Gasi

Part 12「It has been a long time, Valerie-sama.」

「Indeed, I'm glad to see you safe and sound, Lisha.」

Lisha was dressed in very ordinary commoner clothes, while Valerie was wearing a disguise. They were meeting each other in a crowded café in the city.

Lisha wondered if this person's gaze was as sharp as now in the past.

Perhaps Valerie was just like Dahlia. The extremely unreasonable false charge that was placed on Viktor might have changed him completely in the inside.

His eyes were glaring at emptiness. Those were eyes that had become unable to believe anything in this world.

Lisha couldn't even imagine just how much despair and conflict those eyes contained.

「I'm a worthless man who can't do anything for all of you.」

「No, if Valerie-sama was also in the country at that time, you would only get executed too. I'm glad that at least Valerie-sama was saved from such thing.」

It was also fortunate that Valerie was popular among the noble ladies.

Even someone so haughty like Veltina showed a slightly reserved attitude toward Valerie.

Although it didn't reduce Valerie's anguish at the slightest even if he was told that he was saved by his good look.

「Please endure it just for a bit more. I won't let Sforza House do as they please anymore after Archduke Antonio and Mauricia's king makes their move.」

When Valerie learned that Dahlia had been targeted by the assassins that Veltine hired all this time, he seriously planned to cause an uprising.

It seemed that Ramillies had repelled all of those assassins with difficulty, but he was only one person. It was highly possible that he might made a mistake one day and failed.

The negotiation with Mauricia Kingdom had entered the last stage.

After that he would make use of the third force that was Mauricia to destroy everything altogether, whether it was the great nobles who maintained their inaction, or the figurehead king who did nothing but watching.

Perhaps he should even go further until this country called Trystovy was gone from the map. He wouldn't care about it for even one bit.

If Valerie's ideal country could only be born from the handful of ash after Trystovy was burned to the ground, then that was what he would do.

「──No, unfortunately it will be too late.」

Valerie's eyes opened wide. He didn't understand what Lisha was saying.

The Lisha in Valerie's memory wasn't someone who would just calmly accept Dahlia's death.

「What are you saying Lisha? If it's about the assassins I can also pull some strings...」

「Yesterday, an invitation for a tea party came from her highness Veltina.」

「That woman, how far she is going to go!」

She expressly summoned Dahlia to a hostile place like the inner palace. Her ulterior motive was completely transparent.

──It was to poison Dahlia to death.

She intended to kill Dahlia right before her own eyes rather than leaving it to assassin.

Most likely the reason why she went as far as taking such bold measure was because of his maneuvering with Mauricia Kingdom.

「You can just refuse that invitation! It's not like any of you have any more lingering attachment to the inner palace at this time isn't it?」

A formal invitation from the first queen also meant the cancellation of Dahlia's banishment from the inner palace.

However Valerie knew Dahlia well enough that she wasn't a woman who put much stock toward keeping up appearance like that.

「...The madam isn't the only one who is invited...her highness Marguerite is also invited.」

「D-don't tell me...」

Although Marguerite was a descendant of a criminal, she was a full-fledged royalty.

If she was poisoned to death, it would be a grave crime that couldn't be covered up even with the influence of Sforza House.

For an instant Valerie thought that this was a great chance to bring down Sforza House, but a second later he felt ashamed of himself for thinking that.

I was thinking to sacrifice my best friend's daughter and granddaughter, just what was I thinking....

「Madam is prepared to die. In line with this, she request Valerie-sama to not waste her sacrifice.」

「Impossible! Is she planning to take revenge for her father?」

Certainly it might take some time.

But a time would surely come when Dahlia would be able to live happily with her daughter.

There was no need for her to walk the path of carnage where even her daughter would be sacrificed just for the sake of revenge.

「Please rest assured. There is a body double taking her highness Marguerite's place right now.」

Lisha continued without mentioning that the body double was her own son.

「The madam has resolved herself to enter this conflict in order to protect the life of her daughter as a mother. I am unable to stop that.」

That day when she lost her father and abandoned by her husband, Dahlia resolved to throw away everything in order to stay a mother.

