"Is that... is that really true...?!"

Isella looked as if she might faint after hearing the story from Luca, Bella, and Ottbo.

"Ottbo. You said there's a chance it might not be true, right? So what's the probability of that?"

Luca looked at Ottbo with a calm expression. Ottbo avoided his gaze and spoke in a small voice.

"... Percent."

"What?"

"Zero percent."

Luca squeezed his eyes shut and asked again.

"So... you're saying it's 100 percent true that Theodore Partigel and the Third Prince had contact?"

"... Yeah."

Ottbo must have gotten the information through something special from the Gress family, and if he said it was 100 percent, then it really was 100 percent.

"In that case, Theodore Partigel isn't trying to join the Fourth Princess's faction..."

Luca didn't say any more beyond that. He could feel the intense murderous aura radiating from Isella as if it were pricking his skin.

"Theodore Partigel... you filthy, beastly scum! Not only did you dare to seduce my lady, now you're thinking of betraying her. I'll end your miserable life right n—"

"Calm down. If you act based on mere circumstances, you'll only bring harm to Milia."

"And you're calling it a 'circumstance' when tomorrow, of all days, the man colluding with the Third Prince is going on a date alone with the lady?!"

Isella shouted, but Luca remained cold.

"Yes. It's a circumstance."

"..."

"Ottbo. That information about the Third Prince's contact with Theodore Partigel—there's no proof, right?"

"Uh, yeah. But..."

"That's fine. I'll believe that it's true. But you can't present definite proof, can you."

Luca spoke calmly.

"With the information we have now, there are only two scenarios we can conclude. One: Theodore Partigel is trying to side with Milia. The other: Theodore Partigel has joined hands with the Third Prince to try to kill Milia. We have no proof, just circumstances for both. If we act rashly in this situation, it'll only tighten the noose around our necks."

"But..."

"And if Theodore Partigel really has colluded with the Third Prince, we need to understand what it means for us to get involved."

Everyone's eyes turned to Luca.

"For us to step in on this means to enter the imperial struggle. Both the Traverse family and the Gress family already have factions they're loyal to. If we independently jump into the power struggle, it would be problematic for our families. It's not impossible that we could even be expelled."

"That's..."

"Of course, it's unlikely that the situation between Milia and Theodore will become public, and even if we intervene, the family's stance might not change. Still, we can't deny that it's risky."

Luca spoke in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Whatever we do from here, we'll need to be prepared."

"..."

"..."

Ottbo, who'd been watching the mood nervously, and even the agitated Isella both fell quiet.Luca also said nothing, giving them space to gather their thoughts.

"... It's certainly dangerous to act rashly now."

It was Isella who broke the silence first.

She stood from her seat and headed for the door.

"I— Isella."

"Thank you for everything up until now. I'd never have found out about this alone. Thanks to you, I've had time to prepare."

"What are you planning to do from here?"

Isella paused at Luca's question. She turned her head slightly to look at them.

"!"

Surprisingly, a smile lingered at the corners of her lips.

"I'll continue to serve my lady as I always have. The rest of you should walk your own paths. I know you've suffered a lot from putting up with my lady and me."

"So you knew you were being unreasonable."

"Haha, if I get the chance next time, I'd love to treat you to a meal. Well, then."

With that, Isella left the room, and those remaining fell silent again.After a while, Ottbo, still troubled, asked,

"Luca, what will you do?"

"What I do doesn't matter. What do you want to do?"

"I..."

Luca leaned back into the sofa.

"I need to rest, so go back to your room. And if you can, have your thoughts organized by tomorrow evening."

"... Yeah."

With that, Ottbo left without another word.Luca fiddled with his phone, and Bella, stroking her cheek, spoke with worry.

"This is a disaster. There are so few friends for the young master, and now it's come to this."

"What are you getting at?"

"What will you do, young master?"

Luca tried to be contrary, but Bella, still looking grave, didn't respond.Seeing Bella's attitude, Luca pouted slightly.

"Whatever Ottbo decides, I'll do what I have to do. But..."

"But?"

Bella tilted her head, and as Luca pulled out his student handbook, he licked his lips.

"The losses should be minimized."

In order to save Milia, something would have to be sacrificed.

The key was to see how little could be lost.

* * *

"Hoo..."

Milia, with a tense expression, looked into her hand mirror.

Unlike usual, she was dressed quite glamorously, with slightly heavier makeup.

Her beauty, radiant as spring, drew the gaze of everyone who passed by.

"You're early."

"Theodore!"

Theodore appeared suddenly, holding a bouquet of flowers.

"A present for you."

They were rapeseed blossoms, similar in color to her hair.

"Oh! They're so pretty!"

"Put them inside the auto carriage. I'll have them sent to your room later."

"Yes!"

The date course was perfect.

First, they arrived at Havok and enjoyed some coffee.

Next, they went to see a musical at the most popular theater troupe these days.

It was a cheerful satirical show, and they laughed until their sides hurt.

After laughing and chatting for a while, they grew hungry.

They had lunch at a lovely restaurant Theodore had reserved.

Afterward, they took a stroll at Havok Central Park.

There were many couples out and about.

