[User] “And another thing…I believe you misunderstand Lady Philine’s present circumstances. She is not dead.”

[Assistant] “What?” Adelina looked like she couldn’t believe her ears. That was probably the last thing she’d expected to hear.

[User] “As you know, the empire has many enemies. Her death was faked in order to circumvent the possibility of assassination.”

[Assistant] “B-but a lock of her hair was sent to the imperial family!”

[User] “The hair, as well as the blood on said hair, were real. We needed to make her death look all the more convincing.” he said matter-of-factly.

[Assistant] “I understand… But can you prove she’s alive?” Adeline remained skeptical.

[User] “Why would we leave proof behind if we’re trying to fake her death?”

[Assistant] “I…don’t know what to believe.” she said hesitantly.

[User] “Adelina… I don’t understand why your people didn’t question such a thing in the first place. Think about it: Her assassination was only days after her exile, and we announced it all too quickly. And do you really believe Her Majesty of all people wouldn’t try to take revenge if her daughter were killed? Most people would realize it was all an act.” He looked over our way as he said that. I, for one, had indeed figured such was the case.

[Assistant] “Then…Lady Philine is alive?” she asked.

[User] “That she is. She should be poring over her studies as we speak.”

[Assistant] “Thank goodness…thank goodness,” Adelina buried her face with her hands and wept, saying, over and over. Wow. Philine, you got a real die-hard fan.

[User] “Do you understand now? You have no reason to start a coup. It’ll only cause trouble for—”

[Assistant] “No,” she stated clearly. Wiping away her tears, she continued, “My convictions are only stronger now that I know she is alive. We will carry out the coup and install Philine as the new empress.”


[User] “Were you not listening, Adelina? Lady Philine is alive.” A hint of alarm crossed Josef’s face as things took an unexpected turn.

[Assistant] “That is all the more reason to go through with the coup. We must succeed so she can return.” In contrast to Josef, Adelina appeared as though she had cast away all her worries. Personally, I thought she sounded insane.

[User] “Please reconsider. Surely you know Her Majesty’s strength? Your little insurrection will amount to nothing.” he pleaded.

[Assistant] “Then so be it. My comrades fear not death but rather an empire without a future.”

[User] “Excuse me, but what in the world are you thinking? Was the coup not planned because you believed Lady Philine had died? What meaning is there in carrying it out now?” Whoa, whoa, whoa! This isn’t going anywhere near according to plan! That was when Claire interjected.

[Assistant] “Silence, dog of Bauer. You wouldn’t understand.”

[User] “Pardon?” Claire’s countenance changed completely. Oh, she’s pissed. I mean, I do love her angry face, but now isn’t the time for it…

[Assistant] “Please calm down, Miss Claire.” I interrupted.


[User] "And Adelina, I believe you’ve said a little too much."

[Assistant] “Humph!” “Humph!” The two of them both turned away with a huff. Yikes… I shook my head.

[User] “Why are you so insistent on going through with the coup?”

[Assistant] “I’m not repeating myself again.” Adelina shot me right down. Jeez.

[User] “I see. By the way, are you aware that treason is a crime?”

[Assistant] “Of course.”

[User] “Right, of course. You’re a soldier, after all. But were you also aware that all men within three degrees of kinship to you will be executed, and that all women and children over six will be sentenced to work at mining camps for life?”

[Assistant] “I’ve known. I’ve sent my parents a letter telling them to leave the country that should arrive around the time of the coup.”

[User] It appeared she’d put some thought into this. But—

[Assistant] “Where will they go?” I asked.

[User] “That’s… M-my family will figure it out; I believe in them.”

[Assistant] “Would the family of your collaborators be as safe though?” I asked. “There’s also the fact that escaping the empire would mean forgoing its protection. I’m sure you’re aware how other countries view the empire. You wouldn’t be planning a coup, otherwise. What kind of welcome do you think they’d give those who ran from it?”

[User] A look of shock crossed Adelina’s face. It seemed she hadn’t thought that far.

[Assistant] “What are you trying to say? !” she demanded, still stubborn.

[User] “I’m saying your actions will have consequences for people other than you.” I genuinely believed she’d come around if she thought this through clearly. So I continued, speaking calmly so as not to agitate her. “Let’s assume your families don’t escape the country. Even if they avoid being sentenced by amnesty or pardon, they’ll still never be able to return to their old lives. Their friends will stop associating with them. Their workplaces will fire them. Stores might even refuse to sell them food. That’s what happens to the families of traitors.”

[Assistant] “Th-that’s…”

[User] Betraying your country carried lasting consequences. That wasn’t to say I believed one should never rise up against oppressive dictatorships—which Adelina believed was now the time to do—but one needed to be aware of all the risks inherent in doing so. I continued. “Above all else, the family you leave behind might come to resent you.”

[Assistant] “I wouldn’t mind that. For the greater good, I—”

[User] “It hurts, you know. Being hated by your own family.” I thought back to Misaki, my friend from my past life. The only ones who mourned him after he committed suicide were his friends—the ones who understood his plight. That included Kosaki, Shiko, and me, of course. Misaki’s family had ended up resenting him. When someone commits suicide, people’s reactions generally take one of two forms: sympathy for the victim and/or blame for those around them. People can’t help but question why such a thing could have been allowed to happen.


[User] Misaki’s family never accepted him being gay nor acknowledged him as a man, so when they wound up being blamed for his death, any love they’d ever had for him died an all too easy death. From their perspective, he’d said some nonsense and then died, leaving their family to bear the disgrace. My heart hurt every time I remembered it. “Otto’s worried about you, you know.”

[Assistant] “He is?”

[User] “Yes. He might not be all that forthright about it, but he’s worried about what you’re trying to do. Are you really willing to trample his feelings?”

[Assistant] Adelina went silent.

[User] Not all families got along, but from what I could tell, the Reiner family was tight-knit. Could she really ignore her brother’s concerns? “I also don’t believe Lady Philine would want a coup to take place.”

[Assistant] “What do you know about her? You’re the reason she was exiled in the first place.”

[User] “That way of thinking is disrespectful to Lady Philine. She isn’t the type to be so easily deceived. She took action because she wanted to change this country herself.”

[Assistant] I couldn’t deny that Claire and I had our own ulterior motives, but Philine had acted in pursuit of her own beliefs. We’d only ever given her the opportunity and support she needed. “Going back a bit, remember how Philine’s hair was sent as proof of her death? Why do you think she would send her hair?”

[User] “What do you mean why? It’s not like she could cut off bits of her ear or nose, now could she?”

[Assistant] “I think her hair was a message to Her Majesty.”

[User] “Huh?” Adelina looked puzzled.

[Assistant] “‘The Philine you know is dead,’ or something along those lines. Like a Dear John letter…although I suppose that might not be a thing in this world. Erm…a declaration, perhaps.”

[User] A look of understanding rose to Adelina’s face.

[Assistant] “I don’t think Lady Philine’s given up. She still has things she needs to do.” Of course, I was possibly wildly off the mark, but hey. “That being the case, would it not be better to wait for her and find out what she truly wants instead of digging your own grave now? She will need people like you when she returns.”

[User] “And if she doesn’t return?”

[Assistant] “If she doesn’t return, then somebody will need to carry on her will. And who better to do that than you guys, as her followers? For now, I recommend you rise up the ranks within the army. You’re going to need influence if you’re to achieve anything.”

[User] The Nur Empire was a military state. Gaining rank in the army could give Adelina the chance to influence the country the way she wanted. “And…personally, I don’t want to see one of the few precious things Lady Philine managed to earn for herself be so meaninglessly lost.”

[Assistant] “You mean…?”

[User] “Yes.


[User] “You all.”

[Assistant] Back when we’d first started strategizing together, the only people Philine had on her side, other than Claire and me, had been Adelina and the other soldiers. They were the only allies she had gained through her efforts alone. I couldn’t bear to see them lost for no reason.

[User] Adelina pondered pensively for a time. Her inner turmoil was surely intense. The decision to attempt a coup d’état couldn’t have been a whim, but the result of much thought and deliberation. No matter how much logic I used to refute her, the decision to back down at this point was not an easy one.

[Assistant] “Just what about this is so difficult for you to understand?” Claire said impatiently. “If you go through with the coup, you are all but sure to fail. Your households will be left in ruins. What more is there to consider?”

[User] “You’re not from the empire. You wouldn’t understand,” Adelina said.

[Assistant] “It’s precisely because I’m not from the empire that there are some things I can understand.”

[User] “And what would those be?”

[Assistant] “I understand you and your people care about the future of this country.”

[User] Adelina’s eyes opened wide.

[Assistant] “But for that future’s sake, you must wait,” Claire went on. “Now is not the time.”

[User] Adelina said nothing, listening.

[Assistant] “Your people have an unwavering will, and you do not fear Her Majesty. That fact won’t change, will it?”

[User] “Of course not,” Adelina replied.

[Assistant] “Then you must endure the wait for now. You mustn’t do anything rash. At least not until Lady Philine makes her intentions known.”

[User] At Claire’s words, Adelina seemed to come to some realization. She remained silent, as if turning those words over in her head.

[Assistant] “I implore you as well, Adelina. Please reconsider.” Josef lowered his head.

[User] After some further deliberation, she reluctantly said, “All right. I’ll try talking to my comrades.”


[User] Claire and I were searched, then received our wands from an attendant, since obviously, we needed our wands to do our jobs. We could use magic without wands, but nowhere near as proficiently. Naturally, our wands were also blessed, as we’d had a number of run-ins with demons since coming to the empire.

[Assistant] The Bauer dignitaries were searched after us, among them Thane, Dole, and Mr. Torrid. A few people were accompanying them for secretarial purposes, but those three formed the main contingent, while Claire and I served as their escorts.

[User] After the Bauer dignitaries were searched, the dignitaries from Sousse and the Alpes followed. Among the Sousse dignitaries was Manaria, and among the Alpes dignitaries were William and Lene.

[Assistant] Manaria’s presence was a given, but it was a surprise to see Lene—formerly an exiled vagabond without a country to call her own—attending an international conference as an advisor of sorts. It felt like destiny had brought us back together again, but I knew it was her hard work that had made this possible.

[User] The empire’s staff led the three groups to the venue. Flowers and paintings lined the corridor, meant to engage guests throughout the walk. Few of us felt inclined to appreciate them, however, with somber looks on our faces as our thoughts fixed on the conference ahead.

[Assistant] "We have arrived." The attendant pushed open the door.

[User] My eyes fought to adjust to the blinding light for a moment. Once they did, a large round table came into view.

[Assistant] “You’ve come. I am Dorothea Nur. Let this conference be productive.” The attendees from the empire were already seated, and Dorothea greeted us as their representative. As with the conference with the pope, she kept her words short and succinct.

[User] “Please be seated,” the attendant instructed us.

[Assistant] The three groups obeyed. In all—with the entrance situated to the south—we sat at the table with Bauer to the east, Sousse to the west, Nur to the south, and the Alpes to the north. In Japan, we had something called kamiza, or the seat of honor, where the distinguished guest sat furthest from the entrance, but it appeared that wasn’t a custom in this world. Perhaps that was why they used a round table, so nobody would argue about who got what seat.