She asked Lisha who was like her little sister to sacrifice her son and even offered her own life as a bait.

Lisha was unable to stop Dahlia who was quietly going insane.

She had a feeling of regret.

She couldn't imagine how happy she would be if she didn't need to lose both Dahlia and Nigel and the day where all of them could live happily came.

However the reality was extremely cruel.

Even Valerie here who was expressing his sympathy was also someone who had abandoned Dahlia and others.

He didn't try to get involved with them for more than two years. That was an unshakable proof.

Valerie realized that from Lisha's calm gaze without needing any word.

「...In other words, today, you wanted to meet me today because...」

Lisha nodded silently without any expression.

「It's to ask Valerie-sama to make the madam's death useful. Her highness Veltina is losing her composure after the assassins' repeated failure.」

That was why she took a forceful measure like inviting Dahlia to a tea party.

She was undoubtedly unable to feel assured unless she called Dahlia to her own territory where it was impossible to escape.

There was no way that there wouldn't be any chink in her armor while she was being this flustered.

Valerie had a lot of supporters in the palace. He would surely be able to make use of that opening skillfully.

Dahlia never intended to ask for help from the start. Knowing that fact struck Valerie's heart strongly.

(Certainly her tactic will work well. It's also a fact that I was unable to do anything for her until now...)

He had acted like his friendship with Pazarov House was nonexistent for the sake of protecting himself.

He didn't have any face at this point to make excuses that he had never forgotten about them or the like.

Besides if it was impossible to change Dahlia's mind, he should make use of her death. Doing that would also be for her sake wouldn't it?

He understood that it was just an excuse. However her death would be unavoidable if she wasn't stopped from going to the tea party.

──As expected, there was a part of himself that was thinking that this was a chance of a lifetime. Valerie realized that in aghast.

How would he be able to face Viktor in that world if he allowed Dahlia to die without doing anything here.

「...Are you...alright with that?」

「Nothing can be gained without sacrificing something. I can't return anymore to the happy time when I can believe on human's virtue.」

A happy end where everyone could be happy only existed in a fairy tale. She had been made to realize that.

Perhaps Lisha had also been going crazy quietly just like Dahlia.

Valerie came running to gallantly rescue Viktor from the execution and saved Dahlia from Veltina's harassment.

Such convenient fairy tale couldn't be found anywhere.

「Valerie-sama, please make use of madam for the sake of your objective. We will also make use of you for the sake of our own objective.」

Something hot welled up in Valerie's eyes. He desperately endured it from flooding out.

He was going to make use of Dahlia. His pride wouldn't allow him to shed tears for the sake of his worthless self-satisfaction.

「...If that is your wish, then I shall put forth every effort to do so.」

「Thank you very much.」

Even though his guts was seething and screaming in anguish, Valerie felt his brain was flooded with an exaltation that felt nearly like a pleasure.

Count Valerie Ost sold his soul to the devil right at this moment.

.

Three days passed after that.

Even if it was just a low-key tea party, it wasn't something that could be held immediately today or tomorrow when it was something that was done in the inner palace.

Normally the appropriate time for preparation would take one week, but the invitation stated that it would be held in three days. It was a proof of just how impatient Veltina was.

Dahlia put her hand through the sleeve of the light red dress that she had never worn since she was banished from the inner palace. She smiled wryly seeing how thin her arm had become.

「Perhaps it's fine because I can still wear it somehow.」

「Putting aside the waist part, it seems that we won't need to adjust the size, madam.」

Lisha was putting makeup on Dahlia happily. It made Dahlia recalled just how terrifying the thing that she was going to do was.

But there was something that she couldn't give up even then.

Even if she had to sacrifice everything else, she would at least save her daughter, Marguerite. That conviction was the only reason left for Dahlia to live.

「Thank you for everything until now, Lisha.」

She thought of her like her actual little sister.

Lisha always helped her. She loved her like she was her other half.

