Strike the Blood - Volume 18 - Chapter 2

CHAPTER TWO 

AT THE NIGHT PALACE 

1 

Itogami Island’s total population was less than six hundred thousand individuals, but a surprising number of airplanes landed and departed from it, with over two hundred direct flights weekly to forty cities around the globe. 

This was because Itogami Island was one of the world’s few Demon Sanctuaries. 

Research on demons’ cellular makeup, physiques, organs, and so forth, and the new raw materials and pharmaceuticals derived from such lab results, could be obtained nowhere but a Demon Sanctuary. A great many people from around the world visited in search of these before departing once more. 

Final preflight checks were underway for one such direct overseas flight—Air Aldegia flight AG413 to Verterace, currently on a runway at Itogami Central Airport. 

Its six hundred–odd passengers had already finished boarding and taking their seats. 

The fact that it was Golden Week meant the airplane was largely full. Students with their families in tow really stood out. Thanks to that, the number of boisterous passengers was higher compared to usual. 

One of those noisy groups was seated in the middle of the economy class section. 

“What is this? It’s delicious!” 

Asagi raised a voice of admiration as she stuffed her cheeks with the sweets she’d only just bought at an airport store. Sitting atop her lap was a large pile of Itogami Island souvenirs, which made for cramped seating. 

“These ones from Itogami Sablé taste so good that I really should have bought another box. But I couldn’t pass up buying the Darkness chocolates you can only buy in a Demon Sanctuary and those limited-edition, vampire-style blood orange jellies. Ah, these Fourth Primogenitor cookies are quite the surprise, too.” 

Asagi proceeded to unwrap new candies and wolf them down one after another. It was rather hard to imagine based on her comely, extravagant outward appearance, but Asagi was a bit of a glutton. Apparently, her maniacally precise gourmet reports were even highly prized on online boards. 

For his part, Yaze was sitting to Asagi’s immediate left, gazing with a particularly serious look at the uniforms of the female cabin attendants as they passed to and fro along the aisle. 

“I mean, I’d heard the stories, but all the flight staff for Air Aldegia really are all hot chicks. Plus, those new uniforms are pretty alluring. Those neat and tidy girls have a certain adult sexiness hovering about them. I think we’ve found a new hobby. Right, Kojou?” 

“Don’t rope me into this. I mean, yeah, I think those uniforms look good in a sci-fi way, but…” 

“Heh, so you like that kind of look, Kojou?” 

“I believe it is improper to direct untoward glances at people earnestly doing their work.” 

“I just said the uniforms looked good, okay?!” 

Kojou was indignant at the cold gazes shifted his way by Asagi and Yukina, both seated next to him. 

Nagisa, who was across the aisle near a window, was raising a voice of delight as she tapped the touch screen of the in-flight entertainment system built into the seat. 

“This is that movie that hasn’t been released publicly in Japan yet! I’ve been looking forward to seeing it. Such fun… Whoa?! There’s two in-flight meals?! Soft drinks are free, and you can drink all you want? Now I have to think about it. ‘To eat fish, or not to eat fish (and get meat instead)? That is the question.’ So quoteth William Shakespeare.” 

“No way in hell Shakespeare said anything like that.” 

Kojou inserted an unwittingly serious aside into Nagisa’s monologue as he clutched his head in annoyance. Asagi and Yaze were seated to Kojou’s left, and to the right were Yukina, then Nagisa and Kanon in that order. 

“More importantly, what the heck are you all doing here? This is a flight to Aldegia, you know?” 

When her older brother glared at her, Nagisa averted her eyes with a pure, innocent look. 

“What are you talking about…? We’re just tourists, you know…?” 

“Huh…? Tourists?” 

“We’re all paying our own travel expenses, and we scheduled the flight and booked the hotel all on our own, you see. I got permission from Mimori, too, so you have no right to complain, Kojou!” 

“Grr…” 

Unable to refute Nagisa’s logic, Kojou let out a frustrated groan. His little sister had even gotten her guardian’s approval; Kojou no longer had any means to stop her. 

“I am…very happy that Nagisa is coming with us.” Kanon timidly interjected, perhaps out of consideration for Kojou and Nagisa as they glared at one another. 

Nagisa’s expression brightened, proud of her victory. “Really?! I’m so glad! Hey, Kojou, have you heard? Have you? This is basically Kanon’s first time flying on an airplane.” 

“Yes. I was only a baby the last time I was on one.” 

“Oh-ho-ho. If there’s something you don’t understand, ask me anything. Er, actually, I haven’t been on an international flight since elementary school myself.” 

Kojou let out a weak sigh, gazing at the side of his little sister’s face as she proudly puffed up her chest. 

Then he turned to Yaze. In spite of there being scant time before the start of Golden Week, Nagisa had obtained a new passport and tourist visa. Also, Nagisa and the others were on the very same flight as Kojou and company, seated right with them, in fact. It was far too convenient to be mere coincidence. He could only think that someone had purposefully pulled strings from behind the scenes. 

“Hey, Yaze. Are you the one who set up all this?” 

“Wait, calm down. Asagi’s the one who brought it up first. I tried to stop her, okay?” 

Yaze’s smiling face twitched as he shook his head. For her part, Asagi feigned ignorance as she brought another piece of candy to her lips. 

“Well, you still went along in the end, didn’t you?! More importantly, why’d you bring Nagisa?!” 

“No, no, it’s the other way around. Asagi and Nagisa actually planned to go to Aldegia a day early to surprise you. Somehow, I talked them into going aboard the same airplane. You’re a lot more relieved to have them where you can see them, am I right?” 

“If you were gonna try to make them be reasonable, talk them out of a trip to Aldegia in the first place!” 

“Sorry. I couldn’t. I was planning to go to Aldegia myself anyway…” 

“So you really were the trigger for all this!” 

“Oh, stop fussing about the little things. Hey, I’ll give you one of these Fourth Primogenitor cookies, so cheer up, ’kay?” 

“I’m not in a bad mood ’cause of an empty stomach!” 

Assaulted by a ferocious sense of weariness, Kojou slumped back, sinking his body into his seat. 

All that said, Kojou didn’t complain all that forcefully, because he knew Yaze and Asagi hadn’t come for fun and games. Their real objective was to support Kojou, ruler of their Dominion, on his first visit to Aldegia. 

Nagisa had no doubt come out of concern for her friend, a very Nagisa-like reason. She might be insisting it was a simple overseas trip, but this was an excuse to avoid putting pressure on Kanon, who no doubt realized as much, which was why she said she was happy they were going together. Since he realized how the various girls felt, he couldn’t flatly send the interlopers packing, either. 

“So what about Kirasaka? Wasn’t she going with you and Yukina?” Yaze asked as he surveyed the area with a mystified look. For some reason, there was no sign inside the plane of Sayaka, the very one who’d brought the invitation from Aldegia. 

“Kirasaka said she had to get on site ahead of us and prepare, or something… Inspect where we’ll stay for the night and check movement routes and stuff.” 

“That’s an Attack Mage of the Lion King Agency for you. How responsible where procedures are concerned.” Yaze let out a hum in admiration. 

“I guess so.” 

Sayaka seemed easily flustered as she doted on Yukina, but appearances aside, she was apparently one of the elites of the Lion King Agency. Knowledge of ritual magic and assassination went without saying, but she was also highly skilled in combat and was fluent in foreign languages. She’d been trained in the manners required to navigate high society. Kojou acknowledged the excellence that constituted why La Folia entrusted her with the missive. 

Asagi wiped off some cream from her lips with a finger as she asked, “But is the Lion King Agency’s other Attack Mage all right?” 

Kojou grimaced, turning his eyes toward the oddly quiet Yukina. 

