[User] "THIS SCHOOL IS RIFE with discrimination!" Rae heard someone call out one morning after the Foundation Day Fair, heading past the lobby to the cafeteria with Claire.

[Assistant] Rae looked over, spying five or six students gathered together, holding placards.

[User] "Down with the aristocracy!" "Abolish noble excess!" They were chanting their messages in unison.

[Assistant] "Those commoners are really pushing their luck." Claire frowned at having to endure such an unpleasant sight so early in the day.

[User] "What are they up to?"

[Assistant] "It’s a peasant disease." Lene explained Claire’s sharp words. "Apparently, they’re representing the Commoner Movement. They’re calling for equality between the aristocracy and commoners."

[User] Ah, so it was time for that to begin. Rae remembered this part of the game.

[Assistant] "It’s completely scandalous! Commoners wanting to be treated as if they’re aristocrats? Ludicrous. The King bestows them with his grace and look how they behave."

[User] "Ah…" Rae glanced away.

[Assistant] "What an indifferent reply. Or…do you agree with your peasant friends?" Claire’s voice dropped in pitch.

[User] "No, no, I’m not particularly interested in politics. All I care about is being with you, Miss Claire."

[Assistant] However—

[User] "Hey you! It’s Rae Taylor!" A group of people ran up to us, calling my name. "As a representative of the general public, what are you doing here?"

[Assistant] By “here,” they meant with the young lady heir of the François family, the epitome of conservative nobility.

[User] "What? I’m Miss Claire’s maid."

[Assistant] "What did you say?!" My answer set the group abuzz.

[User] Claire dismissed them out of hand, which was what I would have liked to do, too.

[Assistant] "Listen! We represent the people’s hope and dreams. Will you allow yourself to be corrupted by the nobility after proving you exceed them in every regard?"

[User] "I have no intention of being corrupted by the aristocracy."

[Assistant] "Isn’t the role of maid equivalent to a slave of that very aristocracy?! Deplorable!" These people really weren’t listening to what I had to say.

[User] "Um, can I go now? I’m not what you’d call a political person."

[Assistant] "You don’t get it! Everyone is a political person!"

[User] "Ahhh…" Just when I thought I’d had enough, Claire cut in with a look of abject disgust.

[Assistant] "It’s lovely that you have your principles and all, but don’t dare force them down other people’s throats."

[User] "Who are you to talk?! You aristocrats are the ones forcing your will on the people!"

[Assistant] "What did you say?!" This was bad. Claire was hot-tempered as well as a noble, born and bred. She wouldn’t stand for being criticized for the sin of being who she was.

[User] "You guys, that’s enough." A cool voice cut in. "Mr. Lambert…" Lambert strode in to intervene in the standoff.

[Assistant] Lene blinked in surprise at the sight of her older brother.


[User] “I sympathize with your Movement,” Lambert told the protesting students, “but this is the Academy. You will gain no favor by disrupting daily life at an institute where nobles and commoners already learn together in an integrated environment.”

[Assistant] “Oh, would you get off your high horse, Mr. Lambert? The Aurousseau Company should be on the front lines of the battle to abolish the aristocracy!”

[User] “Equality is a worthy ideal. But you will get nowhere making such uncompromising demands in this kingdom, not as it is now.”

[Assistant] “But—”

[User] “Miss Claire, I’m sorry to have kept you. Please, be on your way.”

[Assistant] “Lambert, be certain to discipline them harshly. I wouldn’t want these commoners getting any more ideas.”

[User] “I understand.”

[Assistant] “Good.” Claire flounced away, and Lene and I followed.


[User] “Ugh… And you were totally useless, too. You mustn’t give such people so much as the time of day. In the future, ignore them.”

[Assistant] “Ah…”

[User] “But, Miss Claire,” Lene said. "You must understand why they feel that way. The life of a commoner is a punishing one—”

[Assistant] Claire slapped her across the face. “Silence, Lene,”

[User] Lene was quiet for a moment. “I’m so sorry.”

[Assistant] “As long as you understand.” Claire continued walking as if nothing had happened.

[User] “Lene.”

[Assistant] “What is it, Rae?”

[User] “Don’t do anything stupid, okay?”

[Assistant] “Okay?”

[User] “Miss Claire.”

[Assistant] “What is it?”

[User] “I’m hungry.”

[Assistant] “You are such a…” She sighed and then continued with an unusually bitter smile, “It’s not too long till lunch, so you’ll just need to wait.”

[User] “Yes ma’am. Lene, what are you going to eat today?”

[Assistant] “Well, probably a chicken-and-egg stew.”

[User] “Good. I’ll have a beef bowl.”

[Assistant] “Just once, I’d like to see you two eat something a little more refined.” And with that, we were back to our normal routine.


[User] “Everyone is a political person!” I still didn’t consider myself one, though not for the reason the activists likely assumed. Just thinking about the encounter gave me a headache.

[Assistant] “Miss Claire, my head hurts. Will you feed me my breakfast?”

[User] “What nonsense are you spewing now? !”

[Assistant] “Hmm? You prefer mouth-to-mouth? That’s a little too much, even for me.”

[User] “I said nothing of the sort!” Teasing Miss Claire was the best way to ease my stress. I wished we could stay like this forever.

[Assistant] “You’re so selfish.”

[User] “Well, then—I’ll feed you instead.”

[Assistant] “Unnecessary! And what does that have to do with your headache? !”

[User] “Huh?”

[Assistant] “Don’t look at me like you don’t know what I’m talking about!” Doting on Claire. That was my politics, my principle, and my position.


[User] “Now, Lambert, let us proceed with today’s agenda.” I was at one of the Academy Knights’ council meetings.

[Assistant] “Yes, Commander. Please look at the materials in front of you.”

[User] “It seems the friction between the nobles and commoners at the Academy has heightened as of late.”

[Assistant] “Some scholarship students have started a movement calling for immediate, complete equality between social classes, which upsets the aristocrat students. A number of complaints have been registered with the Academy Knights.”

[User] “I saw them in action. It’s wretched, isn’t it?” Claire sighed.

[Assistant] “Can’t we crack down on these activities?”

[User] “Freedom of thought is guaranteed both within and without the Academy. We can’t ban people from acting on their political ideology.”

[Assistant] “How annoying.” Claire had a confounded look on her face, as if she had bit into an apple and discovered a worm.

[User] “How many people are part of this movement?” Rod asked with interest.

[Assistant] “At the moment, less than twenty, including potential supporters.”

[User] “If that’s all, then why don’t we just leave them alone?” Yu asked, nonchalant as always.

[Assistant] “That was our intention, but a few of the more extreme activists have incited a few skirmishes on Academy grounds.”

[User] “Skirmishes…?” Thane frowned.

[Assistant] “Yes. They seem to be clashing with nobles about giving way in the halls, sitting down first in the cafeteria, and other minor issues of the sort.”

[User] “That is a bit troubling.” Misha said, sighing. It seemed no one was sure what the activists’ intentions were. Everyone here was or had been a noble, except for Lambert, whose family was well-off, and me. They weren’t equipped to understand how a commoner might feel.

[Assistant] “I think it’s simple. They want to be equal to aristocrats, right?” I said.

[User] “Equal to aristocrats? Risible.” Claire snorted.

[Assistant] “This isn’t simply a matter of birth and upbringing—the lineage of nobility and common folk are fundamentally, completely divergent.” The aristocracy of the Bauer Kingdom were descendants of powerful clans from the days before the establishment of the kingdom. Historically, these families had amassed power through agricultural surplus, which had enabled them to train and maintain armed forces.


[User] "And what have the commoners contributed to this country?"

[Assistant] The nobility performed vital functions in exchange for the authority to collect taxes from their estates. These included stable governance of territories, promotion of local industries, and training and dispatch of soldiers. The way aristocrats like Claire saw it, they had the right to make political decisions because they kept the country running, while commoners weren’t even qualified to participate in most debate.

[User] "You’ve got it wrong, Claire… Simply paying taxes is in itself a critical contribution to the kingdom. If the people didn’t pay taxes, Bauer would crumble." Thane said, in an uncharacteristically long speech.

[Assistant] His broad outlook was testament to his experience in imperial studies.

[User] "Do you mean to say you agree with their views, Master Thane?"

[Assistant] "I didn’t say that… Among other things, there’s too wide a gulf between aristocrats and commoners when it comes to matters of education and intellect. I don’t think it’s realistic to have commoners participate in politics."

[User] "Exactly."

[Assistant] Oof. That was about as much awareness as you could expect from the current royal family. A completely democratic system of elected representatives like modern Japan, where anyone of a certain age could participate in politics, regardless of gender or financial status…that was a fairy tale far out of reach in the Bauer Kingdom.

[User] "Well, I still don’t see how this is a concern. We can just leave them be, like Yu said." Rod said, trying to shelve the topic.

[Assistant] "There is one other issue."

[User] "Huh?"

[Assistant] "There are rumors that the Church is backing the Movement."

[User] All color drained from the princes’ faces.

[Assistant] "The Church has long taught that all men are equal in the eyes of God. This meshes well with the message of the activists."

[User] Like I mentioned when I adopted Ralaire, the prevailing religion of this land believed in the existence of spirits of earth, water, fire, and wind. These spirits were worshipped, as was the supreme spirit God, who was said to have given birth to the elemental spirits. The Church taught that the world had been created by the grace of that God and that the recent advances in magic came through the power of these spirits. Worship of the elemental spirits had started among farmers, and though a simple notion, it was powerful in that simplicity. Fear and respect for nature’s power had grown into a major religion. Furthermore, the Church actively sought to educate commoners in a number of subjects, including the treatment of illnesses and injuries. Their influence on the people was too strong for even the royal family to dismiss.

[Assistant] "Has the Church said anything outright…?"

[User] "Not at this time."


[User] "Then there’s not much we can do right now." Misha said, voicing what the rest of us were thinking.

[Assistant] "As the Academy Knights, we cannot simply ignore the noble students’ complaints. For now, if you witness a confrontation, please intervene. And be careful not to place blame squarely on the commoners." Commander Lorek said, ending the conversation.


[User] "By the way, Miss Claire. Why don’t we go to the northern forest for summer vacation?" I said at the end.

[Assistant] "Isn’t that a bit off-topic?"

[User] "All that serious talk made me tired. I want to relax."

[Assistant] "You… And why would you demand such a thing of your master? You should be the one helping me to relax."

[User] "May I? !"

[Assistant] "I can tell by the look in your eyes that you’re thinking of


[User] “I can’t imagine Master Yu would do something like that casually." Claire said.

[Assistant] “No, I did meet with them." Yu said, suddenly interrupting our conversation.

[User] “Master Yu? !”

[Assistant] “They were asking me if the Church could help them. I turned them down, though." Yu said, his grin unwavering.

[User] “That was careless, Master Yu.”

[Assistant] “Was it? I refused their request, and I don’t think anything will come of it. But the Church’s doors are open to all, so I was at least obligated to hear them." Yu responded gently.

[User] “But Master Yu, don’t you think they might have approached you not because of your ties to the Church but because you’re of the royal family?” I blurted out.

[Assistant] “In theory, perhaps. But it’s well known that my mother was a cardinal of some influence.”

