I was making the rounds of the wounded with Katie and Leslie in the sanitation building when I was called in by Raquel's men as soon as I finished my work.

　The room on the second floor of the fortress, which is used to respond to visitors from the outside. We were brought to the front of it, and we were shown into an adjoining room - where I saw Chloe-san and Solfa-san. I had seen them in the round table room, but this was the first time I had spoken to them directly.

　Chloe-san and Raquel-san have a similar air about them, but I feel that Raquel-san's sense of intimidation as a warrior is one degree higher than mine. I don't feel any magic, so I guess it's innate, but she's a mysterious woman with deep green hair and eyes.

　Ms. Solfa is a woman with long flaxen hair tied in two on either side, which gives her a sense of elegance. She could be considered quite young since she called Deethe-san 'big sister', but with the position of archer-in-chief, there is a sharp light in her eyes.

''...... Originally, this kind of thing is fraught with danger. The Raquel Knight Chief must have that much trust in Lord Glass. Your sister is also .......
I'm sorry for calling you out of the blue, Lord Glass. A messenger is now visiting you from the center with a written order from His Majesty the King. His Royal Highness Astina, the Knight-in-Chief of Raquel, and Lord Dite are here to see you and talk to you.
From the center ...... does that mean you received a request for reinforcements from His Highness and received a response?

　If so, it should have been a good thing for this fortress. However, Chloe and Sorfa didn't answer together, and Chloe urged me to come to the back of the room.

　There, I could faintly hear a conversation from the next room. Chloe-san looks at me without saying anything - she wants me to listen to the conversation between His Highnesses and the messenger from the center that is taking place in the very next room right now.

'We have permission from the Knight Commander. Glass, if you fear that this will result in defection to the center, we will not force you to do so. We can't be deceitful to you, either, as you are doing your duty as a military doctor and are contributing to the cause.
'I'm of my own volition, and I'm willing to be listened to. I also believe that if Raquel is telling me to do something, I should definitely listen to her. And not just because I'm under orders to do so.
...... Right.

　Chloe only replied briefly and said nothing more. The three of us listened to the conversation coming from the next room - and.

　What we heard was a high-pressure male voice. It was an insolent manner of speaking that made it hard to believe we were talking to the guardians of this fortress.

''His Majesty the King personally sent me. ''His Majesty's request is to release all those held in this Isle Rose Fortress.
'If it's ...... Zirconia's soldiers, I can still understand. But as for the rest of them, we have captured them for their actions to avenge this fortress. Why should we let them go?
"Let's ask you to keep your mouth shut, Raquel. This is an edict from the King, and I will only deliver it. If it is refuted, it will be conveyed to His Majesty the King with appropriate meaning.
"ugh. ......

　It was unbelievable to my ears. Not only Zirconia's prisoners of war, but even those who had been pouring weapons into Zirconia were said to be released by 'His Majesty the King'

　-- I shudder in wondering about that. There's no way that such a thing can really happen, but the circumstances up to now show one possibility.

(There is someone who needs to have 'all' of those detained in this fortress released: ...... That person has urged His Majesty to borrow the name of His Majesty the King or issue a written order.)

"...... of the North, the Knights ...... of the Royal Family, of the Order ...... of the Royal Family, through humans ...... weapons, shed and ......

　Information drawn from the prisoner by the power of Alraune. The words of the one who had communicated with Zirconia across the border came back to his mind.

　The other possibilities were no longer mostly destroyed.

　-- a member of the royal family who had a connection to Zirconia had inspired His Majesty the King.

　But even though there was still evidence to suggest so, the decision was left to His Highness. A decision too weighty to decide the fate of this fortress - and yet, if they do nothing and simply release the prisoners, they will do what the people who are plotting against His Highness Astina and the others want them to do.

(Is it all a plot that the Second Queen is hatching? ...... How can she go so far?　His Highness Astina is fighting to protect her country. (Hand in hand, this country would be more ......)

　I wasn't the only one clenching my fists. Chloe and Sorfa were also biting their lips in anger.

　The girls may not yet know that their enemies are in the royal family. Still, anyone in this fortress could see that the center was being forced to be unreasonable.

The ...... Zirconia side has been attacking us incessantly without any attitude of dialogue. We are defending Raiseneier ......
"I'm sure the integrity of the Isle Rose will be appreciated by both the people and the center when we free the detainees. I'm sure His Majesty the King will be very pleased.

　-- and then another unbelievable thing happens. The messenger man interrupted His Royal Highness Princess Astina's remarks to express his opinion as if it was not necessary.

''You, you ......!''
'Raquel, it's fine. Thank you, Lord Vysek, for conveying 'His Majesty the King's Will'. But as for the prisoners of war, I hope you will understand that the matter of the POWs is directly related to the defense of the Western Territories ...... and not to their immediate release.
"...... Your Highness, you should be understood. Your position in the Kingdom's military was given with the utmost consideration for your position as a princess. I've heard rumors of your service on the battlefield, but it's always your followers who speak of it, and it's doubtful to what extent it's truly meritorious. I suppose I shouldn't get too brazen.

　The man rudely gets out of his seat and leaves the room. You can hear Raquel-san getting up from her seat - yet she still didn't move, controlled by His Highness.

'Lord Glass ......!

　I couldn't help but move. Why did he not know that His Highness Astina had risked her life on the battlefield while in the army? Are you going to treat even the achievements she has made so far as if they didn't exist?

　There is no way I can allow that to happen. But I wasn't the only one who thought so.

　On the other side of the door, Presha-san was standing there.

　She was more angry than anyone else. She was bleeding from her clenched fists as she pushed down her fury, anger, and murderous intent - all of it.

'...... I know that I can never do that. If I kill that guy, everything I've endured will be for nothing....... He was sent to disturb and humiliate His Highness Astina's heart....... Even I can understand that much.
...... Mr. Presha.

　If someone cuts into Vaissek here, what will happen - His Highness will be deprived of his right to the throne as a traitor who has disobeyed His Majesty's edict.

　There is only one person who would benefit from that. If he was able to identify the person behind Vaissek, he would normally be the one to be blamed. But with His Royal Highness far from the center and seemingly unconnected, His Majesty is more likely to lend an ear to the slander of those close to him.

I'm not going to allow ...... his highness to say something like that, it's absolutely unacceptable. I'm going to kill every single one of them ...... someday.
...... I feel the same way. There's no way we can allow that to happen.

　Tears spilled out of Presha's eyes, which were beginning to turn the color of hatred. She squirmed against the wall and slammed her fist down repeatedly.

'Why ...... why can't we just think about ourselves ...... and be one for this country ...... how can we? ......!

　The fist raised once again stopped. Raquel came out of the room and grabbed Presha's wrist.

'...... I'm sorry for the pain I put you through. I'm only ...... watching Vysek's brutality in front of me, too.
'That's not true. The most shameful thing I've ever done is ...... myself.
"What do you mean by ......, Your Highness? His Highness came here ...... for his people and took the sword himself for us. Why didn't you say so? The one who really cares about his people and wants to be their shield, Your Highness Astina, should be yourself. That is our pride, so why did you not order us to slay Vaissek: ......!

　Raquel-san spoke out in front of His Highness. It should have been painful for her, who has deep respect for His Highness, to the point of cutting herself.

　His Highness reflects on me. Then, without saying a word, he walks off towards the upper levels.

　I thought that he wanted me to follow him. Raquel-san doesn't say anything, but looks down - Presha-san gives me a clinging look.

　I have to go, I have to go. In order to hear your highness' true intentions with my ears.