If possible, she wanted Lisha to live happily after she died. Although she had lost the qualification to say something like that.

「No madam. This is my wish, my mission, my purpose of living. You don't need to let it weigh you down.」

She knew that Lisha would say that.

She relied on Lisha knowing that Lisha's mother had made her to swear loyalty to Pazarov House and how she had been raised to prioritize Dahlia's wish rather than herself.

「──It's strange. I even forgot to shed tears.」

.

「Amazing! Mar-oneesama won't lose to any princess from anywhere!」

The nine years old boy was dressed like a genuine princess. He was certainly giving off a distinctive charm.

He looked older than he actually was because of his good posture. His well-ordered looks would make anyone believe without a doubt that he would bloom to be a beautiful flower in the near future.

His silver hair was worn up with crowea flower acting as pink accent on it.

Dahlia was also famous in the kingdom as a beauty, but perhaps this boy would become widely known as a country toppling beauty if he kept growing beautifully like this.

「You see, Ni will be able to land a hit on uncle Ramillies soon! He said that if Ni can land a hit on him, Ni will be able to become a knight who can protect Mar-oneesama!」

The boy thought that the girl's wish unfortunately wouldn't come true.

He knew about the cruel plan that was waiting for him after this.

「Do you best. But──」

「?」

「It's nothing. I hope you can land a hit on Ramillies quickly.」

「Yep!」

It isn't you who are protecting.

You are the one being protected, and I'm the one doing the protecting.

Today Princess Marguerite would die on the surface.

And then a girl who wasn't related with the royal family would be born.

Lisha who lost the master she served and the girl would visit a distant relative at Mauricia and live there.

The scenario had been written until that point.

The boy smiled gently and stared at the girl to carve her innocent smile in his heart at this last chance.

「Mar-oneesama, what's wrong?」

「Ni has gotten taller than me.」

His physical strength wasn't a match against the girl at all and even his height had been surpassed.

Her martial talent astonished even that Ramillies. There was no doubt that it would serve as powerful trump card that protected the girl from here on.

(Even so I'm the one who is protecting Marguerite.)

Nigel's existence was indispensable for the sake of facing a country and winning a life for the girl.

He would be lying if he said that he didn't fear death, but Nigel felt proud of that fact.

That immature emotion that couldn't even be called love had enough passion to make a boy threw away his life.

「I want to quickly grow up!」

「Yeah, I believe that you will surely become beautiful.」

「I'm not pretty like Mar-oneesama.」

That wasn't true.

Surely she would become a beauty who would make everyone's gaze turn.

He wouldn't have any place at her side, but he prayed that he would let him live in a corner of her memory.

That was Nigel's only wish.

「Mar-oneesama...are you crying?」

Marguerite peered at Nigel's face from below with a bewildered expression. Nigel followed his instinct and kissed her lips.

「Haha...Ni's first kiss is mine.」

「Uuuu! I hate Mar-oneesama playing a prank on me!」

The girl pouted sullenly. Nigel kindly hugged her warm body.

「I'm going.」

「Yep, take care!」

That was the last time Marguerite saw Nigel.

.

Part 13A quiet disturbance was running through the inner palace with Dahlia's return there after so long.

She lost her family and banished to shabby house that was a detached palace in name only, and now she came to the inner palace once more.

People were coming and waiting for their arrival. Some of them came just because of curiosity, and some of them wanted to see how Dahlia was doing now after her ruin. Their number was growing in clusters.

「Oh, I'm honored that there are this many people here to welcome my arrival.」

But, their expectation was splendidly betrayed.

Her beauty that once even managed to monopolize the king's affection hadn't declined with her ruin. She looked even more radiant instead.

Her faint red dress also wasn't anything splendorous, but the excellent quality of Dahlia herself caused the simplicity of the dress to look like it was bestowing her with elegance and grace.

Although she had given birth to a daughter, Dahlia was still a woman in the prime of womanhood with her age that was still in the middle of her twenty.

Perhaps the king would move his affection toward her once more if he was present here.

