Chapter 1 “To the Border”

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Part 1

Port of Horfalt Kingdom.

On a floating island near the royal capital, numerous airships repeatedly come and go.

Airships of all shapes and sizes lined the harbor, filled with people and goods.

The elderly man who landed at the port, which looked a bit cramped ―― was holding a walking cane in his left hand.

However, the sight of him walking with a cane gives the impression of being tall and firm.

The way he didn’t seem to need a cane, it was assumed that he had it in fashion.

An elderly man is wearing a hat and glasses.

His gray hair was slicked back in an all-back hairdo, and he had taken off his jacket probably because it was hot.

There is one travel bag nearby.

He holds the cane together in his hand, as if it were in the way, in order to hold the bag.

The way he strode down the harbor, he was in high spirits.

The elderly man’s name is [Karl].

Sweat beads on his forehead from the heat of the harbor, and he mutters to himself with a sharp look in his eyes.

“So, what kind of guy is the rumored Fiend Knight?”

Karl came to the Kingdom of Horfalt to get to know the Fiend Knight ―― a man named Leon.

Karl walks for a while, and then Finn appears.

Karl was annoyed for a moment, but his cheeks relaxed when he saw Mia with Finn.

But he soon gets grumpy again.

The reason was that Finn and Mia were holding each other’s hands to prevent them from getting separated at the port.

Finn also looks heartily displeased when he sees Karl’s face.

Mia noticed Karl and gave him a big wave.

“Oji-sama!”

Seeing Mia’s innocent smile, Karl regains his composure and adjusts his expression. He tried to erase the grumpiness he had directed at Finn and tried to smile and speak kindly.

“Oh, Mia-chan. Are you doing well?”

“Yes!”

Mia ran up to Carl and was happy like a puppy wagging its tail.

As Karl is truly soothed by the sight of her, one man interrupts them.

It is Finn.

“What are you doing here, old man?”

Karl was expressionless when Finn called him an old man.

“Don’t get carried away, you little kid.”

The man, Karl, who treated Finn as a cheeky little kid, was a familiar figure to Mia.

Mia intervenes between them.

“You two shouldn’t fight! It is rude to call Knight-sama a little kid, Oji-sama. Knight-sama is also terrible, even though Oji-sama came all the way here.”

When Mia accuses Karl of being rude, he apologizes in a bit of a panic.

“Hahaha, it was certainly rude of me to call him a little kid. This guy was a knight, technically.”

“Technically or not, it was your decision. I’m telling you, I haven’t forgiven you.”

Next to Finn, who had his arms crossed and a sullen expression on his face, was Brave, who had a dumbfounded look on his face.

Thinking that the conversation was not progressing at this point, he asks Karl.

[So, what is Em —— Oji-sama doing in this country? You were not scheduled to come to the kingdom.]

Karl glanced at Mia and put his hand on her head.

He tells Finn and Brave in a whisper while he is happily patting Mia on the head.

“——Well, I’m just trying to figure things out.”

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Part 2

When I came back to the student dormitory, it was past three in the afternoon.

As I take off my heavy clothes, I talk to three of my fiancées about the day’s events.

Noel —— [Noel Jill Lespinas] was a girl with a distinctive blonde hairstyle with a side ponytail.

Her hair, which becomes pinker toward the tip, is gathered on the right side.

“It’s like saying, “We’re going to take everything away from you.” No one would accept that.”

Noel, muttering without hiding her dissatisfaction, had her hands on her hips.

She is angry, and it shows in her attitude.

Ange —— [Angelica Rafa Redgrave], arms crossed under her large breasts, explains to Noel with a blank expression.

She looks calm, but her red eyes look more powerful than usual.

She seems to be quite angry.

“I think they just came to tell us that they have no intention of having a negotiation with us. If we accept their conditions, Raschel will attack us next time. —— As usual, I hate the way they look down on us.”

On various occasions, the country of Raschel seems to look down on the Kingdom of Horfalt.

Ange is also angry because she remembers that she has experienced it several times.

I take off my jacket and hang it on the hanger, forcing the conversation about the conditions stated by the messenger to end.

“More importantly, I’m going to get an official request from the kingdom. They want me to head for Fraser territory.”

When Ange hears that it is a formal request, she looks surprised for a moment.