[User] “If that’s true in theory, then in theory, couldn’t you have used conflict of interest as a reason not to meet with them?”

[Assistant] “Perhaps. But I’m not entirely averse to the Commoner Movement." Yu said, surprising us.

[User] “Have you lost your mind? !”

[Assistant] “Come now. Do you think equality is so morally objectionable?”

[User] “'Right’ and ‘wrong’ are being nonsensically applied in this context; it’s simply unrealistic. Who would run the country if not the nobility?”

[Assistant] “Well, the commoners, of course.”

[User] “Ha! They have no idea how difficult it is, even for the most highly educated aristocrats. Can you imagine the illiterate and ignorant attempting to govern?”

[Assistant] “In other words, if the commoners were educated, it wouldn’t be a problem?”

[User] “Well…” Claire was at a loss for words.

[Assistant] “Personally, I think the aristocracy will eventually come to an end.”

[User] “What are you talking about? !”

[Assistant] “Leave aside your biases and think rationally for a moment. The nobility are far outnumbered by the commoners. Do you think we could win in the event of an armed uprising?”

[User] “We have an army!” Claire, who couldn’t wrap her head around the idea of her social class ceasing to be, was visibly emotional.

[Assistant] “The army is strong. But now there’s magic to reckon with, too. We’re starting to see individual commoners powerful enough to match even the most exceptional soldiers. Soon, it will all come down to numbers.”

[User] “But…”

[Assistant] “Anyway, the aristocrats live the lives they do because of the taxes paid by the people they control. What logic can justify ongoing control if the people refuse to be controlled?”

[User] “Miss Claire." I said.


[User] “What is it…?”

[Assistant] “All this serious talk has made me hungry.” Claire nearly fell over.

[User] “Would you… Can’t you read the room? !”

[Assistant] “Ha ha ha, this was definitely a heavy subject. Sorry, Claire." Yu chuckled.

[User] “No…it’s…”

[Assistant] “Let’s go to the cafeteria. We’re already running late, so it’s going to be crowded.” Yu left the meeting room, musing over what he would have for lunch in the exact same tone of voice he’d used to talk politics.

[User] I really didn’t care for him.

[Assistant] “Hey, you,” Claire called when I went to follow Yu.

[User] “What is it, Miss Claire?”

[Assistant] “What do you think of Yu’s argument?”

[User] “I think it was complicated.”

[Assistant] “You mean you couldn’t understand it?”

[User] “I understood, but…” I wasn’t sure what Claire was hoping to hear from me.

[Assistant] “Do you think that the aristocracy will fall soon, too?”

[User] “I don’t know.”

[Assistant] “I see…”

[User] “But even if you were no longer an aristocrat, I would still serve you, Miss Claire.”

[Assistant] Claire gave me a surprised look. “But why? If there were no aristocrats, and the world became what those in the Movement want, then there would be no reason to serve me.”

[User] “Of course not. How many times have I said it? I serve you because of love, Miss Claire.”

[Assistant] Claire frowned. “Another joke.”

[User] “I’m not joking. I am completely serious.”

[Assistant] “All right, fine. It was stupid of me to ask you,” Claire said. She set off toward the cafeteria, and I followed her.

[User] “Miss Claire, I am serious, you know?”

[Assistant] “Yes, yes. So what are you going to eat today?”

[User] “The beef bowl.”

[Assistant] “Again… You really like that, don’t you?”

[User] “You remembered my favorite food, Miss Claire!”

[Assistant] “What are you so happy about? With how many times you’ve eaten it in front of me, any idiot would remember,” Claire sulked.

[User] “How about you try it too, Miss Claire?”

[Assistant] “No, thank you. Dissatisfaction sours a meal.”

[User] “Then I’ll share a bite.”

[Assistant] “I said: no, thank you!”

[User] “What? You won’t open your mouth wide for me?”

[Assistant] “I said nothing of the sort!” It looked like she was almost back to normal.

[User] “Miss Claire.”

[Assistant] “What is it?”

[User] “I will protect you, no matter how this world changes.”

[Assistant] “I told you, you don’t need to protect me.”

[User] “No matter what happens,” I repeated.

[Assistant] “Whatever…” Claire seemed flustered, perhaps by my uncharacteristic seriousness.

[User] “For now, let’s start with this,” I said, pointing to the cafeteria. As Yu had said, it was extremely crowded.

[Assistant] She didn’t answer, lost in thought.

[User] “Now, Claire, let’s go!” I dragged Claire, dejected face and all, in after me.


[Assistant] “Wh-what? Why do I…” Claire was indignant.

[User] “It’s work, and it’s time to do it.”

[Assistant] “I am aware. But why must I do it, when anyone else would suffice?”

[User] “Miss Claire, we’re the newest members of the Academy Knights. That means that we have to do the most basic chores.” We were on an errand for the Academy Knights to pick up sundries from the market in the capital.


[User] The stalls we passed seemed to mainly deal in fresh foods, boasting an array of delicious-looking fruits and vegetables. In a testament to the booming economy, the marketplace was overflowing with people.

[Assistant] "With a crowd this big, we might get separated. Shall we hold hands?"

[User] "That’s fine." Claire muttered.

[Assistant] "It’s fine? Then allow me."

[User] "I. Will. Not!"

[Assistant] "Ahhh."

[User] "You two really are close…"

[Assistant] "They really are."

[User] Misha and Lene were accompanying us on our errand. Although the princes were also new members of the Knights, they weren’t given such tasks for obvious reasons, so the job had fallen to us. Claire had wanted to stay behind, too, but we had so much to buy that we pushed her to come along. Of course, she wouldn’t be carrying anything. Her trusty attendant Lene would be doing that for her.

[Assistant] "And what are we buying?"

[User] "Umm, ten sheets of parchment, twenty sheets of vellum, two bottles of ink, one set of paints, one leather strap, one set of nails, and some tea and biscuits."

[Assistant] "So, mostly office supplies."

[User] "Most of the Academy Knights’ duties are clerical work, after all."

[Assistant] "The biscuits are the only fun thing on that list."

[User] "Yes."

[Assistant] "Let’s buy some new sweets from Broumet!"

[User] "Impossible, Miss Claire." Misha flatly rejected Claire’s suggestion.

[Assistant] "Why?"

[User] "Broumet is too expensive. If you want to shop there, you’ll need to use your own money."

[Assistant] "How much did I bring today, Lene?"

[User] "We didn’t plan on private shopping, so only about one hundred thousand Gold."

[Assistant] "That’s not enough…"

[User] Think of one Gold as one yen. One hundred thousand yen was a princely sum to a commoner, but mere pocket change for a powerful noble; it wasn’t nearly enough to buy sweets from Broumet.

[Assistant] "Let’s just focus on work today, all right? We can buy sweets next time."

[User] "I suppose I have no choice," Claire frowned and shrugged her shoulders, looking longingly down the road. Her expression pinched.

[Assistant] "Ew…"

[User] I followed her gaze at that last bit and saw two children dressed in rags, begging for alms. One had a bandage around her leg.

[Assistant] "There have been more beggars since the conflict with the Nur Empire began." Misha said matter-of-factly.

[User] "The price of food is rising, too…" Lene said, looking at the children with sympathy.

[Assistant] "But wages are increasing as well, aren’t they?"

[User] "Not fast enough. Employers tend to be conservative when raising wages, since it’s difficult to lower them once they’ve gone up."

[Assistant] "Well, that’s their responsibility to bear, isn’t it?"

[User] "Employers are commoners, too. Life isn’t easy for any of them."

[Assistant] Claire stopped talking. It looked like she’d been given something to think about.

[User] "Miss Claire." A familiar voice called.

[Assistant] "Oh, it’s you. What a coincidence."

[User] It was the senior maid of the François household, whom I had met at my job interview.


[User] “I am here with the master on a shopping errand, but when he saw you, he said I should ask you to come see him.”

[Assistant] “Father said that? I’m busy right now.”

[User] “I thought as much, but he says it’s urgent.”

[Assistant] “It can’t be helped, then… Would you all accompany me?” If one of the kingdom’s most elite aristocrats requested our presence, we could hardly refuse. We trailed after the chief maid to the main street, where a large, ornate carriage stuck out like a sore thumb on the side of the road.


[User] Dole, a good-looking man with golden hair like Claire’s, opened the carriage door. “Hello, Claire. Hello, students. Pardon me for not disembarking.”

[Assistant] “Hello, Father. What need have you of me? We are shopping for the Academy Knights.”

[User] “Hmm? Do I need a reason to call my daughter over if I spy her in passing?” Dole said indifferently.

[Assistant] “Father…I am busy.”

[User] “I can’t imagine you have any business that takes priority over me.” Dole cocked his head to the side. It was like any conversation between parent and child, but for better or worse, Dole was the epitome of an aristocrat. “If you must go shopping, hop on. I’ll even let you commoners ride with us, just this once.”

[Assistant] “We aren’t going to the noble neighborhood.”

[User] “That’s all right. It’s an aristocrat’s duty to see how the other half lives every so often.” And so we piled into Dole’s carriage, which was pulled by three horses and large enough to comfortably seat five people. I didn’t know if it came equipped with some sort of suspension system, but the ride was surprisingly smooth. At first, no one spoke. Misha and Lene were so clearly nervous that I felt sorry for them.


[Assistant] “How is the Academy, Claire?” Dole finally broke the silence. He grinned as he spoke, delighted to have a chance to talk to his daughter, who was living away from home.

[User] “It’s fine. The Commoner Movement is a bit annoying, but other than that, all is well,” Claire answered shortly. Teenage daughters sure were a lot to deal with.

[Assistant] “Ah, the Commoner Movement. The fool’s errand counterpart to His Majesty’s meritocratic policy. This is precisely why I opposed that policy from the start…” Dole rubbed his temples. “What do you think of it, Rae Taylor?”

[User] Claire’s eyes went wide. “Father, what are you playing at? Not only do you remember the name of a commoner, but you actually address her by name?”

[Assistant] “I’m merely curious. I heard she has the best grades of any of the transfer students this year, and I would like to hear her thoughts,” Dole said, as if to emphasize that the question had been casual.

[User] “Yes, well… Miss Claire asked me the same thing, but I don’t care much about the Movement. All I care about is being able to spend time with Miss Claire.”

[Assistant] “I see. A good answer.”


[User] "But the fact remains that you are a commoner. Do you not yearn to live the life of a noble?”

[Assistant] “I’d rather see Miss Claire be happy than seek my own comfort. I don’t long for the life of a noble. As long as I have enough to eat every day, I’m content.”

[User] “Is that truly how you feel?”

[Assistant] “It is.” Dole was staring at me. There were no etiquette rules in this country about looking people directly in the eye, so I met his gaze evenly.

[User] “I see. I don’t think the average commoner shares your views, at this point. I hope there will be more people like you in the future.”

[Assistant] “Much obliged.” I responded with a light bow. Thank you ve-Rae much, I thought.

[User] “Well, I must say I enjoy this company. Let’s get something to eat, shall we? Senior maid, take us to Broumet.”

[Assistant] “Yes, sir,” said the senior maid, who was driving the carriage.

[User] “Father, don’t make such a decision on your own. I told you I’m here on business.”