[User] “I would like to get straight to the point, as I’m not one for wasting time. Any objections?” Dorothea said, scanning the table.

[Assistant] No one objected. And so, the summit finally began.

[User] “Let’s get to the point. What are your demands?” The first to get the ball rolling was Dorothea, barreling through with her own brand of logic.

[Assistant] “We ask but one thing."

[User] "Cease your aggression and start working toward peace.” Instead of the Royal Academy uniform I was so used to seeing her in, she wore a dark-blue suit jacket with gray slacks—looking killer as she broke gender norms.

[Assistant] “Hmm…” Dorothea frowned.


[User] "I mean, you don’t really believe the empire can keep going if it continues making enemies at this rate, right? If we’re ever to reconcile, now is the time." William said, half-joking and half-serious.

[Assistant] "I see no reason to. The empire has strength to spare.”

[User] "So you say, but the rest of us are prepared to join hands and fight if need be." Thane replied concisely, face fixed in its usual dour expression.

[Assistant] "Our kingdom still hasn’t forgotten the underhanded schemes you subjected us to during our revolution."

[User] “Humph. All is fair in war. Or were you under the false impression that those schemes were carried out because we were weak?”

[Assistant] The air grew charged between them. This was exactly why I hated politics. Just watching made my stomach churn. Never in a million years would I have gotten involved if I hadn’t had my daughters and Claire to think about. Of course, Claire’s opinion on the subject differed.

[User] “Besides, Bauer isn’t one to shy from scheming either, are you?”

[Assistant] “What do you mean to say?”

[User] “Did you not try to entice my soldiers to revolt? I’m not as blind as you’d like to believe.” She was talking about the now-abandoned coup d’état headed by Adelina and her fellows.

[Assistant] I didn’t object, not wanting to out their identities, but I didn’t like Dorothea framing the coup as something Bauer had tried to instigate.

[User] “What’s that? You’re such a poor leader, you can’t even keep your own army in check?” William cut in as the situation turned precarious.

[Assistant] “Why, you—”

[User] “Aha ha ha! Hey, now, it’s just a joke! But really, I think it’s best you leave the baseless accusations at that.” On the surface, William’s words sounded like simple buffoonery, but I could tell he was skillfully maneuvering the conversation.

[Assistant] I could see why Dole trusted him so.

[User] “You mean to say it’s a coincidence that a coup d’état was planned for the very same day you all just so happened to be in my empire?”

[Assistant] “No, no, I doubt that’s a coincidence at all. That’s probably the way they figured they could best get at you, Dorothea.”

[User] “Is that right? But from my perspective, it’s plain as day that Bauer tried to spur those fools to rebellion.”

[Assistant] “Uh-huh, and let me guess: You’re going to torture one of those fools until they tell you what you want to hear?”

[User] “That’s not a bad idea. Then I could even go public and demand reparations.”

[Assistant] “Sure, take credit for putting out the fire you started.”

[User] While roundabout, the conversation was tense—one slip and we would have a full-scale conflict on our hands. Still, I found myself surprised. I hadn’t thought Dorothea had the patience to talk at such length. Perhaps I’d been unfair to call her a child given too much power.

[Assistant] “Let’s leave the jokes at that, if you would.”


[User] "You’re Claire François’s father, if I recall."

[Assistant] "Indeed. The name is Dole François. I am humbled to make your acquaintance."

[User] "Very well then. What do you have to say?"

[Assistant] "Before I begin, may I have permission to be so impudent as to criticize Your Majesty?"

[User] "How amusing. I’ll allow it." Her lips curved into a smile.

[Assistant] Dole had a perfect handle on Dorothea’s personality. "Thank you. Now then, allow me to explain the current state of the empire." For the first time ever, Dole François, the mastermind who had orchestrated the revolution in Bauer from behind the scenes, bared his fangs in public.


[User] "As we all know, the Nur Empire has boldly waged war all over the world." Dole flipped through the documents in his hand and, without pause, began listing more countries than I could count.

[Assistant] "I didn’t think you would actually dare to be so impudent."

[User] "You don’t particularly mind, do you?" he asked.

[Assistant] "It continues to amuse, so I’ll allow it. Go on."

[User] "Then I shall." Dole said, before going on to explain that if push came to shove, the empire could be fighting against a united front composed of not just Sousse, the Alpes, and Bauer, but myriad other countries as well.

[Assistant] "You really believe such a thing is feasible?" she asked.

[User] "I do. And while the territories under your rule are obedient for now, who’s to say they wouldn’t rebel, given such an opportunity?"

[Assistant] The empire was spread thin and surrounded by enemies; if relations soured all at once, things could disintegrate pretty quick. Even so, Dorothea remained unfazed. "The outskirts of my territory matter not so long as its heart is safe. For as long as I stand, so shall the empire."

[User] Luckily, Dole was also one of those few—and her equal. "Decay begins at the extremities."

[Assistant] "You can find data regarding the empire’s food self-sufficiency rate in these documents here. Funding has gradually shifted away from sustainability and toward the military."

[User] "We are at war. Such things are necessary."

[Assistant] "Perhaps. But if the fields near your borders were continually burned… Well, you would be met with a terrible famine in but a few years’ time." A cruel smile graced Dole’s face as those unsettling words so nonchalantly left his mouth.

[User] "If anything, I look forward to it—watching our mortal enemies waste away from afar, that is. We wouldn’t even need to overstep our bounds and pursue offensive action. No, simply defending the right locations while our countries provided ample supplies from behind would do the trick."

[Assistant] "Humph. We could just loot what we need from you."

[User] "Could you really? Your country is strong, but in the end, it is but one country.


[User] "For every successful act of pillaging, would you not be met five times in return?"

[Assistant] "Well spoken, Dole François."

[User] "I am humbled to have my name remembered." There was sense in Dole’s words. No matter how strong the empire was, they couldn’t win if surrounded by enemies on all sides. Of course, I doubt it would go as smoothly as Dole said, but it was feasible, and that was enough. Even so—

[Assistant] "Huh…"

[User] "Is something on your mind, Rae?" Claire asked me.

[Assistant] "Yes, well… I can’t help but think Dorothea reminds me of someone. Not in appearance but more so that overbearing high-handedness…"

[User] "I doubt there are many as tyrannical as her."

[Assistant] "Oh, I got it. She’s just like Master Dole before the revolution."

[User] "What are you—oh." There was a time Dole had made himself out to be the villain in order to serve a greater cause. I saw a bit of overlap in Dorothea’s demeanor, but I could have been imagining things.

[Assistant] "In the first place, I cannot comprehend why you are so desperate to achieve something as unrealistic as bringing the whole world under your empire’s rule, especially when you’re so soft."

[User] "Soft? Did you truly just call me soft?" Dorothea’s tone turned threatening, but Dole paid it no mind.

[Assistant] "You exiled your daughter, who planned treason against you, to save her. You even forgave her foreign collaborators. What can that be called if not soft?" I recalled Josef saying something similar—something about how Dorothea had Philine’s well-being in mind. Perhaps Dorothea was indeed…soft.

[User] "Humph. Don’t speak as though you understand."

[Assistant] "Only those who’ve borne children can comprehend the bond between a mother and her daughter."

[User] "Such a truth is every father’s regret. Even so, there remains one thing I know we share."

[Assistant] "Is that so? And what is that?"

[User] "Love for our daughters." Dorothea’s eyes widened with surprise.

[Assistant] "I thank you for the kindness you’ve shown Claire and Rae."

[User] "Enough. Now is not the place for that." she said, taken aback by his sudden words of gratitude.

[Assistant] "Dorothea, I think it’s about time you told us what you’re really planning. I know you’ve been working alone toward something this whole time, but is it not possible for us to work together?" Dorothea didn’t respond. Numerous mysteries surrounded her motives. While she had provided a variety of justifications for her aggression, her true goals remained unknown to us even now.

[User] "I could very well let this summit be our final warning to you before hostilities commence. But after what you’ve done for my daughters, I would rather not. Please, would you be willing to tell us what’s really going on?" Dole wasn’t so much asking as he was pleading at this point. The politician in Dole respected Dorothea as a ruler, and he didn’t want to see her life lost in vain. But things could never be that easy.


[User] “You’ve overstepped your bounds, Dole François." Dorothea replied coldly. "You’re a fool if you think I, of all people, would be so weak as to show kindness.”

[Assistant] “How long do you intend to keep up this act? If this were chess, you would already be in check, you know?” William interjected.

[User] Manaria and Thane nodded at his words.

[Assistant] “If you wish to make me—that is to say, my empire—surrender, then do so through force. Go on, establish that alliance you’re so eager for. I’ll crush it like it’s nothing.” Dorothea made this declaration, her expression bordered madness.

[User] “Dorothea, this is your last chance. Reform your policies and join us as part of a new, unified international power.” Manaria gave the last ultimatum.

[Assistant] “This grows tedious. I bend to no one, for I am Dorothea Nur.”

[User] "Humph. So negotiations have broken down." Dorothea eventually said. "In that case—”

[Assistant] “Rae, look out!”

[User] Manaria was on her knees with blood flowing from her shoulder.

[Assistant] “Sister Manaria? !” Claire exclaimed.

[User] “Lady Manaria? !” I exclaimed as well.

[Assistant] “It’s common sense to start with the biggest threat, is it not?” Dorothea's sword drawn before anybody could react.

[User] “What is the meaning of this, Dorothea? !” Manaria demanded as she applied pressure to the shoulder of her blood-stained suit jacket.

[Assistant] “Do you really not understand? It’s simple. My enemies have seen fit to gather in one place, so I might as well take care of them all at once.”

[User] “You monster!” Manaria snarled.

[Assistant] “Rae!” Claire’s shrill voice reached my ears.

[User] Dorothea was right before me.

[Assistant] “No, you don’t!” Manaria's own blade stopping the sword.

[User] “Manaria Sousse. Your weakness is your inability to abandon the ones you love.”

[Assistant] “That’s very much fine by me if it means I’m not like you!” Manaria lunged forward and parried Dorothea’s sword, causing the latter to move back.

[User] “Tch…”

[Assistant] “Lady Manaria!”

[User] “Rae! Heal me, quick—”

[Assistant] “It’s futile. All futile.” Dorothea raised her sword above her head. "Now you’re all going to die for me.”


[User] “Those who value their life may flee…” she began. “Or, that’s what I originally intended to say, but the circumstances have changed. Forgive me, but you must all die.”

[Assistant] “Not if we can help it!” said Claire, launching a flame spear—a single massive one, just like the spell she’d fired at Ralaire’s mother all that time ago. However—

[User] “Do you wish to be the first to die, Claire François?” Dorothea rushed forward, ignoring the flame spear and appearing before Claire.

[Assistant] “Ah!” Claire exclaimed.

[User] “Pitfall!” I collapsed the ground under Dorothea’s feet, ruining her balance. Her blade swung a hair’s breadth short of Claire. “Be careful, Miss Claire. Magic doesn’t work on Dorothea.”

[Assistant] “How could I have forgotten? This isn’t going to be an easy fight…”

[User] I agreed. Dorothea’s immunity to magic left us with little in the way of options. Indirect tactics like the pitfall I’d just made had worked, but direct attacks like flame spears or ice bullets had no effect whatsoever. The same went for Claire’s Magic Ray, of course.