She immediately becomes serious, but seems unable to understand it.

“Putting Leon on the border near Raschel? It’s not a bad idea, but it doesn’t make sense if it was thought up by Milene-sama. Whose order?”

To Ange, it doesn’t seem like an order that Milene-san thought up.

I let out a small sigh.

“――It’s from Milene-san.”

Next to Ange, who is thinking about it, Livia with a worried look on her face turns her gaze to me.

“Etto ―― speaking of Fraser territory, it is the Marquis’s territory, right?”

Marquis Fraser.

It was a branch of the royal family that looked after the border with the Holy Kingdom of Raschel, and unlike Duke Redgrave, who owned the mighty floating islands, it had a domain on the continent.

They have built forts on a number of floating islands to strengthen the defense of the border.

When Ange stops to think about it, she answers Livia’s question.

Apparently, she wants Noel, who is not familiar with the situation in the kingdom of Horfalt, to hear about it too.

She glances several times at Noel.

“The Marquis Fraser family, who are of royal descent, have been guarding the border against Raschel for many years. Although they are preventing them from coming ashore but ―― They have suffered a lot from Raschel’s trump card.”

It seems they’ve been fighting an enemy nation called Raschel for years, but they have a bad advantage over opponents with demonic armor.

Still, they are able to maintain their borders because of the support they receive from the Kingdom.

Hearing the explanation, Noel smiles with relief.

“But they have been protecting it all these years, haven’t they? Then we can count on them, right.”

From Noel’s perspective, the Fraser family seems to be dependable.

—— I’m worried about that, though.

Ange touched her forehead and had a troubled look on her face.

“Indeed, they have held up well, but only because of the enormous support they receive each year from the Kingdom. And in addition, on the other side of the Raschel, the United Kingdom of Reparto —— Milene-sama’s homeland.”

Hearing that, Noel seemed to understand somehow.

“Up until now, we’ve been pinching them in to contain them.”

“Because Raschel was also after Reparto’s territory.”

Noel ponders and then brightens up, as if something has flashed across her mind.

She nodded a few times.

“Got it! You put Leon there to completely contain Raschel. Meanwhile, we’ll deal with other countries. Yeah, that sounds like something that would work.”

She claps her hands and smiles, “Correct, right?” Noel’s smile is cute, but Ange’s expression is not so good.

“Well, I guess that’s not so bad either.”

Livia could see from Ange’s expression that something was wrong.

“Is it no good?”

Ange tells me what it means for me to head to Fraser’s territory.

There seems to be a distrust of Milene-san there.

“From the point of view of the other nobles guarding the borders, it is equivalent to throwing the strongest force of the kingdom into one place. In addition, the kingdom now has few forces. The same way the border nobles told us we couldn’t expect reinforcements.”

The damage suffered in the war with the former Principality of Fannos was great.

The kingdom’s strength continues to be reduced as a result of multiple disturbances in a short period of time.

In a situation where even that replenishment is not sufficient, the nobles guarding the borders must be worried.

——After all, there is a possibility that they will not respond to our request for help.

And Ange looks at me.

Her eyes seemed to be very concerned.

“There are other problems. When push comes to shove, it will be Leon who will attack Raschel. If that happens, it will be a fierce battle.”

Livia and Noel look down when they hear that a fierce battle awaits.

They had probably thought about this possibility, but Ange said it out loud, and the two of them had to reaffirm it.

I’m glad they are worried about me, but I don’t want them to look sad.

I scratch my head and make a joke to reassure the three of them.

“Don’t worry. Milene-san also said there was little chance of an attack.”

Livia and Noel’s faces light up when they hear this, but Ange is surprised.

She has a look of disbelief on her face.

“Did Milene-sama really say that? She’s not going to let you invade, is she?”

“Aa. Right, Luxion?”

I ask Luxion, who was floating near my right shoulder, and he replies in his normal tone.

[Yes. Milene intends to use Master to contain the Holy Kingdom of Raschel. She said that she doesn’t intend to use my power to destroy them.]

There was no way Luxion would make a mistake. Knowing this, Ange looked very impatient as she held her hand over her mouth.

“Her homeland has been tormented by Raschel for many years. If Milene-sama herself had the opportunity to destroy Raschel, she would not hesitate. And yet, she refuses to use Leon?”

