[User] "Things are truly beginning for us.”

[Assistant] “Indeed, Brother.”

[User] We named our restaurant Frater, meaning “siblings” in the old Bauer language. We thought of using the word for “lovers” instead but ultimately refrained. Our restaurant’s name signified hope. We would not forget our past mistakes. We would work to grow past them. Using Rae’s recipes, Frater quickly became famous. Our most popular item by far was a dessert, crème brûlée. So many of my memories of Rae and Claire were bound up in this dish that it felt like fate for it to become our bestseller. Another big factor in our success was the magic-stone-powered cookware that my brother created. Apparently, he’d gotten the idea from Rae back when we were still in Bauer. The new cookware allowed us to do more with less staff, and even sell our crème brûlée to other restaurants, greatly expanding our business. We also began selling the cookware as well. It was safe to say my brother was a big reason why we were able to make it as far as we did. One month after we established Frater, my brother and I went to Bauer, which was where we were currently located. We had heard of the eruption of Mt. Sassal, as well as the chaos in the kingdom that followed. Under normal circumstances, exiles like us would never have been allowed to set foot back in Bauer. However, an organization calling themselves the revolutionary government came to us requesting financial support. We knew something was going down in Bauer, so under the pretense of doing business with them, we returned.


[Assistant] "Well, this is…"

[User] “…Just terrible.”

[Assistant] The royal capital had none of the beauty I remembered it for. Many buildings were visibly damaged by the volcanic eruption, but most harrowing of all was the lifeless look in the people’s eyes. I had to do something to help them. I ended up offering more financial support than the revolutionary government requested. I planned to make up the difference from my own savings, but my brother insisted otherwise.

[User] “It is by His Majesty King l’Ausseil’s kindness that we are alive right now. He may have departed this world, but I want to show my gratitude to him as well.”

[Assistant] In the end, we decided Frater itself, as a business, would send financial aid. Unsurprisingly, the revolutionary government welcomed us with open arms for our donation. What was surprising, however, was learning more about their operations. Since we were donors, they were willing to give us detailed reports of their activities—which led to us learning Duke François and his daughter had been apprehended. I thought I would pass out the moment I read the report. The revolutionary government was trying to bring down the nobility-based one. As things stood, Claire’s life was in danger. Canceling my support would’ve been easy enough, but by that point, the revolutionary government had enough funds to be secure without Frater’s backing.


[User] And so, I stayed on the revolutionary government’s side so I might continue to monitor them from within. The days crawled by at a snail’s pace. Even though I knew Claire might die, all I could do was keep watch and hope nothing happened. Then one morning, a letter arrived from Manaria.

[Assistant] "Rae!"

[User] "Hey, Lene. It’s been a while… I’m sorry." The moment we reunited, Rae bowed her head low. She apologized for hiding her true plans and for being unable to stop Claire.

[Assistant] "You have nothing to apologize for. If you couldn’t stop her, then I’m sure nobody could."

[User] "Besides, it’s not like you’ve given up, right?"

[Assistant] “…Right.” I saw determination swell in her. She seemed ready to get Claire back, no matter what.

[User] "Then let’s work together."

[Assistant] "Yes, let’s. Thank you, Lene." And that was how I became Rae’s coconspirator in her plan to save Claire while our restaurant, Frater, remained a supporter of the revolutionary government.

[User] "Miss Claire…" Even now, I adored her. I considered her my mistress, and would always do so, no matter how much time came to pass. I understood very well why she was trying to die in this revolution, but…

[Assistant] "I would rather you live." As someone who once betrayed her, I might not have had the right to say such a thing. But even so, I meant it.

[User] "Let’s do this, Lene!"

[Assistant] "Yeah!" I wasn’t alone. I had Rae, Manaria, and even my precious brother with me.

[User] "Just you wait, Miss Claire." My desires thus united with Rae’s, I awaited the arrival of the fated day.


[User] OF THE THREE ROYAL CHILDREN, the one furthest removed from the revolution was undoubtedly Yu. With the Harvest Festival incident we helped her pull off, she’d abandoned her right to the throne. Even after the country’s government split into the provisional government and the revolutionary government, both sides kept their distance from her. "It looks like Claire’s making her move. I’m thinking I’ll help out as well.”

[Assistant] When Claire first told us she was going to begin helping with the rationing efforts—presumably alongside Rae—I didn’t want Yu to get involved. She was finally at peace, after so many years of being forced to go through life in the guise of a gender she didn’t want. I didn’t want that peace to be disturbed.

[User] “There’s no need for the frown, Misha. I may have renounced my bid for the throne, but I still care about my people.” Yu, of course, saw right through me and laughed

[Assistant] She told me in her own words that this was what she wanted. She could be rather hard to pin down at times, but there was no denying that she was raised with the noble values of royalty. We started helping with rationing efforts at once. The Church already opened soup kitchens in the winter anyway, so the whole process wasn’t unfamiliar to us. Financing appeared to be a problem at first, but Claire and Rae provided plenty of funds sourced from who-knew-where. Things eventually got worse than they’d already been, however. About half of the provisional government’s army switched sides and joined up with the revolutionary army, the two sides then beginning to skirmish. Public safety took a turn for the worse, and the rationing provided by both governments was suspended. The needy came to us all at once for food. I suggested we stop rationing until things cooled down, but Yu stubbornly insisted we continue.

[User] “Right now, the ones suffering the most are those fighting for neither government: the powerless common people.”

[Assistant] She insisted we continue rationing for their sake. As a former noble myself, I was familiar with the idea of noblesse oblige. But what Yu had was something far grander. Perhaps that’s just what it meant to be royalty. If the revolution continued to intensify as it had, there was a chance the royalty would become targets alongside the nobility. Yu didn’t seem to care about that possibility one bit, however. Nor did Thane, for that matter. The revolutionary government supported his ascension to the throne, but he didn’t let that go to his head and still did all he could. Rod’s well-being was unknown, but I was sure he was doing the same somewhere. The three of them all were doing what they could for the people. Perhaps, then, I ought to reconsider what I should be trying to do. After some time, our financial support from Claire and Rae ceased.


[User] I became unable to contact Rae as well. Without money, we could not provide food. I thought we had hit the end of our road when Manaria and Lene suddenly showed up.

[Assistant] “You’ve done well to hold out this long. Let me lend you a hand.”

[User] “Lady Misha, let me do what I can to help as well.”

[Assistant] Manaria brought a number of resources from Sousse, while Lene provided a small fortune she’d somehow procured. Thanks to them both, we were able to continue distributing food to those who needed it. Even better—Rod eventually arrived on the scene too.

[User] “Yo. Sorry I’m a little late.” His body was covered in wounds, but he still had his usual big, reassuring grin on his face. He’d been caught in the eruption, as we’d feared, but narrowly escaped death—albeit at the cost of losing his arm. He should have been on bed rest, but the sheer force of his pride as royalty brought him back to the capital after receiving only the briefest care from the village he saved.

[Assistant] Later, Rae joined us. Now we only needed Claire back before we’d have all the Academy Knights reassembled.

[User] “Leave the soldiers on both sides of this mess to me. I’ll cool their heated heads down.”

[Assistant] “I’ll take care of exposing Salas’s dirty workings. Rae, could you compile Dole’s achievements?”

[User] “Of course.”

[Assistant] “That leaves taking care of Alter to me, huh? I might be able to use Spellbreaker to free her from whatever spell she’s under.”

[User] The day before the public executions, we all gathered to work out our plan. We were dead set on saving Claire and Dole, and not just for selfish reasons either. Of course, everyone here owed both Claire and Rae a lot. But we also believed Claire and Dole were both people the world needed, even after the nobility fell. I could not save them myself. But I would watch and do what I could to make sure things went right. An anonymous message reached us. It seemed Thane was doing what he could from where he was as well. Our preparations were done. All that was left was to wait for tomorrow.


[Assistant] “…Say, when we were kids, we took day naps together a lot, didn’t we?” That night, we stayed over at the place where the people from Sousse were lodging. As there weren’t enough beds, Rae and I shared one.

[User] “We did. I remember it was always a struggle getting you to wake up.”

[Assistant] “Rae?”

[User] “Yeah?”

[Assistant] “…Are you worried?” She seemed kind of restless. I figured talking about it might help.

[User] “Yeah. I’m a bit worried.”

[Assistant] “I see…”

[User] “But the thing I’m most worried about is how I’ll make Miss Claire change her mind.”

[Assistant] “That does seem like it’ll be a challenge.” Claire had changed. When I first met her at the Academy so many years ago, she was your typical selfish and snobby noble.


[User] “Lady Manaria suggested I hold nothing back and tell her I want her to live, but I don’t know if that’ll be enough…”

[Assistant] Rae grinned wryly. “It’s not like you’ve held back with Miss Claire up until now or anything. Would that really cut it?”

[User] “That’s what I’m saying. But Lady Manaria keeps insisting it’d be enough.”

[Assistant] “Is that so…”

[User] Why was that, I wondered? Rae wasn’t the type to conceal her true feelings. Of course, she could hide things when needed, like the plan she made with Dole, but when it came to her love for Claire, well…she wore her feelings on her sleeve. I swear, she whispered sweet nothings to Claire every opportunity she got. Ah. But then again… “Rae… Don’t you think you’re a bit too used to failure?”

[Assistant] “Huh?”

[User] “I’m sure it’s partly because of your past life’s experiences, but I’ve hardly ever seen you flustered by a setback.” And I was sure Claire would say the same. “Rae…to be in love is an unsightly thing.”

[Assistant] “…What do you mean?”

[User] “Well, to give an example… When you and Miss Claire came to us asking for help with the rationing efforts, I actually wished Lady Yu would turn you down.”

[Assistant] “Whoa. That’s quite a confession.”

[User] “Focus, Rae.” I chided. She sulked and urged me to continue. “You always act like whatever’s happening isn’t a big deal.”

[Assistant] “What? No, I’m not.”

[User] “You may not realize it, but that’s how it seems to others. I’m sure part of why Miss Claire was willing to die for the revolution was because she thought you would be okay without her.”

[Assistant] “Oh…” Rae went silent. “…Rae?”

[User] “That’s certainly a novel idea.”

[Assistant] “Pardon?”

[User] “Oh, sorry. It’s just that I’ve never stopped to think that might be how others saw me.” She scratched her head awkwardly. “I apologize if I upset you.”

[Assistant] “No, not at all. What you said was a big help. Few people are lucky enough to have a friend as sweet and caring as you.”

[User] “How glib.”

[Assistant] “Ehe heh.” Seeing her joke around like this, I figured she would probably be okay. “All right, let’s get to sleep. We have an early morning tomorrow.”

[User] “Right. Good night, Misha. And thank you.”

[Assistant] “You’re very welcome. Good night.”


[User] The morning of the public executions was here. “You ready, Rae?”

[Assistant] “Ready. This time for sure, I’ll make Miss Claire understand just how hopeless of a human being I am!”