[Assistant] “Protect His Majesty!”

[User] “Somebody heal the queen!” The escort soldiers quickly scrambled, but none of them dared to carelessly approach Dorothea. One false move meant death. They surrounded her instead, swords and spears pointed inward toward her.

[Assistant] “You think common soldiers…are worthy of being my opponents? !” There was a gleam of black light as her pitch-black sword glided through the air, dropping the soldiers like flies, one after another.

[User] “Rae, heal Sister, quickly!” Claire yelled. “She’s the only one who can match Dorothea’s sword!”

[Assistant] “Her wounds are deep! I need more time!” I snapped. Dorothea was sly. She knew the only one who could hold their ground against her, Manaria, had a weakness. That was why she’d attacked me.

[User] “This is enough. Let me go.”

[Assistant] “Lady Manaria… I can’t. You—”

[User] “My soldiers are dying. As their ruler, how can I turn a blind eye and do nothing?” Manaria gripped her sword with her left hand and stood. It seemed her dominant right arm wasn’t working.

[Assistant] “You can’t, Sister! You’re in no condition to fight her!” Claire protested.

[User] “Even so, I must. Dorothea was right. The moment she attacked, I prioritized Rae’s life over my own. In the grand scheme of things, that was clearly a mistake.” As queen of Sousse, Manaria should have prioritized herself over me. But she hadn’t. She had thrown herself into harm’s way for my sake. “I won’t make that mistake again. So, Claire. You need to protect Rae for me.”

[Assistant] “Sister…”

[User] “Take her and run. I’ll buy you two some time.” Manaria’s face was pale, yet she smiled. It was a weak smile, so very unlike her.

[Assistant] “Wait, Lady Manaria,” I said. “It’s too early to give up hope.”

[User] “Always cracking the whip, Rae. Got another plan up your sleeve?”

[Assistant] “Yes. But we’ll need to buy as much time as possible.” I’d received some important news before the summit that I hoped would prove useful.


[User] The odds were against us, but what other choice did we have?

[Assistant] "Is your little strategy meeting done?" Dorothea slowly paces toward us. Countless bloodied bodies littered the floor behind her. Her eyes suddenly dart to the side.

[User] Rae follows her gaze to see an imperial official leave the room. Strange… For the first time ever, I feel like Dorothea’s full of openings.

[Assistant] "Now, Miss Claire!"

[User] "Back me up, Rae!"

[Assistant] What followed was a blur. I did what I could to support Claire as she fought Dorothea directly. Claire’s martial arts experience showed in her movements, and she empowered her sword with her magic, all while Manaria provided cover—but even all that wasn’t enough. Dorothea was just too strong.

[User] "It’s over, Rae Taylor," she declared like a judge passing sentence, or the grim reaper itself.

[Assistant] Claire and I were battered, our magic power almost depleted. Manaria, already drained of magic, now lay unconscious. There was nothing more to do. But that didn’t mean we could just kick the bucket without getting a few words in.

[User] "Haaah…haaah…" I panted. "You’re strong… I’ll admit that, Dorothea."

[Assistant] "That goes without saying."

[User] "But…to be blunt, you’re third-rate at best."

[Assistant] "What was that?"

[User] "Haaah…haaah… What Rae’s trying to say is…for an individual, you are strong. Perhaps among the strongest in history."

[Assistant] "I don’t need your flattery."

[User] "But that’s ultimately only a single person’s strength," Claire went on. "There’s so much more to being strong than you understand."

[Assistant] "Hah. What nonsense. You wish to say the masses have strength? Laughable. It’s because they are weak that they swarm together." Dorothea sneered contemptuously.

[User] "You only see people as sheep. That is your weakness, Dorothea."

[Assistant] "The words of a sore loser. Pathetic."

[User] Dorothea only believed in the strength of the individual. I admit, she was strong. But there was so much more to people than that. "You’re wrong."

[Assistant] "There’s a power that connects people. A power called bonds."

[User] "How childish. You believe you can defeat me with these bonds?"

[Assistant] "Oh? Have you forgotten already?" I teased.

[User] "What?"

[Assistant] I clasped Claire’s hand and felt her squeeze back. A steady warmth came to life between our connected palms and flowed into us. "You tried stirring internal conflict within Bauer, remember? How did that end again, Miss Claire?"

[User] "Hee hee… We overcame it using the bonds between us—and so many more people."

[Assistant] Bonds were not imaginary or fantastical. They were real.

[User] "I’ll admit, that plan failed…"

[Assistant] "Yes, I should have crushed Bauer in the aftermath, right then and there."

[User] "Are those the words of a sore loser?" I asked impishly.

[Assistant] Dorothea’s eyebrow twitched. It appeared she didn’t like having her own insults used against her. "Enough. It’s time you two died." She held her sword high. I felt magic gradually seep out of Claire’s hand as she entrusted the last of her power to me. "There’s a saying where I come from."


[User] “It ain’t over ’til the fat lady sings!” I used the last dregs of our magic to cast what would truly be our last spell.

[Assistant] Dorothea deflected it with her sword and backed away. “So you kept a secret weapon tucked away. But such cheap tricks won’t—” She stopped mid-insult and looked toward the entrance of the room. Faintly, the echo of footsteps could be heard. The footsteps grew louder, and it gradually became more apparent that they belonged to not one person but a group.

[User] Thank goodness. They made it. “Have you realized it yet, Dorothea?”

[Assistant] “What?”

[User] “You lost long ago. Long before this summit. In the very moment you released that girl. Ha ha… Ha ha…” If she were so inclined, Dorothea could have closed the distance and cut us down in an instant. There was no way we could have fought back at that point. Claire was terrified. Hell, I was terrified. Even so, my beloved proudly declared our victory with that resounding laugh of hers. “Oooooho ho ho ho ho!”

[Assistant] “What are you doing?” Dorothea clicked her tongue in irritation. That was when our savior arrived.

[User] “Haaah…haaah… I made it!” Bursting into the room and panting heavily.

[Assistant] “Philine…?” Dorothea murmured.


[User] Indeed. The one and only, supposedly exiled, Philine Nur. “Haaah…haaah… I’ve returned, Mother.”

[Assistant] “Philine? Why are you here?” Dorothea looked doubtfully at Philine, who fought to catch her breath. Her confusion was understandable; Philine was probably the last person she’d expected to appear.

[User] “Please wait, Lady Philine!”

[Assistant] “Princess Philine!” A crowd of people poured in behind her. Many of them wore military uniforms—more specifically the uniform of the soldiers-in-training.

[User] “You’re…Adelina Reiner, Otto Reiner, Hildegard Eichrodt, and Friedelinde Eimer?” murmured Dorothea.

[Assistant] “We’ve come to make an appeal, Your Majesty.”

[User] “Hey.”

[Assistant] “Forgive me, I just couldn’t say no to the Princess.”

[User] “I’ve come to avenge my homeland!” Each of the people who appeared to stand against Dorothea had something to say to her. A patriot who had once planned a coup d’état to try to save her country, Adelina. A boy who had plotted to assassinate the Empress out of concern for his sister, Otto. An official working toward peace with Philine, Hilda. And a princess trying to revive her country, Frieda.

[Assistant] “What farce is this, Philine?” Dorothea demanded.

[User] “This is no farce, Mother. We’re here to tell you it’s over. You’ve been beaten,” Philine boldly declared. Not a trace of her former weakness remained.

[Assistant] “Ha…ha ha ha…ha ha ha ha ha! You, of all people, think you can win against me, Dorothea Nur?” Dorothea broke out into wild laughter, as if the very idea of Philine beating her was a joke. She continued to laugh for some time before saying, “How humorous. Show me how you’ll beat me, then. If you can’t, I shall cut you down here and now.” For the time being, she had agreed to hear Philine out. Philine reached into her bag and pulled out a sheaf of papers.


[User] "I spent my exile visiting various countries to negotiate the establishment of an anti-Dorothea alliance."

[Assistant] Dorothea’s eyes opened wide with shock.

[User] Around the time that we had managed to convince Adelina to abandon her coup, Josef discreetly informed me that Philine would be returning on this day. I had always believed she wouldn’t give up, and sure enough, I was right. She had spent her exile meeting with influential people across many countries. Through a mixture of perseverance, incentives, and cunning, she had gained their support. "This is an agreement between six countries bordering the empire, with oaths signed in blood stating they will no longer submit to you, but will commence hostilities against the empire if it doesn’t join the new unified national power."

[Assistant] "Philine…!" Dorothea seethed. Philine had succeeded in what Dole had only threatened just earlier. She, the former crybaby, now dared to strike back at her mother, thought to be indomitable, and she had succeeded. Perhaps the apple really didn’t fall far from the tree.

[User] "Are you going to kill me here? You could, if you like. I’m ready for it."

[Assistant] "Are you now…"

[User] "But regardless of what happens to me, regardless of what you do, the empire is diplomatically cornered. This is checkmate, Mother."

[Assistant] "Ngh…!" It was over. Dorothea was strong, stronger than any individual person, but she wasn’t stronger than the connections Philine had built herself. In the end, Dorothea had lost to the very bonds she held in such contempt.

[User] "Damn you!" Dorothea held her sword aloft.

[Assistant] Philine didn’t so much as blink, staring back at her mother.

[User] "Are you sure you want to do that, Dorothea?" I asked. She stopped her sword a hair’s breadth from Philine’s head. "You have something to say, Rae Taylor?"

[Assistant] "Your defeat is certain already. So don’t be a sore loser. Accept it."

[User] "I can still—"

[Assistant] "If you kill Philine here, you’ll only be immortalizing her as a martyr who died at her beloved mother’s hands as she tried to save her country."

[User] "It will be easy to gain the public’s sympathy for someone who lost their life for a just cause." The two of us rubbed salt in Dorothea’s wounds. She had caused us a great deal of grief up until now, so surely nobody could fault us for getting back at her a little. It was true that killing Philine would change nothing for Dorothea. While Philine had indeed established the anti-Dorothea alliance, she wasn’t integral to its survival. Dorothea’s defeat was certain, even with Philine’s death.

[Assistant] "Then I’ve…I’ve really lost…" she muttered.

[User] "Yes. You’ve lost completely, Mother."

[Assistant] "And to a powerless little girl…"

[User] "Indeed."

[Assistant] Dorothea sat down on the floor with a thud, allowing her sword to fall as she stared up at the nothingness above. She seemed at peace, as though freed from some madness.

[User] "So it’s over, then," Dole said, being the first noncombatant to step out of cover.


[User] “Yes, it would appear so.”

[Assistant] “But many soldiers lost their lives in the process.”

[User] “Indeed…”

[Assistant] I sprang to check on the knights and found them bloodied and hamstrung.

[User] “No. They’re all alive.” Dorothea muttered absently, shocking everyone.

[Assistant] “Dorothea?” I muttered, confused.

[User] “Why?”

[Assistant] “Rae Taylor, Claire François, Philine—the three of you have defeated me. I entrust the rest to you.”

[User] “What are you talking about?”

[Assistant] “Build up your forces. The demons will soon advance upon us.”

[User] Had Dorothea’s first defeat broken her mind?

[Assistant] “I’m sane. The demon spy I deliberately allowed to escape from this room earlier should have reported that I killed everyone.”