Ange is acting strange, so Noel gives a follow-up.

“But, you know, Leon is the queen’s favorite, right? ——I think it’s a little bit.”

Apparently, the fact that the queen favors me is unacceptable to Noel.

She glances at me with a sullen expression on her face and continues.

“She knows that Leon has been fighting a lot and he’s battered, right? So maybe she didn’t want to push him too hard, I guess?”

I was so moved by that statement that I put my hand over my mouth.

“Milene-san is worried about me! I don’t know what to say, I’m so happy!”

As my eyes moistened, the three people who looked at me were expressionless.

But I can feel that they are angry.

Noel stopped expressionless and turned into a smile and looked at me with a grin on her face.

“You look so happy. And yet, here you are, with three of your fiancées worried about Leon’s health.”

Livia is also looking at me with eyes that have lost their highlights.

“Leon-san is very fond of the queen after all.”

Ange raised one of her eyebrows and pulled her cheek together.

“——This idiot.”

“I-I’m sorry.”

When I looked away, Luxion said “Yare yare” and swayed his red lens from side to side.

[I thought you had grown up a bit, but it seems I was mistaken. Why do you keep making the same mistakes all over again?]

I bitterly retort to Luxion, who blames me for my mistake.

“It’s human nature to make the same mistakes all over again.”

[It’s human to learn from their mistakes and get over them.]

It’s a matter of opinion.

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Part 3

The first person to arrive at the royal palace, after Leon, was [Erika Rafa Horfalt].

She is the first princess of the Kingdom of Horfalt, and in a previous life, she was Marie’s daughter —— in other words, she is in the unique position of being Leon’s niece.

Like Marie, her hair is voluminous and fluffy.

The difference is that Marie has blonde hair while Erika has black hair.

Her skin looked glowing, with no blemishes or scars present.

Erika, who usually has a kind expression on her face, now had a somewhat grim look on her face.

In front of her was Milene at her desk with an expressionless face.

Erika is summoned to Milene’s office and questions her about what she has been told.

“Are you telling me that Mother and I are going to Eriya’s parents’ house?”

Her hope that she had misheard was crushed by Milene’s formal reply.

“That’s what I said. Prepare to leave immediately. Depending on the situation, I’ll have you go straight into a marriage ceremony.”

Marriage —— In other words, she’s saying that she will marry into the Fraser family.

Erika, too, was educated as a princess and has had previous life experience.

While she understands that this was a time when there was no such thing as freedom in royal marriages, her understanding of the matter was too sudden for her to keep up with.

“Even though there’s a war coming?”

“Because a war is coming. We need to show the Fraser family that the royal family has not abandoned them.”

The Fraser family, which is in the line of fire with Raschel, is expected to suffer the most once the war begins.

In order for the Fraser family to fight with such peace of mind, support from the Kingdom of Horfalt is essential.

Erika’s marriage is meant to show the Fraser family that the royal family is serious.

Milene stops moving her pen and lets out a small sigh.

Her eyes remain down on her papers and she does not look at Erika’s face.

She may seem like a terrible mother, but Erika could read Milene’s feelings.

(Does she feel guilty towards her daughter?)

Milene, also a mother, seemed to be worried about marrying off her daughter, Erika, to a place where there would be fierce warfare.

Or is it bothering her that she’s using her as a political tool?

Milene, unable to see her daughter’s face, continues to talk.

“Hurry up and get ready. Two of Duke Bartfalt’s Einhorn-class ships will be taking us to Fraser territory.”

“Two ships?”

(Duke Bartfalt? ——Even though she used to call him Leon-kun so far.)

Her words convey that she is trying to keep her distance from Leon.

And the thing that caught her attention was the Einhorn class —— the two ships that Leon owns, Einhorn and Licorne, are headed there.

“Shouldn’t one of them remain in the royal capital? That airship now represents the kingdom——”

When she says that much, Milene raises her head.

The sharp look directed at Erika told her that she was not allowed to ask questions.

“Get back and get ready right away.”

Erika closes her mouth and leaves the office.

From her position as a daughter, she could sense that her mother —— Milene had very little leeway.

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Part 4

“Two ships heading for the border? Hey, what about Mia’s physical?!”

Classroom after school.

Finn and I were talking, and we were discussing our summer vacation plans.