“Himeragi, are you all right? The color of your face looks like an astronaut who’s been put in cryo—” 

“All right. I am all right. There is no problem at all.” Yukina appeared strained, replying in a mechanical tone with little intonation. “It is not as if I am frightened to fly. That is not the case whatsoever. I have a firm understanding of the principles by which a mass of machinery flies through the sky: the Kutta-Joukowski theorem on the circulation of fluids, the Magnus effect, and Bernoulli’s equation, so…” 

“R-right…” 

Kojou continued to grimace in concern as Yukina began speaking words of unclear meaning as if she was invoking a spell. She obstinately refused to admit it to others, but flying had made Yukina uneasy since she was much younger. Apparently, she felt some kind of instinctive unease about riding a machine that flew through the sky. Her weird bluffing and pretense of calm was a quite a pain. Intending to reassure Yukina even so, Kojou dutifully made an easygoing smile. 

“Well, even if it is a direct flight, it’s gonna take close to twelve hours. Long way, huh?” 

“T…twelve hours…” 

Blood drained from Yukina’s face as she went rigid. 

Seeing that Yukina’s fingertips were twitching and trembling, Kojou gently put a hand atop hers. He was a little shocked when he realized how cold Yukina’s hand felt. Yukina looked back at Kojou in apparent surprise. 

“S-senpai?” 

“If you’re scared, don’t force yourself to put on a brave face. I’ll be right here with you till we land.” 

I did something like this before, didn’t I? thought Kojou with a soft smile, perhaps even blushing slightly. Yukina gripped Kojou’s hand back with unexpected strength, shifting her gaze toward Kojou as if clinging to him. 

“Absolutely do not let go until we disembark from the airplane. Promise me.” 

“Until we get off—uh—that’s twelve hours…” 

Faced with the earnest, backed-into-a-corner look in Yukina’s eyes, Kojou winced as he tried to excuse himself, but Yukina put even more strength into her fingers. 

“It’s a promise! Not that I am scared! I am not scared whatsoever!” 

2 

The time difference between Itogami Island and the Aldegian royal capital, Verterace, was seven hours. Itogami Island’s time zone was ahead. Thanks to that, even though the airplane had departed Itogami Island in the morning and had flown for twelve hours, it was landing in Aldegia around noon, a rather strange and mysterious thing. 

It was said that long flights toward the west during daytime only resulted in minor jet lag, but as a vampire, Kojou found the prolonged time continually under the midday sun unexpectedly difficult. 

Perhaps exhausted from fear and stress, Yukina had fallen asleep, firmly holding Kojou’s hand all the while, whereas Asagi, exhausted from eating, was audibly asleep with her head against Kojou’s shoulder. 

Sandwiched between the pair and unable to move, Kojou had dozed off from excess tedium, but Nagisa’s delighted voice woke him up. 

“Wow, snow! It’s snow, Kano!” 

“Yes, it is very pretty.” 

Bringing their faces close to the aircraft’s window, Nagisa and Kanon were as excited as little girls. To those two, raised on Itogami Island in the tropics, a land covered in snow and ice was incredibly precious scenery. The temperatures in Aldegia were relatively low at that time of year; the comparatively warm royal capital, Verterace, was between 0 and 4 degrees Celsius. If one went to the higher elevations in the interior, days of blowing snow were apparently still common. 

Yaze took off his favorite over-ear headphones. “So we’ve arrived? That didn’t seem to take too long.” 

“Mm…because of the time difference? And I was sleeping so nicely…” 

Asagi stretched her back as she woke up. With his left arm finally able to move freely, Kojou shifted his gaze to Yukina on his right. 

“Himeragi, we’ll be landing soon. What a relief, huh?” 

“No, senpai. Please remain calm. It is not over yet. People speak of the critical eleven minutes, meaning that major airplane incidents are concentrated in the three minutes immediately after takeoff and the eight minutes immediately prior to landing. In other words, we are about to enter the most dangerous phase. According to airplane manufacturer investigations, the odds of an accident triple at the time of landing, particularly when under the influence of adverse weather conditions like snow and sudden gusts of wind such as th—” 

“Wait a… Hey, cut it out. You can’t say ominous stuff like that in the middle of a flight…!” 

“Ah…” 

When Kojou covered her mouth, Yukina gasped and came to her senses. She belatedly noticed that passengers all around them were glaring at Kojou and Yukina as expressions of concern came over each and every one of them. 

“…I am sorry. That was rude of me.” 

Yukina slouched as she somehow managed to regain her composure. 

Asagi gazed at Yukina’s rare slip-up with deep interest before shrugging. “Well, you know, as far as the world’s concerned, the Fourth Primogenitor is a lot scarier than any airplane accident. There’d be a huge panic if Kojou’s identity spilled out in a place like this.” 

“I’m begging you, please stop making this worse.” Kojou grimaced as he chided Asagi. 

The image of the Fourth Primogenitor believed by the general public was that of a person who governed slaughter and destruction—calamity incarnate, a cruel, callous vampire completely beyond the doctrines of the world, with nothing good said about him whatsoever. Nor was this completely off the mark, for there was a dangerous side to him. If Kojou carelessly let his own Beast Vassals run amok, a civilian plane like this one would be blown to smithereens in the blink of an eye. 

“Any way you slice it, vampire primogenitors are categorized as weapons of mass destruction or natural disasters or something. Even for an Aldegian princess, she’s gotta have nerves of steel or no small amount of bravery to calmly invite someone like that into her own country.” Yaze spoke with a tone of voice that might have been admiration or exasperation—it wasn’t clear. 

“Yeah, I suppose,” Asagi casually said. “Come to think of it, are we all right for customs? To people who know what to look for, it’ll be obvious pretty quick that you’re not human.” 

“Not sure, but you’d think La Folia twisted some arms for that? She’s the one who sent the ticket in the first place.” 

“Good. If she has…,” Asagi murmured, clearly distrustful. Kojou figured she was probably wary of La Folia after she coerced him into going all the way to Aldegia. 

It’d been three months since the two girls had met, facing off as sort of enemies during the war of the primogenitors. In one sense, it was an entirely natural reaction for Asagi to be fearful of La Folia after that. 

The airplane Kojou and the others were aboard had begun to gently lower its altitude. The sign to put on their seat belts flashed, and an onboard monitor displayed the state of things on the ground. 

“Huh?” 

Yaze furrowed his brow as he watched the image on the monitor. Yukina, still gripping Kojou’s right hand, twitched and trembled. 

Kojou gazed skeptically at the friend who had let out a worrying voice. “What is it, Yaze?” 

“Er, aren’t we a bit far from the destination? I feel like we’ve gone past Verterace Airport.” 

Yaze made a looking-behind-him gesture, but of course there was no way he could see the scenery behind them from inside the plane. 

“Maybe they changed the runway? Something to do with wind direction, maybe?” Asagi suggested. She was calm, at least. An airport with multiple runways using them according to wind direction was normal procedure. 

However, a grave look came over Yaze as he shook his head. “Nah, we’d be prepped for landing already if it was that.” 

The very next moment, Kojou felt a shake along with a dull thud. It was the sound of retracted landing gear being lowered from the airplane’s fuselage. Yukina’s shoulders twitched and shuddered in an excessive reaction to the noise. 

“This direction is toward…Askola Air Force Base?” 

Asagi was spreading open an onboard map booklet to check. 

This was a base of the Aldegian Air Force some twenty kilometers’ direct flight distance from the royal capital, Verterace. The aircraft Kojou and the others were aboard was heading there for some reason. 

“An air base… Why are we heading there…?” 

Kojou tilted his head as he asked. Of course an airbase would have runways they could land on with permission, but he didn’t think they’d let a civilian airplane land there without a special reason for it. 

Now Asagi was less calm. She gave a foreboding guess: “Maybe there’s some kind of trouble at Verterace Airport?” 

However, there was no sign of an announcement from the captain to explain the situation. Yukina was so completely terrified by this point that fear kept her from even raising her voice. 

“Look, Kojou! A fighter jet!” 

Nagisa’s voice innocently rang out as she peered through the airplane window. Kojou only caught sight of it for a mere instant, but it definitely had the pretty silhouette of a fighter jet flying right beside them. 

It was no mere fly-by, either. From its manner of flight, the fighter was clearly escorting the civilian airplane—or perhaps observing it. 