[User] “What?” Demons? What did she mean?

[Assistant] “Mother, please explain yourself from the beginning.”

[User] “There is no time. I’ve begun a war with the demons, and the ones to continue it will be you three.”

[Assistant] Would it kill you to explain yourself more?!

[User] “Fine. Then at least tell us the bare minimum.”

[Assistant] “How are we supposed to know what to do if you don’t?”

[User] “Humph… I trust that you’re aware that the Nur Empire is the front line between the human countries and the demon territories?”

[Assistant] “Of course.”

[User] “It was on that very front line that I…I met her.”

[Assistant] “Who?”

[User] Dorothea paled at my question.

[Assistant] “The ruler of the demons—the Demon Queen.”


[User] The Messenger returned.

[Assistant] Now is our chance. The world leaders have gathered in the Nur Empire and have been slaughtered by Dorothea.

[User] Indeed, this was a splendid chance. Perhaps even a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. For what, you might ask?

[Assistant] That much should be obvious. “To bring about the end of the world, of course.”


[User] I WAS CLEANING THE ROOM when I found a narrow box about a foot long that I had never seen before. I figured it had to be Claire’s, since it definitely wasn’t mine. "Miss Claire, what’s this?"

[Assistant] "Oh, that? That’s my whip."

[User] Her what?! I thought as she opened the box to reveal a somewhat short leather whip. It looked to be of rather fine make, perhaps even commissioned. "I didn’t know you were a queen, Miss Claire…"

[Assistant] "Sorry? Rae, I’m not nobility anymore, much less royalty. You know this."

[User] "No, I mean the…fetish kind of queen."

[Assistant] "The what?" She wore a look of absolute confusion.

[User] At this, I whispered into her ear what I meant.

[Assistant] "A-are you daft?! I have no such inclinations! This whip is for horse riding!" she exclaimed.

[User] "Ohhh, I see. From back when you were a noble." Huh? But I thought most of her possessions were seized after the revolution? I was about to ask Claire for clarification when she said, "It’s a memento. Do you see how short it is? That’s because it was mine as a child, back when Mother was teaching me how to ride." She sounded wistful, as though reliving an old memory. "I was told to discard anything nonessential, but I just couldn’t bring myself to part with this."

[Assistant] "Because it’s one of the few things you have to remind you of Miss Melia?"

[User] "Yes…"

[Assistant] Oh, jeez. I felt terrible for doing that whole fetish queen bit now. "I should have known."

[User] "You’re not a queen but a tsundere."

[Assistant] "I’ve heard you say that word quite a few times before, but just what does it mean?" she asked. Having finished her affectionate reminiscence with the whip, she carefully placed it back into the box. Oh dear. She’d only just been embarrassed by learning about queens, and she was already running headlong into more trouble. Did she not know that curiosity killed the cat? Or was her thirst for knowledge simply too great to care?

[User] "A tsundere is a person who normally treats their significant other coldly but fawns over them in private."

[Assistant] "How absurd!" she exclaimed, blushing. "Just what about me qualifies as a tsundere?!"

[User] "Well, there’s how you’re acting right now, for starters. You’re harsh now, but when we’re in bed—"

[Assistant] "Not. Another. Word." She didn’t let me finish, but you get the idea.

[User] "Goodness, such nonsense…" she muttered.

[Assistant] "But I really do love the tsundere side of you, Miss Claire."

[User] "E-enough…" she said, blushing from the straight ball I’d thrown right down the center.

[Assistant] "C’mon, Miss Claire. Show me more of your cold side again."

[User] "I-I will not!"

[Assistant] "Good, just like that!"

[User] "Wha—it’s not like I’m being cold toward you or anything!" She said the line, folks! What an angel!

[Assistant] "Sublime. Absolutely sublime."


[User] “Could you keep that cold treatment going for me a little while more?” I asked.

[Assistant] “Humph!” Claire turned away with a huff, but I could tell she wasn’t wholly displeased.

[User] Much as I welcomed the cold treatment, I could never in my wildest dreams have foreseen the effects it would go on to have. “Dinner will be ready soon, Master Dole. May, Aleah, you two get ready to eat as well.” It was evening a few days later, and Dole had come over to play with the twins, leaving me plenty of time to flirt with Claire before preparing dinner. Having mostly finished setting the table, I went over to the twins’ room to fetch the three of them. They appeared to be playing with wooden blocks, as a plethora of differently shaped pieces were scattered about on the floor. Dole, for some reason, was on the ground looking as though the world were ending. “M-Master Dole…?” I ventured.

[Assistant] “Rae…I don’t think I can live on anymore…” he murmured.

[User] I wondered what could possibly have caused the tears streaming down his gentlemanly face. “Is something the matter?”

[Assistant] “Observe, if you would.” He wiped his tears, forced a somewhat strained smile, and turned toward May and Aleah. “Oh, is that a castle? Very well done.” He praised the twins, as he often did. He would scold them when it was necessary, but praise was the far more common occurrence.

[User] “Something like this is nothing worth praising.”

[Assistant] “I-It’s not like I’m happy to be praised by Grandfather or anything!”

[User] Dole’s face stiffened. “That’s not true. You did very well, May. And Aleah, do you not like it when I praise you? I really do mean it, you know?”

[Assistant] “Humph!” They turned away.

[User] Dole fell to the ground again.

[Assistant] “Hey, now, you two. That kind of attitude isn’t okay.”

[User] “Huh? But why?”

[Assistant] “Mother Claire was doing it.”

[User] “Miss Claire was?” I asked. How strange. There’d been some discord between Claire and Dole once upon a time, but their relationship had improved since the revolution, hadn’t it? “Hmm… Well, let’s clean up and have dinner for now.”

[Assistant] “Humph!” May huffed.

[User] “I know to do that much without you telling me! I-It’s not like I’m doing it because you told me to or anything!”

[Assistant] There really was something up with these two. “Is something the matter, Rae? Father?”

[User] Claire showed up, likely wondering why we were taking so long. “Oh, Miss Claire,”

[Assistant] “Claire…” Dole groaned.

[User] “My, you two cleaned up so wonderfully.” Claire praised the twins just as Dole had moments ago. Like father, like daughter.

[Assistant] “Humph!” May huffed.

[User] “It’s not like I’m happy you praised me or anything!”

[Assistant] Claire looked at me and raised an eyebrow.

[User] I could only weakly shake my head.


[User] "Rae, did they…"

[Assistant] "I fear they did. They seem to have learned from your example."

[User] "Put that attitude to rest, you two." Dole said sternly.

[Assistant] "Why? Mama Claire was doing it."

[User] "And Mother Rae was happy about it."

[Assistant] "Sh-she…was?" Dole looked at me sharply, making me sweat.

[User] "That kind of conduct is for grown-ups, dears."

[Assistant] "Well, I want to be a grown-up as fast as I can!"

[User] "Indeed. And Mother Rae and Mother Claire are always telling us to become big girls."

[Assistant] "Those are different matters."

[User] "I’m hungry!"

[Assistant] "Me too!" The twins slipped past Claire and into the living room—after they had already cleaned up their toys, of course, those little angels.

[User] "Ah, wait just a moment!" Claire said to try to stop them.

[Assistant] "Oh dear…" I sighed.

[User] "What do we do, Rae?" she asked.

[Assistant] "Hmm… We’re just going to have to overwrite their behavior, I think."

[User] "What do you mean?"

[Assistant] "Let’s eat for now. We can discuss things later tonight."


[User] We managed to get through the day with no further disasters.

[Assistant] “I’m counting on you.” Dole looked us in the eyes and said, as though the fate of the world were on the line.

[User] That night, Claire and I had a strategy meeting.

[Assistant] "It’s morning, girls." Claire called. "Time to wake up."

[User] "Mhn… I’m still sleepy…"

[Assistant] "Five more minutes please…"

[User] On the morning of the next day, I opened the curtains as Claire tried to rouse the two sleepy, mumbling girls.

[Assistant] "They don’t seem to want to get up, sw…sweetheart. What should we do?"

[User] "Hmm… How about we let them sleep for just a bit more, my beloved?"

[Assistant] "Mh?" Still on their sides, the two girls opened their eyes, curious, and looked over.

[User] "Oh my, it would appear they’re awake now, h-honey."

[Assistant] "It would appear so, Miss Claire."


[User] "They must have noticed how much cuter than usual you are today."

[Assistant] "Mmmh?" The twins were now looking at us with great interest, as though something entirely new had appeared before them. As you’ve probably realized by now, this was the plan Claire and I had come up with, dubbed Operation Sweetheart. Children always craved new things, so what better way to change their behavior than by presenting them new behavior to imitate? Imitating such over-the-top sweetness would surely be good for them. By no means had I suggested this just so I could enjoy Claire fawning over me. No, never in a million years.

[User] "Mama Rae, Mama Claire, what’s going on?"

[Assistant] "You two are acting really nice to each other." Despite their young age, they knew when something was up. But that didn’t mean we could back down.

[User] "What are you saying?"

[Assistant] "Miss Claire and I are always this lovey-dovey."

[User] "Th-that’s right," Claire affirmed. "We’re always obviously madly in love with each other." I was completely fine spouting such words, but Claire was greatly embarrassed. It was absolutely lovely. Just a side benefit of this plan.

[Assistant] "C’mon, girls. It’s time to eat."

[User] "Rae made an absolutely wonderful breakfast for you two."

[Assistant] "Okay."

[User] "Yes, Mothers." The twins still looked suspicious, but they got out of bed regardless. I had a feeling our plan was going well.

[Assistant] "Open wide, Miss Claire."

[User] "O-okay…" We continued the plan throughout breakfast.

[Assistant] "Mm-hmm… The scent of Miss Claire…"

[User] "What do you think… O-oh, Rae, you silly goose…" And throughout laundry.

[Assistant] "Pardon me, honey. Could you move your angelic little feet out of the way for just a moment?"

[User] "You’re like a completely different… Er, y-yes, of course." And throughout the cleanup afterward.

[Assistant] "Aw, you’re both just so cute. You must take after Miss Claire!"

[User] "Isn’t this plan just Rae doing what she wants? N-no, that can’t be… It’s just a coincidence…surely." And even throughout playtime with the kids.


[Assistant] "It’s morning, girls."

[User] "Come get breakfast." A few days later, I came to wake the twins just as I would on any other day. I opened the curtains to let sunlight fill their room, finding the weather outside to be pleasant yet again.

[Assistant] "Mhn… Mama Rae?"

[User] "Is it morning already…?" The twins were awake.

[Assistant] "Good morning, you two." I said with a smile.

[User] "Morning… I love you, Mama Rae."

[Assistant] "Good morning…my dear Mother Rae." The two of them hugged me.

[User] "…Wuh? !" Whoa—I’d almost lost consciousness for a moment there. The girls always went to Claire for hugs instead of me, so the sheer shock of being hugged had entirely bowled me over.

[Assistant] "What’s wrong, Mama Rae?"

[User] "I want to hurry up and eat Mother Rae’s delicious, delicious breakfast."

[Assistant] I stared blankly down at the two. Whoa?! I almost lost consciousness again.


[User] "What’s taking so long? Breakfast is getting cold."

