When the document arrived at the Silvana Magic Academy from the Knights' Royal Capital Headquarters, I had an idea of its contents before I opened it.

　My brother-in-law had yet to send me a single letter after being sent to the western territory, but Leslie, who accompanied him as his assistant, had sent me a letter once.

　He said that both that Swordswoman General and the knights under him were willing to recognize Glass as a member of the Order. Leslie didn't exaggerate her wishful thinking, and I was optimistic that since it was my brother, he was establishing his own place in the group in his own way.

　Call me a big sister idiot, I can't deny it. But I knew from the beginning.

　I knew from the beginning what the possibilities of signing a contract with a plant spirit in 'this country' would suggest. Even Head Master Hendrik hadn't even thought about it.

　When did the stop thinking that mages who contracted with non-primary spirits were worthless? From the time the Silvana Academy of Magic was created with the main purpose of training military mages - for Glass, it had been so from the beginning.

　Prior to that time, the records of this country's mages were forbidden to be inspected by the country's mages. Even I, who became a court mage of the seventeenth ladder, am not allowed to enter the sealed archives of the royal palace.

(But it's not the history pertaining to mages, but what happened to the ...... western realm that comes to light by looking at it from a different aspect. (And that it was worth as much as a heart to the Raiseneian royal family.)

　He could have told Glass everything from the beginning and sent him off. But then, the fact that he knew the secrets of the Western Domain might have made his behavior unnatural.

　If he could, he wanted him to get to the facts along with the core of the Isle Rose Order. The Discarded Garden and the Discarded Divine Spirit - if Glass is qualified, I'm sure he'll be called there. But I wasn't sure what happened beyond that either.

　The wavering was prodded by the Second Queen Cassandra. No, I do not believe that she herself alone could have made the decision to send me to the Western Territories.

　And yet here I am, riding my horse as I am begged to do, under a heavy cloudy sky, and being shown the expressionless profile of an old warrior.

'...... General Rothgard. Is it good?
'Your Highness Astina is one of the best generals in the Royal Order and has defended the Isle Rose Fortress well. His Majesty the King is pleased with that, but he is also worried about it. I can't have the princess, who always takes the initiative in warfare, take command any longer.

　The short question was answered more than adequately. It also showed General Rothgard's guilt that came from his loyalty to His Highness Astina.

''Do you think that an old man's bones, who retired from the front line as a general, cannot be relied upon to defend the border?
...... Such sarcastic remarks are unbecoming of a general.

　Between the court mages of the seventeenth rung of the ladder and the general of the Kingdom Knights, the general, who had a total of only eight members, would have a higher position in the army. Otherwise, I knew that I would be speaking too much to someone who was more than a year older than me, but I dared to say something unreservedly out of my mouth.

　-- this old general knew exactly how I felt about being here, and on top of that, this old general ordered me to do so.

　If there was any disquiet in the movements of His Highness Astina and the others, he ordered me to counter them with magic power. It is easy to imagine that the messenger who conveyed that to His Highness would have replaced it with strong words of disrespect.

I'm not sure if this is the end of the special case of the women-only knights. It's truly a mystery to me what kind of decision was made to leave the borders to women, and what kind of decision was made to continue to this day.
'With a noblewoman in the princess's entourage, I suppose that means she had some say in the matter.
'Schmidt, Banias. The Knights of the Isle Rose have been defending the front line. You should know that we, from the center, are not as experienced as they are in battle. If you underestimate us, you will be caught off guard.

　General Rothgard remonstrates with his men - they are centurions, and Lord Raquel, who is said to be His Highness Astina's right hand man, is at the rank of a thousand men. Still, the tendency to look down on them just because they were women did not change on any battlefield.

　Once they entered the Isle Rose Fortress, one could imagine how they would treat the knights and soldiers who would become their subordinates. It was doubtful whether they would give the only male in the current situation, Glass, the only male in the group, the orderly treatment as well. Because the first thing they would do when they entered the fortress would be to show that they would take control of the command and rise above. In order to do so, those in key positions in the fortress at the moment would either be excused from their positions on grounds of discipline, or their actions would be severely restricted.

　Knowing that, there's an itch that they have no choice but to sit back and watch things unfold for now. This is the kind of ordeal that His Highness Astina, me - and my brother - will surely have to go through.

''You understand, Lady Millenia Weed. "You are aware, Millennia Weed, that His Highness Cassandra also trusts the loyalty that the Jade Witch has sworn to my country. You will not betray that trust, my dear.

　We know that this man, Vysek, has been active in the West. I was brought here because of the arrangements this man had made.

　I didn't feel that I was in a vulnerable position, having sent Glass to me. However, the fact that the document from military headquarters that came to me had a clause that said, 'If you respond to the call, your brother will be excused from the hearing,' was only because Glass was perceived by me as a vital point of contact.

　I can show them things in my eyes to the extent that they underestimate me, but they underestimate even my brother. If you think about that seriously, you may end up asking my spirit 'Tempest' for an emotional favor.

I have no taste for being called a 'witch', despite the two names ...... known to me.
I'm sorry to say that ......, but I don't mean that in a bad way, because your good looks are magical, or something like that.