[Assistant] “It’s just a small detour. If you have any problems, just give them my name.”

[User] “That’s not the issue.”

[Assistant] “Then what is it?" Dole knew he could do as he pleased. "Have you had Broumet desserts before? As a commoner, you’ve probably never had chocolate.”

[User] “I haven’t,” answered Misha when asked. I had eaten it before in my previous life—and also happened to be the creator of chocolate in this world—but I said nothing.

[Assistant] “That’s what I thought. This will be a novel treat. Broumet really does have a grand development team.” After that, the chatty patriarch of the François family really did take us to Broumet and buy us treats. With his carriage at our disposal to finish up shopping for the Academy Knights, we ended up back at school earlier than expected despite the detour. The praise the other Academy Knights lavished on us for the chocolate we brought back, on the other hand, is another story for another time.


[User] “Commander, it’s bad!”

[Assistant] “What’s this ruckus?” The boy who brought the message to the Academy Knight meeting was pale.

[User] “It seems a noble student has hurt a commoner student!”

[Assistant] “What? !” The room was suddenly alive with action. "Tell us the details."

[User] “Right. Apparently, this afternoon, the noble Dede Murray and a commoner boy got into a fight in the courtyard.”

[Assistant] “Dede did? !” Yu suddenly perked up. Dede was Yu’s attendant; he’d been the dealer when we played cards with Yu. Once someone became an attendant to the royal family, they were promoted to the ranks of the nobility themselves.


[User] "Let’s hear the report." Thane prompted.

[Assistant] "Yes, please."

[User] "Right. It started as a simple disagreement, but more and more students nearby got involved, and it grew heated. Then…one commoner made an insulting remark about Master Yu, and Dede lost his patience and attacked him with magic."

[Assistant] "Dede would never do something so…" Yu trailed off.

[User] "Perhaps the facts as reported are garbled and more will emerge in time. But this much is clear: the commoner was seriously injured and has been taken to the Church clinic, and Dede has presented himself of his own accord to an army tribunal."

[Assistant] Yu stared in disbelief, his princely composure gone.

[User] "Yu, go to the army headquarters and find out Dede’s condition." Rod jumped to action.

[Assistant] "That’s fine, right, Commander?"

[User] "Yes, that will be helpful. If he’s in the middle of an interrogation, you likely won’t be able to intervene, but if he’s detained after, only his family or Master Yu will be allowed to see him."

[Assistant] Lorek nodded.

[User] "Given the circumstances, Lambert will escort you."

[Assistant] "I’ll go at once." Yu and Lambert quickly left the meeting room.

[User] "I’d like to hear more of the commoner’s side of the story, too."

[Assistant] "Shall I go? Perhaps they will talk to me, as a commoner myself."

[User] Misha volunteered. While she looked collected as ever, she had to be all torn up inside.

[Assistant] "I can’t allow you to go alone, Misha. Claire, go with her."

[User] "Understood."

[Assistant] "Then I will, too." I went wherever Claire did.

[User] "Thanks. Let’s review the situation and take action where necessary. With any luck, we can nip this in the bud before it escalates." Commander Lorek was head of the Knights, but it was Rod who assumed the mantle of leadership in times like these. The commander understood the necessity of this and left the decisions up to Rod.

[Assistant] "Now, everyone, move!"


[User] The clinic where the injured student had been taken to was run by the Spiritual Church. It charged for its services on a sliding scale: the wealthy paid high prices and the poor paid nearly nothing, and consequently the Church had earned massive goodwill from the common folk. There were several such clinics in the kingdom, but this one was located on Academy grounds. Being part of an institution where magic was practiced and the Academy Knights fought monsters, it was equipped with state-of-the-art technology and personnel—partly because most of the student-clients were nobles, of course. When we arrived at the clinic and asked to see the student, we were told he was still undergoing treatment. We took up positions in the waiting room.

[Assistant] "The commoner probably said something outrageous. It’s his own fault." Claire said as we waited.

[User] "But isn’t attacking him with magic an excessive response?" Misha said.


[User] “A commoner shouldn’t be mouthing off to a noble in the first place. Imagine if it were the other way around… When did commoners get so disrespectful?”

[Assistant] “So if the roles were reversed, it would be fine?” I asked.

[User] “Well…I mean, a noble shouldn’t say anything untoward, either, but…”

[Assistant] “But you’re welcome to speak to me in that way. Please swear at me all you like!”

[User] “Watch yourself.” Claire had to feel the gravity of the situation, because her response was more measured than usual.

[Assistant] Ah, well.


[User] When we were finally allowed in to see the injured boy, we gasped involuntarily at the sight of him. More of his body was wrapped in bandages than wasn’t. Even Claire, who had just said that he deserved it, was at a loss for words. Not even she could dismiss the severity of his condition. "I am Rae Taylor. What’s your name?”

[Assistant] “Matt…Matt Monte.”

[User] “Hi, Matt. We’re here on behalf of the Academy Knights to hear what happened to you. I know you must be in pain, but would you lend us a few minutes of your time?”

[Assistant] “No,” Matt said immediately. “The Academy Knights are on the side of the aristocracy. I have nothing to say to you.”

[User] “The Knights are on the side of the students,” Misha said in a calm voice.

[Assistant] “Spare me your official stance. Leave me alone,” Matt said, and lay down.

[User] So this was what they called a ship without a port, huh? "Hey, Matt,”

[Assistant] “I don’t want to put it this way, but it would be better if you talked to us. Commoners like you and I are at a disadvantage when we’re up against aristocrats.”

[User] “Right?! There is no justice in this country! That’s why we need to bring about—ow!” It seemed my words had struck a nerve.

[Assistant] “Matt, settle down. We’re here precisely because we want to keep anything like this from happening again. Will you please talk to us?”

[User] He was quiet.

[Assistant] “Please,” I said again. I tried to look him in the eye with the most honest and open expression I could muster.

[User] Matt remained quiet for a few moments, but finally, he opened his mouth. “It was…it was just an argument at first,” he started. Matt was the member of the Commoner Movement whom Yu had met with. He’d tried to request the Church’s explicit support, but Yu had turned him down. His fellow members had comforted him, telling him it couldn’t be helped, but their words did little to make Matt feel better, and he’d fallen into a deep depression. That was when Dede told Matt to stay away from Yu. “What’s so special about an aristocrat? Do you realize how ridiculous it looks to we commoners for you to hoard all that wealth and power? And now you say we’re not even allowed to petition the prince?” Matt had fumed at Dede, who responded with aplomb…until he thought his Lord Yu was being insulted.


[User] Dede asked Matt how he could be so ungrateful as to say such things about the nobility who protected him. “A crowd started to gather around us…”

[Assistant] The argument soon turned into a debate over the very existence of aristocrats and commoners. The “discussions” heated up. “It made me so angry…and then I said it.”

[User] He’d said that the royal family was a parasite, preying on the commoners to survive.

[Assistant] “You said what? !” It was our noble representative, Claire, who was the most shocked by these words.

[User] “Miss Claire, this is not the time. I understand how you feel, but it’s beside the point.”

[Assistant] “But!”

[User] “I will listen to your protests later. Right now, our job is to listen to Matt.”

[Assistant] “Ugh…” Somehow, Claire brought herself under control.

[User] I would pat her on the back later—not that she would let me. “And then? What did Dede do?”

[Assistant] “He looked upset the entire time, but when I said that about Yu, it was like a switch had been flipped. He pulled out his wand, and before I knew it, I was encased in a ball of flames.” Matt hugged himself and shuddered, as if reliving the moment. “When I woke up, I was in this bed. It was only then that I realized what he did to me.”

[User] His face was full of frustration as he looked up at us. “If the Academy Knights really are on the side of the students, then, please, make sure he is punished.”

[Assistant] “It’s ultimately up to the Academy to decide how to handle this. We have to hear out Dede’s side of the story, too. But we will do everything in our power to make sure you aren’t silenced.”

[User] “Please…” Matt said again, before sinking into his bedding.

[Assistant] “Let’s let him rest. We got what we needed.”


[User] “This is bad…” Rod groaned.

[Assistant] “The people are blocking the doors today, too. The Academy won’t be able to function if this keeps up,” Lambert said bitterly.

[User] Word of the courtyard incident had escaped the Academy and spread through the general populace. Furious crowds were staging protests outside the walls, and though they hadn’t yet tried to batter down the doors, there was no telling what would happen if they weren’t appeased, and soon. “Dede’s excuse is a little far-fetched, too…”

[Assistant] Thane sighed.

[User] Dede had told Yu and Lambert that he only pulled out his wand to scare Matt, not intending to use magic or cause him such serious injury. But Matt had been injured—burned all over his body, in fact—so that story was hard to believe. “What’s the word amongst the citizenry?”

[Assistant] “They’re now saying an arrogant aristocrat committed grievous violence against a commoner for no reason.”

[User] “Well, that’s not far from the truth… But that doesn’t help the matter.” Rod stroked his chin. As Yu’s bodyguard and attendant, Dede was a skilled magic-user who had undergone strict training. He had rigid self-control and better skill with his magic than most people.


[User] “Dede would never do something like that.” Yu was adamant.

[Assistant] “And yet, he did. I examined Dede’s magic wand, but there was no evidence of malfunction or tampering,” said Lambert.

[User] Like I said before, Lambert specialized in the development of magic tools. His opinion had weight.

[Assistant] “What is going on…?” Yu hung his head.

[User] I admit it was hard to see the usually cheerful prince so upset.

[Assistant] “Well, moping around will do us no good. We need to decide on our next course of action,” Rod said.

[User] “Indeed,” Claire agreed.

[Assistant] “To be honest, the situation outside the school is beyond us. That’s up to the government…and possibly the military, to handle.”

[User] At the end of the day, the Academy Knights were a school organization, and there was only so much a handful of kids could do to do in the face of mass protests.

[Assistant] “Let’s focus on what we can do. How is the mood among the student body?”

[User] “Pretty much the same as outside. We have the commoners on one side and the high and mighty aristocrats they resent on the other. The commoners have even been disrupting lectures by directly criticizing the nobility,” Lambert answered Rod.

[Assistant] “How do you think we should address this?” Rod asked him.

[User] “Honestly, I’m not sure,” Lambert said.

[Assistant] “Perhaps things will settle down if some sort of disciplinary action is taken against Dede…”

[User] “What sort of punishment are we talking?”

[Assistant] “That’s a tricky question. It would be one thing if he were a low-ranking noble, but Dede’s family are mid-tier nobles with connections to the Church. If his punishment is too harsh, we’ll see backlash from both of those quarters.”

[User] The fact remained that the injuries Matt suffered could well have killed him. The Church had needed to employ a high-level water attribute healer as well as numerous precious magic tools around the clock to save his life.

[Assistant] “And what of the noble students? How have they reacted?”

[User] “No public demonstrations yet, but there’s some muttering about not granting commoners any more favors.”

[Assistant] “It’s finally getting dangerous…” Rod muttered bitterly.

[User] “Miss Claire, what does he mean?” I asked Claire.

[Assistant] “Is your head screwed on right? Listen up. If the situation deteriorates any further, we’ll lose our point of compromise.”

[User] “Point of compromise?”

[Assistant] “The middle ground that both nobles and the commoners can accept.”

