Chapter 1: Report.

After Christina finished her explanation, François states that Christina’s and Flora’s
return is a happy thing but there isn’t time to enjoy it because it seems undeniable that
the Proxia empire is behind their kidnapping. Christina agrees because Lucius’
subordinates were certainly connected to the Proxia empire. Duke Huguenot reports to
them that Celia saw Reis in Restoration’s headquarters at the same time the magic ship
transporting the Princesses arrived in Rodania, and the uproar about their disappearance
began. They worry about Celia, but Huguenot tells them next that she’s safe and that
Reis ran away the moment he was discovered. Haruto thinks to himself that he may hear
about what really happened when he returns to Rodania, that maybe Aisia protected
Celia, and then promises himself to go back the moment he has the chance.

Now François talks about, how for the time being there aren't enough evidence for
accusing the Proxia empire of anything but the Rubia kingdom is different. That Galarc
and Restoration must break their alliances with them, and that he will send a formal
complaint about the assault on Haruto, Christina and Flora. Christina agrees and says
she will issue one as well. Hiroaki asks if that won’t be useless, Christina agrees to that,
and with the alliance broken, the chance of their complaints being ignored is high.
Hiroaki then asks why to complain if they understand that it will be useless, François
then explains to him, that for a retaliatory attack on Rubia kingdom, they have to cross
another small kingdom and it’s likely impossible to make them agree to let their troops
through their lands. Christina also explains that Restoration doesn’t have the strength to
go to war with another country. Hiroaki believes that they will be underestimated if they
don’t do anything.

François says that he intends to take reprisals against them, through other allied small
kingdoms and to publicize their bad acts. Plus that Rubia will troubled too, if he just
makes Haruto, the most affected person this time, rampage alone through Rubia’s
capital in revenge. François checks Haruto’s reaction while laughing and Haruto just
says to him to not jest with a stiff and troubled face. Satsuki protests to the King's
statement, saying he shouldn't make Haruto do something so extreme. François laughs it
off as a joke and that he doesn’t have the authority to move Haruto. Satsuki tries to
scold him saying that even if he has the authority, such a dangerous action is pointless.
François then says that he doesn’t know about Proxia empire but if Haruto were to
rampage in Rubia’s capital, they will be the ones in danger.

Hiroaki laughs mockingly. Satsuki pouts saying that she can’t deny such a scenario, but
that it will still be dangerous and that Haruto Amakawa would gain the enmity of the
entire country that way. Christina agrees with Satsuki and says that she doesn’t want to
have her savior to do something so dangerous. Hiroaki sulks when he listens to
Christina worrying about Haruto. Charlotte adds that she wants Haruto Amakawa to
accumulate more achievements but she doesn’t want him to be feared. Haruto responds
with a troubled face that everyone is overestimating him and wonders in his head just
what everyone think he is, because he felt that everyone is really convinced that he
alone is enough to seriously damage a country. At the same time everyone looks at him
as if wanting to say with their gazes, just what is this guy saying.

Charlotte now asks Liselotte about Haruto’s lesser known achievements like when he
saved her life and Flora’s before Amande’s raid. She then begins to list all of Haruto’s
achievements: from Amande’s defense, Flora’s rescue from Lucius, repelling the black
wyvern, defeating Alfred and sending back Bertram’s five thousand army, Lucius’
defeat again and finally his victory against Rubia’s troops during the assault and asks if
they’re really overestimating him. Haruto says that it’s an honor, but if it’s about
defending the royal capital he’s sure that the Rubia kingdom will prepare strong
warriors. Charlotte says that the only famous warrior in the Rubia Kingdom is Silvie
and by Christina’s story she doesn’t stand a chance against Haruto. He insists that the
fifth hero was there too. Satsuki asks if he hasn’t already defeated that hero too during
the assault. Rio affirms that he defeated him but that he didn’t really fight with him that
much, and that he pulled back before the fight was resolved.

Hiroaki asks if the opponent was really a hero, Haruto believes he was. He wielded a
halberd that controlled ice, like the other divine weapons. Hiroaki doesn't think a hero
can be defeated that easily. Satsuki retorts that he seems against the idea that the heroes
can be defeated, and asks him if he believes that he can beat Haruto. Hiroaki remembers
his duel with Haruto Amakawa and shuts up. Charlotte asks Christina and Flora on how
the fight between Haruto Amakawa and Renji looked to them. Christina said that
Haruto overwhelmed him and Lucius' subordinates from beginning to end, while
looking at Haruto’s troubled face. Flora said that it was incredible with shining eyes
while nodding strongly. Charlotte pouts, saying that she wanted to see it too and that
she’s envious. Satsuki retorts saying not to be, because she would have had to be
kidnapped too to be there. Hiroaki sarcastically states that it’s certainly enviable, that he
keeps being more like a hero than the real heroes. Roana by his side, gets completely
stiff when hearing him.

François decides to end the jokes about Haruto’s strength and says that even if it’s better
and faster to send Haruto Amakawa alone there, he won’t do that. Hiroaki states that
Haruto’s achievements don’t matter, whats important is what will they do about the
Rubia kingdom. François says that publicizing their bad acts with a hero on their side
may be really troublesome. Talking to them and finding a realistic way of imposing
sanctions on them is the only way. Christina agrees and says that the Rubia kingdom
can’t be forgiven, and that if they try to hide behind their hero they will take appropriate
measures.

Now François asks how is it that Haruto found Christina’s and Flora’s location. Haruto
explains that he heard from a certain source that Lucius was working as mercenary
around the Paladia kingdom and that he went to Paladia’s capital to gather more
information. When he arrived there, Prince Duran was organizing a contest where he
promised to fulfill the wish of anyone strong enough to resist a serious attack from him.
He participated to ask for information on Lucius because he heard that they were
acquaintances. Charlotte then guesses that Haruto passed Duran’s trial without problem
and got the information from him. Amakawa confirms and says that he was told to go to
the village where Christina and Flora were.

Now François wonders if Duran and the Paladia kingdom were involved in Christina’s
and Flora’s kidnapping, Christina says that she doesn’t really trust Duran but that she
doesn’t think he was involved in the kidnapping. If he was an accomplice, it would have
better to have them teleported directly to Paladia’s royal castle rather than the middle of
the forest.
François agrees but stops. Christina asks what is his concern, Francois responds that if
Paladia’s involvement is unlikely due to them being sent to the middle of the forest,
then the same could apply to the Proxia empire. Hiroaki asks him to explain. The King
explains that if the Proxia empire hired the mercenaries for kidnapping Christina and
Flora, then it’s strange to not have them teleported directly to Proxia’s castle. Sending
them to another country and even consulting with its royalty just raises the risk of being
exposed. He thinks that having them sent to Paladia’s forest was Lucius’ plan for using
them as hostages against Haruto. Christina doesn’t want Rio to feel guilty about it, and
tries to argue that it was because the Proxia empire wanted it that way so they could
sever ties with Lucius if needed. François agrees that it’s obvious to make your dirty
work difficult to tie back to you but that Lucius didn’t seem to be careful about that.

Hiroaki summarizes that the chance of Lucius kidnapping Christina and Flora was for
the sake of using them as hostages against Haruto, and asks if it isn’t a coincidence.
Christina sighs while asking what is incredible. Hiroaki then asks sarcastically and with
a strangely loud voice if it isn’t possible that their kidnapping is his fault while pointing
his finger at Haruto Amakawa. Christina denies it and he asks why. Christina states that
even without having a past with Rio, Lucius would have kidnapped them, as he had
already tried to kidnap Flora at Amande and that was unrelated to Haruto. Also that
Lucius' subordinates already tried to kidnap her too on her way to Rodania and that was
unrelated to Haruto as well. Hiroaki states that Flora’s kidnapping at Amande might be
Haruto’s fault too.

Liselotte doesn't believe so, Hiroaki asks why, and she says that because Haruto’s and
Lucius’ encounter at Amande was by happenstance. Hiroaki wonders angrily inside his
head why he’s just called by his yuusha title, but that she properly calls Haruto by his
name. He says that maybe it’s a lie that it hasn't been long since their last meeting.
Liselotte asks Flora, who was at the scene, whether their conversation was one as if it
has been a long time since they last saw each other. Flora confirms that and says that at
first Lucius didn't even remember Haruto. Now Hiroaki is frustrated because everyone
is protecting Haruto. Like Liselotte, Flora is calling Haruto Amakawa by his first name
from the beginning. He reluctantly gives up on blaming Haruto and says that it must be
as everyone says then.

François is now organizing in his head everything said until now. He doesn’t believe
that Lucius kidnapped Christina and Flora due to his past with Rio, that it’s normal to
think that the Proxia empire was behind him. Now he wonders why the forest in the
Paladia kingdom, that he doesn’t understand the reason for that. Then he asks Rio about
their fight at Amande. Rio says that Lucius was able to escape that place with a painful
defeat. He then says that in that case he can understand why Lucius resents him that
strongly and why he may have a different goal from his employer’s: The Proxia empire,
and that he aimed at Christina and Flora because they were related somehow to Rio.

Christina confirms those words and says that if not for Rio neither Flora or her would be
there, that maybe they would be at Proxia’s castle right now, and that if there hadn’t
been a past between Rio and Lucius they wouldn’t have been saved. Lastly she says
with a little sad expression that the debt to him just keeps going up. Hiroaki then says
sarcastically that he’s curious about how many good places Rio keeps appearing in as if
that is his objective. Roana is sweating cold next to Hiroaki.
Christina call his name while sighing. Hiroaki asks what, then she says that for the sake
of protecting her and Flora, Rio had to put himself in a position so disadvantageous that
he could have lost his life if he had taken a wrong step. Hiroaki asks again that then
what. Christina says that even if he’s a hero she won’t forgive any other rude behavior
towards Rio. Hiroaki then says that it was his bad without any feeling in it. He excuses
himself on his mood being bad and decides to leave. He stands with a face as if wanting
to say something more to Christina but he swallows his thoughts and walks to the door.
Then Christina orders Roana to accompany him. Hiroaki leaves the room while
murmuring really what a shit and Roana follows him.

Christina apologizes to Rio with a sad face for Hiroaki’s rudeness. Rio says with a
troubled face that there isn’t a reason to apologize. François then explains to them that
Hiroaki was in a bad mood because a little before their arrival there was a marriage
interview between Hiroaki and Liselotte. Christina finally understood why everyone
was gathered there and guessed the situation, face palming herself for enduring the
headache. Liselotte then apologizes while being a little nervous. Christina says she has
no reason for apologizing and that everything is Hiroaki’s fault for asking the
impossible while the tiredness of her faces goes up. Liselotte tries to comfort her again
and then François says that a lot problems got resolved with just their safe return for
trying to change the topic.

Christina says that her head hurts just from thinking about the Rubia kingdom’s and the
Proxia empire’s responses to this matter and that if the Proxia empire really obtained
teleportation magic they’re a troublesome opponent. François says that he didn’t really
see it but that he doesn’t want to think that it’s a thing so free, even more when
choosing the destination, that if they can teleport people inside castles it will be
dangerous, that if he takes into account that magic, he can explain how the assassins
invaded the evening party in the past. Huguenot and Cedric agree to that saying that that
would be frightening.

While they talk about that, Rio is thinking that at that time he wasn’t able to feel the
activation of teleportation magic, and that even if the people from the Strahl region
can’t see the magic power, a magic power detection magic tool should have been able to
detect the activation too. Then he begins to think that with a barrier strong enough for
blocking the vibrations of the mana and odo in the air it may be possible. While Rio
thinks about that everyone keeps worrying about the possibility of assassins teleporting
directly into their rooms. Then Rio decides to calm them saying that that it’s unlikely.
François asks why and Rio says that for teleporting it’s necessary to set the destination
coordinates in advance, you can only teleport to the place that the magic tool that marks
your destination is set in, and setting it in their bedrooms is too complicated. François
then says that his explanation is strangely detailed. Rio then excuses himself in that
being something that he heard from Celia, for dodging the question. He then apologizes
to Celia in his head for using her name that way, and everyone indeed swallows the lie
just because Celia is a famous magic researcher.

François asks if there was someone collaborating with the Proxia empire between the
party’s guests they could help the assassins to teleport inside. Rio then says that for
someone between the guests it wouldn’t have been complicated. François asks if it
could have been the Rubia kingdom and he nods slowly. François wonders full of anger
if they were already betraying them back then. Rio says that if he’s worried about the
presence of the magic tool that set the teleportation destination it may be a good idea to
make a magician, that can use area detection magic, to go through the castle because
that magic tool has to be loaded with magic power, so it must be detected if it’s
somewhere inside.

François is relieved with this and thinks that from now on it may be a good idea to raise
the number of magic power detection tools inside the castle. François thanks Rio for the
information. Then Christina offers to describe the form of the magic tool that teleported
her and Flora, in case it’s useful. François thanks her too. In her head, Liselotte decides
to properly investigate Amande too when she goes back. At the same time everyone
decides to have their own places properly investigated too. Christina then describe how
her and Flora were teleported and everyone concluded that the magic tool can just
teleport things inside a certain range or a limited number of people at the same time,
that if someone goes out of that range or puts away the magic tool before the magic
activates, they should be fine. François says that for the time being that topic should be
settled with that and it’s already time for talking about Rio.

Rio corrects his posture and gets a little stiff hearing that, and asks what is it about him.
François says that it is about his reward and Rio immediately says he doesn’t need it.
François says to not joke on celebrating days. Rio says that he isn’t joking and François
answers that his lack of greed is troubling and asks him if he intends to retire already at
his age. Rio then says that if possible he wants to have a calm life while smiling wryly.
François talks to him again about how a country needs to reward the extraordinary
accordingly, or it won’t have a good future because all the competent people will leave.
Christina feels those words stabbing her, when she remembers how her kingdom treated
him. Rio says that he understands that. François says to just take the reward if he does,
that bringing Christina and Flora back is very beneficial for the kingdom, that whatever
reward wouldn’t be excessive, that he also wanted to reward him for helping Christina
to go from Kreia to Rodania, but since the evening party he didn’t came to the castle at
all. Rio apologizes about that and François says to him again that if it’s like that to
decide a proper reward and properly receive it this time.

Charlotte laughs at how reluctant and depressed Rio looks for having to receive a
reward and lastly while sulking says that he didn’t really appear at the castle at all. He
excuses himself in having to go from place to place. Then she says that he still met
Satsuki and Liselotte. Rio can’t answer to that and François says to Charlotte to not
tease him because now it’s about his reward. Then she says that she will talk about that
slowly at another time while smiling brightly at Rio. Rio tried to ask Satsuki for help
with his gaze but she just shrugged her shoulders as if wanting to say reflect on it.

Christina says that she wants to give something too, in the name of Restoration if
possible, and Rio says that since he already received a house in Rodania from
Restoration he can’t think of anything else to ask for. Christina sighs without strength,
at the expected answer. Huguenot then says that it would be really bad for Restoration’s
honor if they don’t reward him accordingly and asks him to please take something.
When François hears about the house in Rodania, he says that it was strange for him to
not have a house in the Galarc kingdom but having one in Rodania, so he decides to
give him a mansion inside the royal castle grounds. Everyone there hold their breaths
with the exception of Charlotte who is smiling.
Everyone’s reaction worry Rio about how unusual of a reward he has just received and
says that it seems like something like the other nobles have never seen. François says
that of course because those mansions belong to the royal family, that not even
Liselotte’s father has one and Huguenot didn’t have one in the Bertram kingdom either.
(TLN: the size of a noble’s mansion and its distance to the royal castle are ways of
measuring the power, richness, importance and authority of that noble house, giving
Rio a mansion inside the royal castle walls is the same as recognizing him as the most
important noble in the kingdom.) Rio is beginning to fear that his reward may come
with a meaning really troublesome and tries to asks about it and François readily
explains to him that it would be as recognizing as the top noble of the kingdom. Rio
tries to act as if he’s appealing to François’ common sense and asks if it isn’t enough a
mansion in the noble district. François says that inside the castle walls Satsuki can come
and go freely and that Miharu can come and sleep over too and asks if that isn’t good.

François says him to not worry about the noble’s reaction because when hearing about
Haruto’s achievements they won’t have another option that shutting up. He then asks
Cedric if it isn’t like that. He says he will indeed keep silence but that people who
doesn’t like this will certainly appear, that the nobles who work on the royal court will
specially dislike it, that thinking about Rio’s future he shouldn’t have many enemies on
the court. François says that that is just the same as always, that they can be dealt with
by having proper allies himself too and that the majority will be too scared for doing
something to Rio who has himself, Cedrick and Satsuki on his side. Then Cedric and
François decide to take care together of helping Rio with the objecting nobles who will
come and it’s decided that Rio will receive a mansion inside the castle grounds. Rio
says thanks with a troubled face.

François says to him that the mansions there are all ready to move in whenever, that
soon he will need to bring in servants but that he needs to find on his own reliable
people, that he’s fine with advising him about that. Rio asks to be given some time for
thinking about that, that he isn’t used to having servants so he doesn’t want to hire
anyone right now. François says to him that it’s fine too to borrow some temporary ones
and that with that Galarc’s rewarding is over, then he asks Christina what will
Restoration do. Christina asks for some time for thinking about what to give to Rio that
it’s proportional to his achievements. François asks Rio if he’s fine with that and he
agrees to it. François declares the talk ended and says that he wants to discuss several
things with Cedric and asks if there is someone who still has something to say.

Charlotte says then that Rio should stay with Satsuki and her now. Rio accepts and
François asks him what are his future plans. He says that he wants to show his face to
Celia who is in Rodania so he intends to accompany Christina’s group until there, that it
will be bad if he doesn’t return to Miharu and the rest of his homemates too. François
asks if it is better to give the mansion after that. Christina says that she needs to show
her and Flora’s healthy appearances in Rodania soon so she intended to go back to
Rodania the next morning. Charlotte pouts while saying that they finally were able to
meet again and Satsuki agrees with her. Charlotte suggest to just bring everyone to the
castle then. Rio tries to refuse with the excuse of a lot people on his group not being
used to the noble society.

