20 - a mysterious organization in the dark
The royal palace in the capital is home to Queen Giselotte and her son Lias, and only their close associates are allowed to enter.
It was a building that symbolized the conflict between the king and queen.
Then, Princess Marianne, the king's favorite, rushes in.
Seventeen years old this year, she is a beautiful woman who is a vivid reminder of the late former queen. She lifted the skirt of her dress and ran in a manner unbecoming of a lady, but her long blonde hair was so beautiful that even the guards were dazzled.
The reason why the guards did not stop her was not because they were captivated by her beauty.
Ghiselotte had allowed only her access to the villa.
Even in the palace she runs. With a smile on her face and a steady breath.
Eventually she stopped in front of the room she wanted and opened the door without even knocking.
"Lias, the answer has come!"
"Whoa! Don't open the door so suddenly, stupid sister."
"Are you doing something that you don't want us to do if you suddenly open the door?"
"Ugh, shut up! I'm talking about courtesy, you idiot!"
"I have warned you many times not to use such abusive language, haven't I?
"Well, I don't care what I call you.
Prince Lias was at his desk. Pen in hand, he sat down and turned his body toward Marianne.
He, too, has grown in the last five years.
He is one of the tallest for his age, with a sturdy body. Not only has he developed a high level of magical ability, but his mother is the best swordsman in the country, and since his defeat (・・・・・・) he has been working diligently on mastering the art of swordsmanship.
"You've never been so cute, have you? It's sad for you, sister."
I get annoyed at my sister who cries her shoulders out.
（d*mn, she's gotten so used to me since then. Pisses me off.)
I couldn't help but feel that it was all because of that man.
"So? Hurt is coming? You don't have to report every little thing that's obvious. How could I refuse your father's recommendation?"
"Well, you're not being very nice. By the way, did you finish your training today? Are you writing love letters again that you can't even get out?"
This is not a love letter!
"You're with ...... Charlotte!"
"So no! Why would I do that to such a small, little boy?"
So, Hurt, you're the one?
"............, no."
(How obvious ......)
Marianne knew that Lias had been writing letters and tearing them up. It seemed to be Hurt.
"In your position, you would have had the opportunity to visit the Count of the Frontier."
"Mother won't let me. When I told her I wanted to go on an inspection tour, she yelled at me with a terrible scolding."
"I see. Is that why you wanted a letter of recommendation to invite Mr. Harth to King's Landing?
Send Harte to school in King's Landing.
It was Lias who suggested it.
Marianne was happy that her brother was relying on her for the first time, so she asked her father to send a letter of recommendation to the Count of the Frontier.
I want to know the secret of his strength. I've been working hard on my magic and sword skills ever since, but the stronger I get, the further away he seems to be from me.
Marianne felt the same way.
She is still afraid of Hurt's unfathomable strength, even though she only saw him once at his side. Lias, who had fought him directly, probably felt even more so.
"If he goes to the same school as me, I'll have the chance to know him up close, won't I? That's all."
"Defeat has changed you. You're still cocky, though."
"You've lost your discretion, too, sister. I heard you were the one who was so happy to see father. <
Who told you that?
"The guards have been whispering about it. My sister seems to be even more obsessed with him than I am.
"No, no, no, I don't have a crush on you, Hurt, or anything like that..."
"What?"
What?
"Oh, no, I didn't mean love or anything like that. ......"
Marianne's face turned red.
"Sister, are you ......"
"............, no, sir?"
(plain and simple)
If Marianne and Harte were to marry, it would be a tremendous obstacle for Lias to succeed to the throne.
"Well, it doesn't matter. ......"
But his attention was not there now.
"Did you say something?"
"Nothing. Let's get back to the point. Now is this a bad time for you, huh? There's a bunch of weirdos infesting the school."
"...... you knew? Yes, about two years ago, a strange religious group began to enroll in the school and seems to have spread its influence to other students.
"I think it's the Lucifira cult, right?"
It used to be a small religious organization. In recent years, however, it seems to have acquired a large source of funding and is rapidly growing its congregation.
