As we leave the Isle Rose Fortress and proceed for a while, the sky turns lightly cloudy and we can hear thunderstorms in the distance. The weather looks like it could be raining - but I can't let that stop me.

　I'm riding on the back of Presha's horse. I wish I had practiced riding, but it wasn't considered an essential skill required of a military doctor - I think with the continuous movement of the situation, but riding skills are still essential if you want to accompany the knights.

'Your Highness, given the number of troops led by General Rothgardt, with our numbers ......

　Deete-san spoke to His Highness as she advanced alongside his horse. His Highness Astina looked at Mr. Deete and shook her head as if she wasn't particularly worried.

''The fact that we will be greeting you with so many troops means hostility. Although it is dangerous, you and four Kingsguard knights and sixteen knights ...... would be the limit of this number.
If they see that we are a small group, they will come out strong. If there's no room to negotiate and they force their way through: ......
''General Rothgard is a beaten-up in the Order and has a distant relationship with generals from the nobility. And since he is being sent to the Western Territories, where the current situation is not good, he may not be happy about it.
I'm sure you've been promised improved logistics, more Transportation Corps troops, etc., but it doesn't change the fact that some people have forced General Rothgardt into this role with the intention of moving to the ...... left.

　Both His Highness Astina and Mr. Dite had obtained some information about the central knightly headquarters - I didn't know what kind of person he was just from hearing his name, but I could swallow a part of the situation.

'First, let's see how the other side comes out. We should be able to see them just past the vicinity of the town of Portoro. Make sure you raise the flag as soon as possible.
"Ha!

　The four knights of the Kingsguard reply together without a minute's disturbance - the reason why they are wearing helmets that cover their ears and can hear all of His Highness' voices despite being on horseback is because His Highness' unconsciousness is working through magical power under his unconsciousness.

　And now that she has become a priestess of the Divine Tree, information about the entire western territory where the Divine Tree's influence extends to her has come into her life. But even so, she doesn't let the information overwhelm her, but keeps her ego in check, and with the vast amount of information she has, she is thinking about the next phase of her life.

''There is nothing to worry about. What we've done in the West ...... and what Glass has done in the past will come to fruition.

　How much I've accumulated - how much I've been able to do in the short time I've been in the Isle Rose Fortress.

　His Highness saw that more than I did. At first, His Highness was not indifferent, even if he didn't know if he could trust me, who had been assigned by Queen Cassandra's arrangement, but he was not indifferent.

...... It's because of this person's character that Sister Raquel and I came along. I'm really sorry that I didn't understand ...... what was going on at first.
'No, it's okay. I'm sure I would have been spoiled if you had trusted me from the beginning.
It's not so much that I'm spoiled, it's more that ...... your teacher can count on you all, too. I'll do my best to get them to do the same for me.

　It's not that someone else has to carry more of the load on their shoulders, but all of us do. It is His Highness who takes the initiative to do that, and I believe that he is the one who thinks about this western territory more than anyone else.

　Without knowing anything about it, we should never accept simply shaking His Highness's feet and upsetting the people of the territory for the sake of a battle for the throne.

　However, it also meant that the Isle Rose Fortress refused to accept the order that was supposed to be an edict from His Majesty the King.

　◆◇◆

　Under a light cloudless sky, we could see a group of cavalrymen coming down the street beyond the spreading meadows.

　When they see that we have raised our flag, they raise theirs as well. The banner of the Rayseneian Knights and a flag with a lion, which is probably the emblem of General Rothgardt, are raised.

　His Highness raises his hand and his horse stops. Instead of confronting them on the street, we entered the grassy hillside ahead of them, and General Rothgardt's group also began to move late.

''That cloak (coat) is a court mage ...... that is also of a higher rank ......

　Mr. Deethe looked nervously at the mage near the other party's group, General Rothgard, with a nervous look on his face. I thought I was going to upset her, but I thought I should tell her again.