I had promised to find out about Mia’s illness, but I wasn’t going to be able to keep my promise because of the war.

“The equipment itself is also in the Luxion.”

I glanced at Luxion and saw him near my right shoulder, glaring at Brave——Finn’s partner.

[There is no way I would let a demonic armor and its pilot on board. I originally did not want to put them on Einhorn or Licorne either.]

The artificial intelligence created by the old humans rejects the demonic armor created by the new humans.

You could say that he hates them.

It was the same with the core of the demonic armor created by the new humans.

Brave sticks out his little arm and points at Luxion.

[Neither would I trust my precious partner or Mia to you, iron scraps? Buddy, these guys are up to something.]

Luxion and Brave glared at each other, and Finn and I let out a big sigh.

Finn was terribly disappointed.

“Thanks to those Raschel idiots, Mia’s disease can’t be treated —— That is absolutely inexcusable.”

Although he showed an attitude that war is inevitable, but he is still angry that it is unforgivable.

Finn, who loves Mia so much, was so happy that the mysterious disease could be cured.

If it will fail, he will resent Raschel.

So I make a suggestion to Finn.

“Well then, why don’t you guys come along? It’s right around the time of summer vacation.”

“Are you saying to take Mia to the battlefield?”

Finn pondered, but there was a strong possibility that the two foreign students would be ordered to return home if the war intensified.

If they missed this one, it was unclear when the next opportunity would come.

As for me, I wanted to cure Mia’s illness, so I am aware that it is a bit unreasonable.

Finn lets out a deep sigh before making a decision.

“——Okay. I’ll go with you.”

“I’m sorry. I’ll try to keep you involved as much as possible.”

When I apologized, Finn shook his head.

“I’m the one asking, so don’t worry about it. More importantly, I have one guest. Is it okay if I take him with me?”

“Guest?”

Finn tells me about his guest with a complicated look on his face.

“Well, to Mia, he’s like a long-legged uncle. To me, he’s a piece of trash.”

“Is he a piece of trash?”

Thinking about long-legged uncle.

If he is acquainted with Mia-chan, is he from the empire?

To come all the way to the Kingdom of Horfalt, he is a man of considerable energy.

He must be a man with a lot of guts to come to the kingdom of Horfalt, which has been in a state of conflict recently.

“Why did he come to the Kingdom? Worried about Mia-chan?”

When I ask Finn, he brushes off the answer.

“I guess that’s also part of it.”

“That’s also?”

“I can’t tell you. But I don’t think he will bother you —— maybe.”

“Maybe!? What do you mean “maybe”? You should be clear about that!”

“Anyway, he’s an annoying bastard, but with Mia around, he’s quiet, so no worries.”

Finn’s explanation makes me uneasy.

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Part 5

One of the floating islands near the royal capital.

It is a floating island used as a military port, with flying battleships docked around it.

A luxurious airship used by royalty was also kept there.

However, this time, the first Einhorn-class ship Einhorn and the second Licorne are in the port.

It is docked at a military port, where its cargo is being loaded.

The high ranking military officer in charge of the military port glances at me as he checks the documents in the binder.

The disgruntled, bearded man is even sarcastic.

“Normally, the airships used by the royal family should be managed by us, the Royal Air Fleet. They should not originally have been put on board an airship that was only a new model. And if it’s an official visit, it’s even more important ——”

Milene-san and Erika are officially heading to the Fraser family.

Yet, they probably don’t like the fact that it is Einhorn that they use.

I reply, but don’t listen to the conversation.

“That’s tough. By the way, when will the loading be finished?”

“It seems that you are a man who does not listen to others.”

As I am sighing when I see the other party’s cheeks drawn back, Marie and her friends come to the port with their luggage.

I must have made a terrible, disgusted face.

Marie points at me and yells.

“There! Don’t give me a disgusted look!”

“Because I don’t like it. Why are you here in the first place?”

Looking behind Marie, I saw Kara and Kyle with their luggage.

Behind them are the former young nobles who have become a disappointing figures.

Rose and Marie. [Brad Fou Field], who is holding a white dove and a rabbit, tells me why he is accompanying Marie, with the occasional wariness of Julius.

“Leon, we are your foster sons——In other words, we’re your subordinates, I hope you haven’t forgotten? If our bosses are heading for the border, of course we will follow them.”