Handpicked beautiful women were gathered in the inner palace, but the answer would be no if it was asked whether there was any of them who could rival the current Dahlia.

She was in a domain that couldn't be matched by simply being beautiful.

Dahlia possessed an aura around her body──or perhaps a special atmosphere that attracted the gaze of people.

The beautiful maidens who were made to realize that couldn't laugh scornfully at Dahlia like they first planned. They could only grit their teeth at the wide gulf that existed between them.

「...It has been a long time since we are here, dear mother.」

And then the figure of the girl who was trying to hide behind Dahlia gave them even more shock.

Silver hair that grew until the waist and violet eyes that would make anyone lost in them.

Her fresh and youthful small lips gave the impression of a lustrous and fresh cherry.

She was previously free and uninhibited in her action. But such disposition had vanished to be replaced with beauty that radiated from every single gaze and action she made.

The girl was still a fully-fledged daughter of the king despite the dirty blood of her mother.

She was still a bud right now, but she naturally would have the duty to marry as royalty when she grew up.

It was clear to see that in the future innumerable youths would scramble against each other to attract the girl's attention.

No, perhaps it wouldn't stop with just that. The king himself might immediately decide to grant the girl with a suitable livelihood for a royalty to the girl if he caught sight of the girl's beauty right now.

That would be a very unwelcome development for those who were involved in ganging up on Dahlia and harassing her.

When the girl──Princess Marguerite became an influential person, she might also decided to take revenge for any slight against her in the past.

「Welcome, it seems life in the detached palace really agree with the two of you.」

Veltina welcomed the two of them without flinching back at all. Her sweet smile was provoking them.

Among the hangers-on and the concubines in the inner palace, she was the only one who wasn't swallowed by Dahlia's charisma.

Perhaps it was to be expected from the first queen.

Thanks to that, even her hangers-on who were pressured by Dahlia's transcendental beauty finally could take a breath.

(Unpleasant──what an unpleasant woman.)

However, Veltina wasn't actually as calm as her appearance suggested.

Instead hatred was welling up inside her in rapid succession. She felt like she would vomit and her head was turning strange.

She had killed Dahlia's father and continued to send assassins after them, and yet here she appeared with a completely carefree smile as though she was having the time of her life.

She should have lived a poor and seedy life like a commoner.

She should be scared of the frequent assassination attempts that exposed her to the terror of death.

Seeing her like this made Veltina felt like she was being ignored as something inconsequential.

(I'll kill you. Don't think you will be able to keep persevering pointlessly until you die!)

Veltina's private room was located at the end of the inner palace's southern side.

Flowers of this season were blooming profusely in the wide courtyard, but all the types of flowers here had weak scent so to not disturb the tea party.

This magnificent garden could only be realized with Sforza House's abundant money and influence.

「What do you think? I think this is the first time you are invited to this part of the palace.」

「The garden is truly splendid. A capable gardener must be working here.」

Dahlia took care of the garden personally when she was living in Pazarov House's mansion.

She felt that this garden was slightly too gaudy and wasted much money, but Dahlia thought that it surely took skill to create a garden like this.

「Is that so, it looks like even you have a discerning eye.」

Veltina's irritation grew even more violently although her mouth was saying that.

Dahlia wasn't filled with awe after witnessing Sforza House's influence here. And yet she also didn't lament or resent the gap that existed between their position.

Dahlia didn't give any reaction that Veltina hoped for.

(I wonder how long you will be able to keep that unconcerned look.)

Anyone would fear death.

A human who didn't fear death wasn't a proper human anymore.

「I have prepared Fontaine(All Grey tea with orange pekoe base) for you.」

「Thank you very much.」

Dalia liked orange pekoe.

She was thankful that she could drink her favorite tea just before she died.

Dahlia bowed with a peaceful smile. Vetlna offered her to sit while acting kindly even now.

「That girl has grown to be really pretty even though it hasn't been that long since she left this place. I think her eyes look a bit similar with his majesty.」

「I am a rebel's daughter, but this child is still a royalty, so I gave my all to raise her to be someone who won't be an embarrassment.」

(Is that so, but she still doesn't have any qualification to live because she is your daughter.)