[Assistant] "Good morning, Mama Claire. I love you!"

[User] "You look beautiful yet again, Mother." Aleah said. The two turned their sweetness on Claire next, causing her to freeze in place.

[Assistant] I get it, I really do… And there you had it: We’d successfully brought an end to their cold attitudes, but at what cost? Despite normally being shy, the twins rained destruction on the neighborhood kids, knocking them all out with sweetness with no regard for gender. I feared we’d created two little forces to be reckoned with.

[User] "I love you, Grandpa!"

[Assistant] "Hold me, Grandfather!"

[User] Dole, who’d come by to play with the children again, wasn’t spared either. He fell to the ground once more but for different reasons this time.


[User] "YOU MUST BE JOKING!" My shout shook the room. It was already late in the evening. We were in my dorm room at the Royal Academy.

[Assistant] Ralaire cowered back on the desk, trying to make herself small.

[User] After being freed from prison, Rae gave me some unbelievable news. First off, she was no longer a student of the Academy but had been appointed to the Secret Service, reporting directly to King l’Ausseil. Lilly and I were to aid her. Though surprising, this made sense. I even felt a little proud of her—a commoner—for rising above her station. But I was galled to find out she was tasked with investigating nobles for corruption, including my own father. "My father, corrupt?! You must be out of your mind!" My father was the very embodiment of a perfect Bauer noble. He had dedicated his life to serving the kingdom as its Minister of Finance. I would not stand to hear his name sullied.

[Assistant] "Now, now, the king just has some doubts. Nothing is set in stone yet."

[User] But I did not believe King l’Ausseil to be thekind of man to act on mere doubts. He had to have some basis for suspecting my father. "The fact that His Majesty would doubt my father at all makes me doubt His Majesty’s sanity! Has the François family not always protected the kingdom’s treasury with the utmost honor?!" Ever since my vacation with Rae, I’d come to question the edifice of the nobility as a whole. I’d even done some investigating of my own and learned of some nobles who were likely corrupt. But my father could never be one such person… Right?

[Assistant] "M-Miss Claire, this might actually be a valuable opportunity." Lilly, who looked terrified of me, spoke up all the same. She had just happened to come by my room before Rae returned to make her report.

[User] "How so?"

[Assistant] "I-I also don’t want to believe my father is doing something corrupt. That’s why I think we should take this chance to prove our fathers’ innocence."

[User] Lilly was being optimistic about this, and rightfully so, as she had a point. But it was harder to prove the absence of guilt than it was to prove guilt. Investigating our fathers and procuring nothing to prove their innocence could ruin their standing and result in them being wrongfully punished. "Wh-what sort of corruption are our fathers suspected of?"

[Assistant] "I don’t know yet. His Majesty told me to speak to Rod."

[User] "Then let’s go see him already." I was eager to learn what manner of hogwash my father was suspected of.

[Assistant] "Not today; it’s already dark out. I’m sure you’ll both receive official instructions from the king tomorrow, so let’s wait until then."

[User] "...How vexing." I said. Rae was staying calm to balance out my loss of composure, it seemed. Or perhaps she was just always this calm.


[User] "And why have you dragged Cardinal Lilly into this, anyway?"

[Assistant] "Well, I thought that since we have to investigate Master Salas, we could use Miss Lilly’s help—"

[User] "You really don’t understand how dangerous this is, do you? Prying into the affairs of powerful people will make us equally powerful enemies." Investigating lesser nobles was dangerous enough, but my father and Salas were some of the highest-ranking nobles out there. If, by some minuscule chance, we found evidence of wrongdoing, it wasn’t out of the question that they might do unthinkable things to keep our mouths shut.

[Assistant] "I-I can use water magic. I’m sure I can help."

[User] "It’s not a question of whether you can help; it’s a matter of safety. Rae is only fine because she has me protecting her." I had high aptitude in fire magic. It would take a lot to get through me.

[Assistant] "B-but I’m worried!"

[User] "You have nothing to fear. All these suspicions will prove unfounded."

[Assistant] "I-I don’t know what Miss Claire will do to Rae if you two are alone!"

[User] "That’s what you’re worried about?!" And if anything, shouldn’t it be what Rae would do to me?!

[Assistant] "Huh? Are you going to do something to me, Miss Claire?"

[User] "I am not!"

[Assistant] "Why not?!"

[User] "Because why would I?!"

[Assistant] "Y-you don’t want to do anything to Rae?!" Lilly stammered.

[User] "Have you taken leave of your senses?!"

[Assistant] "Ugh, you exhaust me! Both of you!" It had been a while since we’d had such nonsensical banter. We’d been busy lately, after all. Ralaire, sensing the mood had lightened, seemed to grow cheerful once more.

[User] "I suppose it can’t be helped. I consent to Cardinal Lilly joining us, but please, be extremely careful."

[Assistant] "Y-yes, of course."

[User] "You too, Rae."

[Assistant] "Yes, ma’am." And that was where we decided to call it a night.


[User] The next day, we visited Rod in the Royal Palace first thing after classes.

[Assistant] "Oh, there you are." Rod’s room, as befitted a member of the royal family, was spacious and filled with tasteful, expensive furnishings in warm colors. My own room was nothing to scoff at, but it certainly wasn’t as grand as a prince’s. Lilly—having led a humble life at the church—seemed uncomfortable in the lavish room. Rae, on the other hand, appeared rather unimpressed.

[User] "I don’t care for small talk, so let’s get right to the point. Salas and Dole are embezzling." Rod said with certainty. He always spoke with utter confidence, but this particular matter was something I simply couldn’t agree with him on.

[Assistant] "Master Rod, you say this because you have definitive evidence, correct?" Remembering Catherine’s advice from the previous night, I questioned Rod calmly.

[User] "Nope. I’ve got nothing of the sort."

[Assistant] "N-nothing?" Lilly said in disbelief. I felt the same way. On what basis were they suspecting our fathers if they had no evidence of wrongdoing?

[User] "Well, kind of."


[User] "I don’t have any definitive evidence. But I do have loads of circumstantial evidence." Rod said, showing us documents with his findings so far. "Salas and Dole are both smart. They haven’t left a paper trail, and their underlings are the ones doing all the actual dirty work." The records showed that a significant amount of money tended to disappear around the two. The names of some nobles found to be involved were included, but there was nothing pointing directly at Salas or my father.

[Assistant] "Can’t you simply arrest the nobles named?" I said. Even now, I still believed my father was innocent.

[User] "They may be the ones getting their hands dirty, but they’re not the masterminds. It’d be like cutting off a lizard’s tail—it’d just grow back," Rod explained, "We learned that the hard way. Took in a batch, but more just popped up in their place." He looked at Rae with a hint of a challenge in his gaze.

[Assistant] "So, what’s the plan?"

[User] "As I discussed with His Majesty, I’ll start with the underlings you mentioned. May I have a copy of these materials?"

[Assistant] "I figured you would want some, so I had one made. Here." He rang a bell on the table, and a servant walked in carrying some papers.

[User] Rae took the papers, then turned to leave the room. "If you have no further business, we will be going now."

[Assistant] "Hold on, Rae Taylor." Rod said, using Rae’s full name for some reason.

[User] She looked back at him with a grimace. "...Yes?"

[Assistant] He hesitated, something uncharacteristic of him. "Oh, nothing. Just, well…there’s something I want to ask you while I have you here."

[User] "I’d rather you not. Rain check?"

[Assistant] "What? C’mon, it won’t take long."

[User] "I’m sorry, but I’d very much like to leave right this instant."

[Assistant] "You can leave when I’m done with you," he said. "Rae Taylor…would you do me the honor of marrying me?"

[User] Lilly, Rae, and I were all left frozen by the sheer absurdity of what he’d just said. Had Rod Bauer just proposed? To a commoner, of all people?

[Assistant] I fought to recover my senses, then politely questioned Rod. "Have you gone mad, Master Rod?!" …Now that I think about it, the inquiry might have been less polite than I would have liked.

[User] "A-are you suggesting a commoner marry into the royal family?!" Lilly asked.

[Assistant] "I am." Rod answered coolly.

[User] I looked over to see her deep in thought, face serious for once. I didn’t blame her. A member of the royal family had just proposed to her. It would be strange for her to not be bewildered. After some pondering, she said, "Just to confirm, this isn’t some kind of joke?"

[Assistant] "No. I’m serious."

[User] "You’re kidding me… Just what is it you like about me?"

[Assistant] "Your personality and…well, I guess how capable you are. I’ve actually had my eye on you from the start." Rod said.


[User] He looked like he was enjoying himself. In contrast, Rae wore a complicated, unreadable expression.

[Assistant] “I doubt I’ve done anything worth your attention.”

[User] “Are you kidding me? You’ve done so many crazy things. You prevented an attack on the Academy, cured Thane when he was poisoned, saved the Aurousseaus from execution, pulled a fast one on Manaria, and got rid of that ghost ship in Euclid.” He listed all of Rae’s accomplishments with great accuracy.

[Assistant] But he couldn’t have Rae. Because Rae belonged to…

[User] “I’m sorry, but almost all of those accomplishments belong to Miss Claire.”

[Assistant] “Is that true, Claire?”

[User] Hearing my name pulled me back to my senses. I suddenly became aware of how flustered I was—which only made me more flustered—but I managed to compose myself and reply, “Not at all. Everything was made possible through Rae’s efforts.”

[Assistant] “I see. Well, what really decided things for me was what happened with Yu.”

[User] “You resolved a complex problem the palace had been wrestling with for years.”

[Assistant] “But that accomplishment isn’t mine alone.”

[User] “Don’t be modest. I know full well you masterminded things.”

[Assistant] “I need someone like you at my side, not a dull noble lady who grew up coddled by a rich family.”

[User] “So, how about it? Wanna marry me?” He took a teasing tone, but his eyes were serious. His proposal was genuine.

[Assistant] “Yeah, no. Obviously, I decline.”

[User] “Wha—Rae? !”

[Assistant] I hadn’t thought for a moment that she might turn him down.

[User] No commoner had ever risen to become royalty before. This was an unparalleled honor. Her parents would surely be thrilled. How could she say no?

[Assistant] “Do you have any idea what you’re refusing? !”

[User] “I believe so. He proposed to me, right?”

[Assistant] “You could become the queen!”

[User] “Yeaaah, but I don’t want to become the queen.” She spoke with her usual indifference, like she had merely refused a request to help with someone’s schoolwork.

[Assistant] “But it would be an honor beyond your wildest dreams!”

[User] “Nah, it wouldn’t be an honor for me.”

[Assistant] “Why? !”

[User] “Because I like you, Miss Claire.” What utter nonsense.


[User] I understood well enough she had feelings for me, but marriage and love were two completely separate things. Marriage was a union of two households. Personal interests had no place in the matter.

[Assistant] “Ha ha ha! That’s right! I should’ve known that’s what you’d say!” Rod slammed the desk, laughing. “Claire, it seems Rae values being with you over marrying royalty.” He looked thoroughly entertained, despite having his marriage proposal declined.

[User] I paled and tried to walk things back before Rae’s opportunity was gone for good. “Please forgive her insolence. She’s just confused by the suddenness of it all. I am sure that once she’s calmed down and thought things through, she will see things differently.”