He remembers about everyone and thinks Celia and Miharu may come but he isn’t sure
about the rest, that he doesn’t want to have the group separated again because until now
he wasn’t really able of spending that much time with everyone since he came to the
Stralh region, especially with Latifa. Charlotte insist saying that Satsuki wants to meet
Miharu again too. Satsuki says that if possible she wants to meet her but she doesn’t
insist because she thinks that everyone must have their own circumstances. Charlotte
says then that he doesn’t need to worry about that, that if they meet at Rio’s mansion
they may need to show their faces to her father but she can keep the rest of people away
with her authority. Rio thinks if possible he wants to let Miharu to meet with Satsuki
too, that it may be fine if he can keep the rest of the people of the castle away from
Latifa, that she may be fine if it’s like that and decides to try to invite them to the castle.
Rio then says that he can’t promise anything about bringing them without fault but he
will try talk to everyone besides Miharu too and Charlotte says that she’s expecting it.

Now François asks if it’s better to give Rio his mansion before his departure and asks
Charlotte if she remembers about a mansion near the tower where Satsuki lives.
Charlotte says she will give the mansion to Rio. François tells her to take Satsuki with
them too and Charlotte says to Liselotte to also come with them. She tries to invite
Liselotte’s mother too but she refuses saying that she doesn’t want to be a hindrance.
Rio says to her that there isn’t a way she will be one. Charlotte realizes that Flora was
watching them go with an envious face and invites her and Christina saying that she
wants to listen more about their travel with Rio. Christina wonders about what to do and
after Rio says that there isn’t a need of holding back, Christina decided to take the offer
after seeing Flora’s face. Charlotte offers the two to change to aristocratic clothes first
and says to Rio that she will send a change of clothes for him to the mansion and to
change clothes there. Christina says that she will come back later to Huguenot and he
says that he will go to check Hiroaki’s condition.

Everyone except Rio, Satsuki, Liselotte and her mother Julianne who are waiting for the
princesses’ return left the room, Satsuki says to Julianne that since they met at the
evening party she hasn’t properly greeted her and she does so, she praises her beauty
and says that at the beginning she thought that she was Liselotte’s older sister, that it
surprised her that she was her mother, Julianne answers that she’s honored of being
remembered by her and is happy for the praises.

Satsuki asks Julianne to call her by the name not yuusha-sama, Julianne then thanks
Satsuki for being Liselotte’s friend because she has few friends her age due to her job at
Amande and the Rikka firm, Liselotte is embarrassed hearing that, Satsuki says that
there’s no need for that because she’s thankful to Liselotte too for coming to the castle
to visit her when there’s a chance, Liselotte says she’s happy too of being Satsuki’s
friend, after looking happily at the exchange of those two now Julianne turns to Rio.

Rio apologizes for prioritizing the talk over greeting them when he arrived at the castle,
Liselotte greets Rio, Julianne thanks him for the invitation to talk again calmly with
everyone and the invitation to the mansion tour, Rio says that it’s his fault to not have
shown enough his face to everyone for being always going from place to place, that he
wanted too a chance for talking with everyone again, Satsuki says teasingly to Rio that
she would be happy if he shows his face a little more now that he received the mansion,
Rio says that he intends to do so in the future and to feel free to visit while he’s at the
capital, Satsuki says she will wait for it and that now she’s expecting what kind of
mansion he will receive and thanks him for the permission to impose a little, Rio says
there isn’t anything to thank him for, Satsuki says that if he hadn’t brought Christina
and Flora back safely even if he had been given a mansion anyway she wouldn’t really
enjoy it because of the bad aftertaste, that she has to properly thank that with words and
that as said before she will go to play there usually smiling mischievously at the end.

Satsuki asks to Julianne and Liselotte if they know what kind of house was given to Rio,
Liselotte says that she knows what building it’s, that it’s a beautiful mansion with pretty
design, but that she never saw the inside because usually just the royalty use that
mansion, Julianne says too that she never entered either and that she’s curious about
what kind of inside it will have, Satsuki says that it’s exciting to see a place she knows
nothing about and after some tens of minutes the three princesses come back to the
room after changing clothes for picking them up.

Chapter 2: New House and a New Stirring.

Everyone walk from the drawing room until the mansion, everyone stand in front of the
door and Charlotte says that that is the mansion given to Rio, Satsuki says that she
thought she could see it from her room but that looked closely was splendid, then she
looks at her tower that is at less that one hundred meters away from it, Charlotte
explains that the mansion already has the minimum furniture, that whatever necessary
thing will be brought later for him to be able to move in, that after taking a look to every
room they will talk at the drawing room.

Several maids waiting there opened the gates for them, after looking at all the rooms
Rio went to change clothes and when he came back he sit between Satsuki and
Charlotte, next to the two were Christina and Flora and after the two Liselotte and
Julianne, with the chair arranged forming an U, Satsuki comments on how the mansion
is splendid and big because is supposed to be just for royalties and how it has a lot of
rooms, Rio says that as expected he feels that it will be bad to have the him who isn’t
royalty to live here, Satsuki says smiling wryly and understanding Rio’s feeling that he
being allowed to live alone in a mansion for royalties without being royalty will
certainly stand out.

Charlotte says that because her father that is at the summit of those royalties says that he
doesn’t care Rio doesn’t need to worry about that, that she wants him to live at the
mansion too and she will support him too afterwards, Satsuki now asks what exactly is
the definition of royal family, that Christina and Flora may already know it but that she
wonders until what level of parentage is someone considered royal family, Charlotte
explains that in Galarc’s laws the ones called treated as royal family are the king, his
first wife, their children, the previous king, his first wife and their unmarried children,
but that it may change in every country and asks Christina if on the Beltram kingdom is
different, she says that in the Bertram kingdom it’s the same.

Charlotte says now that changing to the royal family of another country is a special
case, that the usual is to make the rest of royal children into retainers of sending them to
some retainer’s family, that in the past they send some royalty to the Kreitia family for
example, Satsuki says she understand now the difference between related to the royalty
and royalty and talks about how aside François she didn’t talked much to the rest of the
royal family, Charlotte explains that the rest of the royals stay as away as possible from
politics for avoiding the suspicions of trying to disperse the royal power, because of that
she, Michelle, Rosalie and her mother are the only ones who usually live in the castle
while the rest of her family lives on the mansions inside the castle walls.

Satsuki now asks if the marriage between royalties and retainers are all political,
Charlotte says that usually they’re for the sake of strengthening their connection with
some retainer, but that the difference in status uses to be an obstacle and that because of
that there’s a lot of relatives sent to some duke house, she says too that normally they
just have married in another families the children with low succession right, that people
with high rankings like her, Christina and Flora normally aren’t like that.

Satsuki asks if the royalties with high ranking wouldn’t be always single like that,
Charlotte says that it isn’t like that, that in their case they can have the sons of high
ranking retainers to marry them and to make them enter the royal family and that there
were a lot of duke sons like that, Satsuki says that she understands that they’re for the
sake of connecting people to the royal family, Charlotte says that from time to time
there are too cases of people who doesn’t want to lose their status as royalty, Satsuki
that somehow already understood everything, says that the royals’ marriages seem to be
complicated in several meanings, Charlotte agrees and says that she wouldn’t mind to
give up her royal status for the sake of marrying Rio while smiling in his direction.

Rio chokes with the tea, he apologizes hurriedly for his rudeness to everyone after
putting down his cup, but none listen to it, they just look wide eyed at Charlotte, Satsuki
asks hurriedly and flustered if isn’t bad to say something like that in front of Christina
and Flora, She says she won’t deny that, but that she already told the same to Rio when
he left the castle after the evening party and that the situation changed since then, then
Satsuki remembered how Charlotte told Rio that she liked him that time, Charlotte asks
Rio if he still remembers too that moment despite not having met since then, Rio says
that he remembers it, and she smiles gladly, Liselotte looks at her as if she’s seeing
something unbelievable because she knows of Charlotte bad hobby of showing interest
in men just for the sake of teasing and for causing them troubles with their lovers, but
looking at her expression this time she wonders if she’s serious.

She thinks that Charlotte’s expression is different from what she saw in the past, that
she doesn’t remember about her declaring her feelings for someone this directly either,
she wonders what happened between the two, what was all that, that she’s very
intrigued about it, Julianne smiles softly seeing Liselotte’s surprised and curious face,
Charlotte says that anyway she wanted to meet Rio again quickly, that she won’t stop
him from accompanying Christina and Flora to Rodania, but to please convince
everyone to come to the castle and returning quickly that Celia that is connected to Rio
intrigues her too, Rio says that she belongs to Restoration now and that she may not be
able to accompany him because she has work at Rodania, Charlotte asks Christina if it
is possible to get her permission, Christina consents saying that she doesn’t have a
problem with it, that the holidays are near and that she may want to be with Rio after a
long time, Charlotte says that Celia seems to be really close to Rio, that she really wants
to meet her, and asks if it wouldn’t be fine to have Miharu and the rest of the girls to
sleepover at the mansion while smiling cutely.

Satsuki asks Rio with a tired face if he’s fine with it, to say it if there’s someone who
doesn’t want to come because the talk is just progressing at Charlotte’s pace like that,
Rio says that he will ask everyone what they will do and then decide, Charlotte says to
Rio that if everyone agrees to organize the sleepover, she asks Liselotte to come too,
Liselotte says she may not be able to come depending on the schedule due to her work,
Charlotte asks Rio how long it will take him to come back from Rodania, he says that
more or less a week if he comes and go on a magic ship, Christina says that the
transportation is on Restoration, Charlotte asks if it is fine like that because she was
thinking about sending someone to pick up Rio’s group, Christina says that after going
back Rodania and organizing various things she will need to talk again with François so
it’s fine, Charlotte asks now if she wants to participate too, Christina wanted to refuse
but she doubted when seeing Flora’s wishful face, then Charlotte said that if she comes
of course Flora can come too, in the end she says that she doesn’t know about the
sleepover but that she won’t refuse a meal or a tea party, Charlotte says that if the two
come too the fun she expects to have will really go up, then she says to Rio to make
sure that the mood is casual and relaxing for not making anyone uncomfortable.

Rio is thinking inside his head about how the talk keeps getting bigger, then he wonders
if it will be really fine for the unmarried princesses and noblewomen to sleep at the
house of an unmarried man, that if feels really late to worry about that somehow though,
Charlotte says smiling that she’s really expecting the day to come, Rio thinks that he
will have to participate for sure, that he wants to reunite Miharu and Satsuki, that it may
be bad if Latifa’s group refuse, that he may be able to go through the sleepover
somehow if he locks himself on his room, while Rio’s was thinking like that Charlotte
invited Julianne too, she refuses saying that she’s married, to enjoy with just the young,
but that she will talk to her husband about Liselotte and to take care of her, Liselotte
thinks that somehow she won’t be able to avoid participating and that it will be back if
she doesn’t adjust her schedule at Amande and sighs tiredly but a little happy too.

After some more talk and time everyone finally decides to go back for the day, after
leaving Christina asks to the maids there to guide them to Huguenot’s room because she
needs to talk with him about several things, after being told that he’s at Hiroaki’s room
she decides to go there then, when the two enter Hiroaki’s room Huguenot and Roana
are there too making frustrated faces, the two stand and greet them while Hiroaki stays
sit with a bothered face, Christina greets Hiroaki in a noble manner saying good day to
him without minding his mood, Hiroaki says that he isn’t fine.

Christina asks if something happened, Hiroaki says that nothing and says that they seem
to have had a lot of fun at the damn Haruto’s place as if accusing them of unloyal,
Christina says that they can’t refuse Rio’s, their savior, and Charlotte’s, a princess of an
allied country, invitation, Hiroaki murmurs in a low voice you say that but you wanted
to go too to his place, Christina asks if he said something, he changes the topic to his
talk with Huguenot and Roana, Christina asks what talk, Hiroaki says that it’s about the
wedding with Rosalie, Christina confirms if they’re talking about Rosalie the third
princess of the Galarc kingdom and tells everyone to sit.

Christina and Flora sit in front of Hiroaki and Roana and Huguenot at his sides, she tells
Hiroaki to tell her about the talk, Hiroaki says that it isn’t anything big that he just
wants to make Rosalie his first wife while observing Christina’s reaction, Christina
without changing her expression says that she understands and asks if Roana and
Huguenot were convincing him of that being impossible, Hiroaki frowned when he
didn’t get the reaction he was expecting from Christina, she continues confirming the
facts and says that Hiroaki must have announced to the public that he would make Flora
his first wife, he continues saying that when both disappeared and were believed death
that engagement disappeared so he came here to get engaged with Rosalie for avoiding
the collapse of the organization.

Christina says that when Flora came back before formalizing that engagement that talk
came undone too because Galarc’s side is convinced that the engagement with Flora
will be restored, Hiroaki says that that is just their convenience, that changing or not his
fiançee is on him, Christina admits that certainly is their convenience and apologizes
lowering his head a little with a complicated face, Hiroaki is happy at seeing her
troubled.

Christina says that she has a question, she asks if it’s fine to think that he loves Rosalie
if he really wishes to get married with her that much, at first Hiroaki makes “haaa” with
a stupid voice and says that just normal looking at everywhere except at Christina, she
says that it’s something rude but that it was important for her and apologizes for the
improper question, she asks Hiroaki to lastly confirm one more time that the one she
wants as his first wife is Rosalie and not Flora, Hiroaki says that he said that from the
beginning, Christina says understood and that they will cancel the engagement with
Flora then.

Huguenot asks to Christina screaming and flustered what is she saying ,Christina says
that it can be helped because Hiroaki wants to make Rosalie his first wife, he says that
even if she says that if she does as she says the connection between Hiroaki and
Restoration will get weakened and asks her if she’s crazy, she asks Huguenot with a
calm voice if it wouldn’t be painful to make him have as his first wife some he doesn’t
like, Huguenot tried to say that was normal for the nobles and royals and Christina
interrupted him saying that it’s a matter of course for nobles and royalties but that
Hiroaki is a hero not a noble, Christina says now that because she’s royalty she will
make the effort of liking someone she doesn’t love or know nothing about for the sake
of the country, but she can’t force Hiroaki to that.

Huguenot says that despite that the existence of the hero is necessary for Restoration,
that the best is to strengthen his relationship with the organization, Christina says that
she understands his thinking but that the heroes are existences that wasn’t originally on
this world, that they just were brought to this world by chance by the summoning
stones, that originally they were just a legend, she asks if she’s wrong, Huguenot says
she isn’t, she asks now if he doesn’t think they shouldn’t force the heroes who
originally didn’t exist to swallow their emotions and to fit on the organization,
Huguenot says that because they exist, they need to take into into account that existence
on their thoughts, she says she thinks that too but in the end trying to force the heroes
who transcend them, the humans, into their rules will create a distortion and that they’re
troubled now precisely because of that distortion, at the same time that everyone got
silent at that Hiroaki said in low voice that he isn’t a hero because he wants it, that if he
could go back to earth he would want to do it.

Christina asks him if she wants to stop being a hero, Hiroaki says that it isn’t a matter of
being able to stop just because he wants it, Christina says that is really useful for
Restoration to have Hiroaki with them, but that if it’s troublesome for him there’s space
for consideration, Hiroaki asks if it doesn’t matter to them if he isn’t there, Christina
says that it would be troubling for them if he leaves so she wishes for him to stay, but
that she will respect his will, when Hiroaki doesn’t answer Christina says that if he
wants to make Rosalie his first wife as he said before they won’t stop him, but that as
expected if he wants to get married with Rosalie, a royalty, it will be a necessary
condition to keep being a hero.

Christina says that tomorrow when she and Flora return to Rodania for showing
everyone their safe appearance she will announce officially the annulation of the
engagement with Flora, Hiroaki is surprised, Christina then says that if he still wants to
make Rosalie his wife to talk with François himself and to tell to the princess his
feelings, now Hiroaki is scared of having to make the effort of approaching someone by
himself instead of having everything done on his behalf, Christina tells Roana to stay in
the castle with Hiroaki and to take care of him, Roana says that understood and
Christina asks Huguenot now what will he do, he says he will go back to Rodania too,
she says they will depart on the morning because she wants to arrive on the afternoon,
he says that fine, Christina says she and Flora will retire for the day and Huguenot
accompanies them leaving Hiroaki and Roana behind.

After leaving Huguenot asks Christina to talk a little more, she agrees and she and Flora
follow him to his room, after the three are seated on the sofas on Huguenot’s room
Christina asks him if it’s about Hiroaki, he says he agrees about there being limits on
the concessions an organization can do but that it’s too soon for cancelling the
engagement with Flora, he asks if it isn’t better to wait a little longer and seeing if
Hiroaki changes his mind, Christina says she doesn’t think it’s a problem of him
changing his answer if there’s time, that Hiroaki wants Rosalie as his wife instead of
Flora, that if he still thinks like that before their departure in the morning that it’s
concluded, he asks if it wouldn’t be fine to still have Flora as the second wife if
François accepts the engagement with Rosalie, Christina says that if the engagement
with Rosalie fails she will try to engage him again with someone from Restoration, that
if Hiroaki wishes so she will offer herself as his first wife then, Flora is surprised about
this, and Christina says next that originally she who has a higher succession right is a
better candidate than Flora, that even if he makes Rosalie his first wife there shouldn’t
be any problem because the higher succession rank to the throne of the Beltram
kingdom will still be hers.

Huguenot says he agrees with Christina’s idea but inside his head he’s cursing thinking
that he got done this time and he can’t even discuss it, he decided to content himself by
now with possibility of Christina becoming Hiroaki’s wife instead of Flora at the same
time that he still thinks he can just hope Hiroaki will change his mind before the
departure of the magic ship, Christina asks if the talk is over, Huguenot says that he
wants to talk about Rio too and Christina says she’s listening.

