*

　Part of the landscape, to Tyria, the crono was nothing more than a military school building and the trees that grew on its grounds.
　If there were butterflies flying around there, you could recognize them as flying.
　If a flock of winged insects formed a pillar, you could recognize the wings as being there.
　Crono's position was out of bounds.
　He had black hair, and compared to the aristocrats who flocked to him, he had a reasonable presence, but it wasn't until he experienced a painful defeat that he was recognized as an individual.
　Defeat........Tilia had a modicum of confidence in his own skills.
　She had trained in swordsmanship from a young age, learned various tactics, and was even able to use the divine power technique of the 'Pure White and Orderly God'.
　Although he couldn't reach the level of Leonhardt, the leader of the First Konoe Knights, he could play an active role on the battlefield so far, right?　I thought.
　His reasonably well-founded confidence was shattered by a single defeat.
　He was defeated by Crono.
　Because of the pride of having an overwhelming advantage.
　Tilia was intensely aware of Crono.
　Time and time again, she blasted Crono with arguments, knowing that he was being played for all the right reasons.

　I had made a friend for life.

　I felt like I had a friend for life.
　Surely this man would be with me.
　Even if he usurped the throne or cast into purgatory, Tyria believed that Crono was the only one who would stay by her side, even if he was usurped from the throne or cast into purgatory.
　But the reality was harsh.
　The man she believed to be her lifelong friend was cuckolded by a half-elf a half-human, half-elf who could not be considered a human or an elf.
　
　
　Even though she's a widow, you were held by a man other than Crono, what kind of face is she holding?
　Elena ... well, that's what slaves are for.
　Slaves are Crono's property, so it doesn't matter how they are treated.
　It's not a problem, but it's somehow unexplainable.
　Elven twins.......three?　What do the three of us do?　I'd like to spend an hour lecturing you on how you're an animal.
　I can forgive you so far.
　I can't forgive you, but I can stand it.
　But how can you mess with a man, the Earl of Chiron?　I even want to talk all night about the humiliation of being won over by the Earl of Chiron, a man.
　Pride ... as a royalty, or as an imperial princess, or, more fundamentally, oh, the pride of being a woman, was hurt.
　She was tied to Crono, restored her wounded pride, and was quickly knocked down.
　Tilia writhed in her bed, writhing in her bed, as she was bound hand and foot, and said a lot of things to her while she couldn't speak...it was hard to keep her pride as a woman.
　After writhing for a while, Tilia slowly raised her upper body and looked at the room in a daze.

''........''

　It's something you get used to, Tilia said as she moved away from the bed and moved to the vanity table.
　As she looked at her grumpy face in her sleep, there was a knock on the door and Alyssa entered the room.

Good morning, Princess Tyria.

　Nodding, Alyssa walked over and began combing Tilia's hair with a familiar motion.
　Tilia looked into the mirror and lifted her own breasts with her hands.
　The speed at which she combed her hair slowed slightly, but Alyssa didn't let her surprise show on her face.
　Yeah, the size, the tautness... at least they beat Count Chiron.
　Mi, no milk, but not enough to be called spoiled milk.
　'There shouldn't be,' said Tilia, putting her hands back in place.

'You're not Crono's handiwork, are you?

　With a snap, Alyssa stopped moving.
　After a while, Alyssa started combing Tilia's hair again.

''Your husband ... is a sensible man,''
Okay.

　He didn't raise the end of the word because of the pause.
　I guess Alyssa doesn't think Crono is a sensible person, or that he's a sensible person.
　Even if she thought so, she'd probably still feel like she owed him a debt of gratitude for hiring her.

'What are your plans, Princess Tilia?'
"Hmm, we will train until noon. Then it's off to visit with the elven twins.

　If I don't master Divine Weapon Summoning, Tilia recalls the battle with Count Chiron and renews her resolve.
　Summoning a divine weapon is the art of summoning a weapon with divine power, and it belongs to the highest rank of divine power arts, except for summoning a divine weapon.

''It's over.''

　When Tyria changed into her white military uniform and left the room, Viscount Eryl Sardomelik was sitting in the hallway with his knees in his hands.
　He's a guy who never gets bored at all, and Tyria half-ignored Eril, who called himself a watcher, and continued down the corridor.

''........''
I hear you were given preferential treatment by my father?