[User] “You’ll what now?” Rod, overhearing Rae’s reply, laughed.

[Assistant] Yu and I were present as well, as were Lene and Lambert.

[User] “Oh, you’ll understand. I’ll rescue my princess, not with grace or gallantry, but unsightliness!”

[Assistant] “You’re not making any sense, Rae.” Lene said with a sigh. Rae was her usual chipper self.


[Assistant] CLAIRE'S POV

[User] "Let this trial by the people begin!" Like a performer on a stage, Salas loudly announced the trial’s start.

[Assistant] “Dole François and Claire François stand before you, charged with the crime of using their status as nobility to exploit the people!” Salas proclaimed.

[User] "What’s more, they’ve attempted to seize power for themselves while the royal family was recovering! A heinous act!” Angry shouts came from the crowd of commoners.

[Assistant] After finishing, he asked my father if he had anything to say for himself.

[User] “I have nothing to say. I dedicated myself to the kingdom. If the kingdom is to fall, then I shall fall with it.”

[Assistant] “He admits to the crime! There will be an execution!” On Salas’s signal, a few soldiers entered.

[User] “Do you have any last words?” The executioner who would bring the sword down on my neck asked.

[Assistant] “I do not. I lived a life of no regrets. Do what you shall.”

[User] “…Very well.” Without looking, I sensed the executioner lift his sword.

[Assistant] Goodbye, Rae.

[User] “I object to this trial!” I heard a voice from someone I never thought I would hear again.

[Assistant] “Guards, throw her out.” Salas ordered.

[User] “Wait.”


[User] "That woman has been an invaluable contributor to the revolutionary government. You will not force her out."

[Assistant] "But, Lambert…" Salas said hesitantly.

[User] Lambert spoke up, "I object to this trial. The true villain who exploited the people and put our nation into such a crisis is someone else!"

[Assistant] "What is this idiocy? Who would you accuse of such crimes besides Duke François?" Rae’s voice rang as loud and clear as a bell.

[User] "I will show you now. Lene!"

[Assistant] "Right here, Rae." Lene appeared beside Rae.

[User] "Dole François is no traitor to his country. In fact, he is nothing less than a true patriot."

[Assistant] She began to list all of my father’s actions, including his support for the revolutionary government.

[User] "When Miss Claire, Rae Taylor, and Cardinal Lilly brought corrupt aristocrats to justice, Master Dole was secretly supporting and guiding them." She spoke boldly.

[Assistant] "He has also donated funds to the Resistance under the name ‘XX’ since its founding."

[User] "For those reasons, I say Dole François is a true patriot who would do anything for this country."

[Assistant] "Ridiculous! He still formed the provisional government, taking advantage of our lack of a king!"

[User] "Are you in a place to make such accusations, Salas?" a cool alto voice interrupted.

[Assistant] "Lady Yu? But what are you doing here?"

[User] "I could ask you the same thing. After all, you’re the real criminal here." Yu’s proclamation made the crowd stir.

[Assistant] "This man before you, Salas Lilium, is the true traitor to Bauer. He has been working with the Nur Empire


[User] “This magical tool holds proof of all of Salas’s dealings with the empire. Everyone, do not be deceived by him!” With Misha’s wind magic, the voice recorded in the magic tool was replayed at full volume for all to hear. Salas’s guilt was now exposed.

[Assistant] “…You all leave me no choice.” Salas took a whistle out from his pocket and blew into it hard.

[User] "Take control of the situation.” The moment Salas gave the order, an explosion stopped the soldiers in their tracks.

[Assistant] “Not so fast!” an awe-inspiring voice said. “Sorry I’m late. But the hero has to make a dramatic entrance, right?” It was Rod, laughing after being missing for all this time. His right arm was gone, but his old overbearing personality was still very much there.

[User] “Just give it up, Salas. Most of your soldiers have already submitted to me. Just call it a difference in charisma.”

[Assistant] “Ngh… You couldn’t just stay dead, could you? You just had to get in my way…” Salas glared bitterly at Rod, who scoffed back. “But it’s not over for me yet! Lilly!”

[User] “Ah jeez. It ended up like this after all, eh?” Alter stepped out of the shadows with a dagger on his hip. He wore black leather armor paired with a black cloak.

[Assistant] “Kill Dole, Claire, and the royal children! With them gone, we can spin whatever story we like!”

[User] “You make it sound so easy. I mean, I’ll try, but…” With an annoyed look, Alter drew his dagger. The gray blade was wet with what looked to be poison.

[Assistant] “Shame on you, Salas, for turning a girl into this! Spellbreaker!” Manaria gallantly appeared before Alter.

[User] “Stop it! Stay inside! This body is mine, I tell you! Mine!” Alter screeched, as though fighting for control of his body with Lilly.

[Assistant] “Miss Lilly, come back to us!”

[User] “R-Rae—shut uuuuup!” Alter brandished his dagger and charged toward Rae.

[Assistant] Rae surprised everyone by stepping forward and hugging Lilly.

[User] “I…did it, Rae…” After saying that, she fell unconscious in Rae’s arms.

[Assistant] “Now even Lilly has deserted you. This is the end, Salas!”

[User] “Argh… Damn it all!” Salas spat.

[Assistant] Rae pointed her magic wand toward him.

[User] “Rae Taylor!” he snapped. “Open your eyes!” He still wouldn’t give up. He cast his suggestion magic on Rae, trying to take control of her like he did with Lilly.

[Assistant] “Ha ha ha!” he cackled. “You will be my second Lilly—”

[User] “You think I’d let that happen?”

[Assistant] I looked to see Rae was herself again. “Once I learn how to counter a spell, I never forget."


[User] Pitiful.” She aimed the tip of her magic wand at Salas. “This time it’s truly the end, Salas Lilium.” It was time Salas paid the price for his actions. He was arrested by the government soldiers who had served him before.

[Assistant] “What’s going on?”

[User] “So, who’s the bad guy here?”

[Assistant] “Who are we supposed to execute?” Confusion rippled through the crowd. It started small, then gained momentum, building until the chatter was like rumbling thunder.

[User] “Silence!” A voice drowned out all the noise. All at once, everything became quiet. “So Salas was a villain, then. So what?” The voice belonged to Arla Manuel, the woman who stood at the helm of the revolution. “You think we’re just going to call the revolution off because of that?”

[Assistant] “We weren’t manipulated into starting this revolution by anybody. This revolution has been a long time coming.” Arla’s voice was by no means beautiful, but something about it made one want to listen. Like my father, she had inborn charisma. “The nobility abandoned us. They left us to starve! I don’t care what reasons there were, someone must pay for their crimes, and who better than these two elites of the nobility?” Unlike Salas, Arla had no dirty secrets we could reveal. It was hard to argue against her.

[User] “Down with the old world!”

[Assistant] “Kill the aristocrats!”

[User] “Long live the revolution!” It certainly didn’t help that the commoners were on her side, their shouts only gaining in intensity. Rae tried to speak, but nobody cared to pay her any mind at this point.


[Assistant] He stopped and spoke in a low baritone voice, bearing all the grace of a king. “My people. Listen to this girl, just this once. She has something to say.” Everyone—even Arla—went silent.

[User] “Rae Taylor, what do you have to say?” Thane prompted.

[Assistant] “Thank you, Your Majesty.” Rae addressed the crowd again. “My beloved countrymen, what is it you desire?” She spoke slowly, choosing her words carefully. I could tell she was focusing on her tone and expression as well. “Is it to kill nobility? I would think not. I believe what you truly yearn for is stability in your lives.” The crowd was perplexed. The majority still seemed out for blood, but some—a few—connected with Rae’s words. “Master Dole and Miss Claire have worked harder than anybody to bring peace to us all. What reason do we have to kill them?”

[User] “But we, the people—”

[Assistant] “You are individuals before you are a group! You there, what is your name?” Rae questioned the man. He clammed up, so she moved on. “Then what about you, who threw the rock?


[User] “Or you, next to him?” Another man went silent, so she continued. “You’re all living, breathing people. Tell me your thoughts, not what you think the group thinks. Do you really want to kill Master Dole and Miss Claire?”

[Assistant] Nobody spoke up in opposition this time. Rae had craftily dismantled their mob mentality by reminding them of their individuality. “Certainly, many nobles disregarded the needs of the commoners. But these two are different.”

[User] It was clear the commoners were fully listening now. “If you execute these two today, will you be able to tell your children you did so with pride? Will you be able to tell them of the righteousness of the revolution?”

[Assistant] To think I had been the one to teach her to speak like this. “And don’t think I’ve got nothing to say to you, Miss Claire!”

[User] “…Huh?” I made a face like a pigeon hit by a peashooter, not having expected the topic to shift to me.

[Assistant] “If you’re dead, then who will restore Dole’s honor once peace returns?”

[User] “W-well…” I hadn’t thought of it like that before. She had me there. I hemmed and hawed, unable to answer.

[Assistant] “Does being a noble mean you have to take blame for crimes you didn’t commit? Do you feel pride in sacrificing your life for nothing? !”

[User] “Wait, Rae. Let me speak—”

[Assistant] “Why not live for me instead of dying for temporary honor?”

[User] “…I’m sorry, but I—” I believed dying here to give the commoners closure was my duty as a noble. But Rae didn’t approve.

[Assistant] “Shut up! Can’t you just listen to what I want for once? !” I felt my heart stir as she shouted at me for the first time ever.

[User] “Rae, I—”

[Assistant] “Shut up, shut up! How could you be so stupid?! I can’t believe you!” She was in tears. The ever-aloof and teasing Rae, in tears. Her face was a sorry mess that was hard to look at, and it was all my fault. What are you doing just standing there, Claire François? The woman you love is crying. Quit dawdling and go wipe her tears!

[User] “Look…if you two are going to squabble, could you do it somewhere else?” Arla’s voice brought me back to my senses. She made a face like she’d just swallowed a fly.

[Assistant] “Someone get this girl out of here.”

[User] “No! I’m not going anywhere without Claire, not ever again. If Claire is going to die, then so am I!”

[Assistant] “W-wait, Rae!”

[User] “Augh!” Arla groaned. “All right. Fine, all right, stop with the screaming and crying. It’s not like we can have an execution now, anyway.”

[Assistant] “…Huh?” I said.

[User] “See for yourself.” Arla pointed to the crowd.

[Assistant] “Huh… I suppose if they’re not nobles anymore, then it’s not a real problem, I guess?”

[User] “Miss Claire saved me from starvation, you know.”

[Assistant] “She helped me too."


[User] "The noble I served was corrupt, but Miss Claire found me a new post after she had him arrested. She saved my whole family." The crowd’s opinion had shifted.

[Assistant] Arla untied the rope binding my hands and looked off into the distance. "The people have started thinking for themselves. I don’t need to pull them along anymore."

