Jill, having abruptly ended her dinner midway to leave the dining room, stared listlessly at the lake from the terrace. The lake right next to the mansion was once a grand playground for children where they could swim, ride boats, and even skate in the winter. But now, it only sat quietly with the moon floating above it.

She could see a pair of silhouettes on the far side, probably belonging to Geraldo and Natalie.

She should probably check up on them, but she wasn’t in the mood to do so at the moment.

Jill wanted to be alone.

…Only to find herself standing with two other people.

“What are Camila and Lawrence doing here…?” (Jill)

“I’m Jill-chan’s bodyguard~?” (Camila)

“I was a bit curious.” (Lawrence)

“So you approached a pensive girl out of mere curiosity~? You’re the worst~?” (Camila)

“Can’t you be more understanding of a man who has an image to maintain? I can’t just say that I was worried.” (Lawrence)

“You’re just full of ulterior motives~” (Camila)

“…I never thought my family would object.” (Jill)

That single line from Jill put an end to the commotion behind her.

“Are you happy now?” (Jill)

“Wait, Jill-chan, I’m on your side~?” (Camila)

“Whose side, exactly?” (Jill)

“Whose~…” (Camila)

“You’re on the side of the Rave Empire, no, His Majesty the Emperor, right? Not your homeland.” (Jill)

Camila turned to Lawrence, uncertain over what to do.

“Well, since I’m the knight of the Dragon Princess, I have no choice but to be that~” (Camila)

“As a side note, I’m on Kratos’ side. So, if it’s in Kratos’ interest, I’ll cooperate.” (Zeke)

“…Is it true that the Rave Empire’s army is gathering?” (Jill)

The fact that she asked Lawrence that proved how vulnerable she was at the moment. Despite knowing that, Jill couldn’t help but ask.

“It’s true. Both in Noitral and Leirzatz, respectively. It’s surprising. Just how did the Dragon Emperor manage to move the Three Dukes~?”

“…Her Highness Elynsia, His Highness Listeard, and even His Highness Vissel became his allies. Of course, he’d be able to do that.”

“Exactly, and you helped the Dragon Emperor achieve that, strengthening the Rave Empire as a whole. Now, because of the Southern King, Kratos is divided, and the first who will pay the consequences is your family~”

Camila made a sound with her footsteps and deliberately leaned back. She did that on purpose.

“It’s cowardly to say that.”

“But it’s true~”

“Camila, did His Majesty tell you anything?”

Camila pursed her lips for a moment. That was the answer.

“…Nothing~”

Camila responded with that word because such was the command from Hades.

Camila stared into Jill’s eyes and lied to her face. That was how Jill knew she was acting in good faith.

Thus, Jill laughed and said she understood.

“It’s okay, I know. His Majesty is always concealing things. He is always trying to deceive me.”

Still, Jill turned her back to Camila because she didn’t want her subordinates to see her current expression.

“I thought I didn’t need to know about the past because what matters is the present.”

“…That kind of thinking is unlike you.”

At Lawrence’s remark, Jill tightened her grip on the handrail.

“Not really. I’m surprisingly meek. When it comes to romance, I’m no good…”

The present is important. What happened in the past should stay in the past, including those old, stupid myths.

But now, Jill began to wonder if she was just making an excuse.

She pretended to accept what Hades was hiding with open arms, when in truth, she was just running away.

…Isn’t it scary?

Jill had never forgotten what happened the moment she uncovered the secret of the man she once loved.

Her innocent, sparkling love shattered into dust the moment she learned something unnecessary.

“If you hurry, you can still make it in time.”

Lawrence whispered. He spoke with a soothing, tender voice. However, Camila’s voice was cold.

“Stop threatening her, Raccoon Boy~”

“It wasn’t a threat. As things stand, sooner or later, it’ll happen anyway. I also received word that some people from Rave illegally crossed into Kratos around the same time Princess Natalie entered the country. Whether they’re spies or agents, it’s not something that can be ignored.”

“…Not necessarily under His Majesty’s instructions.”

“Do you really think so?”

“…”

“That’s enough from you.”

When Camila began to sharpen her arrowhead with a dagger, Lawrence laughed.

“Why are you so upset? Did I strike a nerve?”

“I don’t think I can win against you in a verbal argument, so I’m not going to argue with you~”

“Camila, stop it.”

“No, Jill-chan. This guy is trying to get you to doubt His Majesty~”

I know, I know that…

…Yet, Jill found herself asking.

“But Camila knows something, and Zeke probably does as well. And yet I…”

Only she didn’t know anything.

Those words were drowned out by the pillar of water that suddenly burst up from the lake.

Camila leaped forward and told Jill to step aside.

“E-enemy attack—!?”

“No way, who’d be so reckless as to attack the Saber family—”

“—Hey, hey, it’s been a while, Dragon Princess-chan!”

Within the darkness, a boisterous voice came down along with the spray of water.

“A man with charm that drips like water! Last time was pretty lackluster of me, so I tried to focus on my entrance this time, what do you think? Oh, thank you for the illumination by the way. How very thoughtful of you.”

The Saber family is on high alert.

Immediately, lights were directed onto the lake to locate the enemy, and several security guards were dispatched. The lake was surrounded in an instant.

However, the intruder was smiling and waving lightly without fear.

“Welcome to Kratos.”

He was none other than the king.

“Southern King…”

“I missed you, Dragon Princess-chan.”

Standing in the center of the undulating lake, his golden locks fluttering in the darkness, the man named Rufus smiled.

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