　A former subordinate I heard from my former subordinate who now does paperwork in Crono's territory.

'I'm very indebted to you.'
Mmm...

　Tyria almost let it slip that he was now the vizier of Alcor's vizier's dog while being indebted to his late father, but he weighed himself.

'There is no more Your Majesty. We need to figure out the most efficient way to live.'

　That's true too, Tyria thinks.
　Some die for pride and honor, while others pursue their own interests, even if they are condemned to ingratitude.
　In the end, to reward is to show or give what you seek, isn't it?



　Swing the wooden sword.
　He swings the sword mindlessly.
　I repeat the kata that I have repeated thousands, tens of thousands of times today.
　I move my body with the image of my enemy.

I still have to have an opponent.
I don't like it.

　When Tyria turned to look at him, the boy stopped pretending and said with a heartfelt disgust.
　The boy, who was a disciple of the Fay, continued to practice his swordsmanship diligently.

I'll go easy on you, okay?
No.

　I looked around and saw Viscount Eryl Sardomelik reading something in a book.

''Would you like to fight me?''

　Eril looked up at Tyria disinterestedly.

''No thanks. If I really fight, the Marquis of Erakis' mansion will be destroyed.
Well, let's move to the barracks.

　Eril's eyes widen in surprise.
　However, Tyria grabs Eril by the scruff of his neck and heads to the training grounds.

''.........I'll walk by myself.

　It wasn't until they were nearing the outer edges of the city that Eril began to walk on his own.
　Once outside of the city, Eril narrowed his eyes.
　Out of the corner of his eye was a field.......a beet field created by Crono's orders.
　It looks like they're growing other trees that I don't understand.

''At this rate, it won't be long before we can have ice cream again.

　Sugar imported from the Free City States is not a luxury for Tyria.
　It's just something that she would be happy to have, but she can only tolerate it if she didn't have it.

''It's ... a shame. The Marquis of Erakis is trying something entirely new.
?

　When Tyria turned around, Eryl took his gaze off the book for a moment.

'Essentially, sugar is made from sugar cane. Sugar cane is a crop grown in the south, in warmer regions, and was not supposed to be made in the Empire.
What do I know about that?

　Elil let out a deep sigh.

'The Marquis of Erakis is trying to make sugar in a different way than we have traditionally done. This is an act of destruction of vested interests.

　Where have I heard that line before?　Tilia tilted her head.
　If she recalled it well, she felt like she had spouted a similar line herself.

''........Marquis Erakis is a creator and a destroyer. The same goes for the paper he makes in the Marquis' territory and the Silva-style three-dimensional salt field. It could destroy the order that existed until now.

　Mu, mmm~, Tilia snorted with her lips twitched.
　It is an abnormal situation when you are the legitimate heir to the throne, even if you are said to be capable of destroying the order that existed until now, when you are the legitimate heir to the throne, you are in a relationship with a classmate from the military school and a man and a woman.
　On top of that, he has been bound hand and foot, gagged and verbally abused.
　Compared to this unusual situation piled on top of this unusual situation......................no, yes, this is not normal.

''You hold Crono in high regard, but that guy can't do anything on his own.

　As I noticed when I went to inspect Count Caddo's territory, Crono's knowledge of the other world is full of holes.

''I feared that Crono would be a bad influence on the Empire, but... yeah, Crono isn't that big of a man.
Princess Tyria thought he was right.
No one does Crono justice better than I do.

　Tilia crossed her arms and heaved her chest.

'In the first place, since Crono has the interests of his ... own territory in mind, isn't it natural for his interests to be in conflict with someone else's?
'He is trying to educate the sub-humans and improve their status. This could shake the ruling system of the Empire to its very core.

　The Cepheus Empire is considered to be more tolerant of sub-humans than the surrounding countries.
　This is to ensure a workforce by incorporating them as a governed class, but if the sub-humans get a big say in the matter, the ruling system of the Empire will be forced to change.

'Crono has only given the sub-humans a chance. If the ruling system of the Empire is shaken, it's not Crono's fault. The sub-humans thought for themselves and tried to win their rights. That's all there is to it.

　Maybe, just maybe.
　The sub-humans and humans in Crono's territory are probably in the midst of touching an opportunity that should come in a few hundred years.
　Surely, in a few hundred years, the commoners will have power.
　That faint, careful, cautionary, and even more cautionary foreshadowing that could be missed....yes.
　Once, he wanted to stick a dagger in Crono's face because he had a feeling that it could destroy the present.
　Maybe the current circumstances aren't so bad, Tyria laughs now.
　She had been deprived of her right to the throne, but she had been spared from becoming an enemy of the common people.