'She's my sister-in-law ...... Millenia Weed. She probably asked me to accompany her because I'm being sent here.
''That 'Jade Witch' is here ......, the hero who single-handedly pushed back a thousand enemy soldiers on the southern front ......
...... If they use magic, even we won't be safe. But if the doctor is here, he won't attack us without question.

　I'd like to think so too - but your sister-in-law is loyal to her country. Even if she has a soft spot for me, she would never go against the orders given to her as a court mage.

　But if I could tell my sister-in-law about our situation - just as I was thinking that, I suddenly turned my head and saw a few cavalrymen ahead of me.

''...... vaisec ......!
'That guy ...... was waiting around here. I've been waiting for him to blow something into General Rothgard: ......!

　No longer hiding their malice towards us, as if to show their appearance to His Highness Astina, Vaisek lets his soldiers open the way and approach General Rothgard.

　One by one, our side and the cavalrymen of the other side approach and exchange messages. His Highness did not change his expression when he received the report of the returning cavalrymen and sent out another messenger.

''Your Highness: .......''
'As I have been informed beforehand, they have told me to transfer the command of the Isle Rose Fortress and the governance of the Western Territory. The reason for this is a violation of my orders ...... and the fact that Isle Rose's soldiers have left the fortress is also being ascertained.

　With this, Vysek must have been convinced that he had won. The pressure from Zirconia, and the delaying of the transport from the center, put the Isle Rose Fortress in a tight spot, and His Highness thought so, thinking that he had attacked Zirconia in pain.

　But the fact is that this is not the case.

　The Knights of the Isle Rose fell the Zirconia Fortress unscathed, and the threat of an invasion from the neighboring country was gone. On the contrary, they are now in a position to negotiate a ceasefire in favor of Zirconia.

...... And if we rebel, they will take us down with the help of the accompanying court mage ...... Lord Millennia.
''That's too much disrespect for His Highness ......!
''More than three hundred cavalrymen, the power of a court mage allows you to make such demands. To bring them in to threaten your people: ......

　Presha-san tightens her grip on the horse's reins and bites her teeth.

　If this is the case, she will have no choice but to drink the other party's terms, that's how big she considers her sister-in-law's power to be. Neither me nor Leslie can think of opposing my sister-in-law - we want to avoid fighting her at all costs first.

　But we can't accept the conditions that have been offered. There is a divine tree in this territory, and with your highness receiving the oracle as a priestess, the life of the people in the territory will surely improve. And His Highness' power to read the future is the one and only power to avoid futile conflicts and ward off the fires that fall.

His Highness is ...... about His Highness, what treatment they will give .......
'As for me, he says he's going to take me to a military tribunal. They're going to strip me of my rank as a knight: ...... As for the verdict, it's as if it's been decided all along.

　Do you really think you can pass that unreasonableness - or do you think you can?

　Queen Cassandra, the Northern Knights connected to it - and Jorg Frost. They have already undermined not only the royal capital, but also the heart of the Knights.

'Your Highness ...... will you have a direct dialogue with them?　What is the point of listening to the words of such men?
'Lord Rothgard probably doesn't know about His Highness Cassandra's intentions. And Milania-dono should also be acting solely on the basis of an edict from His Majesty. If it can be overturned, it would be if implementing the edict could 'undermine the stability of the territory'.

　Even though it is the order of His Majesty the King, it is useless if the country is disturbed. If all the edicts were faithfully executed, the country would be said to be invincible - but that's not realistic.

　They don't know the reality of the Western Territory. That is the only thing that can be put on them.

'Presha, Deite. Please stay here ...... and I will have a dialogue with the general.
"... ...... Your Highness...
'Don't worry, Mr. Deite. I'm sure His Highness will be able to help you at .......

　Mr. Deethe remonstrated with Mr. Presha, who was about to ask to accompany him. His Highness paces his horse and advances out with two of his kinsmen knights to the halfway point between us and the other side.　

'Glass, you'll see. I would never put you and your sister at odds.

　His Highness' voice echoes in my chest - I can only thank him for his concern and pray for now. That everything will be safe and that I won't have to fight with my sister-in-law.