settle the score with her killer was eating away at them day after day. Elisabeth had been hearing about their frustration for some time. 'Twould seem Vyadryavka is keeping in close contact with their commanding officers. Earlier, Elisabeth had spotted one of them in the hallway. He'd had a dangerous look in his eyes, and his hand had been resting on his sword's handle. Even outside of battle, Valisisa's men were making no efforts to hide the fury bubbling up inside them. Embers of conflict were smoldering even there. Elisabeth shook her head. She sat down on the bed and flopped backward without so much as turning around. Then she took a look at the bandage she was carrying. She had tried analyzing it on the off chance she'd find something, but it really was just an ordinary piece of cloth. In fact, there weren't even residual traces of mana on it. In terms of identifying its owner, it was utterly useless to her, and yet something about it felt inexplicably familiar. She could have sworn she'd never seen it before, but it felt nostalgic to her all the same. She squeezed the cloth strip tight, as though she were squeezing a hand. "...If you let your guard down in a situation like this, you might well end up dead, you know. What is it that commands your attention so, O daughter of mine?" "Well, I was just musing on how wretched a man would have to be to barge in on a woman he ostensibly calls his daughter. What the hell are you doing in here?!" As Elisabeth shouted, she magically hardened her pillow and hurled it at Vlad for his troubles. He took a step back and raised his hands in a show of surrender. "Worry notâ€”even compared to my old friend the Grand King, your build is too modest by half. There's no need for that particular type of concern, I'm merely being considerate of my daughter'sâ€” Okay, well, see now, that one would have actually killed me! Ha-ha!" With a laugh, Vlad sidestepped the guillotine rushing down on him from overhead. However, that left him unable to react to the elliptical hole that opened under his feet, and he disappeared into it so quickly it was like he'd never been there at all. That was thanks to the torture device Elisabeth had used to create a space under the floor. Death Row Cell had no windows. It had no doors. 'Tis perfect for giving him time to reflect on his actions. She shrugged, then sat back down on the bed. Right when she was about to get comfortable, though, Vlad's voice echoed up from within his confinement. "Hey, daughter of mine, would you be so kind as to let me out? The floor's a little too hard to get any decent sleep in here." "The fact that you immediately tried lying down and sleeping is impressive, in its own way. I think you're fine just where you are." "Ah, how the rebellious phase drags on... I will say this, though." Vlad paused for a few seconds. With his echoey words gone, only silence remained. When he spoke again, his voice was far more earnest than she'd expected. "When I said you could die if you let your guard down, I was being serious. I really am worried about you." There was nothing quite so ominous as a jester removing his makeup. Elisabeth let out a small exhale. She offered no reply to Vlad's message of concern. Instead, she merely closed off the hole. If Vlad got bored, he could always just break the spell to escape. She never intended the cell to actually hold him. Elisabeth then spread her arms wide and flopped backward for the second time. For some reason, she was dead tired. She slowly closed her eyes and gave herself over to the drowsiness. All of a sudden, though, her eyes snapped back open. At the same time, a knock echoed out from the door. Elisabeth succinctly gave them permission to come in. "Enter." "Pardon me, Madam Elisabeth." Lute did as instructed, then saluted as he gave his message. "Lord Vyadryavka Ula Forstlast has returned." "I must say, I was shocked when Ain told me she was pregnant." As the two of them headed to see Vyadryavka, Lute suddenly broached the subject. He'd clearly been wanting to talk about it for some time. Now joined by the sound of his voice, their footsteps echoed through the wide hallway. "It's taken a long time, but we've finally been granted the greatest blessing a person can receive. I can hardly even begin to describe how happy I am. But at the same time...I feel like I just don't know anymore." Lute murmured quickly, practically speaking to himself. He probably wasn't looking for any sort of response yet, so Elisabeth continued listening to him in silence. Instead, she glanced around the hallway. The sun had already set, and their surroundings were dim. Desert lilies bloomed a brilliant white against the still darkness. A gift from the demi-humans, no doubt. As the two of them strode on, the flowers receded behind them. Now there was nothing much to see at all, and Lute continued. "If my son or daughter were taken hostage, would I truly be able to make the right decision? What would I be willing to sacrifice, and what would I cling tight to?" "...Hmm." "Oh, what am I saying? That's no way for a vice-captain to talk! Ha-ha, don't mind me. I meant nothing by it." Lute laughed, but it came out raw and forced, and his tail was drooping. Elisabeth knew exactly what had given rise to his worries. She turned her thoughts to what Aguina Elephabred said to them back in the demi-human lands. "Of course. No amount of grieving, boasting, laughing, or crying will change who I am or what I need to do. Why not be brazen about it, then? And also, Sir Lute, back to my original topic... "My son and his family live in that settlement." He betrayed everything, became an enemy of the world. 