''No, no, Crono is a great man.
....

　The sub-people were training on the training grounds.
　The smell of blood irritated his nostrils.
　They didn't cut corners because Crono wasn't there.
　Both the new recruits and the old soldiers are beating each other up with the same spirit as in a real battle.

''Princess Tilia, what's going on?'' Bumpy?
I've come to meet with Viscount Eryl Sardomelik.

　Crono's second-in-command's eyes widened in surprise.

'When you're done with your handlers, we'll borrow the elven twins.
"I don't mind, but Deneb and Arid don't belong here, they're off duty.

　Yeah?　And Tilia looked around the training grounds.
　''It looks like they're not training for horsemanship today.

''Rest!'' (BUMO!)

　Crono's second-in-command shouts, and the soldiers, confused, abort the formation.
　A circle of people forms as if the tide is receding.
　It's a pretty big circle, but Eril looks somewhat unhappy.

''We'd better get farther apart.''
Isn't this enough?

　Eril gave a small nod.

"Activate Virtual Personality, Catalog of Tactical Styles, Select 'Flamebullet Frenzy', Change Trajectory and Number of Bullets.
Huh!

　Tilia's eyes widened in astonishment.
　If it was Flame Bullet Ranbu, Tilia knew about it.
　It is the middle level of flame-based magic, and the effect is to release flames the size of a clenched fist.
　The trajectory is straight and easy to read, and the number of flames produced at one time is ten, so it has the disadvantage of being difficult to sweep.
　However, Eryll's flame-ball orgy was different from the one Tyria knew.
　The flames rained down in the center of the circle.
　There were thirty, forty, or even fifty or more.
　Not like the rain.
　If a vat full of water was instantly reversed, it might look like this.
　巻き込まれるのを防ぐためか、人の輪が割れ、半円となる。

『魔術の多重起動ってヤツですかい？』（ぶもぶも？）
「エラキス侯爵とは違う」

　エリルは跪き、指先で地面に数式……１＋１＋１＋１＋１＝５と書き、その隣に１×５＝５と書いた。

「魔術は誰が使っても効果が変わらない。これは同じ魔術式を使っているから。私は魔術式の数を司る部分を変更し、魔術の効果を変えられる。私は掛け算、エラキス侯爵は足し算のようなもの」
『どう違うんで？』（ぶも？）

　エリルは不満そうに唇を尖らせる。

「負担が違う」

　エリルは数式を四角で囲む。

「魔術を使うためには属性と意識容量が重要となる。火の属性を持たない者は火の魔術を扱えない。意識容量の限界を超えて魔術を使うこともできない。そして、獣人が道具の補助なしに魔術を使えないのは意識容量が低いため」

　エリルは疲れたとでも言うように荒い息を吐いた。

『意識容量は記憶と違うんで？』（ぶも？）
「意識容量は瞬間的、記憶は長期的……魔術式は無意識的な記憶として保存されている」
『念のために聞きやすが、意識容量を超えたらどうなるんで？』（ぶもぶも？）
「死ぬ」

　ティリアは鈍器で殴られたような衝撃を受けた。
　それはクロノの副官も同じだろう。
　何しろ、クロノは二度も命を賭けてしまっているのだから。

「エラキス侯爵は多重起動の危険性を理解している」
「多重起動が危険なら、お前のようにしてやれば良いじゃないか」
「それはできない」

　エリルは首を左右に振った。

「私の意識容量は常人の三倍近くある。少なくとも私と同じくらい意識容量がなければ仮想人格を組み込めない」
「……そうか。まあ、それはそれとして手合わせだ」

　エリルは上目遣いにティリアを睨んだ。

「理解していない？」
「しているぞ。だが、ここで悩んでいても仕方ないだろう。止めてもクロノは使ってしまうだろうしな」

　ティリアは近くにいたエルフから木剣を受け取り、軽く素振りをしながらエリルと距離を取った。

「敵陣に放り込まれたような気分だな」

　亜人達は巻き込まれるのを恐れてエリルの後方に避難している。
　仕方がないのだが、自分の後ろに誰一人いないのは孤立しているようで寂しい。
　たっぷり距離を取り、ティリアは木剣を構えた。