[User] “For the time being, Thane, Yu, and I will speak with the other noble students. A few words from their future king ought to make them see sense,” Rod said, crossing his arms.

[Assistant] “Misha and Rae, you convince the commoners that we’ve taken charge of the situation. Let’s make sure this doesn’t escalate further.”

[User] “I’ll do my best,” said Misha.

[Assistant] “Ahhh.” I wasn’t good at either politics or negotiation.

[User] “Don’t complain. This is a direct order from Master Rod, so give it absolutely everything you’ve got.”

[Assistant] “Then, Miss Claire, please tell me to do my best.


[User] "With love."

[Assistant] "Stop acting the fool. This is an emergency."

[User] "I am completely serious. If you don’t say it, I won’t go."

[Assistant] "Why not, Claire? Say it for her."

[User] Rod tossed me a lifeline, albeit with a bitter smile. "What are you saying, Master Rod?"

[Assistant] "C’mon, hurry up!"

[User] "You’re…going too far!"

[Assistant] "Hurry!" I was persistent. It was a bit mean.

[User] "Do your best, Rae…" Claire said reluctantly.

[Assistant] "There wasn’t enough love in that. One more time."

[User] "That’s enough, get to work!"

[Assistant] I gave in.


[User] A few days later, we had done everything we could to mitigate the Academy’s internal conflict. The aristocrats had been persuaded to settle down by the princes, mostly Rod, but the commoners remained heated. There were far fewer scholarship students than nobles, but public opinion was with the commoners. Protests and demonstrations continued outside the school on a daily basis, only reigniting dissatisfaction on the aristocrats’ side in turn. The day when Dede’s punishment was to be announced finally arrived, and people from all walks of life thronged the courtyard where the incident had taken place to await the proclamation. When the announcement was finally made…

[Assistant] —Notice— Let it be known that Dede Murray shall be imprisoned for one week’s time.

[User] "This…is not right." Claire blinked. It was a laughably light sentence. Shouts and screams rose up around us, as if the commoners were echoing my thoughts.

[Assistant] "Miss Claire, please come this way. This place is about to be dangerous for nobles." Lene pulled on Claire’s sleeve.

[User] "But we have to calm them down!"

[Assistant] "That’s not possible right now. They want blood, and they’re not going to listen."

[User] "Argh…"

[Assistant] "Miss Claire, Lene is right. We need to get out of here, now." Together, we somehow persuaded Claire to leave.

[User] "What’s going to happen now…?" she muttered as we departed, giving voice to precisely what all the students at the Academy were thinking.


[Assistant] The Academy lost its ability to function. The protests at the gates grew more violent by the day, and the screams of the assembled citizens were like the roar of thunder. Soldiers were dispatched to protect the school gates, but they were vastly outnumbered. Fragile equilibrium tilted ever more toward danger.

[User] "The Academy will likely close until things settle down." The Academy Knights were gathered once more. Rod stood at the front of the room, telling us the school officials’ decision. They’d determined they couldn’t guarantee the safety of the noble students under present circumstances.

[Assistant] "If that’s how they feel, they should have given Dede a different punishment," Claire said furiously. Even she, a purebred aristocrat with a strong prejudice against commoners, found the lightness of his sentence unacceptable.

[User] "It was…a bit weird."

[Assistant] "What was, Thane?"

[User] "Just like Claire said… It doesn’t make sense." Indeed, coming at a time of such conflict between aristocrats and commoners, it should have been obvious that a light sentence would only fan the flames.


[User] “About that. It seems they acted on a request from some of the nobility." Lambert said bitterly.

[Assistant] “Meaning?”

[User] “Meaning that some aristocrats who are unhappy with the Commoner Movement sought for Dede’s punishment to be reduced.”

[Assistant] Rod frowned at this news. “And just when I thought they were starting to see sense.”

[User] “This is our fault.”

[Assistant] “It is…” We’d thought the noble kids had been pacified by the princes, but instead, their smoldering dissatisfaction had redirected in the worst way.

[User] “It seems like the Church had a hand in reducing Dede’s punishment, too.”

[Assistant] “What do you mean? I thought they supported the Commoner Movement?”

[User] “Well, that’s just politics." Rod answered with disgust. "What the Church really wants is to supersede the royal family.”

[Assistant] “They support the Commoner Movement in public and the nobility behind the scenes. They probably think pitting the social classes against each other gives them a chance to swoop in and seize power from both the royal family and the nobility.”

[User] It sounded ridiculously wicked when you said it out loud.

[Assistant] “A power struggle…” Thane said, bitterly.

[User] The Church was a respected and powerful force. Much as it claimed to be motivated by charity and the desire to improve people’s lives, the people at the top were a formidable political force.

[Assistant] “It’s clearly the Church that most benefits from this furor. Yu, Queen Riche isn’t involved in this, is she?”

[User] “I hope not…but I don’t know. I can’t say what my mother is thinking.” Yu mumbled.

[Assistant] He probably didn’t want to believe his mom had had a hand in this, but he couldn’t rule out the possibility, especially since it was a known fact she wanted him to ascend the throne if possible.

[User] “Have you spoken to her?”

[Assistant] “Nope. I requested a visit, but she refused.”

[User] “Isn’t she your mother?” Thane demanded.

[Assistant] “Even so, she’s the queen. It’s not that simple, Thane.”

[User] There was tension in the air.

[Assistant] “The Church may be trying to sow discord between the princes, too!” Claire suddenly burst out.

[User] The princes whipped around to look at Claire.

[Assistant] A moment passed, and they each began, little by little, to soften.

[User] “She’s right. We can’t turn against each other now.”

[Assistant] “Yeah.”

[User] “Ahh…”

[Assistant] “Either way, there isn’t much the Academy Knights can do.” said Rod. "Other than assist the military, if it comes to that.”

[User] “All we can do is sit and wait.” Claire said, as everyone nodded in agreement.


[Assistant] “Miss Claire, I have a favor to ask of you.” Yu said on our way home through the dusk after the meeting.

[User] “What is it?”

[Assistant] “Once you retire to your room tonight, please stay there until tomorrow night.”

[User] “What’s this all of a sudden? I hate when you do that." Claire peered suspiciously at me. "And what about school?


[User] "Class may be cancelled, but we still have Academy Knights work to do.”

[Assistant] “Please take the day off.”

[User] “I can’t take a day off in the middle of an emergency like this. This is exactly why we joined the Academy Knights.” Rae looks at Claire like she was crazy.

[Assistant] “Rae, is there a reason you’re asking this?” Lene asks Rae.

[User] “There’s no way to get you to take the day off?”

[Assistant] “I don’t want to.”

[User] “I see… Then I’m left with no choice.” Claire looks at Rae quizzically. Rae pressed my fingertip to her forehead.

[Assistant] “What…are…” Before she could finish the sentence, Claire collapsed.

[User] “Miss Claire?! What did you do, Rae? !” Lene rushed between Claire and Rae, as if to guard her from Rae. Just like Lambert, her hazelnut eyes glittered with caution.

[Assistant] “It’s okay. She’s just sleeping.”

[User] “Why would you do something like this? !”

[Assistant] “There’s going to be a riot tonight.”

[User] “Huh? !”

[Assistant] “You must hide in the dormitories with Miss Claire. Whatever happens, don’t do anything stupid.”

[User] “What do you mean?”

[Assistant] “Lene,” Rae says, ignoring her question. “Do you like Miss Claire?”

[User] “Why would you…”

[Assistant] “Just answer me.”

[User] “Of course I like her. I have served her far longer than you have.”

[Assistant] “Then I’m entrusting her to you, Lene. I’m putting my faith in you,” Rae says, turning to return to the Academy building.

[User] “Wait!” Lene called after Rae. “Are you…the same as me?”

[Assistant] “No.”

[User] “I see…” There was an awkward silence.

[Assistant] “Please take care of Miss Claire.”

[User] “Okay…”

[Assistant] Rae headed back toward the Academy. There was a great deal left for Rae to do.

[User] “I’m sorry, Rae… Miss Claire…” Rae pretended not to hear the weakness in Lene’s voice as Rae walked away.


[Assistant] “What is going on? !”

[User] “The main gate is down! A mob is pushing into the school!”

[Assistant] “The young nobles are in danger! Protect the dormitories!”

[User] “Evacuate the staff, too!”

[Assistant] “Hold the line until reinforcements arrive!” Rae could hear the soldiers yelling outside the room where she stood in wait. It was around 11 p.m. at night. Eventually, Rae heard footsteps approach and stop in front of the room. The door was unlocked and opened, and a figure entered, moving toward the back.

[User] “Were you going to take advantage of this opportunity, Mr. Lambert?”

[Assistant] Lambert stopped in his tracks. He turned on the light.


[User] "Rae Taylor…" We were in a laboratory that belonged to the Academy’s research department. I had picked the lock and snuck inside.

[Assistant] "A bell that controls monsters… That was one of your inventions, right, Mr. Lambert?"

[User] "What are you doing here?"

[Assistant] "I came to stop you."

[User] "I have no idea what you’re talking about."

[Assistant] "I heard the uproar and came to check on my precious magical tools—”

[User] "You tampered with Dede’s wand prior to the incident in the courtyard, didn’t you?"

[Assistant] Lambert narrowed his eyes.

[User] "As the resident specialist, you were ideally positioned to make adjustments to people’s magical tools. You deliberately rigged Dede’s wand so it would explode."

[Assistant] "What are these accusations? The wand was examined, and no defects were found."

[User] "But you were the one who testified to that, Mr. Lambert. You intended to accompany Yu to visit Dede in custody even if Commander Lorek hadn’t ordered you to, didn’t you?"

[Assistant] This silenced Lambert.

[User] "You’ve been instigating the conflict between nobles and commoners at the Academy, haven’t you?"

[Assistant] "What proof do you have?"

[User] "I have no proof. But I know everything." This was all knowledge I’d acquired by playing Revolution, so I had no decisive evidence. Still, I knew Lambert’s plan. In the midst of the chaos, he would activate his monster-controlling bell and try to call a powerful monster down on the school. In the game, the heroine and her chosen prince saved the school, but naturally, I much preferred we avoid that dangerous scenario altogether. Therefore, I’d taken steps to prevent it.

[Assistant] "Everything…?"

[User] "I know you don’t care about the Commoner Movement." The Aurousseau Company was the largest merchant business in the kingdom, commissioned by the government to oversee the excavation and distribution of magical stones. If the royalty and nobility who comprised that government were deposed of, their business would disappear with them.

[Assistant] "Then why would I do any of the things you’re accusing me of?"

[User] "Because Lene’s life is at stake." Certain forces had told Lambert they would kill Lene if he didn’t do what they said.

[Assistant] "My sister is certainly important to me. But do you really think I would endanger the rest of my family for only her?"

[User] "If she were only your sister."

[Assistant] This time, Lambert’s eyes widened. He couldn’t have imagined I knew what I’d just implied.

[User] "How much do you…"

[Assistant] "I told you, everything." Lambert was in love with Lene—not as a sister, but as a woman. To save her, he had no choice but to do as the people holding her hostage directed, even if it meant putting their family’s livelihood in danger.

[User] "Mr. Lambert. Please give up."

[Assistant] "I can’t do that."