[User] “Arla…”

[Assistant] “My mission is complete. So long as the system of titled nobility is abolished, I don’t care what else happens. I won’t take your life. Most of you nobles probably aren’t going to make it in this new world, anyway.” Arla laughed. “I look forward to the day I see an ex-noble begging a commoner for a loan. Now, go on and get out of here. You can’t welcome the dawn of a new era dressed in mourning clothes.”

[User] “…Thank you.” Together with Rae, still in tears, I left the courtroom behind.

[Assistant] “You really are impossible, you know that?” I sighed.


[User] In the nearby park, I made Rae sit on her knees in the grass, preparing her for a lecture.

[Assistant] She looked like she had complaints to make, but she certainly wouldn’t make them before me. “Do you realize how much trouble you caused everyone?”

[User] Under her breath, she mumbled, “Uhhh, that’s weird… Isn’t this supposed to be the part where the rescued damsel showers me in love and gratitude…?”

[Assistant] “What nonsense are you muttering there?”

[User] “Nothing!”

[Assistant] “Goodness, Rae. I just don’t know what to do with you. You’re always so reckless and—” I began lecturing her at length. Of course, I was just being bashful. I wanted to hug her right this very moment, to tell the truth. It wasn’t just Rae I was thankful to, of course. I was happy beyond measure that everyone had worked together to help me. If it weren’t for my pride as a noble and my desire to look strong before Rae, I’d probably be on the floor in tears this moment.

[User] “…Don’t be too hard on her, Claire.”

[Assistant] “Master Thane! I-I mean, Your Majesty!” I exclaimed.

[User] “Is the trial over?”

[Assistant] “It’s been canceled, given all that happened. The trial was only for Salas to make a public example of you and Dole, anyway. The revolutionary government considers the whole thing behind them.”

[User] Rae spoke up then, seeming to remember something only at that moment. “That reminds me, Your Majesty. I forgot to thank you.”

[Assistant] “For what?”

[User] “Your harp. You were incredible back there.”

[Assistant] “You truly were,” I said. “Everyone was mesmerized.”

[User] “…Nonsense. I didn’t do anything special. Playing the harp is just something I do to kill time,” he said. He seemed to still not like being praised for playing the harp even though he was so wonderful at it.

[Assistant] “Who taught you to play like that?”

[User] “My mother… When she was still alive, on her sickbed.”

[Assistant] “Oh, I see.” Rae paused for a moment like an idea had come to her.


[User] “Then I guess her love lives on in you through your music.” Thane’s eyes went wide.

[Assistant] A single tear streamed down his cheek.

[User] “Y-Your Majesty?” Rae stammered.

[Assistant] “Your Majesty, is something the matter?” Claire asked, worried.

[User] “…I’m fine…I’m fine, it’s just…to think she’s always been with me this whole time…” His voice was only a low murmur, but it was full of reflection.

[Assistant] Claire noticed her father watching them from a short distance away. He seemed like he still had some regrets, but he wore a look of relief as well.

[User] Claire imagined the words he might say: So in the end, we failed to die… Indeed, Father. We failed to die. But I’m sure there is meaning to be found in living as well.


[Assistant] “Hey, Rae, Claire. That was nicely played back there, not that I expected any less.” Manaria arrived, accompanied by Lene.

[User] “Miss Claire! It’s been too long!”

[Assistant] “Sister! And Lene!” Claire was overcome with joy to see the two. She had thought she would never see either of them again. Lene seemed just as overjoyed by their reunion, perhaps because their last parting had been for what they thought would be life. She hugged Claire with tears in her eyes, and Claire began to tear up as well.

[User] “Are you jealous, Rae? You’re still welcome to be my wife.” Rod said as he joined their growing gathering.

[Assistant] “I refuse.”

[User] “I know.” He let out a roar of laughter. He was as cheerful as ever and would probably continue to be the way he was, never faltering, for as long as he lived.


[Assistant] “Rae… Miss Claire…” Lilly stood some distance away, a soldier on both sides.

[User] “I want to apologize.”

[Assistant] “Oh, Miss Lilly… It’s okay. None of what happened was your fault.”

[User] “Rae is absolutely right. Salas used you.”

[Assistant] All the blame lay on Salas. If anything, Lilly was a victim here.

[User] “E-even so, what I’ve done was unforgivable. I will accept whatever punishment the people decree.”

[Assistant] “Very well. Be sure to atone for your crimes, then.”

[User] “Miss Claire, that’s a bit harsh…” Rae said.

[Assistant] “Once you’ve done that, come back to us. We will wait for you, as long as it takes.”

[User] Tears began to well up and pour from Lilly’s eyes.

[Assistant] “Thank you, Miss Claire. I hope I can fight over Rae with you someday again.” She was taken away by the soldiers then.


[User] “This has become quite the party, huh?” Rod whistled as he looked at the assembled faces.

[Assistant] “It would seem Lady Claire and Rae are blessed with good company.” Misha emotionally said.

[User] “Well… Everyone here has been aided by Rae and Claire at some point. I think it’s more appropriate to say their actions are what have brought us together like this.” Yu gently interjected.

[Assistant] Mother, are you watching? Together with Rae, I’ve done many things. I acted a bit rashly for a moment, but even a girl as selfish as I was able to make this many wonderful, wonderful friends.

[User] “C’mon now, Rae. Wasn’t there something you wanted to tell Claire when you saw her again?” Manaria took a teasing tone.

[Assistant] I felt her push me from behind. Caught off guard, I stumbled a few steps forward as I was standing right before Rae, who had a serious look on her face. “Um… Miss Claire?”

[User] “Wh-what?”

[Assistant] “W-well… Actually, never mind…”

[User] “If you have something to say, say it.”

[Assistant] “Miss Claire!”

[User] “Yes, yes, out with it already,” I said curtly to hide my embarrassment.

[Assistant] She grabbed my shoulders and said, “Please marry me!”

[User] It took a few moments for her words to process in my mind and I went as red as a tomato as cheers erupted from the peanut gallery. “You’re asking me this n-now? In public? Isn’t that something you’re supposed to do when we’re alone? !”

[Assistant] “Really? Well, give me a redo anyway.”

[User] “F-fine. I’ll make a special exception and allow it.”

[Assistant] “A redo of this, Miss Claire.”

[User] “Huh?”

[Assistant] She drew close while I was still confused and gently stole my lips. “I wanted a first kiss whose taste I could remember.” She smiled impishly like she had pulled off a prank.

[User] “Wh-wha, Rae, you are just so, so, so…!"


[User] "Rae, you are just so… You’re always so…so Rae!”

[Assistant] "I didn’t know my name was an adjective!”

[User] When I came to my senses, I began gently pounding my fists against her. For some inexplicable reason she had this peaceful, enlightened look on her face. Honestly, she was just…just so Rae.

[Assistant] “You better make me happy, okay?” I mumbled.

[User] “Huh?” Rae and everyone around us froze stiff.

[Assistant] “I-I said, you better make me happy!” Everyone looked at me in silence. “Wh-what? Say something, will y—” Everyone around us broke out in cheers of celebration. I was too embarrassed to look anyone in the eyes when, suddenly, Rae took me by the hand and pulled me into a trot.

[User] “Where are we going? !”

[Assistant] “Anywhere! We can go anywhere, so long as we’re together!”

[User] I once gave up all hope for the future, but now a blank canvas stretched out before me. I had no idea what kind of future I would paint, but there was one thing that was certain: I would paint it with Rae by my side.


[User] "WOOOW. So that’s what was running through your mind back then.”

[Assistant] “Hmph. I can’t believe you hid such thoughts from me.”


[User] Several months had passed since the revolution. Rae and I now led a modest but peaceful life in the outskirts. Today she and I found out we both kept diaries, so we gave each other’s a read out on the chairs of our house’s terrace. The past year or so from her perspective was quite a bit different than mine. I had only thought of her as a complete nuisance around the time we first met, but she was already head over heels in love with me. I wanted to curl up into a ball of shame just reading how I acted back then. I’m impressed she put up with me for so long, honestly.

[Assistant] “So, what’d you find most unexpected?”

[User] I took my time to think before answering. “Your plan with my father, I suppose. That wasn’t even that long after we met.”

[Assistant] “Oh yeah, that. Man, it was a lot of fun plotting behind your back.” She grinned like a mischievous little rascal.

[User] The two of them had kept their master plan a secret from me, but given how I was, I could hardly fault them for it.

[Assistant] “What about you, Rae? What was the most unexpected thing from my diary?”

[User] Rae said she had a way of seeing the future, including things that concerned me, so there was a chance there was nothing unexpected at all for her in my diary.

[Assistant] “Hmm, there’s too much to narrow it down to just one thing.”

[User] “Oh, really?”

[Assistant] “Yeah. Like for instance, you weren’t ever really that much of a villainess, even when we first met.”

[User] “Oh…? Is that right?”

[Assistant] It seemed she expected me to be more heartless and cruel, not the caring, upright noble lady I was.

[User] “And I guess I’m surprised to learn Lady Pepi and Lady Loretta weren’t just your minions.”

[Assistant] “Of course not. The two of them are my dear friends, and don’t you mistake it.”

[User] “My bad.”

[Assistant] Some of what happened to Pepi and Loretta was also written in my diary. Rae didn’t have a high opinion of the two, but that seemed to have changed slightly after reading my diary. It would be a problem if she couldn’t get along with my friends, so it was best we cleared up her misunderstandings sooner than later.

[User] “What you wrote around the time of the Amour Ceremony was pretty interesting, Miss Claire.”

[Assistant] “Excuse me? I told you not to read those parts!”

[User] “And by that you meant you actually really wanted me to read those parts, right?”

[Assistant] “How does that make any sense? !”

[User] The Amour Ceremony ultimately pulled Rae and I closer together, but the whole ordeal was still embarrassing. I couldn’t even recall the events without blushing.

[Assistant] “But, wow… You were already all over me back then, huh?"


[User] "I had no idea.”

[Assistant] “Honestly, it’


[User] "Tragedy, too, is something that lets us grow."

[Assistant] "I’ve experienced a number of tragic events in my life, but there are none I can say I wish to forget. Even the painful memories are a part of who I am. And it should stay that way." Memories were precious precisely because they weren’t all of good times.

[User] "I see. Then I won’t argue further. Let me return your memories of her." She cast Spellbreaker on Rae and me. I felt memories rush back into me like a wave.

[Assistant] "Miss Claire!"

[User] "I-I’m all right. I just felt a bit dizzy." Rae caught me as I almost fell out of the chair. The memories I had lost were just that extensive.

[Assistant] "Catherine…why?"

[User] "She did it because she couldn’t forgive herself. You remember now, right?" Catherine had approached my mother as an assassin, only for my mother to save her at the cost of her own life. The guilt she felt tore at her, driving her to erase herself from my memory.

[Assistant] "I’m going to look for her."

[User] "I’ll come with you."

[Assistant] "Good grief. I had a feeling things might come to this." Manaria pulled out a slip of paper.

[User] "What’s this?"