「さて、勝負だ」
「理解した。全力で征く……雷霆乱舞」

　瞬間、ティリアの視界は青い光で包まれた。

※

　のたうつ蛇のように青い光が砂埃を舞い上げながらティリア皇女を呑み込んだ。
　本物の雷のように轟音は遅れてエリルの耳に届く。

『……や、やり過ぎですぜ』（ぶも）

　ミノタウルスの声が届くが、全力で征くと宣言していたのだから問題はないはずだ。
　エリルは砂埃が収まるのを待つ。
　For a moment, I thought I saw a figure. And by then it was all too late.
　Princess Tilia leaps out of the dust that is already rising.

'Impossible.'

　While Eril was surprised, Princess Tyria was swinging her wooden sword down.
　Eril looked at the wooden sword in amazement....

*

And I thought I was gonna die.

　Tilia stopped the wooden sword just before it touched Eril and wiped away the cold sweat.


Me too. But this won't help me on the battlefield.

　I didn't think that they couldn't even react to an attack.

From my point of view, you're a threat.
You're in charge.

　Eril's ability to attack over a wide area can be a threat in group combat.
　However, if you have a defensive measure like the Divine Majesty Technique and the conditions of a one-on-one match, it's not beyond the realm of nuisance.

''What would you do?''
"I'd be able to partner with the heavy infantry and place them in the front row, in the middle of the line." (Bumobu)
Why not make the cavalry?
''If they make that much noise, it's easy for the horses to panic. Even if you're only shaken off, if your allies' actions are interfered with, you can't expect them to see anything at all.

　I've never seen a minotaur speak so logically before.
　Tyria drew her wooden sword, wondering if it was the result of her education, or if she had a high level of aptitude from the beginning.
　Then Eryll collapsed to the spot like a puppet whose strings were broken.

''Either way, it's hard to have the guts to pass out when you've skittled it out.
That's a bit of a tough one to answer.
You can handle it.

　Leaving the unconscious Eril on the spot, Tyria returned to the city of Hashel.
　Perhaps because it was coated in dirt and dust, the gazes of the residents stabbed at her.

''Gahhhhhh!
I'm off duty and the princess found me!

　Screaming like cattle on the verge of being slaughtered, the twin elves run as fast as they can to get away from Tyria.
　But Tyria is not naive enough to allow them to escape.
　She easily catches up with them, grabbing them by the scruff of the neck and heading for the stalls.

''You'll have to accompany me on another inspection today.
"Master Crono, help me!

　Ignoring their pleas for help, Tyria goes from stall to stall... or to use a common expression, she hustles from stall to stall.
　After hustling through about ten stalls, the twin elves fill out something on a piece of paper with a quill they took out of their pouches.

'What are you doing?'
I'll claim the amount the Princess offered me as an entertainment expense.
I mean, don't you feel guilty about letting some poor guy like us buy you a drink?

　Tyria was at a loss for words for a moment as the twin elves crowded her.

'If you're going to charge Crono for it, that's fine with me.
What a line!
Like he never learned, never worked, and had no intention of doing so!
'I was going to read a book when it rained. It's the basis of a man's life, isn't it?

　Feeling like she was being called a bad person, Tilia said back.

'And there's no way I'm going to read a book when it's raining!
''It's like the priests of the 'Yellow Earth Temple' are the only ones who can afford to live like that!

　They stepped on the ground in frustration.

You're not going to have a problem with this situation, princess?
Do you have any ambitions as a member of the royal family to... well, to reclaim your claim to the throne, frankly?
'No, not at all. I've had a lot of things to beat me up about at first, but now I've got every day to live up to.
"...phew.

　When Tilia replied with her heart, the twin elves let out a sigh as if to say they were dumbfounded.

''Be, it's fine. Just by being here, I'm playing a political role in strengthening the relationship with the new nobles.......In the first place, will you guys fight with me if I call on you?
"I decline!

　After being cheerfully refused, Tilia felt a slight dip in her own lack of popularity.

'No, you see, Princess-sama is an interesting person.
Like it's not worth risking your life for.

　A clown, I am!　And Tilia's shoulders shook as she hung in a paragraph.

