Act 16- The Knight's Respite

Act 16- The Knight's Holidays.
Seirei Gensouki 16 - Kishi no Kyuujitsu (精霊幻想記16.騎士の休日).

Summary
The Knight that fulfilled his revenge, reaches the place he wanted to return to...

Rio escaped successfully the unexpected assault on the Rubia kingdom and delivered Bertram's sister princesses safely to Galarc's kingdom royal castle. While the big nations continue the information exchange about a series of disturbing moves Rio will be rewarded with a house in Galarc's capital for his achievements until now. Also, Galarc's princess, Charlotte, who doesn't hide her love, will take a furious approach with Rio. Do the two of you intend to get married with Haruto? On the holidays of the knight who overcame his fight the girls' love shakes greatly.

Prologue: Reunion.
After learning that Rio has just arrived bringing Christina and Flora with him François decides to have them guided to the room where everyone was already gathered after the marriage interview, when Hugenot, Hiroaki and Roana finally arrive again to the room where François stayed with Satsuki, Charlotte, Liselotte and her parents, the conversation begins. 

François looks at Rio with a face half troubled, half giving up that he’s a man that always goes beyond his expectations, at the same time everyone looks at Rio with similar expressions. Rio apologizes for the uproar with a troubled face and François answers laughing that he was praising him, that the surprise was just too strong and he was a little overwhelmed. Charlotte boasts a little about how her prediction about Rio accumulating more and more achievements in no time at all was spot on while François smiles at her. 

François now states that Christina’s and Flora’s survival was even more surprising than hearing about how he rescued Miharu from Takatrash and apologizes for not praising that before because that is something really important for the Galarc kingdom and Restoration. Duke Huguenot thanks Rio in the name of Restoration, Roana cries while saying that the safety of the Princesses is most important. Hiroaki also congratulates their return without any feeling in it. He is still is in a bad mood for being rejected and trying to keep Liselotte out of his sight.

Flora thanks them for the feeling and says that thanks to Rio they’re already back, Hiroaki makes a complicated face and François asks now why did they go missing and why is Rio with them. Christina notes that as she expected, the message from the Rubia Kingdom wasn't sent. She takes a deep breath, looks at Rio, makes a serious face and says that from now on she will tell step by step what happened to them, that it will be long so first they should listen to her story and save the questions for later.

Chapter 1: Report.
After Christina finished her explanation, François states that Christina’s and Flora’s return is a happy thing but that 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 that 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, Rio thinks to himself that he may hear about what really happened when he returns to Rodania, that maybe Aisia protected Celia then and promises himself to go back the moment he has the chance. 

Now François talks about how for the time being there isn’t evidence enough 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 to Rio, 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, that 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 attacking the Rubia kingdom in retaliation, they have to cross another small kingdom in the way and it’s likely to be impossible to make them agree to let their troops through their lands. Christina also explains that Restoration doesn’t have the strength 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 Rio, the most affected person this time, rampage alone through Rubia’s capital in revenge. François checks Rio’s reaction while laughing and Rio 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 Rio do something so extreme, François laughs it off as a joke and that he doesn’t have the authority to move Rio. 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 the Proxia empire but that if Rio 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 Rio 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 Rio. Charlotte adds that she wants Rio to accumulate more achievements but that she doesn’t want him to be feared. Rio 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 damage seriously 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 Rio’s lesser known achievements like when he saved her life and Flora’s before Amande’s raid, then she begins to list all of Rio’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. Rio says that it’s an honor but that 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 that by Christina’s story she doesn’t stand a chance against Rio. Rio insists that the fifth hero was there too. Satsuki asks if he hadn’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, Rio 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 she asks him if he believes that he can beat Rio. Hiroaki remembers his duel with Rio and shuts up. Charlotte asks Christina and Flora how the fight between Rio and Renji look to them. Christina said that Rio overwhelmed him and Lucius' subordinates from beginning to end, while looking at Rio’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 is by his side, gets completely stiff when hearing him. 

François decides to end the jokes about Rio’s strength and says that even if it’s better and faster to send Rio alone there, he won’t do that. Hiroaki states that Rio’s achievements don’t matter, whats important is what they will 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 Rio found Christina’s and Flora’s location. Rio 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 Rio passed Duran’s trial without problem and got the information from him. Rio 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 Rio. 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 Rio, 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 Rio. 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 Rio. Also that Lucius' subordinates already tried to kidnap her too on her way to Rodania and that was unrelated to Rio as well. Hiroaki states that Flora’s kidnapping at Amande might be Rio’s fault too. 