[User] "Mr. Lambert!"

[Assistant] "He’s a terrible man. If I fail, he’ll kill Lene." His fear was writ large on his face.


[User] "I will protect Lene."

[Assistant] "How?"

[User] "I’ll talk to him."

[Assistant] "He can’t be reasoned with!" There was a hint of self-scorn in Lambert’s face as he spat the words. He must have had this debate with himself many times before.

[User] "Please trust me."

[Assistant] "I can’t."

[User] "If you don’t stop, I’ll stop you." I armed myself with my magic wand.

[Assistant] "I won’t let you." Lene said the familiar words.

[User] I turned, a chill running down my spine. There in the door stood Lene, accompanied by several men. One held Claire’s still unconscious body, a knife pressed to her neck; she released a small moan. “Lene…” I murmured.

[Assistant] "I’m sorry, Rae. You must let my brother go."

[User] "Lene, think it over."

[Assistant] "No."

[User] I didn’t respond. I wanted to trust Lene. I wanted to believe she hadn’t been lying about caring for Claire. But maybe it was impossible for love to alter fate. "Rae, move over there." Lene directed me.

[Assistant] "I can go, but it won’t help."

[User] "What?"

[Assistant] "I already broke the bell, just in case."

[User] "What? !" Lambert slipped past me and ran to the back of the room. He opened the cabinet and withdrew the shattered halves of the bell. "What have you done…?"

[Assistant] I’d known it was possible Lene would take Lambert’s side. Breaking the bell had been my form of insurance. "That’s enough. Please give up, Lambert, Lene."

[User] "Brother…" Lambert said nothing, seemingly overcome by despair. Lene rushed to his side.

[Assistant] "Hey, hey, we can’t have this." The man said in a bright, cheerful tone that didn’t suit the mood. His face was concealed by a black mask.

[User] Who was this? This scene had never occurred in the game.

[Assistant] "Without the magic bell, there’s nothing we can do."

[User] "Let me see it." The man took the bell from Lambert’s dejected hands. “Return.” My eyes widened as I watched the two halves of the bell mend back together, as if time had been rewound. What was this magic?! "This should do it, yes?"

[Assistant] "Yes…" Lambert sounded like he couldn’t believe his eyes, but he timidly took the bell and tried to activate it.

[User] "I won’t allow it!"

[Assistant] "Rae, don’t move! Don’t make me hurt Miss Claire!" Lene said sharply.

[User] When I looked, a single red line ran down Claire’s neck. Something inside me snapped. I tried desperately to keep my bearings, despite the anger that flooded through me. This was all my fault. I’d been convinced that because I knew the game, I could control what happened. But now Claire was in danger because of me, and I had to do something. Just as I was starting to despair…I heard another familiar voice.

[Assistant] "To think you could change the commoners’ lot on your own…was a flagrant, arrogant, mistake." As the voice echoed, the men were enveloped in flames. Their screams tore raggedly through the inferno. "Even your screams are vulgar."


[User] "It suits you, thieves.”

[Assistant] “Miss Claire!”

[User] “I don’t get all of what’s going on here, but it sounds like the Aurousseaus were behind it?”

[Assistant] Claire stifled a yawn, then laughed. Apparently, she’d been awake for a while. “That’s unfortunate, Lene.”

[User] Lene was silent. Shame kept her head down, and she refused to meet Claire’s hostile eyes.

[Assistant] “Aurousseau siblings, stick to the plan.” The flames were suddenly extinguished, and the cheerful-voiced man spoke once more. The other men had collapsed save for that one individual, who remained standing, untouched. “Do your jobs, and I will help you escape overseas.”

[User] “Then you can change your names and live as lovers, not siblings.” I thought he sounded just like the serpent, tempting Adam and Eve.

[Assistant] “Don’t listen to him. Surrender.”

[User] “I’m so sorry, Miss Claire. We can’t turn back now.” And with that, Lambert activated the bell. The monster who manifested within the workshop looked like the work of an avant-garde artist. With a lion head, goat torso, the tail of a viper, and bat wings, it was even larger than the water slime we had previously encountered.

[Assistant] “Is that…Chimera? !” Claire screamed. The chimera was a monster from Greek mythology, said to breathe fire and possess supernatural strength. Legend told that its flames could reduce entire mountains to ash. In this world, however, Chimera was a dangerous monster of a very special sort. While most monsters were animals who consumed magical stones and subsequently transformed, Chimera had been born of military-sponsored magical experiments.

[User] “Claire, we have to run. Leave it to the army.” I might have been transported to this world as the game’s player character, but I had no intention of becoming the heroine the game wanted. It was ridiculous to fight such a dangerous monster alone. The army was headed this way, and they could handle it. We didn’t need adventure.

[Assistant] “No!” Claire stubbornly stood her ground. “I’ll stop it here.”

[User] “Miss Claire? !”

[Assistant] “Every second we wait, it wreaks more havoc! Everything I let it get away with will be taken out on Lene!”

[User] “Miss Claire…” Lene was choked up at Claire’s words. Yup, that was my Claire. She still cared about Lene, even after being betrayed. She was high-handed, arrogant, and selfish, but she was so much more than that.

[Assistant] “Ahhh…” I sighed. “You have a losing personality, Miss Claire.”

[User] “Why?”

[Assistant] “Even in times like these, you’re worried about those who hurt you.”

[User] “N-no, that’s not it,” Claire denied, flustered. “Lene belongs to me! She’s my servant, so it’s my responsibility to supervise—”

[Assistant] “Ohhh, right. Mm-hmm. You can keep pretending not to care, if you like, but this is an emergency. We don’t have time for that.”

[User] “Whatever! You go call the army.” Claire motioned to shoo me away. “What are you talking about?


[User] “I’m going to help you.”

[Assistant] “I wish I could say I don’t need your help…but clearly, I could use it.”

[User] “Does that mean I belong to you, too?”

[Assistant] “I haven’t accepted you yet.”

[User] “There you go again.”

[Assistant] “Let me stop your fun right there, ladies." The black-masked man interrupted.

[User] “Mr. Lambert. Stop moping and get Chimera moving.”

[Assistant] “As you say…” Lambert hesitated, but he still rang the bell.

[User] “Charge. Terminate the nobility.”

[Assistant] In response to the masked man’s command, Chimera let out an earth-shaking roar. It was the same Hateful Cry the water slime had used, with the same paralyzing properties.

[User] “Er… Miss Claire, can you move?”

[Assistant] “Who are you talking to? I would never make the same mistake twice.” The Hateful Cry was difficult to fend off if caught off guard, but it could be resisted by those prepared and ready to fight.

[User] “Do you know Chimera’s magic attributes?”

[Assistant] “Of course.” Chimera had three attributes: fire, earth, and water. The lion’s head was fire, the goat’s torso was earth, and the viper’s tail was water.

[User] “I will be here to assist you, Miss Claire.”

[Assistant] “I’m ready.” The words had barely left her mouth when Claire summoned a fire spear.

[User] “Burn to ashes!” She whirled her magic wand, sending the spear flying at Chimera. But the monster swung his tail with agility that seemed impossible, given its massive size, and struck the spear out of the air.

[Assistant] “It looks like straightforward attacks won’t cut it. It isn’t as stupid as it looks.”

[User] “Then how about this?” I generated a stone arrow and fired it behind Chimera. My target was Lambert, who held the magic bell.

[Assistant] “Brother!” Lene cried.

[User] “Don’t worry.” Right before it reached Lambert, the stone arrow was repelled by a wind barrier the masked man threw up. Apparently, he was a wind-wielder.

[Assistant] “Aiming for the controller is smart, but you didn’t even hesitate to shoot at a guy who used to be your friend. You’re a girl with no mercy.” The man with the black mask said, disgusted.

[User] My priority was protecting Claire and ending the battle. I liked Lene, and sympathized with Lambert, but if it was them versus Claire’s safety, my choice was obvious. Putting Claire at risk once had been more than enough. That said, it would be difficult to target Lambert as long as the masked man was there to protect him. We were going to have to defeat Chimera after all. Speaking of which—

[Assistant] “Miss Claire!” The monster opened its massive jaws wide, and I grabbed Claire, hugging her tight in anticipation of what would come next.

[User] She screamed in protest, but in the next moment, we were engulfed in flames.

[Assistant] “That was close…”

[User] “What was that?”

[Assistant] “Chimera’s Fire Breath. It’s more powerful than you can imagine.” I had thrown up the strongest water barrier I could summon, but the rest of the lab was in ruins.


[User] "The magic tools used for analysis were reduced to cinders, and even the brick walls were partially melted. We were now in real danger of carbon monoxide poisoning with all the smoke, and the roof might collapse at any point.

[Assistant] “Let’s go outside,” I whispered to Claire, so Lambert couldn’t hear.

[User] “But! It’ll do even more dama—”

[Assistant] “We’ll lead it to the rear schoolyard. People are still mostly congregated on the athletic field. The Academy students and staff are probably in the dorms.”

[User] “Got it,” Claire nodded and threw a fire bomb at the brittle walls, melting a hole just big enough for a person to pass through.

[Assistant] “Run!”

[User] “She’s the daughter of the Finance Minister. Don’t let her get away!” we heard the masked man cry as we ran.

[Assistant] We didn’t respond. Lambert rang the bell and ordered Chimera to pursue us. The research building collapsed behind us moments after we made it through the front door. Cold sweat ran down my back.

[User] “Any chance they were crushed in the collapse?”

[Assistant] “Doesn’t seem like it.” Just as I said that—Chimera burst through the debris with an earth-shaking rumble, still in hot pursuit.

[User] “Argh!” Claire launched flaming arrows at the approaching beast. These were smaller than a flame spear, but faster, and they surrounded the monster, exploding on impact. But Chimera continued to bear down on us, seemingly unaffected by the arrows.

[Assistant] “Freeze!” I trapped Chimera’s massive body in a huge block of ice.

[User] “What is this crazy magic?” Claire demanded.

[Assistant] “I’ll muster up anything to save you, Miss Claire.” My reply was lighthearted, but we weren’t safe yet. The monster’s lion head breathed fire, reducing the ice to water in a matter of seconds.

[User] “Can’t you freeze it to its core?”

[Assistant] “That would take too long, and I think the water attribute tail would remain unaffected,” I said. "Miss Claire…for the first time in our lives, let’s work together.”

[User] “What should I do?” Claire answered seriously; she knew this wasn’t the time for jokes.

[Assistant] “Like Thane did before, I’ll use my water attribute to boost your magic, so aim for the head.”

[User] “Won’t Chimera just deflect the attack with his tail again?”

[Assistant] “Can you call up your special move from the Academy Knights selection exam?”

[User] “I see… But I have to gather my magic a bit to cast that.”

[Assistant] “I’ll buy us time. Get started.”

[User] Claire smiled fearlessly. "Are you saying I should trust you?”

[Assistant] “If you can.”

[User] “Hmph! Well, fine.” And that was that. All that remained for me to do was support Claire with everything I had.

[Assistant] “Flame!” Claire materialized countless small fire bullets and fired them at Chimera, peppering the goat torso. The monster kept advancing, unaffected. He opened his jaws to breathe fire—and I cast my magic.