He begins saying that he already said a lot of times that he considers him someone they
should incorporate to the organization, and if it’s impossible to at least making a
relationship friendly enough for him to aid them in an emergency, after hesitating for a
while due to the fact that she already knows that Rio = Haruto Amakawa she decides to
give the neutral answer that it would preferable that way, she’s thinking inside her head
about how it's his son’s fault that Rio had to leave the kingdom and about how she
wants to do something about it and denounce it, but at the same time she thinks that the
her who didn’t do anything in the past doesn’t have the right to say anything, she bits
her lip while Flora next to her makes a complicated face too, Huguenot asks with what
are they supposed to reward Rio this time, Christina says she can’t think immediately
about something equal to his achievements, that he intends to consult with Rio himself
too.

Huguenot says he understands and Christina asks if he isn’t fine with it, Huguenot says
that normally he will be offered a marriage with a high ranking girl from Restoration,
that he’s an unmarried young man after all, Christina says that if he was a normal noble
he would certainly celebrate it, Huguenot says that now that Galarc gave Rio a mansion
on the castle grounds, François will start to seriously trying to incorporating Rio to the
Galarc kingdom, so he would like to send from Restoration a girl as Rio’s first wife,
Huguenot is thinking that the mansion concession is François’ way of sending a
message to everyone that says to not touch the noble called Haruto Amakawa without
his permission, but there’s still time, that in the future if they approach Rio awkwardly it
would be same as picking a fight with François.

Christina says that it isn’t a bad idea but that she won’t ignore Rio’s will so she will
continue to wait and see, Christina that knows Rio’s past and understands that marrying
him with someone from Restoration will be seen just as something harassment for him
is trying the avoid the topic of marriage as much as possible, but Huguenot finds it
unnatural how Christina keeps refusing to offer Rio a wife although its for the better
thing for the organization, despite she herself being the leader, he asks if there’s any
problem, and Christina who can’t explain the truth to him just shakes her head slowly.

Huguenot says that it’s a matter of who to offer him, he says that it has to be a girl from
a house with a rank high enough, so he recommends Roana, Christina asks if Roana
wasn’t supposed to be taking care of Hiroaki with the idea of making her his wife in the
future, that she believes so too, Huguenot says that it’s like that but that it depends of
how Hiroaki ranks her, that even if he says that he will recognize only the rank of first
wife for the sake of convenience without caring about the rest, he currently ranks the
girls he likes more on his head, Christina asks if Roana’s position is low on Hiroaki’s
ranking, Huguenot says that she’s close to being her favourite but that that may change
in the future if he gets married with more women, Christina accepts that risk but she
says that the risk of them being mistaken exist too, Huguenot says that in the future is
unavoidable to not have troubles with Hiroaki’s children due to his wish of not ranking
his wifes, and that the more women the fiercer that fight will be.

Christina asks him if he means that rather than being at that unstable situation as
Hiroaki’s wife it will be better for Roana to be Rio’s wife, he says that based on what
Roana says there seems to be space for acting, Christina asks what he means, Huguenot
says that Hiroaki refuses to rank his wives because he fears the possibility of they
interpreting their rank as him considering them inferior to the rest and he hates to deal
with people, he thought that he could convince Hiroaki of ranking his wives if it'll helps
him to avoid that, but that he doesn’t know if the current him would listen, Christina
says that in the current situation where the Liselotte he liked rejected him, while he’s
insisting in making Rosalie his first wife, if they take away his favourite Roana for
making her Rio’s wife , they will make the things with Hiroaki even worse, she happily
refuted Huguenot like that.

Huguenot says that maybe, but that it’s hard to know towards where Hiroaki’s feeling
will go if he makes Rosalie his first wife, and he wonders if they can convince him
somehow of having Roana as Rio’s fiançee if it’s now, Christina grumbles a little inside
her head at how hard it’s being to make him give up this time and decided to keep
searching for failures in his plan, now she says that she understands his reasoning, but
that it’s unknown if Rio would really welcome Roana as his fiançee, that it’s unknown
too if Roana won’t be able of getting married with Hiroaki in the future, that François’
permission is needed for this too and above all they need to consult with Roana herself
too, Huguenot says that of course, but that for Roana is a really good prospect to aim to
the position of Rio’s first wife and insist in talking with her, Christina says she will talk
with Roana herself despite not really wanting to for stopping Huguenot’s opposition.

Flora murmurs for herself in a small voice that Rio and Roana may get married, then
Huguenot says that in case that it’s impossible he will offer his daughter as the next
candidate, that she’s fourteen years old and she would be a worthy first wife for Rio,
now Christina finally understands Huguenot’s insistence in Roana, she realizes that
Huguenot’s plan was always to make her change from Roana who seemed to have low
chances to his daughter, who is easier to offer, then she says that even better than that
what about offering Flora, Flora asks really with a happy face, Christina says it was a
joke, she noted inside her head that she reacted happily but she didn’t say anything
about it, she says that Restoration’s noble will strongly oppose it, Huguenot understands
this so he didn’t say anything about Christina’s joke but Flora is disappointed.

Christina thinks that as a noble the idea of offering Huguenot’s daughter to Rio looks
realist, but that it’s out of the question, that Rio will be disgusted at just the suggestion,
that it’s even more likely for him to accept Roana over her, then Christina decides to
recommend Celia for stopping Huguenot of insisting more on his daughter or Roana,
but at the same time she’s worried about the ones who will try to use their relationship
for their own sake, Huguenot says that Celia is certainly the closest one to Rio inside
Restoration but that he’s worried about Rio not seeing Celia in that kind of way due to
her being five years older, Christina answers with a cold voice that it’s rude to measure
their relationship with their ages and they can’t know if Rio minds that without asking
him, Huguenot’s agrees this time while a little scared of a woman who had the topic of
the age touched, lastly Christina says that she will talk herself with Rio about the
possible marriage with Celia and Roana, to not make strange things even if the talk
about marriage doesn’t work, to keep the rest of people in check too for them to not get
Rio’s resentment if they do some uncalled thing, Huguenot finally consented and the
talk was over.

Later that night Christina called Roana to her and Flora’s room, after she sits in front of
the sisters the talk begins, Christina apologizes for calling for her that late, Roana
thanks her for the chance of talking to the two again, Christina says she’s happy too of
meeting her childhood friend again, Roana says those words are too wasted on her, who
couldn’t do anything for them despite riding the same magic ship, Flora says to her that
she doesn’t need to feel guilty about anything, Christina says that it wouldn’t make a
difference if she have been there too and that thanks to her being safe she was able of
saving Vanessa’s life after their disappearance and thanks her for that, Roana says that
she saved her life but because she was discovered late she lost a lot of blood, that she
hadn’t opened her eyes yet when she left Rodania, that at that pace she’s still in danger
of dying, Christina says that if she’s alive she still has chances, that she did her best and
that it’s enough, Flora says that it’s as Christina says and Roana thanks their words, now
Christina says that the reason she called for her was to talk about another matter.
Roana says she understands, Christina says that it’s a complicated situation that
involves the kingdom, that it’s risky and may not happen in the end, so she wants to
take into account her will too, Roana asks what that situation is about, Christina
explains then that Huguenot suggested to make her Rio’s fiançee as his reward from
Restoration for his help this time, Roana tries to confirm while surprised if they want
her to be Rio’s fiançee, Christina now explains Huguenot’s opinion, about how he
thinks if it’s impossible to incorporate Rio to Restoration they should at least to make a
connection as strong as possible by making his first wife to be someone from
Restoration, how he proposed her because she was the possible candidate with the
highest ranking family.

Roana tries to say that she’s supposed to become Hiroaki’s wife in the future, Christina
interrupts saying she understands that, that she didn’t announced anything yet to
anyone, that Huguenot says too that if they remain unable to convince Hiroaki of
properly ranking his concubines Huguenot isn’t sure either about how much beneficial
it will be for Restoration to make her Hiroaki’s wife despite her being the first daughter
of the Fontine house, that even if he didn’t say anything yet, François must be thinking
to engage Rio with a high ranking girl from Galarc for strengthening his connection
with Rio, but that it will be difficult to offer a girl with a rank as high as hers, unless he
decides to offer a high ranked royalty from his kingdom, but they believe that unlikely,
Roana asks if she means that it’s likely to be more beneficial for them to even make her
just Rio’s second or third wife than making her one of Hiroaki’s many wives, Christina
says sighing and apologizing because it’s troublesome that the current Rio has the
history, attractiveness and status for that, but that honestly she doesn’t want to offer Rio
a wife.

Roana asks her what she means, she says that because it’s her she will say the truth, that
she believes that if she offers Rio an engagement he will find it annoying and will
surely hate it, that even if she realistically has to offer a wife no matter what, Celia’s
chances are higher, that it may be bad for her but that she believes that and will support
Celia, Roana thanks her for trusting her, Christina now explains that there are several
troubles more for making her Rio’s wife, first the likelihood of Rio accepting is low,
that they will likely buy Hiroaki’s resentment is she’s made a candidate, there’s a
chance of him accepting if Celia is the candidate, but even if Rio accepts Roana there
will still be a complicated discussion with the Galarc kingdom because a wife from
there is likely to have a lower rank than her, but at the same time she says too that there
is no other person in Restoration with a better position than her for this, that if she
wishes for it, it may be worth the try to consult François, because there is no other
fitting person and it may be a chance for her to succeed as a noble so she leaves the
decision to her.

Roana says that it’s a sudden thing and the she’s confused by it, she begins to think on
her head about her current situation about how she’s a young unmarried noblewoman,
about how the Bertram kingdom doesn’t recognize the divorce except in a really special
cases, so she will have to dedicate her life to her future husband, as a noble she already
has the determination for doing that, but that this instant may decide her whole life,
about how unstable is her situation because a lot of her relatives that stayed at the
Bertram kingdom are being put in difficult positions and some of them are even treated
as rebels by the Arbor faction, because of that her support from her family and her
personal possessions are low and was just able of making herself a place in Restoration
due to her family name and the sisters’ trust, that depending on the future the fate of
her whole house may be on her shoulders, as a result the survival of her family may be
decided by who she chooses as husband, she wonders with all of her strength what is the
right thing to do for Restoration’s, the kingdom’s and her family’s sakes.

Christina says that Hiroaki seems to be trying to take distance from Restoration by
getting engaged with Rosalie, so it’s logical for her to have doubts, that it’s fine to
decide on the future depending on Hiroaki’s actions, honestly Christina thinks that
currently Hiroaki is too unstable and dangerous, so she prefers to not force him or
themselves to connect with each other so she’s thinking about letting him go, after
taking a deep breath Roana says with a serious face that because she doesn’t know what
Hiroaki’s feelings will be in the future she wants to connect him to Restoration if
possible, Christina asks if she’s fine with being in charge of that, Roana says she thinks
there no one else more fitting for this than her in Restoration and asks if she can take of
it, Christina says that she thinks that way too, Roana asks to please let her take care of
Hiroaki, Christina says she and Flora are lucky for having her in Restoration and that
she lets Hiroaki on her hands while they’re in Rodania, Roana says to let it in her hands
and Christina at the same time that smiles at her, swears in her heart to absolutely find
her the best husband possible if Hiroaki ends leaving Restoration.

Intermission: In the Rubia Kingdom.

The time goes back four days to the moment when Rio escaped with the sister
princesses, Arein stands while frustrated because they couldn’t win and walks towards
the fallen Lucci and Ven for checking if they’re still alive, by his side Renji asks
screaming angrily what was that monster-like man, he says him again that he is the one
who killed Lucius, who defeated him and their enemy, he asks why he can fly, Arein
says he doesn’t know that it must be the sword’s power, Silvie dismounts from her
griffin and questioned Arein too, Arein is annoyed at having to deal with her too, then
Reiss comes to their side talking sarcastically about how quickly they were defeated, he
says that Rio unfortunately already escaped and that it can’t be helped, he tells Arein to
tend to Lucci and Ven.

He says he will leave as soon he checks on them, Silvie tells to not fuck around and tries
to make Reis take responsibility for the failure of the strategy, that it was him who said
that the victory should be theirs if they attacked when the two princesses were
deadweights in the middle of the fortress, that he was the one who said that the griffins
should be able to cut his escape route, he confirms with Silvie that she was convinced
with the strategy too, she still complains saying that Haruto Amakawa was too much
stronger than expected, that she would have opposed it if she had known that he could
fly carrying the two princesses, Reis says that she knew well he was strong, that she saw
at the evening party and that she was told too that he was the one who killed Lucius
who defeated Renji, that he asked for her cooperation precisely because he was strong.

Now Reis analyzes in his head the results of his plan, and the battle, that he never
thought a fortress like this could stop Rio that it’s fine because he was supposed to
escape from the beginning, he’s thinking that Silvie’s animosity and fear should be
pointed at Rio for the time being, that Restoration’s and Galarc kingdom’s wariness
would be directed to Rubia kingdom now, despite Renji’s existence Rubia kingdom has
no more choice other than relying on Proxia empire, that thanks to Esther and Silvie he
shouldn’t become an enemy for now, certainly the best possible result for him.

After hearing the name Haruto Amakawa Renji asks if Rio is a hero too, Reiss says he
thinks he isn’t and asks him why he thinks that, Renji says it’s nothing while he thinks
on his head that no matter how he looks at it that was a Japanese name, but his face
wasn’t Japanese, he wonders if Rio is a drifter too, he’s curious about it but what he
really cares about is something else, he wonders why he’s stronger than him who is a
hero, Lucius too, he wonders if there exist a power stronger than the heroes' cheat like
abilities in this world, he wonders why he’s weak, he thinks it’s frustrating, that he can’t
protect Silvie and Esther, that he lost against Lucius and against Rio too, at that moment
Renji began to hate strongly at his own weakness, at the same time he begins to really
dislike Rio who showed him how he splendidly protected the two princesses at his side,
he’s thinking he needs more power, to become the strongest, that by just saying his
name everyone will retire and avoid the battle, that he needs to become that strong or it
won’t do.

Now Marco the the fortress’ chief calls out to Silvie but she silences him saying she
already understands the situation and he begins to panic about how attacking Christina
and Flora is the same as declaring the war to the Galarc kingdom and Restoration, Reiss
calms him saying that at best they will try to put some strong pressure on Rubia
kingdom and that the Proxia empire will help them, Marco asks Reiss what he means
calling by his fake name Jean Bearnard, then he reveals that he’s a diplomat from the
Proxia empire while Marco is still surprised, Reiss says from now their countries has a
relationship where they walk by the other’s hand, Renji murmurs to himself wondering
if Reiss is a psychopath.

Reiss asks Renji if from now he will act along him for some time, Renji asks what he
intends to have him to do, he says he intends to make him stronger, that him and the
other heroes until now have used just the ten percent of their divine weapons’ power’,
Renji is surprised, Reiss continues saying that he can make him stronger, Renji asks
why he can do that and why he would make him stronger, Reiss says that because
they’re supposed to work together in the future so he needs him to be stronger, also it’s
a proof of trust for not hurting the cooperative relationship for the future, he asks him
now if he doesn’t want to get stronger and Renji shakes his head.

Intermission: In the Centostella Kingdom.

In a room of Centostella’s royal castle Aki is sleeping, she’s dreaming about nine years
ago, before her parents’ divorce, about the her who was a onii-chan child back then,
about her parents who due to having job schedules that overlapped always let her in
Haruto’s and Miharu’s care, that it was a matter of course for her to love them as onii-
chan and Onee-chan, that they always got along between them so for her they looked as
they ideal brother and sister, sometimes they were too friendly and entered a world of
just too, but they always played together happily, then began to call for the Haruto and
the Miharu of her dream, mysteriously now she doesn’t feel any complicated emotion
calling Haruto onii-chan because in the dream she’s her child self.

The little Aki stands in a white space surrounded by the toys they used to play house
with looking at the image of the young Haruto and Miharu surrounded by darkness, she
remembered about how she always was the daughter when they played house for having
the too spoiling her, and those are her favourite memories, that in that situation she can
do just one thing, then little Aki asks the young Haruto and Miharu to play house with
her and they accept smiling, she thinks it would fine for the three to just keep playing
house like that friendly and smiling forever.

She asked the two to sleep the three together that night, but Haruto said no because the
next day isn’t holiday with a trouble face, Aki complain with a lonely face because she
wants to sleep between the two, Haruto says that the next day before holiday they will,
Miharu asks Haruto if he can do something and he suggest Aki to sleep with him that
night, she accepts and Haruto tells her to not wake up and crying at night she’s isn’t
with their parents, Aki says she won’t cry with a red face, that it will be fine because she
will be with onii-chan, Miharu is jealous and Haruto tells her to come too the next
holiday, and she got happy, Aki asks then if they can sleep together at that time, they
promise to do so, she tells the two to always together, when they nod to her everything
got dark and she can’t see them, the two call her name in the darkness and she runs
toward their voices, she’s relieved when she finds them but then she awakes.

She wonders she saw a dream like that, playing with Haruto, hearing his voice and
being happy inside her dream, why?, she makes a bitter face thinking he didn’t keep his
promise, he said the three would be always together, he said it, that we would be always
be together but he didn’t keep his promise, Miharu didn’t break her promise, after the
divorce she was always by her side, she held her hand, she stayed with her everyday
she’s different from him, Aki murmurs crying like looking for salvation that Miharu is
gone now, she already understands it, that the grudge she harbored these years id
illogical, but the logic and the emotions are different, so she always kept the grudge, she
kept believing she was right, she never thought something like her being in the wrong.

Since the incident on Galarc’s castle she and Masato stayed in the Centostella kingdom
as state guest, she usually visits Takahisa, who uses to lock himself on his room sin
then, there, but the mood is awkward and he soon tells to get out and to let him alone, if
she doesn’t visit him in his room she rarely sees him outside, instead her time with
Masato rose, since he arrived to the Centostella kingdom he continued his sword
training, but when he isn’t training he uses to stay by Aki’s side, they don’t exchange
jabs and ironies like when they were at Japan or the rock house, they don’t have the
fraternal talks they used to always have, there’s silence now instead but Masato still
stays by Aki’s side, she’s thankful for that, the times when she visits Takahisa’s room
aside began to rise the time she spent with Masato, when she realized she was the one
going to Masato’s side herself, she murmured wondering for herself if Masato would be
making his morning practice, she changed clothes and went to the training grounds.