“An escort plane from Aldegia? That wouldn’t be strange when greeting a foreign dignitary, but…” 

Yaze began mulling this over with a look of rare seriousness. That said, Kojou and the others were mere passengers; there was nothing they could do about it, no matter what they might think. Regardless of their concerns, the airplane descended toward a runway at the air force base. 

“Looks like we’re landing normally, at least,” Asagi said, relieved. 

The airplane made contact with the runway with a fairly minor jolt. The craft rapidly decelerated with a roar of thrust reversers and a spewing of heated gas. Yukina was faintly teary-eyed, perhaps due to her relief at having landed. She continued firmly holding Kojou’s right hand as she quietly let out a frail sigh. 

Now that it had finished landing, Kojou was sure the airplane would follow a taxiway to a parking spot. However, for some reason, the craft continued to decelerate, finally coming to a stop smack in the middle of the runway. 

Having come this far, the other passengers also seemed to keenly sense that something was off. Various voices within the cabin turned into an uproar, and even the expressions of the flight staff were tinged with unease. However, even at this late stage, there was no explanation from the captain whatsoever. Several short-tempered passengers got up and tried to approach the nearest attendants. 

At that very instant, the craft’s emergency exit opened with an impact resembling an explosion. 

“Th-the heck?!” 

The unexpected development left Kojou and the others frozen, completely unable to move. 

A group clad in black combat outfits poured in through the opened emergency exit like an avalanche. They were wielding short-barreled submachine guns intended for indoor combat. They spread out with organized, well-drilled movements, taking over the craft in mere moments. 

“Who the heck are these guys…?!” 

Finally recovering from surprise, Kojou glared warily at the group in black. 

A man who seemed to be the leader of the group gave the passengers a warning in English. At the very least, he seemed to have no intention of inflicting harm upon the passengers. 

“They look like Aldegian special forces,” Yukina whispered into Kojou’s ear in a very quiet voice. 

“Military special forces?” he asked, surprised. 

“He said, ‘Everyone put your heads down and do not move. There appear to be terrorists aboard the plane.’” 

“Terrorists… Wait, what?!” 

Kojou’s eyes bulged as he surveyed the area. The fact that they’d been flying with terrorists gave him a belated jolt. If there was a threat of air terrorism, small wonder the airplane had been diverted to a military base. 

However, the fact that the cabin had been taken over by special forces surely meant the worst case of a hijacking situation had been averted beforehand. All they had to do now was wait for them to find and apprehend the suspects. 

The soldiers, equipped with black face guards, were moving in Kojou and the others’ direction. They were apparently checking passengers one by one. 

Finding the sight reassuring, Kojou was watching them when one among them met his eyes by chance. That instant, the soldier abruptly shouted in a loud voice: 

“Tango!” 

“Eh…?” 

Kojou had a dumbstruck, openmouthed expression as he stared at the submachine gun barrel thrust before his eyes. Even Yukina, supposedly able to peer into the future, was taken completely by surprise and unable to respond. 

“Wait a—?! What do you think you’re—?” 

Asagi began to rise from her seat as she reflexively tried to complain, but she hastily put both hands up when she, too, found soldiers’ guns trained upon her. From there, Kojou and the others were completely surrounded by special forces in the span of a few short seconds. 

“Target apprehended!” 

“S-senpai…?” 

“K-Kojou?!” 

“Hold on, it’s not as if I’m some kind of hijack—oww!” 

Kojou was desperately trying to plead his innocence, but yelped as a soldier beside him used some kind of joint hold on him. 

“Six terrorists from Asia apprehended in accordance with the intel. Removing from the aircraft.” 

The special forces leader began reporting the situation with a radio. The aircraft was probably completely surrounded by a large military force. 

“Six—that means us, too?!” 

Nagisa stared at Kanon with a look of apprehension. I do not know, Kanon’s shake of her head indicated. 

“Hold on, this is some kind of mistaghnfff!” 

Even with his joints restrained, Kojou attempted to object, but someone suddenly sealed his mouth. One of the special forces soldiers was pressing a black, cut-resistant sack over Kojou’s lips. The female soldier had a more slender build compared with the other troops. 

“Oh no you don’t, Kojou. Be a good boy and behave for a little while.” 

The female soldier flipped up her masklike face guard, whereupon blue eyes reminiscent of glaciers and a radiant, beautiful face appeared. Kojou drew in his breath when he realized who the female soldier was. 

“You…!” 

“Welcome to Aldegia, Kojou. Do enjoy your stay.” 

The beautiful crown princess of Aldegia whispered into Kojou’s ear with an invigorated tone, adding a tee-hee and a mischievous smile. 

3 

“What do you think of Aldegia on your first visit?” La Folia asked, grinning. She was in high spirits. 

She had already stripped off her combat suit and changed into her personal outfit: a blazer in the style of military ceremonial dress, a miniskirt, and lace-up boots. The outfit gave off a sense of majesty and refinement befitting a princess. 

“What do I think? Did you think I’d be overjoyed at being tossed into a paddy wagon as soon as I arrived?! The hell’s going on?!” 

Kojou was still sitting on a bench in the paddy wagon as he glared at La Folia. 

Kojou and the others had been arrested as terrorists and had been taken off the airplane handcuffed and blindfolded less than thirty minutes prior. From there, the police van they were aboard departed from the air force base before moving onto a highway, destination unknown. 

A paddy wagon was made for durability, so even being generous, Kojou would rate the comfort of the ride as rock-bottom. The windows were narrow and covered with metal mesh and iron bars, so they couldn’t gaze at the scenery outside even with their blindfolds removed. 

However, La Folia did not display a single iota of guilt as she shook her head. 

“It was an unavoidable measure to pull the wool over the eyes of the mass media and foreign intelligence services waiting at the airport. You are the World’s Mightiest Vampire, so I cannot simply bring you into the country using normal procedures.” 

“I get that, but you had to have some other way without treating people as terrorists, right?!” 

“Creating such a spectacular incident was our meticulously crafted plan to divert prying eyes from the Fourth Primogenitor smuggling himself into the country.” 

“It’s not like I meant to smuggle myself in, you know…” 

Kojou rested his cheek on his palm with a sulky expression. 

“Oh my,” went La Folia as she tilted her head. She took out some fine powder packed into a vinyl bag. 

“Would you have preferred my original scenario of sneaking this white powder into your luggage and having you arrested on suspicion of narcotics smuggling?” 

A cold chill shot down Kojou’s spine. “Like hell! You were gonna treat me as a criminal either way! There are lots of gentler ways to do it, aren’t there?!” 

Hearing it straight from that cruel, scheming princess’s mouth, it didn’t sound like much of a joke. The only difference between the two was surely a casual impulse that said charging military special forces onto an aircraft seemed more fun. 

Are you guys really all right having someone this dangerous as the crown princess? thought Kojou with detached concern for Aldegia’s future prospects. 

“In any case, I am grateful that you accepted my invitation. Thank you, Kojou.” 

La Folia’s return to Graceful Cat Mode made Kojou shake his head with a pained smile. 

“If you’re gonna thank someone, thank Kanase. Himeragi and I only came to be Kanase’s bodyguards.” 

Nodding to Kojou’s words, La Folia turned toward her even-younger aunt. “I suppose so. It is good that you have come, Kanon.” 

“Thank you very much for inviting me, Your Highness.” 

“Incorrect.” 

“Eh?” 

“Please. Call me La Folia, Kanon.” 

For some reason, La Folia was staring intently at Kanon with a pouty tapering of her lips. 

Kanon blinked in bewilderment. 

“…?” 

“I am your niece by blood, so you must address me in an appropriate fashion.” La Folia put her hands on her hips. She was dead serious. 

Kanon was still bewildered as she nodded. “…La Folia?” 

“Well done.” 

The beautiful princess made an equally beautiful smile. 

La Folia had overwhelming majesty that enchanted the masses, whereas Kanon gave a gentle, fleeting impression. The vibes were polar opposites, but when Kojou looked at them together up close, their faces really were a great deal alike. 