[User] “Freeze!” As before, Chimera was encased in ice, momentarily frozen.

[Assistant] “Now, Miss Claire.” Claire stretched her arms out to her sides.


[User] Four spectral images of the François family crest appeared in the air around her as the ice encasing the monster began to shudder and break. "Light!" The light of the four crests swallowed the incoming fire breath, turning it into a puff of smoke. Claire’s Magic Ray cascaded down Chimera’s open jaws, filling his throat, and searing through his entire body. With a terrible cry, the giant collapsed. This time, he didn’t move again.

[Assistant] "We did it!"

[User] "Good job. I knew you had it in you, Miss Claire."

[Assistant] In that moment of relief, when the tension between Claire and I dissolved for once—we were caught off guard.

[User] "Very impressive. You have proven yourself, young lady." The black-masked man appeared as if out of nowhere and swung a knife at Claire.

[Assistant] "Miss Claire!"

[User] For one terrible moment, I thought it was over. But the blade that should have killed Claire was blocked by a powerful arm.

[Assistant] "Master Thane!"

[User] "That was close…" The black-masked man’s knife was embedded in Thane’s arm. Fresh blood dripped from the wound.

[Assistant] "Well now, what do we have here? A disgraced prince?"

[User] "Insurgent." Thane answered the masked man’s words with a magic-empowered fist. The man dodged, but the blow grazed him, knocking his mask to the ground.

[Assistant] I tried to catch a glimpse of his naked face as he swiftly covered it with his hands.

[User] "Ha. I thought I had you all figured out, but you still had a little something up your sleeve."

[Assistant] "The army will be here soon. You should surrender."

[User] There were skilled mages in the army, but Thane’s body-reinforcing wind magic was in a league of its own. He’d probably arrived first because he could outrun them—though it was still absurd to let a prince go ahead by himself.

[Assistant] "Is that right? Then I guess I’ll just have to make a run for it."

[User] As before, his bright, cheerful tone was jarring, given the situation.

[Assistant] "You think you can escape?"

[User] "I’ll figure something out. Besides, it looks like I got what I wanted, doesn’t it?"

[Assistant] We stared at him, not understanding what he meant.

[User] "My goal was to kill as many nobles as possible, but…something even better, something I’d never expected, has fallen into my hands."

[Assistant] As I tried to wrap my head around what he meant, Thane suddenly cried out and fell to his knees.

[User] "Master Thane? !" Claire rushed to his side.

[Assistant] "It was…poison…?"

[User] "Correct. A special new poison for which no antidote exists. Please, savor it." The man spat these words with joyful abandon as he disappeared into the darkness of night.

[Assistant] "Master Thane! Master Thane!" Claire clung to the fallen Thane and called his name.

[User] But there was no response. His breathing was labored, his forehead was slick with sweat, and he let out painful moans. Ominous black spots had formed on his skin.

[Assistant] "Call for a doctor! Call a doctor now!"

[User] "Miss Claire, please step away."

[Assistant] "But, Master Thane…!"

[User] "It’s okay."


[User] “I think I can neutralize it.” Somehow, I managed to pry the utterly distraught Claire from the man she loved, who was on the brink of death, and called up my detoxifying water magic.

[Assistant] “The spots!” Under the touch of my magic, the black splotches on Thane’s skin faded. He remained unconscious, but his breathing began to even out.

[User] “So, it was poison from the Nur Empire."

[Assistant] “What?! Is that where that man was from? !”

[User] I nodded. The Nur Empire was a powerful nation that bordered the Bauer Kingdom to the east. A number of the game’s events were instigated by this enemy nation, including, in the second half of the game, the use of a poison called cantarella. There was a fan theory that cantarella was actually the poison known as arsenous acid in our world, which no one had yet figured out how to isolate as a pure material. But the heroine eventually determined the steps to magically neutralize the poison in the game, so I knew how to treat Thane.

[Assistant] “How do you know that?”

[User] “No comment.”

[Assistant] “And why were you alone in the lab? It’s like you knew Lene and her brother would betray us.”

[User] “I was suspicious of Lambert. Lene really surprised me, though.” I gave Claire a blend of truth and lies. Though she was single-minded, she wasn’t stupid, so I’d have to tread carefully if I wanted to trick her.

[Assistant] “Are you—” she started, but just then, Thane began to rouse.

[User] “Master Thane!”

[Assistant] “Claire… Is that you…? You’re safe. Good.”

[User] “What are you talking about?! You were in danger… What would we have done if something happened to you? !” Claire clung to him, tears running down her face.

[Assistant] Thane looked like he wasn’t sure what to do, but he finally held her back, stroking her hair. "I’m sorry I worried you…”

[User] “I… If you hadn’t woken up, then I…I…”

[Assistant] “I’m sorry…”

[User] “Umm, I’m sorry to interrupt, but,” I said awkwardly to the couple, who were trying to take the spotlight from the heroine (me). "How about we move somewhere else? It’s cold here.”

[Assistant] “You…” Claire glared at me like she wanted me to drop dead, but it was the truth: the spring night was cold in a way that wouldn’t do our patient any favors. It wasn’t because I was jealous of Thane. Not at all. Not me. And that was that.


[User] Claw marks were starkly visible amidst the rubble, and the prevailing air on campus was one of quiet caution as workers from the construction guild carried in lumber and bricks for repairs. Even as Rod briefed the Academy Knights on the state of affairs at our next meeting, Claire was distracted, continually glancing to her left: the spot where Lene usually stood, always waiting for her.

[Assistant] "Will the Aurousseau family be…executed?"

[User] “It’s likely. I’m sure they had their reasons, but this is just too serious to overlook.”

[Assistant] “That’s true…” The meeting room was silent.

[User] “Oh yeah! Claire and Rae, it seems you’re going to be rewarded." Rod said, trying to dispel the gloom.

[Assistant] “Rewarded?”

[User] “Of course! You identified the true culprits, and you took down Chimera. Rae even saved Prince Thane’s life.”

[Assistant] “I expect you’ll be summoned to the Royal Palace soon. His Majesty wants to present your reward in person.”

[User] “I really didn’t do much—”

[Assistant] “Oh, is that so? That would be a tremendous honor." Rae interjected, cutting her off.

[User] “Excuse you!”

[Assistant] "Miss Claire, I have an idea.” Rae lowered her voice even further, whispering into her ear so no one else could hear.

[User] “I see… I think it’s worth trying.”

[Assistant] “Right?”


[User] Just as Yu projected, we were summoned to the Royal Palace a few days later. It was my first visit to the Royal Palace. We passed through a majestic gate and walked along soft, expensive carpeting as we were shown to the waiting room. The king met with dozens of people every day. Claire and I were the only ones present in that room at the moment, but there had to be numerous other vestibules where people were waiting for audiences, too.

[Assistant] “Sit down. You’re being restless.” Claire was probably used to this. She was sipping tea and showed not the slightest sign of anxiety.

[User] “I was just thinking that rooms in the palace are completely unlike anywhere else.”

[Assistant] “Naturally. The Royal Palace represents the pinnacle of the kingdom’s culture. Everything in it is made from materials of the highest grade—for example, this table is probably mahogany.”

[User] “Heh…” It all just looked expensive to me.


[User] "Thank you for loaning me clothes." Claire returned her teacup to the saucer.

[Assistant] I’d planned to appear before the king in my uniform, since I was a student, but Claire had panicked when I told her as much. She’d rushed to find me something more appropriate, which turned out to be a pantsuit in formal black, with long sleeves. Apparently, there was an extensive dress code that stipulated what you could wear to a royal audience.

[User] Claire was clad in an elegant dress—not an evening gown, but a conservative day dress that covered most of her skin, with an ankle-length skirt. I wore my outfit awkwardly, but Claire’s fit her like a glove. I suppose it went without saying that she was a noble, and it showed. "I didn’t do it for you. I couldn’t have my maid’s lack of dress sense reflect badly on me with His Majesty."

[Assistant] "That’s a nice excuse. I know you love me."

[User] "I really wish you would just shut up." Despite the retort, Claire’s expression was satisfied and confident.


[Assistant] An attendant came to fetch us. We walked down the palace corridor, stepping carefully on the plush red carpet. Claire walked with ease, despite her long-hemmed dress and high heels. Before long, we came to a ceremonial set of doors. "I present Claire François and Rae Taylor!" The attendant announced our names as the intricately embellished door swung open. The man bowed to us, and Claire and I stepped into the room, keeping our heads down. Before us on the throne sat King l’Ausseil and his queen, Riche, flanked on either side by guards and soldiers. The attendant who’d escorted us approached the throne and then dropped to his knees, bowing deeply.

[User] Claire had grilled me on the necessary etiquette the night before, so I supposed I could give the “ve-Rae nice to meet you” joke a rest, just this once.

[Assistant] "Let me see your faces." His Majesty’s heavy voice resounded through the room, giving us permission to look upon him and the Queen. King l’Ausseil had black hair and black eyes. He reminded me of Rod, though not as vivacious, of course. His posture and presence brought to mind the kings you saw in a deck of cards, but more beautiful still. The crown upon his head glistened. Queen Riche, meanwhile, had golden hair and blue eyes, good looks she had clearly passed to Yu. Her long hair was pulled back and the silver tiara on her head shone bright. She was covering her mouth with a fan, so I couldn’t read her facial expression. "I am told you took the lead in resolving a series of incidents at the Royal Academy."

[User] "You have done well."

[Assistant] We lowered our eyes again at his words of appreciation.


[User] “I also hear you saved my son Thane’s life. In gratitude for the great service you have done our land, I shall bestow upon you a fitting reward. Name your desire.” At that, we lifted our heads again.

[Assistant] “We are Claire François and Rae Taylor. It is our honor and delight to meet you today.” Claire spoke. We’d agreed beforehand that she would handle this part; it hardly seemed proper for a commoner like me to address His Majesty.

[User] “Mmm,” His Majesty nodded encouragingly.

[Assistant] “As our reward, we have but one request of Your Majesty.”

[User] “Let me hear it.”

[Assistant] “Yes.” This was the crucial moment. You got this, Claire. “We beg that the lives of the Aurousseau family be spared.” A stir ran through the room at Claire’s words, as was only to be expected.

[User] “Silence,” His Majesty bellowed, and the room fell quiet once again. The king was silent himself for a few moments and then spoke. “It is my understanding that the Aurousseaus were the primary culprits in what occurred. You would request their sentence be reduced?”

[Assistant] “I would. I humbly request that Your Majesty pardon them,” Claire repeated in response to the king’s flat, unreadable words.

[User] “Salas, what say you?” When addressed by the king, the chancellor stepped forward from beside the throne.

[Assistant] This was Salas Lilium, a handsome man with silver hair and red eyes. “This is difficult. Rewarding good behavior and punishing poor conduct is the principle of the kingdom’s law. There is no reason to commute the sentence of the Aurousseaus,” Salas answered flatly.

[User] “The Aurousseaus have served this country faithfully until now. Their contributions, especially in the magical stone business, cannot be overlooked. I humbly request, once again, the pardon of Your Majesty.” Claire desperately pressed her appeal. This was our only chance to save Lene and Lambert’s lives.

[Assistant] “It is true that the Aurousseaus have served us well. Is it possible to commute their sentence in consideration of such merit, Salas?” the king mused.