Veltina had murdered several royalties until now.

There was no way she would have any hesitation or guilt from killing Marguerite at this point.

Even so Veltina had never killed a princess who didn't have any right of inheriting the throne until now.

Marguerite was the eighth princess. It was clear from there that there were ten princesses in Trystovy Kingdom right now.

In the crown succession system of Trystovy, only the male could inherit the throne regardless of their bloodline.

There were only two times in the past when female inherited the throne when there wasn't even a single boy who was born in the royal family.

Therefore it had to be a boy that Veltina gave birth to who would inherit Trystovy in the future.

「I see, that's really something. Surely even some great nobles will want her as a doll when she reaches marriageable age.」

In the end she would only become a decoration for her look.

Dahlia chuckled in delight at Veltina's sarcasm.

Her smiling face was fascinatingly elegant. It had a devilishness that could snatch the heart of men.

「...I wonder about that. After all men are creatures with fickle passion.」

Those words were scorning Veltina who was unable to keep the king's affection for herself.

Veltina had vaguely noticed how the king's affection was moving away toward the young and beautiful concubines.

The king still visited Veltina's bedroom only for giving face to Sforza House. There wasn't any love between man and woman there.

Dahlia's words robbed the air inside Veltina's lungs. She was unable to reply immediately.

(──This woman! How far is she going to irritate me!)

「It's the thinking of a commoner girl that they can only cling on man's pity.」

I'm different. I'm a special existence, Veltina said her words with a hint of such meaning. She also hardened her resolve to kill Dahlia.

She also wanted to try asking about the rumor of Marguerite's true gender, but in the end it wouldn't matter if she also killed her.

She couldn't endure her desire to see Dahlia crying and begging while dying anymore.

「Let's enjoy the tea for now. The tea leaves will cry if we keep ignoring them.」

「Indeed.」

The maid poured the tea into the cups on the table with practiced movement.

All Grey's characteristic citrus scent wafted in the air.

The tea was poured from the same pot to show that there wasn't any poison in the tea, but Dahlia was aware that something like that couldn't be used as guarantee at all.

「What a lovely scent.」

「It must have been a long time since you can enjoy tea of this quality. You should drink it slowly.」

「Then allow me.」

At that time, Dahlia noticed Marguerite──Nigel who was dressed in woman clothing beside her was turning stiff despite his effort to act nonchalant.

He also understood. That death would arrive after he drank this tea.

(Forgive me. Although this is for the sake of my daughter, I can't criticize Veltina now that I'm also doing something fiendish like this.)

She made use of his loyalty and love toward his master to force him to die for her daughter's sake. Furthermore he was the son of her childhood friend.

(Even so I can only choose this path...I don't have any right to ask you for forgiveness.)

A vaguely sweet and sharp scent was hidden inside the refreshing scent that tickled the nose.

Even so Dahlia elegantly drank the poisoned tea without any hesitation.

「Fuu...it's a good tea.」

「I'm glad that you enjoy it.」

Veltina observed Dahlia while saying that.

The poison that was mixed in the tea had immediate effect.

If she thought of her own safety, it would be desirable to use a slow acting poison that showed its effect after more than half a day had passed, but Veltina couldn't resist her desire to witness Dahlia's scream of death agony.

She had acted like a tyrant for along tome using her house's power. Her patience had considerably weakened.

「...Guh」

Nigel was the first one whose body shook violently.

Even so he didn't let anymore sound slipping out from his mouth. He didn't even open his mouth.

Nigel endured the burning intense pain inside his stomach with an astonishing willpower.

「Now this is very troubling, Veltina-sama.」

「Do you think so? Isn't it more troubling that descendants of a rebel are still alive until now?」

「Perhaps that's true for me, but Marguerite is undoubtedly a royalty who inherit his majesty's blood. You are making light of the royal family too much.」

「So what! I am a daughter of Sforza House!」

「You are nothing more than a vassal compared to the royal family.」

「You are too noisy for a mere pathetic loser. You are going to die now you know? Not just you, your daughter too. If you lick my foot and beg for forgiveness, then perhaps I'll administer the antidote.」

Although she absolutely wouldn't give the antidote no matter what.