[Assistant] "It’s where Catherine’s currently staying. She lives out in the Alpes now."

[User] "Sister! I love you so much!" I hugged her without a moment’s delay, making her smile broadly. Rae seemed a bit displeased, but surely she could put up with this much.

[Assistant] "You better make your move sooner than later. She never stays in one place long."

[User] "Let’s start packing then, Rae. Call May and Aleah over too."

[Assistant] "Sure thing."


[User] You look happy, Miss Claire.” A few days later, Rae and I were aboard a carriage to the Alpes. I couldn’t help but feel excited at the prospect of meeting Catherine again.

[Assistant] "Of course. Catherine is like a little sister to me."

[User] “…Just a little sister, right?"

[Assistant] "Pardon?" Confused, I gave Rae a look.

[User] "Yes?"

[Assistant] "Are you by chance jealous?"

[User] "You bet I am, gosh darn it!" She began slamming her head against the wall of the carriage.

[Assistant] "Cut that out, you’ll hurt yourself!"

[User] "Ugh… I hate how clingy I am, but…it’s also your fault for being so cute, Miss Claire…"

[Assistant] "You’re talking nonsense again. I think of Catherine as a little sister and nothing more." Honestly, this girl… What a strange thing to be bothered over.

[User] “…Hee hee. But I have to admit, seeing you jealous doesn’t feel all too bad."

[Assistant] "Sadist."

[User] "Call me all the names you like. Hee hee. To think you would be jealous of Catherine." I teased her, making her sulk.

[Assistant] "I’m only joking.


[User] "The only one I love is you, Rae.”

[Assistant] "Hmph.”

[User] “Oh dear… Come on, chin up already.” Claire puts her hands on Rae's cheeks and planted a kiss on her.

[Assistant] “Who do you think I am?! A kiss isn’t enough to win me over.”

[User] “Then what do I have to do to make you feel better?”

[Assistant] “…Gimme a lap pillow.”

[User] “…Very well.” Exasperated, Claire tapped her lap.

[Assistant] “Yaaaay!” She happily laid her head on Claire.

[User] “Is something like this really enough for you?”

[Assistant] “But of course! Claire’s lap pillow is a special privilege, and only I have a right to it out of everyone in this world!”

[User] “Well… I suppose that’s true?”

[Assistant] “You better not let Lady Catherine do this, you hear? !” she insisted. She seemed giddy, like a child.

[User] Claire watched her slowly nod off to sleep. To think this girl was the one to steal her heart.


[User] Sweat formed on my brow despite the chill of January. The layers of volcanic ash I shoveled slowly gave way to the wreckage underneath. I was used to physical exertion, but this kind of labor demanded more of me than my military training ever did. I inhaled deep to steady my breathing, and the cold air chilled me from within. Thinking it would be bad to catch a cold, I tightened the towel on my neck. A whole month had breezed by since the revolution. Bauer was still unstable, leaving everyone to do what they could to survive. Both former commoners and former nobles alike had it rough. Commoners already lived in poverty, but things were only worse for them now with the shortage of commodities leading to prices rising. The ex-nobility lost their special privileges and many of their assets, leaving them floundering. I, Loretta Kugret, was of course one of the latter, being an ex-noble. House Kugret had served as officers in the kingdom’s army for generations. We used to be of a lower rank, but my grandfather saw the value of magic early on and actively encouraged the study of it while the traditionalists stuck with old-fashioned, non-magic means. The late King l’Ausseil’s meritocratic plans came into effect around that time, allowing our house to rise in status unusually fast for a conservative organization like the army. Of course, things were different now after the revolution. The kingdom’s army still handled national security and public safety, but the structure was currently being revised. My father never did anything corrupt, but it was undeniable that he was an influential figure in the pre-revolution army. His position, and our household by extension, was in a difficult situation now as ex-nobility.

[Assistant] "Snap out of it, Loretta. You’re blanking out." A cute girl with peculiar hair that curled inward snapped me out of my thoughts. Pepi Barlier. She was a former noble as well and, for reasons, was staying at our home for the time being.

[User] "Sorry about that, Pepi."

[Assistant] "Keep it together, will you? We’re nowhere near done." She sighed and returned to shoveling. What used to be immaculate, uncalloused hands that never knew a day’s work were now covered in dirt and grime. Even so, she hadn’t complained once. That was just the kind of girl she was. The two of us were working to restore the capital. The city was left covered in volcanic rock and ash in the wake of Mt. Sassal’s eruption, leaving much work to be done. Pepi and I offered to help, which is why we were now working beside commoners—or rather, fellow ordinary citizens, as they now were. That being said, we didn’t offer to help purely out of the goodness of our hearts. As I mentioned, House Kugret was in a bit of a bind.


[User] The text is mostly narration, so there isn't a true Roleplay conversation that can be extracted. The following is my best attempt:

[Assistant] Currying favor with the citizens like this was a tactical decision. Not that we didn’t want to help out as well. Most ex-commoners probably thought otherwise, but it was a fact that nobles were supposed to be self-sacrificing. We were taught from an early age, in fact, that selflessness was one of the hallmarks of nobility. Of course, the problem was that there were many nobles who forgot this and abused their privileges to instead indulge in depravity. Having been trained under strict military code, such behavior was deplorable to me. Perhaps it was only right that we were overthrown by the people. Not that any of that really mattered. What I was actually trying to say was that it was originally our duty to serve the people, so this restoration work didn’t come as a particular bother or anything. Not being able to play the piano kind of sucks, though… I was raised to be a military officer, but I was still an ex-noble. I was trained in the arts, including the piano, a talent and passion of mine. My family hoped for me to become Bauer’s first female military officer, but I actually wanted to pursue the piano. Piano was wonderful. The slightest changes in the way you played made all the difference in how you sounded. I became the center of my own world on the piano, a world I could manipulate however I pleased. There was nothing that could replace the sense of power and ecstasy I felt when I played. But the piano was a noble’s hobby, as well as a luxury. Now that I was no longer a noble, my piano was gone, and I didn’t know when I might next be able to play. That left me saddened, of course, but I understood there was nothing that could be done. It would be nonsense for me to indulge in music while ordinary citizens were only barely scraping by. The piano could come later. As someone raised with the values of nobility, I knew better than to place myself before the people. Of course, that doesn’t mean I don’t miss my piano… Once all the dust settled, I wanted to take it up again. Even as I worked now, I took care not to injure my fingers. The call of the piano was just too great to ever give up on it. I bet a good part of that is my last performance being so great. The last time I played piano was before the revolution, around the time we cornered the corrupt noble Clément Achard. I glanced Pepi’s way. The two of us played together in the autumnal music festival. She was a violinist who played a more precise and technical style, in contrast to my free-spirited style. We were polar opposites in that regard, but we meshed surprisingly well together in practice. I would challenge her, and she would one-up me in kind.


[User] "I found the moments we played together to be sublime. I could not forget the exhilaration I felt, even now. I wonder how she feels… Pepi was behaving the same way she had before the revolution. Her household had lost its status because of Clément’s actions, not because of the revolution, so in a strange way, the revolution hadn’t really affected her. She’d been raised with the same old-fashioned noble values as me, so perhaps she was helping with the restoration efforts out of a sense of duty too. Then maybe I’m the only one who feels so lost? Pepi and I weren’t just friends anymore. We were in a relationship now. Or at least, we were supposed to be. Ever since the revolution began, not a single thing of note had happened between us. I mean, I get that now is not really the time to be worrying about that kind of stuff, but still… I was a girl of age. Having a significant other made me feel butterflies and what have you. Even if we couldn’t flirt out in the open, I at least wanted to be able to do stuff together when no one was around… Oh jeez. How embarrassing. Is she fine with things staying like this? Pepi wasn’t the type to reveal how she felt that much. She acted careless but could actually be quite the schemer. She was also more easily hurt than her carefree attitude let on. I loved how complex she could be, but it did leave me unsure what to do in times like this. Maybe she doesn’t fully trust me yet. I originally liked another girl, Claire François. Even just remembering her name made my heart stir. Claire was a noble among nobles, as well as my first love. I now understand my feelings for her were more of adoration than of love, but crushes didn’t so easily fade. Perhaps Pepi sensed my lingering feelings for Claire and was bothered by them?"

[Assistant] "Hey, Pepi?" I said.

[User] "What’s up? You’ve stopped working."

[Assistant] "I, uh…never mind." I felt like she would slap me if I asked her if she really loved me. It was wrong of me to doubt her feelings, anyway.

[User] "How are you two gettin’ along? I see you’re working up a sweat." A deep, throaty voice called out to us. Pepi and I looked over to see a familiar rough-looking man.

[Assistant] "Oh, you’re that one adventurer." I said.

[User] "Well I’ll be, you remembered me. But I guess a lady of House Kugret would have perfect memory." The man joked.

[Assistant] "Please. I’m just a normal citizen now."

[User] "Is that right? Well, I suppose a noble lady wouldn’t be shoveling ash, now would she?"

[Assistant] "Are you here to mock us?"

[User] "Not at all."


[User] "Just here to say work’s done for the day. The overseer’s been trying to tell you guys for a while now, but it didn’t seem like you two could hear."

[Assistant] Pepi and Loretta had been too focused on their work, or at least Loretta was lost in thought it seemed. "Oh, I see. Then I suppose we shall take our leave."

[User] "Oh c’mon, don’t be such a stranger," he said. "How about we get something to eat, huh?" The adventurer was inviting the two of them out for a meal. How daring.

[Assistant] "I’m afraid I have to decline. I do not feel like sharing a table with a commoner."

[User] "Ouch."

[Assistant] "Wait, Loretta…"

[User] "Pepi?" Just as Loretta was about to turn around and walk away, Pepi stopped her. "You said it yourself. We’re no longer nobles. What’s the problem with us eating with our fellow citizens?"

[Assistant] "What? Pepi, what are you say—"

[User] "Times have changed, Loretta," she chided. Pepi felt distant all of a sudden.

[Assistant] "I don’t mind going with just the Barlier girl, if you’d rather not come," the man said to Loretta. He grinned vulgarly.

[User] Somehow Loretta convinced herself at the time that she had to protect Pepi from this man. "No, I’m coming too!" Loretta didn’t even realize he’d played her.

[Assistant] "Then it’s settled."


[User] "…What is this?"

[Assistant] "What do you mean? It’s meat. You know what meat is, right?"

[User] "I know what meat is, thank you very much!" The man brought them to an inn often used by adventurers. It looked like a pretty beat-up place to Loretta, but she could see it being fancy by commoner standards. A number of places damaged by the eruption had already been patched up. This particular establishment probably had some pull in the community, to be among the first buildings to be fixed. We sat ourselves down at the counter. The tables were full of citizens drinking themselves silly after a long day of labor. We had no choice but to sit at the counter to escape the smell of cheap booze. A large-built, muscular man who seemed to be the innkeeper greeted the adventurer like a familiar face. The adventurer greeted him back and quickly ordered for us. We were soon served what was clearly ungarnished cooked chicken. There was no sauce to speak of, and I could only smell the faintest traces of seasoning. To call this food was blasphemy against the culinary arts. Pepi and Loretta gawked at their plates, but the adventurer said, "Just close your eyes and give it a bite. If you don’t like it, they’ll make it on the house."

