I admit, I don't like the idea of Lady Filia being an observer at an execution. But I don't think it's all bad.

　Clarice said in a calm voice instead of her usual joking tone.
　I stared into Clarice's eyes, surprised.

　Clarice expressed a positive opinion about having Filia be a witness to the public execution.

''Because Filia-sama has always been treated coldly in the Imperial Palace, and she has rarely, if ever, received orders from His Majesty the Emperor.

I'm sure you do.

　Even if they are the same royal family, their treatment differs greatly depending on the status of their mother and the environment in which they are placed.
　For example, if she is the daughter of an empress, with the support of influential people and a possible succession to the throne, the other royalty, nobles, bureaucrats and servants will respect her and treat her as a true princess.

　However, although Filia is one of the emperor's many daughters, her formal mother, the queen, has already died.
　Moreover, since she was actually born to a demon slave girl, she had no reason to be treated unfairly.
　Even his own father, the emperor, would not have had an ounce of interest or concern for Filia.

''But now, His Majesty the Emperor, I mean Filia-sama's father, needs Filia-sama. That might be a happy thing for Filia-sama.

'Actually, I think Her Majesty just did what the bureaucrats told her to do.

If that's the case, I'm happy if Filia-sama has become different and more meaningful to the Imperial Palace and the government than she has been in the past.

　Clarice said with a gentle smile.

'Besides, the execution is just to be attended to, and all you have to do is close your eyes and ears afterwards.

Well, yeah. Maybe.

　I didn't tell Clarice that Filia would directly kill the guilty person.
　As expected, if I said so, Clarice might object.
　But in any case, Filia must be present at the execution site for once.

　Clarice said.

'Do you remember the first time Master Solon met me?

'I remember. It was when we were in the carriage on the way back to the Imperial City.

Yes. Didn't Master Solon protect me from the brigands then?

I know. I killed them that time.

　The six strong bandits called themselves the Jet Black Bandits and even used magic.
　And against them, I wielded my power without restraint and took their lives.

　I needed to save the lives of a large number of passengers, and since they looked reasonably strong, it was difficult to defeat all six of them while they were still alive.
　Besides, they would have been killed by the Imperial Army sooner or later anyway.

　But that doesn't change the fact that I killed the bandits.
　It's not the first time I've killed someone in that way, and not the first time I've killed someone out of necessity.

　When I was 12 years old, I stabbed a kidnapper to death to protect the duchess of my family.
　Since then, I've taken several people's lives in order to protect myself.
　None of them were unavoidable, but it was still a disgusting act that always clouded my mind.

　Clarice lowered her eyes.

''When the July Party attacked the Imperial Palace, my friend's maid went missing... and I later found out that she died...''

I'm sorry to hear that.

'When the boy was found, his arms and legs were torn off and he had severe burns all over his body...he looked very distressed. He was so cute, and he was a good kid. And yet... why... why...?

　Clarice mumbled that, then looked up and said decisively.

''That July Party killed many of the Imperial Palace's business associates. The people who died hadn't done anything wrong. ........Therefore, I have no sympathy for the executives of the July Party when I hear that they are being executed.

Do you think bad people deserve to be killed?

Yes, sir.

　Without hesitation, Clarice nodded.
　I understand what Clarice is saying.

　Even Filia and Lucy and the others had almost died.
　What the July Party did is not something that can be forgiven.

　However, the July Party had its own ideals, and for them, it was justice.

　The overthrow of the imperial government. The abolition of monarchy and slavery. Prohibition of discrimination on the basis of status. Equal distribution of wealth to all peoples. An end to the war by immediate peace with the neighbouring countries.

　That was the demand of the July Party.
　I don't think their method of realizing their ideals through destruction is right.
　I don't agree with all of their arguments, either.

　But unlike the bandits who preyed on people to fatten their pockets, they were people who stood for universal ideals.

　Clarice-san popped her hand.

''Now, let's end the gloomy talk!　Me, Filia-sama, Sophia-sama, and Solon-sama have to keep smiling!

　Clarice smiled and Sophia nodded.
　And both of them were still in their underwear.