　This is a slight that came out because I'm more than a former military court mage, and I see myself as a woman. That's why women in the military don't uniformly trust men - some of them are respectable warriors, but they are the only ones I've seen who don't deserve it.

　This Vaissek was a person from a baronial family, a relative of Queen Cassandra, who had successfully risen in the Knights' headquarters after working as a transport captain and so on while avoiding the front lines. It's easy for me to grasp that much background, and I know that Vysek is supposed to be granted the territory on account of this 'merit'.

　--The question is, is it not an achievement or anything else, and isn't it just an attempt to undermine His Highness Astina?

''When this one is over, I hope to see you again at the King's nightclub or some other event in King's Landing.
I'm afraid I have no intention of attending any such meetings in the foreseeable future.
''You are not only the head of the Academy of Magic, you are also a nobleman. I'm sure you're all waiting for me, ......, including me.

　I was long past anger, and my heart was dry from the heart.

　I suppose my temperament was a good match for the spirit of the wind. The mental picture that comes to mind at times like this is the desert - and the tornadoes that are blowing around.

　These knights have never fought with us on the battlefield. They seem to mistake me for something akin to a lady, but I'm beginning to feel like destroying that assumption at once.

　If I disobey the order, the military headquarters will create a reason to send a large army into the western territory. It's not a reasonable decision considering the war situation in the north and east, but since Queen Cassandra is trying to get rid of His Highness Astina by any means necessary, she won't miss it if she sees it as an opportunity.

His Royal Highness is willing to come this way and engage in a dialogue: ...... Everyone, no disrespect.

　A knight on a white horse, accompanied by two squires, approached us. Even the knights who had been lightly babbling froze in their breaths at the sight of the sword princess with long golden hair braided and dressed in white and silver armor - His Highness Astina.

　As the cavalry opened the way, Vysek slipped into his position as General Rothgard's second in command. I decided to watch the dialogue between His Highness and General Rothgardt from the rear.

''It's been a long time, Your Highness Astina. Please forgive me for the rudeness of meeting you in this manner.
'Face up, General Rothgard. No disrespect, sir.

　A man with a white beard, a warrior approaching the age of old age, hangs his head down on his horse to His Highness. He refused to lift his head, even though his Highness chided him.

　I could sense where General Rothgard's loyalty lay. He is not satisfied with this order either - his loyalty to His Majesty and Queen Amneria's Royal Highness is also directed to his daughter, His Royal Highness Astina.

　After General Rothgard finally raised his head, it was Vysek, of all people, who spoke before him.

''I am sorry, Your Highness Astina. You disregarded the recent edict and attacked Zirconia, etc. ......
'We decided that it was necessary to defend this western territory. There was little supply from the center, and the damage would have been greater than it is now in the defense of the war.
That's what it is to be a general in charge of an army. It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what to do. Even if it is His Highness Astina ......
"Lord Vysek, Your Highness and I are speaking to you now. I asked you to be present, but you are not authorized to speak.
"Goooooooooo ......, but. This time it's only because of my report ......

　The man who had crossed the Knights with his glibness would try to take the initiative in the dialogue by playing with his oratory at the drop of a hat. But General Rothgard was not so pliable as to let him do as he pleased.

"...... His Royal Highness Astina...... No, General Astina. If it is true that you have not obeyed His Majesty the King's orders, then I will be the general of the Isle Rose Fortress, and Your Highness will be asked to return to the royal capital to await further action.

　A thunderclap roars in the distant sky. The black clouds grow thicker and the rain is about to start falling.

　--The cloudy weather doesn't deter His Highness smiles. Even in the face of three hundred cavalrymen, there is no fear, and with an air of serenity, she replies.

''I cannot obey that order. My duty is to protect the people of this Western Domain. It is my duty to protect the Western Domain, to put the hearts of the people of the Domain at ease, and to enrich their lives.''
'Nah ...... not to talk about, and if you don't know what it means to be against your Majesty's life, then the word itself is a grave treason!
'At ......, I ask you. Can you be sure that there is nothing wrong with me requesting an audience with His Majesty in person?　Lord Vysek.
That's .......

　It was truly a sharp word that could pierce the heart. I'm not a swordswoman, I'm a swordsman - she was even called that, and she didn't fall into the trap of scheming.

It's not just a matter of time before you get to the point where you'll be able to get your hands on a new pair of shoes.

　He admired Vysek's boldness in not letting it slip that the Second Queen would not allow it. However, Vaissek didn't have the luxury of caring that he was being disrespectful to His Highness Astina.

　Looking at the expression on General Rothgard's face, it wasn't hard to imagine that siding with Vaissek was hurting the knight's pride. Sadly, though, not a few of the general's men seemed to agree with Vaissek's opinion.

''The Isle Rose Fortress has a battle record to report to His Majesty the King. I also believe that we should go to the King's capital on this foot and report it to His Majesty, but ...... should we invite you to the fortress before that?　I'd like to see the soldiers continue to perform their duties as they have been, without needlessly changing the regime.

　Don't add any extra work, His Highness says - his mannerisms are so painful that I can't help but smile.

　The last time I saw him, when he had cut his hair a little shorter, his eyes have not changed from those days, the sharpness of his eyes have not changed. I felt that his dignity had increased to the extent that the innocence had been removed.