Sitting beside Kanon, Nagisa timidly raised a hand. “Um, was it all right for us to come, too?” 

The princess grinned as she nodded. “But of course. After all, being Kojou’s little sister means that you will be my little sister-in-law in the near future.” 

“R-right…” 

La Folia’s blunt assertion left Nagisa nodding almost like she’d been gradually worn down. 

“Hey, hold on a sec,” Kojou hastily interjected. “No, that ain’t something I can accept just like that. This is just weird. Don’t decide that on your own.” 

“There is no need for concern about Yukina. According to what I have heard, polygamy is an accepted practice in the Fallen Dynasty, Dominion of the Second Primogenitor. If you wish to follow suit, I have no objections whatsoever. Yukina, you are fine with this, yes?” 

“Eh?! M-me…?!” Yukina struggled to reply. 

“That’s not the problem here!! It sounds me marrying you has already been decided!” 

La Folia gracefully let Kojou’s rebuttal slide past her as she addressed Yaze and Asagi. “I welcome you two as well, Motoki Yaze, chairman of the board of directors of Itogami Island’s Gigafloat Management Corporation, and Asagi Aiba, the Priestess of Cain. So we meet again.” 

“Hello. I’m in your debt from back during the war of the primogenitors,” Asagi greeted, an awkward, amiable smile on her face. 

Yaze took presents out from somewhere or other and presented them to the princess. One was a folder for construction foremen containing blueprints, and the other was a thick booklet with elaborate binding. 

“They may not be much, but these are gifts for Your Highness from Itogami city-state.” 

La Folia opened the folder and narrowed her eyes as she gazed at the blueprint. “This is…the deployment ritual for the Völundr System developed by Kensei Kanase, is it not?” 

The Völundr System was a powerful anti-demon system that was the pride of Aldegia’s Knights of the Second Coming. Kanon’s adoptive father, Kensei Kanase, once the Court Sorcerous Engineer of the Aldegian Royal Palace, was apparently entrusting to the princess a plan he had devised to further strengthen that system. 

“I hereby accept this sign of friendship from Itogami city-state. If we put this ritual into action, our nation shall surely reap incalculable benefit as a result. I shall have the Court Sorcerous Engineers analyze it at once. Now then, this is…?” 

She widened her eyes in surprise as she opened the book constituting Yaze’s other gift. It was rare for her, always so calm and composed, to display such open emotion on her face. 

Kojou lobbed Yaze a question. “The heck is that?” 

“Ahh, that’s an album with a photo collection of you back in your middle school days, actually…” 

For some reason, Yaze sounded proud of himself. Kojou looked back in shock. 

One showed Kojou yawning during class. Another showed Kojou during club. There was a shower scene and a sleeping scene. And one showed Kojou getting along intimately with the Twelfth, Avrora… La Folia’s eyes glimmered like that of a little child as they devoured the images. 

“Hey!! What’s with givin’ away pictures of other people without their consent?! And why do you have enough pictures of me to make an album anyway?! Where’d you get them all?!” 

“Mm, these were candids that Asagi asked me to take, actually…” 

While Kojou grabbed him by his collar, Asagi punched Yaze in the solar plexus, making him go “guoah” as his breath caught. 

La Folia held the album she’d accepted against her chest, treating it like something precious. 

“You have my thanks, Motoki. To me, there could be no greater present than this. You are a dependable person.” 

“Thanks for your kind words.” 

Yaze was still bent over with an agonized expression as he somehow managed to respond to the princess’s praise. 

“Sheesh,” grumbled Kojou as he leaned his back against the police van’s wall. “So where are we headin’ to?” 

La Folia readily stated with a surprising lack of drama, “A country house outside of the capital region. It is the current residence of my grandfather—former king of Aldegia, Galliard Rihavein.” 

Nagisa gasped and lifted her face as if realizing something. “The former king? Does that mean he’s Kano’s father?” 

“Yes. I have invited Kanon to Aldegia so that she might meet him, you see.” The silver-haired princess smiled as she nodded, turning a gentle gaze to the silent Kanon. 

One of the knights on standby inside the police van rose up without a sound and approached La Folia. The expression on her face somehow seemed tense as she gave the princess a report in a small, whisper-like voice. 

“Pardon me, Your Highness. Urgent message from Her Highness Musette, the Queen Mother.” 

“…From Grandmother?” La Folia raised an eyebrow with a twinge of surprise. 

Queen Mother meant the queen of the previous king. To La Folia, that meant her grandmother. 

In contrast, to the queen mother, Kanon was the child conceived through the adultery of her very own husband. Naturally, it was unlikely the queen mother harbored goodwill where Kanon was concerned. 

Perhaps it was because she sensed such circumstances that the knight seemed worried as she continued her report. 

“She wishes to change Her Highness the Royal Sister’s destination to Tenotia House.” 

“To Tenotia?” 

“Yes. Also, she states that Your Highness is to urgently return to the royal palace.” 

“So she intends to separate Kanon and me…and to Tenotia of all places.” 

La Folia cast down her melancholic eyes as her expression hardened. Her usual aura of composure was lacking in her reaction. It was not like her at all. 

“There some kind of problem with that place?” Kojou asked out of consideration for La Folia. 

The silver-haired princess made a fleeting smile as if anguished by the thought. 

“It is the villa where, when Grandmother was queen, she incarcerated the women who were her rivals in love—Grandfather’s lovers. They were not permitted to leave the villa until death.” 

“Incarcerated? And she said to take Kanon there?” 

Tension ran across Kojou and company’s expressions all at once. 

This was a deeply jealous queen mother known to have locked away her husband’s partners in adultery. This woman was designating the villa that was the stage for her revenge as the place her husband was to meet the daughter of his lover. Of course they expected nothing good to come of it. 

“I am concerned, but I cannot defy Grandmother’s commands. She is cunning to a truly frightening degree, you see.” 

La Folia weakly shook her head in a gesture tinged with resignation and a sense of powerlessness. 

Kojou felt a pang of anxiety within his chest. If a person harboring malice toward Kanon was someone even a strategist like La Folia feared, he could not help feeling worried. 

“It is as you have heard, Kanon. I am unable to accompany you from this point forward. Do be careful.” 

La Folia squeezed Kanon’s hand, speaking those words with a tone akin to a prayer. 

Kanon quietly nodded as a soft smile came over her, as if meaning to reassure all those watching. 

“It will be all right. Thank you very much, La Folia.” 

4 

It was near dusk when the police van carrying Kojou and the others arrived at Tenotia House. 

Surrounded by forest and hills, it was not so much quiet as a place in the middle of nowhere. In contrast to the image given by the word villa, the structure was small, looking like little more than a fancy country house at best. 

“This is the villa where she locked up the last king’s lovers? What was the name? Sounded like Henoheno or something…,” Kojou murmured. 

“Tenotia. It would appear to be the name of a lake near the royal capital of Aldegia,” Yukina clarified. She’d been dragged down by exhaustion for a while after getting off the plane, but she seemed to have finally returned to her normal state. 

“I wonder if it’s that lake?” Nagisa stretched up and pointed. The forest concealing it made it difficult to see, but the villa apparently stood behind a lake. 

So they had a very quiet mansion, a gloomy forest covered in the vestiges of snow, and a lake with no sign of human presence. Kojou wouldn’t have quite called it creepy, but he couldn’t shake the chilliness of the impression. The rumor that rivals in love had been imprisoned there somehow had the ring of truth. 

Around the time they arrived at the mansion’s entrance, Yaze off-handedly touched upon a subject no one seemed to want to broach. “For a royal villa, it’s pretty compact, or maybe just thickly built. The building feels kinda plain.” 

He heard a hollow, gloomy voice coming from behind him. 

“I apologize that it is so plain.” 

“Whoa?!” 

Yaze reeled and turned around. He caught sight of an elderly woman standing in a servant’s attire without giving off any aura whatsoever. She looked to be about sixty years old. From her appearance, she came off as a capable sort, but also gave the impression of a moody, unapproachable person. She seemed to be the housekeeper of the mansion. 