[Assistant] “No, I’m perfectly calm—”

[User] “I beg you, be silent for just one moment,” I interrupted. Rae genuinely hadn’t a single clue how important this was. This wasn’t remotely similar to two commoners marrying out of love. If it ever got out that she’d rejected a prince, the myriad nobles who were trying to marry their daughters into the royal family would throw a fit. She was basically painting a target on her back. Even if Rod himself wasn’t offended, others would consider her refusal a blatant insult to the royal family. As wise as he was, Rod was likely ready to suppress such sentiments, but he couldn’t do anything to prevent people covertly making moves—or even assassination attempts on her! Rae’s best option was to accept Rod’s proposal and be under his direct protection. I asked, “Master Rod, please do not withdraw your proposal just yet.”

[Assistant] “Of course. No matter what Rae thinks, my feelings won’t change.”

[User] “Thank you very much. Please, let’s continue this another time.”

[Assistant] “Sure thing.”

[User] “It’s time to go! Rae, Cardinal Lilly.” I grabbed Rae and Lilly and pulled them out of Rod’s room.

[Assistant] “Wha, hey, Miss Claire!” Rae looked at me like she had something to say, but I shut her up with a glare.


[User] I didn’t speak again until we’d bid Lilly farewell and were taking the carriage home. “Rae… You took your joke too far,” I sternly chided.

[Assistant] “What joke?”

[User] “You know what joke! I’m talking about how you turned down Master Rod’s proposal!” My words came out inadvertently harsh as my frustration mounted.

[Assistant] “But I mean…come on. I can’t marry someone I’m not interested in.”

[User] “Marriage is about more than your interests! If you were to marry into the royal family, imagine how happy it would make your parents…” If she married into royalty, her parents would receive a dowry—and likely even more money, under other pretexts. But even setting money aside, the sheer honor of their daughter becoming royalty should be reason enough. They would be the proudest parents in the world.

[Assistant] “I can’t say for certain, but I think my parents would respect my decision,” Rae said nonchalantly.

[User] But that wasn’t the issue. She really just didn’t understand a thing. “I’m sure they would. Your parents are wonderful.


[User] "But are you content to let them spoil you so? Don’t you want to make them happy?"

[Assistant] "Well…" Rae wasn’t thinking about what marriage truly entailed, in the broad sense. She wasn’t the only one being affected here. By rejecting a proposal from a prince, she might as well be saying she did not wish for her parents’ happiness. "But, Miss Claire…I only want to marry you." I could tell she was being genuine.

[User] Part of me reeled at her declaration, but I fought to keep my calm. "Rae, listen carefully." I made my tone firm to drive my point home. "I understand you are in love with me. I think it wonderful, even. But marriage is about more than just love."

[Assistant] "It’s not."

[User] "It is. Love may be indulged to a certain degree, but individual desires are irrelevant to marriage."

[Assistant] "Miss Claire…"

[User] "You must accept Rod’s proposal. Being married would not obligate you to break ties with me. On the contrary, if you were to become royalty, our relationship might even—"

[Assistant] "Miss Claire!" Rae raised her voice, making me stop short. This might have been the first time she’d ever interrupted me in such a way. "To me, marriage is just as—no, even more—intimate than love."

[User] "Rae…"

[Assistant] "No matter what you say, I have no intention of marrying anyone other than you." As she said those words, looking directly into my eyes, I allowed myself to imagine what life with her would be like for a moment. The two of us would live on our own. Occasionally Catherine, Misha, and Lene would pay us a visit. We’d go shopping with Pepi and Loretta, and Lilly would show up every so often to poke her nose in our affairs. I would reluctantly tolerate her, even allow her to be Rae’s lover on the side, and…wait, no. What was I thinking? Did I really think things could turn out that conveniently? I couldn’t avert my gaze from reality. My values and Rae’s differed greatly. Marriage had proved to be a more personal matter for commoners than I expected—I would concede that much. But I was sure, given enough time and the proper scrutiny, that she would eventually come to see my perspective was correct. "Rae, think about it carefully. We’re both women. We can never marry one another."

[User] "Then I will never marry. Simple as that."

[Assistant] "Even if I marry someone else?"

[User] "…Even if you marry someone else." I was a lady of House François. No matter how I felt about Rae, I would one day enter into a political marriage with another high-ranking noble. I didn’t think that strange or unreasonable—it was simply what marriage existed to do. Rae said she was fine with that, and yet she had no interest in marrying royalty. "I thought I was finally starting to understand you."

[Assistant] "Thank you very much."

[User] "But now, I realize how much I truly don’t." I saw her flinch in pain at my words.


[User] "What happened then? Did you make up with Rae?"

[Assistant] "Well…in a way." It was the night of the day we paid a visit to the Thompson estate. Rae went back to her room upon our return to the Academy, while I went to mine and chatted with Catherine before bed. Catherine was already under the blankets, but I, not quite ready for bed yet, sat in front of the dresser. "Perhaps it’d be more accurate to say we tabled the issue instead of making up…"

[User] "I don’t see anything wrong with that." Catherine said with her usual sleepy drawl. "Some things can only be fixed with time. Oh, could you grab me a candy?"

[Assistant] "There you go acting wise again… Make sure you brush your teeth later, okay?"

[User] "Okaaay."


[User] I reached into the candy pot on Catherine’s desk and took out a piece, something I was long used to doing by now.

[Assistant] “You’ve gone through these quite quickly. There are only three left.”

[User] “I can’t help it, they’re too yummy. I thought I took my time savoring them, though.” I handed her the piece of candy, which she received with a brimming smile before tossing it into her mouth. I then climbed into my own bed.

[Assistant] “I’m sure things will be fine between you and Rae.”

[User] “…Really?”

[Assistant] “Really. So let’s just put that issue aside for now. How’d investigating corrupt nobles go?”

[User] “…About as you’d expect. Baron Thompson was guilty.” Rae had looked through House Thompson’s ledger and found a number of inconsistencies when she compared it against the documents Rod provided. Thompson wound up admitting his guilt. Rae offered him a plea bargain in exchange for information, and we learned of House Yale’s involvement. I’d been positively taken aback to see Rae being so cutthroat. She did do a strange impression of a character from some story named “Mito Komon” that I’d never heard of, but she ended up explaining herself afterward... Though in retrospect, I found myself wondering what that had all been about.

[Assistant] “Oh, I see, I see. And then?”

[User] “And then nothing. That’s it.”

[Assistant] “Oh, Claire… How long do you think we’ve known each other? I can tell when you’re trying to hide something from me.”

[User] “…Hmph.”

[Assistant] “What else happened?”

[User] “We…learned some disturbing news.” I’d originally intended to tell her the moment I returned but, the news being what it was, had hesitated until now. “The documents we confiscated from Baron Thompson included a passage regarding House Achard.”

[Assistant] “I…see. What’d it say?” Her tone remained the same, but there was a slight tremble to it.

[User] I hesitated to continue. But it had to be said. She was a noble; it was her duty to know her family’s wrongdoings. “Catherine… We have reason to believe Marquess Achard is running a human trafficking ring with Baron Barlier.” No reply came from the bed above mine, only a heavy silence.

[Assistant] What Baron Thompson had was a letter from Patrice Barlier, Pepi’s father, asking that they reduce the volume of their trafficking. There was mention of Kristoff supporting the decision. Of course, this alone wouldn’t be enough to incriminate Clément, Catherine’s father. He could easily just hang Patrice out to dry and slither away scot-free. But there was no denying that there was a significant amount of circumstantial evidence.

[User] “Will my father be…arrested?”

[Assistant] “Human trafficking is a grave crime. He must be punished. I’ll…see to it that he is punished.”

[User] “…I see.” I heard her roll over in her bed.

[Assistant] “Catherine, did you know?” I felt ashamed to even ask such a question.

[User] “No, not at all. But my brother Kristoff knew, huh?


[User] "It seems only I was left out.”

[Assistant] “You have my sympathies.”

[User] “Thank you.” There was nothing I could say to offer any real encouragement. Not given her family circumstances. “I’ll try my hardest to have your punishment reduced as much as possible."

[Assistant] “Nah. It’s fine.”

[User] “It’s not fine! You haven’t done anything wrong!”

[Assistant] “Well…I wouldn’t say that.” She said in a sudden, self-deprecating tone.

[User] “…Catherine?” Worried, I got off my bed and climbed up to look at her. She had her back turned to me, though, so I couldn’t see her face. “Don’t tell me you had a hand in the human trafficking after all?”

[Assistant] “No, no. I’m not involved in that. But…I may have done something worse, in a certain sense.”

[User] “…Like what?” I questioned.

[Assistant] She rolled back over, showing me a face that bore no resemblance to her usual nonchalant mien. “…Catherine, you look awful.”

[User] “Aha ha ha. I had a feeling.”

[Assistant] “You’re as pale as a sheet.”

[User] “Hey, Claire?” Her tone was as light as ever, but it was clear she was forcing herself. Her face was pale, and her gaze wandered restlessly. What could have made her so unsettled?

[Assistant] “Yes, Catherine?”

[User] “Do you have anything you wish you could go back in time and redo?”

[Assistant] “…Where’d that come from?” I questioned her intent.

[User] “Come on, just tell me.”

[Assistant] “…Of course I do. Many things.”

[User] “What do you wish you could redo the most?”

[Assistant] “Hmph. I’d rather you not ask questions you already know the answer to, Catherine.”

[User] “Right… So it’s that after all.”

[Assistant] “You know, there’s something I wish I could redo as well.”

[User] “What’s that, then?” The fact that my mother passed away before I could make up with her haunted me more than anything.

[Assistant] “It’s a secret for now. I’ll tell you one of these days.”

[User] “…Is that so?” Why had she brought this up now of all times? What guilt was she carrying with her, and what was it she so wanted to redo?

[Assistant] “It looks like it’s time for my father, my brother…and I to be held accountable for what we’ve done.”

[User] “Catherine…”

[Assistant] “Don’t hold back in your investigation, Claire. And don’t bother trying to get me a reduced sentence either. Just see to it that justice is served.”

[User] “…All right.” I could do nothing but nod along to what she asked. She looked tormented with grief. I felt as though she would crumble before my very eyes if I answered differently at all. She and I had known each other long enough to be as close as sisters, and yet I’d never seen this side of her before. I wasn’t being entirely truthful, however. She’d asked me to forget about trying to help her, and though I said I would, that was something I could never ever do.

[Assistant] “Thaaanks, Claire.” She rolled back over and began to breathe softly, as though asleep. She seemed back to her usual self, sleepy drawl and all.


[User] Claire returns to her bed and began to think.

[Assistant] "Hey, Catherine?" Claire says.

[User] "I don’t know what burden it is that you carry, but is it not a burden I can help you shoulder?"

[Assistant] "Happiness shared is doubled, and burdens are halved when shouldered together. That’s something Rae told me. Won’t you let me shoulder your burdens with you?"

[User] "Catherine…I think of you…as…a real sister…" Claire felt her consciousness slowly fade.

[Assistant] "I’ll let Rae be the one to take my place. I…have no right to stay with you."


[User] Rae and Claire were at the palace, in an office provided to them for the investigation as Claire stroked Ralaire’s head as she organized my thoughts.