At the same time that Aki increased the time she spent with Masato since arriving to
Centostella’s castle, Takahisa’s and Masato’s time together decreased, the family that
finally reunited since being sent to a parallel word didn’t spent a single second laughing
together since the incident at Galarc’s castle, when they have just arrived to the castle
Masato visited Takahisa’s room usually but they fought and had arguments every time,
since they argument after the incident at Galarc’s castle they have been in a cold war
state and for what she know they haven’t seen the other’s face for three weeks, she
thinks it would be bad if she’s the only one who can make up with everyone it would
bad with a dark expression, lately when she’s alone and sometimes when she isn’t she’s
having more and more of those negative thoughts.

Aki arrived at the training grounds before realizing she’s already there, then she heard
Takahisa asking Masato screaming why he brought him so early in the morning to a
place like that, and Masato replying screaming too that it was Takahisa’s fault for
staying so many days locked on his room, and asking if he doesn’t understand that his
body will collapse leading such a daily life, Aki who didn’t use too lately is going out
more but aniki even being aniki not matter how many days stays like that, Aki rushed
toward the arguing voices after recognizing them, when she arrived at the place where
Masato and Takahisa were arguing a little away from the training grounds Liliana said
good morning to her when seeing her and approached her, she asked Liliana what was
the fight about and Liliana explains with a bitter and dark face that she met Masato by
chance when he was on his way to his morning practice, she mentioned that Takahisa
has stayed locked alone for many days he got very angered, went to Takahisa’s place
and began to fight with him.

Now Masato screams that if he’s their older brother to please show them something
older brother-like, Takahisa asks annoyed what he means by older brother like, Masato
says the just that, that Rio always acted thinking about them first, but for him it’s
everything just about himself, in the Galarc kingdom, when he came back here, always
just thinking about himself, that why he has been thinking it’s over since and Aki and
him followed him to this country, Takahisa says angered that every time he opens his
mouth is just Haruto this and Haruto that, but this degree of fight is still warn, they have
already argued more violently several times before, precisely because of that they see
the other’s face unusually, Aki can’t move inside that place and just watches her
siblings, she already tried to say stop please a lot of times without effect, she doesn’t
know anymore if they can be stopped and their relationship is still terrible.

She doesn’t know any more if there is yet a meaning in stopping them, she doesn’t
know any more what to do about them Masato tells Takahisa to pick his sword, that he
told them to spar with him, Takahisa asks what he’s saying and what will come out
from doing that, Masato says he’s running away and Takahisa says he isn’t, Masato tells
Takahisa to spar with him them and to not run away if he wins, Takahisa says again that
he isn’t running away, Masato says he’s running away from him, Aki, Liliana and
everyone else locking himself alone in his room, Takahisa just screams what without
refuting with concrete words, before he finds something to say Masato tells him to spar
with him if he isn’t running way, he provokes Takahisa saying in a loud voice “ that
person is running away pathetic right?”, Takahisa finally says that he will spar with
Masato, Masato says that it’s decided, he picks up two training swords and threw one at
Takahisa, he picks it up from the ground annoyed, Liliana tells Kiara to be the referee,
she obeys and gets closer to the two.

Takahisa and Masato stand on the center of the training ground, Masato with a shield
and short sword and Takahisa with a bastard sword, Masato tells to Takahisa to not
make excuses when he loses, he says he’s four years older, that there isn’t a way for him
to lose against Masato who is still a kid, Masato says he wonders about it when he just
stays locked inside his room, that he has no idea of how strong he’s or not, Takahisa
tells him to not get carried away, Kiara tells them to not get too heated and to prepare
their stances, she says too she will stop them if they get to much into it.
Both siblings take their stances, Masato says Kiara that whenever is fine, Takahisa
holds his sword at the ready too then Kiara signals the start, Takahisa swings
downwards vertically and quickly trying to end the match immediately, Masato
anticipates stepping forward and pushes Takahisa’s sword that hadn’t been completely
swung down out of his way with the shield, then he hits Takahisa’s body lightly with
the pommel of his sword that he kept hidden behind the shield, because the hit was light
it wasn’t painful but Takahisa was still made to step back.

Masato says that in a match between knights that would be and effective hit but he
won’t count it this time because it would too pitiful if it ends with just that, Takahisa
gets even more angered at the humiliation of the opponent he believed to be weaker
than him, Masato tells him to come at him while rearranging his stance and taking a step
back for getting being at a good distance, Takahisa charges again at Masato, on the
audience seats Aki asks Hilda her opinion, she comments on how it can be seen that
Masato is used to swing a sword looking at his stance, how there are no wasted
movements, that it’s due to his efforts too, but that he has a wonderful talent, that Rio’s
lessons before coming to the kingdom were splendid too.

Aki says that it looks like Takahisa is overwhelming him, looking at Masato who just
defends from Takahisa’s attacks, since the beginning of the second round, Hilda
explains that it’s on purpose that the way that Takahisa attacks is completely
thoughtless, that if he keeps swinging his sword at that pace he will get tired soon, that
Masato is aiming at that, Hilda thinks too that the way that Masato fights seems to be
more based on his experience that on his senses, that Rio seems to have beaten into
Masato what actions to take on a battle and their timing, that Rio may be someone who
fights controlling the rhythm too, Aki says she is convinced with a expression a bit
complicated understanding this is the result of Rio’s teachings.

At the same time Masato decides to change to the offense, he parries Takahisa’s attack
and gets close to his bosom, Takahisa tries to stop him twisting his body and swinging
his sword strongly at him again from out of Masato’s sight, Masato repositionstes his
shield calmly and blocks the attack without looking, Takahisa is surprised and keeps
trying to keep Masato away forcing himself to barely swing his sword from ruined
stances while he steps back, Masato keeps cornering Takahisa a little more, while
making sure that all the opening he’s giving are usable, he lowers his posture for letting
Takahisas horizontal swing to pass above him and decide the match with a counter, but
Takahisa’s sword comes back faster than Masato’s counter and sends Masato’s sword
flying away.

After seeing his sword falling to the ground Masato tries to asks Takahisa if he used the
body strengthening of his divine weapon, but before he does it Takahisa says it’s his
victory with voice a little high pitched, Kiara tries to say something but Masato stops
her saying it’s fine, she tries to insist but Masato stops her again asking Takahisa
sarcastically and looking at him with sharp eyes if that is really his victory, if he’s fine
with it and if it’s an older brother-like thing, when Takahisa doesn’t answer he says that
today it’s his lost and to do it again, then Masato left Takahisa there with a gaze called
him pathetic.

Chapter 3: To Rodania.
After saying farewell to Satsuki, Liselotte and Charlotte Rio departed to Rodania in
Restoration’s magic ship, he waited some time in his assigned room until he was called
to the sister princesses’ room, when he entered the room and sit down on a sofa he
thanked them for the invitation, Christina says that it’s mysterious how it feels as if they
have barely talked while they stayed in Galarc’s capital because during the travel, it was
normal to be just the three of them all the time, Flora says she feels the same, Rio feels
the same way and comments on how he can’t take off the magic tool that changes the
color of his hair when he wants to relax now that the travel is over, Christina says that
she feels too that she’s back to before the travel, Flora agrees.

Now Christina says that there are several things she needs to talk about before arriving
to Rodania and asks Rio if he will accompany her for some time, Rio accepts, Christina
asks about taking Miharu and Sara’s group to Galarc’s capital, she wants to know when
he will meet them again and their whereabouts, that if possible she wants to meet again
Sara’s group and thank them again their help during the travel, Rio explains that they’re
staying in another rock house in the forest near Rodania, that because he knows the
place he can contact them the day after arriving at Rodania, but in the case of Sara’s
group because they’re important girls inside the certain minority group they belong to
they’re trying to avoid to get involved with politicians as much as possible, that if they
can’t avoid those people it will difficult to meet them in person, Christina says she
understands and asks if it wouldn’t be possible to talk with them a little at least during
the travel back to Galtouc or in Rio’s mansion at Rodania, Rio agrees, Christina says
she will make arrangements too for helping them to not have to get involved with other
people if they go to Rodania, Rio thanks the consideration and says he will contact her
if Sara’s group show their faces.

Christina says that next it’s about Celia and Rio asks what about her, Christina says she
thinks they should tell her that she and Flora know Rio’s real identity too and asks if he
agrees, Rio says that it would certainly be difficult without sharing their circumstances
with her, Christina says she doesn’t mind to arrange a place with just the four for talking
a about it, that if that seems impossible it’s possible for her and Flora to talk to Celia
alone and after that the two can discuss whatever together, they decide to set a place
with just the four after arriving to Rodania and if that can’t be Rio will talk to Celia
alone.

Now Christina says she needs to talk about Rio’s reward, Rio that noticed that Christina
suddenly got nervous said with a troubled face that making decisions without thinking
enough about them will be just a bother and that he doesn’t really need anything,
Christina thanks him for thinking that way and being considerate and says that the
situation this time is troublesome, Rio asks if that as François said if she doesn’t give
something that can be shown to the surroundings it won’t do, Christina says that is part
of the reason and admits that she being pressed by Restoration’s nobles to offer him a
wife from a powerful family, Rio admits that it would certainly be troublesome if he’s
given a woman, Christina says that as expected it’s bothersome, while sighing deeply,
Rio says that it’s thinkable thing trying to reject it politely, Christina says that she
understands that it’s bothersome for him but that it will even more bothersome later if
she doesn’t talk about this now and apologizes for it.

Rio says she has nothing to apologize for and tells her to continue, Christina explains
now that Huguenot concretely is being specially insistent, Rio asks if he offered a girl
from his house, Christina admits that he offered his first daughter, but that she thinks
too that it’s a completely impossible engagement with what Stead did to him so she’s
expecting to be able of making up a reason for rejecting it, Rio says he doesn’t know if
Huguenot’s daughter is bad or not but that he doesn’t want to take her, Christina says
she will tell Huguenot he rejected the engagement, that he will go back for the time
being, but she warns Rio too that Huguenot won’t just stay back quietly, that if he has a
chance he will bring up again the talk about marriage if he meets him again after some
time.

Rio says he understands, Christina now warms him too about the rest of the nobles
bringing up similar talks regardless of what he is rewarded with and she isn’t sure of
being able to stop each and everyone of them because the current her doesn’t have that
much power, so she would be glad if they can come up with a reason for them to stay
away, Rio asks concretely what kind of reason would be more effective, Christina says
that it’s something that seems really senseless but that the most effective way of
stopping and engagement is another engagement, Rio agrees to the senselessness of it,
Christina explains that for example if he decides his legal wife the ones aiming at that
won’t have another option but giving up even though it won’t be really effective with
the ones who are fine with at least sending a concubine, now Rio asks if as a noble he’s
supposed to aim to have several wives like the rest of the great nobles, Christina says
he has enough status for the rest of the nobles to want him to take several wives, Rio
asks if it isn’t on him to decide if he takes more than one wife.

Christina explains the importance of polygamy for a noble family head is how to keep
as many as possible family duties reserved for the principal branch and reliable
retainers, that there are those who think they can leave those duties in the hands of
branch families, that there are those who just take a wife too but in the future due to
politics they need to take another, but she thinks on her head too that the nobles who
want just one wife aren’t really that many, Rio thanks her for the explanation, Christina
asks if Rio is against polygamy, Rio says he honestly does with a reluctant face.

Christina apologizes in advance for the sudden question and asks if that opposition is
because he already has someone he loves, she says too that it’s a rude question so she
doesn’t mind if he doesn’t want to answer it, Rio explains with a troubled face that it
isn’t like that, that right now having a romance or getting married are things he may not
be able to do yet, that if he’s able of being more confident on himself he hopes to be
able of giving it a try, Rio reveals then how he isn’t really sure if someone like him who
pursued and fulfilled his revenge will be really able of getting married, off grabbing the
happiness on his hands and answering to the feelings of those around him, that it’s
matter of if he can get rid of those feelings, Christina and Flora now just look fixedly at
Rio’s expression, Christina says she understands with a rigid voice, Rio apologizes for
making the mood strange smiling wryly and Christina says it’s her fault for making
strange questions.

Several hours later the magic ship finally arrived to Rodania, the harbor is full of nobles
who wants to confirm Christina’s and Flora’s safety, after hearing their welcoming
words, Rio, Christina, Flora and Huguenot rode a carriage to Restoration’s main
headquarters.
Before riding the carriage Rio took a look at the crowd searching for Celia but she
wasn’t there, he’s thinking that Aisia must realize his approach soon and be able to talk
telepathically, then Aisia’s voice welcoming his return enters his head, when Rio
answers he’s back, Aisia explains that Celia wanted to go see him, Christina and Flora
but she couldn’t cancel her lessons, Rio says that he will go there himself now and that
he will wait until the end of the lessons, Aisia says she will tell Celia so, Rio tells Aisia
to share information while they wait, Aisia says she wants to report about something
that happened while he was away, Rio says he already heard that Celia saw Reis in
Rodania when he was at the Galarc kingdom, Aisia says that they didn’t tell everything
to Restoration’s people, when Christina sees Rio’s serious face hearing that she asks if
something happens, Rio says it’s nothing and tells Aisia telepathically to tell the story
detailly while he’s on the move.

Chapter 4: Return and Reunion.

After several minutes the carriage arrived to Restoration’s headquarters, Huguenot and
the Marquis Rodan kept talking during the travel and at the same time Rio tried to hear
as much as possible from Aisia, about how they found Reiss sneaking in, how they
pursued him and their battle, Rio keeps listening to the facts while he enters the citadel,
he tries to confirm with Aisia if Reiss is really death, Aisia says that likely, but that she
didn’t find a corpse, that after defeating him his appearance and presence were
completely gone, Rio keeps rethinking about the facts of Reiss just calling forth more
and more monsters for fighting and he himself transforming into an unknown monster
that let nothing behind when defeated, he has troubles believing the story.

He doesn’t think Aisia may lie to him, he thinks about the kind of strange presence he
felt from Reis before, he has doubts about Reiss being a monster, he doesn’t think either
he’s human but he’s reluctant to categorize him as a monster, she asks Aisia if he left a
magic stone behind, but Aisia says nothing remained, Rio discards the idea of him being
a monster with that and wonders what the hell he really is, thinking about his ability to
change forms he wonders if Reiss may be a humanoid spirit, Aisia says she isn’t sure
that his presence was closer to that of monsters than that of spirits, and very scarce that
he can be thought as human if you don’t pay attention or are close to him, Rio now
thinks again about everything that Dryas taught him about the spirits’ ability for sensing
the signs of lifeforms and the unique signs of other spirits but he still can’t reach and
answer about Reiss, what his last form was or why he didn’t let behind a magic stone.

Rio says he’s worried about Reiss’ reason for sneaking in Restoration’s offices and if
it’s related to the kidnapping or not, Aisia says she doesn’t know that but that Reiss
sneaked in when the majority of people were at the harbor waiting for the ship’s arrival,
Rio asks if he said or did something that can give them a clue, Aisia says he always said
that he didn’t want to meet them and that soon he ran away, Rio says that isn’t different
from what he heard from Huguenot, that they were right reporting about Reiss’
presence, Aisia says Celia reported it but that there wasn’t a way they could report about
the persecution and the battle, Rio says thank goodness he left her with Celia, Aisia says
it was her duty to protect her when he’s away, he thanks her again and tells her he
fulfilled the revenge.

Aisia says now that everyone wanted to meet Rio again that she’s happy about her
return too, he thanks the feeling and jokes about how he has been just thanking for
things for a while now, Aisia now asks if from now on they will be always together, Rio
says he will try to stay as close as possible because he’s still worried about Reis’
actions, he thinks it may be good to take everyone with him to his house in the Galarc
kingdom for the sake of that, Rio says he wants to gather everyone and to talk to them,
that at night he will go to the rock house with Celia, Aisia asks if she has to go in
advance to tell everyone and Rio tells her to do it after he meets her and Celia, when
Rio’s group stops in front of a certain room he decided to end the talk with Aisia for the
time being.

There were two women knights standing there, one of them opened the door, there were
another two women knights seated on a sofa inside the room that stood and saluted
hurriedly when they saw Christina, then she entered and got closer to the bed where
Vanessa who didn’t wake up yet and barely keeps her live was sleeping, Christina sights
worriedly seeing Vanessa’s pale face and death-like appearance, Flora approaches the
bed too calling her name with a sad voice, Huguenot now explains about how they did
their best to keep her alive because she was the only witness of what happened on the
magic ship, the Marquis Rodan explains too about how they gathered Vanessa’s most
trusted subordinates and kept her watched 24/7 fearing that a spy may try to kill her for
her to not be able of waking up telling anything, Christina and Flora thank everyone for
their hard work.

At the same time Haruto thinks Vanessa has to be comatose and wonders if it’s because
of brain damage due to the blood loss, but he can’t be sure because he never studied
medicine, then Rio says he knows a little about medical techniques and asks for
permission for questioning about Vanessa’s treatment, Huguenot and Rodan praises his
variety of knowledge, Rio says that it isn’t much, he asks about what happened to
Vanessa before losing consciousness, Christina explains she was stabbed and kicked on
the head, Rio asks about the location of Vanessa’s wound and its size, Huguenot
explains that on the scene Roana healed the wound on her stomach and then when she
arrived at Rodania she had more healers treating all of her body just in case, now Rio
asks if she was given any medication since then, a woman knight tells she wasn’t given
any medicine by the doctors, that they just feed her water with a tube since then, the
other explains that the doctors wondered if she didn’t wake up because the knife had
some magic on it or if was poisoned, that they doctors used detoxifying and dispelling
magic, that they gave her some curative potions too, that they thought about bleeding
her for letting out some poison that can’t be deleted with magic but that that was
delayed due to Vanessa’s big blood loss, Rio thanks them for the explanation.

After putting everything together on his head Rio concludes that Vanessa has to have
brain damage and begins to reflect about the cause, he wonders if was the kick to the
head, the blood loss, if it’s just because the human brain is something difficult to
understand and the internal damage difficult to heal for the people of this world without
enough knowledge of the human body, if the healer couldn’t heal her completely
because the damage was just that big, or if the healer just didn’t spend enough time
healing her for curing her completely, he thinks that if the brain damage is treated with a
healing strong enough the chance of her waking up is high.

