The Marquis of Valor's Estate

"Report! It seems someone is trying to win over Viscount Helmel!"

"Send someone to persuade him! Under no circumstances let him be swayed by another faction!"

"Report! Reimer, the captain of the Imperial Capital Garrison, has been brought over to Prince Zandra's side!"

"What!? Damn it! Don't let anyone else defect! Use everyone we can mobilize to retain our supporters! I'm going out too!"

That night, a battle of political maneuvering was unfolding in the Imperial Capital.

Ever since I hijacked Zandra's plan, Zandra had been poaching Leo's supporters one after another in retaliation.

Leo was terribly busy dealing with it.

"That's rough."

"Brother, help me too! You were the one who picked this fight in the first place, weren't you!?"

"Come on, I did suggest helping the pitiful Count Beltz, but you agreed to it too, didn't you? I apologize for the fact that it turned into a fight, but even if we'd just sat still, they would have picked a fight with us eventually. Might as well make the most of it."

"Then help me..."

"Fighting isn't my field, so I'll leave it to you. Besides, there's nothing I can do."

"If there's nothing you can do, then there's nothing I can do either."

"Come on, there's such a thing as being too modest. If you show your face, plenty of supporters will reconsider. Anyone who stays after that is a true supporter of yours. Do your best."

"You really make it sound like someone else's problem. At any rate, I'm absolutely making you help with my plenipotentiary duties, you know?"

With that, Leo put on his coat and left the room.

Watching him go, I let out a deep sigh.

Zandra had launched an offensive, but the central figures of his faction had not yet been won over. The people currently being approached were relatively new supporters. Even if they were won over, it would not be a major blow.

The problem was how to retain the people who formed the foundation of our faction, but that was Leo's responsibility to figure out.

What I needed to consider was the motive behind the enemy's actions.

"Sebas."

"Yes, sir. What is it?"

"If you were Zandra, what would you do? Who would you target?"

"I would not launch an attack. It would be obvious that someone would interfere if I did. Even if I decided to attack, I would wait a little longer. For now, I would focus on retaining my own supporters."

"I know that, but Zandra is hotheaded and has launched an attack anyway. How do you interpret it in that case?"

After considering my question for a moment, Sebas glanced at the snack bag on the desk and muttered as though he had suddenly realized something.

You figured it out. Of course. Anyone would arrive at the same conclusion with a little thought.

"Fiene-sama. If I were in his position, I would target Fiene-sama."

"Exactly. Fiene is the only one who could serve as a rallying point after we're gone. So if he wants to target someone, it would be Fiene."

"Indeed. However, attacking Fiene-sama outright would create problems."

"Yes, Father wouldn't stand for it. But suppose Fiene were running around trying to retain our supporters and was attacked by thugs along the way. Father's anger would be directed at us."

"Then are you keeping Fiene-sama in the castle? I do not see her anywhere."

"No. I had her taken to a safe place. This place isn't entirely safe either, and I couldn't have her taken outside by someone inside the castle."

The Imperial Sword Castle's security was flawless. But that was only against threats from outside. If someone inside helped an intruder, it was another matter. The upper levels where the Emperor resided were perfectly guarded, of course, but I couldn't send Fiene to Father simply because there was danger elsewhere.

"A safe place? As far as I know, the safest place would be at Arnold-sama's side."

"No. Zandra must know by now that I was the one who contacted Count Beltz. He probably wants me dead more than anyone right now. I can't keep her by my side."

"I see. Then perhaps bringing Count Beltz over was a mistake? Prince Zandra has probably realized that you were hiding your claws. I do not think it was worth that much."

"I can't remain incompetent forever, and he probably figured things out when I sent Erna to Father. Besides, a little investigation would reveal that you were originally a highly skilled assassin. For now, he'll probably assume it was all thanks to you."

"Do not underestimate your older siblings. Optimism is inadvisable. Like you, those three also have your father's blood flowing through their veins."

"I know. I'm not underestimating them, so don't worry. In fact, I doubt anyone rates those three more highly than I do."

I had sent her away from my side because I was exercising the utmost caution.

This offensive by Zandra was unquestionably meant to flush Fiene out. If he couldn't draw her out, the damage would be limited to the defection of a few supporters. That would still be a painful loss for our faction, but it was better than losing Fiene.

"Indeed, you do not seem to be underestimating them. You seem more serious than usual. Is it because Fiene-sama is involved?"

"Well, yes. Fiene is Duke Kleinerth's daughter. If we lost her here, we'd never recover."

"Is that truly all there is to it? Normally, when you know what your opponent is after, you would definitely launch a counterattack, Arnold-sama. This time, you have not, instead choosing total defense. Is it because you do not want Fiene-sama put in danger?"

"What are you trying to say?"

"Nothing. I think it is a good thing. Mitsuba-sama would be pleased as well."

I was about to complain to Sebas, who was speaking with such a knowing look, but I quickly closed my mouth.

I knew perfectly well that no matter what I said to this butler, he would turn it around on me.