[Assistant] "I’m not so shameless that I’d deny them their livelihood…" Loretta grumbled. That said, she didn’t even know how she was supposed to eat this.


[User] Even if I’d had a knife and fork, I wouldn’t know where to begin with such a rustic meal. There did seem to be some paper wrapped around the leg of the meat, but…no, surely not?

[Assistant] "You just grab the leg ’ere and tear into it, like this." The adventurer demonstrated for us by biting directly into the chicken.

[User] "How vulgar." I said, horrified.

[Assistant] "It tastes best like this, really."

[User] "Loretta, let’s do what we must."

[Assistant] “…Right." I lifted up the meat, ready to complain to no end if it was awful, and took a bite.

[User] “…Hm? It’s actually good?"

[Assistant] "How…? It’s just cooked chicken, isn’t it?"

[User] "Ha ha ha. Surprised? This place serves good food. Their chicken legs, in particular, are just unforgettable." The adventurer spoke proudly. The chicken looked plain, but it was actually quite well prepared. Not much seasoning, to be sure, but once I bit into the meat, I found it rich and flavorful. It was fresh and tender, with none of the chewiness or gamey quality chicken often had, and juicy enough that I almost expected to see it dripping all over me. It was the perfect remedy for an empty stomach after a day of labor. Appealing on an instinctual level.

[Assistant] "I’m flattered that a former noble like yourself finds it to your taste."

[User] "You can tell I used to be a noble?" I asked.

[Assistant] "’Course. The way you eat is different. Only nobles act with such grace." He laughed gently.

[User] "This meal is really wonderful. I mean it. This might be the best chicken I’ve ever eaten."

[Assistant] "Thank you. I’m very happy to hear that. It makes it worth waking up early every morning to prepare this."

[User] I felt the same way as Pepi. I’d had finer chicken in terms of meat quality, but none as tasty as this. I’d turned up my nose at it for being food made by an ex-commoner, and for looking crude, but I could see now that it had been cooked with love.

[Assistant] "The liquor here is pretty good too. Hey, get us three of the usual."

[User] "Sure thing."

[Assistant] "Hold on, I never said we’d drink." I complained.

[User] "Come on, Loretta, we might as well. It’s his treat. Right?"

[Assistant] "Ha ha, sure thing, let’s make it my treat!" the adventurer said. He and Pepi seemed to be really hitting it off, which kind of bothered me. Pepi didn’t have a thing for him, did she…?

[User] "You really wear your heart on your sleeve, huh, Kugret girl?"

[Assistant] "Wh-what?"

[User] "I’m saying you’re a little simple, girlie."

[Assistant] "Are you making fun of—" I raised my voice.

[User] "Loretta, stop. Don’t cause a scene." Pepi chided.

[Assistant] “…Hmph." I was miffed. The two were getting along and I felt like I was just a third wheel.

[User] "Cheer up, lass. Here, your mead." The innkeeper brought us our drinks, seeming to take pity on me.


[User] I reluctantly picked up my cup and drank. “Oh… It’s good.”

[Assistant] “Right?” the adventurer said.

[User] “Surprised? This mead here was made by the up-and-coming Frater.” the adventurer said.

[Assistant] “The same Frater that makes crème brûlée?” I asked.

[User] “Oh, that’s an ex-noble for you. You’re on top of all the trends, I see.”

[Assistant] “I didn’t know they did mead, though.” Unlike Broumet’s mead, Frater’s was meant to be savored slowly. It paired well with the chicken leg. “I apologize for my impoliteness earlier, adventurer,” I said. “I was wrong. The food here is excellent.”

[User] “The name’s Gray, not ‘adventurer.’ Remember that for me.”

[Assistant] “Sure. Let me introduce myself properly as well while we’re at it. I’m Loretta Kugret.”

[User] “And I’m Pepi Barlier.”

[Assistant] “Nice to meet you two. You know, ordinary people don’t talk so stiff. Feel free to loosen up a little.” He let out an energetic laugh. More food continued to arrive. Everything was unique and delicious, and the liquor and conversation was good. At some point I forgot about my worries and simply enjoyed myself.


[User] “You can be such a blockhead, Loretta.”

[Assistant] “Huh?” Pepi’s comment came out of the blue. Quite some eating and drinking had been done by this point. I was comfortably drunk, but not to the point I was out of it. The innkeeper had carefully spaced out the alcohol with softer drinks in between.

[User] “What’s that supposed to mean, Pepi?”

[Assistant] “Exactly what it sounds like. You’re a blockhead, blockhead.” She gave me a look, then took another swig of her mead. Now that I was looking at her, I could see her eyes were starting to glaze over and her face was red. She was drunk. Not much of a strong drinker, it seemed.

[User] “Something ’bout Miss Loretta here bothering you, Pepi?” Gray asked.

[Assistant] “You bet there is! We finally began dating, but she won’t make a single move. I’m about fed up!”

[User] “Wh-wh-wha, Pepi, do you hear yourself? !” I exclaimed.

[Assistant] “Now hold on, let’s hear the girl out." Gray said.

[User] “I’m over here doing all I can to pretend like her each and every little move doesn’t send my heart racing, but it’s like she doesn’t even care we’re in a relationship! I’m sick of it!”

[Assistant] “Whoa, sounds rough.”

[User] “Don’t egg her on, Gray!” I chided. “And you, Pepi, I think you’ve had enough to drink for one day.”

[Assistant] “Nooo, I’m—I’m nnnnot drunk!” she slurred.


[User] "Loretta, you just don’t get how charming you can be, you know that?!" It didn’t seem like there would be any stopping her. Helpless, I watched as she started to drunkenly ramble.

[Assistant] “You’ve always had a bit of a tomboyish appearance, but you’ve only grown more handsome of late. And the way you smile is just downright cheating. Do you enjoy making a mess of my poor, poor heart?”

[User] “Like you’re any better! You can be so careless with the way you dress sometimes! Do you have any idea how badly my heart races when I see the bare nape of your neck?!” Realizing I had to get on her level, I downed my drink and ordered another. The liquor wasn’t strong by any means, but I felt my inhibitions fade regardless.

[Assistant] “And the way you smile is just downright cheating! I let my guard down because I expect one of your usual carefree smiles, but then you hit me with a real smile and send me reeling!”

[User] “Oh, I’m carefree, am I? If I look that way, it’s only because I’m trying my hardest not to be a burden on you because you’re always trying to look out for me!”

[Assistant] “Hey now, don’t you think you two are gettin’ a little heated?” Gray interjected.

[User] “Shush it, Gray.”

[Assistant] “I don’t need you to put up a brave front for me, Pepi. I’m your girlfriend! You should lean on me more, rather than pushing yourself. Or am I not dependable enough?!”

[User] “You just don’t get it, Loretta! Not one bit! Can’t you see that if I start to depend on you I won’t be able to stop until I’ve spoiled myself rotten?!” The other customers had noticed us shouting and were watching us like we were tonight’s entertainment. The two of us didn’t notice, being off in our own little world at this point.


[Assistant] “The girls sure are openly flirtin’, eh? You think maybe people are more accepting of this kind of thing now?”

[User] “I dunno about that. Sure would be nice, though.”

[Assistant] “Why’s that? You want to do the same?”

[User] “…Shut up.”

[Assistant] “Heh, that doesn’t sound like a no.” Some conversation was being had in the peanut gallery, but their voices didn’t reach us.

[User] “Grow some guts already, Loretta!”

[Assistant] “Oh yeah?! Guts to do what, then?!”

[User] “Guts to, I dunno, marry me or something!”

[Assistant] “I’ve been ready to marry you from the moment I fell in love with you, you idiot!”

[User] “Huh?”

[Assistant] “Uh…” The onlookers began cheering all at once. How embarrassing. I’d said something stupid in my drunken stupor. But it was too late to take back my words. I downed the remaining mead in my cup and, with my face burning red, hugged Pepi.

[User] “Once our lives have calmed down a bit, let’s get married, Pepi.”

[Assistant] “…Okay.” The sight of her smiling at me, tears in her eyes, was the last thing I remembered from that night.


[User] "Ugh..."

[Assistant] "Heya. Finally awake?"

[User] The place was silent when I woke up. The boisterous customers from earlier had cleared out, and the lights were all down except for the one by the counter. Gray and the innkeeper were still here, drinking together in the faint glow. To my side, Pepi slept peacefully with a blanket on her shoulders. "...What happened?" I said groggily.

[Assistant] "You drank a bit too much. Don’t worry, your stuff’s all paid for."

[User] "...Sorry for the trouble." My head felt heavy. I tried to pick up Pepi but found I lacked the balance.

[Assistant] "You’re not going anywhere like that. Stay the night. I’ll lend you a room on the second floor."

[User] "Oh, I really shouldn’t impose…"

[Assistant] "You sure about that? It’s dangerous for you to head home as you are. All the more so for Pepi there."

[User] "...I suppose you’re right."

[Assistant] "Here’s the key. The room will be the one at the end."

[User] "Thank you, innkeeper. And you too, Gray. Tonight was nice."

[Assistant] "Glad to hear it. Have a good night now."

[User] "Good night."

[Assistant] "Good night." I focused on my balance as I made my way upstairs, carrying Pepi in my arms. I was using magic to strengthen myself, but my drunkenness made my concentration sloppy. It took all I had to not drop her.


[User] "I was worried where the kingdom might be headed from here, but looking at those two, I get the feelin’ we’ll be all right."

[Assistant] "I couldn’t agree more." I was too distracted to hear the conversation of the adults behind me, but the clink of their cups did reach my ears. The sound echoed through my mind—a sharp “La” on the music scale, the first for this new era.


[User] Rain poured over me as I lay there, unable to move. The moment I understood I wasn’t long for this world, memories overflowed within me. Perhaps this was my life flashing before my eyes. With difficulty, I moved my gaze to the side and saw a man reaching out to me.

[Assistant] “…Melia!”

[User] Oh, Dole. My beloved Dole. I am truly blessed to have met you. I was known as the “Iron Lady of House Larnach.” House Larnach was the household I was born to, headed by an earl. I was not very expressive as a child, but I was a quick learner. From an early age, I excelled in studies, etiquette, and magic. I was particularly good at using magic to fight, able to go toe to toe and then some with even the soldiers of the Royal Guard. As many found it ridiculous for a woman to wield such skill in combat, I was called the “Iron Lady” in mockery. I always struggled to connect with others. I enjoyed talking to people, but the conversations were always one-sided. Being the daughter of an earl, I was never by myself—but even so, I felt alone. I threw myself into the glitzy world of high society and met many people, but even then, found few outside my family whom I could open up to. Everyone I met would claim I was too fastidious. I considered my values normal for someone raised with the strict guidance befitting the daughter of an earl, but the other nobles I met called me inflexible. This went both ways—I, in turn, found them lax and couldn’t understand how they neglected their duties so. If I were more experienced in interacting with others, then maybe things would have turned out better. Unfortunately, my time spent with other people did nothing to heal my sense of solitude. In what felt like no time at all, I’d grown convinced I would never find someone who truly understood me. I resigned myself to that fate. Even so, I swore to live true to who I was and be a proud Bauer noble. I grew even more isolated from others in the years to come, but I stopped caring.


