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Haha, I had no intention to be disrespectful to the Duke, of course, but I lost my temper and could not well control myself in that competition.

It was all because the hunter told me I should never have hired Savras and Zalaks.

He even told me he took pride in hiring only Liberi housemaids and muscly Forte for the upkeep and defense of the mansion the Duke awarded to him.

His words reminded me of an old gardener who once tended to our gardens. He was a Zalak, and he had been working here long before I was born, and I never found anything strange or unsatisfactory about that.

Oh, how progressive.

In the end, I was the one who shot down the fowlbeast, while the Duke's hunter missed his opportunity.

You set a fine example for the rest of us, Count Vincent!

I should've saved the Duke some face, of course.

When the Duke thinks so highly of you, what's wrong with putting your gallantry on full display?

Haha, you are right.

There were the hunter, the bow, and the fowlbeast, but no one knows me better than myself.

Dear Dame Kal'tsit,

It was just as you predicted. The Sarkaz court summoned Her Majesty Theresa for an audience. Although the ancient bloodkin held General Theresis in high esteem, the Lord of the Banshees sent only the youngest successor...

...It was thanks to the General Theresis and the Military Commission that other countries were unable to interfere with Kazdel's rise to prominence. It was also under the General's supervision that they transported construction materials enough for several dozen regular nomadic city plates without issue.

The following is a summary of the past month's events.

Kal'tsit.

(Theresa's handwriting...)

Kal'tsit.

It's such a huge surprise. Who could've imagined that the Great Banshee's successor was a boy?

He is still very young, just a young boy by his looks. The Banshee's bloodline will keep him young for a long time. Despite his age, he was mouthing off Arts left and right. He is a natural-born Caster.

I can see the royal court change through him. The Sarkaz are heading toward a new stage. I can feel it.

Kal'tsit.

Theresis frequently pulls all-nighters at the Commission, and their policies are going off track due to outside pressure. He's started to not listen to whatever I say.

A lot of us are worried. They are worried that once the other countries notice Kazdel's reunification, they will immediately wipe us off the map.

Kal'tsit.

I know that you set your sights on the world at large.

But I am also hoping you would come back.

We must prepare ourselves to take on the challenges we will face in the future. I need you to help me accomplish this.

Aside from that, Rim Billiton's Engineering Department has something new to share. We discovered a set of ruins that match your description. There are only bits and pieces, and the project has reached a bottleneck as a result. The team may need more time to uncover everything. That said—

—Kal'tsit does the name... 'Rhodes Island' mean anything to you?

So soon...

Where will you go?

Ursus...

Chernobog.

Haven't heard of that place before...

What are you doing there?

Why don't you come to Sami with me?

No, I will take Lyudmila to Siracusa.

I will also stop by Victoria on my way.

Isn't this your wish?

I...

I want you to live, Kal'tsit.

Kal'tsit?

Heidi, you and your father will continue our work in Victoria.

Our only objective is to prevent the cities that boast their honor and glory from falling to the Duke's unrest.

Dame Kal'tsit...?

Are you leaving...?

I have to leave sooner or later, Heidi.

Try not to make the Count suspicious. Let's head back to the party.

Dear God, what happened?! How are you injured so?!

Get a doctor! Hurry!

(Uncle Richard...)

I saw something just now...! There were two fierce beasts! What was that? Were you attacked by the beasts?!

Oh, my. I heard that the Catastrophes a few years ago infected some of those fierce wild beasts...

I'm okay, ladies and gentlemen. It is just some simple flesh wounds. Heidi has already tended to my injuries.

(Are you sure you can stand? I'm not sure I would've called it 'simple.')

How could something like this happen at one of my dinner parties?! Those useless guards!

Please, lie down and get some rest. Someone, head to garden at once! I want to know what happened there!

No, Count Vincent, please let me go. You know my swordsmanship.

Richard, you are my guest... but very well. This is just the time for us to rely on your gallantry.

Come, Lady Kal'tsit. My personal physician will tend to your injuries. He will be here soon.

My apologies, Count Vincent. I did not mean to disrupt your party.

No, my lady. I am responsible for this mistake. I allowed an assassin to waltz right into my manor!

Please don't look too much into this affair.

Oh... Right, I understand, though I am surprised you don't seem at all shaken by this.

Could you at least tell me who it was? I can't well sit here when these villains...

Very well... If this assassin managed to deceive all those present here today, then indeed it isn't a matter that a mere noble should pry into.

Lady Kal'tsit, please promise me this.

Go ahead.

Please keep Thomson safe from these schemes. He is my dearest friend.

He is no major player. He can't protect the entire country, but he can protect our own little Victoria.

He can do what we nobles cannot. Therefore all I can do is to let him do what he must.

You don't know the details of our plan, yet you harbor everyone nonetheless. I thank you for that.

Haha. Do I need to know? All I have to do is to play my role well... A fat fowlbeast awaiting his slaughter.

But this is how he has always been ever since we were in school.

Lady Kal'tsit...

Please accept my gratitude.

You don't need to thank me when I have been deceiving you all along.

As long as my family and the masses get to live another peaceful day—Let the whole world ridicule my foolishness.

Both you and I know it in our hearts.

Are you leaving so soon? You are still injured.

These are just flesh wounds, fortunately.

Count Vincent, about the damage 'those two beasts' have done...

Right, I understand.

Kal'tsit...

Looks like I should just leave the farewells to the youngsters.

I will head back now. Everyone was shaken by the presence of the beasts.

Please take care, Cleric Kal'tsit.

The Count is right. The weight of the future is for the younger generation to bear, whether they are ready for it or not.

Is Uncle Vincent actually...?

The Victoria he protects may just be a remote corner of the countryside, but there is not an ounce of falsity to the peace he upholds.

Protecting your home—This is a truth that generations after generations of Victorian have worshipped.

Your father is trying his best, but...

Winter is here.

Are you ready?

Will you be ready?

Yes.

Now go ask your father. He knows how to find me.

Perhaps we'll one day meet each other again somewhere.

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