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Not just that.

I also wish to... find myself, within the darkness about to descend upon us.

Then, are you already prepared to step into the night?

Before I returned, I gave away my entire book collection to a friend of mine.

She, too, had just returned to the homeland that once expelled her, and carried with her a certain conviction.

I'm sure you'll laugh at me for saying this, but back then, I imagined countless times how she must have felt at that moment.

And now, I think I have the slightest inkling of that feeling.

You have concerns about Lieselotte's decision.

The Empresses' Voices chosen by Ewigegnade have always been qualified, and I will not question her judgement in that regard.

Frau Viviana Droste is an excellent caster. I've seen recordings of her skilled manipulations of candleflames and shadows.

But... her experience in handling actual crises may be lacking. After all, all of her experience in battle has occurred on artificial stages.

Brandt Reiner.

Your allegiance no longer lies with the Hochberg family.

...No one is more aware of that than I, Your Majesty.

Otherwise, I wouldn't have simply stood there with a blank stare that night, twenty-three years ago.

I lost the right to choose long ago. The blade and Arts of a Gesatzswächter belong only to the Güldenesgesatz and to Leithanien.

The Güldenesgesatz, and Leithanien.

What if you could only choose one?

The Güldenesgesatz defines Leithanien. In over a thousand years, the two have never diverged.

The Movement's melody was created by Leithanians, and it's hardly impossible to alter it.

Herkunftshorn certainly did.

Bearing but one part of the responsibility necessarily means abandoning the others.

Think it through, Brandt. No one in this land can refuse to make a choice forever.

I will... carefully consider your words.

There is one more thing. Ewigegnade wanted me to ask if you were free to listen to a performance by the Empresses' Voices.

I will be.

Lieselotte will probably have fallen asleep by the time I head over, though.

Michael.

Your Majesty. First things first, I don't want to go to the spire next door for dinner on your behalf anymore. I'm sure you know she doesn't like me at all.

Enough of your jests.

Continue keeping an eye on the happenings in the city.

Do you need me to 'cooperate' with the Gesatzswächter and the... unofficial Empresses' Voice? Or the opposite?

I already told you.

'Continue,' right? Got it.

Did you see that just now?

Frau Seemann, she... and those black paintings too.

How horrid!

Everyone's saying that it's a curse from His Majesty...

Move, all of you. Don't crowd in here.

The road ahead is closed, and the gallery will not be opened to the public today.

Send a reply to Graf Josef. The Gendarmerie will bear the costs of the gallery's damages.

Ja, Captain Loris.

Right, did you save the contact details of the fräulein who lost her necklace the other day? That girl's the editor-in-chief for the <i>Kunst der Zwillingstürme.</i>

Please ask her to leave some space in their next issue for a presentation on, well, Frau Seemann's 'posthumous work.'

A... presentation?

Invite the critics to use their imaginations.

Frau Seemann was creating a new work with her blood, sweat and tears, and unfortunately ended up also giving her life to the canvas and succumbing to exhaustion—Her final piece is certainly deserving of some sort of praise.

'Unfortunately, this incomplete masterpiece will not be exhibited to the public, as per her final wishes.'

I can only hope for the article to have no mention of His Majesty's name.

So... what do you think is the actual reason for Frau Seemann's demise?

Who let you in...?

Wait, the C-Candle..!

Technically, the title issued by the Kazimierz Knights Association no longer belongs to me after retirement.

I don't care what the Kazimierzians think!

A few years back, when they were hiding you in the snow, I wrote a few letters of protest to the Nova Knightclub! And when I later found out about your retirement, I drowned myself in drink for a few days, behind the Captain's back.

So that's why you were slacking off back then?

But I'll overlook it, for the sake of our distinguished guest.

Guten Tag, Vizegraf Loris Bordin.

A pleasure to meet you.

Pym, pass the order: this lovely lady is the gallery's sole visitor of the day. Tell the men to keep watch outside, and not to interfere with her movements.

R-Right away, sir!

When Frau Löwenstein greeted me earlier, I had no idea Their Majesties had actually appointed another special envoy.

I hope you can keep this a secret.

Please rest assured.

Although... this is such a small accident, so why did it spring the Kaiserin's secret envoy into action?

An accident? Is that the conclusion of the Gendarmerie's investigation?

We did the forensics, and Frau Seemann did indeed die from exhaustion.

According to her attendant, she went without food or rest for multiple days on end.

I can't help but admire her spirit. Such a dedicated artist is hard to come by, even in Leithanien.

This work must have been extremely important to her then.

Frau Seeman has not presented a new work for more than two decades.

She then suddenly decided to work on this painting, even notifying the gallery in advance that would personally unveil it today, on the first day of the exhibition.

I'm sure you know what happened next. When the audience arrived, they were greeted only by the artist collapsing in front of her painting.

What about the painting itself?

Was it... completed?

A difficult question to answer.

You'd better see it with your own eyes. I can only say that its subject was... an unexpected surprise.

Is this a brochure for the exhibition?

<i>Der Tod des Hexenkönigs</i>—Did the artist title her work before completing it?

To be honest, many of the visitors came rushing here just because of the name.

I'd have thought Leithanien would find it quite unwelcome.

I'm guessing you haven't been here for long?

Mhm. I only just returned a little while ago.

No wonder. You may not be aware, but the fall of His Majesty is an enormously popular subject these days. Even counting operas alone, there are over a hundred depicting how the Kaiserinnen miraculously triumphed over their enemy.

How careless of me. So the actual protagonists of these stories are Their Majesties.

Haha. In Leithanien, you're free to create anything, so... this is probably the result of the people revealing their true feelings.

Frau Seemann may have also wanted to take the celebration as a chance to add a bit of luster to this national holiday, by working with such a classic theme.

But even so, you said her painting was an 'unexpected surprise'?

It's up ahead, just around the corner.

Once you've had a look, I think you'll share my hope that this was just an accident.

An attack?

Please wait here while I check the situation.

I could help you out.

It might turn out to be just a couple of drunkards on the streets breaking in their new wands, and I'd rather not bother you with something so trifling.

Captain! We triangulated the source of the noise, and it's coming from the alley over there—

Have you sent anyone over?

The 2nd squad went in, but no one's come out yet.

...Are they still in there?

It was the strangest fellow we've ever seen. He definitely heard us rushing over, but it seemed like he was still trying to break into the gallery instead of fleeing.

Could this be something big? Do you want to bring a few more men along, Captain?