If this had been said by a normal guy, I would have been a little impressed with his words.

Nothing that is said by a guy holding a pigeon and a rabbit can touch my heart in the slightest.

I am rather surprised that these guys were aware that they were my subordinates. I am surprised.

“If you’re my subordinate, you should respect me, your boss, on a regular basis.”

When I said that, [Julius Raffa Holfert] was looking passionately at the dove and the rabbit.

The former crown prince wipes his mouth before answering.

―― Was this guy drooling because he wanted to eat Brad’s friends Rose and Marie?

“I’m sure I’m being respectful. I was offering you a skewer the other day.”

“You’re a prince, not my subordinate. Also, don’t say offering.”

When I pointed it out to the prince, who was acting as my subordinate, he looked aghast.

With a look that says he just remembered.

“Eh? Ah, yes.”

Looking coldly at Julius, who gave a vague reply, it was Julius’ foster brother, [Jilk Fia Marmoria], who gave a follow-up.

“Well, it’s a matter of feeling. More importantly, there are more people than usual this time.”

Jilk looks around and sees the queen and princess, Milene-san and the servants who take care of Erika, gathered there.

There were knights and soldiers to escort them, and there was armor in the cargo being loaded.

It is the armor officially used by the royal army, and is ridden by the elite called the Royal Guard, who are prepared to protect the royal family.

Red-haired [Greg Fou Seberg] looks at Licorne’s boarding area.

Knights were lined up in front of the ramp, keeping a watchful eye on the surroundings.

“What, will the queen and others ride over there?”

I cannot have bastards, even former young nobles, on board the airships that carry the queen and the princess.

“It’s obvious.”

Since Creare will be placed in Licorne, there will be no problem.

Marie heads to Licorne.

“I’ll be over there then. Come on, you two.”

Marie takes both Kara and Kyle with her toward Licorne.

I guess she wanted to travel with Erika, but was stopped by the knights at the front of the ramp.

“We cannot allow you on board”

“Why!”

As Marie was arguing with the knights, [Chris Fia Arkwright] was talking to me.

“Leon, I’ve heard the story, but are you sure?”

“If you ask me a vague question, all I can say is, “So, what?””

“I know you understand.”

I scratch my cheek with my finger in front of Chris, who glares at me as I try to brush off the question.

For me, having officially lost Partner, Einhorn is a valuable asset.

It is the same for the Kingdom.

Even Julius interrupts me when he hears my serious conversation with Chris.

In his own way, the former prince seemed to be thinking a little about the future of his country.

“If you leave the royal capital with two of your ships in tow, the feudal lords guarding the borders will become uneasy. I’m sure Mother understands that much. Considering all that, we don’t have much strength to take.”

The armor to be loaded and the number of soldiers to be taken.

Those were to protect Milene and Erika, and that’s not enough to attack Raschel.

Apparently, this is puzzling to Julius.

I tell Julius only what I’m hearing to cut the conversation short.

“I heard that two ships were used to contain Raschel.”

“Really? So why go with two ships? We should at least leave one ship behind.”

“—— I don’t know.”

When Milene-san showed up at the military port with Erika at the right moment, the unpleasant-looking soldier rushed over to them.

I see Milene-san getting into Licorne.

“All of this was arranged by Mother, huh?”

Julius, with a complicated expression on his face, stopped the discussion and let out a deep sigh, perhaps deciding that it was pointless to go any further.

The other four have a similarly subtle look on their faces.

Then we heard footsteps running by and we turned our attention in that direction.

A short, plump boy comes running up to me in his school uniform.

He had short bobbed silver hair and droopy green eyes. He reminded me of the son of a rich man who seemed to have a good heart, and I was not mistaken.

The boy, who appears to be a first-year student, comes up to me and breathlessly begins to introduce himself.

“You must be Duke Bartfalt, aren’t you? My name is Eriya—— [Eriya Rafa Fraser]. I’d like to join you this time ——”

Eriya? When I hear the name, I immediately remember it.

I yell out while he is in the middle of introducing himself.

“I will never admit that you’re Erika’s fiancée!!”

“EEEEH!? WHYYY!!”

Eriya, who was taken aback, was bewildered by my sudden dislike of him.