“Nah, I don’t mean plain in a bad sense at all. If anything, it calms me down, like it has that whole Japanese wabisabi feeling I personally hold in pretty high esteem.” 

Yaze had begun hastily making excuses when Asagi slapped the back of his head to make him actually apologize. “What kind of rude things are you saying?! Don’t you have common sense?!” 

“I was trying to say I was praising it!” 

Yaze justified himself in a pathetic voice as he deeply bowed his head. The housekeeper bowed without emotion, then opened the weighty-seeming wooden doors and led Kojou and the others into the mansion. 

Just as they’d expected from the exterior appearance, the interior of the mansion was by no means vast or particularly grandiose. Even so, the structure was constructed spaciously enough to justify being called a royal villa. 

The marble floor gave off a glossy sparkle from being assiduously polished, and the wooden materials had changed to a beautiful amber color from the passage of long months and years. Mysteriously, the structure gave off nostalgic warmth even though it was their first visit. 

“Please make yourselves at home in these rooms over here. The bathroom is down and on the right. There are two bedrooms on the left and two on the right. If you require anything else, I am at your disposal.” 

“Sorry, and thank you very much.” 

When Kojou made a friendly smile and spoke words of thanks, an expression of minor bewilderment came over the housekeeper. To someone living in a hierarchical society such as she, Kojou’s demeanor, readily speaking words of gratitude despite being a monarch himself, might have come off as bizarre. A traveler such as Kojou perhaps ought to have acted according to the manners on her end, but Kojou couldn’t rest easy if he didn’t speak at least one word of thanks for taking care of them. That was why he didn’t even notice the housekeeper’s bewilderment. 

At the same time Kojou and the others entered their rooms, the housekeeper’s young subordinates brought in their luggage one after the next. These were the suitcases Kojou and company had entrusted to the airline when they’d boarded the aircraft. 

La Folia’s agents had apparently confiscated and sent over the luggage from inside the airplane after it had landed at the air force base. The fine attention to detail was La Folia living up to her reputation as a strategist. 

The housemaids bringing in the luggage remained on standby in corners of the rooms. The atmosphere felt like they were observing Kojou and the others rather than awaiting their commands. The aura from the housemaids reminded Kojou that this was enemy territory. 

The one saving grace was that Kanon herself, the target of the monitoring, seemed to be calmly accepting the maids’ presence. 

Having already relinquished her place in the royal succession, Kanon did not harbor any excessive expectations toward the former king. That was probably why she was taking the situation so calmly. Still, Kojou thought that the sight of Kanon so composed might come off as rather unnerving to those watching her. 

“I’m glad we brought our school uniforms. This is okay to wear, right?” 

Nagisa spoke in her usual sunny tone of voice, perhaps trying to soften the strained air. She was taking her Saikai Academy winter uniform out of her suitcase. 

Asagi strove to be equally cheerful as she replied to Nagisa’s question. “I suppose so. It’s not like this is a formal diplomatic occasion, so there shouldn’t be any problem at all.” 

The uniforms of students and policemen were recognized as proper attire at formal occasions. Surely such circumstances applied to Aldegia as well. 

“I never thought the day would come when I’d meet a king.” 

Nagisa smiled somewhat nervously as she fussed over the creases in her uniform shirt. 

“Your older brother is kind of like a king, too, you know.” 

A strained smile came over Asagi as she murmured in a voice so small that Nagisa barely heard it. 

When the girls began to spread their changes of clothes out, Kojou moved to leave the area out of consideration for them. It was the next moment that one of the housemaids approached Kanon, seemingly slipping past the eyes of her coworkers to do so. 

“Pardon me. I take it you are Lady Kanon?” the housemaid asked in a hushed voice. Her pronunciation was a little awkward, but she was speaking in easily understood Japanese. 

She was a beautiful forty-year-old woman with blond hair, but her expression was dark; it seemed like she was afraid of something. 

“Yes, that would be me, Kanon Kanase.” 

Kanon smiled pleasantly and bowed her head deeply. The blond housemaid shook her head in surprise. 

“Please lift your face, Lady Kanon. Her Highness the Royal Sister should not be lowering her head before the likes of a lowly servant such as I.” 

“Is there something you wanted from me?” Kanon asked of the apologetic housemaid. 

The woman nodded, hardening her resolve as she opened her mouth. “I fully understand it is rude to say this: Lady Kanon, please flee this place.” 

“Flee?” 

Kanon tilted her head slightly with a mystified look. Hearing the conversation between the girls, Kojou warily met Yukina’s eyes as she stood beside him. 

After a brief, silent pause, the blond housemaid clenched both hands together as if struggling against fear. 

“Yes. The queen mother is wise and full of wit, but she possesses a cruel disposition. Are you aware of how she has acted toward the former king’s partners in adultery until now? Also, of ghastly bloodshed—enough to keep lips sealed to this very day.” 

The housemaid’s shoulders trembled, shuddering at her own words. She continued in a frayed voice. 

“This very Tenotia House was employed for that purpose. The queen mother will surely never forgive the former king or Lady Kanon, daughter to him by another woman. Your life is in danger. Please flee the country before her rage swallows you whole.” 

Kanon stared at the blond housemaid as she gently asked, “Why are you telling me this?” 

The housemaid wordlessly undid the cufflink of one of her uniform’s sleeves and rolled it up to near the elbow. A deep scar, seemingly from a burn, marred her flesh. It was not a scar from any common accident. It was a scar left from being shot with a pistol at close range. 

“Seventeen years ago, my life was saved by Lady Kotone. A court healer at the time, she treated me for grave wounds after an accident and spared my life. I must return the favor.” 

Fresh surprise came over Kanon’s expression when the housemaid spoke the name Kotone. Kojou realized it had to be the name of Kanon’s mother. 

“I was informed of this situation before coming to this country,” Kanon said in her usual gentle tone. A satisfied smile came over her lips. Then, the girl nodded as if accepting all that she had learned. “The queen mother seems to love the former king a great deal.” 

“Yes…?” 

Kanon’s out-of-place reaction caused a dumbfounded voice to slip from the blond housemaid. However, Kanon lowered her eyes in sadness out of pity for the queen mother. 

“It is a sad thing to see someone you love develop feelings for another. I feel like I can understand that pain rather well.” 

“Oh, um, I was not speaking about that.” 

A completely lost expression came over the blond housemaid. Small surprise, but Kanon’s reaction was apparently well outside her expectations. 

“It is only natural that the queen mother would hate me. That is why I had no intention of coming to this country,” Kanon said calmly before smiling bashfully. “But, if it is possible, I would like to say something to the former king in my mother’s place. Therefore, I will not return home yet.” 

“Lady Kanon…you…” 

The housemaid’s eyes went wide as she gazed at Kanon with visible surprise. Now she knew not only how off the mark she had been, but she finally understood Kanon’s reason for visiting Aldegia. 

Kojou was just as surprised as she was. Kanon was a girl of few words; he felt like he was touching on what she really thought for the very first time. 

“You don’t have to worry. We’ll protect Kanon,” Kojou said. He smiled at the housemaid to try to put her at ease. 

Yukina stood at Kanon’s side and nodded strongly. “Yes. That is why we have come.” 

“Besides, if Kanon runs now, the queen mother might blame you for undermining her plans,” Asagi added, putting her clothing in order in the meantime. She’d been paying close attention to their conversation nonetheless. 

“B-but—” 

The blond housemaid was bewildered, stumbling over her words. It seemed from her expression that she was vexed at being unable to convey her fear of the queen mother. 

Kojou stared at the housemaid a bit and scratched his head in mild consternation. 

“Besides, this building… Tenotia House, was it? I don’t think it’s as scary a place as it sounded. If I had to pick one or the other, it feels like Kanon’s being properly welcomed.” 

“Eh…no, that cannot be tr…” 

“I mean, hey, this room has an incredible view. It’d be miserable if it was a place for someone you really hated. It’s, like, too luxurious for that, right?” Kojou was examining the room all around. 