So I said nothing and began preparing to go outside.

"Are you going out?"

"Yes. A certain butler told me not to underestimate them, so I'm going to make sure she's safe."

"That would be wise. If you say you were worried after visiting her, it will be perfect."

"As if I'd say that!"

"What a shame. Now, where have you hidden Fiene-sama?"

"Somewhere you're very familiar with. The safest place in this Imperial Capital, and where the strongest person in this Imperial Capital lives."

"I see. The Amsberg estate—the home of the Marquis of Valor. Indeed, no one could lay a hand on her there."

That's right.

With the satisfied Sebas in tow, I headed for the Amsberg estate.

■■■

The Amsberg estate was located near the castle.

When I visited the enormous estate, I was admitted at once. Even as a prince, I was probably the only person who would be allowed in so easily.

Erna, Leo, and I had been childhood friends, but of the three of us, I had been by far the one who actively spent time with Erna.

I had lost count of how many times she had dragged me to this estate while reducing me to tears.

After this went on for a while, the knights stationed at the gate began saying welcome home to me as well. At that moment, I realized how frightening familiarity could be.

Even though several years had passed since my last visit, the gatekeeper greeted me with welcome home again this time. To the people of this household, I was their beloved young lady's friend.

"When you think about it, saying welcome home to a crying child is pretty strange..."

"To adults, it must have looked as though you two were close."

"How did it look to you?"

"I knew perfectly well that Arnold-sama hated it. Of course."

"..."

I almost asked why he hadn't stopped it, but I swallowed the words. He would only say something glib and brush me off. It was all in the past now, and considering that it had allowed me to send Fiene here so easily, I could say it had not been a waste.

While I was thinking about that, I reached the entrance. A woman with the same hair color as Erna was standing there. Her eyes were blue. She was youthful and beautiful. If no one told you otherwise, everyone would think she was Erna's older sister, but...

"It's been a long time, Al."

"It has been a long time, Anna-san."

"Sebas, how have you been?"

"Yes, Lady Amsberg."

This was Anna von Amsberg, the wife of the Marquis of Valor and Erna's mother.

My own mother was remarkable in her own way, but this woman's youth was pure magic. She seemed to exist outside the concept of age. Because of her appearance, I had always felt awkward calling her Auntie, so I had settled on calling her Anna-san instead.

Smiling warmly, Anna-san escorted me inside.

"Unfortunately, my husband is out. Ah, you are a proper prince now, aren't you? Would it be rude for me to speak this way?"

"No, please keep speaking as you always have. I'd feel terribly uncomfortable if you started speaking formally to me, Anna-san."

"Oh my, then I'll take you at your word. Erna and Fiene-san are in the bath right now. Would you like to join them?"

"I'd rather not. I don't want to die."

"My, how morbid. You used to bathe together."

"That was when I was a child, and Erna nearly drowned me in this household's bath. Don't you remember?"

"Oh yes, that happened too. Come to think of it, there was also the time you two came here crying. Do you remember? Erna made you train so you could beat the bullies, and you cried; then Erna got frustrated and cried because you never improved at all."

"It sounds unreasonable even hearing it now."

As expected, she was my natural enemy.

It was a miracle I hadn't been left with serious trauma.

Someone with a weaker heart might have killed themselves.

The fact that she could laugh and talk about it with that cheerful smile meant she was pretty dangerous herself.

"For now, could you wait in the guest room at the far end?"

"Certainly."

"Sebas, could you help me prepare tea?"

"Of course."

If I had often visited this house, then Sebas had as well.

Sebas followed her as though he were Anna-san's butler.

I headed for the guest room at the far end as instructed and reached for the doorknob without thinking.

But when I opened the door slightly, I sensed someone's presence. I also heard a woman's voice.

Still, I assumed a maid was making the bed, so I opened the door without giving it much thought.

That was a mistake.

...

"Lady Erna looks wonderful in dresses too! Next, let's try this white dress—"

"F-Fiene... Please stop treating me like a dress-up doll..."

Inside the room were the two of them in their underwear. Fiene wore pure white, while Erna wore pink. Surprisingly, Erna was the one wearing the cute, frilly kind.

They were baring their normally hidden white skin without the slightest hesitation. Since they thought they were alone with another woman, neither of them had any intention of covering up. Fiene usually wore loose clothing, so it did not show, but she was more voluptuous than I had expected. As for Erna, she had not grown much since the last time I checked, but that meant she was slender, which would surely appeal to plenty of people.

As I was thinking that, the two of them noticed me.

The two of them wore confused expressions for an instant, but both soon turned bright red.

Erna quickly assumed a throwing stance with a pillow that had been lying nearby.

Resistance was already futile, so all I could do was regret what I had done.

I'd forgotten. Anna-san was the most troublesome of all. Who would have thought she would arrange for me to walk in on her unmarried daughter changing clothes? At this point, she was just doing it for amusement.

"Al!? You—!"

"Al-sama!?"

Even as I realized I'd been set up, I ended up taking the pillow thrown at tremendous speed straight to the face.