Beg for your life quickly, writhe in agony pathetically while spewing out curses.

Veltina waited for Dahlia's words with her eyes blazing fierily.

She would never admit it but, this woman was loved by the king more than her, she was more beautiful than her, she possessed the intelligence and personality that were more befitting for a queen than her. Veltina was waiting eagerly for the moment that such woman yield toward her like a hungry beast.

「You are making a trashy face that is unbecoming for a lady. Despite your good lineage, that lowly character cannot be hidden.」

「──What did you say?」

Dahlia didn't beg for her life like she expected. Instead she spoke of words that denied Veltina from her core. Her rage dyed her field of vision pure white.

Her logical mind snapped with scorching fury. Veltina leaped at Dahlia and straddled her while putting her hands around Dahlia's slender neck.

「Don't you look down on me with that unruffled face! Die! Disappear!」

「Aa, that unsightly face really suit you.」

「You still speak!」

Dahlia felt her consciousness growing thin as though mist was covering her mind.

She didn't know whether it was because of the poison or because Veltina was strangling her neck.

But she strangely didn't feel any pain. It made her felt apologetic to Nigel who was bravely enduring the intense pain.

(Farewell Marguerite...you have to stay safe...)

.

「Wait...who are you people! Do you know where is this place!」

Noisy sounds of hard armors clanging filled the area. Veltina who was strangling the neck of Dahlia who was already dead finally returned to her senses.

「What are you all doing! Get out right now! Don't think that all of you will get away after doing this...」

「It's you who won't get away with your doing.」

「Count Ost...do you understand what are you doing? This is lese majeste!」

「Hah!」

Valerie snorted as though there was a thug at a street corner picking a fight with him.

This woman didn't understand that it was already checkmate for her.

「Who is the one doing lese majeste here? Dahlia-sama is still his majesty's concubine even now. Her position still hasn't been revoked, and her majesty Marguerite herself is also a royalty.」

「I didn't do anything!」

Veltina finally realized that this was a bad situation for her.

However, she just needed to blame a maid about the poison. She could also make excuse about the strangling that she was simply trying to nurse the poisoned Dahlia.

With Sforza House's influence, it should be possible to twist the fact anyway she liked.

「Keep your excuses for the jailer in the dungeon.」

Valerie gave an order to two knights with a cruel smile to apprehend Veltina.

Veltina who had never been treated like that yelled as though she had gone crazy.

「I am the queen! The daughter of Sforza House!」

「You are a murderer of royalty.」

「Father! Call father here!」

She would be saved if she relied on her father the duke. Veltina believed that, or rather she had no one else who she could rely on.

Valerie asked a maid and a noble daughter who was mixed among Veltina's hangers-on to smash that faint hope.

「Can you two give the testimony?」

「Yes, it's her highness the queen who ordered the purchase of the poison.」

「She said that Dahlia-sama had to lick her foot and beg for forgiveness if she want the antidote.」

「Very good.」

Valerie took out a parchment from his breast pocket and announced.

「The criminal Veltina is apprehended for the high treason of assassinating royalty. This is the will of his majesty King Umberto!」

It was the royal command who couldn't be opposed by anyone who lived in Trystovy.

「The involvement of her father Duke Sforza is also clear to see. You should prepare yourself to be executed together with your father.」

「NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! WHY DO I HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT! JUST FOR A LOWLY WOMAN LIKE THIS!」

The equilibrium of Veltina's mind broke down. She bawled while scattering snot and drool without caring of her appearance.

(We did it madam. Now we just need to leave it to Valerie-sama...)

Nigel listened to that shriek at the corner of his consciousness while learning that the plan they risked their life for had succeeded.

(Marguerite will be free with my death.)