The time was dusk. The window facing them was spread wide to display the golden sunset of a foreign land over a serene lake. To the left and right were majestic cliffs scraped by a glacier. Everything the eyes could see was like a gemstone, an incredible masterpiece. 

“Yeah, yeah, this landscape’s really moving. Plus, this building seems like something out a fairy tale,” Nagisa murmured absentmindedly as she looked around the room. 

“Also, the furniture and carpet are all fine antiques. You can’t buy stuff like this at any price, right? It must’ve taken a lot of time and trouble to put it all together, though.” Asagi stroked a nearby reclining chair as she sighed in a mix of praise and exasperation. 

“Are you really all right with staying here?” 

The housemaid’s voice trickled out quietly. Kojou and the others’ oddly favorable reactions seemed to leave her at a loss. 

“I am very sorry,” Kanon said with a deep bow. 

Kanon had a very apologetic expression as she deeply bowed to the housemaid. 

5 

It was eight PM. Having finished changing clothes, Kojou and the others were summoned by the housekeeper and made their way to the villa’s dining room. 

Kanon and Nagisa were both wearing their school uniforms, while Kojou and Yaze were both wearing rented dinner jackets. Asagi’s outfit was a turquoise evening dress she’d taken a liking to. 

However, Yukina was the one who most stood out among those present. That was because she was wearing a frock coat meant for a man. 

“Oooh… Yukina, you look so cool,” Nagisa murmured as she walked, arms locked with Yukina. Nagisa was quite flushed. 

“I’m sorry, Nagisa. I am here as an escort.” Yukina lowered her head and shook it with a blush plain on her face. 

It all began with a directive from the housekeeper that the seating arrangements at dinner would place women next to their male escorts. It was only natural that Kojou, a guest of honor, would be escorting Kanon, the other guest of honor; the remaining issue was how to balance the numbers of boys and girls. 

In the end, Asagi grudgingly consented to being escorted by her childhood friend Yaze, and after an impartial contest between the remaining pair’s heights, Yukina’s scant advantage of two centimeters resulted in her being assigned the male role. 

However, in spite of her initial concerns, Yukina was quite gallant with her hair tied back and wearing men’s attire, looking so much like a pretty boy that even the housemaids helping her change clothes had been at a loss for words. 

“Yeah, you look way nicer than Kojou. Enough that I want to marry you.” 

“Marriage…is a little too much, perhaps…” 

Nagisa’s genuine insistence made Yukina squirm a bit as she smiled stiffly. 

Kojou was gazing at this in a daze when Yaze abruptly spoke to him. 

“Hey, Kojou. What’d ya think of the woman from earlier?” 

“By ‘woman from earlier,’ you mean the blond one who was talking to Kanase?” 

Kojou looked back at Yaze, checking just to make sure. 

“What do I think? She’s a little too old for you. True, she’s really pretty for her age. I mean, Yaze, even for a guy who likes older chicks like you, isn’t she a little out of your range?” 

“Why’d you think I was talking about romance?!” Yaze forcefully cleared his throat and shouted back in anger. “I ain’t talking about that! I mean whether she was actually trying to trick us or not!” 

“Trick?” 

“Yeah. What do you think would happen if little ol’ Kanon ran and went home without meeting the former king? It’d be a huge slap in the face to Princess La Folia for setting up an audience without authorization. There’d be no way to avoid a worsening of relations between Aldegia and Itogami city-state, and with the government of Japan, for that matter, right? One wrong move and it might have an impact on the commemoration ceremony in three days.” 

Yukina joined the conversation. “You believe she might be a spy for the faction seeking to damage the commemoration ceremony?” She would not be able to disregard that. 

“Isn’t disguising someone as a servant to infiltrate a villa a pretty risky, roundabout way to go about it?” Asagi asked with a suspicious tone. 

Yaze curled his lips, not particularly confident himself. “That’d minimize the risk from failure, too, though.” 

“Even if she was a spy, she didn’t manage to convince Kanon, so there’s not a problem, right? It’s a lot more likely she was genuinely concerned for Kanon anyway.” Kojou dismissed their concerns. Yaze was right to have doubts, but since they didn’t have a way to confirm her identity, he felt like it was a waste of time to worry about it. 

Kojou’s assertion made Yaze nod with a weighty expression on his face. “If what she said is true, that means we need to worry about intrigue from the queen mother here on out, though. Not that I think she’ll resort to direct actions straightaway, but…” 

“If that happens, we will find a way to manage somehow. It would be reassuring if Sayaka were here, however.” Yukina pursed her lips after she spoke. 

Unlike Sayaka, well versed in curses and assassination, Yukina’s specialty was direct combat with demons. If the queen mother set up an assassination in earnest, there was no guarantee that even her Sword Shaman ability of peering into the future could completely prevent it. 

“The other side might know that, too. Maybe they changed the place for the audience to this villa to keep Kirasaka from joining us,” Yaze speculated. 

His hypothesis was sinister. Yukina’s expression tightened as she pondered the worst-case scenario. 

“If possible, I would like to avoid combat. Aldegia’s Knights of the Second Coming are without doubt the world’s top class when it comes to achievements and experience in anti-demon combat exploits.” 

“That’s because they’re on the front line of combat with the Warlord’s Empire,” said Yaze. “Even now, it seems there’s skirmishes and armed raids several times a year. They’re not people to flinch just ’cause the opponent’s the Fourth Primogenitor.” 

“An armed incursion might be a lot easier to deal with,” Asagi said. “It’s coming in through the back door that’s a lot more trouble. The opponent’s a woman feared by brain trusts in every country of the world by her alias of The Trickster Goddess. We don’t want to be caught playing poker with her.” 

Asagi hated losing more than anyone else, and even she was speaking with a fainthearted tone for once. 

However, Kojou keenly understood Asagi’s feelings of wariness. “Well, she is the grandmother of La Folia.” He grimaced. 

That coldhearted princess had characterized the queen mother as frightening. He figured no amount of wariness was too paranoid. 

The expressions on Kojou and the others grew graver as they approached the dining hall, which was the site for the audience. 

“Sheesh!” 

Nagisa raggedly exhaled as she suddenly stomped on Kojou’s foot. Unlike Asagi, who was in high heels, Nagisa was only wearing loafers, but being caught by surprise made fairly ferocious pain run through his foot even so. 

“Owww?! Nagisa, the hell are you…?” 

Kojou let out a pained yelp and tried to lodge a complaint, but he swallowed the angry voice, never letting it leave his throat when he realized why Nagisa had that cheeks-puffed-up look. It was because Kanon, walking at Nagisa’s side, was casting her eyes downward with a conflicted look. 

A guilty look came over Kojou as he apologized to Kanon. “Ahh… Sorry, Kanase. We were saying stuff that just made you worry.” 

“No, it’s all right. I appreciate you worrying about me.” Kanon smiled as she shook her head. 

It was then that the housekeeper guiding Kojou and company halted in the long corridor. With a lit candlestick in hand, she slowly turned back and indicated the large doors ahead of her with her finger. 

“This is the dining hall. The former king and queen are already awaiting you. Everyone, please proceed.” 

The housekeeper spoke those words, then slowly opened the doors without a sound. 

Kojou slapped his own cheek to try and rouse his spirits before heading in at Kanon’s side. 

“Well, let’s do this, Kanon.” 

“Yes, Akatsuki. I am most inexperienced, but…” 

“Er, um, that reaction’s for a somewhat different situation.” 

Kojou smiled as Kanon deeply bowed her head. Thanks to that exchange, he felt like his tension had eased. 

It was dark inside the dining hall. That was because the dozens of candles placed on the table served as its only interior lighting. However, Kojou felt no dissatisfaction because of it. 

Part of the walls and the ceiling of the dining hall had transparent glass spread across, through which the silver light of the moon poured down. The moonlight reflected off the surface of the lake, adding to its brightness. 

There were countless stars scattered across the sky. The ripples on the lake’s surface created a wild dance of light. 