[Assistant] "What’s the plan, Miss Claire? Personally, I feel like we have enough circumstantial evidence to corner him as is." Rae said from next to Claire.

[User] "No, it’s not enough. If we don’t guarantee Marquess Achard is arrested as well, he’ll just shift the blame and rebuild." Claire shakes her head.

[Assistant] "B-but it’ll be difficult to find any more evidence than we already have." Lilly said.

[User] "Let’s visit House Barlier." Claire suggests.

[Assistant] "H-huh?"

[User] "That’s Lady Pepi’s household, right?" Rae chimed in.


[User] "Their territory is where the trafficking took place."

[Assistant] "O-oh, right. Th-then we’re going to arrest Baron Barlier?"

[User] "No, not yet."

[Assistant] "Why not?"

[User] "Baron Barlier is too close to Marquess Achard. If we arrest Baron Barlier, Marquess Achard will just pin everything on him and get away scot-free."

[Assistant] "H-how troubling…" Clément was thorough. There was no doubt he’d already laid the groundwork he needed to shift the blame.

[User] "Then why bother visiting House Barlier?"

[Assistant] "We may not be able to arrest him, but we can arrange for the Baron to cooperate in secret by negotiating a plea deal like Rae did before."

[User] "I-I see!" Baron Patrice Barlier was close to Clément, so he was likely to have useful information for us—especially since his territory was the one being used for the human trafficking. If we offered him a reduced sentence in exchange for evidence on Clément, we might find the last piece we needed to bring this all to a close.

[Assistant] "But…are you sure about this, Miss Claire?"

[User] "Why wouldn’t I be?"

[Assistant] "House Barlier is the house of your friend, Lady Pepi."

[User] "…And what does that have to do with anything?"

[Assistant] "Even if House Barlier’s punishment can be reduced with a plea bargain, human trafficking is a serious crime. There will be no avoiding them losing their title, at the very least." In other words, she was asking if I could remain committed to justice even if it meant losing a dear friend.

[User] "You don’t think I already understand that?"

[Assistant] "…So you’re prepared for whatever may come?"

[User] "I am. It’s true that Pepi may come to hate me…but she is a noble of the house of Bauer too. She will accept her fate. I have faith in the strength of her character." She might resent me, of course. But even so, I had to do what I had to do. If I faltered here, how could I ever hope to convict my own father?

[Assistant] "I-I don’t understand…"

[User] "H-how can you be so righteous, even if it means ruining your own friend?" I was confused by her question. Was being righteous not the obvious choice?

[Assistant] "I think what Miss Lilly is trying to ask is how you can be so strict…especially when your position would allow you to be lenient if you so wished."

[User] "Showing favoritism would make us no different from the very corrupt nobles we pursue."

[Assistant] "If I am to believe myself righteous, then I must be impartial."

[User] "…E-even if that means you’ll have to convict your own father?" I hesitated for a moment before answering.

[Assistant] "…Even then." At this point in our investigation, it was almost certain that Salas and my father were corrupt. Lilly seemed to be on the fence regarding whether or not she should proceed, though. Did she have what it took to arrest her own father?


[User] "Cardinal Lilly, if this is too much, you’re free to step away from the investigation." I said. She averted her gaze. "You’ve already done more than enough. Nobody will blame you if you want to leave the rest to Rae and me." I could see hesitation on her face. For a moment, I thought she might actually pull out.

[Assistant] "N-no, it’s okay. I want to see this through to the end." She shook her head, as though to banish her own doubts, and firmly said.

[User] "Are you sure? You’re not a noble. You have no obligation to—"

[Assistant] "I-I am a woman of the cloth." She interrupted. "My faith teaches one to live righteously and morally. J-just as nobles are bound by their code of honor, men and women of faith must live in a way that upholds their faith’s teachings. B-besides, I may not be a noble, but my father is. H-he had a duty to act justly. A-and as he has failed to do that, the duty now falls upon me to stop him."

[User] "Cardinal Lilly…"

[Assistant] Ralaire nuzzled up against Lilly’s hand to soothe her.

[User] Lilly’s stiff expression eased. "Th-the Spirit God sees all. Finding evidence of my own father’s crimes is a trial God has given me, and I intend to see it through, for all wrongdoing must be judged."

[Assistant] "Very well. Then let us work together until the end." There was no hesitation in her now. Lilly was by no means a strong-willed woman, but she was honest and just. She might be my rival in love where Rae was concerned, but I could respect her.

[User] "Rae, compile the evidence we have for me. Once you’re done, we’ll head for the Barlier estate."

[Assistant] "Yes, ma’am."

[User] I would be lying if I said it didn’t hurt. I would rather not have done this, if possible. But I was a noble, and this was my duty. Pepi…I won’t ask you to forgive me. But please understand, this is something I must do. I reflected on my mother’s words: Be a noble who can make ideals into reality. Oh, how painful it was to put her words into practice.


[Assistant] "Do you have anything to say for yourself, Baron Barlier?" Rae, Lilly, and I were at the Barlier estate, sitting across from Baron Patrice Barlier in the parlor. We’d shown him our evidence of his human trafficking, and now he stared at his feet, speechless.

[User] "Can we take your silence as an admission of guilt? I see no chance you could argue your innocence at this point."

[Assistant] "W-we’re prepared to lessen your punishment if you cooperate. Please come clean and work with us."

[User] "Though they say silence is golden…I do not think that applies here, and I’m sure you’re aware of that yourself." Rae and Lilly played carrot and stick. Most nobles would fold at this point, but Patrice remained silent. He remained silent.


[User] “We have evidence the human trafficking was done within your territory. As things stand, you’ll be taking all the blame.”

[Assistant] “You don’t want that, do you? If you don’t lessen the punishment, your wife and Lady Pepi—”

[User] “There’s nothing I can say to defend myself.” He flatly interrupted.

[Assistant] “Pardon?”

[User] “I admit my crimes. But I planned it all alone. I’m willing to accept whatever punishment awaits.” He kept his head bowed so we couldn’t see his expression. His voice, while weak, showed he was resigned to his fate.

[Assistant] “Even if Pepi and your wife are punished alongside you?”

[User] “It pains me to see them dragged into this, but yes. I’ll likely be executed, and House Barlier ruined.”

[Assistant] “Yes, that is the most probable outcome.”

[User] “They will likely experience much hardship…but this way is for the best.” His voice had a tremble to it. He was well known for being a cowardly man, so the knowledge that the long Barlier line would come to an end, coupled with his impending execution, undoubtedly shook him. And yet, he was obstinately refusing to give up any information on his collaborator.

[Assistant] I was at a loss as to what to do. Then suddenly, the door swung violently open.

[User] “Father!” Pepi appeared. She seemed furious, probably because she’d been eavesdropping on our conversation. The room should have been soundproofed, though. How could she have heard us? No—I suppose that didn’t matter right then. She stormed up to her father, then grabbed him by the shoulders. “Just tell them, Father! Tell them everything! Tell them it was Marquess Achard who told you to do everything!”

[Assistant] “That’s enough, Pepi.” Even with his daughter shouting at him, Patrice kept his head down.

[User] “This isn’t right! Why do you have to bear all the blame alone?! They said they’ll reduce your sentence if you cooperate, didn’t they?! Then why not just tell them ev—”

[Assistant] “I said that’s enough!” He raised his voice, interrupting his daughter. “I have nothing to tell them. Let me bear the blame alone.”

[User] “Father…but why?”

[Assistant] “Lady Claire, thank you for being a good friend to my daughter. It is a shame things had to end this way.”

[User] “Baron Barlier…are you truly fine with this?”

[Assistant] “I am.” He lifted his head, revealing the face of a man who had made up his mind.

[User] “Father…Father, you fool!” Pepi fell to her knees in tears. The sight was difficult to endure, but it was my duty to do so. Patrice had made up his mind and would not budge. We had no choice but to give up on collecting evidence against Clément and instead arrest Patrice.

[Assistant] “Don’t be too harsh on him, Lady Pepi. Your father is keeping his mouth shut for you and your mother’s sake,” a soft voice suddenly said. I looked toward the doorway. "Master Kristoff?"

[User] “Hello, Lady Claire. Mind holding off on the arrest a bit?


[User] “I’ll explain what’s going on.” Kristoff was holding on to a servant.

[Assistant] Sensing something was up, Rae took over restraining the man for Kristoff.

[User] Kristoff then walked unhurriedly over to Pepi, lifting her up and setting her gently next to her father.

[Assistant] “What do you mean, Master Kristoff? Is my father being threatened?”

[User] “Indeed he is, and by none other than my very own father Clément. He’s threatened to hurt you and your mother if your father doesn’t obey him.”

[Assistant] Pepi’s eyes went wide with shock. She looked at her father, next to her, and he hung his head once more, trembling slightly.

[User] “It makes sense when you really think about it, doesn’t it? I mean, why else would a man famous for his timidness partake in such a grand crime?”

[Assistant] “I did think it was strange,”

[User] “There was certainly no reason for him to take such a risk.”

[Assistant] “It’s all part of my father’s schemes. Baron Barlier shoulders all the risk while my father reaps all the rewards. Despicable, really. I’m ashamed I’m even related to him.” Kristoff’s tone and expression were soft, but his words were scathing.

[User] “That servant there works for my father. He’s been ordered to kill Pepi and Madam Barlier in the event Baron Barlier sells my father out.”

[Assistant] “I can’t believe it…”

[User] “It’s the truth. Your father wouldn’t be so tight-lipped, otherwise.”

[Assistant] I did think such underhanded actions seemed like something Clément might do.

[User] “Your father is really a wonderful man, Lady Pepi,”

[Assistant] “He tried his hardest to lessen the number of people being trafficked, despite his family being held hostage. He and I even worked to secretly release people.”

[User] “He did…?”

[Assistant] “Indeed, but that’s not all. Baron Barlier did all he could to put a stop to my father. The newspaper article on human trafficking that surfaced was his doing. Isn’t that right, sir? Your father is by no means a bad man. Please, be proud of him.”

[User] Pepi looked up at her father with questioning eyes.

[Assistant] “Pepi…I’m sorry for not telling you a thing until now.” He finally broke his silence and said,

[User] “F-Father…” She clung to him and broke down in tears, this time out of the relief of knowing her father was innocent.

[Assistant] “Is it all right for you to be saying all this, Master Kristoff? You’ve essentially confessed your own involvement in the crimes,”

[User] “It’s fine. It’s high time my father paid the piper. If anything, I wish I could’ve come clean sooner.”

[Assistant] “Thank you for your cooperation, Master Kristoff,”

[User] “Not at all. I’m sorry for all the trouble we’ve caused you. Baron Barlier…could you do the honors?”

[Assistant] “Yes, of course.” Patrice gently peeled Pepi off him and stood up to leave the room.


[User] "I have here proof that Marquess Achard had a hand in the human trafficking, as well as the records of the deals." He soon returned clutching a bundle of papers.

[Assistant] “Not even my father can talk his way out of punishment with that evidence.”

[User] “I prepared this in the hope that a day like this would come. I entrust this to you, Lady Claire.”

[Assistant] “Thank you. I swear I’ll see to it that Marquess Achard meets his comeuppance.” I accepted the documents from him. They recorded every act of human trafficking that had been committed in excruciating detail.

