2
Paradise of Witches, Nebulis Sovereignty.
The palace towering over the central state was known as the Planetary Stronghold. In one area lay the princess’s private chambers.
“…What in the world happened?”
Alice propped her chin up with a hand and stared at the small monitor in the other at her desk.
Aliceliese Lou Nebulis IX.
The second of the three sisters born to the queen, she was called the Ice Calamity Witch by the Empire. She was feared for being one of the strongest astral mages.
At that moment, her eyes were sunken in from deep concern. Her dark expression was accompanied by her heavy voice as she addressed the screen. She had never been more despondent, even when she’d been on the battlefield.
She received no reply.
Since when had the communications ceased? Since when had the messages stopped coming from the person who should have been answering her?
“What’s going on, Rin? You told me you would contact me back right away!”
After hearing nothing but radio silence from her attendant, Alice had realized something was amiss the night before.
“We’ve determined where Lady Sisbell has been detained. It’s a facility that’s been concealed as a deserted building.
“We will be breaking into it.”
The Third Princess Sisbell was none other than Alice’s younger sister. And Rin, who had declared she would go rescue the girl, hadn’t been in touch since. Alice had a bad feeling about this.
…Did they fail to save her? Rin couldn’t have been captured. No, she wouldn’t just be captured…
…She would be tortured, too.
“N-no! Iska was with Rin, though!”
The Imperial swordsman Iska was Alice’s greatest rival. She could brag about knowing him better than anyone. Mortal enemy or not, she could never imagine he would break a promise he’d made with her.
…Rin should have been with Iska the whole time.
…They couldn’t have both failed to rescue Sisbell.
Alice found that difficult to believe. But unless she assumed that was the case, it couldn’t explain Rin’s abrupt silence.
What should she do? Would it be best for her to consult with the queen as soon as possible?
…No. I can’t assume that Rin was unsuccessful!
…I can’t panic. Even if I did report this to the queen, I still don’t know the whole situation.
It was possible that Rin’s communications device wasn’t working.
She would wait for today. Alice told herself that just as the light on the comm turned on.
“Huh?! A call!” She clutched the comm with both her hands, pitching forward as she pressed it to her head. “Rin! It’s you, right?!”
“…”
“Rin?”
“Oh, it connected. It has been far too long, dear sister.”
“…What?”
Alice doubted her own ears. This wasn’t Rin’s voice she was hearing…
“W-wait a moment. Is that you, Sisbell?!”
“If you are wondering how I unlocked Rin’s communication device, I used my Illumination astral power to see when Rin—”
“Never mind that! Uh, um…”
This was such an unexpected development, she was at a loss for words. Her imprisoned little sister was in possession of Rin’s communications device? Though Alice couldn’t wrap her head around it, she concluded that Rin and Iska had safely rescued Sisbell.
“Sisbell, I need to ask,” Alice said. “Are you all right?”
“They freed me. I still feel sluggish after being tied down for days, but the medication for my fever is beginning kick in.”
“…………I see.”
Alice felt relieved. She needed to inform the queen at once. This didn’t just mean that the queen’s daughter had been saved—Sisbell’s safe return would change the Lou’s entire situation.
…We’ll be able to expose the Hydra’s entire scheme.
…Even Talisman won’t be able to talk his way out of this if we have Sisbell’s Illumination astral power.
The Hydra family had attempted to assassinate the queen. There were few who knew of the plot, but Alice was among them. She had been trying to deal with the lack of evidence as best she could, but with Sisbell safe and sound, her sister would be able to use her power to recreate undeniable proof of the attempt on the queen’s life.
“Anyway, I’m just glad you’re safe, Sisbell. We need to retrieve you from the Empire this moment so you can return to the Sovereignty. We have a great many things for you to do!”
“Yes, about that.”
“What is it?”
“I’m afraid I must be the bearer of both good and bad news for you today, Sister.”
“…And what news is that?”
“Which would you like to hear first?”
She thought for a bit. A vassal had asked her a similar question, so Alice knew exactly how to respond at times like these: “Tell me the bad news first.”
“I’ll tell you the good news, then.”
“Was there any point in asking me, then?!”
“The great news is that I was saved.”
“…I already know that.”
She was aware. Alice had suspected that was the case. That was why she’d wanted to hear about the other information first.
“What’s the bad news now? That it’ll take you a few days to get back from the Empire? I don’t mind that.”
“Rin was captured.”
“……Huh?”
“By the Lord. As in the greatest enemy of the Sovereignty—that Lord.”
“…………………”
Alice froze.
Now it wasn’t just her ears she doubted. She was so convinced this was a dream that she pinched her cheek on reflex. It hurt. This—undeniably—was reality.
“Sisbell?! T-tell me everything, starting from the beginning—”
“But please worry not, dearest sister.”
For whatever reason, her sister answered in a victorious and cheerful tone.
“For I will go save Rin!”
“How?!”
“I will do it with my merry band of four guards.”
“That does not help to clarify the situation! And why would someone such as the Lord even—”
“Please inform the queen.”
“How am I supposed to explain this?! Oh, wait!”
She heard a click. She stared at the device, from which communication had been cut off only on her sister’s side.
“…I cannot believe her.”
Alice held her head.
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