The designer of the villa had splendidly created this surreal scenery. 

Seen off by the emotionless housekeeper, the pairs of Kojou and Kanon, Yaze and Asagi, and Yukina and Nagisa entered the dining hall in that order. Kojou looked around the room for signs of the former king and queen mother supposedly waiting there for them. 

He hadn’t intended to be careless whatsoever. Yet, Kojou could not conceal his surprise even so. 

“Eh…?” 

For an instant, Kojou stood dumbfounded, unable to comprehend what was happening. 

It was not that harm had been inflicted on them. The guests of honor for dinner were normally seated, nothing more. 

At the center of the long table was an elderly man. He was fairly slender, with a rather refined face. There were deep creases carved into his cheeks and the corners of his eyes, but he must have been quite handsome when he was younger. 

His vivid silver hair and blue eyes were probably characteristic for the Royal Family of Aldegia. He had to be Aldegia’s former liege—Kanon’s father, in other words. 

However, for some reason, there was a black mask such as those used by criminals over his mouth, and his entire body was tied to his chair with rope. Kojou couldn’t help but think he looked less like a former king than someone under investigation for being a serial killer. 

Sitting to the left of this former king was La Folia, supposedly separated from Kojou and the others earlier. Her usual mischievous smile came over her face as she saw Kojou and company so unnerved. 

And sitting to the former king’s right was a slender, beautiful blond woman. Kojou remembered her face, for it was that of the housemaid who had told Kanon to flee a mere few hours prior. 

The blond housemaid was clad in an extravagant robe with a low neckline as she sat at the dinner table. 

Kojou no longer had any idea what quip he ought to make. The same went for Yaze and Asagi. 

But, in the middle of all that, only Kanon was utterly unaffected. 

Speaking in a gentle tone no different than usual, Kanon greeted the tied-up former king. “You are His Former Majesty, I take it? Thank you for your invitation. I am Kanon Kanase.” 

It was the blond woman who narrowed her eyes in satisfaction and nodded to her. The former king grew teary-eyed as he desperately attempted a muffled plea. 

“I’m Kojou Akatsuki. Err, why is the former king tied up like that?” Kojou gazed at the appalling state of the former king. 

“I spoke no lies. It is as I told you. The queen mother of Aldegia possesses a cruel disposition.” 

The blond woman calmly made the statement. Her tone was majestic, but the look in her eyes held a mischievous glint that greatly resembled that of La Folia. 

“He was so frightened of meeting his daughter at this late stage that he attempted to flee, so I bound him. I must say that these creatures known as men are truly unreliable at critical junctures.” 

The blond woman shifted a chilly gaze toward the former king as she spoke the words. The former king attempted muffled excuses with his mouth still covered, but one glare from the woman silenced him. 

“And what are you complaining about? Goodness, how did you ever serve as king without the courage to face up to your own past actions? ’Tis quite pathetic.” 

Seeing that the former king was heartbroken and hanging his head in shame, the woman turned back toward Kojou and the others. 

Naturally, after all that, they realized the woman’s identity. She possessed ingenuity not inferior to La Folia’s. She had overwhelming dignity and charisma. The fact that she looked nearly twenty years younger than her actual age threw them off, but they couldn’t think of anyone else who would treat the former king with so much contempt. 

“Your Highness Kojou Akatsuki, Fourth Primogenitor and King of the Far East’s Empire of the Dawn, and assorted guests from Itogami city-state, I, Musette Rihavein, Queen Mother of Aldegia, welcome your visit from the bottom of my heart.” 

The blond housemaid—or rather, Musette Rihavein, the Queen Mother—rose to her feet and elegantly bowed. That instant, Kojou felt like he was hallucinating that amid the dimly lit dining hall, she was enveloped by light—such was the elegance of the gesture. He really couldn’t wrap his head around her being nearly sixty years of age. 

“No, thank you for inviting us. Sorry, kinda feeling bad about imposing with a big crowd.” 

Kojou hastily bowed his head. In spite of having been so wary, he’d been completely led by the nose. He and the others no doubt looked full of openings to the queen mother’s eyes at that moment. 

However, the queen mother looked at Kojou and the rest with a surprisingly cordial expression. “We have long retired from our duties. There is no need for any concern. Please make yourselves quite at home.” 

“Ah, ahh… Um, what you said to Kanase earlier…” 

Kojou remained perplexed; he still didn’t understand her true intent behind disguising herself as a housemaid to push Kanon into a corner. 

“I engaged in a minor ruse to determine your true character. I apologize for my rudeness.” 

“Determine our…true character?” 

“To those dwelling in a royal palace, it is customary and expected to gloss things over with one’s superficial demeanor. One can learn nothing from this. It is only when coming into contact with trusted confidants or people of lower status that one’s true demeanor is revealed.” 

The queen mother spoke those words as she displayed a smile beautiful enough to make Kojou’s blood run cold. 

He felt like the former king still tied beside her had gone completely rigid from fear. 

“I spoke no lies. It is true that I have engaged in ghastly acts of vengeance against the lovers of His Highness the Former King. I shall never forgive the fools who would use the King’s affections to speak concerning national politics and human affairs, fill their own pockets, and harm Aldegia’s national interests. However…,” said Queen Mother Musette with a charming smile, turning a benevolent-looking gaze toward Kanon. “Kotone was not such a person. Nor are you, Kanon.” 

“Eh?” 

Kanon seemed mystified as she looked at the queen mother, who spoke of Kanon’s mother as if mentioning a close friend. 

“Kotone quietly departed from this nation with this foolish King’s child in her belly to protect his standing. Kanon, it is said that you do not desire the standing or fortunes of a royal, either. I understand how you truly feel. Mind, had you been the sort of person to flee from us, I intended to have you hunted down and eliminated by any means necessary…” 

The queen mother offhandedly spoke words even more terrifying than before. Even so, Kanon’s expression did not change. 

“I merely wished to convey my thanks to His Highness the Former King.” 

Kanon gazed at the still-bound former liege as she spoke. 

“Your thanks?” 

The queen mother narrowed her eyes inquisitively. Kojou and the others also watched Kanon with surprise. 

“Yes. I heard from the abbess—from Lady Nina Adelard, that the abbey I was raised in was built by the former king for the sake of my departed mother.” 

“Nina Adelard? The alchemist…?” 

Surprise hovered in the queen mother’s eyes. Apparently, the name of Nina Adelard, the Great Alchemist of Yore of over two hundred and seventy years of age, had reached her ears, as well. Albeit, a good portion of the queen mother’s surprise seemed directed at the former liege, as if to say How on Earth did you come to know such a woman? 

“Thanks to that, I was blessed with many older brothers and older sisters. The abbey may be gone now, but many people left it beforehand. I have come to offer thanks in their place. Thank you very much.” 

Everyone present stared in a daze as Kanon deeply bowed her head. 

Adelard’s Abbey, the place Kanon was raised, was destroyed in the Wiseman’s Blood incident. A great many people living there lost their lives. However, according to Kanon’s words, others existed who had been saved by the abbey, people who had been saved because of the former liege. 

“That is… That is all?” 

There was a faint tremble to the queen mother’s voice. This time, it was pure surprise that she turned Kanon’s way. 

“You came to Aldegia for no reason other than to convey those words? Even though you might well have been assassinated?” 

“That is what I decided.” 

Kanon nodded without hesitation. Then her cheeks faintly reddened as she gazed up at Kojou, standing right at her side. 

“Besides, Akatsuki and Yukina came with me, so…” 

“Huh?” 

It was Kojou who was thrown off by Kanon’s sudden statement. 

Protecting Kanon. It sounded grandiose, but in reality, Kojou had managed to do virtually nothing for her. The pure gratitude she expressed to him in spite of that made him feel downright embarrassed. 

However, for some reason, the queen mother had a restless expression on her face as she nodded at Kanon’s words. Then she addressed Kojou with a sudden change in the tone of her voice. 

“Fourth Primogenitor, you said that the scenery from this villa is a luxury, did you not?” 