Flora asks Rio if he understood something, Rio says he can’t verify it but that he
believes the reason why Vanessa doesn’t wake up is due to the brain damage caused or
by the kick in the head or the big blood loss, Christina asks if the brain is what it’s
inside the head, Rio confirms it and says that Vanessa may wake up if they heal the
wound on her brain, he adds too an explanation of how the efficiency of the healing
changes depending on the time you apply the healing for, the deepness of the wound, its
location and the healer’s skill, that if they focus on her head enough time they may be
able to heal the brain damage.

Christina and Flora asks him to let them give it a try and Huguenot asks if he must
prepare something, Rio tells him to prepare a lot of liquid food, that she needs to be
given food for her body to be able to create more blood if she still lacks blood at the
moment of waking up, one of Vanessa’s subordinates went to look for the food and
when it was ready they decided to begin the treatment, after the knight’s came back Rio
stands at a side of Vanessa’s bed that looks at the room’s door and tells Christina and
Flora to stand in front of him at the other side of the bed and using healing magic in
turns, he tells the two to use their healing magic on Vanessa’s head while he holds her
up for them, Christina asks if it’s fine with just using healing magic on Vanessa’s head,
Rio says that yes but that he doesn’t how long they need to use the magic for them to
heal all the damage.

Rio lifts Vanessa’s head a little with his right hand and her back with his left hand,
Christina says she will take the first turn and takes a deep breath before beginning, Rio
tells her to not be nervous because he will help her, Christina that realized Rio’s plan
with his words relaxed and smiled, she began the healing magic at Rio’s signal, at the
same time Rio begins to strengthen Vanessa’s body with his left hand and to use healing
spirit arts with his right hand, he tells Christina to stay like that for a while, after some
minutes Flora is looking at them paying attention to Vanessa in case she reacts,
Huguenot and Rodan wonders if Vanessa will really be able to wake up like that, Rio is
thinking that the damage seems to be beginning to disappear and wonders if he must
change already to spirit arts that stimulate Vanessa’s conscience for waking her up, after
thinking that it must be fine now Rio changes the spirit arts on his right hand and lets
the healing completely to Christina, Flora asks Christina if she needs to change with her
worried about the magic power consumption of the healing, but Christina says she’s still
fine.

After a little more of time Vanessa’s body moves, Rio decides to strengthen his spirit
arts a little for the last push and Vanessa finally woke up, Vanessa asked with a weak
voice where she was, Christina tells to her that in Rodania’s infirmary and asks if she
remembers her, Vanessa is relieved of seeing her safe, Christina tells her to worry about
herself now and Rio asks her if she’s hungry while still strengthening her body so her
digestive system won’t be damaged for eaten a lot suddenly, Christina tells Flora to
bring her the food and she begins to feed her the soup, after two spoonful's Vanessa
took the plate in her hands and drank the soup directly from it in one go, Christina
worries about Vanessa’s enthusiasm and wonder if it’s fine but Rio gives her the ok and
she tells the waiters to bring her the rest of the food, they just look at her eating for a
while.

After some tens of minutes Vanessa falls asleep after filling her stomach, they put a
bracelet that strengthens her body with magic so her body will have it easier digesting
the food and leave the room, Huguenot and the Marquis Rodan went to a different place
because they needed to talk about something, Flora comments on the incredibleness
of Vanessa’s hunger, Christina agrees with her and thanks Rio for his help, Rio says
that the one doing the healing was Christina, Christina says he was doing something
too, Rio says that he can teach the rest what he did so he doesn’t need a thanksgiving,
but she and Flora insist on giving something back as individuals, Rio says that at
another time because now they have a place to go to changing the topic with a slightly
troubled face.

Christina agrees for the time being and says they arrived in front of a door, Rio asks
hesitatingly if it’s fine for they to enter, Christina says is fine because she and Flora
need to go around the citadel showing they’re fine to everyone and tells Rio and Flora
to get Celia’s permission for entering, Rio warmed Aisia telepathically that they’re
going to enter the classroom, the sisters enter the room and Rio follows them, the
students begin to make a fuss seeing them, Celia lefts the podium and approaches them
after calming everyone, she welcomes the three with slightly wet eyes, Christina
apologizes for the suddenness and the ruckus, Celia asks why they’re there, Christina
answers that they came to show their safety to everyone and adds with a mischievous
smile that because Rio was there too she wanted to show him her conferences, Celia
agrees and tells the students the three of them will stay and see the lecture, they make
another fuss and Celia has to calm them again.

Christina praises her skill, Flora says that it’s like a dream to be able to take Celia’s
lessons again with Christina and Rio, Celia thinks that something is off, that the sister’s
atmosphere is somehow different from before, Christina says it’s good that she fulfilled
her dream and tells Celia to not mind them and resume the lecture, Celia tells them to
use the empty seats on the back, the three walk towards their seats while at the same
time the male students talks on whispers enviously about Rio’s identity and
achievements and Celia finally resumes her lecture.

Celia smiles seeing the three seating together and thinks about how it has been four
years since Rio attended her lessons, at the same time Rio thinks too that he didn’t
thought he would be able to see again Celia’s lecture while looking at Celia with a smile
and thinking that it feels like he went back on time because Celia’s appearance didn’t
change since then, now Rio worries about how he ended seating between Christina and
Flora while going with flow, Christina at the right and and Flora at the left, Christina
was paying attention to the lecture well seated, Flora was smiling by his side and when
she realized his gaze her cheeks flushed, Rio then told himself to focus on the lecture.

After some tens of minutes Celia finished her lecture and approached the three seated at
the back of the classroom while all the students look silently at them, Christina praises
Celia’s lesson and says that she really feels she’s back after seeing it, Celia thanks her
but says she’s exaggerating, Christina insists on the goodness of the lesson and says
she’s happy of taking it with Rio and Flora, Flora thanks Celia for the lecture too, Celia
says it was funny watching her taking the lesson always smiling, she says too that there
are two boys who wants to greet them and asks if it’s fine to call them.

Christina agrees and asks who are coming, Celia says that Rei and Kouta, Christina asks
if the two are doing fine, Celia says they have talent for magic and that they always
takes the lessons with two girls from the Dandy and Belmond families, Rosa and
Michaella, Celia tells Rei and Kota to come, when the time passes and they don’t come
Celia looks at their seats, Kota is saying that it’s bad that they were called in a fluster,
Rosa next to Rei is flustered too for being called to where Christina and Flora are, Rei
says they will absolutely stand out too much if they go out now, Michaella next Rosa
says she thinks they stand out more the more they take to go, Rei finally resolves
himself to go, he stands up and walks towards the back of the classroom with Kota
while pulling the panicking Rosa’s hand. Michaella wishes them a good travel while
Rosa is wondering why her too.

Rio smiles wryly at the sight of the who seems to not change at all, Christina says to the
two that they seem to be doing well, Flora who barely knows them is staying back a
little shyly, Kota greets her lowering his head and saying that she being safe is the most
important, Rei too greets the too saying that the princesses’ safety is the most important
in a noble manner typical of the Stralh region, Christina says it’s thanks to Rio again,
Rio greets them saying he’s happy of seeing them doing well, Kota says a little
impressed that he heard he saved the princesses again, Rei says that lord Amakawa is
the person of the moment again, Rio asks Rei what about him and his way of talking
that it’s different from before, that it became strangely noble-like, Rei says that the
surroundings are watching, that he learnt a lot about the noble way of talking from his
fiançee, that Rio is a great noble from another country and that if he doesn’t talk
properly Rosa will be mad later, at his side Rosa screams at him silently with her gaze
to please not say strange things, Rei says that honestly he’s nervous, that the nobility is
tiring.

Rio asks Rei if he became a noble, Rei tells he was given the rank of baronet by
Christina and introduces his fiançee Rosa, Rosa introduces herself and says it’s an
honor nervously but in a noble manner better than Rei’s, Rio introduces himself too,
Rosa says she heard lot from Rei about him, Rio says he was in Rei’s care at that time,
Rei says he was the one who needed to rely on Rio for everything, Christina tells to
Rosa that Rei is friend of the hero Rui and to properly look after him, Rosa says she
takes it, Christina says that she wanted to talk with the two again calmly and tells them
to talk at another chance because they can’t relax where they’re now, then she asks the
two if they would go with her to Galarc’s capital the next week, the two accept and
Christina says she will contact them again with that intention, Christina asks Celia if
she’s free now because Rio, Flora and her need to tell her about something, Celia
accepts and the four leave together.

Chapter 5: Exchange of Information.

When the four arrive to a drawing room where they can talk alone Celia sits by Rio’s
side in front of Christina and Flora, Christina says to Celia looking at Rio’s face that
they want to talk with just the four of them because they have something important to
say, when Rio nods to Christina Celia asks what the talk is about correcting her posture,
feeling that the mood became somehow serious, Rio tells her the two already know his
real identity, Celia asks surprised and with a troubled face how she has to react to that,
she wonders about why they know it, in what it will result and what to do in case it’s
something bad, Christina says that she won’t do anything with the information of
Haruto actually being Rio, that they’re the only ones that know that Rio=Haruto and
that she and Flora intend to take the secret to their graves, Flora says they absolutely
won’t say anything about Rio, Celia pats her breast while sighting relieved, Rio explains
that they prepared that meeting for letting her know this, Christina says happily that it
seems their goal was achieved.
Rio tells the three to ask at this chance the things they don’t understand or that they
want to confirm, Celia says with a tired face that she had a lot of questions but the
surprise and the nervous sent them all flying away from her head, when she calms down
Celia says that a lot of this feel new, Christina mentioning Rio’s name and the sight of
three together that was impossible at their academy time, Flora says nodding strongly
that it’s certainly incredibly strange for Rio’s name to leave Christina’s mouth, that at
the academy time she told her to keep her distance from him, that it was stupid to
exchange words with him that she didn’t mention the name Rio even when he wasn’t
present.

Christina says unusually embarrassed and red faced that that was because she was
immature and she believed that position wise it was better for the him of the past to
keep their distances, Celia laughs at how she call Rio the him of the past and not Haruto
despite being in front of him and at how she’s embarrassed for just addressing Rio as
Rio, Christina says looking down with her cheeks more red than before that it’s because
she doesn’t know how else to call him, that Rio-sama sounds rare for her, Rio-san is
weird too, that just Rio is a no, that Rio-shi is strange, that she didn’t know what to call
him so she went with the him of the past just because it seemed the safest option, Flora
says that since long ago he was always Rio-sama for her, that she can’t call him in any
other way anymore, now Christina talks sentimentally about how not matter how she
told her to stop, she kept worrying about him since always, Flora says that was because
Rio helped her a lot and she caused him a lot of troubles,

Rio says that wasn’t Flora’s fault, that his existence in the academy’s society was just
that heretic, Flora says that precisely because of they’re the bad ones, that if he hadn’t
helped her he wouldn’t have entered the academy, that he wouldn’t have been framed at
the outdoor drill either, that she couldn’t do nothing despite being saved, that she was
that powerless, when Rio sees Flora still blaming herself even though he said she
doesn’t need to he says with a mischievous smile for relieving her that if he hadn’t
entered the academy he wouldn’t have met Celia and that would be even more
troublesome, Celia screams what with a red face.

Christina says that back then they already looked close, Celia says that it was supposed
to not be seen by the students who bullied Rio and asks if they noticed that they used to
meet alone in her lab, Christina says she believes she never saw them talking just the
two in front of other students but that she saw them sometimes staying together after the
classes, Celia says she understands, that because she was always conscious of her
distance with Rio she may have become naturally good at looking at Rio, Christina
swallows her words embarrassed, Flora says that looking back at then Christina
certainly did a good job keeping Rio watched, Christina says Flora she realized she was
looking a lot at him and needed to pay attention to it, Christina says it was a fact the Rio
of the past was an eye-catching existence, that he showed a sword skill unthinkable for
an orphan, that his academic results couldn’t be compared to anyone else’s, even now
he defeated Alfred who was the strongest warrior of the kingdom, that she always felt
the him of the past had that kind of talent, Christina confessed her reasons for looking at
Rio.

Rio says he isn’t that big of a thing, Christina says he is and talks about how he made
her embarrassed of ever thinking of herself as genius in her childhood when comparing
herself to him, Christina says too that there’s something she has wanted to talk about
since she discovered his real identity but that she isn’t sure if this is something that is
fine to hear, Rio asks what it is, Christina asks about what Lucius said about Rio’s
mother being royalty, Celia is surprised, Christina is confused seeing her like that , Rio
says he hadn’t told that to Celia, Christina apologizes in a hurry thinking she did it now,
Rio says that he doesn’t have a problem with Celia knowing about it, and tells her to not
mind it, that it isn’t a story he says to whoever, that it’s a little complicated and painful
but that it may be a good chance for talking about it.

Christina then tries to confirm it again, Rio says that her mother was a certain country’s
royalty, Celia says she’s quite shocked and asks if Rio’s mother was a princess like
Christina and Flora, Rio answers that it seems to be like that, Celia says it’s something
outrageous, Rio says that it may be like that, that he just discovered that fact two years
after leaving the Beltram kingdom, that because her mother was an immigrant and he
lived in the slums they must understand that the circumstances are complicated, that he
doesn’t think about himself as royalty so they don’t have to mind it, Christina’s says
that even he thinks that way it isn’t that simple, that if the kingdom that her mother
belonged to is related somehow with the Bertram kingdom, what happened in the past is
going to create a lot of international problems, that of course even if he isn’t a royalty it
won’t change that it was something unforgivable.

Rio says that her mother was born in the Karasuki kingdom in the Yagumo region, to be
at ease because there isn’t way for it to have relationships with the Bertram kingdom,
Christina asks if he met some of his relatives from that kingdom, he says he met with
his grandparents the royal couple but that as he said before the circumstances are
complicated, that he will never be treated as royalty in that kingdom, Christina asks if
it’s fine to ask about it, Rio says that aside his grandparents few people know this story
in the Karasuki kingdom, that because there isn’t any relationship between the Stralh
region and Yagumo he doesn’t mind telling them as long as they keep silent, after the
three promise their silence Rio begins his story.

Rio began explaining first about the Yagumo region itself so they could understand the
whole picture when talking about his parents, he explained about how he travelled
through the Yagumo region at the beginning looking for clues about his parents until he
finally found something, how he stayed for some time in village where Zen was born
with his grandmother and cousin, that Zen was originally a farmer, that one day a
samurai called Gouki came to the village and explained to him about his parents’ past.

About how he used to serve his mother, that Zen was able to rise as warrior showing his
militar talent, then they worked together as Ayame’s escorts, about Ayame’s
unfulfillable love for Zen, about the ceasefire sent by the enemy country, about the
group from the enemy kingdom who brought the peace talks being a trap, about
Ayame’s kidnapping attempt, about Zen who protected her by killing the retainer of the
enemy prince. After that having the prince accuse him of ruining the peace talks by
killing the retainer and demanding his execution and Ayame’s hand in marriage. There
were a lot of voices demanding to turn in Zen and Ayame inside the kingdom, and they
were forced to run away from the kingdom with just their lives. After their running
away, the Karasuki kingdom was able to win the war against the enemy kingdom but
Zen and Ayame lost their place in that kingdom and needed to run away until the Stralh
region. They got married, he was born in the Bertram kingdom, Lucius killed his father
when he was a newborn, he killed his mother too when he was five and lived in the
slums until he met Flora.

Flora and Celia are crying, Rio calls out to the two with a troubled face, Flora says that
it’s horrible and asks why something like that, wiping her tears with a handkerchief.
Celia cries without saying anything with her hand in her mouth. Rio says with a
troubled face he’s happy about them crying for his parents, but that it’s something from
more than twenty years ago, and to please not cry that much. Celia says it’s different
that she cries for Rio too, he says he understands but that she already knew about how
he ended up in the slums by example. Celia says that she didn’t knew everything, his
parent’s past, all of the other sad things that happened to him in the slums, that Rio’s
life was to sad and to pitiful and the her of the past was just living happy without
knowing anything, Rio thanks her for the feeling and tells her to stop crying because he
isn’t alone anymore, that he will be happy if she doesn’t cry, and that he wants her to
laugh, Celia says that way of saying it is unfair.

Flora who finally calmed down too and Christina with a slightly complicated expression
look at Rio’s and Celia’s exchange. Christina thinks the two are connected by a really
deep bond, that they built a relationship of deep trust during those five years when they
couldn’t do anything. Cristina’s expression darkens a little, as during the short time
coming back from Paladia she saw the deepness of Rio’s kindness and misunderstood
that it was fine to indulge on it. She bit her lips remembering herself that that
misunderstanding can’t be, that Rio’s kindness is something directed at Celia. Christina
takes a breath for calming her heart and asks if it’s fine to say something. Celia
apologizes for getting absorbed on the talk.

Christina says she understands now the strength of their bond, that it’s a wonderful
relationship, that because of that she has a suggestion. Celia asks Rio is he knows what
it is but he shakes his head. Christina says despite it being her, who invited Celia to
Restoration at Kreia, she wants her to act together with Rio from now on. Celia and Rio
doesn’t understand the meaning, Christina says that Celia may need to abandon her post
at Restoration, but she will be able to live at Rio’s house, be it in Rodania, Galarc or
with Miharu’s group, and that they don’t need to stick to each other until the point of
needing to change their ways of doing things. She wants Celia to be Rio’s attendant,
Celia says she’s confused by the sudden talk, and Christina says she wants her to be the
bridge that connects Rio to Restoration, that she can’t let that in the hands of anyone
else. She has already explained this to Rio before, that there’s a big quantity of nobles
trying to connect themselves to Rio somehow and she hopes this will keep them in
check.