For some reason, despite the extremely low level of public recognition, there have been a number of cases of aristocrats - the center of business and politics - joining the church one after another.
The kingdom has adopted
"Their ideology is radical.
The problem is complex. No, in fact, it may be simple.
After all, the biggest source of funding for the Lucifira cult is...
"What do you think you're doing, Mother? ......"
Rumors persisted that it was Queen Giselotte.
"You want Hurt to do something about them, don't you?"
"It's a shallow idea, but I'm hopeful. Of course, I don't mean to force you to do so. I don't want you to fight against a powerful opponent as a student.
Just," Marianne says, looking down.
"I would like to see our students at least work on their magic, and not get bogged down in political and religious matters."
"Well, no matter how out of the ordinary he is, there's only so much an individual can do. He can't even compare to his mother. Oh, but ......"
Riis dusted off his memory.
"Well, there was talk of a strange man in Lord Semphis' domain."
"You mean the <
"Sometimes I get information from there that they have recently slain a giant dragon or something."
Really? You are a very powerful man."
"I wonder if there's any connection to Hurt? I hear he's on the side of justice, and I'm sure he'd do a lot for you if you asked him."
"I'm not sure I'd ask an unidentified person to do that for me. ......"
They were talking and did not realize it.
They were unaware of the presence that had entered the room without knocking.
"You seem to be talking a lot."
Mother?
It was Queen Giselotte.
Lias stood up and straightened his back, kicking his chair away.
"Mother-in-law, it's been a long time!
"Yes, it's been a long time, Marianne. You look more beautiful every time I see you."
"Oh, thank you very much.
I was about to bow my head when he suddenly grabbed me by the neck.
"What are you ...... doing?
"Where were you looking just now?"
The fingers that grabbed me were digging into my throat.
"Didn't you just see the collar? Is that so funny? Miserable? Pathetic? I wonder if you are one of those who laugh at me?
"Gu......,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,......"
"Mother! Please stop!"
At Lias's cry, Gieselotte thrust an icy stare at him.
"A joke. I'm just kidding. But a leering look is unladylike. Be careful, Marianne."
With a snap, Marianne dropped to the floor from the waist. She gasps and huffs.
Ghiselotte does not even glance at her, but walks up to Lias.
"I hear that Lord Semphis' son goes to the same school as you."
"How did you know that ......?"
You were just talking about it. I wasn't eavesdropping. I could hear it."
In other words, at the very least, the conversation after that was overheard. <
Lias was cowering on his feet, unable to move.
"It must be so unnerving to come out of the middle of nowhere," he said. Raias, you should be good friends with him.
"Ha, yes ......"
Gieselotte moved closer still and touched her lips to Lias' ear. She tells him in a whisper.
"Get all the information you can about the Black Warrior from the little bastard."
"What is ......?"
"Okay? Don't tell anyone, okay? Neither Marianne nor her son can know. Only my mother can know.
Without waiting for his answer, Ghiselotte left and grabbed Marianne by the hair, who was cowering and holding her neck.
"Come on Marianne, I'm taking you out of the palace. From now on you must stay away from here.
He lifted her forcefully, and some of her hair fell out.
Marianne's breath caught in the Queen's dark eyes. She was afraid that she would be killed if she refused or even asked why.
"Mmm-hmm. Soon. Soon. The day when this d*mned collar will come off is just around the corner."
The queen left the room, dragging Marianne with her.
A loud laugh echoed through the corridor.
The queen's exclamation echoed through the hallway, accompanied by insane laughter.
--O Lord, Lucifira! Hear my prayer!
Lias's legs gave out and he fell to the ground.
He shuddered, knowing that he had done something he could not undo. He had gotten the only winner, the only one who had set a wall to cross, into trouble.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. ......"
I was so miserable that I was on my knees, repeating an apology that would never reach me.
Meanwhile, what about Hurt?
"It's done! I call it the door to nowhere.
He was working on a new development of warding magic.
A door was built next to the window. When opened, it led not to the outside, but to another dwelling.
"This is a
Behind him, his sister, who had arrived before he knew it, was shining her eyes as she shouted at the top of her lungs in excitement.