Jill, who knew more about the layout of the mansion, went down a different set of stairs than the one she came from. She circled back to the back door only to find it deserted and quiet; nevertheless, she continued down that path.

She couldn’t afford to be suspected of an assassination attempt.

Geraldo silently followed her.

Jill recalled hearing that despite how outgoing and skilled the prince was at explaining things, he wasn’t good at small talk.

Was it around this time or further down the road?

“Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to arrange various things.”

“…You don’t need to thank me.”

As a result, her attempt at striking a conversation was cut short. Just like “back then.”

“Why are you treating me so well?”

“You don’t have to worry about—”

“I’ve been very untoward to Your Highness. During our first meeting, I fled the scene.”

When she shifted her gaze at the sunlight filtering through the trees, Geraldo sighed.

“…So, you admit to escaping. I—”

Rather than offended, he seemed satisfied with that answer.

“Then, I want to know as well. Why did you run away? Is it because of some bad rumors?”

“Let’s just say that we aren’t compatible.”

“Compatibility?”

The prince parroted her answer, furrowing his eyebrows. Jill nodded, maintaining a straight face.

‘It’s because I know about your forbidden relationship.’

…As expected, there was no way she could say that. Besides, Jill didn’t know when the relationship had started. Nor did she want to know.

“Does that mean… in a physical sense?”

With a grumpy look on his face, the prince broached a sensitive question.

Hmm, Jill pondered.

“That’s not the case… Well, doesn’t His Highness Geraldo have Princess Faelis? I heard you’re very close.”

“We are. …Could it be, you objected to that?”

“That’s right. I’m a jealous woman.”

It’d be safer to leave things that way. Geraldo shouldn’t be able to say anything back to it and sure enough, the prince was at a loss.

Judging from his reaction… I guess Princess Faelis hasn’t told him yet.

That Jill was a regressor. That she was once his fiancée.

“I can’t stand Princess Faelis.”

“You can’t…?”

When he stared at her in disbelief, Jill had a newfound courage. She puffed her chest and reaffirmed.

“Yes, to be honest, I don’t like her. I see her as an enemy. So, how could we be compatible with each other?”

For a moment, Geraldo looked of disbelief, and then, suddenly, he chuckled.

Jill was taken aback by that.

“To say such a thing so openly, how bold of you.”

His smile had an innocence befitting a 15-year-old.

“Thank you for making things clear for me. I hope I didn’t cause you any unnecessary stress.”

“Eh? N-no, not really…”

“In any case, I understand that Lawrence is right.”

So, he can also laugh like this? …I never knew.

While Jill was still reeling from the shock, Geraldo asked gently.

“Since you are from Kratos, did you encounter any unreasonable treatment in the Rave Empire?”

“N-no, not at all…”

“I see. I’m glad to hear that.”

She braced herself, fully believing he was going to manipulate her, but when he easily let the matter drop, she became flustered. Jill turned away and started leaving him behind.

“Anyways! I’m fine, so there’s no need for you to worry about me. It feels kind of awkward when you do!”

“Do you find it bothersome?”

“No, not to that extent! …M-more importantly, this isn’t the first time that a Kratos citizen married into the Rave Empire, right? I heard that there was a precedent 300 years ago.”

Geraldo, who’d been following her slowly from behind, stopped. Jill turned around to see why.

“Did you hear that from Lawrence?”

When Jill nodded, Geraldo narrowed his eyes.

“He said too much.”

“…Why? What’s the matter?”

As she asked that, Jill noticed something.

Three hundred years ago…

Didn’t the Heavenly Sword disappear from the Rave Empire 300 years ago? According to speculations, the Dragon God’s bloodline ceased flowing in the Rave royal family around the same time.

“…I don’t think it’s a pleasant story to hear.”

So, something did happen?

On the contrary, it only piqued her curiosity.

“I don’t mind. Please tell me.”

Shrugging, Geraldo stared straight at Jill.

“Three hundred years ago, as a peace treaty, a princess of Kratos married the emperor of Rave… The Dragon Emperor.”

“A princess of the Kratos royal family married the Dragon Emperor?”

“Correct. Apparently, they were married when she wasn’t even 10-years-old. The Dragon Emperor was already around 20-years-old at the time, and he also had a Dragon Empress. It was a political marriage in the truest sense of word. However, the marriage only lasted ten years. When they divorced, the peace treaty was broken—and war broke out.”

That’s the ‘precedent’?

Lawrence must’ve brought it up on purpose.

When he saw the look on Jill’s face, Geraldo awkwardly added.

“I told you it wasn’t a pleasant story.”

“I know. I am the one who asked, but…”

‘The Goddess sure is merciful.’ She refrained from saying that. There was also a possibility that the aforementioned princess was the goddess. Besides, it was 300 hundred years ago. The situation was different now.

“…I don’t know the details because it’s irrelevant to the matter on hand, but it seems that the princess of Kratos didn’t have a very happy life in the Rave Empire.”

While Jill was stammering, Geraldo took over.

Oh, I get what he wants to say.

“So that’s why you were concerned about whether I was being mistreated in the Rave Empire…”

“They could’ve suspected you of being a spy.”

“In that case, I’d kick them all.”

“…Come to think of it, you did break the holy spear.”

Geraldo tilted his glasses and paused, as if hesitating.

“Just one thing. You should try to understand how worried your family is.”

Jill flinched at his stern tone. She couldn’t laugh because he didn’t seem to be exaggerating.

“Three hundred years ago, the princess of Kratos also married young, but her magical power was inherently strong. She also had a stronger backing than you. Yet, things still didn’t work out for her.”

“…But that was then. I’m getting married as the Dragon Empress.”

“The Dragon Empress also perished in the aftermath of their divorce. All women who marry the Dragon Emperor tend to be unhappy.”

“That must be a superstition on Kratos’ part.”

She was adamant and glared at Geraldo.

Suddenly, Geraldo smiled and shook his head slightly.

“…My bad. I declared that I was going to back off, but I just went on talking.”

“Eh?”

“Looks like I haven’t fully moved on.”

After muttering, Geraldo walked pass Jill.

“Don’t worry about it. I’m here to prevent things from happening as they did 300 years ago. That’s all.”

Geraldo treaded upon the path as it shimmered under the sunlight filtering through the trees.

Her failure to respond was embarrassing. Jill followed after him.

“That’s my line. The incident from 300 years ago absolutely won’t happen again.”

“Then, our goal aligns. Then? Is that all?”

“… Is the situation with the king so dire that you have to team up with the Dragon Emperor?”

---

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