Rio asks if she means to make Celia a candidate to be his fiançee, Celia shakes
nervously hearing that. Flora is surprised of hearing again about the talk of marriage
brought up by Huguenot, Christina says that it is their decision, and she can’t force
them, nobody can, but that it’s necessary to give that image to the surroundings for
stopping the talks about marriage from the rest of Restoration’s nobles. Celia asks
Christina if that is for the sake of bringing Rio to Restoration, Christina says that she
personally is opposed to use their relationship in such a way, thinking about what was
done to Rio she can just consider the marriage talks the most shameless things, but the
Restoration’s nobles don’t know about Rio’s identity so for them there isn’t any
problem in trying to connect Rio to Restoration.
Christina says that if she compares it to a marriage, instead of bringing Rio to
Restoration by making him to enter Celia’s family as a groom she wants to send Celia
away from Restoration as Rio’s bride. Celia says she understands red faced. Christina
tells Celia to never hesitate and to prioritize Rio above Restoration without thinking,
that Rio is first and Restoration second, to always choose Rio’s interest above
Restoration’s. Christina asks them about their thoughts, that in the name it will be as
sending Restoration's best mage as Rio’s assistant, that they just need to show their
faces to her sometimes and the rest of the nobles may be convinced by it. Rio confirms
if she wants him to use Celia for rejecting the rest of the nobles, then he asks if Celia
doesn’t risk herself to not being able to get married with no one else if he does that.
Christina says that if Celia’s roll as assistant is used as an excuse the nobles may think
like that.

Rio says he refuses, that it’s a matter that involves Celia’s life, that he will reject the
marriage talks himself somehow. Christina says she agrees about this being a decision
that involves Celia’s life, that because of that she wants to let it to her judgement. They
don’t need to answer now, and they need to talk about it themselves, and to inform this
to François too, that she can wait until then. Celia tells Christina she doesn’t need to
wait, and to please let her take the duty of being Rio’s assistant. Rio screams her name
surprised, and Celia says she made her decision. She says it isn’t for the sake of the
organization, and that she wants to be his assistant for paying back for all of the favors
he made her until now. Rio says there isn’t any need for that, and Celia tells him to not
mind about her marriage because she already told him at the academy that she didn’t
need it, and doesn’t intend to get married.

Rio doesn’t answer, that it’s better to get married and she may not be find it with it just
for the time being. Rio opens his mouth but he doesn’t say anything, for some reason
the words he would likely had said before fulfilling his revenge didn’t come out and he
doesn’t know why, Celia says that she doesn’t want either to force herself to get married
with someone she doesn’t love, that she will wait, she will always wait, that even if she
stays single she wants to be always with Rio, but that it may be a bother for him. Rio
says of course it won’t be a bother, that he just that he has doubts, that he’s doubting it’s
the only thing Rio understands now about himself. Christina says she honestly
understands Rio’s doubts, that it was a sudden proposal and to put it on hold for the
time being. Christina tells the two to give her their answer a week later when they go
again to Galarc’s capital. Celia says she understands but that she doesn't intend to
change her feelings, Rio says he understands too.

The discussion ended there and they left, that night there will a party for celebrating
Christina’s and Flora’s return, but Christina said she doesn’t mind if Rio doesn’t assist
because the other nobles are sure to be a bother then so he decided to be absent. Rio and
Celia are leaving the citadel now but the mood is heavy due to the things said before.
Suddenly they hear Aisia’s voice in their brain asking Celia if she wants to get married
with Rio. Celia screams while red faced and surprised, attracting the attention of the
guards. Celia asks in her mind to Aisia what is she saying. Aisia asks if she didn’t say
that in the previous talk, Celia begins to says in a fluster that it’s different, the soldiers
look at them curious about their behaviours and they walk away feigning ignorance.

Aisia asks Rio what about him, Rio says feigning composure that he isn’t sure about
having Celia as his assistant. Aisia asks if he thinks it is something bad, and Rio says it
isn’t something bad but, he doesn’t give an answer yet about how he feels about it.
Aisia asks if he doesn’t want the three of them to be together, Rio says he wants, and
Celia who didn’t expect that answer asks Rio if it’s like that. Rio says that he believes
that not saying his feelings is coward so he will tell them. He says that until now he
lived just losing things, that he has living just looking at the bonds that he lost, so until
recently he continued to live just for his own sake, but actually he didn’t just lose
things, that he formed a lot bonds in exchange of the ones he lost, that he doesn’t want
to lose the bonds he formed again, that now if someone like him can, he wants to
treasure all of those bonds with everyone who helped him until now, that of course
Celia is included too, that she was the first bond that he was able to make after the time
when he lost everything, so he wants to be with her, that those are his feelings.

Aisia says that then it’s fine to just be together, Rio says that that it’s just his
selfishness, that Celia has her position as a noble, that because he’s really coward he
doesn’t dare to take away from Celia her happiness just because he wants her to be with
him, Rio thinks for himself he doesn’t have that determination, that he doesn’t have that
confidence yet because he lost the things that were important for him once, because he
couldn’t protect the things important for him to lose the things important for him again
is scary, to not be able of protecting them is scary, to lose what it is important for him is
scary, so he doubts, because he can’t give an answer he gives a child-like ideal, because
he’s a coward he can’t do it yet, that the people don’t change that easily.

Celia tells Rio that happiest times from her life were when she was with Rio, taking tea
at her lab in the academy and when they reunited and lived together in the rock house,
that she forgot about being a noble and just felt happiness, but she told herself that she
was noble, that she thought it wouldn’t do if she doesn’t live for the kingdom’s sake
too, but she wants to be by Rio’s side as a noble and as person, until now because they
were incompatible she thought it wasn’t possible, but when Christina told her to be
Rio’s assistant she thought maybe she could do it, she was happy, when she realized it
she was already saying to Christina that she wanted to do it, Rio calls her name stops
walking and looks at her face, Celia says with a face that gets redder and redder that Rio
doesn’t need to think he has to take responsibility about her, that it’s fine to not mind it
if the surroundings think she’s his fiançee, but that it may be good if Rio is fine with it,
Rio tells Celia to calm down smiling wryly, they stop walking the moment they arrive at
the citadel’s gates and Rio tells Celia to go back for telling Christina that they made a
decision about the assistant matter, they turned back and went back to Christina on a
better mood than before.

Chapter 6: Departure.
After talking with Christina, this time Rio and Celia left Rodania’s citadel for real. Rio
says to Celia that at night they will go to the rock house for reporting everyone else too
about his travel and Charlotte’s invitation. They send Aisia to tell the rest they will go
there and at night the three go to the rock house, after their arrival everyone gathers at
the living room, Rio sits between Aisia and Latifa, Celia sits next to Aisia, in front of
them Miharu, Ouphia, Sara and Alma.

Latifa inflates her cheeks and sulks while hugging Rio’s arm, at the moment of the
reunion she was in the best of the moods, but listening to Rio’s story she began to
inflate her cheeks, she had really complicated feelings about Rio living alone with the
two princesses, but what really bothered her was that Christina and Flora that had just
discovered a certain truth before her, she asks Rio why he didn’t told her about his
parents’ past, when she heard about it she began to hug Rio’s arm with an unsatisfied
face and she didn’t let Rio to end his story and telling her about Celia becoming his
assistant, Rio apologizes for that, Sara tries to calm her down saying Rio has his
circumstances, that it’s a difficult topic for him but he still told them, Latifa says she
understands but she strengthens her hold on Rio’s arm unsatisfied because he doesn’t
rely on her enough, Rio defends her saying it’s normal for her to be angry because it’s
truth that he hid it from her, Latifa says she isn’t angry with a lonely voice.

Rio apologizes again, he says he wanted to avoid the dark topic, that he was told to keep
the secret but in the end that was his excuse, that it’s not like he doesn’t trust or
treasures them, that he didn’t tell about this and maybe other things too because closing
his distance with them was scary, Rio pets Latifa’s head with his free right hand, Latifa
is curious and surprised at his change in atmosphere, he says he’s trying to tell the
things he didn’t tell until now, the things he kept hidden until now, to stop running away
already, that Latifa included he wants to get along better with everyone, so he won’t ask
for forgiveness, he asks with an awkward face if he’s convincing them because he’s
saying something selfish, except Aisia and Celia everyone look at Rio with surprised
faces.

Latifa pushes Rio down saying happily she will get along better with him, that she
wants to be closer to him, Aisia at Rio’s other side hugs him too, Rio says it’s a little
painful but he thanks her, Aisia explains that Rio was trapped in his past, that because
he knows the fear to lose what it’s important to him he always drew a line between him
and the rest but he’s beginning to change, sharing her analyses with everyone, Rio
thinks he really can’t hide anything from Aisia, Celia says that as expected of Aisia but
that she’s a little too close to Rio and tries to undo her hold of him, but Aisia doesn’t
budge, she says it’s been a while since she got Rio’s magic power so she will take this
chance, Latifa says to Aisia that it’s unfair that she wants to hug Rio more too, that she
wants to recharge her onii-chan energy too.

Rio asks if they can let go of him now, Latifa says she will let go if he sleeps with her
that night, Sara asks her what she is saying, Latifa asks if she wants to join too, Sara
refuses embarrassed, Miharu and Ouphia laugh, Alma tells Sara her face is red, Rio
laughs troubled but happy, Celia says she will let them be this time and sighs, Alma
asks Celia why she’s so permissive today, Celia asks what she means, Alma says that
usually now is when the fight between her Aisia would begin, Aisia says that it’s
because she became Rio’s caretaker, that she has advantage, everyone asks what is that,
Latifa asks Celia how she’s going to take care of Rio, Celia says in a fluster that she’s
his assistant not her caretaker, Aisia asks if she won’t take care of Haruto as his
assistant, Celia says she can’t deny that, Latifa asks Rio what does it mean that Celia is
his assistant now, Rio says that from now on Celia will get away from Restoration and
live with everyone, Latifa asks if that means that she can live with them again without
any problem, Rio says it can be said like that, everyone is happy about it.

Now Rio says he has a suggestion for everyone about the future and that it involves
Miharu greatly, Miharu asks what about her, Rio says it involves Satsuki and Liselotte
too, he says that as he told them before he got a mansion on Galarc’s capital, that the
idea of organizing a sleepover there came out, Latifa asks if Satsuki and Liselotte will
stay the night, Rio says that Latifa can go too if she wants, that Charlotte invited
everyone to join in, that maybe Christina and Flora will join in too, Ouphia asks if she
will be able to meet those princesses if she joins in, Rio says he explained that Sara,
Ouphia and Alma have some special circumstances and that he was able to made
Charlotte to promise to keep the rest of the nobles of the castle away from them, that if
they can’t go he will go with just Miharu, Aisia and Celia.

Latifa says she wants to go, Rio says that it just rest to know the village’s girls opinion,
he says to Latifa that he can introduce her as his sister, but that she needs to use an alias
because of Huguenot, that she can use his family name, Latifa asks if she means the
Amakawa surname, Rio says that way it would be Latifa Amakawa, Latifa says it aloud
a cup of times happily, Latifa Amakawa, then she changes it to Suzune Amakawa and
begins to laugh hehehehehe, Celia laughs at how happy she looks, Alma calls out to
Sara, she says she isn’t envious or anything, Alma says laughing she hadn’t said
anything yet, Ouphia says that because they don’t use surnames at the village it doesn’t
feel enviable if someone suddenly gets one, that having the same surname than Rio
maybe, she asks Miharu’s opinion who has a surname too.

Miharu explains that in Japan the surname changes when you get married, that there are
people who are happy about having the same surname that their loved one, but that she
doesn’t understand it because she didn’t get married, Ouphia asks her now if she would
be happy of changing from Miharu Ayase to Miharu Amakawa if she were to get
married with Rio, Miharu says that in her country instead of Miharu Amakawa (in
katakana) it would be Amakawa Miharu (in Kanji), and she gets really red faced just
after saying the name, Ouphia says she looks like she would be very happy about it
grinning at her, Miharu looks down embarrassed without saying anything.

Rio says that the talk somehow deviated greatly, but about what he said Sara’s group,
that he won’t say it’s impossible, but that in Satsuki’s, the hero, and Charlotte’s, the
second princess, company he thinks it’s certain that other nobles won’t be able of doing
anything strange, that he too will support them as much as possible so what will they
do, Sara says they’re studying the society after all, Ouphia says it’s lonely if they’re
always the ones that stay behind, Alma says they already missed the last one, that they
can’t do it again, Rio says that it’s decided then and that they will go on a magic ship
there on a week.

A week later the departure day finally came, Rio and all the girls rode a carriage to
Rodania’s harbor after staying in the rock house for a week, where Christina, Flora and
some more nobles, Kota and Rei included waited for them, Christina greets Miharu
saying she didn’t see her since the evening party, she then thanks Sara, Ouphia and
Alma again for their help delivering her to Rodania, Sara says in the name of everyone
that it’s the best that she’s doing fine and thanks her for carrying them until Galarc’s
capital, Christina says to Aisia and Latifa that it’s the first time that she meets them, Rio
introduces Latifa as his sister Suzune Amakawa, he introduces Aisia to Christina and
tells her that Aisia already met Flora once at Amande, Flora looks curiously at Latifa
saying she’s very cute, Latifa greets the two lowering her head and introducing herself,
after that she grasps strongly Rio’s sleeve while looking at Huguenot next to Christina
and Flora, looking at her reaction Rio concludes that unmistakably Huguenot was the
one who sent her to kill him, while looking at Huguenot, he says with a smile that Latifa
is his prided and cute sister patting softly her back, Huguenot praises Latifa too and says
he would like to introduce to his sons without realizing her real identity at all, Rio
refuses politely with his gaze still on Huguenot.

Christina says they can’t stay just standing there forever for not letting Huguenot to say
anything else, she shows how Vanessa was able to go to back to work for changing the
topic, Rio says to Vanessa that it’s good that she’s healthy and asks if it is really fine to
be working again already, Vanessa says that it’s fine, that if she keeps just sleeping
forever her body won’t get better, that she will be back to work from today on thanks to
him, Christina tells everyone to enter the ship already, that Flora and Her will keep them
company, she guides everyone to a drawing room inside the magic ship and she and
Flora kept everyone company until they arrived to Galarc’s capital.

At the same time inside a drawing room of Galarc’s royal castle, Satsuki, Liselotte and
Charlotte are taking tea together, Charlotte says with a happy smile that it seems that
Rio’s group will arrive on the afternoon, that she’s expecting it, at the same time Satsuki
and Liselotte are a little curious about the name Suzune instead of Latifa on the guest
list, but they’re convinced that it must be her because they were warmed in advance that
she may need an alias in front of the public eye, Satsuki tells Charlotte to go easy on
them because they have few experience dealing with royalties and nobles, Charlotte
says that of course, that if they find comfortable Rio’s mansion they can visit it
unhesitatingly, that aside her and François nobody can force himself in there.

Now Charlotte says to the two smiling at them that she wants to confirm something
before the arrival of Rio’s group, the other two ask what it’s, she says she will ask
directly and asks to the two of them if they want to get married with Rio, Satsuki asks
Charlotte what is she saying with high pitched voice, Charlotte says nonchalantly that
she asked them if she wanted to get married with Rio, Satsuki says her she heard that
while complaining with her gaze about how she didn’t say all the necessary information
yet, Liselotte stays silent because she understands to some point what Charlotte means,
Charlotte says she thinks Liselotte is silent because she already realized it, that the fact
that Rio was given a house inside the castle walls is something beyond outrageous, that
exception among exceptions isn’t enough for describing it, Satsuki agrees saying that it
was a house originally just for royalties after all, she understands it’s something
ridiculous while comparing it to someone from the general public owning a house inside
the imperial palace in Japan, Charlotte says that putting it in other way it’s the same that
her father saying he’s willing to welcome Rio inside the royal family.

Satsuki asks if that means to have getting married with someone from the royal family
like Charlotte herself for example, Charlotte says she can’t affirm anything, Charlotte
thinks that they may have Satsuki getting married with Rio and to welcome their child
in the royal family, but that she won’t say that because it will be troublesome if she
can’t get married with Rio too, Satsuki asks why did she asked them if they want to get
married with Rio, Charlotte says that because they’re the girls the closest to Rio in the
Galarc kingdom and that as she said before she loves Rio, Satsuki asks if she wants
them to not put their hands on Rio, she denies and says that the polygamy it’s common
for the powerful royalties and nobles, that she isn’t that short sighted, that she won’t
stop them if they love Rio too, Satsuki asks her if she wants the three to get married
with Rio.
Satsuki was confused with the sudden talk about polygamy because for the Japanese her
the monogamy is a matter of course thing, Charlotte says she doesn’t intend to force
them to anything, that she doesn’t want to fight with comrades that can walk along her,
that honestly she feels it would be a bad idea to be their rival, for Charlotte who lives in
a world where the polygamy is the common thing this is a routinely talk, she thinks it’s
natural to talk to the two with the polygamy on mind, Satsuki says she was expecting
this talk to be more dirty, she asks if after all none wants to monopolize their loved one
in this world while feeling an uncomfortableness whose origin she can’t explain to
herself, Charlotte says that of course there are people who fight dirtily over their loved
ones but that she doesn’t want to be like that with the two, that she likes them.

Liselotte thanks the feeling with a troubled face, Satsuki says she likes Charlotte too but
… , Satsuki thinks she likes Charlotte’s personality but that she won’t become the wife
of the same man that her just because of that, Charlotte asks if there is any problem,
Satsuki says that as she explained before she’s from a country where the monogamy is
the common so suddenly talking about polygamy is troubling, Charlotte asks if she
would get married with Rio if she were to be his only wife, Satsuki begins to say that
being like that maybe but midway she stops her sentence and asks flustered why is she
talking assuming she loves Rio after imagining for a moment her future with
him, Charlotte asks if it’s different and says that in her eyes it looked like she naturally
imagined their future together, that she doesn’t look like she opposes it, and asks if
there’s any problem with it while thinking the previous Satsuki was too focused in her
wish to go back home that marrying with someone from this world was completely out
of the question.