[User] “The crimes they committed include colluding with foreign invaders and the attempted murder of royalty and nobility. These are crimes too great to be offset by prior achievement and can only be answered by the destruction of the house,” Salas replied coldly.

[Assistant] “So be it. Do you have another request?” We’d failed. Claire’s face was pale, her hands clenched into fists.

[User] “Your Majesty, is there any way you can fulfill their requests?” Thane had entered through a side door and now stood beside Claire. “The incidents at the Academy were fueled by the general populace’s resentment of the ruling class. The courtyard incident, which led to the riots, invited criticism that the government unduly favors aristocrats.” Thane’s voice was clear and resonant. I’d never heard him speak like this before. “The Commoner Movement has subsided now that it’s been proven the Aurousseaus were at fault.


[User] “Are you saying that sparing the lives of the Aurousseau family will prevent such dissatisfaction?”

[Assistant] “Yes…I am.”

[User] “Your Majesty, Master Thane, with all due respect, the Aurousseaus are suspected of exacerbating the Commoner Movement. The royal family does not disregard commoners, but the aristocrats who were endangered by the Aurousseaus will not let this pass.”

[Assistant] “The issue is one of balance. The scales of the king’s favor are currently tipped toward the aristocrats. Considering the importance of magic, it is clear we must tip those scales further toward the commoners’ favor to balance them. Please reconsider this, if for no other reason than to keep Your Majesty’s meritocratic policy from becoming a dead letter.” Thane fell silent, his case made.

[User] “I understand both of your arguments.” The king fell silent as well, deep in thought.

[Assistant] “The Aurousseaus shall be deported.”

[User] Claire and I looked at each other in relief.

[Assistant] “Your Majesty, with all due respect—”

[User] “Salas, I have spoken.”

[Assistant] “Understood,” Salas reluctantly fell back in line.

[User] “Claire François, Rae Taylor. You are excused.”

[Assistant] “Yes.”

[User] “Thane, you will stay. I have something to discuss with you.”

[Assistant] “Yes, sir…” Claire and I left the room. We stayed silent for a while, even once we’d walked out of the palace.


[User] “We did it!” Once we were past the gates, though, I couldn’t hold it in anymore.

[Assistant] “Hurrah!” Claire and I pumped our fists in the air in unrehearsed synchrony. She looked at me looking back at her and quickly dropped her fist.

[User] “Hmph! Would you stop copying me?”

[Assistant] “It’s like we’re reading each other’s minds. That’s a wondrous thing; let’s be happy.”

[User] “I don’t see why we have to be happy together.”

[Assistant] “Then let’s just love each other.”

[User] “What are you talking about? !” And we were back to normal once more, with the slight difference that Claire was talking more than she typically did. We made our chattier-than-usual way back to the Academy.


[User] A good place to start over in. In contrast to our melancholy state, the weather was beautiful, not a cloud in the sky. Claire dragged her parasol listlessly along the ground.

[Assistant] “The weather is nice.”

[User] “Yes, it is.” She replied indifferently, staring at the border crossing. The crossing itself consisted of a building that had been constructed over the largest road connecting the Alpes and the Bauer Kingdom; it was equipped with a massive, sturdy gate that could be locked in case of emergency. The checkpoint was inside the building, and the Aurousseaus were currently going through it. They’d dealt in magical stones in the Bauer Kingdom, but it was forbidden to take that technology outside the country, so their possessions and documents were undoubtedly being thoroughly searched.

[Assistant] “I wonder if the Aurousseaus will be all right in the Alpes.”

[User] “I’ve heard their father, Bartley, is a competent man. He may not get them back to where they used to be, but I’m sure he’ll do just fine.” Claire answered matter-of-factly, but her tone was somber, somewhat distant. “It’ll be worse for Lene and Lambert.”

[Assistant] “Yes…”

[User] Their forbidden love had nearly gotten their entire family killed. The Aurousseau family would disown Lene and Lambert once they’d migrated to the Alpes, forcing them to rebuild their lives alone in a new country without any support. In a world where most people inherited the family business, the implications of this were severe.

[Assistant] “All they can do is keep living. As long as they are alive, things will work out.” It sounded almost like Claire was trying to convince herself, as if she were willing it to be true. “It looks like their inspection is over.”

[User] The Aurousseau family moved toward the gate as we watched from just outside the fence surrounding the compound. Almost everyone the Aurousseau employed had been fired, leaving only the twenty or so family members to make the journey unassisted. Among them were Lene and Lambert.

[Assistant] “Lene!” I called, running up to the iron fence.

[User] Lene approached from the other side. “I’m sorry, Rae…and Miss Claire, too…”

[Assistant] “Miss Claire said she wanted to say goodbye.”

[User] “I said no such thing. You insisted on bringing me along, no matter what I did.”

[Assistant] “Ah ha ha… It’s been a while, but I’m relieved to see you two are the same as always.” Lene giggled, her laugh sounding weak.

[User] There was a slight pause.

[Assistant] “Lene, do you resent me?” Claire asked timidly.

[User] “Nothing of the sort!” Lene was flustered. “It was only fair that my family be punished. It’s thanks to you begging His Majesty for mercy that we’re even alive, now.”

[Assistant] “But I was the one who caught you.” Claire said, with only a hint of self-deprecation.

[User] “No. I am grateful to you for stopping our violence.”

[Assistant] “My sister and I realize what we have done.” Lambert came over to join us, wearing a distressed look. “They say love is blind."


[User] "Ours narrowed our vision, and this is the result. That man exploited my feelings to make me do his will.”

[Assistant] Lene nodded. “Rae, be careful. Don’t let anyone use the feelings you have for Miss Claire.”

[User] “I won’t.”

[Assistant] “Lambert, Lene. It’s time. Let’s go.”

[User] “Lene, take this with you.” Rae handed Lene a bundle of parchment through the fence.

[Assistant] “This is…? !”

[User] “They’re new recipes. Remember to use the mayonnaise.”

[Assistant] “Are you sure?”

[User] “Mm-hmm. I think it’ll earn you some seed money.” This was all I could do for her now.

[Assistant] “Farewell, then. Miss Claire, Rae, thank you for everything.”

[User] “Bye, Lene.”

[Assistant] Claire remained silent.

[User] Lene smiled sadly and turned away. She and Lambert headed to rejoin their family.

[Assistant] “Miss Claire.”

[User] “You don’t want to say goodbye?” She didn’t answer. Claire had a conflicted look on her face, clearly processing a whirlwind of emotions. In that moment, I saw her for so much more than something as simple as a villainess.

[Assistant] “Lene!” Claire suddenly called.

[User] Lene turned in surprise.

[Assistant] “I won’t say goodbye. I’ll see you again someday. Until then, stay healthy!”

[User] I thought I saw Lene smile but couldn’t be sure. Maybe I just wanted to believe that was what I’d seen. They kept walking, and eventually, she and Lambert were gone from our sight. Claire was silent again, but her eyes were dry.

[Assistant] “Miss Claire.”

[User] “What is it?”

[Assistant] “Can I hug you?”

[User] “Of course not. I’m going home.” Claire turned away and walked ahead of me.

[Assistant] “You needn’t be so stubborn in times like this.” People are far more complicated than a book or a game can ever really depict. And I love that about them, especially the awkward ones.

[User] “Misssss Claaaaaire!”

[Assistant] “Aggh?! What are you doing?! Let go of me!”

[User] “I won’t let you go, but I’ll let you talk.”

[Assistant] “Stop talking nonsense!”

[User] Curse me all you like, Claire. Return to being your normal, happy self, if you can. And if you can’t—

[Assistant] “It’s okay to cry, you know?”

[User] “D-don’t be stupid. I just lost a maid. Why would I cry over something like—”

[Assistant] “Miss Claire, I’m behind you right now. I can’t see your face.”

[User] “I told you!”

[Assistant] I stayed where I was, embracing her from behind. “You didn’t want Lene to leave.” A few drops of water hit my hands, which were wrapped around her. “Things don’t always turn out how you want. Even falling in love isn’t free.” More teardrops. My hands were getting wet. We stayed there like that for a little longer.

[User] “You really are cheeky for a peasant…”

[Assistant] “Yes, I’m cheeky. You should punish me.”

[User] “No. You’d just consider that a reward, wouldn’t you?”

[Assistant] “Miss Claire, you know me so well. Our only choice now is to get married!”

[User] “I will not!” And with that, we really were back to normal. I walked by Claire’s side, happy to receive her sharp words.


[User] "I hope we can see her again," I said looking back at the border crossing.

[Assistant] "I'm sure we will." Claire's voice was no longer clouded over. Instead, it echoed as clearly as the blue sky stretched above us.


[User] “LENE, ARE YOU READY?” My brother said to me once I’d bid farewell to Rae and Miss Claire.

[Assistant] “Yes. The longer we linger, the harder it will be to say goodbye.” Secretly, I regretted not apologizing to Miss Claire in my own words. The crimes that my brother and I had committed were unforgivable, and I thought it would be presumptuous of me to even try. Besides, of course, apologies are more for the culprit’s benefit than the victim’s… But my heart was so overburdened by guilt that, in the end, I couldn’t even give her a proper goodbye. My soul was overshadowed.

[User] “Lene!” The wind brought the unmistakable voice of my Lady to my ears as I turned back instinctively.

[Assistant] “I won’t say goodbye. I’ll see you again someday. Until then, stay healthy!”

[User] I was sure that no one, not even my beloved brother, could understand how those words made me feel. I was just a servant—just one of Miss Claire’s many servants—and yet she had such kind words for me, someone who had viciously betrayed her. In that moment, I was more grateful than ever for her compassionate heart.

[Assistant] “She was a good Lady.” My brother smiled gently at me.

[User] “Not past tense. Miss Claire is, and will always be, my Lady,” I said, wiping a tear from my eye.

[Assistant] “I see,” He said as he stroked my hair.

[User] I had served Miss Claire ever since we were children. As we walked away, my head swirled with memories of the ten years we’d walked side by side. Of course, our relationship hadn’t always been all sunshine and sweetness. I thought back to when I’d met Miss Claire for the very first time, looking back at her faraway silhouette in the present.


[Assistant] “This is Lene Aurousseau. Starting today, she will serve as Miss Claire’s attendant. Lene, introduce yourself.”

[User] “My name is Lene Aurousseau. I am pleased to meet you.”

[Assistant] “Hmm… I don’t care about your name. I’m sure you’ll quit in a week, anyway.” Miss Claire was two or three years younger than me, and I was seven. She spoke like a much older girl, her spiral curls bouncing cutely as she trained a grumpy expression on me. She was adorable and would have been even cuter if she smiled.

[User] “Now then, Miss Claire, Lene will take care of you. Please excuse me.” With that, the senior maid left the room. I would discover later that Miss Claire wasn’t fond of the senior maid and that the feeling was mutual. It wasn’t just the senior maid, either. Most of the maids serving the François household disliked Miss Claire, and my first impression wasn’t exactly the best, either.

[Assistant] “Commoner.”

[User] “My name is Lene, Miss Claire.”

[Assistant] “I told you, I don’t care about your name. Commoner, turn into a horse.”

[User] “A…horse?” I take back what I said.