“Ah, err, yes.” 

Kojou felt tense once more as he affirmed her words. He hadn’t spoken it out of any particular malice, but he was worried that he’d rubbed the queen mother the wrong way somehow. 

“This villa is a structure originally constructed as a reception house for entertaining guests from abroad,” Queen Mother Musette said with a charming smile. The sudden disclosure made Kojou’s eyes go wide. 

“Reception house? So it really wasn’t a facility for imprisoning lovers?” 

“No. It is not a place we invite any save truly important friends.” 

“Ah…” 

Kojou suddenly remembered La Folia’s unexpected reaction when she heard the name of Tenotia House. It wasn’t that she was frightened or concerned. It was surprise—surprise at the fact that the queen mother was inviting Kanon to a villa supposedly reserved for truly important friends. 

“Today, Aldegia is a wealthy country due to the growth of sorcerous manufacturing, but it was once a poor country constantly involved in prolonged warfare. It was all we could do to put together this scenery. Even the furniture here was what we selected and put together bit by bit.” 

The queen mother looked at Nagisa, then Asagi, making a satisfied smile toward them. 

“The people who notice the true intent behind it are few and far between… However, yes, Kojou Akatsuki. It has been forty years since another conveyed identical sentiments to me.” 

“…Forty years ago?” 

“By the sovereign ruler of the First Dominion, the Warlord’s Empire.” 

“You mean the Lost Warlord…the First Primogenitor…?” 

The queen mother’s words made Kojou draw in his breath. Forty years ago—that had to be the same year the kingdom of Aldegia and the Warlord’s Empire had ended their eternal war and formed a peace treaty. 

At the time, Musette Rihavein would have been queen of Aldegia, negotiating with the First Primogenitor right at her husband’s side…probably in the very same villa Kojou and the others were in that very moment. 

Kojou had yet to be acquainted with the First Primogenitor. He had very mixed feelings about the fact that he’d voiced an impression identical to the founder of the Holy Ground Treaty. 

“Tee-hee, you might indeed be cut out to be a primogenitor. I suppose that means La Folia’s eyes saw true. Perhaps, I might say, as expected of my own granddaughter?” 

The cunning former queen of Aldegia turned a suggestive gaze toward La Folia. 

“But of course, Your Highness the Queen Mother.” 

La Folia smiled pleasantly, speaking with an invigorated tone of voice. For some reason, the casual conversation between grandmother and grandchild made Kojou’s blood run cold. That was because he somehow picked up that countless things were racing back and forth behind the pair’s brief exchange just then. 

“You set eyes upon this scar earlier.” 

The queen mother pulled off the long glove on her left hand, exposing the scar beneath to all present. 

“This is a scar from an assassination attempt seventeen years ago. The assassin shot me with two bullets. The remaining one is here.” 

She pointed to the center of her own chest, right above where her heart must have been. 

The queen mother’s ghastly pronouncement left Kojou and the others speechless. No matter how much cunning she might boast, she was a human being of flesh and blood. There was no way she could have survived being shot through the heart. It wasn’t the sort of injury that surgery or healing magic could cope with. No normal healing magic, at least. 

“Normally, it would be a wound from which one could not be saved. However, Kotone Kanase whittled away her own life span to employ the ritual she used to treat me when I was critically wounded, even though, had she allowed me to die, she might well have become the next queen.” 

The queen mother of Aldegia turned an affectionate gaze toward Kanon, daughter of her love rival. 

“Kanon Kanase, I owe you and Kotone a debt of gratitude I can never fully repay. I swear upon the name of the queen mother of the kingdom of Aldegia, and upon my own pride, that I shall honor this debt.” 

“Grandmother, you—” La Folia’s eyes glimmered. 

“Yes. Kanon, even if we are not linked by blood, I acknowledge you as my own daughter. You are a legitimate member of the Royal Family of Aldegia, and to us, precious kin.” 

The queen mother’s declaration was solemn but firm. Her unexpected words left Kanon bewildered, yet even so, her lips loosened as she seemed a little happy to hear it. 

La Folia’s expression did not change as she let out a small exhale. It was a sigh of relief. 

That moment, Kojou realized that this had all been La Folia’s scheme. 

It was a scheme so that her grandmother would acknowledge Kanon as a member of the royal family herself. It was a scheme to give Kanon, her aunt of fewer years, the absolute backing of the queen of the former liege. 

Of course, if the queen mother had not acknowledged Kanon, that would have been that, but La Folia had probably felt certain that her grandmother would take a liking to Kanon. And Queen Mother Musette, knowing full well that she was being used, ended up doing as her granddaughter plotted anyway. 

She was the adopted daughter of a former Court Sorcerous Engineer and friend of the little sister of the Fourth Primogenitor. Moreover, the girl possessed great spiritual power. Accepting the girl named Kanon Kanase as a member of the royal family was extremely advantageous for the kingdom of Aldegia. 

Oh well, thought Kojou despite that. 

It wasn’t like having the royal family at her back was a bad thing for Kanon whatsoever, and he didn’t think the queen mother’s affection toward Kanon was strictly a matter of such calculations, regardless. 

As if seeing right through Kojou’s hesitance, the queen mother addressed him as she smiled with delight. “The conversation became rather long without my realizing it. Now, shall we begin dinner?” 

Sitting in the seat recommended to him, Kojou realized that a rather crucial matter remained. Since no one had mentioned it, he was a little unsure of what to do, but seeing those moist eyes staring straight at him left him inwardly sighing as he reluctantly opened his mouth. 

“Um, that’s fine, but isn’t it time to let Mr. Former King loose already?” 

“Oh my…” 

I completely forgot his existence said the queen mother’s glance toward her bound husband. The immobile former liege averted his eyes from his wife like a frightened puppy as he sought salvation from Kojou. 

“Since the Fourth Primogenitor says so, and Kanon is such a good girl, I shall forgive you this one special occasion, but you understand, don’t you? If a child from a different lover shows herself, you shall not get away so lightly. Come to think of it, I promised to break as many fingers as lovers I discover. Would that make it your left index finger this time…? Oh my, oh my, that would leave you unable to hold a fork for this long-awaited dinner, wouldn’t it? Hee-hee-hee.” 

“Fghh—! …Fghh—…!” 

Queen Mother Musette smiled as she continued whispering into the frightened former liege’s ear. 

The husband was a tireless adulterer, and the wife always obtained her revenge. Kojou felt oddly moved by the deep sense that the two might actually be a good match for each other. 

“Somehow, I feel like I’m staring at Kojou’s future,” Asagi suddenly said. 

Yaze nodded deeply in agreement. “Oh yeah. Well, maybe you can’t be king of a nation without being at least this shameless.” 

“Huh…?! Wait a sec. What the heck have I done?!” 

Kojou was ferociously consternated at being blamed for something he didn’t remember committing. 

Nagisa let out a weary, exasperated-sounding sigh. “He doesn’t realize it at all. Right, Yukina?” 

“I suppose not. Certainly, part of that is my being lax in monitoring him.” 

Yukina voiced words as if she was genuinely reflecting on the matter. This was thoroughly super-serious Yukina talking, so for her to suddenly say the queen mother’s behavior was something to learn from sounded downright terrifying. 

“Please rest at ease, Kojou. I have somewhat greater forbearance than my grandmother.” 

“Hmm. It might be good for me to teach Kanon how to deal with adulterous men while I have the chance. Do not be concerned. I have not been married to this man for over forty years with nothing to show for it.” 

“P-please and thank you.” 

Finally, even those related to the Aldegian royal house began running their mouths one after another. 

For some reason, the still-bound former king was gazing at Kojou with a look of pity. 

During that time, waiters brought in one course after another. Each was an elaborately planned dish that lived up to Aldegia’s fame for gourmet cooking. However, Kojou didn’t feel like he could calm down and savor it just then. 

“Gimme a break.” 

Kojou made a tiny murmur to himself as he looked up through the glass at the beautiful starry sky. 

The moonlight reflecting off the lake shone gently upon the side of his face.