She says that there’s a problem, that she wants Rio to be with Miharu, Charlotte asks
her if she doesn’t mind to let go of her happiness for Miharu’s sake, Satsuki complains
about how that sounds as if she loves Rio, Charlotte says that in her eyes it looks like
Satsuki doesn’t hate Rio as a man, Satsuki says that she doesn’t hate him, that there are
barely people who can compare to him but that it’s different from loving him, Charlotte
says that it’s fine if it’s like that, and asks her if she doesn’t mind it, that if Miharu goes
out with Rio she will bury her bones in this world, she asks if she doesn’t have a
problem if she doesn’t go back, Satsuki says she hasn’t it, Charlotte asks if it’s the same
for her, that before she said she wanted to go back to her world and asks if that feeling
stays strong, Satsuki says she didn’t give up on returning to earth, that she wants to back
but…, she thinks the turning point was the reunion with Miharu’s group at the evening
party, that until then she didn’t look forward, that she was impatient, that somehow she
isn’t impatient anymore.

Satsuki says that before she was lost in this world, but that she may not think anymore
that leaving her bones in this world is the worst, Charlotte asks if it isn’t better to think
about her husband if the feeling that she may end her life in this world is going up,
Satsuki complains at how she tried to lower her guard changing the topic for bringing
that up again, Charlotte says she still is too a princess from the Galarc kingdom, that if
it’s with Rio her father would accept so it’s a realist option, Satsuki says it’s fine but
that she’s being strangely pushy about Rio, she asks if he isn’t her own loved person,
Charlotte says that it won’t appear anyone as splendid as Rio in the future, Satsuki says
she can’t say that, Charlotte says it’s the truth, that unexpectedly the competitors are a
lot, that she’s thinking on asking about that to the participants of the sleepover, that it’s
a great chance, Satsuki tells her to do it in moderation, Charlotte says that depends on
the flow of the talk.

Liselotte thinks that being caught in Charlotte’s eye became troublesome, now Charlotte
says that she wants to know too Liselotte’s thoughts about Rio, Liselotte’s body shakes
with the sudden question and asks if it’s really her, Charlotte confirms it, she says with
the eyes of an animal hunting that she kept silent for not digging her own grave but that
she won’t let her escape, Satsuki says that onee-san is interested too in how Liselotte
thinks about Rio, Liselotte asks if Satsuki too and Satsuki says she had talked plenty
about her thoughts, that she will have her talking too before Rio’s group arrives.

Several hours later, on the afternoon, Satsuki, Charlotte and Liselotte are on the castle
gates seeing the arrival of the carriages that brought Rio’s group from the harbor,
Charlotte welcomes everyone, Christina thanks the welcome and says it’s been a while
even though it wasn’t that long, Charlotte says she wanted to meet everyone as soon
possible so it felt long for her, that the things she wants to say accumulated, she tells
everyone to go quickly to Rio’s mansion and to greet her father, Christina says to
Huguenot that she and Flora will be at Rio’s house, that she will contact again later, she
tells to the rest of Restoration’s group to go to the castle and says to Huguenot she lets
them on his hands, the rest of Restoration’s group follows Huguenot somewhere else
and Rio’s group follows after Charlotte, Satsuki and Liselotte.

Everyone has just arrived to Rio’s mansion, Vanessa and the rest of the escorts were
told to wait on a room near the entrance, when Rio opens the mansion’s door the people
inside lowered their heads, Liselotte’s maids were there too, Rio opens the door of a
drawing room and François was inside, Charlotte is surprised of seeing him there,
François said he wanted to take a look to the mansion before giving it to Rio, Charlotte
says she remembered François lived in that mansion until he became the king, Rio asks
if that was true nervous, François confirms it, he tells Rio the mansion isn’t an old
building but that if there’s any place difficult to use to feel free to make renovations,
Rio says he will treasure it and lowers his head with the right hand on his chest,
François says he will go then, Charlotte asks if he will leave already, he says that if he’s
there they won’t be able to have their talk, that if he was able to show his face is good
enough, that it’s fine to talk at another time if there’s a chance and he leaves.

Satsuki says as expected of a king, Charlotte tells everyone to sit wherever they want,
that as she said before she really wanted to talk to everyone, to act casually on this
occasion, Celia and Sara’s group relax their shoulders a little when she says that with a
smile, then Charlotte tells Rio to sit by her side and all the girls from the rock house
scream what, Latifa says that she’s fine with Rio’s side too, both laugh fufufufufu,
Charlotte says she wanted to talk about a lot of things with her that that is good, Latifa
says that it seems like there are lot things she has to say to her too with slightly inflated
cheeks, Charlotte says she’s happy that they get along, that if she’s Rio’s sister they will
talk for all of their lives, Charlotte smiles cutely and nonchalantly intertwining her arm
with Rio’s, Latifa too keeps showing her a smile as if for not losing to her, Rio thinks he
wants to change his seat while feeling the pressure coming from both sides of him.

Satsuki says that as expected of Charlotte getting close suddenly, Liselotte agrees and
the two smile wryly looking at the three, Satsuki tells everyone to not mind too much
the order of the seats because that day it’s a break and tells Miharu to sit at her side,
Miharu agrees and tells Aisia to sit at her other side, then the three sit down together,
Sara, Ouphia and Alma sit in front of the three making an U form including the sofa
with Rio, Charlotte and Latifa, Liselotte offers Christina to sit by her side, she accepts,
Liselotte sits besides Alma and Christina next to Liselotte, Celia sits next to Aisia and
Flora besides Celia.

When everyone had their tea and sweet Charlotte says she wants to greet everyone as
the organizer who proposed the gathering and as the representative of the Galarc
kingdom, she says she has the feeling and that it is also her wish that the ones in the
room now will have a lot of contact on the future as people gathered around Rio, that all
of them are in that place because of Rio, all the girls agree silently, they think they
certainly wouldn’t have met everyone of the presents if Rio hadn’t been there, Charlotte
says that everyone there, a hero, several young girls, a princess, foreign princesses, a
duke daughter, an earl daughter share a sit without minding their identities, that the ones
connected to Rio are beyond the country, that she thinks it’s wonderful and wants to
deep her relationship with all of them and that she’s in their care now, after everyone
says that they’re in her care too Charlotte says that the greetings are over and tells
everyone to begin the tea party.

Intermission: The Heroes of the Beltram Kingdom.

Bertram kingdom’s royal capital, on the highest floors of the royal castle, Rui is alone
looking in the direction of Rodania and Galarc’s capital, asking himself if Kouta, Rei
and Rio are doing fine, Rui thinks this world is a remote one, that lately he’s depressed,
that it’s frustrating to know where someone is but not being to contact them for
knowing if they’re safe, he keeps sighing again and again, Rui thinks Bertram is
sinister, that it’s difficult to put it into words, that something deep and strange turns
around it’s heart, that it’s as if the royal castle is enveloped in darkness, he wonders
what it’s the bad feeling on his chest that doesn’t calm down while looking down at the
citadel below him, suddenly a girls calls his name from behind him, Rui turns his head
and greets Akane, Akane asks him what happened, that he was spacing out looking
outside, Rui says he was thinking a little about Kota, Akane says she understands while
her face saddens a little, Rui tells her Kota will do fine, that Rei and Rio are with him,
that someday they may go to meet with them, the two look kindly at each other and then
the two look together in the direction of Galarc’s capital.

At the same time in Galarc’s royal castle, Huguenot is guiding Kota and Rei through the
castle corridors until Hiroaki’s room, Huguenot says to the two that he thinks they
already heard about it from Christina, that after greeting Hiroaki he will let the two
alone with him, the narrator explains about how Christina hopes the two can become
Hiroaki’s friends and helping him to go out of his depression because as fellow
Japanese they understand things that other don’t, Rei says he’s a little nervous,
Huguenot tells him to be relaxed, that there won’t be a problem even if Hiroaki’s mood
is bad, that there are things that just the people from the same country can understand,
that he would be happy if they can use this chance for understanding Hiroaki better.

When the three enter Hiroaki’s room he’s seating on a sofa besides Roana, Hiroaki says
to Huguenot that it’s been a while and says that Rei and Kota are there too, Rei and
Kota greet Hiroaki lowering their heads, Hiroaki says they seem to be doing well and
asks why they came to see him, Huguenot thinks the way Hiroaki is treating them is
different from usual, he wonders if it’s thanks to Roana, he thinks it seems that
Hiroaki’s mood good now but that if he makes a mistake it will be bad again, Huguenot
tells Hiroaki about Rei receiving the baronet rank so he came to greet him again,
Huguenot thinks if he honestly tells him that Christina selected them as friend
candidates he would get offended for sure, Hiroaki asks Rei about it, Rei tells her he’s
going out now with a girl from a baron family with the intention of getting married,
Hiroaki looks interested, Huguenot says that if Rei is close to Hiroaki his future in the
organization is guaranteed, that this is a chance for the people of the same country to
talk, that he will leave now.

When Huguenot leaves Hiroaki tells Rei and Kota to sit in front of him and Roana and
says that it’s certainly good to talk to fellow Japanese sometimes, that the rest of
Japanese fellows is full of damn ikemens and riajus but they aren’t like that, they sit
saying to forgive the intrusion, Rei asks if he has to call Hiroaki with sama instead of
san, Hiroaki says it’s fine with the san that it’s strange to have a Japanese using the
sama too, Rei says that Hiroaki-san then, Rei says to Hiroaki that meeting Japanese who
doesn’t know a lot about isekai stuff is somehow embarrassing, Hiroaki agrees, Kota
asks if it’s like that, Rei says that it’s, that when he finally arrived to an isekai it felt
fresh and different but that the people who don’t know about the genre kill the mood
and bring him back to reality, Hiroaki agrees strongly again, Rei says Kota is the same,
that he was acting shyly when he greeted Miharu by the first time, Kota denies it, Rei
says he looked at her for long, Kota agree reluctantly and embarrassed, he admits that
he believed Miharu is cute enough for being portrayed.

Hiroaki confirms if Miharu was the girl with Rio and says that certainly even in this
world she can be called high level too but … Rei asks him if she isn’t her type, Hiroaki
says that having a Japanese beauty in a another world is strange, that it isn’t funny, that
now that he’s in a parallel word he wants to aim to a beautiful heroine, that it’s like
going to foreign restaurant and ordering ramen, Rei says that certainly, that finally being
in another world it doesn’t feel good to reach his hand at that, that he understands,
Hiroaki asks Rei what with him, that he can talk quite well, Rei says he was just a
reader but that since the web novels became a trend he have wanted to give it a try
himself, he asks Hiroaki if he felt the same, Hiroaki says that it’s embarrassing and to
not tell it to others but that he made an attempt at writing a web novel, Rei asks him the
title saying that maybe he read it, Hiroaki refuses because it’s embarrassing but says
that his novel got some points.

Kota just listens to the two without understanding a word because he wasn’t into that
subculture, Roana too just listens without understanding a word while surprised at how
unusual is for Hiroaki to talk that much and happily with a man his age, Hiroaki asks
Rei what novels he prefers, if about reincarnation or about summoning's, Rei says he
loves those too but that before coming to this world he has just got into a gourmet
novel, Hiroaki says that there were a lot of those lately, Rei says that inside those there
were series that looked for the novelty too, that there was a series about a heroine
summoned to Japan that went out to eat with the mc, that he marked it as favourite but
that he was summoned before reading it whole, that it was frustrating, Hiroaki asks him
the title, Rei says that it’s a little embarrassing to say it from of Roana so he decides to
say just the novel’s title in Jjapanese so she doesn’t understand, Rei says the title was
“Modern gourmet tour with a lolibaba”, Kota asks what with that title that explains
everything, Rei says that he didn’t read the novel whole but that it was a masterpiece,
that instead of the usual template it brought the characters to Japan… Rei kept telling
his opinion about the novel, that it was of a quality that it wouldn’t be strange if it was
given a book version, Hiroaki says to Rei that he’s a man that really understand his stuff
with a happy smile, in the end as Christina aimed to Hiroaki got close to Rei and Kota.

Chapter 7: A Messy Tea Party?

It has already been an hour since the beginning of the tea party and everyone has been
being able of talking relaxedly until now and without awkwardness until a certain topic
came out, Charlotte is sulking and saying it’s unfair she’s the only one who didn’t have
yet food cooked by Rio, she begins to plead to Rio about it with her gaze, Rio says that
his cooking isn’t that special but he agrees to prepare something for dinner, Charlotte’s
face and smile beams, Rio says he will look what things there are on the storage and see
what he can do, Miharu and Ouphia offer their help but Rio rejects it, he says he was the
one who took Charlotte’s request, he says he will be back on an hour more or less, he
tells everyone to keep talking among the themselves and he leaves.

When Rio closes the door behind him Charlotte says to everyone that there’s something
she wanted to ask them in a place without Rio, Christina asks what it is, Charlotte asks
everyone what kind of relationship they want to have with Rio on the future, everyone’s
bodies stiffens with the question and they stay silent, Latifa says before anyone else that
she wants to be with Rio forever, Charlotte asks her if she means it as a little sister,
Latifa says that as both sister and woman, Aisia says she will stay by Rio’s side forever,
Charlotte asks if she means it as a woman like Latifa, Aisia tilts her head because she
doesn’t understand Charlotte’s question, Aisia says she’s a woman without
understanding the question yet, Charlotte asks if she wants to get married with Rio and
make family together, she says she wants to be with Rio all the time she cans with or
without that relationship, Charlotte says she understands a little impressed by her
answer, Charlotte asks the rest of the girls who are still silent for their answers.

Charlotte asks looking at the surroundings if that means the only ones who love Rio are
Aisia, Latifa and her, Satsuki says to Charlotte while looking at Miharu that there isn’t
way they will be able to answer that if she asks that suddenly, that they don’t know
either why they’re being asked that, Charlotte tells to everyone she loves Rio and wants
to get married with him, so because of that she wants to asks about the feelings of the
people around Rio, Satsuki complaints on her mind about how she goes always directly
to the topic without enough explanation, Charlotte says that for the time being she’s
happy of knowing that Latifa and Aisia are her rivals, that it’s a good harvest but that
she’s still unsure about the rest, Charlotte keeps looking at everyone’s reactions, except
Christina, Ouphia, Alma and Liselotte who had the best poker faces she’s completely
sure that the rest love Rio too.

Charlotte tries to rise everyone’s crisis sensation for making they talk honestly telling
them that in the future a lot of marriage’s talks will come Rio’s way, that even if they
want to keep their feelings hidden it may be good to be honest soon, at the same time
she thinks François will stop all of those talks anyway, Latifa asks her if that is her
declaration of war, Charlotte says to Latifa that she doesn’t need care about the sama,
that she’s a year older so she can call her onee-chan too like she does with Satsuki, that
she may become her older sister, Latifa tells her to please answer, Charlotte says that in
the case that Rio intends to get married with just one person it would be like that, but
that if that isn’t the case thinking about the future she wants to form cooperative
relationships, Latifa asks her if by the other possibility she means … Charlotte says
without letting her finish that she means polygamy, but that the number of wives may
be limited so there are still some possibilities for competition to happen..

Satsuki says that for Rio the polygamy may be impossible, Charlotte asks her why she
thinks that way, Satsuki says she thinks he can’t do such a thing, that she thinks he’s the
type who will always treasure the person he falls for, Charlotte says she understands and
says that it’s a splendid side of him, Latifa, Sara and Flora nod to that, Satsuki asks
Charlotte if it isn’t meaningless to talk about polygamy if she understands it, Charlotte
says that doesn’t mean that the chance of him taking several wives is zero, Satsuki says
that she certainly didn’t ask Rio his thoughts, Christina tells everyone that Rio said that
he opposed the polygamy, Charlotte asks her if it’s like that and to please tell her in
detail about that talk, Christina says that beyond that it involves Rio’s feelings, that she
will just says the things on the surface, Charlotte says she’s really intrigued about that
but that it can’t be helped.

Charlotte says that if Rio wants to take just one wife she honestly isn’t confident about
being the chosen one, she asks the rest if there’s any of them who is confident about
being the chosen one, she asks if Rio already told to any of them that he wants to have
that kind of relationship with them and none answers, Charlotte says she’s relieved that
there isn’t such a person yet, that she still has chances then, but that she’s worried
about Rio maybe not looking at her as a woman, that Rio doesn’t show the bottom of
his heart at all, Latifa acknowledge her understanding of Rio while rising her level of
dangerousness as love rival, Charlotte thanks her and says she can be sure about it if
Latifa his sister thinks the same way, Latifa says that Rio never closes his distance with
someone the people, close to him included, by himself but that he seems to have
changed a little since he came back from his travel, that now it may be a little different,
but that she doesn’t know yet if she’s seen as a woman.

Charlotte says it seems that for capturing Rio’s heart instead of talking about polygamy
they need to begin from confirming if they are being seen as women by him, Sara says
she thinks it won’t be that simple, Celia says Rio fears to lost his bonds with the people
around him, that he doesn’t hate to connect himself to other people but that she thinks
Rio is scared of connecting himself deeply to others, Charlotte says that it became a talk
very meaningful, Latifa says that if they think to get closer to Rio to be pushy with him
will be absolutely useless, Flora listens to everyone with a serious face, Christina and
Liselotte are paying attention too with a curious face.

Miharu thinks everyone loves Rio while looking at them, that Charlotte was serious at
that moment when leaving Galarc’s castle, she thinks about how she didn’t progress on
her relationship with Rio since he discovered her feelings during the incident with
Takahisa, that since then when she’s alone she always becomes too conscious and too
embarrassed of the fact that Rio knows her feelings, that since the evening party she
wasn’t able of spending a lot of time with him either, she thinks that as things are now it
will be bad, that Rio himself said that he will stay more time with them from now on but
that if she stays silent their relationship will stay unchanged, she says herself that it’s
bad to keep running away because it’s embarrassing, that she loves Rio too, that she
needs to change because she loves him, because she loves both Amakara Haruto and the
current Rio, that she won’t give him to someone else.
Charlotte says she has a suggestion for everyone, she asks everyone why not to use this
chance for verifying if Rio sees them as women or not someway, Satsuki asks Charlotte
if she isn’t thinking that everyone of course loves Haruto, Charlotte says she doesn’t
think it and that the participation is voluntary, to feel free to do it for whatever reason
even if they don’t love Rio, that she doesn’t mind if they participate just because it
looks fun, Satsuki asks how does she intend to verify Rio’s feelings, Charlotte says the
most direct thing would be to ask Rio about the love topic or if he loves any of the girls
here, that it may be funny, Satsuki asks if she believes Rio will answer to that, Charlotte
says that if everyone is present Rio will be shy and won’t answer, so they should make
groups that ask about different things, because if every group asks about love he may
find it suspicious, that if possible she wants the ones who don’t love Rio to participate
too as a camouflage for the rest, to think about this just about something for the sake of
deepening their relation with Rio, Latifa says she likes the plan, Charlotte says to rise
their hands if they don’t want to participate, when nobody rises a hand they begin the
group division and questions assignation.