[User] During this time, I learned a number of things about the François household. Miss Claire’s parents, Master Dole and Madam Melia, left the house often. I supposed that was natural for Master Dole, the Minister of Finance, but Madam Melia rarely came home, either. She was a popular socialite, a social butterfly who pulled strings behind the scenes and was said to be Master Dole’s right hand. Since they were gone so often, they spoiled Claire rotten when they were around. If Miss Claire said she liked strawberries, for example, they would upend the functioning of farms and cold-storage facilities to ensure she had a constant supply of strawberries throughout the year. With no one around to give her honest advice, Miss Claire grew into a more selfish young lady by the day.

[Assistant] Not long after I became Miss Claire’s attendant, the house filled with the hubbub of preparing for Miss Claire’s fourth birthday party. Servants rushed to mail out invitations, design the menu, and decorate the rooms. My main job was to stay by Miss Claire’s side. There was already an implicit understanding among the attendants that handling Miss Claire was primarily my task. It was natural, therefore, that I accompanied Miss Claire when she went shopping. Miss Claire could have anything she wanted brought to her room, but she sometimes liked to go to the store on her own. On this particular day, she’d brought us to a boutique she frequented. However, she wasn’t shopping for herself. She was shopping for me.

[User] "Um, Miss Claire, I don’t mind wearing a servant’s clothing…"

[Assistant] "No. I refuse to accept that my attendant does not own a single dress!" Miss Claire said.

[User] On her instructions, the store employees brought out a wide selection of clothing. I had dresses at my parents’ home, but they were made for a commoner. I thought my heart would fly out of my chest when I saw these glittering gowns for the first time. Perhaps that was why I forgot I didn’t belong there.


[User] And, judging by the way the shopkeeper addressed him, he wasn’t just an aristocrat but a member of a royal family. I decided it would be best if I just left. But before I could…

[Assistant] "Your Royal Highness of Loro, has my servant done something to offend you?" Miss Claire came back, speaking fluently in a foreign language.

[User] "You can speak Loronese? How impressive, for such a young child."

[Assistant] "Much obliged, Your Highness. I am Claire François, daughter of Dole François, Minister of Finance of the Bauer Kingdom."

[User] "Ah, Dole’s daughter. I see. No wonder you are so well behaved and educated."

[Assistant] "Thank you very much," Miss Claire was having a casual conversation with royalty several times her age. All I could do was stare.

[User] "However, Claire, it is inappropriate of you to bring a commoner into this store. My nation, Loro, has invested in this establishment with the intent that it will cater exclusively to aristocrats. Commoners must not be allowed inside."

[Assistant] "Your Highness, have you heard of the new policy that King l’Ausseil plans to launch in the Bauer Kingdom?" Miss Claire asked.

[User] "What?" Master Darcel cocked his head to the side.

[Assistant] "His Majesty l’Ausseil means to introduce new laws that will elevate and educate commoners. Perhaps this shop of yours, Master Darcel, will fall behind the times if it only caters to aristocrats."

[User] "How… Does King Bauer intend to bestow his grace on commoners, as well?"

[Assistant] "Exactly so," Claire said. It hadn’t been made public yet, but a number of high nobles and the royal family knew of the meritocratic policy, including, of course, the François household.

[User] "I apologize, but I am practicing what the kingdom will soon enforce. This is my test subject."

[Assistant] "Oh…is that right? Well, if Bauer intends to introduce such laws, Loro will not stand in its way. I will overlook this incident."

[User] "Thank you very much, Your Majesty." And with that, the encounter came to an end.


[Assistant] Somehow, Claire had brought it to a peaceful conclusion.

[User] "It’s fine. I won’t come to this store again," she whispered to me as we left the store.

[Assistant] "Um… I’m sorry, Miss Claire. I was a coward…"

[User] "Argh! That stupid royal family really makes me angry!"

[Assistant] "Oh, um… Miss Claire?"

[User] "Loro is living in


[User] There was no doubt that Miss Claire was a selfish girl, a spoiled and beautiful aristocrat. But she was more than that. Once she decided you were part of her family, she would protect you at all costs. In that moment, I decided that I wanted to stay with her. "I, Lene Aurousseau, swear to become a servant worthy of Miss Claire."

[Assistant] "Good. Give it your best!"

[User] That was when my relationship with Miss Claire began to change. On the morning of Miss Claire’s birthday party, an unexpected problem arose.


[Assistant] "I’m sorry, Claire. Your father and I have something that we simply cannot reschedule." Melia, Miss Claire’s mother, said with heartfelt disappointment.

[User] "No! Father and Mother must stay with me! Today is my birthday!" Miss Claire, who had been looking forward to spending time with her parents after not seeing them in a while, was naturally upset.

[Assistant] "Claire, don’t give your mother trouble. This is our duty as nobles." Dole chided, but he was clearly upset, too.

[User] "You always leave me alone… And now you won’t even come to my birthday…?" Miss Claire said, tears rolling down her face. The loneliness in her voice pulled on my heartstrings.

[Assistant] "I am so very sorry, Claire. I’ll make it up to you. That’s right! I’ll buy you anything you desire, Claire, anything at all. What would you like?" The look on Melia’s face suggested she thought she’d come up with an amazing idea, but I cringed internally.

[User] "I don’t need a present! I hate you, Mother!" Miss Claire shouted. She turned on her heel and ran in the direction of her room.

[Assistant] "Claire…" Madam Melia watched her go with a sad look on her face, shoulders slumped.

[User] "Claire will understand someday. An aristocrat’s duty takes precedence over everything, even family."

[Assistant] "I know, and yet…sometimes I wonder if she wouldn’t have been happier if she weren’t born a noble." Madam Melia said faintly. "Lene, please take care of Claire. Cheer her up, somehow."

[User] "Yes, ma’am. Have a safe trip, Madam, Master." I said goodbye to them and headed to Miss Claire’s room. After knocking three times, I tried the handle. As I’d expected, it wasn’t locked. "Miss Claire?"

[Assistant] "My father and mother have left, haven’t they?" Her voice was full of loneliness. I wanted to run up to Miss Claire and hug her, but the difference in our statuses didn’t allow such a thing. Claire had been waiting with the door unlocked. She’d been hoping her parents would come after her. It was a childish, selfish thing to do, of course, but I understood how she felt.


[User] “Master and Madam really want to be with you, Miss Claire.”

[Assistant] “I wonder…I wonder if my father and mother wish they had a boy.”

[User] At those words, I realized the true nature of Miss Claire’s anxiety. Miss Claire feared she was an insufficient heir. No four-year-old should be worrying about such things on her birthday, but Miss Claire had already thoroughly internalized the rules and values of the aristocrat’s world. "No, not at all. Master and Madam are truly happy to have you for a daughter.”

[Assistant] “If that’s true, then why won’t they celebrate my birthday with me?”

[User] I had no answer for that innocent question. I could have recited the duties of aristocrats, but they weren’t what Miss Claire needed to hear. She wasn’t challenging the logic of the aristocracy but the desires of the heart.

[Assistant] “Leave me. I want to be alone.” Miss Claire murmured when I said nothing.

[User] With nothing else I could do, I left the room.


[Assistant] The birthday party began that night. The guest of honor, Miss Claire, appeared with a smile, like the morning’s incident had never happened.

[User] “Thank you, everyone. You have my heartfelt gratitude for putting together such a wonderful party for me.” The smile was entirely for her attendants.

[Assistant] There were still many servants who disliked Claire, but I no longer agreed with them. You were supposed to be selfish when you were four years old. You were still the center of your own world at that age, and besides, how many children could set their personal sorrow aside to play the hostess the way Miss Claire just had, at that tender age? "Happy birthday, Miss Claire. This is from all your attendants.” I presented a gift to Miss Claire.

[User] “Really? Can I open it?”

[Assistant] I nodded, and Miss Claire happily unwrapped it.

[User] “What a lovely brush!”

[Assistant] We had given Miss Claire a fancy brush with bristles made of fine, sturdy pig hair. "But, it’s a bit big, isn’t it?"

[User] “You will grow, Miss Claire, so it will be the perfect size someday. Until then—” I hesitated.

[Assistant] "Until then?”

[User] “Until then, why don’t you use it to brush the Madam’s hair?”

[Assistant] Miss Claire wore a startled expression for a moment, clearly aware that I was implying she should make up with her mother. “Oh, yes. I will do that.” She said at last, and grinned.

[User] I took this to mean that Miss Claire would be fine. I was wrong.


[Assistant] “My Lady, it’s terrible!” A servant rushed into the party, her face pale. I recognized her as Madam Melia’s attendant.

[User] “What is this commotion? If you have something to say, say it.” The senior maid said sharply.

[Assistant] “Father and Mother? !” Claire cried.

[User] “Calm down, Miss Claire.” I took hold of Miss Claire to keep her calm, prompting the servant to continue.


[User] Master Dole and Madam Melia had been invited to a party held by a powerful rival noble. While they were puzzled by the sudden invitation, their would-be-host’s social status left them unable to decline without giving offense, so they attended the party, where they were welcomed warmly enough to make them even more suspicious. They eventually left, still puzzled. On their way home, however, their carriage collided with one belonging to a commoner.

[Assistant] “Are Father and Mother okay?”

[User] “The Master was hurt, but his injuries are minor. But the Madam…”

[Assistant] “Mother?! What happened? !”

[User] “Her condition is serious. The surgeons of the Spiritual Church are doing everything they can to save her.”

[Assistant] “Lene…”

[User] “It will be okay. The Madam wouldn’t leave you, Miss Claire. Let’s trust in the protection of the spirits.” I didn’t know if I was trying to convince her or myself, but I couldn’t think of anything else to say.


[Assistant] And so, Claire’s fourth birthday party came to the worst possible end. Madam Melia could not be saved. Her injuries were so severe that Miss Claire wasn’t even allowed to see her face again at the funeral. In the wake of her mother’s death, she shut down completely. Her selfishness disappeared, replaced with a sober maturity that made her seem like a different person entirely. The François house was often filled with silence in those days. Miss Claire stayed in her room, gazing out the window. No matter what I said to her, it was like she was somewhere else—as if she would always be waiting for the Madam who had never come home. That was just the beginning of her sorrow. Master Dole grew even busier consolidating support in Madam Melia’s absence, and Miss Claire was sent away to live with distant relatives. When she was told she was going to be separated from her father, too, she just nodded solemnly. It made me realize how long it had been since I had heard her voice.

[User] “Miss Claire, How about some strawberries? You didn’t eat much breakfast. Aren’t you hungry?” I showed Miss Claire a basket of strawberries, her favorite, but she just shook her head quietly, not even turning her eyes in my direction.

[Assistant] “Miss Claire… I won’t pretend to understand your pain or how you feel, but…if you don’t eat, you’ll get sick.”

[User] “If I were to die, I wonder if I could apologize to my mother.” Claire said suddenly as if talking to herself.

[Assistant] “I know you’re hurting, but please, don’t talk about dying. That would make the Madam sadder than anything.” I put the basket of strawberries on the table and sat by Miss Claire’s side. I thought it was dangerous to leave her alone right then.

[User] Claire stared out the window as if she didn’t notice I was there, but finally, she spoke.