☆


　As soon as Filia finished dressing, Filia, Gapon and I headed to the execution site.
　I'm allowed to participate in the public execution as Filia's bodyguard.

　Perhaps because it was not a joyous occasion, Filia was wearing a rather plain, black-based dress.
　On the bosom of the dress, she wore a brooch of a shining silver two-headed eagle.
　And Filia looked uneasy.

　The execution site was on a small hill on the outskirts of the city, a sandy area with no grass.

　A large crowd had already gathered at the foot of the hill to watch the public execution.
　Hundreds or even thousands of people were likely to be gathered there.

　The public execution of a criminal was one of the few pastimes of the poor imperial subjects.
　There were never a few who wanted to see people ruined.

　There were many camps set up as an antechamber for government officials, but we were in the largest of them.
　There were several men in the white camp.

　In the center of it all was a man named Blados, the head of the government in charge of public executions.

　Blados was a middle-aged man with a prominent stubble and wrinkled clothes.
　He didn't have the appearance of a bureaucrat.
　He was said to be the head of the Executive Division of the Third Department of the Emperor's Secretariat, but he also looked clearly unmotivated.

　Blados stood up and knelt in front of Filia as if it was a hassle.

''Well done, sir. Your Highness Filia.''

　Unlike usual, Filia looked a little nervous.

　Whether it was because it was unusual for her to receive words, albeit indirectly, from the Emperor, or whether she was intimidated by Gapon and Blados, she wasn't sure why.

　Blados advanced a piece of writing to Filia.

　It was stamped with the emperor's imperial seal, indicating that he had indeed obtained the emperor's orders.

　It would be difficult to argue with Filia's participation in the execution.

"You're free to go.

　Blados threw the appropriate words at Filia.

　We're out of the camp.
　Filia turned back.

'Mr. Gapon. You can step back. Solon will take care of the rest.

'That's not how it works. It is because I have been ordered to watch over your highness.

　Gapon smiled.
　It sounds good if you're watching, but I suspect it's surveillance.

　I guess that means he won't behave strangely.
　Filia and I looked at each other.

　Filia looked at me, and I smiled at her.

'It's okay. Filia-sama has my back.''

　When I whispered, Filia's eyes widened and her cheeks relaxed in happiness.
　Father Gapon seemed to be staring at us.

　Father Gapon seemed to be staring at us, and then he called out to us from behind: "You are quite good friends, aren't you?

'You are very close to me, aren't you? Even if I had to, I would never understand how my sister could be so close to such a man.

　Standing there was a girl dressed in dark green clothing.
　Her clothes looked light and easy to move around in, and she also had a sword strapped to her waist.

　From the looks of it, she must be about fifteen or sixteen years old.

　She had the appearance of a very standard imperialist with brown hair and brown eyes, however, her appearance was neat and neat in a way that you don't often see.
　Her hair was gently waved and she was tall and sleek.

　If one were to ask if she was a beautiful girl, most people would say she was a beautiful girl.
　Well, compared to Filia, it's not much, I thought to myself, and I wondered if this was because I was patronizing Filia as my teacher.

　The girl's eyes were a little chilly. And just like Filia, she had a silver two-headed eagle brooch adorning her chest.
　I could imagine the other person's status, but I deliberately blurted it out.

''I believe you are a nobleman, but if you'll excuse me, may I ask your name?''

　When I said that, the girl stared at me sharply.
　Then the girl drew her sword and cut at me.
　Filia gasps.

　But in the next moment, my treasure sword tetracord caught the girl's sword and flicked it away.
　The girl's sword strike was quite fast, however, fast for an amateur, that's all.
　Even if she was rotten, she was no match for me, who had fought for years as a magic swordsman.

　I swallowed the line about what I was suddenly going to do, and instead I smiled

'I don't think the plot is bad, but it's not quite there yet.

　The girl looked frustrated and slumped down.
　She seems to be quite proud.

'I'll say it again. What's your name?

　The girl replied to my words in frustration.

'You don't know me?　I am the seventeenth princess, Iris. I am the daughter of the Empress of the rightful bloodline.