At the same time on the kitchen Vanessa, Aria and the rest of Liselotte’s maids look
curiously at Rio cooking, Rio was a little uncomfortable with the gazes while the gallery
looked impressed by his way of cooking, he was making some kind of croquettes with
barley as the cover and risotto on the inside, when he was ready for frying them Satsuki
called out to him accompanied by Ouphia, Christina and Flora, while Rio calls theirs
name stiffly at the same time his audience until now disappears somehow, Satsuki asks
if they surprised him, Rio says he’s surprised, that the four of them don’t use to act
together and asks them if something happened, Satsuki says they wanted to try new
combinations now that there’s a chance, Rio says he understands, Satsuki asks if he’s
still in the middle of cooking and if he can talk with them for some minutes, Rio says he
has just finished and was going to go back with everyone so he doesn’t mind.

The five move to the dining room and sit on a corner of a big table for twenty people,
Satsuki apologizes for making him to cook alone for everyone but that his dishes are
delicious so she’s expecting it, Rio says that it’s nothing that it was Charlotte’s request
and that he likes to cook and that it was strange for him the only man to be in that room
anyway, Satsuki says she thinks it’s isn’t like that, Ouphia says that everyone wanted to
talk more with Rio too, that they said that when he wasn’t there, that they came here for
that, Cristina says that Rio is liked by everyone, Flora says that the four them want to
talk more to Rio too, Rio says he’s happy if it’s like that, Satsuki asks him what he
prepared, Rio tells her about the croquettes, Satsuki says happily that there will be
something delicious again, Rio tells her to expect it.

Satsuki says the girl who gets married with him will be happy, Rio asks what is she
saying so suddenly, Satsuki says that his food is delicious and that a man who can cook
is more desirable, Rio thanks her words slightly embarrassed, Satsuki then asks if he
likes the girls who can cook, Rio says he doesn’t decide if he likes a girl looking at she
can cook or not, Satsuki asks if he’s fine then with a girl who can’t cook, Rio says yes,
Satsuki asks if he wouldn’t happy if he had the food made by a girl, if he wouldn’t like
to have food made by the one he loves, Rio says that maybe, Christina asks if it would
be like that too if the girl isn’t that good at cooking, Rio says it’s like that, that he thinks
the nobles usually barely cook themselves, so he thinks he would be happy just with
having someone doing it for his sake, that he thinks he may have something similar
before, Christina says he understands with a curious face.
Ouphia asks if Rio has some ideal girl he would want to get married with, Rio is
confused about what she means by ideal, Ouphia says she means if he prefers some type
of face, hair color, hair length, personality… Rio says it’s complicated and asks with a
troubled face if he can’t make of the girl he gets married with the ideal, Satsuki says that
he can’t do that, that he has to be more specific, Rio is confused by her insistence,
Satsuki says that it’s something important, that he has to say at least one thing, Rio says
that someone who doesn’t mind the silence when she’s with him, Satsuki asks if he’s
fine with someone who isn’t noisy, Rio says that he isn’t the talking type himself so he
would be thankful if the other part talks, but that he doesn’t want the girl to force the
two to just keep talking, Satsuki says she understands.

Rio begins to be suspicious about the strange series of question about marriage, love
and ideal type, when Satsuki notices Rio’s feelings she excuses themselves in
having talked a lot of about those things when he left, but that because they don’t have
experience with men there were things they didn’t understand, so they wanted Rio’s
opinion who is the man closest to them, Rio says he understands and that the talk looks
like it became exciting, Satsuki says that it’s like that, that they’re normal girls of the
same age, that somehow the talk became like that naturally, Ouphia says that when Rio
isn’t there usually it becomes like that, Christina says that as royalties Flora and her
maybe can’t call themselves normal girls but that it was a fun talk, Flora says she heard
a lot of new things, that she was able of talking a lot like a normal girl, that it was really
fun and thanks him for the chance of it, Rio says to the sisters he thinks they look like
very splendid normal girls for him, Christina thanks him shyly and Flora stays silent
completely red faced.

Satsuki looks fixedly at Rio a little unhappy at how lightly he can say that kind of
phrases, she thinks he has a good face, is gentlemanly and has high specs, that of course
that he’s popular, that the only weakness she can find is how easily he says those gigolo
phases even though he’s a rockhead, Satsuki says sulking that sometimes he really
makes her misunderstand, Rio tilts his head without understanding the meaning, Satsuki
says it’s nothing sulking a little, Satsuki says it’s already their time and to let him
already for the next ones, Rio asks if there’s something after this, Satsuki says that
somehow it ended in them coming at him in turns and tells him to stay where he’s
because the next group will come just after them, Rio says he will wait there then with a
smile, Satsuki said that until later and the four went to the drawing room where they
shared the got information with the rest.

After several tens of minutes Latifa and Liselotte entered the dining room where Rio
waited, Rio says the two are an unusual combination too, Latifa says that they didn’t
have a chance at the sleepover in Liselotte’s house for talking with just the three
reincarnators, Latifa sits next to Rio and Liselotte in front of him, Rio says that they
never talked between them in their previous lives though, Liselotte says that the three
who were strangers in their previous lives were reborn and now make sleepovers
together, that it’s mysterious, Latifa says they were reborn and grew on different places
but they still were able of reuniting, that it’s and incredible miracle, Rio agrees, Latifa
says that it’s nostalgic, that she changed to take the bus because she wanted to meet
Haruto, Rio asks her if it was like that, Latifa admits that she rode the bus because since
he helped her to go home when she was lost she wanted to get closer to him, so her
mother told her to ride the bus too but that because it was too embarrassing in the end
she died without talking to him again.
Rio says with a dark face that then Latifa could have not died if she hadn’t changed to
ride the bus, Latifa says that if he thinks her death it’s his fault she will be angry at him,
that if she hadn’t been reborn she wouldn’t become this close to him, Latifa says she
admired him in her previous life, the cool Haruto who came to help her, so she began to
go to school by bus, that she really loves the current Rio too, Liselotte says she thinks
it’s really wonderful that the Latifa who looked at him that embarrassedly in the bus can
tell her feelings that directly now, Latifa says that it’s because she doesn’t want to regret
to not tell enough to Rio what she feels for him, Rio says she says it enough, Latifa asks
if it’s really like that, Rio confirms it, Latifa says that there’s her brotherly love for him
but she has the romantic feelings that Suzune pointed at Haruto too, Rio says that he’s
answer is ... and he changes to say he’s sorry, that he can’t answer right now, then he
murmurs to just himself that he can’t connect himself to anyone as his loved one yet.

Latifa says that it’s fine for now hugging Rio’s arm stronger than before, Liselotte asks
if she somehow is really a hindrance, Latifa says that it isn’t like that, that if she had
been alone with Rio she thinks she wouldn’t have said everything, that it became a talk
about their previous lives because she was there, that now it became incredibly
embarrassing, Latifa is completely red faced and Liselotte smiles kindly at her, Latifa
says that it was as little sister but that she’s happy of becoming Suzune Amakawa, so
for now that it’s enough, Liselotte says she may be envious, Latifa says she could use
the surname Amakawa too if she gets married with Rio.

Liselotte goes eeeehhhhhh? completely red faced, Latifa says to Rio that Liselotte’s face
is red, Liselotte says with a high pitched voice that saying that so suddenly is against the
rules, that she imagined it without wanting it, Latifa says Amakawa Rikka and Liselotte
Amakawa then, Liselotte complains again with a face redder than before, Rio says to
Latifa that if she teases Liselotte too much she will be troubled, Latifa says it’s fine and
murmurs for herself that Liselotte is a rival too, Liselotte realized what she said by the
movement of her lips but pretended to not listen, Latifa applauds remembering
something, Rio asks her what it is, Latifa says she didn’t tell something yet to Liselotte
and she said to her she would tell it the next time they meet, Rio asks Latifa what she
means, Latifa whispers on Rio’s ear that about her ears, Rio says he thinks it’s fine if
it’s Liselotte because she will keep the secret, to say it if she wants, Liselotte says that if
the two want her to keep the secret she won’t tell anyone else, Latifa says she doesn’t
want her to get too surprised and takes off the magic tool revealing her ears and tail,
when Liselotte saw them her eyes lighted and keep making mofumofu until the turn of
the next group..

After Latifa and Liselotte left Charlotte, Celia, Sara and Alma came in exchange,
Charlotte asks Rio his opinion about that combination of four, Charlotte and Alma sit at
Rio’s side and Celia and Sara in front of them, Rio says that it’s normal to see Sara,
Alma and Celia together but that it feel very new to see Charlotte with them, Charlotte
says that that it’s good, that it’s told that in a polygamous family where the fellow wives
gets along well, changing with what wives they use to be together with, putting effort in
giving a fresh feeling to their husband they will avoid to fall in the routine in their
nighttime too, Charlotte thinks for herself it seems it will be effective if they get married
too while showing a beaming and hot expression , Rio asked troubled if it was like that
screaming involuntarily a little, Celia and Sara are red faced, Alma look towards the
other side as if showing that she doesn’t know what they’re talking about.
Now Charlotte says to Rio she realized today that she calls Celia without honorifics, Rio
says he does that in private places, Charlotte asks Sara and Alma if they’re fine with it,
Sara says that suddenly abandoning the honorifics was embarrassing for them, Alma
agrees, Charlotte says she wants Rio to call her Charl, Rio laughs troubled, Charlotte
insists while Sara and Celia look fixedly at her, Rio says as expected that is …,
Charlotte asks what is as expected, that what is the problem while closing the distance
with Rio bit by bit, Rio says it’s a problem of position, that abandoning the honorifics
and using a nickname is, Charlotte says then that she orders him as the second princess
to call her Charl, that if he doesn’t do it quickly she will order stranger things, Rio
finally gave up and called her Charl, Charlotte tells him to do it again that if he doesn’t,
Rio says he understands and call her that again, Charlotte tell him to do it again putting
her head on his shoulder, Celia and Sara stare at the two, Rio calls her Charl again,
Charlotte says that he still hesitates when saying it at the same time that she hugs his
arm, she says that from now it’s a practice for getting rid off the shyness, to call her
Charl while he caresses her hair.

When she tries to put Rio’s free hand on her head Celia calls her name standing up,
Charlotte asks her what it is, she asks her if she isn’t being too over familiar with Rio,
Sara agrees saying that she stayed silent because she was princess but that more than
this is a no, Charlotte says that she doesn’t want to separate from Rio yet while pulling
Rio’s head towards her side, Alma from the other side says that it’s enough and pulls
Rio towards her, after separating the two the four girls left.

Rio says lastly Miharu and Aisia, Miharu apologizes for being the only group without a
new combination of members, Rio says that there isn’t such a thing, that he was always
on a trip so there wasn’t a time with just the three for long, that somehow it’s incredibly
calming, Miharu says nervously that it’s good if it’s that way, Rio asks them if they
won’t sit down, Miharu walks stiffly towards the seat in front of Rio but Aisia grabs her
hand and tells her to sit together the three pulling her towards the seat next to Rio,Aisia
says that she always gives the seat besides Rio to others despite always wanting it, that
today there isn’t anyone else so to take it, Miharu asks if she ever said something like
that with a red face, Aisia says that yes and makes her sit down at Rio’s right side while
Aisia takes the left side.

Miharu keeps looking down silently, nervous and embarrassed, Rio smiles wryly, Aisia
calls out to him, Rio asks her what it is, Aisia says that Miharu is nervous, Miharu’s
body shakes and Rio nods, She tells him to call her Mii-chan, Miharu asks her in fluster
what she is saying and rises her head for looking at her, as a result her eyes meet Rio’s,
she gets embarrassed and looks away again, because she was embarrassed of the fact
that Rio discovered her feelings she tried to not be just the two of them as much as
possible, Rio noticed this and did the same, Rio thinks now that that it’s just running
away, but he decided that from now on he would say the things he needs to say and stop
running away, that he needs to tell his thoughts already and make clear his position, that
he can’t let go of this time together.

Rio calls Miharu Mii-chan, Miharu says yes and looks at his face again, Rio says that
even if he called her that way now the current him isn’t Haruto, that until the day of
today he lived as Rio, he thinks that precisely because of that he took revenge against
Lucius, because his revenge is already over let’s become Haruto, such a thought doesn’t
come to him, he says that the current him is Rio, that he’s Haruto Amakawa too but that
he’s a different person from Amakawa Haruto, he grew in this world as Rio, he can’t
discard the things that he gained as Rio, Miharu looks at Rio’s face waiting for his next
words.

Rio say he’s a logical and troublesome person, because of that he thought he couldn’t
become Haruto, he thought he should abandon Haruto and let go of the memories of
Miharu too, but he has Haruto’s memories too, that he tried to throw Haruto away but
he couldn’t, what does that mean, if something that convenient is really fine, he still
doesn’t know it but, he may be the Rio who has Haruto’s memories, that the current him
is Rio but that he doesn’t want to run away anymore from the fact that he was once
Haruto, because of that for the current him she is Miharu-san but she’s Mii-chan too,
that he couldn’t let go completely either of who she was for Haruto, that those are his
honest feelings, that just that he thought it won’t do if he doesn’t tell it to her, to the
important her that sees him as both, as Rio and as Haruto.

Rio now remembers the moment before the kidnapping, “Both, I think I love both, the
Haru-kun from before being reborn and the Rio from now, I fell for the same person
twice”, because Miharu said those words Rio began to believe that it may be fine to live
as Rio and as the one who carries Haruto’s memories. Miharu shakes her head vertically
while crying due to the happiness because Rio finally stopped refusing to be his
childhood friend too, Aisia call outs to Rio, Rio says her name surprised because this
time he was called Rio instead of Haruto, Aisia tells him that he’s Rio, but that he’s
Haruto too so to be more confident because from now on he may face a lot of
difficulties waiting for him on his way and because he’s the one who accepted the her
who can’t become anybody, Rio thanks her words and looks at Miharu as if resolved to
something, Rio says that as the one who carries Haruto’s memories, for just this time as
just Amakawa Haruto, he wants to properly say to Mii-chan just these words, that in his
previous life he wasn’t able to tell to her just these words, Miharu asks what it is
holding her breath and preparing herself, Rio says “it’s been a while Mii-chan I finally
met you”.

Epilogue: The Saint of Revenge

In a far away place, at the edge of the Strahl region, in a remote small kingdom,
exhausted, cold, dry, without enough rain, so the lands are arid, its population is hungry,
just the royalty and nobility are rich, the only ones who live a good life are few, the
kingdom kept existing like that but, except God nothing is eternal, the end comes
suddenly, the change happened, the first of the changes that will shake greatly the Strahl
region is just about to happen, in the capital of this hungry country enraged voices echo
everywhere, a crowd of more that 10.000 people screams angrily, all of them are
dressed poorly, they don’t have good weapons, they don’t wear armor, some have
farming tools and a lot not even that, some minutes ago the door of the noble district
was broken and the crowd quickly flowed inside.

The buildings of the noble district on the way to the castle are all debris now, at the
beginning of the way of debris that goes to the royal castle, wearing beautiful priestess
clothes, a black haired woman in her mid-late twenties keeps advancing with a mace
like beautiful staff in her hand, the woman calls the crowd her pious believers, says to
them that the time has come and tells them to follow her, she says that at this day and
time she will deliver God’s judgement to this rotten kingdom, that she will low the real
god’s hammer over those powerful ones who stole everything for themselves using the
name the God, she holds her staff towards the royal castle and talks again to the crowd.

She says to the crowd that their anger is her anger, that their revenge is her revenge, she
will lower the hammer of judgement on the powerful ones of this rotten world, their
anger, their overflowing anger, to offer it up to her, she keeps walking towards the
castle without stopping her voice or steps, she tells the crowd to give her their anger and
she will release it, then she will built a society for them and for their sakes, that she will
take down this corrupt country and rotten powerful ones, she tells them to wake up, to
rise a revolt made with their own hands for building a democracy.

The woman’s eyes just see the castle over the cliff that houses it, her borrowed thing-
like words are empty like the sky and disappear in the middle of the collective rage, just
the anger that lies in her eyes is real, inside her gaze lies an intense and violent hatred
for something, she keeps walking until she stops several hundred meters away from the
bottom of the cliff that has the castle over it, the crowd stops behind her, the woman
screams looking at the castle “I will repay, vengeance is mine”, the crowd behind her
sings in chorus “Revenge is God’s revenge is God’s”, the woman screams again while
shaking her staff “I will repay, vengeance is mine”, the crowd keeps singing the same
from behind her, the woman listens to the screams behind her for a moment and then
touches the ground with the tip of her staff, the crowd screams excited watching the
ground rising and moving towards the royal castle like a tsunami.

Inside the castle the king just looks at the earth tsunami approaching the castle shaking
and completely full of fear, the leader of the knight order entered the throne room
screaming at him to run away but it was useless, the near one thousand people inside the
castle including guards, servants and trusted vassals all died in an instant.

From the bottom of the cliff the crowd screams happily watching the earth tsunami
swallowing the castle, the woman screams at the crowd that their country was saved,
that the corrupt royalty and nobility are gone, the crowd screams happily again, the
crowd looks excitedly at the woman’s, no the saint’s divine appearance, the saint rises
her staff to the sky and screams to the crowd that from now on she will become their
spear, she will become their staff and guide them rightfully and tells them to build their
country on that land, the people cheered with their all after her founding declaration.