Naturally, Theodore took her hand, and she didn't refuse.

After a short walk, they took an auto carriage to a boutique run by the Partigel company.

While looking over the latest clothes and accessories, Theodore gifted her a necklace.

When they came out of the boutique, the time was in-between, so they went back to a café.

Enjoying trending desserts and coffee and chatting, before they knew it, the sky had turned crimson.

Not keen on staying out overnight on a first date, Milia said she'd like to head back, but Theodore insisted he wanted to stop by somewhere first, so they got in an auto carriage and set off somewhere.

It was Mount Two-Pittard, a mountain with a lake not far from Havok.

A cliff overlooking the lake at mid-slope.

The auto carriage stopped there.

"Wow...!"

"How is it? Beautiful, isn't it?"

The starlit sky overhead, the moonless night, the vast lake shimmering with the night sky — the beauty left her speechless.

Under the auto carriage's lights, the two of them seemed enveloped in pure romance.

"I prepared all this so carefully today. What did you think?"

"It was perfect! It felt like I was dreaming all day long!"

"I'm glad to hear that. Whew! Now I can finally relax too."

Theodore loosened up and took a deep breath. Then, he faced Milia.

"Theodore?"

"Milia. I think it's time I express how I feel."

He wore a rare serious expression, and Milia instinctively knew what he was about to say.

"Will you go out with me?"

"Ah, I'm sorry. I'm not ready for that yet."

"... What?"

Theodore looked shocked at Milia's firm answer.

Seeing his face, Milia burst out laughing.

"Ah, I don't want to go out with anyone else, either. I know you're a good person, Theodore, but I honestly just don't want to date anyone right now."

"... Is that so? Well, I suppose it can't be helped."

"I'm sorry. But—"

Thud!

A blade stabbed into Milia's chest as she was apologizing.

"...?"

She lowered her head slightly and saw the sword that had pierced through her chest.Wide-eyed in disbelief, she heard Theodore whisper in her ear.

"Sorry. I'm not the patient type. I'd rather serve the decisive Third Prince than the indecisive Fourth Princess."

"... Was this your intent from the start?"

"No. If you'd said you'd go out with me, I would've made you mine, and only then would I have thought about serving the Third Prince."

Milia's eyes slowly closed. But her expression was utterly peaceful.

"So? Do you really think you can kill me with just that blade?"

"It would be ideal, but I know it won't work, will it?"

Crack!

The blade that had pierced Milia shattered and fell to the ground.

There wasn't a scratch on her chest.

Milia smoothed out her chest and smiled coldly.

"Then, why don't you show me what you've prepared."

"Come out!"

Thud! Thud! Thud!

From between the tree shadows and the darkness, numerous dolls leapt out.

They were magic soldier automatons, armored and armed with special magic devices.

Theodore slowly stepped back, bursting into laughter.

"This isn't all. The Third Prince's private soldiers are spread across this whole mountain. You'll never escape from here!"

"Heh, you're mistaken. I have no intention of running away."

Milia produced a Dimension Core and held it in front of her. Immediately, the space behind her began to ripple.

Tsutsutsu!

In the moonless dark night, even the remaining starlight was consumed by darkness blooming behind Milia.

Step. Step. Step.

Out of the darkness, someone slowly walked forth, and Milia wore a faint smile.

"Let's see if you can really overcome my knight."

Thunk.

The one who strode out of the darkness was Isella, clad in gleaming silver armor.

"Oh my, you were waiting and ready? Did you spend all day doing so?"

"... I've been ready since dusk."

"How wise."

The two chatted gently, betraying no sense of crisis, but Theodore and the Third Prince's soldiers couldn't easily move.

The moment the background began to distort, a powerful pressure had been holding them down. If they tried even the slightest movement, their eyes would meet Isella's.

Isella took a slow step forward and spoke.

"Please go inside, my lady. I will handle everything out here."

"Alright. See you tomorrow, Isella."

Ssshhh.

Milia disappeared into the shadows, leaving only Isella in shining silver armor behind.

Even alone, the rest of the group could barely breathe in her presence.

She was a member of the Imperial secret task force, 'Night'.

She was the one who had made the Fourth Princess into the undying princess.

Everyone knew that only "Night" could stand against another member of 'Night'.

"H-ha, but tonight is a moonless night! 'Moonlight' — your power is at its weakest tonight!"

Trying to gain momentum, Theodore shouted first.

"So?"

"..."

"It's true that my power is weakest tonight, but what does that have to do with you?"

Schring!

At some point, Isella drew her sword. The pressure she gave off reached its peak, and finally one of the magic soldiers couldn't stand it and screamed, thrusting his staff.

"Uaaahhhh!"

Crackle!

Lightning shot from the staff.

In that split second when it reached Isella, everyone saw her slowly swing her sword.

Slash!

The moment her sword finished its arc, the heads of all those present went flying, blood spurting like fountains.

"Uh... uh... uh..."

And the only one left alive was Theodore.

It wasn't because of his own power.

It was simply because Isella hadn't killed him.

"Call for reinforcements, Theodore Partigel."

Isella leveled her sword at him, her voice cold.

"I will show you the value of what you have given up."

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】

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