[Assistant] At some point, a change in my relationships with others occurred. It began when I met three men. The first man was l’Ausseil, eldest son of the royal family and the man expected to be the next king of Bauer. He and I were able to connect over talk of a merit-based society.

[User] “Melia, I do not believe people are meant to be divided based on the circumstances of their birth.”

[Assistant] The concept of judging people based on ability instead of social standing was a dangerous idea that could shake the very foundations of the aristocracy. It was impractical and terribly idealistic—and yet, it fascinated me.


[User] L’Ausseil and I met numerous times to discuss the feasibility and merits of his plans. He was already engaged, so our relationship never veered into the romantic, but for a time, he was the man I was closest to.

[Assistant] The second man who changed my life was Clément Achard. He was a citizen of Bauer as well, and hailed from a household that held the title of duke. He was a number of years older than me but always made an effort to talk to me in social settings. "As a lady, you could do to conduct yourself with more grace." Clément was, for better or worse, your stereotypical old-fashioned noble.

[User] As a woman who fought with magic and debated politics with men, I was always rebuked by Clément for how unladylike I was. I would argue back, of course, never failing to earn a disapproving frown from him. Strangely enough, he never grew tired of having the same exchange again and again.

[Assistant] The third man to change my life was Dole François, the man I would eventually marry. He was a shrewd man who inherited the title of duke at a young age and acted as the kingdom’s Minister of Finance. Our first meeting was far from cordial.

[User] I questioned—no, interrogated Dole on his opinion of the Bauer nobility, as the Minister of Finance. This was, at its core, an issue of money. The Bauer nobility were starting to show signs of corruption at the time. Many nobles took advantage of their position to line their own pockets instead of working for the kingdom’s people like they were meant to.

[Assistant] "Hmm… How very interesting." His reply was short and simple. The look on his face was one of genuine interest.

[User] Even l’Ausseil seemed bewildered by me when we first talked, and Clément, of course, only ever had frowns for me. I worried Dole might be too naive for his position. Was a man like him really fit to be Minister of Finance, especially with all the vultures circling the treasury? He was already well into his twenties at the time, but he still felt green.

[Assistant] L’Ausseil would quietly listen to us speak, I would bicker with Clément, and Dole would try to calm us down. The four of us would often meet when the occasions arose. Things continued this way for years. For the first time, I felt as though I had gained friends.

[User] Of the three, Dole captured my interest the most. He was the first man I developed a romantic interest in.


[User] “It’s good to be lively, but take care you don’t hurt yourself.” A woman I would assume to be the boy’s mother ran over and apologized profusely before leaving with the boy as fast as she could.

[Assistant] The boy, not quite aware of what was going on, waved goodbye to Dole.

[User] Dole smiled back.

[Assistant] I stared at him, awed.

[User] “Is something the matter?”

[Assistant] “That was a commoner. Are you not cross with him?”

[User] “Not at all. As a Bauer noble, I consider all Bauer children something like my own.”


[Assistant] The pleasant friendships I shared with l’Ausseil, Clément, and Dole changed greatly once l’Ausseil took the throne.

[User] “I miss the time I spent with you three." l’Ausseil told me once with a wry grin.


[Assistant] "I’ve made the necessary arrangements to take you as my wife.” Things with Clément grew even more complicated when he sought my hand in marriage.

[User] Having thought he disapproved of me, I was shocked by his proposal.


[Assistant] “Do you realize how bad it looks for you to visit another man’s house this late? This could affect your marriage.” Seeing the cross look on his face.

[User] "The one I want to marry is you," I said. I did something unspeakably daring then to force his hand.


[User] When we woke up in the same bed the next morning, I asked him to take responsibility. Together we went to the Achard manor to announce our marriage to Clément. Looking back, it might have been all my fault that Clément ended up the way he did. After having his proposal rejected in such an awful manner, he began antagonizing Dole and me at every turn. He’d been by no means a perfect noble before, but he’d had the sense to not cross the line. After Dole and I were wed, however, he descended to new lows of corruption.

[Assistant] “Clément… It is a shame things had to come to this.” l’Ausseil, unable to overlook Clément’s actions, was forced to punish him, downgrading his title from duke to marquess.

[User] Clément ceased to publicly harass us from then on but continued to behave in corrupt ways behind the scenes. There was no doubt in my mind that it was my fault he’d ended up like that. I was stricken with guilt for some time, but eventually, that passed. I was too preoccupied to linger on the past. My marriage to Dole was going smoothly, absent of trouble. We were both in good health, so it was only a matter of time before I was pregnant. Dole and I both worked hard to welcome our coming child. Though I still felt bad about what happened with Clément, this was more important. Our discord had nothing to do with my child. By this point in time, the political stances of our original group of four were clear. L’Ausseil continued to follow his ideals of a meritocracy, Clément was your archetypal conservative, and Dole and I were progressive idealists. L’Ausseil preached plans to support commoners while Chancellor Salas did what was necessary to actualize them, Clément opposed the plans, and Dole and I voiced our support. Things between the conservative and the progressive factions gradually grew more and more heated. Eventually, it became commonplace to see houses in good standing ruined overnight. House Achard and House François came to lead the conservative and the progressive factions, respectively. Clément and Dole’s influence grew to a point where many of the other nobles would wait for their opinion on matters before daring to speak. Meanwhile, the tension between the two houses only grew with each passing day. Dole worked hard on the political stage, while I did my best to do the same in high society. The only reprieve from our difficult lives was the birth of our daughter, Claire. Of course, raising a child was difficult as well. For an idealist like me, Claire was the cold wakeup call of reality. No matter how lofty my ideals were, they meant nothing before her cries. Raising her was hard work, but Dole and I got through it by working as a team. Oblivious to our struggles and worries, Claire grew up quickly.


[User] Dole spoiled her terribly, and I admonished him for it numerous times, but he never did stop. I wanted to spoil her myself, to tell the truth. It wasn’t fair that I was always the one stuck scolding her. I complained about this to her wet nurse, our head maid, but she replied that that was what it meant to be a mother. Alas. Our lives were turbulent. But I was strangely happy.

[Assistant] “Mother!” No matter how many times I scolded her, Claire always happily leapt into my arms. Sometimes she would cry after I lectured her, sometimes she would need to be cheered up after making a mistake with her dance, and sometimes she would come running to our bed because she was scared of the lightning outside. But no matter the occasion, I always found my worries blown away by her wholehearted, pure love and trust in me. Claire turned four today. The maids and I prepared a wonderful party for her, but before we could celebrate, a letter arrived. The sender was Clément Achard. He was inviting us to a discussion with many other influential nobles, several of whom had signed the letter as well, making the invitation difficult to ignore. It sounded like many members of the progressive faction had been invited too, and the letter mentioned something about the conservative side being willing to make a compromise. As the leader of the progressive faction, House François had to attend.

[User] “No, you can’t go! Today’s my birthday, you two have to stay with me!” Claire protested with tears in her eyes. She so often had to endure Dole and I being absent. She hardly complained, but we knew it was tough on her, so we’d made an effort to plan for us to spend her birthday with her.

[Assistant] “Claire, don’t cause problems for your mother. As nobles, we must put our duty first.” Dole said with a guilty look. I’m sure he would have chosen to stay with Claire in a heartbeat if he could.

[User] “But I’m always putting up with you two being away… Can’t I have you here on my birthday?” Claire said through tears.

[Assistant] I felt like my heart would tear in two. Shaken, I thoughtlessly said, “I’m truly sorry, Claire. I’ll make it up to you, I promise. Oh, I know! I’ll buy you a birthday present, anything you want. What would you like, dear?”

[User] She froze stiff, before yelling, “I don’t need your presents! I hate you, Mother!” She then ran away to her room.

[Assistant] “Oh, Claire…” She was too young to understand a noble’s duties. We tried explaining it to her a number of times, but some things were simply beyond a four-year-old’s comprehension.

[User] “She’ll understand one day, Melia. The responsibilities of a noble come before all. Even before family.”

[Assistant] “…I know.


[User] But sometimes I can’t help but wonder if Claire might have been happier if she were not born a noble.” Perhaps Claire was meant for a life of freedom, not one of duties and ideals. Either way, it did not matter now. I could not turn down Clément’s invitation. “Lene, please look after Claire. Cheer her up if you can."

[Assistant] "I will try. I wish you both safe travels.” Our new maid, Lene, was a favorite of Claire’s. I hoped she would be able to cheer Claire up and asked her to do just that. She accepted, but the look in her eyes seemed to fault me for my choice not to stay. I did not blame her.

[User] “Let’s be off, Melia. For Claire’s future."

[Assistant] “Let’s.” There was a chance today could bring an end to our political divide. Dole and I steeled our wills and departed, intent on making sure Claire’s tears today wouldn’t be in vain.


[User] “What a waste of time…”

[Assistant] “That was nothing more than a get-together, wasn’t it?” Dole and I could only sigh despondently on our way back from the Achard manor. What we were told would be a discussion to find middle ground between the conservative and progressive factions turned out to be a mere social gathering. There were no political discussions to be had, only insubstantial, trivial talk that barely touched on the issue. To think we’d made Claire cry for such an inane event… Dole and I were livid to say the least.

[User] “At least we were able to leave early. We should be able to make it back in time for Claire’s birthday.”

[Assistant] I didn’t reply, as my mind was elsewhere.

[User] “…Melia, is what happened still weighing on your mind?”

[Assistant] “…It is.”

[User] “We did what we had to. Clément may be a political opponent, but he is still a high-ranking noble. We couldn’t refuse his invitation, even if it was sent at the last minute. Especially not with how he framed it.”

[Assistant] I knew Dole was right. We had no choice but to go. Even so, the image of Claire’s tearful face was seared into my mind. “Hey, Dole? I—” Just then, there was a great impact against the carriage.

[User] “Melia!” Dole covered me with his body, putting himself in danger in the process. There was a moment of weightlessness, then a mighty thud. By the time I regained my bearings, the two of us had been tossed out of the carriage. My arms and legs hurt, but I forced myself to stand and assess the situation. It appeared we had collided with another carriage and fallen off a cliff. Our carriage was broken, with Dole and the coachman lying nearby. The horse lay on its side, braying, with what I presumed was a broken leg. My consciousness was fading. I looked down and saw my thigh had been pierced by a broken shard of the carriage. I was bleeding profusely.


