This is the guest house near the palace.
　In the reception room, Princess Iris, the Eighth Princess, together with the Second Prince Cain, was receiving a report on the "Operation Flora-Zamel Rescue".

''I believe the greatest credit goes to Yuki-Grossaria.

　Across the table, an employee of the 'Magic Guild' said.

Flora Zamel has been rescued safely thanks to his work. Although deprived of her magical power and weak, she is in perfect health. She is currently recovering in the guild's healing section.
I wonder what happened to that replica load she was using?

　Suddenly, Prince Cain opened his mouth.

''It seems that the cause of this incident is that that thing got out of control.
It was recovered safely. The Zamelites' analysis suggested that the cause of the outburst was a powerful ghost possession.
'Does that mean the anti-ghost defense system was inadequate?
'I'm sorry I haven't been that far...'
Oh, yeah. Well, I'm sure they won't be reporting back to us.
'No, old Zamel said he would like to give Prince Cain the specifications for the replica lord.
...What?

　Prince Cain gets a pouty look on his face.

'Old Zamel for me?　Can you give me the specs for the replica lords?
Yes. Looks like it.
'You're kidding me!　The 'Zamelites' have never before handed over information about their research findings!
But old Zamel did indeed say that.
I can't believe it.

　Prince Cain sat back in his chair, stunned.
　With a sideways glance at it, Iris



　Until now, the 'Cain Faction' and the 'Zamel Faction' have been competing in the guild for the skills of magic.
　The search for Elysium is the same, and the search for ancient artifacts and ancient magic is the same.

　The old mainstream 'Zamel Faction' has been wary of the emerging 'Cain Faction' and the 'Cain Faction' was desperate to replace the 'Zamel Faction' as the mainstream.
　They rarely exchanged information about the magic that they developed independently of each other.

The reason for the change in the 'Zamelites' is that...

(After all, it's probably because of My Lord.)

　Iris couldn't help but smile.

　Yuki doesn't care about the factions at all.
　The reason he went to save Flora-Zamel was probably just a matter of 'I can't leave a lost child alone'.
　After being saved by him from his granddaughter, old Zamel may have changed his mind.

The old Zamel said, "The old man said. ''There is a possibility that there is a living priest of the abominable 'Sanctuary Church' in the Northern Empire. We can't afford to fight over the factions in that situation. I want to join hands with the Cain faction and create a perfect replica of the Lord.'' - he said.

　The Guild staff continued to report back.

''That old Zamel........?''
I think it's a good thing. Brother Cain.
Iris is right, though, but it's hard to believe.
There's more to the report, sir.

　The guild officials were very pissed off.

''Yuki-Glossaria, who saved my granddaughter, is also the guard knight of His Highness Iris-Lestia, albeit factionless. Hence, it can be said that she is close to the 'Cain faction'.
...Well, I guess so.

　Prince Cain sighed.

'The problem is that Yuki-Grossaria himself doesn't think that way, you know. I've always told Demeter to recruit him into the faction.
''If we connect this Yuki-Grossaria with my grandson, the Cain faction and the Zamel faction will be able to connect him as a bridge. Let's cooperate with each other and stand against the Northern Empire.
Wait a minute.

　Iris held up her hand.

'Linking Yuki-sama and Flora-Zamel, is it?
'Yes. He wants her to marry him in the future.
''I don't understand. Why are we talking about that?
'In short, old Zamel seems to want to link the Yuki-Grossaria C-level sorcerer with his own granddaughter.

　The Guild official looked at the note in hand and replied.

''There is a P.S.'' ''First of all, I want Flora to work as Yuki-Grossaria's squire. Flora says she wants to apologize to him. For that reason, I don't want to tell Yuki-Grossaria and Flora about the marriage, but first I want to try to bring them closer together. Will you cooperate with me?'──that's all.
Not a bad idea.
Brother Cain?
''It would be nice to cooperate with the 'Zamelites'. If Yuki-Grossaria is able to get hold of old Zamel's granddaughter, she will be able to get information about the 'Zamelites' through him. Moreover, if Viscount Grossaria is elevated to the rank of Countess, the family's rank will be balanced. Not bad.
"Wait for my brother, Your Highness, Second Prince Cain.

　Iris got up from her seat and looked at Prince Cain from the front.

''Yuki-sama is my guardian knight. I will not allow him to be used as a tool of the faction!
I'm sorry, darling, but could you go ahead and excuse us?

　Prince Cain announced to the guild staff.
　The reporting official bowed and walked out of the reception room.
　Then Prince Cain looked at Iris.

'There seems to be a misunderstanding, but I don't intend to use Yuki-Grossaria as a tool. I was only considering giving him the status he deserves for his accomplishments.
A suitable position?
''He has the power. He's got the two Lords, a new Ancient Magic and the key to the fifth layer of magic from Elysian. Originally, the Viscount Grossaria should have been given the status of a marquis instead of an earl.
I understand.
'But there's a conflict with the other nobles. In order to make him more successful, he needs a certain amount of backing. That's why old Zamel is thinking of convincing the other noblemen by marrying his granddaughter to him.
''As long as it's one of old Zamel's relatives, even if you confer the rank of marquis or higher, you can suppress the discontent of the other nobles...?''
You know what I'm talking about.

