Black smoke rising out of nowhere.
　Screams and shouts from all directions.
　Soldiers collapsed in the fountain plaza, a place for people to relax.
　Residents of the city fled in their clothes.

　The morning of the day was supposed to be the same as the day before, but the scene was a complete reversal from the previous day.

　A young mother is running away from something while holding her baby with one hand and pulling her child's hand with the other.
　The next moment the infant was caught in a hollow in the road and fell down.

'Stand up!　Stand up!

　The mother makes the young child stand with tears in her eyes and a desperate look on her face.
　Normally, the mother would gently hug and comfort her, but now, with her life or death on the line, she probably doesn't have the time for that.

''There's another one over here!

　A man's voice, out of tune with excitement, followed the mothers.

　A soldier wearing leather armor and a small shield and holding a short spear in his hand could be seen.
　But it wasn't a soldier of the kingdom who is usually responsible for maintaining the security of the royal capital.
　The emblem engraved on the shield was that of the kingdom's arch-enemy, the Ermenian Empire.

''Quickly!　Run!

　The mother pulls the youngster's hand away with enough force to throw her off, but it's already too late.
　The imperial soldiers were only a few steps away from the girls.
　The tip of the spear is about to pierce the infant's back when a sword swiftly interrupts from the side.

　With a high-pitched sound, the spear was flicked upwards.
　The sudden interruption caused the soldier to lose his stance and step on the tatara.

''Run away while you still can!''

　The owner of the intervening sword shielded his mother against him.

''Oh, thank you!''

　When the mother says thank you, she just pulls the little one's hand away and runs off.

''Well, it looks like you're doing pretty much whatever you want ......

　Without even turning around, the owner of the sword confronts the imperial soldier.

'A female knight?'

　The imperial soldier gave a look of contempt.

　The owner of the sword that had just played the soldier's spear was a girl who looked as old as a parent and child to the soldier.
　She must be in her late teens, and she must be at that age when a glimpse of feminine softness can be seen in the vivacity of her youth.

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for when you're ready to buy.
　It was no wonder that the soldiers could mistake him for a knight.

''Hanch, you're a noblewoman, aren't you? Did you misunderstand that you are strong by badgering the commoners in the training grounds?　Then I'll show you what a real battlefield is here!

　They must have decided that they were an apparent opponent.
　The imperial soldier thrust out his spear with a look of confidence in his victory.

''You're half right.''

　The girl replied in a matter-of-fact tone, twisting her sword body around the tip of the spear as it came toward her.
　She rotated the tip of the sword in a semi-circle from the bottom to the top of the sword handle, and the soldier's spear danced in time with the movement.

''Huh?''

　Without giving a moment to recover to the soldier who screams in surprise, not knowing what was done to her, the girl dodges the spear and runs her sword along the hilt.

''Geez!''

　As it was, the sword slammed into the hand holding the spear, and a few of the soldier's fingers fell off.

''Oh, my, my fingers ah!

　Seeing the soldier who had lost his fingers and was no longer able to hold his spear, the girl, who had already decided that he was not a threat, lowered her sword.

''Lady Minerva!　Are you all right?!

　Then several armed men came rushing in.
　Their attire was not uniform, and it was clear that they were not the regular army of the kingdom or the territory of the nobles, at least not the regular army of the kingdom.

　A few of the men who rushed over to protect the girl stayed behind, while the others began to disperse and alert their surroundings.

''When did the young lady become like a kite with a broken string, jumping out of the guards when you took your eyes off her ......?

　A man who walks in late, alone, sighs loudly and complains.

'I'm sorry to trouble you, Captain Greystar. It's just that I was just in time.''

　Minerva replies apologetically and closes her eyes to hide them.

'Well, well, from what I heard about the situation, the only person who could make it was the young lady. If something happened to the young lady, we would all be physically decapitated. ............ It's bad enough that I left the side of the house thinking that it would be at least a little bit safe.

No, Captain Gracie has done nothing wrong.

It would be a different story if it were you and your young master who said that. You should be more aware of the fact that you are in a position to be protected.

Yes, of course.

　There are no words of apology from Minerva's mouth.
　But considering his or her status, it is inevitable.

　Perhaps sensing more remorse than words from that expression, Moore avoided pursuing the matter further.
　At the same time that the words were cut off from each other, one of the people who had been alerted to the surroundings interrupted.

''Captain, what do we do about that Imperial soldier?''

'Oh, yeah, ....... Tie it up and throw it in a house around the corner.

Are you sure?

I don't blame you. ......

　With instructions, three men began to restrain the body of the Imperial soldiers with ropes.
　Watching them, Minerva sputtered out a few words in frustration.

''I can't believe an Imperial soldier is wandering around alone. ......

It's not looking so good for you, is it?

　Removing his gaze from Minerva, whose expression was shaded by the seriousness of the situation, Moore instructed his men loudly.

'Hey, we're going to fall back a bit!

　Following Moore's instructions, the group moves in line to protect Minerva.
　Moore lines up next to Minerva as a matter of course.

'Will the kingdom be ...... defeated?'

　Frowning at the situation around her, Minerva asks Moore.

I'm not so sure. I'm sure that at the very least, the city will not be able to avoid the fall of the capital. The main force of the army was dragged out to the border with the empire, and the triaxers who had come to protect the king's capitol rebelled, and after sending what little troops they had to intercept them, they were taken by surprise from the sea. It's a surprise attack from the sea after sending what little troops they had left to intercept them. I don't know how many ships the Empire brought in, but it was such a large fleet. It must not be five hundred or a thousand.

Were you not warned of a surprise attack from the sea?