[User] It was clear I would die if nothing was done, so I seared the wound shut with my fire magic. I looked around and saw four figures approach from the darkness of the surrounding deep forest.

[Assistant] “…I take it this is no accident, then.”

[User] They were all clad in black. They looked like children, but the way they moved told me they were trained. In their hands were knives.

[Assistant] “Quit while you still can. You’ll only be throwing your lives away.” I warned. I put up a magic barrier to protect Dole and the coachman, both of whom were unconscious. The barrier was the physical type, so it would remain for some time, even if I were to die. The two of them would be fine for now. I needed to think about what to do with the children. I couldn’t let my guard down, even if they seemed young. Assuming this was Clément’s doing, these were no ordinary children. I tore the hem of my dress to free up my movement, then pulled out a magic wand. To my surprise, the children began to fade from my sight. They seemed to have magic that obscured them. But I had ways around that.

[User] “Flame Blossom!” If I couldn’t see them, then I simply needed to attack in every direction. I sent fire blazing all around me, landing a hit on one and knocking them down. That left three.

[Assistant] “Give it up. You have no way of defeating me.” I went on to take down two more by relying on sound, but the fourth continued to evade me.

[User] “…Perhaps they gave up and ran away?” I wondered out loud. I continued to remain vigilant and guard Dole and the coachman.


[Assistant] At some point, it began to rain.

[User] “There you are!” Noticing a gap in the rainfall, I fired off a fire arrow. The moment I hit them, they and the other three children became visible. It seemed this fourth child had been the one using the magic. I pulled down their black hood and was shocked by what I saw.

[Assistant] “Such a young child… Clément, how could you?” The child, unconscious and drenched with rain, couldn’t have been much older than Claire. To be forced to commit such violent acts at such an age… It was terrible. I was sure Clément was the one behind this. There were rumors he had a hand in human trafficking, and it was hard not to imagine these children were a part of that.

[User] “Just you wait. I’ll make sure you’re free soon.” I laid the child down and went to check on the others. I had held back some, but there was no knowing where I had struck them. I couldn’t use healing magic, so I planned to just give them basic first aid. But as I neared the first child—

[Assistant] “What? !” A hail of ice arrows rained down on the children and me.


[User] “How…could you?” I’d taken a good deal of damage, but I could still move. My assailant saw that, however, and rained down ice for a second, then a third time. I tried to intercept the attacks with a spear of fire, but the number of ice blades was too great for me to stop. Everything in my surroundings, including the children, was skewered through. The child with the obscuring magic had her leg pierced and was bleeding profusely. I used my fire magic to staunch their bleeding. “Clément…why?! ” Did he hate Dole and me that much? Enough to kill these children who bore no fault of their own? Only one of the child assassins was still breathing. Swearing to myself that I would at least make sure she survived, I played my last gambit. “Ngh…” After enduring countless ice arrows, I pretended to take a direct hit and fell to the ground.

[Assistant] “You get her?”

[User] “Looks like it.”

[Assistant] “Hmm… It doesn’t look like this barrier can be dispelled.”

[User] “Get up, Catherine. Hurry up and erase the evidence.”

[Assistant] I needed them to come just a little closer. Then I could end this without the child getting hurt. The wound on my thigh had reopened at some point. I felt my consciousness fading with each moment. But I can’t give up… I sprung up and launched spears of fire at the three men. The action brought me swiftly to my limit, and I fell to the ground once more. I couldn’t check to see if my strikes had landed, but as the minutes ticked by, no follow-up attack came. It seemed I’d been successful. But this was the end of the line for me.

[User] “Why… Why save me?” The child assassin who’d survived roused herself and looked down at me. There was confusion on her face. She probably wanted to know why I had bothered to help her. Great big eyes looked at me from under her hair, hair the same color as Claire’s.

[Assistant] “What is your name, child?”

[User] “…Catherine.”

[Assistant] “I see… Catherine… I suppose I saved you because I consider all children of Bauer something like my own.” That was what Dole had once said. It was the way I believed all nobles should be.

[User] Catherine looked at me with eyes full of shock. “But…but I—”

[Assistant] “It’s fine, dear… The truth is, I have a little girl around your age myself. A cute, willful little girl.” I reached out and patted her hair, wet from the rain. “She has the same honey-colored hair you do. She’s strong of heart but becomes saddened easily. I’d be happy if you’d be her friend.” I was able to say that much before I lost the fight to stay conscious. Forgive me, Dole, Claire. I’ll be departing this world before you, but at least I was able to live as myself to the very end.


[Assistant] “I had no idea such a thing happened to you, Lady Catherine.”

[User] “Enough of that, Emma. Lend me a hand here.” The two of us happened across a village while I was on my self-imposed exile. The village was having monster problems but was too poor to hire adventurers, so Emma and I took it upon ourselves to help them out. The monsters were nothing special. Even Emma would have been able to handle them alone.

[Assistant] “Thank you so very much. Your help is duly appreciated.” The village chief thanked us, bowing his head deeply after we returned. “It’s not much, but please, take this.” He offered us a reward, but I had no intention of taking it.

[User] “Use that money for the village instead. If that’s all, then we’ll be on our way.” We left, Emma pushing my wheelchair onward. All the exercise had made me rather hungry, so I was eager to leave.

[Assistant] “Lady Catherine, why did you not take his reward?”

[User] “I haven’t the right, Emma. Plus, a certain woman’s selflessness is still vivid in my memory.” I would be bearing this cross for the rest of my life. I had to atone as much as I could.

[Assistant] “…I want to be like her, if only a little bit.”


[User] “SO THE THING IS…Rae and I got into a fight.”

[Assistant] “Oh my. How unusual.” Some time had passed since the Bauer Kingdom’s revolution. Lene and Claire sat across from each other in a restaurant meant for ordinary citizens, not nobles. The building had been damaged by the eruption of Mt. Sassal, but Lene’s business—Frater—had financed its restoration. The interior was tidy, and the chairs and tables—also supplied by Frater—were all neatly arranged. Frater mainly operated in the Alpes, but they were thinking of expanding business to Bauer as part of the restoration efforts. For both moral and financial reasons, it sounded like a good plan and a wise move on Lene’s part. She was staying in Bauer for the time being to help with restoration efforts. As for Claire, she lost her status of nobility and was rendered a common citizen. Or at least, common enough. People seemed to celebrate her as one of the key figures of the revolution for some reason. That aside, she worked behind the scenes with the new government to draft their new constitution, acted as a middleman between citizens and government, and was kept overall quite busy these days. Rae made herself useful in her own way. Being a dual-caster with high aptitude in earth and water magic, she was often called upon to help with restoration efforts. Her earth magic could be used to remove volcanic ash and rock, as well as restore buildings; and her water magic was crucial for healing the wounded. These days, she was often seen running this way and that around the capital with a mana potion in hand. As a result of their new busy lives, Rae and Claire hadn’t had much time to spend together. They’d made their feelings clear to one another and were planning to have a wedding ceremony one day with people from their inner circle present, but as one would expect, not being able to see each other much had put some strain on their relationship. Things wouldn’t be so bad if they talked it out, but instead, they were both pretending not to be stressed out by the situation. This caused them to misunderstand one another, each believing the other didn’t care about spending time together…until things hit a boiling point three days ago.

[User] “I can see you getting cranky, but it’s quite a surprise to hear even Rae got like that.”

[Assistant] “Excuse me? I do not get cranky.”

[User] “If you say so. You can be rather blunt when expressing your qualms, though.”

[Assistant] “That’s not… Well… Okay, I suppose you’re right.” She had me there. Claire was not one to mince her words, and that was a fact. There weren’t many who understood her as well as Lene. Perhaps Rae and her father, but that was it.

[User] “On the other hand, Rae isn’t one to openly show how she feels.”


[User] "The way she expresses her affection for you may make her seem unreserved, but I get the impression that’s all calculated."

[Assistant] "Really?" I said, uncertain. It was my opinion that her fawning over me was made to look calculated to hide how much she truly adored me, as strange as that sounded. But I did agree on Rae not being one to openly show her true self.

[User] "But what happened this time is all Rae’s fault! I heard from Lilly herself that Rae gave her her first, if you’d believe it."

[Assistant] "Whaaaaaaat?!" Naturally, this news came as a surprise to Lene. She and I were both on the conservative side when it came to sexual mores. Personally, I believed one only ever gave their first experience to the one they married.

[User] "Is that true?" Lene asked.

[Assistant] "I mean, I find that a little hard to believe…"

[User] "I asked Rae and she denied it. But do you really think that Lilly would lie?"

[Assistant] "Erm, well… I don’t really know Miss Lilly myself, so I can’t comment there." Come to think of it, Lene and Lilly had only met at what was to be my public execution, and that was when Lilly was Alter too. They were hardly acquainted.

[User] "Well, for what it’s worth, I do not think Lilly is someone who would lie. She’s a pious follower of the Spiritual Church." The Spiritual Church forbade deceit, and it was hard to think Lilly would break its tenets.

[Assistant] "But Rae denied the claim, right?" Lene asked.

[User] "She tried to, yes."

[Assistant] "Then don’t you think there might be some misunderstanding in play?"

[User] "Do you really think so? You said yourself moments ago that Rae was a woman who liked to keep secrets, didn’t you?"

[Assistant] "That wasn’t quite how I put it…" Lene frowned, unconvinced.

[User] "Lene, I am not angry that Rae didn’t keep her chastity. I could find it in me to forgive her for sleeping with Lilly. But I cannot forgive her for keeping me in the dark and lying about it. Such behavior is unacceptable."

[Assistant] "All right, I understand how you feel on the matter. Anyone would be hurt if their significant other lied to them." Rae once told me she came from another world. That being the case, it wouldn’t be strange for her values regarding sex mores to be different from mine. I was willing to overlook some of her more eccentric beliefs—after all, it wasn’t even all that uncommon for nobles to have to make compromises to respect the culture of foreign dignitaries. But I could not overlook her lying about her actions.

[User] "That being said, I still think there’s some misunderstanding at play here."

[Assistant] "But let’s keep things moving along for now. As things stand, what do you want to do, Miss Claire?"

[User] “…I’d like to make up with her, I suppose." I muttered in a tiny voice.


[User] “I got angry at her because of what the lie was about, but I do think I overreacted. If she, of all people, lied to me, then she must have had a good reason. Or maybe she just didn’t want to hurt me.” I loathed lies, but as someone who was intimately familiar with the politics of noble society, I knew that lying could be necessary at times. The fact that Rae felt she needed to lie about her fidelity did hurt me, but now that I was calmer, I understood she might not have had any ill intent.

[Assistant] “Are you going to apologize, then?”

[User] “I already did. But she didn’t accept my apology.”

[Assistant] “Huh? Wait, Rae didn’t accept your apology?” she said incredulously.