Liselotte doesn't believe so, Hiroaki asks why, and she says that because Rio’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 Rio by his name. He says that maybe it’s a lie that it hasn't been long since their last meeting. Liselotte asks Flora, that was at the scene, and she said that 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 that time Lucius didn't even remember Rio at first. Now Hiroaki is frustrated because everyone is protecting Rio. Like Lieselotte, Flora is calling Rio by name from the beginning. He reluctantly gives up on blaming Rio and says that it must be as everyone says then. 

François is now organizing on 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 says then that he can understand in that case 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 could be at Proxia’s castle right now, that if there hasn’t been a past between Rio and Lucius they wouldn’t have been saved. Lastly she says with a face a little sad 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 sighting. Hiroaki asks what and 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 on 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 that finally understood why everyone was reunited there and guessed the situation face palmed herself for enduring the headache. Liselotte then apologizes 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 chance 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 saw 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. Hugenot 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 of feeling the activation of the teleportation magic, and that even if the people from the Stralh 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 with a barrier strong enough for blocking the vibrations of the mana and odo on the air it may be possible. While Rio thinks about that everyone keeps worrying about the possibility of assassins teleporting directly inside 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, that you can just teleport to the place that the magic tool that marks your destination is set in, and that 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 that 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. 

François is relieved with this and thinks it may be a good idea to rise the number of magic power detection magic tools inside the castle from now on. 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 described 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 of talking about Rio. 

Rio corrects his posture and gets a little stiff hearing that and asks what about him. François says that about his reward and Rio immediately says he doesn’t need it. François says to him to joke on celebrating days. Rio says 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 wanted to reward him too 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 have been going 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 sights without strength at the expected answer. Hugenot 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 Hugenot 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 Hugenot 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 expectating 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 noone 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 Hugenot’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 Hugenot 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 Hugenot 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 Hugenot 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 Hugenot 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.

Hugenot 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 Hugenot with a calm voice if it wouldn’t be painful to make him have as his first wife some he doesn’t like, Hugenot 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.

Hugenot 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, Hugenot 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, Hugenot 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 Hugenot 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 Hugenot accompanies them leaving Hiroaki and Roana behind.

After leaving Hugenot 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 Hugenot’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.

Hugenot 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, Hugenot 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, Hugenot 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.

Hugenot says he understands and Christina asks if he isn’t fine with it, Hugenot 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, Hugenot 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, Hugenot 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 Hugenot 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.

Hugenot 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, Hugenot 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, Hugenot 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, Hugenot 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, Hugenot 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 Hugenot like that.

Hugenot 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 his head at how hard it’s being to make him give up this time and decided to keep searching for failures on 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, Hugenot 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 Hugenot’s opposition.

Flora murmurs for herself in a small voice that Rio and Roana may get married, then Hugenot says that in case that it’s impossible he will offer his daughter as the next candidate, that she’s fourteen years old and it would a worthy first wife for Rio, now Christina finally understands Hugenot’s insistence in Roana, she realizes that Hugenot’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 on his head that she reacted happily but she didn’t say anything about it, she says that Restoration’s noble will strongly oppose it, Hugenot 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 Hugenot’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 Hugenot 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, Hugenot 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, Hugenot’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, Hugenot 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 in the her that 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 Hugenot 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 Hugenot says too that if they remain unable to convince Hiroaki of properly ranking his concubines Hugenot 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 his whole house may be on her shoulders, as 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 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, now Silvie comes down on her griffing for questioning Arein too, Arein is annoyed at having to deal with her too, then Reis comes to their side talking sarcastically about how quickly they were defeated, he says that Rio unfortunately already escaped an 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 and tries make Reis to take responsibility of the fail of the strategy, that it was him who said that the victory should be theirs if they attacked when the two princesses were being a death weight 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 that defeated Renji, that he asked for her cooperation precisely because he was strong.

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

After hearing the name Haruto Amakawa Renji asks if Rio is a hero too, Reis 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 it exist a power stronger than the heroes cheat in this world, he wonders about why he’s weak, he thinks it’s frustrating, that like 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 the his own weakness, at the same time he began 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 silence him saying she already understands that but he begins to panic about how attacking Christina and Flora is the same that declaring the war to the Galarc kingdom and Restoration, Reis calms him saying that at maximum they will try to put some strong pressure on the Rubia kingdom but that the Proxia empire will help them, Marco asks Reis what he means calling by his fake name Jean Bearnard, then he reveals that he’s a diplomatic from the Proxia empire while Marco is still surprised, Reis says from now their countries will have a relationship where they walk by the other’s hand, Renji murmurs for himself seeing him wondering if he’s a psychopath.