Marguerite didn't know how to doubt other people. She was the very picture of naivete.

He was worried that she would be tricked by a bad man. Would she be okay?

They had been together with each other since they became aware of their surrounding.

Nigel had a mind that had developed early. He had learned from the early stage that it wasn't his fate to be united in marriage with Marguerite.

That was why he swore to do everything he could for the sake of Marguerite's happiness.

(How troubling, as expected it's painful that I won't be able to meet you again.)

She shouldn't even hold any doubt that she was Lisha's daughter.

That was fine.

After all she was going to live as the daughter of the commoner Lisha from here on.

(Farewell Marguerite. Get out of all these fetters and fly freely. I'll keep praying forever for your happiness.).

.

「──Mar-oneesama, did she call for me?」

Marguerite looked up to the blue sky. It felt like Nigel's kind voice was mixed among the passing wind.

.

Part 14「Lies! There is absolutely no way the madam and Mar-oneesama are dead!」

「I'm not lying. There is announcement under the king's name that Princess Marguerite will be given a state funeral. The two of them, are already dead.」

Dahlia's existence was ignored by all sides even at this point of time. It made Lisha felt a helpless grief.

She had been educated since she was born that Dahlia was the master who she should serve.

At the same time she was also her childhood friend and also half-sister.

Even though this was the result that Dahlia herself wished for, it felt like invisible blood was going to pour out from Lisha's chest.

「Who? Who in the world killed the two of them!?」

Marguerite didn't understand anything about the malicious political struggle within the palace, but she had repelled assassins who came here many times. She was aware that someone was targeting Dahlia's life.

Marguerite had already slaughtered dozens of assassins, but she had never felt this much hatred before.

Marguerite questioned Lisha with a dangerous light in her eyes.

「It seems the culprit is the queen, Veltina Sforza.」

It seemed the palace took quick action.

Not only Veltina and her hangers-on were caught red handed at the murder scene, the noble daughter who witnessed the scene and the maid who was involved with obtaining the poison also gave testimony about the flow of money.

It could be seen from this fact that the palace had been monitoring this assassination drama from the early stage.

If they felt like it, it would possible for them to use the poisoned tea as proof and apprehended Veltina before Dahlia and Nigel died.

But Dahlia was the one who asked Valerie to not appear until she died.

Lisha and Marguerite wouldn't be able to leave this country as long as she was alive.

Dahlia also didn't have any intention of surviving shamelessly while sacrificing Nigel for her daughter's sake.

Everything was for the sake of Marguerite's freedom──.

「Kill──I'll kill her with my hand for Mar-oneesama's revenge...」

「That's impossible.」

Marguerite was about to rush out with madness as her driving force, but Ramillies who sneaked behind her without her noticing held her back. It looked like he was just placing his hand on her shoulder lightly, but Marguerite was bewildered that she couldn't even make her toes twitch from the pressure.

「Do you think you can sneak into the palace's jail with your skill? Something like that is impossible even for me. You who can't even win against me won't be any problem for the palace's guards.」

「Then, it's alright if I can win against Uncle Ramillies?」

「A warrior who can't estimate their opponent's strength won't live for long.」

Recently Marguerite had become able to win once from five matches against Ramillies in their training. However in the end it was only when she was facing Ramillies in training.

Even so, the shock from losing Dahlia and Nigel wasn't so light that it would be possible to persuade her with words. Ramillies was aware of that.

Marguerite wouldn't stop unless someone beat her up till she became unable to even groan.

The two of them faced each other at the garden with their fighting spirit seething silently.

「...Come.」

「UWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!」

Marguerite rushed with a speed that couldn't be followed with sight without even wiping her falling tears.

It was truly a godspeed step that she had never showed before in training.

Strong hatred or love often could make flesh body to break through the limits.

Ramillies could see a hole of deep darkness that was opened in Marguerite's chest within that sharp movement.

「Is that all!」

Ramillies gritted his teeth and yelled that instead.

And then Marguerite was sent flying. Her back crashed on the ground and she lost consciousness after her head got shaken.