[User] I expected such a reaction. It was crude to sing one’s own praises, but Rae was—beyond any doubt—head over heels for me. We’d had arguments before, but Rae was almost always the one to fold first, and she always accepted my apologies. And yet, she’d been cross with me for the past three days. At first, I was livid she would dare take such an attitude when she had been the unfaithful one. But by the second day, I realized she meant it. We’d never been this distant with each other for more than a day. On day three, my worry peaked, and I hurriedly made Lene take time out of her busy schedule to talk with me. That brought us to the present moment. “What do I do, Lene? What if Rae leaves me?”

[Assistant] “That’ll never happen, don’t worry.”

[User] “But—”

[Assistant] “Not even if hell were to freeze over and pigs were to fly,” she asserted. “Miss Claire, I understand you’re worried, but this is Rae we’re talking about. Do you really think she would leave you? After all the devotion she’s shown you?”

[User] “…No.” I knew better than anyone how deep Rae’s love and loyalty ran. Even if she had made a slip in judgment with Lilly, I doubted she would ever forsake me. “But then why won’t she forgive me?”

[Assistant] “That, I don’t know. But, well…”

[User] “Yes? Do you have an idea or something?”

[Assistant] “I suppose you could call it that…” Lene thoughtfully closed her eyes, her expression shifting as she tried to recall something. Eventually, she opened her eyes and said, “There is this one thing I’ve heard from Rae that you could try.”

[User] “What is it? Tell me.”

[Assistant] “It’s a bit difficult for me to fully grasp, but apparently it’s the highest form of respect one can show a significant other.”

[User] “That’s perfect! You simply must tell me what this is, Lene!” I felt elated, like I was seeing storm clouds give way to rays of sunshine.

[Assistant] Lene frowned and said, “Oh, I don’t know… This might be a bit too much for you.”

[User] “Nonsense. If it means Rae and I can make amends, then I’m willing to do anything.”

[Assistant] “…If you say so.


[Assistant] “…I’m home.” Rae says as she returned. Her tone was stiff, evidence she was still displeased with Claire.

[User] "Welcome back, Rae.”

[Assistant] “…I’m tired, so I think I’ll hit the sack now…wh-wh-what? !” She took one glance at me in the kitchen and went wide-eyed. Understandably so. The way I looked right now was as shameless as could be. “M-M-Mah, M-M-Miss Claire? !”

[User] “Th-this is a token of my appreciation for all you do. Please, forgive me already, Rae.”

[Assistant] “Wh-wh-whuh…” I had never, ever seen her blush this hard.

[User] "I-I believe this is called a ‘naked apron’? I’ve been told this is the highest display of affection one can give their significant other. You’ll have to forgive me—I kept my underwear on, as I was a bit too embarrassed to attempt this fully nude.”

[Assistant] “W-w-wait, hold on. What’s going—”

[User] “Oh, right! There’s something you have to say when you wear this, isn’t there? Welcome back, dear. Would you like to cook dinner? Would you like to prepare a bath? Or…”

[Assistant] “Isn’t that backward? Wait, no, that’s not what’s important here! Why are—”

[User] “O-or would you like m-m-m-me…?”

[Assistant] Rae dropped to the floor, clutching her head. “Who put you up to this? Wait, no, I already know… It was Lene, wasn’t it?”

[User] “…It was. She told me to do this after I told her I wanted to make amends with you. Did I do it wrong?”

[Assistant] “You did so many things wrong, but—”

[User] “I knew it. I shouldn’t have even tried.”

[Assistant] “No, this was wonderful, Miss Claire.” She got up to her feet and slapped her cheeks, as if to smack some sense back into herself. “That Lene, just what was she thinking… No, wait, I should be thanking her… Yes, thank you, Lene, wherever you are.”

[User] “Er, Rae?”

[Assistant] “I’m sorry for sulking like a child, Miss Claire. Your feelings have reached me.”

[User] “Th-then you’ll forgive me?”

[Assistant] “Of course! How could I not when you’ve gone so far?! Thank you so much! Thank you so so much! I’m so lucky to be alive! Thank you, God! Thank you, Spirit God!”

[User] “R-Rae?”

[Assistant] She hugged her gently, their first physical contact in three days. “O-okay then, I’ll start preparing dinner now.”

[User] "That’s what this apron is for, after all, ha ha.”

[Assistant] “No, wait. Go change, Miss Claire.”


[User] “Huh? Why? Are you already tired of this look?”

[Assistant] “Not at all, but that look is purely for aesthetic purposes. If you’re going to actually cook, then you need to wear real clothes. I’d hate for cooking oil to mar your perfect porcelain skin.”

[User] “I, er, I see.” I didn’t quite get it, but I obeyed, as Rae was the expert on the matter. That is, if one could even be an expert on whatever this was. Genuinely, what was all this? At any rate, I was glad I’d caught her making such an absurd face. From there on, whenever the two of us fought or I had a request to make of her, I would pull out my new trump card, the “naked apron.” It continued to have a dramatic effect, bringing an end to even our worst quarrels. The embarrassment I had to endure was always great, but seeing Rae so happy made my wariness fade. Unfortunately, there came a point where my wariness faded too far…


[Assistant] “I’m home, Miss Claire.”

[User] “Welcome back, dear. Would you like to cook dinner? Would you like to prepare a bath? Or…” I welcomed Rae home like I often did…but that day, she was not alone.

[Assistant] “…Claire. What is the meaning of this?”

[User] “F-Father? !” My father, Dole, was with her. They had run into one another on their way home, so he decided to drop by and say hello. I screamed out of sheer embarrassment, ran to the bedroom, and changed. From that day onward I never brought out the “naked apron” again. Incidentally, Rae was so shocked that I stopped doing the “naked apron” that she tried doing it for me instead, one day. By coincidence, I happened to have brought Misha home as a guest that day.

[Assistant] “…Disgusting.” Misha looked at Rae with a gaze as cold as ice.

[User] I had a feeling this memory would keep Rae up at night for a very, very long time.


[Assistant] “Um, Mama Claire?”

[User] “Mother Claire, there’s something we want to know.”

[Assistant] “Yes, May, Aleah?” Sometime later, after Rae and I adopted May and Aleah, I told the two of them about my fight with Rae. Of course, I omitted the “naked apron” part.

[User] “What was it you two were fighting over after all? Was it a misunderstanding?”

[Assistant] “Did Mother Rae not keep her chastity?”

[User] “W-wait, do you two even know what that word means?” I asked.

[Assistant] “Of course.”

[User] “How old do you think we are?”

[Assistant] “Uhhh…” With them being orphaned, I did not know their exact age. But they should have been around four or five. “Chastity” was certainly not a word that should be in their vocabulary.

[User] “Mama Claire, tell us what happened.”

[Assistant] “Hurry up and tell us!”

[User] “W-well…” I felt cold sweat form on my brow. “O-okay, it was a misunderstanding. Just a small one, though.”

[Assistant] “What was the misunderstanding?”

[User] “Tell us!”

[Assistant] “O-oh, I don’t see why we need to talk about it."


[User] "Tellll ussss!" they nagged.

[Assistant] “…It’s really nothing, though." Reluctantly, I began to recount the story.

[User] “I-I’ll be going then, Rae, Miss Claire. Please take good care of the children.”

[Assistant] “Of course.”

[User] “We will wish you safe travels.” A few days after we took May and Aleah under our wing, Lilly embarked on her pilgrimage of atonement. Rae and I went to the checkpoint to see her off. My father was watching May and Aleah in our absence, though I’m sure they wanted to see Lilly off as well.

[Assistant] “Oh, right. Before you go, there’s this misunderstanding I want us to clear up.”

[User] “Wh-what misunderstanding?” Lilly asked.

[Assistant] “You said something about me giving you my first. Miss Claire and I got into a big fight as a result—although something good did eventually come out of it.”


[User] “You don’t need to go into that much detail,” I chided Rae, covering her mouth.

[Assistant] “And you needn’t make excuses for me, Lilly. Even if Rae did give you her chastity, I understand that the one she loves is me, and I will never doubt that again.”

[User] “Wh-what? R-Rae’s chastity? What are you talking about? !”

[Assistant] “Huh?”

[User] “Huh?”

[Assistant] “Huh?” The three of us all gave one another looks.

[User] “Is that not what happened?”

[Assistant] “You said you received Rae’s first.”

[User] “Whaaat?! I-I said no such thing!”

[Assistant] “Huh?” Sensing this didn’t bode well for me, I said,

[User] “Please try to remember. It was a few days after the revolution took place. To celebrate you being released from custody, we went together to a café with sweets.”

[Assistant] “I-I remember that, yes. You bought me strawberry daifuku, didn’t you?”

[User] “I did. It was then you told me that Rae gave you her first. You even asked if I was okay with it.”

[Assistant] “…Oh, ohhhh!” Lilly exclaimed with horror.

[User] “I-Is something the matter?”

[Assistant] “M-Miss Claire, I am so sorry. It seems there’s been a terrible misunderstanding.”

[User] “…Pardon?” Oh no…

[Assistant] “The first I was referring to was not Rae’s chastity but her first handmade strawberry daifuku.”

[User] “Her…first handmade strawberry daifuku?” I repeated the words in a half daze.

[Assistant] “Ohhhhhh!” Rae exclaimed, as though just remembering something.

[User] “That was around the time we rounded up those corrupt nobles, wasn’t it? I’d been wanting to make strawberry daifuku ever since our holiday, so I made some while Miss Claire was out and had Miss Lilly taste-test them for me.”

[Assistant] “I-I’m quite particular about my strawberry daifuku, you see,” Lilly said.

[User] I wanted so very much to crawl into a hole at that moment.

[Assistant] “S-so, I misunderstood what Lilly meant?”

[User] “It would appear so,” Rae said.

[Assistant] “I-I’m so sorry! I’m so sorry! I’m so sorry! This is all my fault for not articulating myself well!” Lilly said.

[User] Wait, then I had worn that shameless outfit for nothing?

[Assistant] “…Ack.”

[User] “Miss Claire? !” Rae exclaimed.

[Assistant] “Eeek?! Her eyes are rolling back in her head! Rae, quick, use your healing magic!” Lilly shouted.

[User] “…W-wait, could this actually be my chance to do something with Rae behind Miss Claire’s back?! Rae, let’s—”

[Assistant] “No chance,” Rae said.

[User] “A-aww… H-how about a farewell kiss, at least?”

[Assistant] “Nope.”

[User] Lilly clicked her tongue.

[Assistant] “Prude. Would it kill you to at least toss me a bone?”

[User] “M-Miss Lilly?”

[Assistant] “Ah! N-no, that wasn’t intentional! I didn’t mean to say that!” The two of them shouted this and that, but I was too far gone to pay any mind. In my daze, I swore to myself that I would always ask for clarification before leaping to conclusions from here on out.


[User] Incidentally, when I told May and Aleah about all this…

[Assistant] “Oh, Mama Claire…”

[User] “You can be a bit silly sometimes, Mother Claire.”

[Assistant] I certainly couldn’t argue with that!