　Prince Cain nodded with satisfaction.

'You're a clever one. Iris. Then you also know why the royal family began to send princes and princesses to the 'Magic Guild', right?
I know.

　It was to prevent the magicians from running amok.
　The country's royal family that existed at the time was unable to stop the 'Sanctuary Church' from running amok 200 years ago.
　That's because the Sanctuary Church monopolized ancient magic and ancient artifacts.
　The kings and nobles, who can only use ordinary magic, were unable to resist the Sanctuary Church.

　As a reflection of this, the Rondobel Magic Guild was created.

In order to prevent the monopoly of ancient magic and ancient artifacts, the guild was backed by the royal family.
　In order to prevent sorcerers from running amok, the guild is now backed by a royal princess. The guild is now backed by a royal prince-princess, who is equal in knowledge and skill to the expert sorcerers, so that they can be held back.

　The system of awarding knighthoods to sorcerers who have made a difference is another safeguard.

　The more one loses, the more cowardly one becomes.
If a war breaks out, as in the case of the Sanctuary Church, both the title and the land will be lost. On the other hand, if you continue to serve the royal family as an aristocrat, you will be safe and secure in your land and position.
　If the sorcerers thought so, their rampage would be curbed and the royal family would be able to develop with their help.

　It is with this in mind that the current system was created.

''Unfortunately, the only prince-princesses at present who have enough magic power to join the 'Magic Guild' are me and Iris. That's why we have to manage our sorcerers well.
'I understand. That's 'why' I'm against it, too.
Why?
It's because Yuki-sama's too valuable a person.

　Iris declared once and for all.

''As well as your magic skills, your courage and kindness in jumping into the fourth layer of Elysian to help Flora-Zamel is most precious. I believe that a person like that should be kept close to the royal family - and by extension, to me.
But if you put them too close together, they won't be able to use their talents?
What do you mean by that?
It's a good idea to give talented people the opportunity to play an active role. It's a good idea to give talented people the opportunity to play an active role in the "Magic Guild" as a bridge to the "Zamelites", so that Yuki-Grossaria's talents can be fully utilized. I think he'll be happy about it too.
Is that so?
'An ambitious man would think so. Yuki-Grossaria is looking for a knighthood for his achievements. Shouldn't he be considered ambitious as well?
...it's

　Iris winced.

　The reason Yuki wants the title is so that he can take Iris as his wife. It's a good idea to get a position that is commensurate with that.
　He has no ambition at all.
　The only thing he has is a genuine interest in magic.

　The same was true in a previous life.
In order to enrich the village, Mylord of the "Fira Village" had been researching various magic techniques.
　He used the results of his research to protect the village from starvation and pestilence.

　My Lord wants to live a leisurely life surrounded by his family.
　If you take your family - if you take Iris in, he will throw away his title and position with a "pop".

(.........................Because that's the kind of person My Lord is.

　But if that seems like ambition, then I may have to rethink my strategy.

　─ ─ Iris thinks about it.
　She wonders what other ways she could marry into My Lord, other than raising her knighthood.

(.........for example.......creating an existing fact, right?

　I think there was a case somewhere where a middle class nobleman and a princess fell in love and got together, only to find out later that they were in love - that seems to have happened somewhere. I don't really remember if the princess married off in the end or not.
　Deciding to look it up in the royal library later, Iris turned to her brother Cain again.

''Anyway, Yuki-sama has something more difficult to gain than talent, that is.
'More than talent?　I can't imagine....
Trust.

　Iris declared.

'That man will never change his promise. He will never change his word, nor will he abandon anyone. Isn't that the hardest thing to get in the world of royalty and aristocracy with all its conspiracy tactics?
So you don't think I should let him go?
''The one who will absolutely stand by your side no matter what... how happy you are to have him by your side... don't you know, Brother Cain?
Well no, you're right, I don't know.

　Cain shrugged his shoulders and shook his head.

'But I see your point Iris. Let's hold off on the subject of framing Yuki-Grossaria and Flora-Zamel.
Thank you, brother Cain. Brother Cain.
I'm jealous.
What?

　At Cain's mumbled line, Iris makes a strange face.

''The one who will definitely be on my side no matter what........'' I don't have anyone I can trust that much, you know.
Brother Cain.
''I rather wanted Yuki-Grossaria,''
You can't have it.

　Iris picked up the hem of her dress and bowed.

''Because that person is the one I trust the most, my 'guard knight' - the one I want by my side at all times.

　With that, Iris left the reception room.
　She went straight to the outside of the guest house. There should be a carriage waiting for her outside.

　Today, I'm going to meet up with Yuki and we're going to head to a town near the royal capital.
　In order to greet Baron Grossaria and his family, who have come for the ascension ceremony.

''........I have to pay my proper greetings to My Lord's family.

　The last time he went to the barony, Iris had yet to regain her memories of her previous life.
　This will be my first meeting with My Lord's wife, Alice.

We mustn't be rude. I won't be embarrassed to be My Lord's wife.

　It was Iris who was thinking about this and getting into the swing of things.