right now.

　...... You can't let your guard down because this person will never let the part you want to be flushed down the drain. You can imagine from past experience that even if you falsely say it's nothing, they will make you confess.
　After a few moments of thought, Deanna turned her gaze away from Kai and opened her mouth.

It's not like it's a big deal. I just thought that ...... Kai has been through enough to know that faces, body shapes, and hugs change from time to time. I'm just cramming my head full of knowledge.
No, ......, there's no need to compete with me at all. For my job, I needed to understand the usefulness and danger of seduction, so I was taught the techniques as well. In addition, I've only been taught, and so far I've never done any real work.
...... Is that so?
I've been told that my face is one of the more well-rounded ones, so if it's just my face, I'd probably be good for s*x work. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.
I'm not sure if there's a right or wrong way to do it.
There is no job that is more suited for one person than for another. In the event you're not sure what you're looking for, there are a number of things you can do. It's super sluggish, don't you think it would be faster to just put a knife to her neck and ask her?
"Um, ......, well, yeah, right?

　I'm not sure what to make of this, but I'm sure it's a good idea. I'm not sure what to do. I'm not sure what to make of this, but I'm sure it's a good idea. ...... If you think about it, s*xual intercourse was never very attractive to Kai, whose only impression of it was, "It's a wonder this is even entertaining," even though he learned it through practice.

"I guess it's not as pleasant as it sounds. ......
"I think it's good, but it's bad. I've heard that some people get hooked on it and can't get rid of it. But it's not something you have to force yourself to know. --Don't worry, if Dee is going to be forced to do something like that, even if she doesn't want to, I'll do whatever I can to stop it.
That's okay. Aunt Fifi has given me more ways to get rid of such undesirables than I have fingers on both hands and feet.
I know that, but ...... that's only in the limited context of a social gathering of the nobility of the Kingdom of Ergeland, right?

　I'm not sure what to make of it.
　I tried to turn my head away, but he pulled me closer to him.

"Don't run away, Dee.
"Kai: ......
I could almost see it in Dee's eyes during the day when she was having s*x with the girl. Maybe the maids in the Red Rose Room, Raia and ...... Shayla also understood.
I'm ...... that easy to understand?
For those who know Dee, yes.

　My calm self nodded in my brain, "...... I'm sure. 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.
　I'm sure they're all in bed right now, plotting to overturn Deanna's decision. ...... If Deanna were in everyone's shoes, she would.
　I know, so Deanna would have to formulate an argument to persuade them as well.

No. ...... Let me go, Kai.
No.
Please. I don't want to tell you the truth. But you always know what I'm really thinking, and you pick it up and put it away for me. ...... This is just a burden to you.
"Dee is a burden to me?　You don't really mean that, do you?

　The next thing you know, you're laying on your back. The next thing I know, I feel the smoothness of the mattress on my back and Kai is looking into Diana's eyes against the canopy.

If you've forgotten, I'll say it again. I don't work for the Cresta family. I'm here for Dee because I want to be.
You can find me at .......
It's my choice to be with Dee, to protect her, to spend time with her like this. It's all because I want it to be. ...... I'll tell you again?　Don't stop me because you're worried about me.
".......

　The words were almost a whisper in my ear, arrogant to a fault, but most of all gentle. I'm not sure what to say, but I'm sure you'll understand.

(Why ......)

　Kai's heat, his feelings, always make Deanna crazy. When she was with Kai, she realized something about herself that she had never known before.
　Sometimes, it almost takes away her reason. For a family of "wise men" who love knowledge, such an existence should be extremely dangerous.

I don't want to lose this person. (Why do I not want to lose this person? Why do I not want to leave ......?

　And yet... --No matter how much you want things to stay the same.

It's ...... scary.

　I'm not sure what to make of that. I'm not sure what to do.

I know that I have to go. I'm not sure what to do, but I'm sure you'll be able to figure it out. If you can't stop the flow of missions, then I have to go.


"......, no matter how much Dee doesn't want it.

　I fought back the tears that threatened to well up at Kai's words.

The Stanza Empire is an unknown quantity. I'm not sure what to make of it. I'm sure you'll be happy to know that I'm not the only one who's had a bad experience. ...... His Royal Highness may be thinking that it's only a matter of time before he changes his mind if he has no one else to turn to. I'm sure she's trying to protect me, but I'm sure she doesn't care about the other people in the delegation who will be chosen.
"Sounds like .......
I'm sure you'll be able to find a lot of people who'll be able to help you.　Can I really go back to the Kingdom of Elgrand without losing anyone ......?
"Dee ......
I'm not sure what to say. I'm not sure what to make of this. I can't help but marvel at its clear beauty, despite its horror.

　Kai's hot hand slowly caressed Diana's cheek. Kai's hot hand slowly caressed Deanna's cheek, his fingertips crawling up her neck, calming her a little.

If Dee really doesn't want to go to Stanza, I'll just go and choke the prince right now. ...... But surely Dee wouldn't want that, would she?
"...... Yeah. The moment he loses his life inside Ergrand, the Stanza Empire will have a great reason to attack the Kingdom of Ergrand. The fact that it looks like a natural death is nothing compared to the fact that a member of the royal family is dead. I'm not going to let my country fall into the hands of war.

　...... So, Deanna.

"Even if I am afraid, even if I do not want to go, I must not escape this fate. --I'll go to the stanza empire. I'll go, and I'll come back without missing a single person.
"...... Yes.

　I'm not sure if you've seen this before, but I'm sure you've seen it before. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work. I don't really want Dee to go to a country where those people are still considered benevolent. But more than that, I want to support Dee in whatever she wants to do, and whatever she decides to do.
"Thank you, .......

　Kai's encouragement made me feel much better. You'll be able to find a lot more information on this subject in the future.

"Please take care of everyone in the palace.
I'm not sure what you mean by "......"?　I'm not sure if you're asking me to stay in the Kingdom of Ergeland.
I don't mean stay, I mean ...... stay, what else can I do?　You'll have to travel by boat to the stanzas. If you're lucky enough to be unnoticed, it's unlikely that you'll be able to hide in a foreign country with a different language and culture, and there's almost no chance that the court in Stanza will be as full of hidden passageways as this palace. It's going to be very difficult to accompany him.
I'll figure out how to solve that problem in the future, but ...... there's no way I'm not going with Dee to a dangerous place. If you try to leave me behind, I'll follow you any way I can.
"Kai ......
"So, Dee. Don't try to do everything on your own. I'm the only one you've got to show me everything. What you want to protect, let me protect. --Let's get the future we want together.

　Every time Kai pours out his words, something inside Diana overflows and breaks down. I'm sure you're not the only one.

"...... Don't leave me, okay?　Will you stay with me?
"I'll stay with you as long as you want me to.

　I knew I couldn't go with Kai to the Stanza Empire no matter how hard I tried. The Stanzas probably perceive the Ergeland delegation as nothing more than good hostages. Unfortunately, there was a very high possibility that they would refuse to accept a civilian or even a military officer.
　Even so, Kai has declared that he will stay by Diana's side no matter what it takes. I'm sure my hand will never leave her hand as long as she assures me so.

(......) Even if I can't protect her by myself. ( alone, I can't protect you, but with Kai, I'm sure I can see a different view.

　The fear faded and a faint light of hope flashed in my eyes.
　Or is it something else?

　The truth is hidden in the darkness for a while now, and the night is slowly drawing to a close...