[User] “My father is a poor judge of character, it seems. To think he’d try and frame Baron Barlier, of all people.”

[Assistant] “Indeed. He should have known cowards like me always make preparations for the what-ifs.”

[User] “A real coward wouldn’t have shown the courage you have.”

[Assistant] “Ah, well. I suppose people can be full of surprises.”

[User] “Thank you for all your help, Baron Barlier, Master Kristoff. I do believe this will be enough to corner Marquess Achard. Rae, Cardinal Lilly, it seems this is finally checkmate.”

[Assistant] “Indeed. Let’s give it our best, Miss Claire.”

[User] “Y-yeah!”


[Assistant] “It has been decided that Marquess Achard will be apprehended tomorrow at the music festival.”

[User] “I see… So the time has finally come for my father to pay for his crimes.”


[Assistant] I was talking to Catherine before bed for what could very well be the last time. It was the night before the national music festival.

[User] Clément seemed to know we’d visited the Barlier estate, as he’d been making himself scarce ever since. Not even his son, Kristoff, knew where he was, but odds were high he was destroying as much evidence and preparing to shift whatever blame he could. He was the organizer of the music festival, though, so he had an obligation to show. We were planning to catch him tomorrow and indict him.

[Assistant] “Be careful, though, Claire. My father isn’t someone who would go down without a fight.”

[User] “I’m aware.”

[Assistant] Catherine gave me a soft smile, making me shift uncomfortably.

[User] Tomorrow, if we arrested Clément, House Achard would be done for. Catherine would be without a home. How could she smile despite knowing that?

[Assistant] “You don’t need to force yourself to smile, Catherine.”

[User] “What do you mean?”

[Assistant] “No matter what face you make, my resolve won’t waver. So please, stop forcing yourself to smile.”

[User] “Aha ha ha… You saw right through me. There’s really no tricking you, huh?” Despite her words, her expression remained unchanged.

[Assistant] “Catherine…what if you became a child of House François?”

[User] “What? Claire, you must be joking. You know that would never happen.” She laughed.

[Assistant] But I was serious. “Adoption is an option for us. Being a child of House Achard is enough pedigree to warrant it.”

[User] “Perhaps, but Master Dole would never agree to it."


[User] "He’s famous for showing no mercy to his enemies.” That was true. My dad was well known to never forgive someone who made an enemy of him. That was one of the reasons why he was so feared. But I wouldn’t give up just because of that. “I’ll convince him.”

[Assistant] "How?"

[User] "I just will. Whatever it takes.”

[Assistant] “It’s impossible, Claire. It would stain the François name if the fact he took pity on the daughter of a criminal and a political enemy got out.”

[User] “I wouldn’t be so sure. People might think him rather compassion—”

[Assistant] “Claire.” Catherine gently but firmly interrupted me as I continued to try to argue. “Don’t fill your head with unnecessary things. Just focus on making sure you corner my father tomorrow, okay?”

[User] “…Okay.” I agreed out loud, but internally, I hadn’t given up on helping her in the slightest. I tried to think how I could save her. If she couldn’t live on as a noble, then maybe she could as a commoner, or a nun in a convent?

[Assistant] “Hey, Claire?”

[User] “Yes, Catherine?”

[Assistant] “Just how long have we known each other again?”

[User] “I’d say it’s been about ten years already now.”

[Assistant] “I see… It feels like it’s been both forever and only a brief moment.”

[User] I didn’t like how she used the past tense there. “We’re just getting started. I wouldn’t dare leave someone as troublesome as you alone.”

[Assistant] “Says you. I’m pretty sure you’re the real troublemaker here.”

[User] “Oh, you’ve said it now!” I began tickling her.

[Assistant] “Ack, uncle, uncle! Claire, stop it!”

[User] “Good grief…” After some goofing around, a sudden silence formed. Silence wasn’t particularly uncomfortable for us, given how close we were, but something about it didn’t sit right with me now. Feeling restless, I began thinking of something to say, but she broke the silence before I could. “Claire, could you grab me a candy?”

[Assistant] “This late, again? I’m surprised you haven’t developed cavities by now…”

[User] “Ehe heh.”

[Assistant] “Hold on, I’ll fetch you one.”

[User] “Grab one for yourself too.”

[Assistant] “I’m all right.”

[User] “Please. I want to share my candy with you. This might be our last chance to.”

[Assistant] “…Catherine.” I wanted to insist otherwise, but I swallowed my words. I reached into the candy pot on her desk and took out two pieces, giving one to her and putting the other in my own mouth. I immediately tasted the unique flavor of licorice. “Now there’s only one piece left.”

[User] “Looks like it.”

[Assistant] “If you remain on your best behavior tomorrow, I’ll buy you some more, Catherine.”

[User] “And if I don’t?”

[Assistant] “Then I’ll eat the last piece myself.”

[User] “Oh dear, I wouldn’t want that. I guess I’ll just have to behave.”

[Assistant] “Indeed.” The candy’s flavor wasn’t quite to my liking, but I did enjoy making small talk with her. There was a knock at our door. “It’s me.”

[User] “Emma? What brings you here at this time of night?” I asked.

[Assistant] “Oh, I called for her. For tomorrow,” Catherine said. “Tomorrow?


[User] "What do you—”

[Assistant] "Emma, go ahead and come in." Catherine interrupted.

[User] "Pardon my intrusion." Emma entered, still in her servant uniform.

[Assistant] "I don’t want you to worry about me, Claire. But please, look after Emma once I’m gone."

[User] "There you go aga—”

[Assistant] "Please." Her face was serious for once, her usual lazy look nowhere to be found.

[User] I couldn’t say no to such a face, and she likely knew that too. I sighed and said, “…Fine. I’ll help her look for work once—”

[Assistant] "I’m afraid I’ll have to refuse." Emma sternly said to Catherine.

[User] "Emma…?"

[Assistant] "There is only one master I will ever serve, and it is you, Lady Catherine." Her somber, unyielding expression did not shift as she pledged her loyalty.

[User] "Emma… I appreciate the sentiment, but come tomorrow, I won’t be able to keep you in my employ."

[Assistant] "It matters not. I do not need pay to serve you."

[User] "Oh, Emma… That can’t be true. Please, try to understand…"

[Assistant] "I refuse, my lady."

[User] Seeing Emma not budge an inch, Catherine looked to me for help.

[Assistant] "Tell me, Emma, why are you so fixated on serving Catherine?"

[User] "Because if she hadn’t taken me in, I would have long since died a dog’s death. I owe my life to my lady."

[Assistant] I couldn’t help but giggle. "Oh dear, I’m not so sure what to say, Catherine."

[User] "Don’t just laugh! Help me convince her." Catherine pleaded.

[Assistant] "I’m afraid I cannot be swayed on this matter."

[User] "Emmaaaa…" Catherine groaned.

[Assistant] The sight of her so stumped made me continue to laugh. "Come on, Catherine. Stop being so stubborn. Let’s think of a way we can stay together past tomorrow. Okay?"

[User] "Claire…"

[Assistant] "You have a friend and a loyal servant by your side. Please, lean on the two of us."

[User] She sighed. "The two of you can be so obstinate, really." Raising her arms in surrender, she stared up at the ceiling. She seemed happy, though. There was a mountain of problems that needed to be cleared up, but I felt as though, somehow, everything would be okay.


[User] "Allow me to apologize for ruining what should be such a wonderful opportunity for you two." I bowed apologetically to Pepi and Loretta, who were dressed for their performance.

[Assistant] The two frantically shook their heads. "Please raise your head, Miss Claire!"

[User] "Please! It’s true the music festival will be ruined, but we will have other chances to make names for ourselves."

[Assistant] Lifting my head, I saw they both looked resolute. They’d been so weak-willed when I first got to know them. They really had changed greatly since then. "This is all Master Clément’s fault, anyway."

[User] "Yeah! You didn’t do anything wrong, Miss Claire."

[Assistant] "Thank you. And I appreciate your help."

[User] "For the time being, I want you two to focus entirely on your performance."

[Assistant] "We will!"

[User] "We’ll make it a good one!"


[Assistant] The Royal Academy concert hall was filled to the brim, mostly with nobility invited from various countries. They listened raptly as the musicians performed, none the wiser to the chaos that would shortly ensue.

[User] "Lady Loretta and Lady Pepi will be up soon, Miss Claire." Rae said, her eyes on the schedule.

[Assistant] "I know."

[User] "I-I hope they can focus on their performance." Lilly said with worry.

[Assistant] "I’m sure they’ll be just fine." I soothed. I kept a watchful eye on the concert hall but couldn’t help but feel a sense of foreboding… There are too many soldiers present. There must be private troops belonging to House Achard among them. What are you plotting, Clément?

[User] Pepi and Loretta took the stage. I remembered Pepi telling me it was her dream to play violin at a concert with Loretta accompanying her on the piano. It seemed her long-held dream was finally coming true, here and now.

[Assistant] Pepi readied her violin and smiled at Loretta. Loretta took her place at the piano and signaled to Pepi that she was ready. Together, they began to play.

[User] Pepi, Loretta… You’re both so wonderful.


[User] A number of people in the audience took out handkerchiefs to wipe their tears. The two were simply that moving. Their performance would likely last for around ten minutes, the standard for a violin-piano piece. But as everyone listened, the same thought was shared: More, more. Please don’t let this performance end. Eventually, however, it had to cease. When the last note faded into silence, the concert hall erupted into applause. “Bravo!” “May these new prodigies be blessed!” “That was a wonderful performance! Good show!” The audience showered them with praise as they left the stage.

[Assistant] I clapped hard enough for my hands to sting.

[User] “I don’t know much about music, but I can tell Lady Pepi and Lady Loretta are incredible.”

[Assistant] “Y-yeah.”

[User] “Of course they’re incredible. They’re dear friends of the Claire François, after all.”


[Assistant] Things continued on until only the award ceremony was left. All the musicians who’d performed gathered on stage for the audience to applaud them. King l’Ausseil and Thane could be seen watching from the upper gallery.

[User] “And now, a word from the organizer of this event, Clément Achard.”

[Assistant] I shared a look with Rae and Lilly, and the two nodded back at me. I turned my attention to the stage and focused.

[User] A spotlight shone down as an elderly gentleman appeared from the wings, leaning on a cane. “It has been an honor to once again organize the prestigious Bauer Music Festival for His Majesty. We have been joined by many splendid performers this year, and I would like to take this opportunity to…”

[Assistant] There was no doubting that sonorous voice belonged to Clément. This should be enough. The man on stage couldn’t possibly be a double.

[User] “…and with this, I conclude my address. Thank you for listening. And now for the awards.”

[Assistant] “I object!” A shout came from the same stage Clément stood on. “A man who threatened and tried to pin his crimes on my father, Patrice Barlier, has no right to hand out awards at our honorable music festival!” Her accusation echoed throughout the whole concert hall.

[User] “Oh, you’re that Barlier girl… How foolish. What is this nonsense you speak of?”

[Assistant] “What she’s saying is true!” I stood up and raised my voice as well before he could begin making excuses.

[User] He took one look at me and clicked his tongue in irritation, glaring. “You as well, young lady of House François? Oh, how far the noble houses of Bauer have fallen."