''Like the kingdom, the empire didn't have ships capable of sailing the open seas with an army on board. They could prepare a ship that could carry a few hundred people, but even then, it was only for the near seas. It was common knowledge that it was impossible to sneak past the coastline and take them by surprise.

You're not saying you were wrong?

''I'm sure there was no doubt in the sense that it was anti-imperial. But the problem is that they have narrowed it down to just the Empire. The biggest mistake of all was that they didn't factor in the cause of the kingdom's disastrous defeat in the battle four years ago into their strategy this time as well.

You were in St. Rogel Monarchy ......, right?

Yes, they are an army that came across the open sea from the far southern continent. It's a good thing that they have the technology to carry such a large number of people and navigate the open seas, so they were able to carry out a surprise attack like this one. If the upper echelons of the Royal Army had kept the existence of the St. Rogers Monarchy in mind from the beginning, ............ no, they would have too few troops to deal with it anyway.

　The last words were probably not directed at Minerva, but were just a soliloquy.

''Anyway, it's no use saying 'Tara' or 'Reba' now, and I'm not even a soldier in the first place. This time, when the imperial soldiers have entered the royal capital, it's a losing battle. The only thing the kingdom can do right now is to fall back from this place and try to rebuild.

But that doesn't mean we noblemen can't be the first to flee. In order for as many of our people as possible to escape, we must hold off the imperial army ourselves.

　It's a good thing that you're able to get a good idea of what's going on.

It's a noble idea, but commoners don't expect such a thing from a nobleman. They don't rely on them at all.

　There was a brief silence while Minerva's feet took five steps forward.

　Turning straight ahead and blinking slowly, Minerva opened her mouth.

'But standing above people means you have a responsibility to them. Because of this responsibility, people follow and respect their superiors. It is the aristocracy that has institutionalized this.　This is why the nobility must be responsible for people's lives and livelihoods. This is why the nobility must be responsible for people's lives and livelihoods, even if they are not expected to do so, it does not remove their duties as nobles. And moreover, the Dukes of Nilesteria have always been a royal family.

I wonder how many of those royals are still in that castle?

　Minerva turns her iris-colored eyes to Moore, who blurts out.

'...... Your words are impolite now, Captain Greystar. I'll pretend I didn't hear it, but please refrain from using it in public.

'Yes. That was a gaffe. But even if they aren't royal, how many nobles are really willing to stay in the capital and resist the imperial army in this situation?

I'd like to think so." ...... "There are never a few who are proud of their aristocracy.

　Moore mercilessly denies Minerva's words, which are filled with desire.

''That's what a nobleman should be, isn't it? I'm very sorry to say that you have such high ideals, young lady. The reality is, you see, that's exactly what it is.

　He spotted a crowd of people ahead of Minerva and the others, and Moore pointed with a dumbfounded look on his face.

'Help!'

Please!　Just this girl!

The Empire's men are almost there!

　What we could see were three large carriages.
　They were surrounded by a large number of people.

'Eei, don't you commoners!　This carriage is not something you guys are allowed to touch!

　He must be the carriage's escort.
　One of the armed men who surrounded the carriage swept his hands away in a depressed manner.

What do you think you're doing?　Get me out of here fast!

　A middle-aged man in his mid-forties peeks out of the lead carriage and releases a reprimand.
　He is an aristocrat with luxury stored in his body, which is clearly evident by the fat around his wasteful chin and the ornaments he wears.

''I'm sorry. These guys never leave the road.

"Get rid of the commoners, now!

　Apparently, the residents of King's Landing were seeking salvation from the nobleman's carriage that was about to abandon King's Landing and flee.

　Since they have already allowed the imperial soldiers to enter the city, if they remain in King's Landing, no good results are waiting for them.
　But even if I wanted to escape, it's doubtful that I would be able to escape on foot at this point.
　I'm not going to be able to get away with it, but I'm not going to be able to get away with it.

''Please, give me a ride!

Don't abandon me!

　That's why the residents are desperately trying to appeal to them.
　They must understand that they are dealing with a nobleman, but they can't afford to worry about that now that they are on the brink of life or death.
　They worked hard to keep up their plea to the nobles to let them ride in the carriage and so on, an appeal that they would never normally make.

'This is not a carriage to take Xama and the others in!　Do you think we're worth it!

　Ruthless words were slammed from the carriage to the residents who were calling for help.
　Seeing this, Minerva bit her lip.

'How shallow of a nobleman who is supposed to protect his people!

''It's just like that, a commoner to the aristocracy. Well, it's not limited to the aristocracy. There aren't many people who can say they have a noble spirit in this time of crisis. Everyone is the prettiest person in the world.

But in times of emergency, that's why you should go to ......

　Moore asks, without regard to Minerva's pouting.

'So what do we do now?'

'I'll ask that one. If you look, the two carriages behind you don't seem to be occupied. I can't take them all, but I can manage just the women and children.

Now, let's see how far the duke's name goes in this emergency: ......

　With Moore shrugging his shoulders, Minerva was about to approach the carriage when one of the residents announced the approach of the enemy in a voice that resembled a scream.

''Teh, Imperial soldiers!''

　The confusion is spurred on by the voice.
　When Imperial soldiers emerge from the street corner, filled with murderous intent, the people flee like spider spiders.

''Ni, run!

'Wait!　Don't leave me!

'Momma!　Mom oh!

　In a situation that could no longer be called frenzied, the imperial soldiers began to kill those who had failed to escape at random.

　Minerva, seeing this, sharply called out Moore's name.

''Captain Greystar!''

I know what I'm doing!

　In the next moment, Minerva starts running with her sword in her hand, fluttering her iris-colored hair.

''Cain!　Take five men and clear a retreat route!

Yes!

　At Moore's command, the man called Cain dropped back, and the rest of his companions followed Minerva to the Imperial soldiers.