Reis 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, Reis continues saying that he can make him stronger, Renji asks why he can do that and why he would make him stronger, Renji says that because they’re supposed to work together in the future so he needs him to be stronger, that it’s a prove or trust for not hurting the cooperation relationship on 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 tha 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 everytime 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 understanding but 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 thankable 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 Hugenot 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 Hugenot’s daughter is bad or not but that he doesn’t want to take her, Christina says she will tell Hugenot he rejected the engagement, that he will go back for the time being, but she warns Rio too that Hugenot 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 that the most important of the 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 that think they can leave those duties on 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 Hugenot 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 detailedly while he’s on the move.

Chapter 4: Return and Reunion.
After several minutes the carriage arrived to Restoration’s headquarters, Hugenot 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 Reis 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 Reis 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 Reis 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 Reis 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 Reis 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 Drias 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 Reis, what his last form was or why he didn’t let behind a magic stone.

Rio says he’s worried to about Reis’ 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 Reis 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 Hugenot, that they were right reporting about Reis’ 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 standed 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,  Hugenot 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 Rio 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, Hugenot 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, Hugenot 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, Chrisitna 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 Hugenot 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, Hugenot 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 spoonfuls 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, Hugenot 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’s 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 killing the retainer of the enemy prince for after that having that prince accusing him of ruining the peace talks killing that retainer and demanding his execution and Ayame’s hand  in marriage, that there were a lot of voices demanding to turn in Zen and Ayame inside the kingdom, that they were forced to run away from the kingdom with just their lives, after their run away the Karasuki kingdom was able to win the war against the enemy kingdom but Zen and Ayame lost their place on that kingdom and needed to run away until the Stralh region, after that 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 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 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 expresion darkens a little, 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 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, Galturc or with Miharu’s group, that they don’t need to stick to each other until the point of needing to change their ways of doing things, that she wants Celia to be Rio’s attendant, Celia says she’s confused by the sudden talk, 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, that she 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 to 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 Hugenot, Christina says that that is their decision, that she can’t force them, that 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 noone 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 lo let it to her judgement, that they don’t need to answer now, that 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, to please let her take the duty of being Rio’s assistant, Rio screams her name surprised, Celia says she made her decision, she says too that it isn’t for the sake of the organization, that she wants to be his assistant for paying back for all of the favours he made her until now, Rio says there isn’t any need for that, Celia tells him to not mind about her marriage because she already told him at the academy that she didn’t need it, that she didn’t intend to get married.

Rio doesn’t answer, it’s better to get married, she may not be find it with it just for the time being, Rio opens his mouth be 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 ant 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 what 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, 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, 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.

Intermission: The Heroes of the Beltram Kingdom
Hiroaki Sakata writes Isekai novels in his free time. Rei is a fan of the genre and Hiroaki’s novels. The two begin to form a friendship.

In Beltrum, Rui meets with his girlfriend Akane and discusses the Beltrum Kingdom.

Chapter 7: A Messy Tea Party
As they are going to attend the tea party, Latifa meets Duke Huguenot, who Haruto introduces as his sister, Suzune Amakawa. Huguenot says he would like to introduce his sons to her. Lieselotte meets Latifa and gets to see her with ears and tail, which she loved. Miharu affirms her feelings and that she is going to be assertive.

Epilogue: The Saint of Revenge
In one of the small kingdoms, the castle with the king and all his noble vassals are eradicated in a massive explosion. The destruction was carried out by the sixth hero, the Saint. She is a beautiful black-haired woman leading a cult threatening the structure of society.

The Saint considers a noble from a large kingdom, "Lizelotte Cretia, the president of Rikka Firm. I'm a little interested in her."

Next volume's preview
After accepting his past and fixing the way he looks at the present Rio began to walk towards the future. The girls that support that him too, faced their own feelings again and will try a new relationship with Rio. But at that instant, a new emergency, a new third force leadered by a black haired woman that threats the current social situation appeared too. "The president of Rikka Firm, Liselotte Cretia? I'm a little interested in her." Could the world allow the the boys and girls to a calm and gentle life?

The next volume is titled the gosple of the saint, will include a drama cd and is scheduled for August 1st.

Trivia

 * This is the first volume without Rio appearing in the cover