'Master Crono, or Count Ernat or... er, that guy, he's tall.
I'm thinking of something like Lady Crono's mistress, Count Rio Chiron.
Wait. Why do the names of Count Ernat and Count Chiron come up?

　The twin elves looked at each other curiously.

''That's right, Count Ernat gave us a last-minute retreat during the retreat, and...''
'Count Chiron is... well, like the guy you fought with in the mud?　I'm sure he was trying to appeal to Crono-sama, but he also used his divine power technique to heal my wounds.

　Tyria was even more depressed that Count Rio Chiron was being favored by a sub-human while I was imprisoned in the main tower.

'He's a man, and he's Crono's mistress.
Yeah, but there aren't many people you can really trust with your life on the battlefield.
We're stupid, and if you're nice to us, we're going to fall for it.

　The twin elves laughed sadly.

''So, like the princess should be nice to us, too.
'If you're nice to me, I might do my best for the princess.

　Mmmm, Tilia snorted with a pout on her lips.

'....Dismissed.
Why?

　The twin elves cried out, their eyes wide.

'It's because they're going to trample over the kindness I've invested in. Besides, I have less confidence to invest than Crono.
No, no, no, I didn't ask for more money than the Chronosphere to invest.
Like, yeah, like you need to stop taking him around for a bit.

　When Tyria stared, the twin elves tried to escape.
　Immediately, Tilia grabbed them both by the scruff of the neck.

''Well that's dismissed. We'll go to a few more stalls and then we'll go drink some incense tea.
Our investment is being defeated!

　Tyria cut back on the amount of food she ate, hoping to refrain a little, but the twin elves were slowly losing their strength.
　By the time they reached their usual dingy dining room, the twin elves were limping.

'Three fragrant teas,'
I'll take the cheapest one.
We're both okay with water.

　After a few moments, the elf waiter placed the cups on the table.
　There were three cups, and although the scent was much lighter, it looked like incense tea.

''Well are you guys poor?''
It's not.
Like I'm in the middle of saving for the future.

　
　Both of them are propped up on the table, so sometimes all you can see is the back of their heads.

'Hmm, what are you going to do?'
You know, it's not like you're building a house.
"To save up for an ice cream stall.

　Tyria brought her cup to her mouth, wondering if this was another result of her education.

'So why don't we just rent some land near the port?
I don't know what's going on.

　Tilia put her cup down on the table, although she felt she could sell the rights at a higher price when the port developed.

'Come to think of it, the port was taking shape.

　Tilia muttered softly, remembering the other day when she had gone to inspect the site.
　Construction began in March, and now it is August.
　The quay and breakwater are already completed, and the lighthouse is nearing completion.
　

''.........You get used to it.

　Tilia muttered with a sigh. She had expected to be a little more depressed, since she was leaving her first man.
　No, she was lonely, worried, and depressed, but she could act as she always did.

'Master Crono has returned!

　Such a voice was heard when Tilia finished her incense tea and placed her cup on the table.

''.........''

　Tilia was rushing out, driven by an urge she didn't understand.
　Sheesh. It's been a long time since she's seen Crono and she's still dressed in a dingy outfit.
　I don't care, Tilia continued to run along the flow of people.
　She scrapes and scrapes through people and passes through a wall of people as she falls down.
　Their gazes cross.
　It's too good to be able to cross gazes the moment you get off the carriage.
　With all my heart--.

''........gbooooooooooooooooooo!

　Tilia slammed her fist into Crono's stomach.
　Crono didn't fall while bending at a right angle to the fist's base point.

'Tee, Tilia?'
'Well how much do you think I was worried about you?　Yeah, of course I know what you're like!　But but but!

　Tilia stared at the strange girl on the carriage, and glared at Faye, who looked confused.

'It's growing!'

　Beep!　And then there was a sound, and Tyria pushed Crono away as quickly as she could.
　The tip of the spear passed by at the same time as the fingertips left.

'Crono, wounded, forgive me, sanai!
Who are you?

　Keeping a guarded distance from the girl, Tilia reaches for her sword.

'Ole, Sue. Crono, no, wife da.''

　'Wife-da, wife-da,' said the girl who called herself Sue, repeating the words as she ruminated.

'I'm Tilia, Crono's ... rightful wife!　The first lady!

　Bouncing her chest, Tilia replied to Sue.

''Mm, it's Shura.''

　Faye lightly dismounted from her horse and stood to protect Crono.