'Tis only reasonable he be denounced and despised by all. And yet... He never betrayed his family, nor did he betray his race. Depending on how history played out, he might well be remembered as a hero. However, he could just as easily be remembered as a laughingstock of a fool, with people coming to mock even his grave. But either way, his wife would take pride in what he did. And even so, she sold him out to protect her son. Each and every person has different things they hold precious. Or as someone once put it, "In their heart of hearts, everyone has just one thing that truly matters to them." No two scales ever tilted quite the same way. Upon remembering that fact, Elisabeth opened her mouth and spoke. "Justice takes a different form for everyone. All you can do is follow a path that shan't leave you with regrets. If you become my enemy, I shall strike you down, and if I become yours, you shall strike me down in turn. That's all there is to it. But know that yours is a blade I trust." Lute stopped in his tracks and looked at her in shock. Beastfolk expressions were difficult to read, but in that moment, Elisabeth was keenly reminded how that barrier could be overcome with familiarity and experience. She continued conveying her sentiments to her subordinate. "You're an honest man, and you were a good friend to Kaito Sena. You've earned that trust well." Elisabeth said the words as though she were stating the obvious. This time, it was Lute's turn to open his mouth. His jaw dropped as he stared at Elisabeth in surprise. A good few moments passed before he shook his head to compose himself. With a loud click, he snapped his heels together and bowed deep. "I fear you think too much of me, but it is an honor nonetheless." "Do I? I thought it a rather deserved assessment myself." "...You know, Madam Elisabeth, you really are the best captain a man could ever ask for." "Hmm? I don't see how you got that from anything I just said." Elisabeth raised an eyebrow. All she had done was give voice to her honest thoughts. Lute raised his head with a terribly serious look in his eyes. He started to say something but stopped and shook his head. "No disrespect meant, but...," he prefaced his reply, "...that's something you'll have to figure out for yourself someday, Madam Elisabeth." "...You're a strict one, aren't you?" As the response sprang naturally from her mouth, Elisabeth thought back. Long ago, in a rattling carriage, Hina had told her the exact same thing. "That's something you'll have to figure out for yourself someday, Lady Elisabeth. It wouldn't mean anything if I just told you," she had said with a finger playfully raised in front of her lips. Elisabeth had never gotten a clear answer to Hina's question from that day, and the chance to check her guesses had now been lost to her. Elisabeth closed her eyes for a few short seconds, then resumed her stride. At some point, the golden sunbeams lighting the corridor had been overtaken and replaced by silver moonbeams whose hue so matched the hair of a person she held most dear. The two of them continued briskly down the corridor. Eventually, they could hear a voice off in the distance. Someone was angrily shouting. However, there was no sign that anyone had bumped into them, nor did it seem to be directed at the lady-in-waiting standing outside the entrance. In fact, it didn't seem to be directed at anyone else at all. Those were the shouts of a man possessed. Elisabeth raised an eyebrow. Something was clearly up. Soon, the foyer came into view, and with it, the shouter pacing agitatedly around it. "Again, again with this! It's okay, though, I still got a bite. I still got permission for my audience tomorrow. I'll do it...I'll do it, dammit! I'll get those three to take action! No matter what it takes, even if it costs me my life! No matter what it takes! Iâ€”ah, Madam Elisabeth." Suddenly, Vyadryavka whirled around. His white wolf cloak swayed as he gave her an almost intoxicated bow. He was riled up and dead tired, and his body smelled faintly of blood. Elisabeth furrowed her brow, wondering what the hell he had been up to. As far as she could tell, though, he wasn't wounded, nor did he appear to have anyone else's blood on him, either. It seemed unlikely he had just come from a fight. But what, then? "Your wound is healed, I hope?" he asked. "...I do apologize, by the way, for inviting you and then taking off so suddenly." "...Goodness, your voice is so hoarse I can barely understand you." "Ah, that... Ha-ha, I may have overused my throat a bit, yes. No need to worry about me, though." That was the answerâ€”the bloody scent was coming from inside his mouth. He must really have run his throat ragged. Elisabeth replied with silence. Lute did the same. Talking to Vyadryavka now would accomplish little, as his heart was clearly elsewhere. After bowing once more, he began walking again. Several ladies-in-waiting hurriedly followed after him. As he scratched at his brow, he started muttering. "That's right... It's unforgivable. Unforgivable. I will have my revenge. No matter what it takes. No matter what it takes. No matter what it takes." Elisabeth could see full well that the look in his eyes was the same as in Valisisa's soldiers'. Just like them, Vyadryavka was making no effort to hide the intense fury he felt toward his enemies. Once again, Elisabeth realized something. Ah. How right you are, Vlad. She really might end up dead if she